In contrast to the idyllic dinner scene filled with love, laughter and joyful conversation, this short little vignette presents an alternative many people can relate to. Who do you envision sitting around this table?


Silence. They sit at the table in silence.

Together, but separate. Inches away from one another, close enough to touch, yet miles apart, occupying different worlds.

Is change good, bad, or something else entirely?

Embrace change! Change is good! Change is progress! We’re surrounded by a constant celebration of change that’s hard to avoid or ignore. But is change really so wonderful? Many proclaim it is, doing so with passion and conviction. Meanwhile, you have folks standing on the other side of the fence who shun change, resisting it every step of the way. Most of us have experience standing on both sides of that metaphorical fence at different times in our life.

Whether you deem change to be good or bad, there’s no denying it can be intense, encompassing far more than you were aiming for, envisioning, or anticipating. The following excerpt vividly captures that intensity and that element of the unexpected which change inherently possesses:

As with so many things in life, the question of whether change is good or bad is complicated, layered, nuanced, and multifaceted. It certainly isn’t a simple either-or question. In fact, framing the question as good or bad kind of misses the mark right from the get-go, when it begs to be explored from so many other angles.

Continue reading at Seeking Veritas – Blank Pages to Bold Voices

People are constantly setting all kinds of goals; that's the easy part. But when it comes time to follow through on those goals, that's the stage where they often get stuck. Even with the best of intentions and a sincere effort, you may feel like you're fighting an uphill battle as you struggle to see your goal through to completion. 
 
The inability to successfully reach a desired goal isn't just frustrating and disheartening. It can lead to a loss of confidence, making you shrink back from pursuing other goals in future. But what if the problem isn't you?  What if the problem isn't some inherent shortcoming on your part, but rather you simply haven't found the right approach for pursuing your goal?

​No-one enjoys feeling conflicted about something transpiring in their life. In addition to being a confusing, frustrating, and draining experience; it can also become a major distraction as you find yourself spending time going back and forth in an attempt to gain clarity. 
 
Fortunately, there are things you can do to begin bringing some much-needed clarity.  The following steps will help you resolve the conflict you're facing, so you feel energized and equipped to move forward with confidence.

We’re all familiar with the common characteristics of poor listening. Impatiently waiting for someone to finish speaking, perhaps racing ahead and planning a response while the person is still speaking. Or being physically present with the speaker, but with a mind that’s far away.

But what makes someone a good listener? What does it look like when someone excels in the art of listening? What does this look like as the process unfolds?

Good listening entails giving someone your full, undivided attention. It requires being present not just with your physical being, but also with your heart and mind. And it is characterized by an interest in whatever the person is sharing about, not because you necessarily care about the issue or subject in and of itself, but because you’re interested in the person sharing about it. 

Continue reading at Seeking Veritas.

Most people have no problem understanding that action of some sort is required to achieve their goals. However, even though they know this intellectually, they still struggle with making the progression from "knowing" to actually "doing" in their lives.

Day after day, they tell themselves they need to do something, but they continue with their usual routine.  As a result, nothing happens and the desired achievement eludes them.

You know the feeling: you want to move forward with your plans, but something is holding you back.  You might be struggling to identify exactly what it is and where it's coming from.  But it's there, that nagging feeling of being unsettled that's keeping you from going full steam ahead. 
 
What you're encountering is resistance.  It may be frustrating and confusing while you're experiencing it, but it's actually a good thing!  It's an important safety mechanism; you're being alerted that things aren't quite lining up the way they need to.  The next step?  Taking a closer look to determine why things aren't lining up.
 
There are an infinite number of reasons why you may be encountering resistance; here are three of the most common ones.