His Presence Overcomes

He holds victory in store for the upright,

he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

for he guards the course of the just

and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Proverbs 2:7-8

We've taken a long journey toward emotional well-being. We've discovered the benefit of getting moving. We've fed our minds and even gotten to know ourselves better. But there is one more vital step to becoming emotionally well. We must overcome difficulty.

Overcoming isn't a matter of the size of my struggle.

Overcoming isn't influenced by the number of my problems.

My ability to overcome is correlated with only one thing - how quickly and how decidedly I invite His presence into my struggle.

I cannot forgive outside the design of the Architect of forgiveness. (Want to tweet that? Click here --> http://clicktotweet.com/cbtfb)

I cannot heal without the care of the Great Physician.

I cannot experience peace beyond the presence of the Prince of Peace.

I do not know how big your battle has been. I don't know how deep your wounds cut. I only know His presence will make the difference.

How could inviting God's presence into your struggle transform your life?
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Today I'm visiting with a friend, Angela Mackey of Rethinking My Thinking. We're talking about a baby...who changes everything. For more hope and encouragement on experiencing change in the struggle in your life, head over and visit us both: http://rethinkingmythinking.info/2012/11/a-baby-changes-things/

Distracted Driving

Whether you turn to the right or the left, 

your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 

"This is the way; walk in it."

Isaiah 30:21

With four kids, no cell phone is required to ensure I am a distracted driver. Even on the rare occasion I'm alone in the car, I tend to be distracted. 

I order and eat fast food.

I get drive through coffee.

I apply cuticle oil to my nails.

I file my nails.

I brush my hair.

I apply makeup.

Yes. I am that driver. 

I was driving along this morning programming the GPS, fixing my pony tail and retrieving something from the floor board when it occurred to me the car isn't the only place in my life where distracted driving plagues me. 

I lose spiritual focus just as easily.

God whispers the way but His voice gets drowned out by the honking of the urgent. Have you ever arrived at your destination with no recollection of the trip that got you there? It is just as easy to begin making turns in life and wonder how you ended up at your particular destination.

If I don't want to meander through life spiritually, I need to eliminate some distractions. 

No Makeup Required - I need to stop covering my blemishes with makeup on the drive of life. Humility goes a long way toward hearing God's quiet whispers. When I readily admit my shortcomings, He shortens the path of coming to Him. (You might want to tweet that! --> http://clicktotweet.com/4U7TI)

Put Down the Hair Brush - Sometimes I try to tug until I work out my own knots. Working in my strength bullhorns the voice of God but relying totally on Him clears communication. I need to put down the hair brush and lean on Him to work out the knots in my life.

No More Drive Through - Just as fast food is rarely the best choice for my body, a fast-paced life is not the best choice for my spirit. I need to slow down to hear God's voice. When I move at His pace, I regain spiritual focus.

I don't want to swerve around to the left or the right. I want to hear the whisper of the One who knows the way. This is the way...walk (or drive) in it.

The Behavior of Belonging

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, 

for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.

Isaiah 25:1

"When I marry, Milholland will become my middle name, right Mommy?" piped up my seven year old last week. 

"Yes, honey, just like Mommy you will get a new name when you get married."

Clara then proceeded trying out the last name of every boy she knows that she finds even remotely appealing. Suddenly some of these boys became more or less attractive on the sole basis of how good their last name sounded with her first. This little exercise reminded me of the time in college when I met a very handsome, friendly and godly young man whom I repelled the second I found out his last name was Shannon. There was absolutely no way I was going through life as a perpetual stutter. 

Hi. I'm Shannon Shannon.

That was definitely NOT going to work for me. 

But eventually I did find a name that fit and not because it sounded good with Shannon (although I think it kind of does). It fit because I was inspired by the one who bore that name. He is my guy and I want to be a credit to his name. I belong to him and he belongs to me. 

Belonging should influence my behavior. 

Because my children are mine, I give them grace.

Because my husband is mine, I speak kindly about him.

Because my friend is mine, I keep her confidence.

But the truth is I'm not always a credit to my husband's name. Sometimes I undermine his authority with our kids. Or I overspend even when I know better. Or I tell a story better left unsaid because I want the laugh more than I want him to feel respected. My track record isn't spotless in my other relationships either.

And sometimes I'm not the one who does a poor job at belonging.

You give your child the very best of your heart and home, only to have him walk away from it and not return.

You give your spouse the best years of your life, only to have her leave you.

You give your friend your time, only to have her take advantage of your kindness.

So how can I allow belonging to influence my behavior? By relying on His perfect faithfulness. When I glorify His name, He gives my mind patience to deal with another request from my kids. When I exalt Him, He gives my heart room to love my husband another day. When I adore him, He me the confidence to be a better friend.

O Lord, You are my God. When I choose Him, I choose faithfulness. Belonging influences my behavior.

Less Than Thanksgiving

Loneliness stole my energy as stabbed my heart. It was the first time I’d been away from my kids since my August divorce. They were headed for a week to see their dad. They needed to be there. It was the right thing for them but their absence left a space not just in my home. It cratered my heart.

It was the day after Christmas. I was supposed to still be making merry. I made a box of Scooby Doo Mac-n-cheese instead.

Does the expectation to face the holidays with gladness and cheer ever drag you down?

The reality is holidays can be draining.

They remind us of loved ones whose absence leaves us longing.
They throw us together with difficult personalities.
They slap us with the reality of fractured relationships.

So how can we find joy, when glad tidings threaten to take us down the drain? I found my answer in Psalm 95.

¹ Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
² Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

³ For the Lord is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
⁴ In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.

⁵ The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

⁶ Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
⁷ for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care

This passage instructs my heart to engage with God in three specific ways:

Through Music (Verse 2) – God designed our souls to be moved by music. Melodies move our hearts toward His. Harmonies head our mind in His direction. Turn on some music and you’ll turn off negative thoughts.

Through Creation (Verses 4-5) – God’s handiwork calls to God’s unique imprint on each one of us. No matter how cold it is outside, something changes within us when get out in the world God made. Move out under His canopy and get enveloped in His love.

Through Worship (Verse 6) – Worship turns our sight from us to Him. It dials our hearts from the present to His presence. Exclaim His greatness and suddenly your problems seem small.

Come before Him with thanksgiving and Thanksgiving and will find you.

True Friends Make Me Truly Thankful

Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

1 Samuel 18:1

I'm penning this post at 3:00 am. Whenever I'm up in the middle of the night like this I think about crises even if I'm not having one. I ponder whom I could call if I needed someone to come stay with my kids if I had to rush to the hospital. I contemplate who would be first to volunteer their help if Scott's cancer returned. I wonder who loves me enough to gently unveil the current growth opportunities in my life.

Most of us have very few people we could count in those categories but friends like these - true friends - are absolutely essential for our emotional well-being. Forging deep friendship was my second to last step on my journey to emotional health. 

Because I moved around frequently both as a child and an adult, it's been difficult for me to foster lasting, meaningful relationships. It seemed like too much investment for a short time period and it was easier to guard my heart than risk getting heart. But I wasn't well until I had heartfelt friends with whom I could share my faults, failures and finer features. I, like all of us, needed people to know the authentic me.

...The one who's really a kid at heart.

...The one with a quick but albeit not always appropriate comeback.

...The one who enjoys working nerdy logic problems.

Today, among so many other blessings, I am thankful for true friends. You have taught me about myself. You have been God's healing hands. You have stood by me through extraordinary circumstances, mood swings and moves.

For you I am truly thankful. Happy Thanksgiving to you! Whom are you thankful for today?

Remote Control

You have made your way around this hill country long enough; 

now turn north.

Deuteronomy 2:3

As women our controlling tendencies can crop up before we can even tie our shoes. 

Like one of Carynne's best friends about whom her mom said, 'Avery is a really bossy "teacher". Nobody gets skittles. Everybody gets yelled at. And everybody gets told that they need to "think about their attitude".' Or my oldest, Hannah, who named her first baby doll no-no probably because those are the words she heard me say most frequently.

I wouldn't have called myself controlling. I'd have called it something more palatable like driven or high-achieving but when I took my friend, Karen Ehman's, "Are You Controlling?" quiz in her new book Let. It. Go., I scored way higher than I wanted to. I'm a girl who loves to ace a test and get gold star on my paper but that was one test I was hoping to fail...

You might not consider yourself controlling either but here's a couple descriptions of the softer, subtler side of control you might want to ponder (summarized from Let. It. Go.):

The Soft Spoken Saint  - This girl rarely says no and she won't let you down. She's super kind and someone on whom others both rely and feel they owe something to. She quietly controls others with her kindness.

The Enabler - She is her kids backup plan for forgotten lunches and papers and they call on her to do so regularly. She finds herself excusing the behavior of her kids and smoothing things over in her relationships both in the house and out in the community. She wants her family to have a good reputation and image control is her key to obtaining it.

The Victim or Martyr - She will let you know what she wants with subtle pouts and sighs. Her facial expression is sunny 99% of the time. You know you're in trouble when it's overcast at home. Because she's usually so upbeat, she gets her way with even slightest threat of bad weather.

The People Pleaser - She sees the best in other people and let's them know it. She listens carefully to know what is expected of her and will say the right thing in any situation. She's the most well-spoken-of person on staff or the PTA or in your Bible Study. Because she's so well liked, others do what she requests with no questions asked.

I thought I wasn't controlling but I saw myself in all four of these. I am more of what I'll call a remote controller. I'm not all up right in front of the television changing the channel for all to see, I'm quietly pushing the buttons and no one (often including me) even knows it.

As stated in today's scripture, I've circled this mountain long enough. It's time for me to turn north. I need a different Remote Control. My kids, hubby and friends need me to let go so God can step in to do what only He's qualified to do - run my life. So today I'm going to pry the fingers from the remote control and give Him control but I'm also going to implement the godly wisdom Karen so freely shared in her book. 

Want to join me on the road to freedom as we stop running the show and start walking in faith? Share a comment below and enter to win a FREE copy of Karen's book as well as be entered to win a Kindle Fire!

________________________________

Want another chance to win a Kindle Fire? Sign up for Karen's 5 day Let.It.Go. Christmas Challenge. Get more info here: http://www.karenehman.com/from-chaos-to-calm-the-let-it-go-christmas-challenge/

When My Heart Finds Christmas

Behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? 

For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:1-2 (ESV)

I'm one of those people.

I sometimes buy my kids Christmas Eve pajamas on sale in January.
I'm on the prowl for stocking stuffers in March.
I search for bargains any month that will have me.

I have a Christmas app on my phone so there's rarely a time when I'm not planning, shopping or tracking my Christmas purchases. Besides Christmas, we have four family birthdays spaced out at two week increments around the holidays so the majority of our gift giving expense hits in a relatively short period of time. My strategy to compensate is to purchase gifts all year long.

I'm constantly on the hunt for that unique item my kids won't expect.
I'm consistently on the lookout for something that will really bless my hubby.
I look for Christmas all year long.

When I was in college, I was completely smitten with Harry Connick, Jr. and his smooth crooner's voice. I saw him in concert multiple times. I purchased every album he put out but my most cherished were his Christmas tunes. My favorite, When My Heart Finds Christmas, declares his shared love for the holiday. He's looking for Christmas and finds it in his love. 

I look for Christmas all year long but I don't really find it until I, like the wise men, look for Jesus. When my heart finds Christmas, my heart finds LOVE.

Have you been on the hunt for a special gift this season? Why not give yourself a gift by looking for Him?
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In case you've never sampled the delight, here's the video to Harry Connick Jr.'s When My Heart Finds Christmas. At the time, I wished he would look for me. He found a Victoria Secrets model instead!

List-less

For in Him we live and move and have our being.

Acts 17:28

Listless. 

It conjurs a picture of slothlike movements. I imagine a indescript person aimlessly adrift in life. I never thought I wanted to be described as listless. Until I read this description of Jesus in Weird by Craig Groeschel:

He was busy but never hurried. He was productive but never overwhelmed. He accomplished everything God wanted him to do and still spent long, refreshing days in fellowship alone with his Father.

Jesus lived, moved and had His being in His Father, His heart securely fastened there. He took up residency and refused to entertain a for sale sign no matter how loudly life's difficulties growled at the perimeter of His heart's property. He taught us to abide in Him because He knew we could nothing without Him (John 15).

Sometimes during the holidays, I imagine myself wrapping up a gift for Jesus. He doesn't care how fancy the paper or elegant the bow. His only concern is the contents. This Christmas I want to offer Jesus an unexpected gift - to be list-less.

Instead of proving my worth by the number of items depending on me to cross them off...

Instead of slaving for the scratch of the pen...

Instead of finding significance in what I do..

I want to be list-less in His arms. I want to live, move and have my being celebrating the One who listed my name on His hands and His heart.

I want to be busy but never hurried.

Productive but never overwhelmed.

To accomplish everything He asks while still spending long, refreshing days in fellowship with Him.

Absolutely. List-less.

If you could give Jesus a gift for Christmas, what would you choose?

Christmas, Come Early

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: 

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, 

and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

Christmas comes earlier every year. This year we noticed our seasonal snack cakes were traded out before the end of October, completing bypassing the fall holidays. I hear lots of people complain about this fact with lots of mention of commercialism and materialism.

I choose to view Christmas' early arrival through another lens. Might it be because it is the second most significant event in all human history? Doesn't something of this magnitude deserve as much air time as possible?

Could the crowds at the store remind us of the significance we worship?

Should the endless decorations nudge us to wrap our lives up in Him?

Do the packages and bows encourage me to give Him the very biggest of my gifts?

I want Christmas to come early and often to my heart. I want to celebrate the One who came as a baby and lived every one of His 12000 days with one goal in mind - to spread His arms wide with the miracle of redemption.

How would your November look different if you let Jesus come early to your heart this year?

Until We All Come Home

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: 

to look after orphans and widows in their distress.

James 1:27

My heart beat wildly in my chest while I waited to reply. Seconds ticked off as hours as we inched toward the home I shared with two precious beauties, 4 and 7. He had an important question to ask them.

As he took their tiny hands in his, I could see his love reflected in their eyes. I still remember the day he shared his secret with me. He had fallen in love with my daughters. Now, finally, he could openly declare his love.

"Will you be my daughters?"

A chorus of yes echoed around the room as they rejoiced. Tiny feet danced and celebrated. My heart joined their rhythm. There was no way I'd refuse his proposal. We would become a family.

We made room in our hearts for each other and soon welcomed two more daughters. But to my husband, Scott, there's no distinction. He prayed for all four of our kids. God chose two different delivery methods and both made a direct hit in his heart.

While my husband and I have never had the privilege of adoption, we both imagine this is what adoptive parents experience - a supernatural love for your child delivered to you whatever delivery method God uses. I recently read Until We All Come Home by Kim De Blecourt. In it she recounts an amazing, God-led journey to adopt her son from Ukraine. 

As I read this book, I was called again to the heart of God. God has deep, abiding, love for those overlooked in our world. He wants us to have the same.

I know this because when I read or study God's word, I take special note of phrases or themes that frequent the pages of God's story. His love for orphans lines hundreds. 

God may not have called all of us to be the one to go and literally rescue the fatherless but He desires all of us to be a part of heart's work. I'd like to recommend to each of you to read this book. While you do so, ask God what role He's asking you to play in reaching out to parentless children.

Does He want you to pray?
Does He want you to give?
Does He want you to serve?
Does He want you to rescue?

What will you do...until they all come home?
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Today I am giving away a copy of Until We All Come Home. Entering is easy - just leave a comment below and tell who you'd like to win a copy for and why.

Faith: The Best Footwear

I'm talking about putting feet to your faith over here today and I'd love for you to join me! http://apastorswifesgarden.blogspot.com/2012/11/putting-feet-to-your-faith.html

Less Planking Means More Core Strength

Today I'm reprising one of my most popular posts of all time. I hope you enjoy!

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye 

and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

Matthew 7:3

A committed runner, one of the keys to success is strong core strength. I've tried many exercises through the years but few are effective as the plank. By effective I mean likely to render me unable to walk completely upright the next day.

Doing the plank hurts my stomach.

There's another kind of plank I do that doesn't hurt my stomach as much as it does my heart. I find myself nitpicking the ones I most love while ignoring my own obvious flaws.  I find the tiny speck of sawdust in their life but totally ignore the gargantuan plank extending from my own. It's like a bad scene from a low budget remake of Pinocchio.

This plank maneuver is utterly useless and truly destructive to me. I need three body parts to align before I see clearly to remove my big old plank.

My Mind - Who's in my thoughts?

Have you ever listened to a sermon and thought to yourself I sure wish _________ could hear this? That is my early warning signal my heart's focus has wandered from home base. When I read scripture, pray or hear wisdom from others it is my heart that should be penetrated. Believe me, there is plenty of plank extending from my heart for the Holy Spirit to walk on. 

When I let God walk around in my mind, He opens the door to introspection.

My Mouth - What am I talking about?

Grumbling and complaining are the shortest path to hypercritical. As I measure the scales of fairness and equality, the weight tips toward negativity. My words drowned out the voice of God and soon the only thoughts I'm hearing are my own.

When I stop talking and start listening, He gently redirects my focus.

My Ears - Who am I listening to?

We girls can hop on the "My Bad Husband" or "My Horrible Kids" bandwagon with a speed that makes a cheetah look slothful. Not only do I need to drown out my own gloomy thoughts, I need to be careful what outside words I allow to pierce my heart. 

When I tune my ears to Him, I find my heart lilting toward praise.

The plank hurts. It hurts my relationship with God and my relationships with other. So the next time I lay down I want to make sure I'm laying down my flaws, my rights and taking up the core strength of servanthood.

Turns out when it comes to my soul, less planking means more core strength.

What flaw is easiest for you to see in others? How could you shift your focus inward instead?

Thanksgiving is a Daily Offering

Give thanks in all circumstances, 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Next Tuesday night my youngest, Carynne, will dress as Princess Purple Sunflower. She will sing songs with her fellow kindergartners about Thanksgiving and generously share her adorableness. Gratitude is sown into the fabric of our country as a tribute to the early settlers of our nation. We set aside a whole day each year to celebrate it. But what is Thanksgiving really?

Clara - last year as
Princess Purple Sunflower

When the Pilgrims first gave thanks in 1621, every other chair sat empty. They lost half their number year one but still allowed gratitude to pour from their hearts. More than shelter, food sources or savvy with the native people, their ability to survive and thrive in this strange new country should be attributed to their basal gratitude. No matter how little they had they were thankful.

Gratitude has just a significant impact on our lives today. The simple act of pausing to acknowledge God's daily interaction in our lives, changes our outlook from dread to anticipation. Nurturing a thankful heart within me was one of the vital steps I took on my road to emotional well-being.

Gratitude allows you to view your children as blessings instead of burdens.

Gratitude changes your perspective of your spouse from commitment to contentment.

Gratitude alters your daily outlook one decision at a time. 

I have to becomes I get to. I need to becomes I'm honored to. 

As we begin to pen our Thanksgiving lists, let's not wait for the fourth Thursday of November. Let's live gratitude on ordinary days.

Days with a menu of macaroni and cheese.

Days with no time to watch football.

Days with too little paycheck and too many bills.

The real power of gratitude isn't pausing once a year, it's giving thanks every day, in all circumstances.

What's your Thanksgiving list for today? Share it in a comment below.

Leading Indicators

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, 

if you love one another.

John 13:35

Even now they are posted across the country ready to ask the indicative question. Who did you vote for today? Exit polls will be the early leading indicator of who will win tonight's Presidential election.

Leading indicators are not just an election day phenomenon. They are valuable tools used in virtually every industry.

Insurance companies monitor storm forecasts. Economists use numbers such as jobless claims, gross domestic product (GDP) and inflation. Even fantasy baseball fanatics have a leading indicator. They created the Fantasy Production Indicator (FPI) to help them select their players for the upcoming season.

Leading indicators tell us what to expect.

Leading indicators tell us where we're headed.

Leading indicators allow us to make course corrections.

Leading indicators don't just identify trends. They can be used to examine our hearts. For the Christ-follower, our leading indicator is love. 

Before our words can be heard. 

Before our actions have impact. 

Before we have the privilege of influence.

Those around us are looking for a leading indicator. If we do not love extravagantly, exorbitantly, in unfathomable measure, we won't make a difference in our home, community, nation or world.

They will know we are Christians by our love.

What is one thing you could do to show extravagant love today?

A Political Party Animal Appetite

Occasionally I take a departure from the usual fare served around here. So for my faithful reader, we'll be back to regularly scheduled programming tomorrow but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to plan an ordinary extraordinary encounter with my family for election night.

As we collectively watch states turn red or blue tomorrow night, I thought it would be fun to have a red and blue banquet (complete with recipes of course). If planning and cooking a big meal is beyond your desire, you could always fall back on something simple like Mitt Ramen-y noodles or Obamalicious Spaghetti O's (or combine the two for a taste debate).
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Red State Chili

1 pound ground turkey, browned
1 large onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
1 zuchinni, chopped
1 cup water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can diced tomatoes with basil, oregano and garlic
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can BBQ beans
1 Tbl chili powder
6 shakes Tony Chachere's Cajun Seasoning
6 shakes Worcestershire sauce
6 shakes liquid smoke

Combine all ingredients in crock pot and let simmer on low all day. 

Blue State Corn Bread

1 box corn muffin mix made according to package directions
5-10 drops blue food coloring

Put food coloring in with other ingredients prior to baking. (Sometimes you just need to take the easy way out.)

Otherwise, make your standard corn bread recipe but substitute blue corn meal for yellow or white corn meal.

Red State Spinach and Strawberry Salad

10 oz fresh spinach
1 quart strawberries, sliced
1 c Gorgonzola cheese
1 c walnuts, chopped

Combine salad ingredients. Pair with Brianna's Blush Wine Vinaigrette just prior to serving.

Blue State Jello

What colorful meal is complete without jello? 

Across Party Lines Blueberry and Raspberry Betty

2 pints blueberries
2 pints raspberries
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups crushed vanilla wafers (about 40 wafers)
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick) melted

Toss together blueberries, raspberries and granulated sugar in large bowl. Combine crushed wafers, chopped pecans and brown sugar in medium-size bowl. Pour melted butter over wafer mixture; toss until well blended and evenly moistened. Sprinkle third of wafer mixture evenly over bottom of baking dish. Top with half of the fruit mixture. Cover with third of the wafer mixture. Spoon remaining fruit over top. Cover with remaining wafer mixture. Bake in 350 oven 1 hour or until top is golden and fruit is bubbling. Serve warm.
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A presidential election only happens once in four years. The average person only votes in about 15 of them. Why not turn this day into an opportunity for a magnificent mundane mashed potato moment. 

You're now prepared to satisfy your animal appetite - whether it brays or trumpets. Let's make the most of our day...

Make the best use of your time. 

Ephesians 5:16

Have an idea about how to make election night special for your family? Share it in a comment below...

Know Yourself - First Comes the Eggs

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, 

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

Do you know who you really are?

Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org

This was the question Maggie Carpenter (played by Julia Roberts) had to answer in The Runaway Bride. Maggie is on her fourth engagement. She's already left three broken hearts at the altar which earns her the unfortunate nickname of the runaway bride. 

As the movie unfolds it becomes clear to Ike Graham (played by Richard Gere) the investigative reporter who is monitoring her nuptials that she has no idea who she is. Graham interviews her thwarted loves and her current fiance and asks each of them how she takes her eggs. Their identical reply, "Same as I do."

Today, we continue our trek to emotional well-being by getting to know ourselves.

As a woman, I tend to shove aside my own needs, wants and desires for the sake of attempting to meet everyone else's. This practice detracts from my emotional well-being. One of the healthiest gifts we give ourselves and those we love is to truly be in touch with our dreams, hopes, desires and even preferences. 

Talk a walk and let your heart wander.

Spend a long morning sipping coffee and drinking in your dreams.

This is a daily battle for me and one I have to recalibrate regularly. Love yourself and those important to you enough to get to know yourself - not who you and others expect or need you to be. Emotional well-being will inch one step closer.

Are there unfulfilled hopes or unrecognized needs in your life? What is one step you could take today toward cracking those eggs wide open?