Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — I often say that too much of a good thing is not a good thing. You may be surprised, but this philosophy is even relevant to how we use our smarts. I think easily with questions because I’m very logic smart. Analyzing and comparing come naturally to me. I want things to make sense. To me. When people or things disappoint or confuse me, I think a lot about the situation. I can get stuck. Frustrated. Even angry if solutions don’t come to mind. I’m sure you’ve heard of the “paralysis of analysis.” That used to describe me. Past tense. Have you wrestled with … [Read more...]
People Smart + Self Smart = Influential Combination
April 24, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — Last week, I finished an eight-week series about our intelligences where I detailed them for you. The last two are people smart and self smart. A combination of these two in your top four can be internally challenging. Therefore, I’m reposting a slightly edited blog from a year ago. As always, I hope it’s helpful. Share it with others who would benefit. All adults and children have the capacity to develop each of the eight smarts. Some will be stronger than others. Some may remain weak. But, we can and should use them in combinations so even weak intelligences don’t have to hold us back. One of … [Read more...]
Security & Freedom
April 22, 2013 by · 1 Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Security. Protection. Shelter. Safety. Refuge. Retreat. Defense. Safeguard. Sanctuary. Guard. Sure. Supported. Safe and sound. Trustworthy. Freedom from harm, danger, fear, hurt, wickedness, abuse, wrong, injury, Freedom from hopelessness, hurt, disaster, suffering, pain, damage, worry, trouble. Freedom FOR truth, belief, joy, hope, confidence, love, contentment, purpose, Freedom FOR happiness, playfulness, growth, peace, pleasure, blessings, anticipation. God. Jesus. The Holy Spirit. Forgiveness. Salvation. Security. … [Read more...]
Grieving the Boston Bombings – Practical Insights to Help Process
April 15, 2013 by · 1 Comment
In light of the tragic bombings in Boston today and the loss of life and the number of injured, I thought I’d repost this blog (with some slight edits) from about a year ago. --- Grief is on my mind and it’s probably on yours. And, it’s in our hearts. Fear and confusion may be on your mind and you may notice it in your children, depending on how aware they are of what happened. Would it surprise you to know that understanding how we are smart can help us process grief, fear, and confusion well? It’s true. And, it’s important because grief isn’t well understood. Too often, people can be made to feel they’re not grieving right. Really? Disappointing. If your children have definite intelligence strengths, you’ll want … [Read more...]
Are You Alive?
April 1, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Are you alive today? Of course you are, if you’re reading this. :) Are you living? Did you celebrate LIFE at church yesterday? Let’s live grateful for it EVERY day. When we live with Christ’s sacrifice in mind, we will LIVE. Don’t waste it. Let’s LIVE! When people spend time with you, is LIFE appealing? Is Jesus appealing? Forgiveness freeing and sin damaging? Really LIVING appealing? I’m sad for people alive not living. We need to recognize our need for LIFE and have faith to see Jesus as the answer. He is life and He wants us to live. Daily. Every day. To be alive. To breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Bleed. … [Read more...]
Masks Matter
January 28, 2013 by · 2 Comments
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Doug, a member of the small group I attend at my church, wears a mask over his mouth and nose for health reasons. He’s had cancer and a transplant so his immune system is weak and he needs to guard his health. He has told us he doesn’t like wearing it. But, he does. Doug’s mask is life-giving. It protects him from something real. He’s not hiding behind it. He’s not choosing to be fake. What about us? It’s so tempting to wear masks so we can hide. Pretend to be perfect. Protect others from ourselves. To be fake. It’s dangerous and damaging, as Jill Savage points out in her must read, No More Perfect … [Read more...]
Dream. Dream big. Dream large. Dream gigantic.
January 21, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Change. It’s a word and a concept that results in many strong reactions. There’s not a person alive who doesn’t have something they could change in order to have a better life. More productivity. More peace. More joy. More friendships. More hope. Less fear. Less trouble. Less trauma. Less loneliness. Less despair. Change will more likely work out well when all five core needs are met in healthy ways. This gives us a lot to count on during the sometimes shaky transitional times surrounding change. How do we get started? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose life and legacy we celebrate in America today, … [Read more...]
Motivating Children is Not a “One Size Fits All” Situation – Part 2
January 16, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — When children misbehave or lack motivation, sometimes consequences help them improve. Both punishments and rewards can help. They’re most effective when both are used and when they’re related to the issue you’re hoping changes. As I pointed out in last Wednesday’s post, matching incentives and negative consequences to children’s smarts can also be effective. “One size fits all” does not work. Last week, I explained how to consider a child’s word-smart, logic-smart, picture-smart, and music-smart strengths when setting consequences. Today, I’ll cover the other four. Body smart: They … [Read more...]
The Proper Perspective on Being “Perfect”
January 7, 2013 by · 7 Comments
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — When I speak about our core needs, the topic of perfection comes up in two primary ways. Trying to meet our legitimate need for security by being perfect won’t work. When trying to be perfect, our mistakes become even more obvious and we’ll become insecure. This is the exact opposite of our goal. We can’t meet our legitimate need for competence by being perfect either. Our God-wired-into-us need is for competence, not perfection. Perfect paralyzes. Permits defeat. Pummels. Perfect is painful. It suffocates. Perfect lies. It diminishes. It erases. Perfect is defined as “faultless.” We’re not. … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #47: Looking Ahead
December 28, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Friday, I’ll post thought provoking discussion starters. — I hope you’ll approach 2013 with resiliency and resolve so you find the opportunities hidden in each new day. I intend to. Leave the past in the past and move forward. Look back only if it helps you move forward. It’s easy to trip over your own feet so be careful. If there’s something you need to still understand that happened this year, process your thoughts and feelings now. You have four days. Seek truth. Look hard. Harder. Find what is new and good and possible and step into that. Big steps. New challenges are bound to be a part of 2013. Respond appropriately. Making resolutions day-by-day rather than for the entire year can be helpful. Love well. … [Read more...]
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