Read About Personal Growth and Development

It was almost the beginning of a fresh new year. For as long as I could remember, I had been praying and asking God to give me a word of the year. It was more than a habit or a ritual; it was a message and a reminder that I was not alone. I loved…

Dealing with failure is challenging because we often want to be defined and remembered by success and winning. It is natural to hope for and expect positive results when we invest time, money, love, emotions, and other valuable resources. Success is a great feeling, but no one is always a winner, which is a good…

Waking up one morning, I enthusiastically proclaimed to my husband, ‘I am going to collect 50 life changing stories and write a book.’ My husband looked at my squishy morning face and said affectionately, “50 is a lot; maybe start with 30?” These morning revelations are not unusual. I often wake up sensing a message…

Releasing our children into the world and becoming empty nesters sounds like a logical, freeing next step… after all, parenting is a hard job! But many of us struggle when our children walk out the door- on their own- for the first time. When my fourth child graduated from high school, I felt sad and sought encouragement for…

Living with no regrets is difficult because we all make mistakes. Jodi Snowdon shares steps to help you learn to live with no regrets. The unkind comment quickly rolled off my tongue. Like a snap reaction, the snarky statement left my mouth, intended to hurt the person who just hurt me. Overcome with anger, I…

“Coping” is effectively handling difficulties and disruptions in your life to reduce unpleasant emotions. Strategies to cope with change are beneficial, but most of us aren’t particularly enthusiastic about learning how to cope with change. Some people appreciate and even embrace change, so coping with it feels more comfortable, but most of us resist change…

Loneliness is feeling empty, alone, and sad. It is not physically alone, which at times is healthy, vital, and invigorating, but a deep sense of feeling unwanted, forgotten, and invisible. Learning how to deal with loneliness reminds me of riding a Ferris Wheel. One moment, you are enjoying the view, and suddenly, the ride stops.…

Managing emotions can be tricky, exhausting, and a huge distraction like a pesky, unruly fly swarming around your head. You grow weary of managing emotions and getting them under control, so feelings begin to accumulate like a layer of dust on your spirit. And then one day you are triggered and spread your collected emotions…

When I realized my response to emotional triggers negatively affected my relationships, I felt grief and a desire for change. As I allowed God to guide me in my emotional triggers, I experienced freedom and the courage to speak out. If emotional triggers impact your life, I hope you find encouragement and hope in my…

Learning how to plan a retreat can be intimidating. That is exactly what we were feeling when our Book Club decided to plan a retreat in order to grow closer to God and to each other. But as we discussed the idea our excitement grew and the possibility that we could learn how to plan…