Transformation

Gifts in Disguise

Obviously, you do not like to fail.  Nor do you like to see those you care about fail.  But failure is often a gift in disguise.  Why?Most spiritual leaders would agree that after the age of 35 or so, there is very little we learn from our successes.  But we could probably write novels about what we learned from our mistakes.  So how do you tap into this goldmine of wisdom? ...

Antidote to Envy

Envy.  We have all felt it from time to time, and it is a terrible feeling.  It consumes your thoughts, eats you up inside, makes you unappreciative of what you have, and robs you of happiness.  We all know what envy is; we all hate the feeling.  But what can we do about it? Professor Lawrence Cunningham from the University of Notre Dame says that while ...

Self-Esteem: Healthy or Not?

Self-esteem is a desirable trait, except when it derived from comparisons to others.  If your self-esteem is dependent on how well you measure up to others, you are eventually in for a big crash. Some day your looks will fade, your abilities will deteriorate, and that promotion you wanted will be given to a younger co-worker.  If your self-esteem depends on comparisons to others, you will be devastated when ...

Twelve Step Program

If you think the 12 Step Program is only for alcoholics or drug addicts, think again!  The program is a spiritual process. It essentially requires a person to admit to having a problem, acknowledge the need for God’s help, and make amends for hurting others. According to Richard Rohr, one of our great spiritual thinkers, the Twelve Step Program applies in each of our lives, and here’s why: We all have addictions to some ...

Identity

Have you ever given thought to how you define yourself?  Your definition matters because it affects your sense of your self-worth. Some of us define ourselves by what we do.  When we are successfully doing the things we do in life, we feel effective and worthy.  But when we start to fail, insecurity creeps in. Some of us define ourselves by what others say about us.  When people speak highly of us, we feel ...

Taming Our Restlessness

Restlessness is like an undertow in the ocean.  It is almost always present, sometimes raging forcefully, other times it just nags at you, and every once in a while, it momentarily disappears, but usually not for long. Why do you so often feel the undertow of restlessness? Isn’t your life full with work, family and other worthwhile efforts? Are you ...