It seems in my psychology classes we are always talking about the importance of encouraging clients to define operational goals for their own lives to help them live more intentionally. Psychoeducation teaches that while there are a lot of things we can’t control in life, we are wise to focus on the things we can control.
What better way to hold one's self accountable for personal goals than to A.) write them down and B.) post them publicly on your internet blog site? I owe Jennifer Collier
for the inspiration of naming and claiming my own goals. Below I have come up with 28 goals to accomplish before I’m 28. Technically I just turned 26 two months ago, but these next nine months are completely shot (time and resources wise) on goal # 1, so I threw in an extra year to help me accomplish goals #2-28.
1. Complete Masters before age 27
2. Pray about/apply for doctoral programs
3. Make a house into a home
4. Finish writing book
5. Do scientific research on the concept of soul mates
6. Practice being completely content in life regardless of circumstances
7. Be more aware of how God is romancing me every single day
8. Memorize 22 bible verses (1 per month for the next 22 months)
9. Take Brooke on a Disney Cruise
10. Swim in the ocean
11. Take Brooke to the St. Louis Zoo
12. Learn how to cook with meat
13. Apply for college teaching positions
14. Get LPC certification
15. Get my own tool set/learn how to use said tools
16. Do a one month fashion challenge and document
17. Get Brooke completely potty trained
18. Maintain current weight
19. Go one month without diet coke
20. Increase emergency fund to six months of living expenses
21. Get mother/daughter pictures taken with Brooke and I both in pearls
22. Watch season 1 of Gilmore Girls
23. Revamp an old tattoo
24. Relearn how to play "Moonlight Sonata" on the piano
25. Read 12 "just for fun" books that are not required texts for school
26. Stay at a never before visited bed and breakfast(I do love these so)
27. Learn to balance truth and grace
28. Paint a display-worthy, abstract work of art with Brooke's help
And now it's time to turn the tables; what are your goals? :)
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
When Christians break dishes...and other things Christians aren't supposed to do
I’m currently experiencing a small but growing gnawing sensation to discuss something that is often over examined by those from the non-religious community and at the same time overlooked by those within it. Judgmentalism. Just the mention stirs dissention and nausea for some, guilt and cynicism for others. Either way, it usually doesn’t come off positive.
We as Christians (excuse the generalization) seem to struggle with this more than our non-religious counterparts…or perhaps it just seems this way because judgementality flies in the face of what we are supposed to be displaying toward one another: grace.
It’s dreadfully easy to peer objectively into another’s life and shake our disapproving heads. Much easier, than say, looking at an individual and taking into context all of their genetic makeup, experiences, and then trusting they are simply doing the best they can with what wisdom they have gathered. What’s more is that even if we disapprove of their choices, it is not our place to make a choice for them. As adults we have this wonderful thing called free will- a beautiful ability to define our own truth.
As Christians it would be refreshingly healing if we could look at each other through glasses of grace instead of windows of criticism. I’ve said it before in many conversations with dear friends, but on this side of heaven we are all simply doing the best we can in a broken world. Let’s love each other through the pain instead of adding onto it, shall we? Easier said than done, I know, but easier done with practice nonetheless.
We as Christians (excuse the generalization) seem to struggle with this more than our non-religious counterparts…or perhaps it just seems this way because judgementality flies in the face of what we are supposed to be displaying toward one another: grace.
It’s dreadfully easy to peer objectively into another’s life and shake our disapproving heads. Much easier, than say, looking at an individual and taking into context all of their genetic makeup, experiences, and then trusting they are simply doing the best they can with what wisdom they have gathered. What’s more is that even if we disapprove of their choices, it is not our place to make a choice for them. As adults we have this wonderful thing called free will- a beautiful ability to define our own truth.
As Christians it would be refreshingly healing if we could look at each other through glasses of grace instead of windows of criticism. I’ve said it before in many conversations with dear friends, but on this side of heaven we are all simply doing the best we can in a broken world. Let’s love each other through the pain instead of adding onto it, shall we? Easier said than done, I know, but easier done with practice nonetheless.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Who is HE?
I've recently been going through quite the personal trial and have used the valley to reflect on our heavenly Father. God is love. It's a freuquently used phrase, but what does it mean? The way He loves His children at times makes it hard for me to breathe. He covers us in grace and mercy, yet loves us enough to disclipline us and grant us revelation in times of extreme trial. He frees us from the cuffs we have locked on our very own writsts time and time again. He teaches us obedience through tough love that only the Father of the universe could orchestrate. He is the only truth I know, the light I cling to with every fiber of who I am, and the grace I need to start each day.God is love. Love is light. Light is the only way to live.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Art over science: A good old fashioned rant
I know clinical research is the backboard of the scientific community, but sometimes it just doesn’t quite jive with my personal reality. The human experience is so very unique, subjective and tailored to each individual’s unparalleled existence that I just don’t think it possible to narrow phenomena down to likelihoods.
Hypothetically speaking, perhaps some particular event does happen repeatedly in a certain circumstance and that particular thing is shown through a well-controlled study. For example, let’s say a scientific study says that statistically, second marriages are more likely to end in divorce than first marriages. Perhaps this well-controlled study is repeatable and valid. So what? What does this mean for people who are on their second marriage? Do they give up? Does it mean that every second marriage is doomed? Does it mean any one who happens to have made a wrong turn in life should go through doubting the existence of happiness because a scientific study says it is likely to not happen the second time around? This is just one example of many, but I think it stands to say that empiricism is so very limited.
Call me crazy, but I just don’t think scientific findings hold the credibility to direct our life actions. I think when we start allowing scientific findings to direct our choices we give up a certain essence of living- we become dependent on the guessing game of science. Scientific findings change with the wind and I would rather base my life on a rock than a breeze. I respect scientists for better trying to understand our world, but sometimes I just want to tell them to stop. There are things we will never understand and things we were never meant to understand. Well-designed scientific studies that can be replicated might offer a tiny glimpse in the direction of truth, but only the One True Artist of our universe can define life. I’m content to trust His brush strokes over the American Psychological Association any day.
Hypothetically speaking, perhaps some particular event does happen repeatedly in a certain circumstance and that particular thing is shown through a well-controlled study. For example, let’s say a scientific study says that statistically, second marriages are more likely to end in divorce than first marriages. Perhaps this well-controlled study is repeatable and valid. So what? What does this mean for people who are on their second marriage? Do they give up? Does it mean that every second marriage is doomed? Does it mean any one who happens to have made a wrong turn in life should go through doubting the existence of happiness because a scientific study says it is likely to not happen the second time around? This is just one example of many, but I think it stands to say that empiricism is so very limited.
Call me crazy, but I just don’t think scientific findings hold the credibility to direct our life actions. I think when we start allowing scientific findings to direct our choices we give up a certain essence of living- we become dependent on the guessing game of science. Scientific findings change with the wind and I would rather base my life on a rock than a breeze. I respect scientists for better trying to understand our world, but sometimes I just want to tell them to stop. There are things we will never understand and things we were never meant to understand. Well-designed scientific studies that can be replicated might offer a tiny glimpse in the direction of truth, but only the One True Artist of our universe can define life. I’m content to trust His brush strokes over the American Psychological Association any day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)