Is there a conversation you’ve been putting off because it’s too difficult or you don’t know how to get started? Maybe you’re angry with someone for something they did or did not do you feel guilty or embarrassed about something you did you need to confront inappropriate behaviour you need to share something you see needs adjustment in the other person Difficult, awkward conversations crop up everywhere. Why are difficult conversations so hard? Difficult conversations can be hard for a number of reasons: You hate conflict You’re afraid of saying the wrong thing You’re…
All healthy relationships are based on trust. Without it a relationship will not flourish and grow, nor will it have the emotional intimacy that creates genuine connection. Importance of Trust in a Relationship The more you foster trust in your relationship, the safer you will feel. Without this sense of safety it will be very difficult to connect emotionally. And emotional connection requires deeper revelation of yourself to your partner. It’s hard to maintain a long-term relationship when the only thing keeping you together is the surface-level stuff. Please note: The following suggestions are for those…
Is time management and productivity important for Christians? Is it only for high-powered business people, or does God care how each person manages their time? Why we should be concerned about how we spend our time We should be concerned with how we spend our time because God is concerned with time management. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 illustrates how God expects us to make good use of the gifts He has given us, and time is one of those gifts. Romans 14:12 says, “So then every one of us shall give account…
Life has always been too big for me. A burden. Fear has been my constant companion. I have been afraid of people, of exams, of dentists, of dying, of suffering. of leaving home, of giving birth, of talking to strangers, of answering the phone, of daily living, of losing my children, that God won’t keep His promises. Afraid. Always afraid. Paralyzed by fear for most of my life, I learned to bury it deep. On the surface I was bright, cheery, and cheeky. But the fear was there. And it kept me from being happy. It made…
There’s an idea in both the Christian and non-Christian world that working yourself to death is good. Being busy is noble. Stressing is praiseworthy. And that taking care of yourself is selfish. But this idea is not in harmony with the Bible. The Bible actually endorses the opposite – take care of yourself. Here’s some support for this idea: When Elijah fled Jezebel, the angel of the Lord advocated self-care, saying, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for thee.” (1 Kings 19:7 KJV) In Mark 12:30-31 Jesus tells us…
Did you know that living with a negative person can actually make you depressed? Science shows that “there is an atmosphere – an aura, they call it – that surrounds us and reaches out toward others. That atmosphere, propelled by the heart, reaches out from four to ten feet, depending on the individual. It contains our conscious and subconscious thoughts and feelings, and either the love or the fear we live in.” [i] The atmosphere that surrounds each person has a conscious or unconscious effect on the people around them. This means that living with a negative person will have a direct…
I’ve written about red flags in relationships before – the signs of an unhealthy relationship. But today let’s look at the converse and talk about the good side of relationships – the green flags; the things that say, “Move forward; this is healthy”. If you’re looking for a healthy relationship, make sure you not only see these things in the other person, but that you are working on them yourself. If you’re married, you can’t make your spouse develop any of these things, but you can work on becoming a better partner yourself and pray…
Every person grieves the loss of a loved one differently – partly because each person is an individual but also because each relationship is different. I’ve written about How to Cope with Grief and Loss before, and today we’re talking about grieving from a different angle: Grieving the death of someone with whom you had a difficult or toxic relationship. I’m going to be vulnerable here and say that I experienced this kind of grieving when my mom died. Ours was a difficult relationship. When she died many people messaged me to say how sad they were and…
Let’s face it, times are tough, and the future looks bleak. We’ve lost jobs, income, social interaction, church attendance, sport, and recreation – all the things that bring pleasure, relieve stress, and provide our most basic needs. We have so many unanswered questions: What does the future hold? What’s the point of living if there’s nothing to live for? How will we provide for our families? How will we survive the troubled times ahead? The subconscious anxiety and hopelessness is debilitating and paralysing. And the natural result of this is depression. Let’s face it, depression…