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Empathy, It’s Not What You Think (The Real Version)
Recently, I listened to a friend’s mini-rant on people who say they feel what others feel when they really don’t. This is my response: I’ve been told I’m empathetic, but I’m not an empath. Part of being empathetic is acknowledging I don’t feel what you feel. People (including me) mess this up all the time…
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How Can I Do That? Getting Unstuck.
If you don’t know how to solve a problem, get out a piece of paper and: Write down the problem. Write down what hasn’t worked. Write down what needs to happen before the problem can be solved. Below that, write: “How can I do that?” Then write whatever comes to mind no matter how bad…
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Begin.
You may not know how you could possibly complete a task until you begin it. God does not often give us the strength to complete our work before we begin working. I have pain that reduces my energy and health problems that reduce my strength. It is not uncommon for me to begin work feeling…
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How can I have more good days?
“How can I have more good days?” – Simon Sinek It’s a question worth considering. Josh
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The Only Pillow That Works for Me
This is the only pillow I’ve tried that works for me with my pain issues. I think the adjustable memory foam layers are the bomb. They’re not cheap ($50). I bought three. One at a time. It hurts my frugal sensibilities to spend $150 on pillows, but they’re worth every penny. I use a pillow…
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The “Momentum Effect”
I took a shower. And that changed everything. I took a shower, then I washed my hair, I washed my hair, then I washed my face. I washed my face, then I washed my glasses. I washed my glasses, then I cleaned my cleaning cloth for my glasses. Then I ate. Then I worked for…
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The “Pieces” Approach to Overwhelm
If you know you need to do something, but you it’s too difficult or overwhelming, break it down. I need to clean my bathroom once a week, but it is difficult for me to do so because of health problems. So I broke it down. I can clean my sink one day, my counter the…
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On Suffering, Pain, Joy, and Glory
I Would Not Know I would not know the pleasure of relief if I did not know pain. It is through the death of those we love that we grow to appreciate life. I would not have tasted the heights of Joy if I had not known at least some of the depths of depression.…
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Barnacles and Hard Things
Some things are really hard until you see the easier path. Barnacles have glands that “secrete a type of natural quick cement able to withstand a pulling strength of 5,000 pounds (2,000 kilograms) per square inch and an sticking strength of 22–60 pounds (10–30 kilograms) per square inch.” (Barnacles, Wikipedia) In plain English: If you…
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Perfectionism is Fatalism
Perfectionism isn’t the pursuit of greatness, it’s fatalism. “I can’t do x, therefore I won’t do what I can do.” “I am so busy I could not read a book this month so I will not read a page today even though I have the time. One is too little.” When you read one page…