When we look back at our lives, it’s often astonishing to see how much things change over time. Even when our schedules and situations seem the same from week to week, change and growth are nevertheless at work. It’s like a garden; with soil, sun, and water, even the smallest of seeds can become the … Continue reading How to Cultivate Inner Beauty in Seasons of Monotony
Whether we wish we could serve the poor and alleviate suffering like Mother Teresa or pioneer critical scientific research like Marie Curie, we all dream of doing beautiful, world-changing things with our lives. Yet, no matter how much we might long to follow in the footsteps of such women, who in fact believes themselves capable … Continue reading How Imperfect People Can Do Great Things
As much as we all want to be confident, self-assured women, there’s a nagging little voice inside our head that tries to tell us we can’t be — that we’re inadequate, we’re weak, we’re unworthy. It’s one thing to be aware of our shortcomings, but quite another to be self-critical and demeaning toward ourselves because of them. When we … Continue reading On Telling Our Inner Critic To Quit It
Within each of us lies an inherent craving to create, to put something beautiful in the world that was not there before. We have in the depths of our core a longing to leave a concrete mark on others through our work; we want to sing, dance, draw, write, bake, and discover as no one … Continue reading Cultivating Your Inner Creative
Growing up, I had clear expectations for the kind of life I would lead as I matured, including what I would know, how I would behave, the kind of job and husband I would have, and so on. As I’ve gotten older, most of those expectations have died, but new ones never seem to fail … Continue reading Unleashing From Expectations
This past winter, I had the pleasure of speaking with author and activist Anny Donewald about her incredible faith journey and how she uses her past in the sex industry in order to teach other women about their worth and fill them with hope through the love of God. For those unfamiliar with her story, … Continue reading The Confidant Embodied: Anny Donewald
No matter how much we might strive for perfection in each area of our lives – in our relationships, in our careers, in our health, or even in our faith – it’s inevitable that we’ll fail at times and see others outshine us. Yet when this happens, what’s our reaction? Do we express happiness for our … Continue reading Finding Happiness in Others’ Success
When it seems like all of our friends are getting married, having kids, purchasing houses or settling into careers before us, how are we supposed to feel? Is it possible to maintain true excitement for them without comparing their circumstances to ours? In such situations we’re often first told not to measure ourselves against others, but … Continue reading Being OK With Being Last
As a child I imagined adulthood almost as if it were a destination, believing that once I got there I would have the dream job, the dream husband, and the dream home. I would have accomplished every item on my bucket list and would just live out the life I had fantasized until I grew … Continue reading Embracing the Interim
This week, I was featured on Stephanie May Wilson's blog in a series called "The Loveliest Things," which is all about celebrating and sharing the loveliness in our lives with each other. I love the idea of taking time to notice and appreciate what we find most beautiful in our lives, and have included my list below. 1. … Continue reading The Loveliest Things