Trauma-informed Living
o one gets through life unscathed by harm and trauma. We live in a world that is marred and broken. Nothing is truly as it has been written upon our hearts to be. At every step, we have learned. Something that distinguishes us from the rest of creation is the ability to project our learning to determine our next steps, to create, plan, and build our future. As we mature, what we’ve learned through extrinsic memory (those things we had to pay attention to and concentrate on to learn) tends to become aligned with our interests, curiosities, and passions. We pay attention to what is relevant, those things we believe will be useful and helpful and successful for us.
Letting Go of Rejection
When fighting loneliness post-divorce, it can be so easy to be consumed by the sense of rejection from previous in-laws and friends. The feeling of being left out or abandoned by those who once were close can be overwhelming and debilitating.
It’s a Lonely Road Alone
Having been mentored through some bottom-of-the-pit seasons of my own life, I’ve realized how powerful it is to have someone in my corner, encouraging, stretching, pushing, and holding me accountable to follow through with the hard steps I knew I needed to take.
Imagine. Explore. Create.
Resilience isn’t a passive bounce-back. It is the result of how you take what you’ve got to work with, no matter how insignificant it might seem, and make something of it.
Driven by the Feelings You Choose
Most of the time, we let feelings drive our behavior like mindless fools, not realizing we’ve given away our own power to enjoy the moments for what they are. We make a meaning and attribute a motive to what we think we see, and that becomes the “perception” that fuels our feelings. Those feelings become the motivation and direction of our responses.
The Perturbed Heart Part 2
If God is after your integrity, and He uses the people around you to soften the edges and knock out the junk, how do you navigate the toxicity without getting burned? Here’s how to embrace growth within relationships.
The Shift in Focus
I need people in my space, helping me to navigate the stupid things of life, so really this is an invitation for you to become that “people.” Let’s connect!
The Perturbed Heart, Part 1
Consider the inner chaos you are experiencing connected to another person or people. Whatever feelings they provoke in you, that’s what God is after. The closer the relationship, the deeper the emotional impact. These feelings reflect the deeper issues of your heart—your insecurities, fears, desires, and your ability to connect and love. It’s within this space that God wants to transform your life.
Shame’s Smoke and Mirrors
Living life out of your shame sabotages the things God puts in your life to bring restoration. Your shame tells you that you don’t deserve the gift He has laid before you, so you push it away by hiding behind a facade. Whether it’s pouring your energy into work or hobbies, getting lost in an addiction, or simply not pursuing the gift like the treasure it was meant to be, shame drives these behaviors.
The Secret to Inner Strength
The light of your personhood, the part of you that impacts the souls of those around you, flows out of His grace. This means it ultimately comes from Him, not from your own will or self-determination. It is the visible evidence that fleshes out the reflection of His image in you.