It’s not easy to open up. Many of us approach counseling, and reaching out for help in general, with ambivalence. We want to feel better and know that talking can help, but the act of expressing vulnerable feelings is uncomfortable. Right as we’re on the precipice of diving into raw emotion, we can get cold feet. There are many ways to avoid taking this plunge, but one that often presents itself: instead of feeling our feelings, we become their judge.
Much of what happens in counseling is uncovering why we so often repeat the same self-defeating behaviors. It can be easier in some ways to turn a blind eye to our own issues and blame others, justifying reactions and rationalizing behavior, but growth requires insight that we often lack all on our own. The Jahari Window is a tool that can help us grow in self-awareness, communication, and trust. This article explains how we can use the tool and how it intersects with Jesus’ ministry of bringing spiritual sight those who are otherwise blind.
For some, the arrival to counseling signifies an admission of defeat, hoping a kind stranger can take away the pain and get them back to having it all together. In the West and in the Church, our efforts to avoid pain know no bounds. But what if healing is found not by treating symptoms with contempt, but with care and compassion? Could anxiety and depression, lust and anger, be messages sent by God not to shame us but to show us areas of our heart he wants to meet with his love?
We know that finding space for peace, quiet, and stillness is somehow essential for our souls. But it can seem so elusive, almost as if the whole world is conspiring against us being able to ever really experience it. Or maybe it’s something within ourselves that keeps driving us away from silence. If this describes you too, then I want to encourage you to recognize all of the small ordinary moments that are actually available to you throughout most days and simply allow them to be silent.
“The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” I could tell you that I love this verse, but I would be lying. Mostly, I find this verse confusing – how in the world do I “not be anxious about anything?” And yet, believe or not, managing anxiety can begin with some relatively simple steps.
As someone who made a major career change from the business world to seminary, I have had to ask myself what exactly is my identity and calling? For many years, although I knew deep down that my identity was rooted in being a “child of God,” I had been falsely identifying with my career, job title, salary, travel, etc. As I come towards the end of my seminary journey, I am beginning to understand finally that my true identity lies with my relationships.
Amid the quiet rhythm of a daily walk, this reflection explores how the changing seasons mirror the inner transformations we often overlook. With gentle observations and spiritual grounding, it’s an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and notice the beauty—and the divine presence—woven into everyday life.
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