Have you given something up for Lent? Chocolate, ice cream, coffee, meat – these are popular items for church members to “fast” from during the 40+ days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Oh wait, let me clarify – I did not give up sugar for Lent. No, in reality, my husband and I are trying … Continue reading I miss sugar.
Have you ever wondered if you have depression? Perhaps you’re positive of it, and have been struggling for a long time. Depression is a very common mental illness in today’s world, with great treatments available. For folks who have never experienced depression, it can be difficult to imagine the pain – physical, emotional, and mental … Continue reading A glimpse into the pain of depression, from Psalm 142
This morning, I woke up feeling… not my best. It was a slow start to the day. Then, about 20 minutes ago, my sweet and wonderful husband brought me a favorite Starbucks beverage as a pick-me-up. He used his short planning period at school to drive, buy, deliver, drive – just because he knew I’d … Continue reading All 5 love languages matter
Each spring that iHope has been opened, we’ve had several high school seniors seek our Care & Counseling services to address anxiety, fear, and stress related to their transition to college. This is totally normal! The transition from high school to college is a big life change. Just like moving to a new state, getting … Continue reading Are you ready for college?
Welcome to April! The sun is shining and it’s beautiful here in South Carolina. (If you’ve survived the pollen.) April also means that we’re through the first quarter of 2019. The start of a new year is a common time for setting new goals, or “resolutions,” and I wonder how yours are going so far … Continue reading Quarterly evaluation of New Years Resolutions
Work is an important part of life, but it is not the only part. Often, it is not even the central part. Boundaries with our work are hugely important in maintaining healthy life relationships, adequate physical care for our bodies, and even influence our productivity at work. We need emotional boundaries: not taking work home … Continue reading How I’ve started setting boundaries at work
This can be a short blogpost. Answer: Yes. Okay, okay, let’s go a little bit deeper. There are huge connections between our physical and mental health. Plenty of scientific studies show the connection between sleep and healthy immune functioning, reduced anxiety and depression, and overall feeling better. Beyond the science, I know that sleep impacts our … Continue reading Does sleep really impact my mental health?
I am one of those people who dislikes conflict. Not to the point of avoiding it to all extremes, but it's not fun. It makes my stomach churn. Yes, conflict can enhance creativity and problem solving, and strengthen relationships as we work through disagreement. But that requires resolution to the conflict - in fact, … Continue reading My top 5 steps in resolving conflict
Is there any title that would be more easily agreed upon? We are all called to protect children from abuse. Of course, we are each called to protect all peoplefrom abuse – women, men, children, adults. But children are in a uniquely vulnerable position. They rely upon adults to care for them, and their knowledge and awareness … Continue reading Protecting children from abuse
I hope that this title makes no sense to you. Relationship drama? What is that? Let’ sum it up as: emotional excess in romantic relationships. It is very easy to get caught up in the he-said-she-said “drama” of relationships, not to mention the “they said” component of social media. No one is very logical when … Continue reading Relationship Drama is so Overrated
