WHO AM I?
Who am I?” This is a question most of us wonder about at some point in life. Who we are — our identity — reveals our values, our personality. These days, society is multigenerational, multiracial, multicultural. In this, America is a model for the world. Sure, lots of folks say they hate us — yet […]
HOW DO YOU VALUE YOURSELF?
A famous author named Ayn Rand wrote that “The man who does not value himself, cannot value anything or anyone.” She encouraged “selfishness” as a pathway to happiness by pursuing the highest belief about yourself. Her theory implies that you have direct control over this process. However, how do you decide what is the “best” […]
The Chaplain’s Notebook
LIFE’S TRAILS… During a recent trail run, I tripped over a rock and fell to the ground. It was not my finest moment, and I was really glad nobody else witnessed this middle-aged calamity. I got up and dusted myself off. Besides a nice-sized raspberry below my knee, and a bruised ego, I was fine. […]
A FRIEND HAS A SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEM. WHAT CAN I DO?
Making the decision to help a friend with a substance abuse problem is a big one. When you make this decision, be aware that you’re likely to experience many different emotional reactions: anger, frustration and sadness, to name a few. Despite our collective emotional reactions, we often “hang in there” with that person for as […]
COMPASSION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
What does compassion have to do with law enforcement? A lot, in fact … Compassion is described as a willingness to intentionally assist others and selflessly put their needs ahead of your own without expecting reciprocity. Seen this way, having compassion — and empathy — is a little-acknowledged, but essential ingredient of law enforcement. It’s […]
YOU ARE ALLOWED TO SAY IT … REALLY
One of the most common reasons I see folks seeking counseling is related to the issue of managing stress. In my work with them, learning how to reduce stress and improve overall well-being is often our biggest goal. When first reviewing stress management strategies, most people are not surprised by our initial discussions, which are […]
WHAT CAN YOU BE PERSUADED TO DO?
There is a lot of marketing that goes into advertising products with the intent to encourage their purchase, including everything from product name, style of the logo, shape of the container and color of the product itself. Marketing experts also spend time putting together the perfect words to sell the product, often telling us how […]