Monthly Archives: February 2013

Sometimes, life just gets you down. Whether you're a mom dealing with the drudgery of wiping noses and serving snacks; an artist who doesn't know quite where to turn; or someone trying to learn how to break free of depression, anxiety, or grief, it may be time to seek out an inspirational author for some wise advice. I've compiled a list of books that are sure to inspire you, and reviewed them so you can choose the one that's right for your individual situation. One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are Ann Voskamp In this…

By Jessica Mast. During my life, I have found we learn the most through experience. When I was 25 years old, my husband of two and a half years passed away on his 28th birthday. After I experienced this unexpected tragedy in my life, I found I could either let it drag me down the path of despair or choose to learn from it and discover how it would be used for my future. I chose the latter. Here are some lessons I learned that hopefully will enable you to not only survive a trial but also find greater purpose…

By Lisa Cypers Kamen. If you find yourself focusing on the unhappy moments and things in your life, the following suggestions may start you back on the path to a happier, more satisfying life. Clear out unhappiness. What obstacles to happiness are there in your life? Pay attention to what makes you feel unhappy. Are you especially fearful, sad or anxious? Find someone you can talk to about your feelings, a close friend or family member that you can confide in and whom you trust. Avoid things that make you unhappy. See less of unhappy, difficult people whenever possible. Talk…

By Lisa Cypers Kamen. Having control over our destiny is something we strive for. There are many, many things we do to bring security, comfort and opportunity to our lives. We all work very hard to achieve the goals that we think will bring us the happiness we deserve. And we are determined to persevere. Innovation and creativity are something we pride ourselves on. Once we have met a goal, we set forth yet another, and another and another. This is not a bad thing… this is what it means to be in charge of our lives and our happiness, isn’t…

By Gail Lynne Goodwin. There's something about people in grocery stores that often inspire me. Today as I was waiting in the check out line, there was an older couple in front of me, who the cashier greeted as Ginny and Roy. As they neared their turn in line, I noticed that Ginny had a single Valentine's Day card, while Roy was proudly holding a single red rose. Ginny, well into her 80s handed the cashier the greeting card, then started counting out coins to pay for it. Roy waited and watched, smiling. Then, he handed the rose to the…

By Erin Steiner. Movies can be a fantastic source of inspiration when you are feeling low or out of ideas. Here are seven incredibly inspiring movies you should watch the next time you feel like you’re having trouble with your momentum. 1. Julie and Julia In the early years of the 21st century, Julie Powell was feeling down and uninspired and, on a kind of crazy whim, decided to cook her way all the way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child in a single year and blog about the experience (in real time as it was…

By Brad Morris. A Vision Quest is a turning point or right of passage for One to find themselves, their Spiritual direction or path in Life. And I tell yah, my life has been a non-stop, action packed, Vision Quest adventure these last 8+ years!  I have been on a conquest to face my fears, know Myself and share my ultimate gifts with the world. Through walking my path clumsily in the darkness of the unknown, I have slipped, fell, hurt myself and got up again and again. I have fallen to my knees in tears, praying for an answer,…

By Lisa Cypers Kamen. These days it is impossible to see down the road ahead. Our lives are filled with uncertainty. Our jobs, our relationships, our homes, our families are shifting and changing in ways we never could have imagined. "Security" is not a word many people are using lately to describe life. And beneath it all, we are wondering, how we are going to get through this? What kind of world will unfold in the years to come? What kind of legacy will we leave behind for our children? It is so very difficult to move forward on the…

By Stanley Popovich. There are times when we encounter fearful thoughts that can be difficult to manage. For some people, the more they try to get rid of the thoughts, the stronger the thoughts become and the more difficult they become to manage. If you're struggling with this, here are some techniques that you can use to help manage your fearful and obsessive thoughts. Don't dwell or focus on the fear-provoking thought when it comes. The more you try to reason out the thought or focus on the fear behind the thought, the stronger the thought becomes. The next time…

By Gail Lynne Goodwin. Each day millions of people around the world pray for something... perhaps a new job, a relationship, financial independence, glowing health, to hear God's voice more clearly, or like yesterday when it's Super Bowl Sunday, perhaps even for their team to win. But how does God decide which prayers to answer and in what way? Watch the Oscars or the Grammy Awards and most people thank God for their success. Does that mean that God doesn't like the ones who didn’t win? A few days ago I was flying from Salt Lake City to New York…