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The “Who Am I?” Project: Take Charge of Your Growth and Goals

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

In the midst of life struggles, major transitions, or even the daily grind, we often lose sight of our goals and the person we intended to become.

Though it may seem simple, a powerful way to reconnect with yourself is to take a piece of paper and list everything that makes you, you.

  • Record your attributes, your likes and dislikes, and your deepest passions.
  • Be honest about what makes you happy and what makes you fearful.
  • Include the dreams you’ve endeavored to achieve but haven’t yet finished, or the things you longed for as a child.
  • Reflect on how you have changed and who you can still become.

It is never too late to begin making the changes that matter most to you.

The “Who Am I?” Notebook

I recommend starting a notebook titled “Who Am I?” As you complete the exercises or suggestions, record them in that notebook.

To get started, ask yourself these specific questions:

  • What underlying passions or desires do you have? Name them and describe them.
  • What brings you comfort?
  • Conversely, what creates anxiety or fear?
  • When do you feel most confident in your skills and abilities?
  • What is your first response to unpleasant situations?

It is only when we become specific that we can clearly define our wants and needs.

Dig deep and ask yourself why you might stay in a place of negativity. What strategies can you use to override hopeless thoughts and replace them with “possibility thinking”?

Building Emotional Toughness

As you identify your identity on paper, organize your thoughts into categories. Focus heavily on your strengths—the assets that empower you to try one more time. This empowerment builds emotional toughness, determination, and the “stick-to-it-ness” required to handle difficult situations.

Unless you identify and define these strengths on paper, you are likely to forget or dismiss them when life gets hard. Hang in there!

The Director of Your Destiny

You are more than just the camera of your life; you are the captain, the skipper, and the director.

You are in charge.

The decisions you make—good or bad—make a lasting difference. You have the wonderful opportunity to make thoughtful choices based on your unique beliefs and values.

Threads of Life

Threads of Life: Stories to Warm the Heart and Challenge the Mind, by Marlene AndersonWe will all struggle with burdens and overwhelming odds at some point. But when we encourage one another to not only survive but thrive, we can go on to celebrate life.

How we respond to these experiences will weave together the fabric of who we are. In Threads of Life, you’ll find a tapestry of stories about overcoming adversity, taking that needed risk, and moving beyond your losses to empower your life and find the joy, comfort, and laughter that we all need.

Along the way, you’ll learn valuable lessons about endurance and resilience as you face formidable difficulties. Learn how focusing on what you can do instead of what you can’t enables you to climb any mountain, overcome any obstacle, and praise God in the process—the story of living.

Threads of Life is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book versions.

Adjust the Camera of Your Life for a Better Perspective

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

The Lens of Your Life

Do you remember a time you walked along a trail and stopped to photograph something special? Perhaps it was a sweeping horizon viewed from a cliff or a delicate close-up of an insect.

We often take as many pictures as possible to capture what grabs our attention, later reviewing them to decide what to keep and what to discard.

In many ways, you are the camera of your own life. Throughout each day, you constantly adjust your lens to frame your experiences.

When you set long-term goals, you point your camera in the direction you want to go. However, as you move toward those goals, distractions inevitably arise.

Sometimes, you may realize those early goals are less important than you thought, requiring you to redirect your focus or clarify your vision.

Framing the Moment

To capture a truly special photograph, you must move the lens, widening or narrowing the scope to frame the subject perfectly. If your lens gets stuck in one position, you risk missing the things that make your heart rejoice: the timeless beauty of a sunset, or that fleeting, endearing moment when a child does something special.

Just as a photographer constantly adjusts their settings to capture a powerful, fleeting moment, we must remain agile in how we view our world.

Savoring the Memory Bank

Over a lifetime, we experience countless moments of joy, surprise, and thoughtful contemplation. Savor these moments and store them in your “memory bank.” These memories are precious assets, ready to be recalled whenever you need a reminder of the daily blessings we so often overlook.

Recall these highlights when you face tough times and feel as though nothing positive will ever happen again.

Life will always have ups and downs. Even during difficult seasons, we can still find things that are pleasurable and good.

Change your focus to what you can do, rather than what you can’t, even when circumstances seem impossible. We do not minimize our hardships; instead, we offset them with the things for which we are thankful.

An Exercise in Gratitude

Start today by listing everything that enriches your life. Record every blessing you are thankful for, no matter how small it may seem or how difficult your current situation feels.

Threads of Life

Threads of Life: Stories to Warm the Heart and Challenge the Mind, by Marlene AndersonWe will all struggle with burdens and overwhelming odds at some point. But when we encourage one another to not only survive but thrive, we can go on to celebrate life.

How we respond to these experiences will weave together the fabric of who we are. In Threads of Life, you’ll find a tapestry of stories about overcoming adversity, taking that needed risk, and moving beyond your losses to empower your life and find the joy, comfort, and laughter that we all need.

Along the way, you’ll learn valuable lessons about endurance and resilience as you face formidable difficulties. Learn how focusing on what you can do instead of what you can’t enables you to climb any mountain, overcome any obstacle, and praise God in the process—the story of living.

Threads of Life is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book versions.

8 Pillars for a Managed, Meaningful, God-Centered Life

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

Reflection: Where Are You Now?

Take a moment to reflect on your current season of life. Have you made the progress you envisioned? Are you content with the status quo, or are you ready to update your skills and set new, achievable goals?

We often view goal-setting as something reserved for the start of a career or a new year. In reality, we set small goals every day—from tackling a to-do list to planning a vacation. However, there is a difference between managing daily chores and intentionally establishing a new lifestyle.

8 Basics for Navigating Life

To build a life that is both realistic and deeply meaningful, consider these eight foundational pillars:

  1. Make God the cornerstone of your life.
  2. Challenge negative thinking and replace it with possibility thinking.
  3. Separate problems from their symptoms and address the root causes.
  4. Improve your communication with those around you.
  5. Practice forgiveness. Resentment is destructive; make forgiveness a habit for your own peace.
  6. Replace bad habits with positive opportunities.
  7. Develop an “I Can” mindset.
  8. Practice relaxation skills every single day.

Wisdom for the Journey Ahead

Throughout this year, I will share practical ways to live a more manageable and fulfilling life. Drawing from my experience as a licensed therapist, psychology teacher, and Christian, I have found that revisiting these skills always sparks renewed passion.

It is never too late to address your deepest desires. As we age, we grow in wisdom, becoming better equipped to identify what truly matters and how to put those values into practice.

Your First Steps

  1. Write down everything you hope to do or achieve. Define these desires as thoroughly as possible.
  2. Review your list: What have you accomplished so far? What has worked, and what hasn’t?
  3. Rank these items in order of importance and begin the intentional process of making your life more meaningful.

Threads of Life

Threads of Life: Stories to Warm the Heart and Challenge the Mind, by Marlene AndersonWe will all struggle with burdens and overwhelming odds at some point. But when we encourage one another to not only survive but thrive, we can go on to celebrate life.

How we respond to these experiences will weave together the fabric of who we are. In Threads of Life, you’ll find a tapestry of stories about overcoming adversity, taking that needed risk, and moving beyond your losses to empower your life and find the joy, comfort, and laughter that we all need.

Along the way, you’ll learn valuable lessons about endurance and resilience as you face formidable difficulties. Learn how focusing on what you can do instead of what you can’t enables you to climb any mountain, overcome any obstacle, and praise God in the process—the story of living.

Threads of Life is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book versions.

What Is the Focus of Your Life?

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

Every day, we are in constant motion—completing chores, maintaining our homes, and chasing goals. However, unless we learn to sustain our attention, we struggle to accomplish anything of substance.

 

“Focus” is the act of holding our attention. It allows us to concentrate, solve problems, and learn new skills.

Unfortunately, our focus often drifts from repetitive or unpleasant tasks toward more pleasant distractions. Do you find yourself daydreaming during boring chores or difficult projects? To be truly productive, we must learn to maintain our focus despite distractions.

Tools for a Purposeful Life

In my upcoming book, Change Your Focus, Change Your Life, I’ll share strategies to help you engage with life more purposefully. By evaluating your beliefs, developing meaningful relationships, and resolving conflicts, you can learn the skills necessary for effective communication and problem-solving. With these tools, life becomes more meaningful, satisfying, and manageable.

In the coming months, I will suggest ways to build a confident, “I can do” spirit. My hope is that each blog post serves as an inspiration and a challenge.

What We Will Explore Together

As we journey forward, we will cover topics designed to help you grow:

  • Building confidence while reducing fear and anxiety.
  • Focusing on what is most important as you develop your unique abilities.
  • Creating positive responses to difficult life circumstances.
  • Solving underlying problems rather than just treating symptoms.
  • Setting boundaries and learning to say “no” respectfully.
  • Setting reasonable and realistic goals.
  • Developing a spiritual life that puts God at the cornerstone of everything.

As you follow these posts and podcast episodes, please remember that you can respond with your thoughts. I look forward to answering your questions.

Blessings,

Marlene

Threads of Life

Threads of Life: Stories to Warm the Heart and Challenge the Mind, by Marlene AndersonWe will all struggle with burdens and overwhelming odds at some point. But when we encourage one another to not only survive but thrive, we can go on to celebrate life.

How we respond to these experiences will weave together the fabric of who we are. In Threads of Life, you’ll find a tapestry of stories about overcoming adversity, taking that needed risk, and moving beyond your losses to empower your life and find the joy, comfort, and laughter that we all need.

Along the way, you’ll learn valuable lessons about endurance and resilience as you face formidable difficulties. Learn how focusing on what you can do instead of what you can’t enables you to climb any mountain, overcome any obstacle, and praise God in the process—the story of living.

Threads of Life is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book versions.

New Year, New Direction: Reflection Leads to Meaningful Goals

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

The Power of End-of-Year Reflection

As the old year ends, we naturally reflect on the struggles, dreams, and investments we’ve made. We are thankful for our successes and disappointed by our setbacks. Yet, the very opportunity to struggle, dream, and strive is a gift. When we stop working toward our goals, we stop truly living.

To prepare for the new year, take time to assess the past year:

  • Did you accomplish what you intended? If not, why?
  • Did you overextend yourself, or take on too much?
  • Were you working on things that mattered to you, or simply doing things out of compulsion?

Reflection provides the crucial information needed to make new goals.

From Wishful Thinking to Solid Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions often start as wishful thinking—the hope that we can somehow “get our life together.”

Unfortunately, most of us fail to follow through. This usually happens because we don’t first analyze the underlying causes of our past failures or outline the specific steps needed for success.

Any meaningful goal requires motivation that goes beyond a simple wish. It involves anticipating obstacles and devising ways to overcome them. If you want to become a teacher, for instance, expertise in a subject isn’t enough; you need a degree and a plan.

To make serious goals, ask yourself:

  1. How important is this goal to you, and why?
  2. Are you prepared to follow a detailed action plan to achieve it?

Without a clear plan and deep commitment, success will be uncertain.

new year's resolution

Defining and Achieving Success

Success isn’t measured by a large income or being “on top.” True success, in this context, means you have:

  • Carefully thought about your goal and its importance.
  • Outlined a step-by-step plan of action.

Be prepared to make adjustments or take detours. If a goal is truly important to you, you are more likely to persevere. However, there is no shame in scrapping a goal that you realize is no longer right for you.

Sometimes we only discover what’s truly important after working toward a goal. Scrapping a bad plan isn’t giving up; it’s simply formulating a better one.

Flexibility in the Face of Life’s Detours

We all need goals and focus in life, but we also need to be flexible. Even the best plans can be shattered by life in a matter of minutes. At such turning points—like the death of a loved one—it is essential to stop and assess.

Life may dictate a major change in direction, requiring a big move, downsizing, or a complete lifestyle shift. This process of working through change teaches you about your strengths and weaknesses and helps you determine what is truly right for your life.

For example, after the death of my husband, I lost my soulmate and the person with whom I had planned my life. Faced with the question of how to move on, I realized that acknowledging, accepting, and letting go of the past was the first step.

Though difficult—such as selling the house we built together—this loss ultimately gave me the courage to move forward, plan long-term, and develop a life that is both meaningful to me and helpful to others.

By working through that profound loss, I gained the ability to use my experience to help others.

Threads of Life

Threads of Life: Stories to Warm the Heart and Challenge the Mind, by Marlene AndersonWe will all struggle with burdens and overwhelming odds at some point. But when we encourage one another to not only survive but thrive, we can go on to celebrate life.

How we respond to these experiences will weave together the fabric of who we are. In Threads of Life, you’ll find a tapestry of stories about overcoming adversity, taking that needed risk, and moving beyond your losses to empower your life and find the joy, comfort, and laughter that we all need.

Along the way, you’ll learn valuable lessons about endurance and resilience as you face formidable difficulties. Learn how focusing on what you can do instead of what you can’t enables you to climb any mountain, overcome any obstacle, and praise God in the process—the story of living.

Threads of Life is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book versions.

Unwrapping Your Purpose: Discovering the Gifts God Has Given You

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

Wishing each of you a blessed Christmas. The information I share here throughout the year is intended as a gift to you.

My hope for you this season is that you not only recognize but also use and enjoy all the wonderful gifts you’ve been given.

Take a moment to truly recognize your own talents. While some gifts may be shared with others, many are specific and unique to you. Once you recognize them, you can find satisfying and productive ways to use them.

The Journey of Development

We each have gifts we can develop, but development requires more than just recognition; it demands persistence. As you work to use your talents, you will encounter failure, resistance, and disappointment.

The key is to persevere. When you choose to continue even when you want to give up, you gain far more than just a developed skill. You gain confidence, strength, and humility.

gift

Do Not Diminish Your Gifts

What gifts has God given you? How have you developed them? How are you using them?

It is common to minimize or trivialize our gifts. Sometimes we compare ourselves to others who are successful, seeing only our own inadequacy. Other times, competitive jealousy takes the focus off our talents and redirects it into unnecessary competition.

Remember: You are unique. Your specific talents and abilities are needed. You may see yourself as a very small piece in the puzzle of life, but completing any puzzle requires every piece to be used.

Think of the presents under the Christmas tree, all shapes and sizes, wrapped in different papers. We might assume the largest gift is the best, but often the smallest ones hold the precious gems.

Do not diminish your gifts or compare them to others. Instead, develop them and use them with the confidence and assurance that they were given to you for a reason and are absolutely needed.

An Invitation to the True Meaning of Christmas

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

The Prophecy of Peace

The Christmas season is often a frenzy of festivities and expectations, causing us to lose sight of its true significance.

Imagine the profound shift if we truly accepted the gift at the heart of Christmas: the birth of a Savior. Would we be disappointed if we believed there was more to the holiday than the celebrations?

The prophet Isaiah offered a powerful vision of what this gift means:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

—Isaiah 9:6

What If We Accepted the Gift?

What if we accepted the birth of Jesus not just as a Christmas tradition, but as the ultimate gift of love?

Would we truly be able to receive gifts from others as expressions of love instead of viewing them as an obligation, a meaningless ritual, or a tradition to be met?

Would we have to surrender our control if we fully accepted the gift of a Savior?

Could we allow God to love us as He desires? Would this act make us humble? Could we then accept ourselves and others in that place of vulnerability, and feel safe doing so?

Would we stop focusing on our Heavenly Father as a tyrannical God of punishment and power, and instead embrace Him as a loving parent—a God of restraint, grace, and forgiveness?

The Challenge of Love and Vulnerability

If love is so crucial to our lives, why don’t we apply it consistently throughout the year? What prevents us from giving it freely or from receiving it wholeheartedly?

Often, we hold back because we judge. We question whether a person is worthy to be loved, shown consideration, or offered dignity and a helping hand.

We also find it difficult to receive love because it can be humbling; it requires us to relinquish control and become vulnerable.

We want to believe we have everything figured out, but few of us do. The truth is, we need each other to motivate, encourage, and bring out the best in one another. We aren’t the center of the universe, and we don’t have all the answers. Admitting that can be scary because it forces us to rely on each other.

nativity

The Greatest Gift of Surrender

Jesus, the Son of God, came into the world as a dependent, vulnerable baby. Yet, His arrival was part of God’s perfect plan. The ultimate expression of His gift was the sacrifice of His life for us on the cross during the prime of His life.

What greater gift could we ask for?

This season, let’s set down our endless wants and heavy expectations, and simply enjoy the true spirit of Christmas.

Embrace the call to share love with others.

Threads of Life

Threads of Life: Stories to Warm the Heart and Challenge the Mind, by Marlene AndersonWe will all struggle with burdens and overwhelming odds at some point. But when we encourage one another to not only survive but thrive, we can go on to celebrate life.

How we respond to these experiences will weave together the fabric of who we are. In Threads of Life, you’ll find a tapestry of stories about overcoming adversity, taking that needed risk, and moving beyond your losses to empower your life and find the joy, comfort, and laughter that we all need.

Along the way, you’ll learn valuable lessons about endurance and resilience as you face formidable difficulties. Learn how focusing on what you can do instead of what you can’t enables you to climb any mountain, overcome any obstacle, and praise God in the process—the story of living.

Threads of Life is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book versions.

Finding Hope That Sustains You Through Tough Times

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

Understanding the Power of Hope

Hope is a vital, sustaining force. While it’s a topic I’ve written about frequently, it’s worth understanding exactly what hope is and why it’s so important.

Hope is more than just a vague wish; it is the belief and feeling that something desirable or good is possible.

Without it, we risk giving up or feeling like the only question is, “Is this all there is?”

Throughout the Bible, we see countless stories of God interacting with His people, where faith, hope, and trust are central themes.

Science also tells us that the thoughts we focus on impact us mentally, physically, and spiritually. In fact, hope has the power to change the very chemistry in your body. Hope is an essential component for surviving and thriving through life’s toughest moments.

How Hope Transforms Your Life

Hope isn’t passive; it actively changes our state of being and our actions.

Hope Encourages and Motivates

When you feel hopeful, you gain confidence, and confidence leads to courage. This encouragement becomes motivation—the drive to actively look for solutions to difficult problems and challenging life situations.

Hope Energizes

Feeling helpless or hopeless drains your energy, which can lead to depression and feeling paralyzed. Hope can shift this state instantly. It allows you to focus on what you can do instead of dwelling on what you cannot.

shoot of new plant peeking through rocks

Hope Expects a Brighter Tomorrow

Hope naturally leads to a positive expectation for the future. Just as we take for granted that the sun will rise even when it’s hidden by clouds, hope expects a different outcome than the current pain or darkness. Hope believes that tomorrow has the potential to be brighter than today, that pain will recede, and that joy is possible again.

When the world feels dark and you believe you’ve been locked in a prison of despair, hope allows you to place your expectation on a God you can call upon in times of trouble. We can approach Him anytime and anywhere.

Hope Believes and Endures

When we place our expectation on God, we believe that He exists, that He loves us, and that He will never leave us or abandon us. He promises to give us the strength to endure.

Hope aligns with God’s Word, which tells us that He cares about us personally. His love is so great that He was willing to die for us—on the cross—and rise again.

Hope refuses to quit. When we are utterly exhausted, we can hear God whispering, “I am there with you. Try again—one more time.” We can feel Him carrying us, hear His promises, and feel His strength flow into us. Hope understands that God intervenes in our lives.

hope

Hope Is Surrender

Ultimately, hope relies on something greater than ourselves. When we surrender to the knowledge that we are not sufficient on our own and need God to survive, we begin to truly experience hope.

Sometimes, this surrender means letting go and allowing events to unfold. The focus shifts from trying to make something happen to surrendering to what is happening and adjusting our responses. In that surrender, we find peace through acceptance, and hope reveals itself in the ability to look for blessings in all circumstances.

Threads of Life

Threads of Life: Stories to Warm the Heart and Challenge the Mind, by Marlene AndersonWe will all struggle with burdens and overwhelming odds at some point. But when we encourage one another to not only survive but thrive, we can go on to celebrate life.

How we respond to these experiences will weave together the fabric of who we are. In Threads of Life, you’ll find a tapestry of stories about overcoming adversity, taking that needed risk, and moving beyond your losses to empower your life and find the joy, comfort, and laughter that we all need.

Along the way, you’ll learn valuable lessons about endurance and resilience as you face formidable difficulties. Learn how focusing on what you can do instead of what you can’t enables you to climb any mountain, overcome any obstacle, and praise God in the process—the story of living.

Threads of Life is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book versions.

Rediscovering the Profound Meaning of Love

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

The Meaning of Divine Love

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son to die for us.”

We often use the word love casually, sometimes even flippantly, or reduce it to mere lustful desire.

Similarly, we often use God’s name lightly, grouping Him with superficial idols we create to make us feel momentarily good.

However, the simple statement, “For God so loved the world…” provides a complete understanding of both God and love. He offers a love that is serious and deep—one that involves Him dying for us. People are killed in the name of various gods, but would those gods die for humanity?

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”

—I Corinthians 13

The Profound Need for Love

We have diminished love and tarnished its value, yet we desperately need it. We must receive it, and we must give it. We cannot live without it; without it, we die internally.

cross at sunset

True love is an active, profound force.

Love…

  • Gives
  • Reaches out
  • Lifts up
  • Cares
  • Sacrifices
  • Needs others

Love…

  • Listens
  • Is patient
  • Forgives
  • Is necessary to live

Love…

  • Offers grace, mercy, and understanding
  • Disciplines and sets boundaries
  • Is never cheap

Love cannot be earned; it is given freely, though it often comes at a great cost to the giver.

Reflecting on the Gift of Christmas

Christmas is fundamentally about the love of God, who loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us. We often forget this profound meaning, distracted by opening packages and entertaining friends.

Christmas should be a time for reflection—not a time for “I want” lists or endless “to-do” lists. It is a time to remember and anticipate the gift of love given to us freely, without a charge on our credit card, yet at an immeasurable cost to the Giver.

While I enjoy tree lights, greens, and bright ornaments, without the core gift of love given so many years ago, the celebration would feel shallow and superficial.

Threads of Life

Threads of Life: Stories to Warm the Heart and Challenge the Mind, by Marlene AndersonWe will all struggle with burdens and overwhelming odds at some point. But when we encourage one another to not only survive but thrive, we can go on to celebrate life.

How we respond to these experiences will weave together the fabric of who we are. In Threads of Life, you’ll find a tapestry of stories about overcoming adversity, taking that needed risk, and moving beyond your losses to empower your life and find the joy, comfort, and laughter that we all need.

Along the way, you’ll learn valuable lessons about endurance and resilience as you face formidable difficulties. Learn how focusing on what you can do instead of what you can’t enables you to climb any mountain, overcome any obstacle, and praise God in the process—the story of living.

Threads of Life is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book versions.

Navigating Life’s Storms: Finding Strength to Reach Out and Keep Going

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

Surviving the Ups and Downs

The journey of life often feels like sailing: we are at the mercy of sudden, unexpected storms.

My husband and I were sailors, and when we planned our trips through the islands both in Washington and Canada, we always knew where the coves were that we could slip into and wait out an unexpected storm or bad weather.

This raises a crucial question for life:

Can we prepare ourselves to avoid the consequences of poor choices, emotional reactions, and an unwillingness to learn from others and history?

We start with high hopes and grand plans, yet we often become disheartened and discouraged when waylaid by loss and pain. Eagerness and passion fade, and soon, we feel stuck in a rut, going nowhere but around in circles.

When the Map Fails

When we embark on a physical journey, we usually have a clear roadmap. But the journey of life is rarely so clear. We have a general idea of our goals, but we seldom carry a “life preserver” for those times when our boat is overturned and we are set adrift. We might find ourselves crossing vast deserts where the landscape looks the same, and the road abruptly ends, making it difficult to find our way back.

  • How do you maintain a sense of purpose and forge ahead when unexpected circumstances constantly waylay you?
  • How do you maneuver through storms that threaten to strip away everything positive?
  • How do you live a life of value, integrity, and respect when faced with confusing situations?
  • When survival is at stake, where do you find the strength, clarity, and fortitude to stay on track and avoid giving up?

boat in protected cove

The Cornerstone of Strength

We cannot always change what happens to us, but we can always change our responses. In my upcoming book, Change Your Focus, Change Your Life, I write about key strategies for shifting how we respond to life’s challenges.

First, make God the cornerstone of your life. He provides the strength, courage, and hope we need to keep going.

Second, adopt these strategies:

  • Challenge negative thinking and replace it with possibility thinking.
  • Separate and work on problems, focusing on the root causes rather than just the symptoms.
  • Improve communication with others and let go of resentments.
  • Learn how to resolve conflicts
  • Replace bad habits that hurt with an “I can” mindset.
  • Put healthy habits in place that help you respond well during tough times.
  • Take time each day to relax and unwind.

As you lower stress levels, replace constant negative thoughts, and focus on making your life productive and enjoyable, you will notice a huge difference in how you feel and your readiness to meet challenges.

Remember, you can always reach out for support from others and renew your efforts to keep going.

Threads of Life

Threads of Life: Stories to Warm the Heart and Challenge the Mind, by Marlene AndersonWe will all struggle with burdens and overwhelming odds at some point. But when we encourage one another to not only survive but thrive, we can go on to celebrate life.

How we respond to these experiences will weave together the fabric of who we are. In Threads of Life, you’ll find a tapestry of stories about overcoming adversity, taking that needed risk, and moving beyond your losses to empower your life and find the joy, comfort, and laughter that we all need.

Along the way, you’ll learn valuable lessons about endurance and resilience as you face formidable difficulties. Learn how focusing on what you can do instead of what you can’t enables you to climb any mountain, overcome any obstacle, and praise God in the process—the story of living.

Threads of Life is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book versions.