Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Mike Bechtle from his book, Dealing with the Elephant in the Room: Moving from Tough Conversations to Healthy Communication (p. 58). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) In so many negative situations a new perspective can make a major difference. “Mike says, “Someone said, ‘In the absence of data, we tend to make things up.’ That’s why it’s important to keep talking about hard issues. If we don’t, we won’t know what the other person is thinking. So we start believing our made-up perspectives, imagining things that aren’t there and assuming they’re true. “When people have an issue with someone else, they are often uncomfortable talking to them about it. So they take the easier path, which is to talk with everyone else instead of that person. Any time we talk about people without talking to them, we run the risk of damaging our relationship with them. The only way to build healthy relationship...

A thought by Mike Bechtle from his book, Dealing with the Elephant in the Room: Moving from Tough Conversations to Healthy Communication (p. 51). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) That is so true and on this Thanksgiving Day, we can be thankful that God has created each one of us with a purpose, a reason to be here.   Mike says, “We’re hardwired that way. We want to make a difference. We were created with a blend of temperament, passion, and interest that makes us unique. Nobody else is just like us, and nobody can contribute what we have to offer. “Too often, we compare ourselves to others. We see the contributions they’re making, and ours feel insignificant by contrast. So we either give up trying (because we believe we don’t have anything of value to give), or we try to copy others. We figure that if we do what they do, we’ll at least be able to make some of the impact they make.” He goes on...

A thought by Mike Bechtle from his book, Dealing with the Elephant in the Room: Moving from Tough Conversations to Healthy Communication (p. 50). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) We really do need each other.   We really do. Mike says, “Life was meant to be shared and finds its richest meaning in community. “When I’m traveling, something often moves me—a world-class sunset, an amazing meal, or just an experience that brings me joy. My first instinct is to think, ‘I wish Diane could see this.’ So I take a picture with my phone and send it to her so she can share the experience. More than once I’ve taken a picture of a meal I’m enjoying that makes me want to experience it with her by my side. “Roger was one of those independent people who said he didn’t need anyone else. ‘I can take care of myself,’ he would say. ‘Relationships are just too much of a hassle.’ But deep inside, he knew it was an e...