Don't like to read? Watch the video here! Empathy and compassion require more energy than giving advice. They require us to slow down, to avoid our compulsion to fix, and to sit in the discomfort of someone's pain. Many of us find it difficult to offer empathy and compassion toward others. In order to do so, we have to surrender to things we cannot control, to consideration of another person's perspective, and to a process that might take longer than we have scheduled on

You have the right to remain silent. You have the right not to answer a question if it demands an answer too personal or unnecessary for the situation. You have the right to speak. It might not change the other person, but sometimes things need to be said. If someone hurts you, you have the right to tell them, “That was rude," or "That was unnecessary." Speak up when someone is hurtful, even if it's simply to be honest. You have the right to change your mind. We would neve

“If I have anxiety, doesn’t it mean I don’t have enough faith?” It always breaks my heart to hear this question. I’ve heard it in other forms, such as: “Does my doubt mean I don’t trust God?” “How can I be a Christian and struggle with anxiety?” “Is anxiety a sin?” Look closely, and you’ll see that each one of these questions comes from shame. Shame about anxiety. Shame about fear. Shame about doubt. Shame Traps Us Shame about emotions is one of Satan’s greatest tools in ke

Warning: This article contains details about sexual trauma that may not be appropriate for some readers. Caution recommended. Shelia's* Story “Trauma? Like PTSD? But I haven’t been to war. I haven’t even seen someone die. How can I have PTSD?” Shelia sat on my couch, hands clenched on her thighs. Her right foot tapped her left foot in unrhythmic jolts. “Yes, your symptoms are trauma symptoms.” “Like what?” “All of the things you just mentioned. You experienced a sexual assau

Last month, I discussed how childhood experiences impact adult lives. During those early years, the brain’s rapid development greatly...