How Do You Create and Sustain Hope in the Face of Adversity?
How do you create and sustain hope in the face of distressing circumstances? The world is woven of interconnected threads–we are each linked together. These links are not limited to the human world; they extend to the natural world and all existence. You exist in relationship. In the most challenging times, you have an opportunity […]
Taking the path less traveled
During a bike ride to the office, I paused to share an experience that seems relevant during this time of uncertainty.
Being the Master of our Mind
Early this morning, I was lying in bed with thoughts of the current crisis in this county. These are simply some wandering thoughts that came to me long before sunrise. It truly is a crisis in the sense that the impact of the coronavirus will likely have a devastating effect on our economy nationally and […]
Stepping into a New Future
When I awoke this morning I was reflecting on the current occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon by a group of out of state militants. I was reminded of something I wrote some time ago. Most of us greet the New Year with at least some degree of uncertainty. Predicting where we […]
The Three Questions
The Three Questions is a story by Tolstoy concerning an emperor who, in the course of ruling his realm, confronts three questions. The first question is: “What is the best time to start a task? How does on avoid missing the appropriate time, so that one may have no regret?” The second question is: “What […]
It Really Takes Courage
We begin to grow old from the moment we lose hope and the spirit of challenge, when we become self-satisfied or grow resigned to our present circumstances. ~ Daisaku Ikeda When I awoke this morning my thoughts where of the many good things happening in our community. Yes, we have many challenges before us. And […]
Moldova: Creating hope (video)
This video is part of my graduate school thesis project in Community Counseling at Northwest Christian University. The question guiding my thesis work was, “How do we create hope in the face of distressing circumstances?” Moldova was the focus of this thesis. Our team to Moldova consisted of two professors and seven graduate students from […]
Developing an Approach to Counseling
Summary Human beings share a desire to belong, to contribute, and to make a meaningful difference in the world. While people share a desire to grow and fulfill our potential, we often feel stuck. The process of moving from stuck to unstuck-and-progressing is a process of acknowledging what is and recognizing what can be. The intrinsic motivation to […]
Leading in times of uncertainty
No one person is leading others. We are all being lead by certain principles, values, and attributes. We share a common desire to live meaningful lives and for our families, businesses, and communities to be healthy and prosper. Yet, in times of uncertainty it’s easy to slip into fear and react instead of considering a […]
Beyond Difference: Acknowledging our shared culture
It is important to celebrate our heritage, be it cultural, ethnic or spiritual. It is also important to respect those of others. However, only acknowledging what makes us different from others, while ignoring the common source of life that connects us all, leads to divisiveness rather than harmony. Our true identity is to be found […]