Do You Have a Scapegoat in the Backyard of Your Brain

Do You Have a Scapegoat in the Backyard of Your Brain?

They kept feeling a sense of guilt and blame for something they didn’t do, but then they discovered a Scapegoat living in the backyard of their brain. It wasn’t nasty, or maybe in a subtle kind of a way it was, but they felt like they were receiving all the […]

Five Actions to Take when Someone Rains on Your Parade

Five Actions to Take when Someone Rains on Your Parade

Some people seem to like to rain on your parade, but we can learn how to hoist an umbrella and continue on. They couldn’t help themselves. Anything my friend did was negated. Any attempt at doing something special, creative, or different was criticized and smashed with harsh words. Sometimes an […]

Why Did the Samaritan Cross the road? Because the Chicken didn't

Why Did the Samaritan Cross the road?

So why did the Samaritan cross the road? Perhaps he wasn’t afraid of the sky falling in. Let’s not be chicken with people like us. I happened to call an acquaintance of mine a few days ago. He does some jobs for me every now and then. As we talked, […]

The Secret Questions of a Secret Life

The Secret Questions of a Secret Life

Many of us carry secret questions, and we are hungry for answers, but we need someone safe. Someone secure in themselves yet vulnerable to listen well.   When the pastor sermonized my personal story, I felt exposed. I was once in a small group in a church, where our Pastor […]

I will Champion your Mental Health

I will Champion your Mental Health

Life has many struggles, but with a champion, someone who will walk and talk, we have someone who reminds us of our progress and gives us hope. I was recently talking with someone about the struggles in their life. We had walked many a mile together over the years. As […]

I'm Not Religious but I Have A Religion

I’m Not Religious but I Have A Religion

‘I’m not religious’ is something many say, but religion is a place of reconnection and realignment. Good mental health grows in a healthy religious experience. Say the word ‘Religion,’ and you’ll get lots of reactions. The word ‘Religion’ can a springboard to thoughts of rules, regulations, rituals, commitments, vows, attendance […]

Listen. You’re on Sacred Ground

Listen. You’re on Sacred Ground

There was a single tear, and I knew we were on sacred ground, but there was a decision to be made. I chose to linger and listen. I was talking with a man in his eighties the other day when I noticed a tear forming in his eye. I knew […]

A Time to Grieve and A Time to Prepare

A Time to Grieve and A Time to Prepare

Grief and loss are always on the horizon, but we can prepare to grieve well. This can help with the grief we are carrying now. I am pruning roses at the moment. It’s winter here in New Zealand as I write this post, and one of my tasks every winter […]

Am I Worthy of Love

Am I Worthy of Love?

Life can wear us down, and we question if we are worthy of love. But we need to look to a deeper story going on than feelings of the present. It was gone. Something had gone from them. And they felt it. No longer cared about their appearance, their diet, […]

Women need respect as much as men

Women need respect as much as men

When I feel respect, I feel valued, and I know I am loved. Respect is about love. It is love in action. Women need respect as much as men. In 2004 a book by Christian writer Dr. Emerson Eggerich was released.  It was Love & Respect: The Love She Most […]