Category: Personal Growth

Courage

A client and I were recently discussing what courage really is. Finding herself at a crossroads in life, she found that she was scared to death to make a decision about what to do next. She desperately wished she could muster up the courage to move forward. She didn’t feel fulfilled in her current job … Continue reading “Courage”

Spring Cleaning

There is something about the spring season that feels fresh and new. Perhaps it’s the pruned trees with new buds of flowers beginning to blossom. Maybe it is the feeling of warmth as the sun shines on my skin and the cold days of winter become a memory. One thing I think about at this … Continue reading “Spring Cleaning”

3 Steps to Positive Thinking

In my last blog I discussed the connection between our thoughts, emotions and actions. Now I’d like to focus on how we can alter our thoughts from a negative perspective to a positive one. Making such a change takes time and commitment. Over time our thoughts become so automatic that in order to switch from … Continue reading “3 Steps to Positive Thinking”

How Do My Thoughts Impact My Life?

So many times we are sitting on the back end of a decision wondering how we got there. Sometimes it is a pretty benign choice like eating that cheeseburger when you swore you would eat better. Other times those decisions have pretty big consequences, perhaps flirting with a married coworker. To understand how our thoughts … Continue reading “How Do My Thoughts Impact My Life?”

Ever Green

As I enter the Christmas season, I’m once again struck by the memories that have accumulated over the years. This is my 67th Christmas and as I think back, I have memories of at least 62 of them. Every year the time of Christmas was inaugurated in our home by the Christmas tree. That tree … Continue reading “Ever Green”

Friendship

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” Proverbs 27:5,6 We’re doing a series on friendship at our church and my good friend Zach Van Dyke is doing an excellent job of taking us through what the essence of friendship really looks like. So, … Continue reading “Friendship”

Strength From Brokenness

When I was 5 years old my brother and I were stuck inside our home due to a huge rainstorm outside. We decided to play a game where we spun around in circles for 30 seconds and then race each other across the house. We were both really excited by our brilliant new game, so … Continue reading “Strength From Brokenness”

Discomfort Zone

One of my favorite episodes from the “I Love Lucy” show is when Lucy is attempting to dance with a group of professional dancers. She goes left when the other dancers go right. It’s hilarious. Recently I found myself feeling like Lucy in that show. It came from my decision to begin exercising again. My … Continue reading “Discomfort Zone”

Prayer

Prayer has always been difficult for me. It’s not that I don’t believe that it’s ineffective of that God’s somehow not listening, it’s just that I think of praying most of the time as a last resort. A few years back, my wife and I were talking about a recurring problem that had not been … Continue reading “Prayer”

Thanksgiving

“Why did I agree to this? What was I thinking? I’ve never cooked a meal this big in my life! Now, my family is counting on ME to make our Thanksgiving meal. “ These were the thoughts running through my mind as I sat at my kitchen table searching recipes and creating a game plan … Continue reading “Thanksgiving”