THE “ONE RULE” RULE Simplicity is so refreshing. Creating too many rules for yourself can be confusing, overwhelming and discouraging. It’s challenging to remember and keep so many rules. Also, when we don’t keep the rules we make for ourselves we may lose respect and trust in ourselves, just as…

EMOTIONS, LIKE PUPPIES, NEED A LITTLE ATTENTION Sometimes we ignore our emotions, push them away or fight with them. Recently I was working up high on the scaffolding with my husband. I was nervous when he would hang on with one hand and lean way over to place a nail…

YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH SOME DIFFICULT CHALLENGES. YOU CAN HANDLE THIS ONE. Three principles my parents taught me: sing little songs, try again, and pray. Everything reminded my dad of a song he knew. Hearing him quietly sing little songs throughout the day made me feel like everything would somehow be…

JESUS CHRIST HAS HAD A PROFOUND INFLUENCE UPON ME One day, many years ago I looked upward, upset with God that I had trials in life, that He didn’t make my life smooth and easy. He didn’t take offense. He listened lovingly and helped me through my trials. A few…

WONDERING ABOUT GOD? I wanted chocolate milk and He gave me green drink. I wanted to walk and He told me I needed to learn to crawl first. I thought I needed a spanking and He gave me a hug. I thought He would give me the answer the first…

“THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT YOU THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH YOU.” Years ago, as a young mother, I asked a dear friend, “What is wrong with me?” She said, “Nothing is wrong with you except the fact that you think something is wrong with…

I WAS FEELING LIKE I JUST COULDN’T “GET IT RIGHT”. THEN I HAD A BEAUTIFUL INSIGHT: SIMPLY FOCUS ON THE ONE THING GOD ASKS OF ME. WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS? I believe that wherever our focus is, that’s where we will automatically go. If we focus on money…

WHAT IS SELF-COMPASSION ANYWAY? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN DAILY LIFE? HINT: IT INVOLVES GRATITUDE, WHICH IS THE CORE OF YOUR SPIRIT JUST AS ABDOMINAL MUSCLES ARE THE CORE OF YOUR BODY Self-compassion is not self-indulgence or self-pity or self-deprecation or any kind of selfishness. Self-compassion is gratitude. Gratitude…

MULTI-TASKING SEEMS TO BE A NECESSARY PART OF LIFE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE INCREASED PEACE AND CLARITY THAT WILL COME INTO OUR LIVES IF WE PRACTICE THE SKILL OF CONCENTRATION FOR ONE HOUR PER DAY, PLUS MOMENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY? HERE’S HOW: THE PROBLEM WITH MULTITASKING AND DISTRACTION: When people…