Performance Anxiety
Imagine standing outside a meeting room, heart pounding, palms sweating, and fear creeping in just as you’re about to give an important presentation. You know the material inside and out, yet anxiety takes over. This is performance anxiety—a fear that can impact work, sports, or artistic performances. From shaky voices to racing heartbeats, the symptoms can be overwhelming. However, with the right coping strategies, such as breathing exercises, meditation, and reframing negative thoughts, you can regain control and confidence. Don’t let fear hold you back—discover how to overcome performance anxiety and step into your full potential.
Back to the Garden: God’s Design for Marriage Part 2
A marriage weighed down by hurtful words and deeds is like the seed gobbled up by the birds, never having a chance to germinate and bear fruit. When emotional hurt and pain dominate a marriage, the joys of marriage never see the light of day. What are these words and behaviors that are so destructive? What are these 'love busters' that are so harmful to a marriage?
Three Ways to Help Your Children Develop a Healthy Relationship with Food
Struggling with children over food can confuse a child’s natural ability to listen to their bodies. For example, when food is forced upon them, used as a reward, or heavily restricted, it can lead to problems. Children may develop a dislike for healthy foods and obsess over foods that have been overly restricted or labeled as “bad.” In extreme cases, these practices can contribute to disordered eating behaviors.
As a parent, you can help your child develop a healthy relationship with food by practicing the 'division of responsibility.' This approach, suggested by feeding expert Ellyn Satter, allows parents to decide when, what, and where food is served, while the child decides if and how much to eat. This gives children the freedom to respond to their own hunger cues without the stress of external pressure
Back to the Garden: God’s Design for Marriage
Excerpt:
Marriage, as designed by God, was meant to be a relationship of deep connection, love, and fruitfulness. Adam and Eve’s union in the Garden of Eden was pure and unburdened—free from shame, conflict, and struggle. Yet, after their disobedience, the reality of marriage changed. No longer effortless, it required patience, faith, and intentional effort.
Like the Parable of the Sower, a thriving marriage depends on the soil in which it is planted. Some relationships struggle under the weight of misunderstandings and neglect, while others flourish through love, faith, and perseverance. Even in a fallen world, God’s design for marriage remains, offering couples the opportunity to cultivate a strong, fruitful bond rooted in His wisdom.
Looking Back on the Year: Practicing Gratitude
One of the most effective ways to navigate this busy time is by intentionally incorporating gratitude into our holiday plans. Practicing gratitude helps shift our focus and redirects our energy from anxiety or loneliness. As Aesop wisely said, "Gratitude turns what we have into enough." Gratitude has the transformative power to change our mindset, helping us to recognize and appreciate the blessings in our lives, fostering contentment and peace.
What a beautiful way to reflect on the year — by embracing gratitude and celebrating the small and big blessings that have shaped our journey.
So, how can we practically apply gratitude in our daily lives?
How Healthy Boundaries Improve Mental Health
Healthy boundaries are essential for maintaining emotional well-being and fostering strong relationships. They help us define what we are responsible for, protect our energy, and create a balanced sense of self. When boundaries are clear and respected, they significantly enhance mental health.
Reflecting on the Year as a Couple: Guided Prompts for Meaningful Conversations
As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time for couples to pause and reflect on their journey together. This reflection can deepen your connection, highlight growth, and strengthen your bond in the coming year. We can see it in how the chief executive reports on a business's current condition and provides successes for the year, growth, and what they would like to implement for the upcoming year.
Meaningful Family Traditions to Start This December
December is a magical time to create cherished family traditions that build connection and joy. Traditions give families something to look forward to and strengthen bonds through shared experiences. Here are fun and easy ideas to inspire meaningful traditions you can start this holiday season.
Learning to Cope: How Dialectical Therapy Can Help
Life is filled with challenges—big and small—that can stir up complicated emotions and strain relationships. If you’ve struggled with anxiety, depression, or mood or personality disorders, these challenges can feel even more overwhelming. In these moments, our instinct may be to either fight the battles raging in our minds or, worse, to surrender to the weight of distressing emotions.
But what if there’s a different way to approach these tough emotions? It’s natural to want to fight off discomfort, avoid difficult situations, and seek comfort. But what if we could learn to accept these challenges and embrace the present moment for what it truly is?
Enter Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
Boundaries With Kids: Building Character and Responsibility
Boundaries play a crucial role in parenting, especially during the early years. They help children develop essential traits such as character, values, responsibility, and autonomy. By introducing boundaries early, children learn to adapt, make healthier decisions, and gain a strong sense of self.
Boundaries in Marriage: What They Are and Why They Matter
Marriage is not easy. These responsibilities take time and effort to develop. Instead of tackling everything at once, focus on improving one area—just 1% at a time. Over time, those small steps can create significant change in your relationship.
Healthy boundaries are not about creating distance but fostering clarity, respect, and love. By defining what is “me” and what is “not me,” you allow yourself and your spouse to thrive as individuals and as partners.
Leveraging Your Strengths to Thrive with ADHD
October is ADHD awareness month. Often times when we think of ADHD we think of all the challenges that come with it and get discouraged. Our blog focuses on how to harness your strengths and super powers that come with ADHD. Read more to for key strategies for success.