Articles
Five Steps to Becoming a Non-Anxious Presence
Recently, during an online search for messages from pastor/author, John Mark Comer, I discovered a YouTube video entitled, “Becoming A Non-Anxious Presence.” I’ve listened to the message several times since and shared it with friends and family as well. Now, I would like to share it with you because if you have clicked on this article title, I am guessing that you are interested in becoming a non-anxious presence just as I am. This is what I have learned so far. The anxiety that permeates the air around us is nothing new. Western society projects the ideal that humanity is progressing [...]
Telltale Signs of an Emotionally Abusive Relationship
Emotional abuse is just as damaging to a person’s psyche as physical or sexual abuse. But it is often less understood and can be more subtle to detect. A qualified Christian counselor can help you understand if you are being subjected to emotional abuse. Your counselor can also guide you in breaking free from the destructive cycles of abuse and choosing freedom in Christ. The Emotionally Abusive Relationship Emotional abusers seek power over their victims. They are inherently self-absorbed and self-serving in all their behaviors. They treat people more like objects than individuals with the power to form their own thoughts, [...]
5 Pieces of Solid Marriage Advice
The world is full of marriage advice floating around in books, podcasts, pre-marital counseling, and in the words of wise friends and family members. Often, however, this is given before a couple has their wedding, and there are still stars in everyone’s eyes – long before the reality of being married to another sinner kicks in. Marriage is a glorious gift from God, created for companionship and children, and that gives us a tangible picture of God’s love for the church, his bride. In addition, the Lord uses it to achieve His purpose of making us holy. Perhaps you are about [...]
Achieving Personal Development Goals to Become Who You Want to Be
If you want to accomplish something meaningful, especially if it’s complicated, it takes time, planning, dedication, and a whole lot of effort. Having personal development goals can help you to set a direction for your life; they allow you to know how to apply your energy and talents. You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. – C.S. Lewis If you don't set any goals, that doesn't mean that things won't happen in your life. But it does mean you might be more subject to the whims of circumstance as well as the plans other [...]
Overcoming the Destruction of Distractions
I'm not sure how it happened. It was a slow drift. The drift of distractions. And I awoke to find myself lost in a sea of useless doing. It wasn't because "life just happened" – it was because my unawareness of distractions happened. Distractions took me away from life; away from that which gives me life. Grabbing this, grabbing that – hoping to find some safety in my desires, all the while, finding myself holding all that I desire not, I found myself in a whirlpool of everything which I could care less, and with a deep undercurrent of feeling unsafe. [...]
Tips for Getting Over a Breakup
Getting over a breakup is difficult to do. Your heart probably feels crushed with sorrow, anger, rage, and the feeling of defeat. But there is no better time to draw close to God than when you need to heal from something as traumatic as a breakup. Psalm 34:18 tells us that God is close to those who are brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. This is a promise from God because he doesn't want you to feel alone in your suffering. As you draw close to Him in prayer, he will listen to all your hurts and fears, and he will sustain [...]
What TikTok Self-Diagnosis Gets Wrong About Mental Health
At the time of this writing, TikTok is the most downloaded application on people’s phones. But what TikTok self-diagnosis gets wrong about mental health is a big deal, and here’s why. The Birth of TikTok Self-Diagnosis The short-form video content on Vine was ahead of its time. It took the internet by storm, amassing a large following and number of subscribers in a short amount of time. However, the success of the platform fizzled out as quickly as it caught on. The world wasn’t ready yet, but over the years - as attention spans grow shorter and shorter – it was [...]
10 Practical Ways to Reduce and Manage Anxiety
Anxiety can present itself in a wide variety of ways. One person may experience insomnia while another tends to pull the covers over their head and sleep all day. One person may tend toward impatient outbursts while another becomes quiet and withdrawn. Even within one person, you can see a variety of manifestations of anxiety, sometimes linked to different situations and sometimes seemingly random. Some level of anxiety can actually be helpful. As a reaction to stress or dangerous situations, anxiety can help warn us so we can make decisions accordingly. However, anxiety that persists or extends beyond an isolated situation [...]
Common Myths about the Grieving Process
The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you’ll learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to. – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler (On Grief and Grieving) Grief is a natural response to the loss of someone or something that’s important to you. Usually, it is associated with the death of a loved one. However, there are other losses in life that can trigger [...]