Everybody Needs Control We try to control ourselves, people and situations to meet our needs or to get what we want. Often we are not aware that we are doing this. We may walk to the shop to buy something we want but be unaware of our surroundings as we walk down the street. Indeed, we may be "a million miles away" in our minds, daydreaming about something but still end up in the shop we wanted to go to: we were able to control our direction and our walking even though we were not aware of what we were doing! Everybody needs a certain amount … [Read more...]
Desiderata – A Poem by Max Ehrmann
"Desiderata" (Latin for ‘desired things’) is a 1927 prose poem by American writer Max Ehrmann and is my favourite poem/song/devotional. Enjoy. "Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may … [Read more...]
Reaching Out For Help…Together (Part 1)
Reaching Out For Help can be difficult It is not unusual to get a call from someone (usually a woman) who says, “Our marriage is in trouble but (my partner) won’t go to counseling with me. What can I do?” Let’s pause to consider the situation… When one partner suggests bringing a counselor into their marriage problems the other partner either hears an alarm while envisioning being attacked by their partner and the counselor or imagines the stories that their partner and the counselor will release to the world. Confidentiality be damned! … [Read more...]
How to Deal with Anger | Part 2
In case you missed Part 1. we discussed: Angry Emotions and behaviours. Here is Part 2 on How to Deal with Anger Tempers Flare When the Stakes are High All of us get angry – some more than others. We all likely know one or more people who seem to live in a constant state of anger. Their language is often colourful and filled with exclamation marks. A lot of things tick us off, irk, grate, bother, and have us wanting to either make someone “pay” or break something or maybe punch some idiot. Most of the time, these feelings subside and pass. … [Read more...]
How to Deal with Anger | Part 1
How to Deal with Anger - Angry Emotions and Behaviours Humans have a wide range of emotions, and anger is a perfectly acceptable and common one. We all feel the need to address our frustrations, and to take quick action to alleviate our anger. But when do you know that anger is beyond your control and that you might have a real issue with anger? Find out the warning signs, and what you can do about it. Also, if you're a parent, learn how to discern between clumsy and aggressive behavior in your child, and how you can deal with your child's … [Read more...]