Hearts of stone are too heavy. Getting hurt hurts. Ironically, healing can hurt even more. Physical hurt, emotional hurt...the painful process is still the same. Step Six of the Latter-day Saint Addiction Twelve Step Recovery Program highlights this difficult dilemma. It states: Become entirely ready to have God remove all your character weakness (p. 35). Frankly, I don't like the term "character weakness" in the context of addiction. It sounds so harsh to me. Addiction, for ... VIEW POST
Softening Our Stony Hearts
Confession Is Good for the Soul
We're only as sick as our secrets. I confess: It's been five months since I've written my last post. I know I should write with more regularity. But it's hard. Hard for me to focus; hard to carve out time; hard to showcase my struggles; hard to bleed on every post. Still, sharing my struggles strengthens me. Why? I'm not sure. The scriptures talk about the importance of confession. "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed" (James 5:16). Perhaps ... VIEW POST
Step 4 of the 12 Steps: Truth
Are we denying our denial? I just read a compelling article in O Magazine about denial. I haven't written about this topic in a while, so I'm revisiting it along with using principles from the Latter-day Saint Family Services' Twelve Step Program. In previous posts, I've written about its first three steps. I've also stressed the program's potent power in helping Church members and anyone else to overcome addiction, compulsions, and/or addictive ... VIEW POST
On a Peacekeeping Mission? Get Out!
Peace at any price is no peace at all. As the middle child in my family for the first eight years of my life, I got pretty adept at peacekeeping---I simply stayed out of the fights between my older and younger siblings. Very typical for middle children; they are often considered the more quiet, passive, low-profile kids. Sometimes, my mother called me a "peacemaker." So, I beamed when my Sunday School teachers quoted Christ's Beatitude, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called ... VIEW POST
Don’t Be Blind to the Double Bind!
Caution: Manipulative maneuvers ahead! Consider the following interpersonal verbal and/or nonverbal scenarios between two individuals: Now, consider the following scenarios within a group (for example, among friends, co-workers, or ward members). Again, these can be verbal or nonverbal messages: In my last post, I discussed the Double Bind theory, and how we consciously or unconsciously engage in it. Sometimes we play the role of ... VIEW POST
Breaking the Binds of the Double Bind
Are others tying you in knots? Can you solve the following dilemma taught by Zen Buddhists? Be aware that logic will not solve this problem. Zen philosophy often emphasizes "enlightenment" over logic: You are a student of the Zen Master. He invites you to his house for a cup of tea. As you pick up your cup of tea, the Zen Master pulls out a large stick he has hidden under the table. He says, 'This is your lesson for today. If you pick up the cup of tea, I will hit you with this ... VIEW POST
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- …
- 13
- Next Page »