I once heard a story by Earl Nightingale, one that has stuck with me for many years. Earl Nightingale (1921-1989) was an American radio speaker and author. He dealt mostly with subjects of human character development, motivation, and meaningful existence. I have retold one of his stories many times and now I would like to…
A number of years ago, I spent some time in Branson, Missouri for the summer. The group I went with participated in various activities like canoeing, rock climbing, and camping. One day, we went spelunking in caves. As our guide took us deeper in, it got darker and darker. At the deepest, darkest part of…
“The joy of the Lord is your strength” Nehemiah 8:10 Joy – it’s so powerful yet so easy to forget in our daily routine. Entering a busy season in our lives can leave us feeling like our only option is to put our heads down and muscle through until life gets easier to enjoy. Life…
Life has transitions and events that come in many forms. Marriage, the birth of a child, moving, the loss of a job, divorce, or death of a loved one can leave us feeling a number of ways. Sometimes we’re excited or full of hope, but sometimes we’re worried or full of guilt. Both positive and…
Relationships are hard. Somehow the people we let closest to our hearts are the ones with the most capacity to hurt us. Yet, without letting them in, love can never flourish. It’s part of the paradox and thrill of love. But how do we respond when we are harmed by those closest to us, whether…
I once had the privilege of spending several weeks with Brian Tracy. At the time, he was a national innovator promoting the “secrets” of enhancing personal growth and revolutionary business practices. One of his primary initiatives was instruction on how to write, implement, and utilize positive affirmations in all areas of a person’s life. A…
Communicating with others about our needs, wants, and expectations can sometimes be a daunting task. For many, it can be uncomfortable and, at times, even downright scary. I have rarely met anyone who finds it extremely easy to communicate openly about these things. In fact, it is more common for people to avoid, deflect, and…
Our “sense of self” might be described as our understanding of who we are, our make-up, wiring, preferences, and areas of strength and growth. Knowing these things and being able to communicate them can be beneficial both personally and professionally. Here’s a question to explore: Where and how does our sense of self develop? In…
It’s not always about what your children have, but rather about who you are teaching them to be. I spend a lot of time working with parents who are trying to get on the same page regarding their children’s behavior, school performance, social commitments and future decisions. All of these things are important and need…
The truth is out. That secret you held on to for so long, that double life you worked so hard to hide – it has finally come to light. Chances are you always expected for the truth to come out. Part of you probably wanted the truth to be known. Yet, the aftermath is far…