Spring is here, and the season for new beginnings is in full swing. We all know spring is the ideal time to clean out all of the unnecessary or unused items in our rooms, closets, cars, etc. In addition to reorganizing our homes, spring cleaning can be the perfect way to take a moment and evaluate ourselves.  You may be wondering what I mean by “evaluating ourselves.” When we evaluate ourselves, we look at various factors that make you who you are and where you are in life. Here are some questions you can ask yourself before beginning your spring cleaning for the soul:  How is your ..read more

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” This is a quote that I am sure you have heard many times throughout your life. It has been told to me often, sometimes used in jest, but it is a quote that holds a lot of weight for me. I have struggled throughout the years with comparison and the pitfalls that come with it. It is a slippery slope, and if you are not careful, falling into the comparison trap can lead you down a hole of self-doubt, insecurities, and bitterness rooted in jealousy. I know I am not alone in this; I have seen it countless times around me, and regardless of age, we all struggle wit ..read more

We’ve all heard about the story of the prodigal son. Jesus shared this story about a wayward child who blew his inheritance, lived recklessly, and once defeated, returned back home to his father who readily forgave and embraced him. It was a parable meant to show God’s unrelenting love for his children; and (in my opinion) to encourage parents who may be struggling with their own. I work with a lot of kids and teenagers, several of whom confided that they don’t know if they believe in the same things their parents do, particularly about religion. I’ve heard this from teens who attend private ..read more

From a young age, I knew I didn’t have a traditional family. It was always my Nanny (aunt/godmother) and me. She played the roles of my mother and father. To me, that was my normal. But the older I got, the more questions I would receive about my birth parents. My answer was always the same; “They are in my life, but I live with my Nanny.” And I always got the same response, “Why?” As a kid who only knows how to be blunt, this was my response, “Because my parents are alcoholics and drug addicts.” I was never ashamed or embarrassed about that truth because I knew that my parents’ decisions wer ..read more

It is 5:30 in the morning, and my 18-month-old is wide awake and ready to go. I have only had two, maybe three, sips of my coffee as I sit at the table while he partially eats his breakfast and attempts to feed the rest to our dog. As I repeatedly tell him ‘no,’ he looks me in the eye with a big smile and lifts his arm to throw the next blueberry on the ground. I sit there and have the internal battle of whether he understands what I am saying or if I am not giving him enough credit, and he is more intelligent than I think. I go with the latter. He loves to be outside, so we walk down the dri ..read more

In a fast-paced world where advancements to make things “quicker and easier,” are happening, I often forget to practice patience and gratitude. Don’t get me wrong; I can’t say that I don’t like the new normal of completing things quickly.  I am just as guilty as others about being frustrated with traffic, slow-paced walking, and long wait times.  Whether or not my participation in the quickness of life is healthy is to be determined. I frequently struggle with remembering to slow down and practicing patience. Despite my routine prayers to God to help mold me into his likeness and be ..read more

This article was published on our coaching site earlier this month, but think it is worth sharing here as well.  With the end of January approaching, some of you may already be wavering in your resolutions. I hope this blog uplifts you and fortifies your resolve.  For those of you who have yet to make any resolutions, or were not planning to make any – I hope this article motivates you to set aspirations for yourself and strive to make the world a better place, rather than just wishing it were.  Let’s not become complacent, let’s keep pushing ourselves to do bigger and better th ..read more

Pride can be a significant stumbling block along the path of our lives. Whether we let pride take over our views of others or too prideful to admit our wrongs, pride can alter a multitude of things.  When we let pride take control, we can lose sight of what truly matters in our lives. If you are struggling with pride or are looking for a push to practice humility, check out our articles on pride, forgiveness, and humility.  The Cost of Pride: 4 min read By CHERYL BRODNAX The cost of pride can sometimes have a hefty toll on relationships, peace, and eternity. When you allow pri ..read more

I don’t know if it is just me, but the gap between Christmas and New Year’s feels like a strange time warp. I am not sure what day it is; my routine is out of sync, and I am still recovering from the chaos of the holidays. But this year, I am trying to use this week to look ahead to the New Year and focus on what is ahead. In the past, I have done (well attempted) the new year’s resolutions, I have focused on a word of the year, but this year I am trying a new approach.  The past year has been filled with many highs, some lows, a lot of learning moments, balancing multiple plates, and fe ..read more

This week, please enjoy this guest article, written by Allison Schoonmaker, MA, LPC. Allison has worked in private practice since 2006 and is the owner of Spring Life Counseling, LLC. She works with clients dealing with relational distress and communication problems, codependency, anxiety, depression, sexual issues, affair recovery, blended family difficulties, dissatisfaction with singleness, adult survivors of childhood trauma, spiritual development, stress management, and other issues. In this article, she provides valuable tips on how to get through the holidays with your family, wit ..read more