Relationships are meant to be sources of support and love, yet sometimes in the craziness of life, some relationships end up causing more stress or become “one more thing we have to attend to.” This feeling may be a sign that it’s time examine and possibly readjust the way we approach these relationships. Theology of the Body tells us that God created us for relationships; that building the kingdom of God really means creating a life-giving “community of love” with... Read more
Fighting negativity is a constant battle. We live in a world full of inspirational quotes and Instagram captions about positivity, and while these can be helpful, they are not the only—and maybe not even the best—way to truly overcome negativity. Theology of the Body helps us challenge negativity by reminding us of who we truly a re and what we are called to become through God’s grace. Negativity traps us in our fallen selves, making us believe that the broken... Read more
Many people question whether husbands and wives should expect to be each other’s best friends. Spouses are often faced with difficulties throughout their lives and marriage, so how can they still be best friends with one another? While it may come as a surprise to some, over 83% of married couples report being best friends with each other. Pope St. John Paul the Great’s Theology Of The Body calls couples to recall the original unity–the remarkable best friendship–our First Parents... Read more
At times, being a parent can feel extremely overwhelming. It can feel like so much work to help our kids be the intelligent, happy, ambitious, and overall successful individuals we want them to be. The good news is that research shows that there is one quality—caring— we can parent toward that gives our kids all those other benefits and more. According to a report by Harvard’s Making Caring Common Project, “…when children can empathize with and take responsibility for... Read more
Pope Francis has called Jesus’ Beatitudes our “guide on the path of Christian life.” Of course, God leads by example. As such, in addition to being a call to Christian discipleship, the Beatitudes also could be said to reveal something about the ways God the Father relates to us, his children. Seen in this light, the Beatitudes present a unique opportunity for Christian men to become fathers after The Father’s own heart. That’s why I wrote The BeDADitudes: 8... Read more
Check out my interview with Chloe Mooradian of Aleteia’s For Her. Your son comes home from school with a new word that his friend taught him. Your little girl’s playmates are teaching her to be a little bit sassier than you’d like. Or maybe your child was caught cheating on a test with his friend, even though you know you’ve taught him better. As parents well know from living through our own childhoods, the influence of our kids’ friends is pretty... Read more
It seems as though so many things in life are constantly trying to steal our joy. From politics, to work stress, to the craziness of daily life, it can be hard to find the joy in each day. We tend to think that joy is a product of stepping away from life and finding little ways to take a break or enjoy ourselves. Taking breaks can be important, but while doing this can lead to fleeting moments of happiness, it... Read more
Do you struggle with anxiety on a regular basis—particularly anxiety induced by social situations? Well, you’re not alone. Experts have found that one in ten people are affected by social anxiety at some point during their lifetime. “Social anxiety disorder is diagnosed if fears and anxiety in social situations significantly impair everyday life and cause intense suffering.” Most commonly, this type of anxiety is provoked when an individual is asked to speak in front of a crowd. A new study... Read more
In today’s world, placing blame is easier than ever. Outlets such as the news and social media allow us to say “it’s their fault!” without a second thought. Because of this, placing blame on others—or even yourself—is a trap that is all too easy to fall into. However, figuring out “who’s to blame” is not an effective way to heal the hurtful situations in our lives. In Love and Responsibility, Pope JPII spoke of “responsibility” as a basic and inalienable... Read more
It’s raining here, today. Hard. When I first woke up this morning and my eyes blinked open, I heard the rain pounding on my roof and the winds slapping against my window. My first thought was, “So gloomy. What perfect Lenten weather.” My second thought was, “With how hard it’s raining, those ashes won’t stay on my forehead very long. What a shame.” But my groggy, gloomy, lenten mood was immediately punctuated by yet another thought that could only have... Read more
Faith on the Couch
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