Category: Family & Education

Be All In: Unlock Your Full Power

One of the things that really humbled me in recent years is the realization that I’m often only halfway in on anything I do. I’m rarely ever really all in. For example, I might join a coaching program with the idea of trying it out but be unsure if I can do it. Then, when…


A Playbook for Dealing With Life’s Frustrating Moments

I was angry enough to rip the closet doors off the wall and smash them to pieces with a hammer. Rewind about two hours: My wife kindly asked if I could fix the kids’ sliding closet doors, which had been falling off their tracks for several months. I had been strategically “prioritizing” other projects to…


When You Keep Getting Triggered by the Same Person (Part 2)

Is there someone in your life, maybe from your past, whose company sets off strong and difficult feelings over which you don’t seem to have any control, no matter how much “work” you’ve done and continue to do? If so, you’re not alone. In Part 1 of this two-part series, I described the frustration, confusion,…


Psychiatrist: Family Dinners Are a Great Marker of a Cohesive Household

Meals together are more meaningful than ever in the age of devices and diverse family types, according to a psychiatrist, who said it is worth maintaining some semblance of sharing meals together in a household, even if it’s just two to three times a week. In terms of quality time with your children, it’s just…


Why You Need a Personal Definition of Success

In the past five years, there are many areas of my personal life in which I’ve been stagnant or even lost ground in my development. I’ve learned the hard way that there are no guarantees that growth will take place, even if you’re relatively young. It’s certainly the case that in my late 20s I…


2023 Father’s Day Gift Guide

All year long, dads work hard to make sure we have great lives, so we’ve collected an assortment of gifts to fit all budgets that they are sure to enjoy. (Courtesy of Word Teasers) Dad the Comedian Word Teasers Dad Jokes $14.95, WordTeasers.com For the dad who loves to crack corny jokes, this collection of…


Desperate Times

When I recently opened a book of meditations given me by a friend, this line jumped at me from the page: “Desperation is better than despair.” At first, this comparison confused me, as both desperation and despair seem synonyms for hopelessness. But as I thought it over, the distinction between the two became clear to…


Pool Party Etiquette: How to Have Well-Mannered Fun in and Around the Water

Summer’s almost here, so that means it’s time to dust off pool party manners to make sure everybody has a great time. Safety First The combination of water and splashing leads to slippery situations, making it important to literally tread carefully around the pool. If there are children present, enforce the rules of no running,…


In Celebration of Motherhood

Leslie Means is a Nebraska-based mother of three who has been engaging the audience of her popular blog, “Her View From Home,” for years. There, she talks about things like motherhood, marriage, relationships, grief, and faith. I recently asked her about her new  book, “So God Made a Mother: Tender, Proud, Strong, Faithful, Known, Beautiful,…


Confronting Your Addiction to Negative Thoughts

The human mind can tap into some amazing tools, such as reason and logic. But it can also become infested with unfounded worries and worst-case scenarios that insist on clouding your brain. We may justify this negative inner dialogue by telling ourselves that we’re prudently preparing for the future or thoughtfully processing the past. And yet…