Articles
Stress Management Techniques to Help You Unwind and Relax
We are two years into a global pandemic and its resulting chaos, and humans are feeling the effects. We could all use a refresher on stress management techniques. Stress management is something we all know we need, but the unfortunate reality is that in the moments that you need stress management techniques the most, you often can feel the most incapable of accessing them. That’s why it’s so important to develop strategies and tools when you’re not in an acute state of stress. What Is Stress? Stress is often framed as entirely negative, but the fact is that stress is an [...]
Emotional Abandonment: How to Recover
Emotional abandonment is a hidden pain that many people carry but don’t realize how it affects them now. They may think of abandonment as being physically separated from a loved one, or perhaps neglected. But emotional abandonment can be just as painful because the one who is abandoning you emotionally is still present w ith you. People often first experienced this dynamic as children, and now the resulting problems may carry over into adult relationships. An experienced Christian counselor can help you determine if you have experienced emotional abandonment and how you can heal from it. Emotional Abandonment in Childhood All [...]
Caregiving: When Caring for Others Becomes Overwhelming
Caring for others can be one of the most rewarding tasks on the planet. Over time, and without the proper system in place, it can also wear one down - mentally, physically, and spiritually. Tia Walker said, “Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn’t know possible.” Perhaps you are an in-home caregiver, work at a nursing home, volunteer to take care of a sick or elderly family member, drive a neighbor to and from cancer treatments, are a foster parent, or perhaps you are in the trenches of raising a family of your own. Regardless of which path [...]
Practical Tips for Dealing with Shame
“God so loved the world . . .” This familiar verse personifies our Heavenly Father (John 3:16). Love is not only what God does, love is who He is. Forgiveness pulses through the Father’s heart. It releases the promise of life to a world dying – of reconciliation with its Creator, the one Lord, and Father of all (Ephesians 4:6). All in Christ receive the gift of redemption. Salvation brings a new identity and deliverance from sin’s control and punishment, freeing us to love and forgive like God. Although God has forgiven and forgotten our transgressions, and while we are no [...]
Thanksgiving: Breaking Free from the Fear of Not-Enough into the Fullness of Life
It is nearly Thanksgiving Day as I write this. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Growing up, it was one day to give thanks, spend time with family, and enjoy a bountiful supply of scrumptious, homemade food. But all that has changed for me. Now Thanksgiving has become a daily celebration of an endless supply of trivial things that add up to a full life. For me, this thankful life began ten years ago when I first read Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts. Currently, more than 1.5 million copies have sold, and Ann no longer lives in obscurity as [...]
Practical Stress Management Techniques
We have all encountered stress that could potentially be the “straw that broke the camel's back.” Stress itself doesn’t have to be negative. Raising a family or beginning a new job can be positive, yet it can be stressful. Our stress response is the key to whether the stressor will make us feel ill or ignite us. Modern stress research confirms what the word of God told us long ago, a merry heart makes for good medicine, and anxiety and bitterness will break us. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. – Proverbs 17:22 We [...]
Key Bible Verses About Not Worrying
Worry, like a rocking chair, will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere. – Erma Bombeck If you are a worrier, you are not alone. Worry is one of the most common human emotions, which is probably why the Bible has so much to say about it. Life in this world is full of uncertainties. Experiencing the impact of unexpected issues such as ill-health, job loss, family difficulties, or a growing pile of bills you can’t pay, can be scary. Fear of the unknown may cause images of worst-case scenarios to race through your mind as you [...]
The Art of Effective Listening in Marriage
In a world where “My or I” is the start of every conversation and “I” is in every sentence the idea of listening to another has become more difficult and effective listening has become nonexistent. Our attention spans are shrinking due to the constant distractions available to us, cellular phone, computer, game systems. We are busier than ever before, multitask more, suffer from information overload, and our smartphones constantly demand our time. The work-from-home era means that for many of us boundaries are blurred between personal life and work life, and though some enjoy the high level of integration, many of [...]
Exercise and Your Mental Health
Whether you exercise regularly for the health benefits or to maintain your weight, there is such a thing as too much exercise. Where do you draw the line to stay healthy, both physically and mentally? How much exercise is too much? Do you see yourself the way others do, or has your viewpoint become distorted? How are exercise and mental health related? The Benefits of Exercise The Bible states that bodily exercise profits the body (1 Timothy 4:8) and has its place in the life of a believer. The benefits of exercise are numerous. The physical scale and non-scale benefits include: [...]