Hi Reader,It's Thanksgiving week for those of you in the U.S. Regardless, gratitude and self-differentiation go together year-around. If nothing else, please read (and follow) the opening quote. You'll be glad you did. Enjoy! Emotional Connection and Gratitude Read on the Blog “And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.’” — Kurt Vonnegut My wife and I once attended a wedding reception where we...
14 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader,I realize Thanksgiving isn't until next week, but I thought this week's post and recommendations might help you prepare for any anxious situations you expect to encounter. Blessings! Avoiding a Conflict of Wills Photo: yayimages.com Read on the Blog I was once in a group discussion with a woman who shared a run-in that she had with her brother at Sunday dinner. She said her political views had changed over the previous several years, which left her as an outlier in her family. The...
21 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader,It's Tuesday! This week's post introduces a concept that might help you navigate the increasing polarization in the world. I hope you find it helpful. It’s Complicated Photo: depositphotos Read on the Blog It’s human nature to want to simplify things. We also like certainty. Most of us would prefer things to be black or white but most of life is grey. It’s complicated. What do we make of the friend or family member whose political views seem insane? Is it possible to love them but...
28 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader,This week's post is another re-cap from a podcast episode. I hope you find it helpful. Thanks for reading. Self-differentiation Is NOT Selfishness: Ego Strength vs. Egomania Photo: Olivier-Le-Moal Read on the Blog In this thought-provoking blog post, Egomania vs. ego strength, Seth Godin inspired me to explore the difference between self-differentiation and selfishness—a distinction that’s crucial for anyone striving to be a non-anxious leader. Godin writes, “People talk about ego...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader,This week’s post shares what I’ve found helpful when making important decisions. I hope it’s helpful. Thanks for reading. Uncertainty and Decision-Making Photo: rnl Read on the Blog I had a seminary professor say that if you wanted to do theology you needed to have a high ambiguity tolerance. What he meant was that so much of what we find in scripture leaves things open for interpretation. There’s much more gray than black and white. Therefore we have to be willing to live in the...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, This week I used AI to help me develop a blog post from one of my podcast episodes. Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading. Reframing Anxiety: How to Make It Work for You Photo: YuriArcurs Read on the Blog Note: I asked AI to take Podcast Episode 193: How to Make Your Anxiety Work for You and turn it into a blog post. This is the result after my (human) edits. Anxiety is not an enemy to be eradicated. It is an evolved signal that prepares us to imagine and respond to the...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader,I'm back! This week's post is a reminder that self-differentiation is not about what we do but whether we are clear about what we believe. Also, I was interviewed recently for The Church Renewal Podcast. It ended up being a two-part episode. The first segment, Leading with Courage, dropped last week. Part 2, Leading Through the Anxiety, drops this Thursday, October 16. Let me know what you think. Thanks! Be Careful How You Define Yourself Photo: erik3804 Read on the Blog “Now, with...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader,I'm still on vacation and really enjoying the break. I'll be back next week with a blog post, but for this week it's recommendations only (again). Thanks! Become a Patron You can help me improve the quality and reach of this newsletter, my podcast and other resources for as little as $5/month. When you do, you'll get exclusive access to an online community, exclusive content and chat access to get your questions answered. Thanks for your prayerful consideration. Learn more...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader,I've had a heavy travel schedule the last few days, so no post this week, just recommendations. Thanks for understanding. Become a Patron You can help me improve the quality and reach of this newsletter, my podcast and other resources for as little as $5/month. When you do, you'll get exclusive access to an online community, exclusive content and chat access to get your questions answered. Thanks for your prayerful consideration. Learn more Recommendations This week's...
2 months ago • 1 min read