Strategies and mindsets for developing Marriage Mastery, Parent Training, and Self-Mastery.
See Jonathan's other related blog projects in the sidebar:
- The Q&A Series
- The GR Masters Project
- The 52 Love Songs Project
- The 365 Love Quotes Project
- Rock Therapy
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Self-Mastery: The Wolves Inside You
An elder Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, "A fight is going on inside me. It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
Why compassion for other's weaknesses, shortcomings and faults?
Why compassion for other'’ weaknesses, shortcomings, and faults? I just read a simple and good answer in Catching Fire (2nd book in The Hunger Games trilogy)…
To the Critics and Naysayers of World:
Besides your criticisms, Monday morning quarterbacking, and fault-finding of those who actually DO take action, what have you actually DONE?!
Honoring the Honorable and Dishonorable Parents
The commandment to "Honor thy father and mother" is easy and a joy to do when you have loving and honorable parents that you take pride in. However, what about when your parent(s) lack honor?
Self-Mastery Tip: The Question of Fair
In regards to the question of "fair":
- Life isn't fair. Waiting for it to be, or expecting it to be, is the fast track to suffering and insanity;
- That being said...
"The boogie that be"—Silly Dads Sound Off!
Any other silly fathers out there besides me? I bet there are plenty. What funny, silly, ridiculous, self-abasing things do you do to make your kids laugh?
The Soul of Compassion: Understanding
The key to a GREAT relationship is REALLY understanding, which is the soul of compassion. To know someone so fully that you can see past what you disagree with about them to what really makes them tick. To fully understand them as they are instead of as they "should" be opens up the door to truly loving someone.
Stress-Busting Tip: Use the Biology of Touch
The biology of touch is simply this: hugging, hand holding, encouraging hand on arm or shoulder, or a simple neck or back rub decreases cortisol (the stress hormone), increases oxytocin (the "cuddle" hormone that increases bonding) which both result in lowered blood pressure…
Quick Bonding Activity: "All About..."
Occasionally, in church, I like to pass around to each family member a piece of paper titled, "All About (Name): (Name) Is..." And then let each family member add whatever kind of observation they have about that person. The benefits are simple and important: The writer is able to reflect on the good qualities of that person and the recipient gets to feel great and appreciated. It's a quick, simple, yet meaningful, way to feel connected and to further solidify the family bond and loyalty to one another. It's also interesting and fun to find out what each other notice about each other.
Teaching Children Anger Management
Taught 11-year-old daughter learning to control her anger is as learnable as controlling a car via the speedometer, steering wheel, gas/brakes of emotion regulation. She felt bad before about not being able to control her anger and was crying, poor thing…
PARENTING FINESSE Tip 10: Keep Consequences Simple, Logical & Lecture Free
Keep consequences simple, logical, and lecture free. For example, lately on Sunday mornings my kids have been dawdling and ending up being late for church. No big deal in the grand scheme of things. However, it's the type of thing that parents typically get bothered by when it happens repeatedly. As parents, we feel a responsibility to teach and guide our children towards respectful and appropriate behavior, such as punctuality…
Parenting Finesse Tip 9: Tell Less. Explore More
There is much that our children need to be taught of right and wrong. That is certainly important. In addition, what is even more important is that they be taught not only how to think, but how to know themselves enough to learn to know their own authentic truth. This they must learn to do on their own. They do need guidance, but guide. Don't take over…
SELF-MASTERY Tip 14: Allow Yourself to Fail
Get out of your way and don't let others get in your way. Accept your failures and take the risks. Learn from them. Adapt. And give it another go.
Dads, Do Your Kids Know?
Dads, do your kids KNOW that you love them? AS fathers, are uniquely poised to be that one to provide our children with the love and protection that only we can provide and that they so desperately crave and deserve…
Teaching Kids to "Fail" Gloriously!
Last night for our Family Night I taught an activity on making mistakes, failing, and never giving up as the path to succeeding in life. Here's all the stuff you need so you can do the same with your family….
