When someone asks whether my cup is half full or half empty, my answer is always the same. I’m grateful I have a cup. That answer usually catches people off guard. We spend so much time arguing about how much we have that we forget to notice we have anything at all. It’s easy toContinue reading “Grateful for the Cup”
Tag Archives: positivity
Strong Enough to Bend
A Japanese bamboo craftsman once said, “The bamboo survives the storm because it knows when to bend.” We often picture strength as standing firm. Hold your ground. Refuse to move. Keep your face calm while the wind gets louder. That works until the pressure becomes heavier than your body, mind, or heart can carry. BambooContinue reading “Strong Enough to Bend”
When Life Tests Your Goodness
I love this perspective: “I don’t think bad things happen to good people. I think bad things happen to everyone, and the way good people respond is what makes them good.” We spend a lot of time trying to understand why bad things happen. Why did this happen to me? Why did someone I trustedContinue reading “When Life Tests Your Goodness”
Meant for More
Maybe you didn’t get what you wanted because you deserved more. That’s a hard thought to accept when you’re standing in the middle of disappointment. You wanted that job. You pictured yourself in that relationship. You worked toward that promotion. You prayed for that opportunity. You had already imagined how life would look once everythingContinue reading “Meant for More”
Some days, the burdens are easy to count.
The bill that showed up at the wrong time. The conversation that keeps replaying in your head. The person you miss. The plan that fell apart. The work problem waiting for you tomorrow morning. The worry you carried to bed and somehow found sitting beside you when you woke up. We become good at keepingContinue reading “Some days, the burdens are easy to count.”
Keep Recovering Out Loud
Some people are fighting battles nobody can see. They go to work. They answer messages. They laugh with friends. They take care of their families. From the outside, everything looks normal. Inside, they might be trying to get through one more day. That is why talking about recovery matters. When someone shares that they areContinue reading “Keep Recovering Out Loud”
What Are You Still Carrying?
You can’t reach for anything new if your hands are full of yesterday’s junk. I keep coming back to that idea because it feels painfully simple. We talk a lot about wanting something new. A new job. A new relationship. A new city. A new project. A different version of ourselves. Then we wonder whyContinue reading “What Are You Still Carrying?”
The Person Who Helps You See Yourself Differently
Some people enter your life and change the way you see yourself. They may not give you a perfect plan. They may not have an answer for every problem you bring them. Sometimes, they simply notice something in you that you have stopped noticing yourself. That is what a good mentor does. There are momentsContinue reading “The Person Who Helps You See Yourself Differently”
The Songs We Leave Behind
Someone is still listening to the music you showed them. Maybe they play it on the way to work. Maybe it comes on while they’re cooking dinner. Maybe they hear the first few seconds of a song in a crowded café and suddenly remember a conversation they had with you years ago. You might neverContinue reading “The Songs We Leave Behind”
Who Wants to Change the World?
There is something interesting about the two sides of this illustration. On one side, several hands reach up with a bold question: WHO WANTS TO CHANGE THE WORLD? Almost everyone likes the idea. We talk about changing industries, fixing broken systems, improving education, building better technology, creating opportunities, helping communities, and leaving things better thanContinue reading “Who Wants to Change the World?”
