Blog

I've heard this message several different ways over the last few weeks-

*Our thoughts can be a source of life or death*

(And why they won’t quite do the trick)

The following are some of the basic stress-coping strategies you’ve probably heard over the last few weeks.

How you view yourself (your sense of identity) is directly tied to how you view God.

Do you see yourself as beautiful, confident, courageous, and made in the image of God?

The nemesis of all social anxiety sufferers is Post Event Processing (PEP). We have a social interaction- and then when it's over we replay it, examining our words and actions. This is always done with a judgmental slant- as in:

Anybody else get a little overwhelmed during the holiday shopping season? My thought is- how can I adequately express how deeply I love my people- through a gift, or something I make or do? There is no gift big enough (or at least- not one I can afford!)- to communicate all my love.

1. Be too busy
2. Never ask for help
3. Don’t reveal your true self (wear a mask)

I recently watched a documentary on Warren Jeffs, former president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was horrifying and left me sick to my stomach.

This morning I did a search on my bible app for the word “despair.” The first verse that popped up was from Psalm 88. I slowly read through the verses… yes, wow, that’s most definitely despair.

Humans are the only creatures who tell stories about our lives. We are made in God’s image, and a significant component of God’s character is acting, and then judging those actions.  

Shame is best described as “an internal state of inadequacy, unworthiness, dishonor, regret, or disconnection” (read more about shame at Psychology.com). Shame is global self-judgement- or as a child might state it- “I am bad.” 

After a delightful spring break, I am now amping up for my third term of teaching Psychology at our local community college. I have noticed something about many of my students.

This February, I have been absorbing messages of “law” like there’s no tomorrow. By law, I mean- anything that defines and measures good.