Today’s podcast answers a question from a husband and wife who are struggling with the toxic and abusive behavior of their in-laws. For many years, they thought that honoring one’s mother and father meant tolerating the abuse and striving to appease them. The husband and wife are now realizing that this is not sustainable and wanting to change, but are struggling with feelings of guilt that somehow they are not forgiving or honoring their parents. The truth is that the setting of boundaries and forgiveness go hand-in-hand.

Today’s podcast discusses various obstacles to practicing acceptance of our life and the present moment and how to resolve those obstacles. It’s very liberating and peaceful to come to the realization that it’s okay and safe to accept the present. It’s precisely then, that we have an open chapter before us, and to become quite deliberate with what we write in that empty space.

Today’s podcast speaks on the topic of age regressions. Some of our most profound moments of discomfort in our lives can occur when we are experiencing an age regression, in which we revert back to an earlier time in our life or developmental stage, as a result of stress, unmet needs, or life changes. Understanding this phenomenon, and how to resolve it, is the focal point of today’s topic.

Today’s podcast discusses an essential skill that is needed for the healing work. When in counseling, one of the roles of the counselor is to help us see the larger things that are going on in our lives or what is really behind our struggles. However, we can learn to do this with ourselves as well. It is critical for the healing work and it is critical for our spiritual life. We can learn to use our mind’s eye as a microscope, to know when to zoom in and zoom out, in order to see what we need to see.

Today’s podcast answers a question from someone who fears that their struggles with attachment and abandonment will disrupt any future marriage. The idea of future relationships seems murky and intimidating. Today’s podcast focuses on how to reduce that murkiness and create clarity, goals, and clear direction moving forward into the arena of relationships.

Today’s podcast answers a question from someone who’s trying to understand their spouse’s anger. Inevitably, all of us have projected or displaced emotions meant for ourselves onto our spouses.

Sometimes when we work our ourselves, admit our mistakes, apologize, it can remind our spouse of what they themselves might not be doing. Some spouses will consider this an invitation to improve themselves and step up, yet for some, it can have a very different effect. Trying to decipher what’s behind these interactions can be very difficult.

Many who struggle with depression carry shame and guilt over their depression. We might feel weak, inadequate, and even that we are being ungrateful. The reality is, that those who are the most healthy often will struggle with depression at some point, because of the dysfunction of others and because of the fallen world in which we live.

Today’s podcast discusses how the resurrection appearances are evidence that God does not abandon us to grief and loss. What modern day trauma research is telling us, God was already putting into practice in the aftermath of His betrayal crucifixion.

Today’s podcast explores an ever present reality when we struggle in relationships. That reality is the possibility that we are struggling with a disrupted attachment style. We all have a need for love and safety. When in early life, an early caregiver was not consistent in providing love and safety, it can create a template for how we perceive and function in relationships. Understanding our attachment style provides the healing path to resolution, stability, and peace.

Anger is a difficult emotion to admit. This is especially true of anger that is rooted in deep, past experiences. To admit anger is to admit we are vulnerable and that we were hurt. There are social stigmas associated with anger. However, hidden anger reaches out into the present and often manifests itself in a sour, negative mood and in constant complaining. We can also try to mask anger as righteous indignation over imperfections in our present life and in others. Turning to, admitting, and accepting the presence of anger that is rooted in the past, will help us see our present life and all those in it, in a more positive and merciful light.