Quick answer: No. Depression is not a sign that you lack faith. Depression grows out of stress, biology, family history and life circumstances, and it affects people of deep faith just as it affects anyone else. The Bible is full of faithful people who sank into despair, including the prophet […]
self-compassion
9 posts
We all have problems, but we can over-personalise them. But the problem is the problem. Not the person. There is something sneaky about problems in that, over time, starting from being a little child, problems can morph and sneak into your thinking so much so that you see yourself […]
This didn’t feel normal AT ALL, but when they offered the words ‘That’s normal and you’re going to be ok’, a flood of reassurance swept into me. After they had told their story, the psychiatrist looked at them and, with quiet compassion, said these words. For what you’ve been through, […]
Progress and change can seem like ‘two steps forward and three steps back’ but maybe the steps need to be millimetres and with gradual gentle side ways movements we can see movement. It was disappointing when then they said it. In fact, it was surprising. They said it with good […]
When no one understands you, it can create a deep sense of loneliness. Perhaps there are reasons for the lack of being known. Forgive them anyway. They were carrying something precious. Their inner world. Thoughts, feelings, motivations, desires, pains, and joys. Everything that goes on within their life and sometimes […]
Quick answer: The popular Christian book Love & Respect teaches that men primarily need respect and women primarily need love. Former mental health nurse Susanna Warner disagrees: women need respect as much as men, and everyone needs both. Respect shows up in small, repeated things, being noticed, listened to and […]
Being kind to yourself means noticing the inner critic that tells you “you’re not enough” or “you should try harder” — and choosing rest and grace instead of pushing harder. It’s not self-indulgence; it’s recognizing your human limits and trusting that you don’t have to earn your worth. Rest, understood […]
If you are in danger right now, call 111. In New Zealand you can free call or text 1737 any time to talk with a trained counsellor, call Lifeline on 0800 543 354, or the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO). Outside New Zealand, visit Find a […]
‘I’m such a failure’ If you’ve never quietly said it about yourself, then you will most likely have heard it from someone else. This post is to help you help others you have problems with a failure mindset. For myself, I can so easily personalise my failures into ‘I’m a failure’.