When I was young I had an odd, somewhat unconscious anxious habit. Someone would say, “It’s like in that movie _______, ya know?” and I would say, “Yeah,” and they’d continue with their story. The conversation kept flowing, the other thought I was in tune with them, and all was well. Except that I had… [Read More]
Leadership in Difficult Times: Thanking God for Pope Francis
There’s plenty to be anxious about right now. Plenty to sweat over and stress over and just wear ourselves out with worry over. It could make anyone want to live under a rock — honestly I kinda understand the appeal of living under a rock as a reactive response to everything that’s happening. Against the… [Read More]
How to Stay Motivated During Lent
If you’re anything like me, you get to Day 6 of Lent and you start amending your sacrifices, making them easier and less painful. You may even have a conversation with yourself that looks like this: Scene: I’m quietly engaged in a task. My brain is wandering in thought. Suddenly, Brain taps me on the… [Read More]
Walk It Out (God’s Will)
I used to spend too much of my time stressing about my future and what I was supposed to do with it. What brought me peace in that anxiety was the book of Deuteronomy. I love that book. Through it the Holy Spirit revealed so much to me about following God’s will. A few months after learning from it… [Read More]
Our Lady, Consoler of Souls – When You See A Loved One Suffer
When I was burdened with the cross of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, my mother, who loved me dearly, was heartbroken. She saw that I was mocked by bullies, lived in fear, and how much I wished death upon myself. She did anything she could possibly do to help by taking me to therapy, finding… [Read More]
Fearless
“You will only go where your fear allows you to go.” Well, isn’t that just a crippling statement? We like to think of ourselves as limitless. In our day to day lives we think, “I will say that hard truth that needs to be said. This time, I know I’m going to do it.” Or… [Read More]
Satisfaction Guaranteed or Taste and See
In our consumer culture, we’re used to investigating products before we purchase them. We want our satisfaction guaranteed before we commit to spending the money. Makes perfect sense from a market standpoint. It is safe and healthy to be a bit critical (and very healthy to practice daily discernment), but this structure of trying to guarantee satisfaction first… [Read More]
What If?
The more I get to know myself, the more I’ve learned that I have been a person who can not leave worries behind me. I’ve clutched them as though they were “my precious” and carried them in my purse at all times. And if could be out for coffee with a friend, on a date… [Read More]
Back-to-School Jitters: How to Help Kids Cope with Anxiety
It’s that time of year again, where parents breathe a sigh of relief as they prepare to free their children from the seemingly endless days of summer. Off they go to school again (sometimes begrudgingly, sometimes excitedly), to make friends, to learn new things and to bust out those shiny new school supplies. While some… [Read More]
Another Dating Blog: Cold Feet
Confession: I’m terrified of getting cold feet. This fear can be applied both literally and figuratively, since my base temperature is that of a small lizard, and I have so much anxiety, that were I to use my powers for good, I could probably generate enough energy to run a small city. So, yeah cold… [Read More]
On Being Prophetic Under Pressure
As I was sitting in daily mass on Tuesday at St Catherine of Sienna in South Austin, the priest began to talk about the prophet Jeremiah. We’ve been hearing from Jeremiah during daily mass for quite some days now. The priest said that one of the main roles of a prophet was to give us… [Read More]
