In the Church, we talk a lot about breakthrough. Breakthrough is big. Breakthrough is dramatic. And breakthrough is instantaneous.
Category: mind
A new perspective on pain
The most basic of human instincts is to avoid pain.
When we feel cold, we put on a jacket. When we feel hungry, we eat. When we’re abused, we run, or fight back to stop it. We’re built to avoid falling down, wired to not step out in front of a moving vehicle, and taught to pursue survival, comfort, and safety.
Making room for growth
Lately, I’ve felt God speak to me through the idea of soil.
It’s sort of funny, because I don’t garden. In fact, I’ve never grown a plant, vegetable, fruit, or flower in my life. I grew up on asphalt, mowed grass, and pool water. Far from any farm or vegetable patch (Though I’ve always loved the phrase “vegetable patch,” because it sounds sort of inviting and yummy).
Nonetheless, I believe there is much to learn from nature, and the substances and cycles of nature – even if we’re not well acquainted with them in our daily lives. Jesus used a lot of farming analogies to explain faith and life, and I think we should try to make an effort to understand them. So, soil.
(Re)writing your story
I believe we’re all wired to be storytellers. You may not be great at remembering details. You may not have that cadence and timing that makes an otherwise pretty ordinary event extra dramatic, or funny, or suspenseful. Regardless of all of that, you do tell stories – even if they are only the stories you tell yourself.
God in the details
I just spent two weeks in Paris. I saw – on a near-daily basis – things of extraordinary beauty: the surprising sight of the Eiffel Tower, backlit in pink and orange at sundown or bristling in sparkle late at night; humans memorialized in stone and gold and marble, expressionless and majestic at the center of squares and parks; miles of grey and cream apartment buildings from another century, with delicate molding and tiny wrought-iron balconies.
Why you were made to take risks
I believe you and I were made to take risks: long, scary leaps into the unknown.
Risks like: being vulnerable with another person; starting your own business; starting a conversation; believing in the impossible; aiming for a goal that no one said was attainable; moving to a new city; speaking up, and speaking out.
A true risk doesn’t rely on what is known or seen. A true risk overlooks what has been experienced in favor of imagining what could be. Continue reading “Why you were made to take risks”
3 reasons why journaling will help you to stay motivated + empowered
Do you ever feel like you’re in a funk? Like…you had goals and vision for your life, but somewhere in between 10 hour workdays, fighting off the flu (again), and unexpected personal drama, you lost sight of where you were at?
Do you ever think, is this really where I’m supposed to be?
Or worse… Continue reading “3 reasons why journaling will help you to stay motivated + empowered”
7 God moments in 2017
If you don’t know what I mean by “God moment” that doesn’t mean you’ve never had one.
I define a “God moment” as a moment when God reveals Himself to us through Creation…and that’s not necessarily limited to nature. Creation includes anything created: other people, art, words spoken.
A God moment can be a single moment, or a pattern that emerges. It usually takes us by surprise, and breaks what we believe to be routine, logical, or “normal.”
How to explore your hometown like a tourist
Lately, I’ve been restless. My schedule has been uncharacteristically consistent, and, while that’s good for my productivity, my health, and my personal relationships, I’m beginning to feel antsy…when will the next trip come? When will I break from my day-in-day-out work/life routine?
When will I see something new again—something that challenges my boundaries, and refreshes my perspective?
The answer is as close as Google flights, but instead of turning to the airport, I’ve turned to my own hometown for a little adventure. Call it a “stay-cation” if you want. I took a trip for the few days off I had for Christmas, and explored my familiar surroundings with fresh eyes.
Continue reading “How to explore your hometown like a tourist”
The power of speaking positively: yes, it’s a real thing
Words are powerful.
If the phrase “positive affirmation” brings to mind a yoga mat and green juice, try diving a little deeper.
Continue reading “The power of speaking positively: yes, it’s a real thing”
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