Banned Book Week is approaching, offering a valuable opportunity to discuss what we mean by the term “banned” and to consider whether there are more accurate alternatives.I hope we can use this occasion to spark meaningful conversations, using books as a catalyst for more productive discussions on the various issues that divide our society and…
I have been telling my friends for years that conservatives were going to be coming for therapy. And in many ways, it’s deserved. We have more money, time, resources, and energy focused on mental health and don’t have results that match. Therapy is mainly run by people with a liberal orientation to life and politics. As such, it is an easy target for conservatives to attack as we seem to embrace the ever-dividing line of ideology in our country. But that doesn’t absolve therapy or therapists from answering some very legitimate questions about treatment, how we do it, and what outcomes we’re getting from our current efforts.
It often reminds me of the story of the pharisee (a religious man, to be sure) who stood up and loudly proclaimed, “Lord, I thank you that I am not like other men, cheaters, sinners, adulterers….” Of course, the difference today is we would be more likely to hear a prayer about how we thank God that we are not like those poor fools who dress up in suits and miss the whole point of the gospel.
…What would bring his salvation to question? Well, the American Eagle on his shoulder, of course. We’re not all that far from there today, are we? How many people have their love of God questioned because they prefer to wear a suit and tie on Sunday morning?
Then we try to soothe our pain. We try to soothe it by working out or making millions of dollars or getting involved in church. We try to outdo our shame, falsely believing that we can outrun it through activity. The net result becomes a heaping of shame on top of shame. Our activity does not do away with our shame; instead, it numbs our response to it. A numb soul tends to be numb to everything. This causes us to pick activities that keep us from connecting with someone else, which causes us to experience more shame.
"Resilience is distinct from mere survival, and more than mere endurance. Resilience is often endurance with direction. Where are you headed? Why are you going there?" (26) ~Eric Greitens, Resilience. pp. 25 Related articles It's not what happens, it's how we attach meaning that matters Points to Ponder (Life Lessons Style) Want Students with Grit?…
I'm always fascinated by the topic of forgiveness and how it works out in every day life. As a therapist, I can honestly say that it is perhaps the most troubling thing for many of my clients to face. Not their abuse, not their affairs, not their brokenness but the brokenness of others that has…
If you haven't read the book Decivsive yet, you should get it and make the time to read it. I read it last year and started giving it away to people.The book deals with better ways to make decisions. I tend to think that most people underestimate the value of looking at the system that…
Good parenting begins in your heart, and then continues on a moment-to-moment basis by engaging your children when feelings run high, when they are sad, angry, or scared. Gottman, John; Goleman, Daniel (2011-09-20). Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child . Simon & Schuster, Inc.. Kindle Edition. Related articles Points to Ponder: 100 words or less "The…
And so we retreat, back to what we’ve always known. There is a suffocating comfort to it all. Letting go is not easy. The hoarders we see on TV who are stockpiling cats and newspapers have nothing on us emotional hoarders. At least the things they refuse to give up create physical piles before their…
Great quote! "We tend to add complexities to our challenges because if the problem is simple to solve, then we have to change. And change is scary. So when faced with a challenge we really don’t want to fix, we tend to overcomplicate the issues." (43) Acuff, Jon (2013-04-23). Start: Punch Fear in the Face,…
