Do you ever listen to what you are saying? Do you watch your language? Being a spiritual director I have the honor to intently listen to others as they share their deepest desires and prayers. Often as they speak words aloud – they hear themselves say things that never realized before or use a word or phrase to describe something that surprises them. We are all deaf and blind to our own tone of voice and the words we tell our soul. Watching our language can be a powerful and insightful spiritual practice. I have been listening to podcasts as I walk and last week Michael Hyatt spoke about this exact topic in his topic of “Why it is time for you to stop trying.” His point was this “If someone says they’ll try to do something, it’s a safe bet they won’t accomplish it.” He shares a demonstration he witnessed by Tony Robbins. “What he does is he has this woman in the audience. She’s saying that she has tried everything in her marriage. He says, “Really? You’ve tried?” She … [Read more...]
Monthly Musings – What I Learned in September
Several blogger friends post a summary of what they learned each month. Emily Freeman originated the idea and I love reading different people’s lists – always full of tidbits of wisdom, innovative ideas, and resources. This simple practice has helped me live a more reflective life and to capture those moments/tips/words of wisdom that mean so much to me, but too often I forget. This method appeals to me because it is so hard to capture and remember good moments when life is moving so quickly and with so much noise. So I wanted to do join this growing trend for monthly reflections BUT…would always forget!! Soon it would be the end of the month, I would be reading their posts again and thinking where did the time go? One more month of not gathering the precious thoughts I wanted to hold onto. Finally I created a cheat sheet to help record my observations and fun finds as the month progressed.(see the end of this post to find out how to get a copy). I call this my Monthly Musings and … [Read more...]
How WillPower Works and What We Can Do to Use It More Effectively
I don't get it! I don’t really understand willpower. At times I can be Superwoman in accomplishing what I set out to do; others times I fail miserably. I start the day with full intentions of only eating so much and then graze on enough sugar/fat-laden carbs to fuel an elephant. I swear to live on austerity and simplicity and then magically find myself shopping on Amazon or at Christopher Banks for more books and clothes I don’t need. I really do have enough stuff in my life. Look! Pretty Object! Grab it now or you may never have that opportunity again! No, Never again… Most of the time willpower is a mysterious switch within me that seems to be faulty or misfiring. My self-control must be defective and flawed in some self-damaging way. Anyone else feel like that? I just finished reading Kelly McGonigal’s book The Willpower Instinct, that I borrowed from the library. This is not a formal book review of her work but a synopsis of insights I gained. Actually I am … [Read more...]
3 Steps for Creating a Sacred Space at Home
One key result from my recent readers’ survey was we all struggle with hearing and experiencing God. There are times everything seems to fall into place and we have a profound encounter. Other times we feel restless, distracted and strain like our ears and hearts are plugged with cotton. I believe God is within us and around us all the time. But at times I just can’t quite tune him in. Busyness diverts my attention. Worries and fears fill my head instead of his voice. My mind races ahead to the next project, missing the blessing in the present. To be honest there are times, my morning moments with God is another item to check off my to do list or another “why can’t I do better?” ego never good enough thought. A Sacred Space. I have a glider in my office that I sit in for my moments with God. My Bible and prayer list are nearby. The table holds my journal, pen, the God Box (to put in the prayers that I seem to cling to and not leave in God’s hands) and whatever daily devotional I … [Read more...]
How to Recognize the Unseen Heroes in Your Life
Ever suddenly realize the heroes in your life? Who they are? That they were there all the time and you never really notice? Or maybe you did see them, but unexpectedly the gratitude of their presence overtakes your heart and you know this relationship is something special and priceless. We just returned from a wonderful week in the Outer Banks. Yes, lots of beach, sun and surf. Fun and relaxing, but more importantly time spent with lifelong friends. Friends who entered and impacted my life at different crossroads of time - all intersecting together for a week in North Carolina. I spent the week with three friends from various points in my life. Being close to the same ages, we share common milestone events – weddings, birth of children, graduations, marriages of children, grandchildren and now even retirement. Yet more than just experiencing these same life stages, I noticed something unique about our friendships. All three of my friends were present and walked me through key … [Read more...]
Twelve Travel and Trip Thoughts
I’m on vacation this week – relaxing on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I am breathing in deeply fresh ocean air and listening to soothing waves. Yep, I am loving this. But didn’t want to leave you all out. So I gathered some photos from past trips and some thought filled sayings about traveling to share with you while I’m gone. Please share them on Pinterest or Instagram other social media. Enjoy! What's your favorite vacation spot? … [Read more...]
Breaking Hearts – Building Compassion
His name was Aylan. The memory of seeing him lying facedown on a beach in Turkey, then later his limp body being carried off seared into my heart and mind. Three years old! Three! Not much younger than my twin grandsons. This heart breaking story came quickly on the heels of an earlier story about 71 people found suffocated in a truck in Austria. Aylan was one of five children reported dead from a group of 23 Syrians traveling to Greece in smugglers' boats with the hope to start a better life. I wept. The world wept. God wept. Due to the conflict in Syria and other parts of the world we are seeing one of the largest refugee exoduses in history. More than 3 million people, more than half are children like Arlan, have had to flee their homelands in search of safety. Something many of us take for granted. I heard an interview of a family in a camp in Hungary waiting for permission to travel onward through Austria to Germany. The family of … [Read more...]
What I Learned in August – Monthly Musings
Several blogger friends post a summary of what they learned each month. Emily Freeman originated the idea and I love reading different people’s lists – always full of tidbits of wisdom, innovative ideas, and resources. My blogger friend, Dolly, does this also. Emily writes on her blog: “I’m a firm believer in the importance of looking back before we move forward.” And I certainly agree with her. This simple practice has helped me live a more reflective life and to capture those moments/tips/words of wisdom that mean so much to me, but too often I forget in the daily busyness. This method appeals to me because it is so hard to capture and remember good moments when life is moving so quickly and with so much noise. So I wanted to do join this growing trend for monthly reflections BUT…would always forget!! Soon it would be the end of the month, I would be reading their posts again and thinking where did the time go? One more month of not gathering the precious thoughts I … [Read more...]