Today’s podcast discusses how friendships in today’s world are hard to come by. There are multiple reasons for this. One is that the resources of time and having the mental bandwidth for a friendship are more scarce. However, our society also has become more egocentric and self-centered, which disrupts the synergy and reciprocity needed for a healthy friendship. There is also a difficult discussion on having to ask ourselves difficult questions to assess are we a healthy friend to others.

Today’s podcast answers a question from a grieving mother. Since her son had passed away by taking his own life years ago, she has limited herself to several prayers she had found that imply that the one praying the prayers is risking sinning and has led to the mother feeling shamed. How to handle praying for those who committed suicide is discussed in this podcast.

Today’s podcast speaks to what are realistic expectations of the healing work. The end result is not the absence of struggle or the complete disappearance of difficult emotions. The reality is, a little bit of pain and struggle are directional and we need them to keep moving and not get too comfortable in this world. The example of Saint Paul is also discussed. In the end, our struggles are not sins, but rather they allow room through which God‘s grace can act.

Today’s podcast answers a question from someone who is trying to start their life with their husband, but the pain and dysfunction of their family of origin calls for them daily. Even though the submitter of the question is married and outside of their childhood home, they are still playing the same role they did when they were a child. Today’s podcast discusses how to break free from a family of origin that has never changed so that we can have a chance at a healthy and peaceful life.

Today’s podcast answers a question from someone who grew up in a fatherless home, and there was also much conflict and upset. As a result of these experiences, the submitter of the question experiences intense fear and stress around members of the opposite gender. Despite having done much work on this, they still struggle. They have also fallen into sexual addiction as a way to cope with the pain and stress associated with this.

Today’s podcast speaks to a request by a listener, to speak on the topic of accountability, specifically in a parish setting. A healthy parish is one that does not tolerate negative or unhealthy behavior. This means being able to have the difficult conversations. Also, the perception that we can sometimes hide our negative behaviors in the church and not have to work on them is also addressed.

Today’s podcast focuses on how to discern the difference between being selfish and selfless, specifically around setting boundaries or anytime we assert ourselves. When it comes to depicting the self as bad, we have to be very careful when speaking in absolutes or in all or nothing language. The reality is, when someone is healing from trauma, there are times when the sense of self has to be focused on as a temporary passage, in order to achieve becoming selfless.

Today’s podcast answers a question from a parent who is in the process of exploring colleges for their teenager. They feel influenced by parents who put pressure on their kids to get into elite schools and yet feel envious of parents who are relaxed and have no need to put pressure on their kids. The submitter of the question asks if there’s a sweet spot or balanced position to have so that they’re not being too lax or putting too much pressure on their kids. Allowing our kids to be who they are, and guiding them according to the gifts and talents God has given them, gives them dignity that protects them from all the things that we fear for them.

Today’s podcast speaks to a topic that is relevant to all the questions that have been submitted. That topic is the reality that awareness is becoming less present in this world. Many people are feeling disillusioned with humanity and existentially alone. However, whether just discouraged with humanity because of the present state of the world or from having suffered from trauma, the presence of humble souls in our lives can be a balm on our soul and have a healing effect on us.

Today’s podcast is a discussion about a subtle mindset that affects so many of us. Without realizing it, we go through our lives in a mindset in which we are always waiting for some future moment when will finally relax and live as God meant for us to live. In the meantime, our present stressors and tasks are perceived as obstacles. We are often waiting for that moment where we feel we will have absolute control, but it never seems to arrive. Learning to pivot and be at peace with the now is the point of discussion.