• boundaries
    Boundaries,  broken,  relationship

    Boundaries: Reset and Reinforce Your Broken ‘No’

    Some people seem to have the gift of no.  Boundaries seem to come easily to them. When asked for favors, money, or permission, they hand out noes with blithe unconcern.  Others, like me, feel guilty about denying the requests, even demands of the people in their lives.  But if you are naturally compliant, suffered under the rule of authoritarian parents, have undergone abuse, or are simply overly empathetic, then saying no comes at a cost. Strategizing your ‘no’ can help you make and reinforce boundaries that are important to you, whether at home or at work. Before you begin to take back the territory in your life lost to poor…

  • counseling
    Counseling,  Mental Health,  Trauma,  Wisdom

    Eight Signs You Need Counseling

    Just the word, counseling, often has a negative effect on people, I have noticed.  If you want to cause a defensive reaction in someone, suggest gently and without any judgment, they would benefit from counseling.  Immediately they hear only something is wrong with me. Then wait for the litany of various reasons why counseling will not work or has not worked in the past.  Counseling is too expensive, time-consuming, and doesn’t help them.  They know someone who went to counseling and boy, did that counselor mess them up.  I have even heard the excuse that God, as our Wonderful Counselor, did not endorse other counseling, despite the many verses in…

  • narcissist
    abuse,  abuser,  freedom,  narcissist,  narcissistic abuse

    The Narcissistic Husband: The Day God Set Me Free

    To be married to a narcissistic husband is to live a half-life. Your body keeps going, but your mind and heart gradually die within you. That God did not want me to die came as a surprise to me. And some might think that title is scandalous. Some believe that God would never condone leaving one’s husband. I know that my fear of divorce kept me from escaping a narcissistic husband for over ten years. My belief that God valued the institution of marriage over the safety of my children and myself disrespected Him as Abba. He is a good, good Father. We should fear God more than we fear…