Empathy is Oxygen for Your Soul
Without a friend who feels our hurt, stress, and longings with us our souls shrivel up and die. Giving and receiving empathy are key to life in Christ.
Tag: Marriage
A Tool to Improve Your Marriage
I share an embarrassing story from early in my marriage to Bill at the opening of our new book, Journey of the Soul: “You might…
Breaking Secret Agreements – Collusions
Unconscious collusions in relationships harm people in families, friendships, church staffs, and work partnerships. In this case “collusion” does not refer to a conspiracy or…
Communicating Emotion to Invite Empathy
Often in marriage or another relationship, we think we have an intimacy problem when really it’s more about a boundary problem. Boundaries between people get…
Re-Soul: 4 Ways Emotions Help You Love and Lead Better (and Prevent Burnout)
If you keep negating your emotions you’ll hurt yourself and people you love. Eventually you’ll burnout. This is true for pastors and other workers seeking…
Re-Soul: Confessions of a Type A Leader
“The reason I share my junk with you,” a pastor disclosed. “Is because you’re not a monkish spiritual formation guy. I can’t relate to the…
Couch Time for Couples
At the beginning of our marriage, Kristi and I were both working full-time jobs and going to graduate schools in psychology. Obviously, we didn’t have…
Jesus Says Be Selfish
“I feel invisible,” Angelica’s face sunk with her words. “My husband doesn’t even see me. He’s so focused on his work, his ministry projects, what…
Triangulating Hurts You and Your Loved Ones
Many families and groups are built on unhealthy “triangles” of three-way relationships that harm people and create dysfunction. It’s a simple concept, that once we…
Helping People Understand You
In a conflict situation it’s easy to get entangled in what the other person is doing that upsets me. But that’s not helpful — it…