Forgiveness. One of humanity’s oldest and most complex virtues has stirred hearts and minds across centuries. The earliest preserved story of forgiveness appears in the Hebrew Bible through Joseph, who forgave his brothers after they sold him into slavery. The very word forgive, from Old English, means to grant pardon or indulgence. From its inception, forgiveness has carried the idea of … [Read more...]
Grief & loss: When we come to mourn
Grief & loss are guaranteed. We all face them as conscious, self-aware beings. No one is exempt. We come to mourn family, friends, pets, homes, aspects of ourselves lost through aging or illness -- all of which we have loved and cherished over the years. Grief remains a universal experience, visiting its pain upon all socioeconomic strata, creeds, and races. Yet no two losses in life are … [Read more...]
Fear can save your life — or ruin it
Fear is a strange and curious companion that we all encounter most days, to greater or lesser degrees. Touted in various articles and ads as an achievable goal is a state of "fearlessness." A noble quest. Fear as something to be conquered. The slogan goes something like, "Once you have conquered fear, you will reach the highest heights, overcome all manner of phobias. Get the guy; get the … [Read more...]
What a person wants
In the middle of a heated exchange, words of exasperation directed at you come out something like, "Well, what do you want?!" These words can be stunning to hear, even disorienting. Feelings of anger and hurt surface. The concept of "what you want" feels foreign. But think about this for a moment. What you want does matter, and should be considered. What you want in life, in a relationship; … [Read more...]
Resentment: It’s a grind
We're in an age in which anger seems a dominant emotion. Resentments can linger for a lifetime. Those grinding and gnawing feelings associated with resentment never seem to resolve themselves. Let's do some "unpacking" and take a closer look at some of our resentments. Starting with a few key questions: 1. How much is your worth being defined by the other person who is causing distress? … [Read more...]