I’ve been diving into trying to learn more about Compassionate Listening and came across a Christian monk giving a speech to deacons, priests, and others about it. In his speech, he describes how he views someone sharing their deep-seated feelings that I thought was so beautiful and gave a good way to look at listening … Continue reading Compassionate Listening
(The Wild Hunt posted an edited version of this as a letter to them due to the length of this version of the letter needing to be cut roughly in half. This is the full length version.) This past month of March, I was able to be a part of Cherry Hill Seminary's conference about … Continue reading Declaration 127, Folkism, and Inclusivity
Projections. People do them all the time and many times have no idea that they're doing it. Projecting on to someone is placing onto someone or something what you hope they are or hope they will become for you. We all do it to some extent—for better or for worse—but when we ignore what's there … Continue reading What You See Isn’t Necessarily What You Get
The comfort zone is that way of being we all tend to either get stuck in or some place we retreat to when things are tough. It's a state where we know what to expect from our personal comfort zones because of familiarity with how things work in them. Comfort zones can lead to stagnation … Continue reading The Comfort Zone
How many times do we go out of our way to help other people or give them great advice on their problems and issues because we see them beating themselves up or they feel lost? Ever hear people say, "You give the best advice!" but ever find your own emotional, mental, orspiritual compass is stuck … Continue reading Self-Gratitude and Self-Respect
I heard a therapist by the name of Dr. Dan Siegel speak the other night about finding balance in relationships and other such subjects. One of the big things he said that resonated with me was "feeling felt." What "feeling felt" is something that's more than feeling that someone really heard what you were saying, … Continue reading Feeling Felt
(Title taken from a song by the Damned and content influenced by "The Space in Between" by How To Destroy Angels) I was thinking after a recent weekend that I had a great time, met a lot of really good people, had a number of laughs, really got to chat and connect with some people … Continue reading Alone Again Or
Remember that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer episode where Rudolph and Hermey the elf who wanted to be a dentist ran away from the North Pole because they didn't fit in? The show is about how people who are picked on, don't feel understood, are "different," or feel that since no one understands them feel they … Continue reading The Island of Misfit Toys (or You Are Not Alone)
It's fear that makes love difficult. It's fear that makes life difficult as well. Fear is a survival mechanism which does serve a purpose. Being afraid of that stranger while walking down an empty street at night can lead to surviving the night if you are aware and ready for something bad to happen. Being … Continue reading Fear Makes Love Difficult
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emHAoQGoQic This one tends to hit home pretty hard for someone whose mind races constantly like mine. I'm someone who does tend to distract myself with a million things much like he describes in the recording.
