EXPLORACAST

Since and because of the Covid 19 pandemic, Americans have grown more and more disconnected and isolated from one another. But this "epidemic of loneliness" has its beginnings years before that. Among other things, the wonderful tech advances that define the last several decades have brought and grown difficult and unintended consequences. These consequences are experienced on personal, local, and global scales. Our mental health, physical health, and relational health is under assault as well as the foundations of a functioning society. 

We are built to connect and be in relationship with others. Very few people actually thrive alone but we also know that sometimes being in relationship is not easy and even takes some very intentional work. We believe that there are things that, though they may be difficult to do, are things that strengthen, deepen, and secure those relationships that matter most to us. Here are our initial thoughts on thesubject along with some ideas that might lead you to a more productive relational path.

What do you do or what do you stop doing when it feels likethe world is burning? Regardless of ideologies and political positions, most would agree that things seem mighty rough "out there" right now. So many people are feeling overwhelmed at the very least and sometimes evendevastated. Listen to our discussion in response to a very timely question from one of our listeners.

We again use a Ted Lasso quote to get the conversation started. We wonder what optimism is including can one who has their "head in the sand" and denies reality truly be optimistic. Do optimists take more risks? Is this a wise

One of the many things the great Ted Lasso told us is that "happiness is a choice." But is it really possible to be happy in this crazy world? Is it possible to be happy while being fully aware all the things around that are difficult, sad, and tragic? Disease. war, conflict, divisiveness, political and social upheaval, and global climate change are for real, and yet Ted has the audacity to suggest that we can choose to be happy!  

Everyone knows the word mindfulness and pretty much what it means. Still, something counselors and therapists often see while working with people is that what is known and what is actually practiced is not always the same. Listen to our

We are born being curious about everything! But it seems that over time, many people grow comfortable with what they already know and what makes them feel safe and

We generally think of trauma and PTSD in relation to people like soldiers and survivors of other horrific events. This is certainly true, but it is also true that our world, society in general, politics, international war and unrest, climate change, or the pandemic and all that came out of that has been traumatizing to most, if not all of us. Dealing with it healthily requires a lot of honesty and courage.

Most of us were taught to have humility as a foundational value. But what if we work so hard to remain humble and not come off as conceited that we limit what we are capable of doing and downplay who we are capable of being? It's an interesting and, we believe, important tension to acknowledge. Do you play small unnecessarily or do you

The industrial revolution began around 1900. As nuclear families began to move away to larger cities for work, one of the major consequences was some loss of the