Category: Control

There have been some dry spells this summer, and my withering and parched lawn was certainly showing the effects of it. My first inclination was to swing into rescue mode and haul the hose out for daily watering, believing that I was doing the best for it, and keeping it ultra-hydrated and from as much distress as possible. A little research on lawn care showed me that this well-intentioned, extra care and attention routine could actually be hurting my lawn and creating shallow root systems and an inability to withstand the rigors of future heat and drought.

It is natural to want to escape suffering as soon as possible and not live in discomfort. We usually want the quick and easy way out. As a parent, I have found it difficult at times to watch my children struggle with various challenges that they have faced. The temptation is to step in and take over or rescue them from the difficulty rather than have them suffer. Yet, I know that ...

If you are anything like me, and probably just about every other person in the world, you probably enjoy having things go your way. It is nice to see things go the way they are supposed to, to see your efforts be rewarded with a satisfying outcome, to have others understand you and think the best of you. If life always worked out this perfectly, well… I don’t know if we could call it life, but it sounds like it would be nice! 

Whether we are consciously thinking about these things or not, if we take an honest look at ourselves we often operate from this way of thinking. We are motivated for things to go our way and feel good, and even when our motives seem altruistic there is almost always something we are getting from the specific outcome. It might sound like a pessimistic way of seeing things but when we boil it down, we realize that we desperately want to be in control, and we will find ways to exert our will on people ...

Noticing Your Warning Signs

Do you ever find yourself pushing through the week, waiting until the weekend, hoping to relax and recover only to find yourself back in bed Sunday evening dreading the week ahead? What about when every decision seems difficult to make and all the tasks you normally could do seem like an uphill battle? Sounds like you may be experiencing at minimum, elevated levels of stress and at maximum, potential burn out. Most of us have heard about burn out and we may even hear from our doctors that we need to limit stress. But how? 

Oftentimes we feel we need a complex answer to solve a complicated problem. However, a simple solution is the most effective. Let’s start with that. Implement one very tiny positive habit into your routine. Drink a glass of water in the morning. Limit screen time. Wake up at the same time every day. Stop watching SO ...