Articles about purpose, identity, resilience, adversity, gratitude, personal development, starting over, and becoming who we were created to be.
Last night, I watched the finale of America’s Got Talent, and like millions of other people, I watched 16-year-old Nene Royal walk onto the stage with a guitar and perform “Seven Nation Army.” What has happened to this young woman over the past few months is remarkable. Nene came to America’s Got Talent from Phuket, … More And Then Everything Changed…
Sometimes we convince ourselves that success requires everyone to notice us. Thousands of readers. Thousands of followers. A packed auditorium. A viral post. A massive audience. But maybe it doesn’t. Maybe it only takes one. One person can hear you speak and recognize something in you that nobody else noticed. One person can read something … More It Only Takes One
The worst thing someone can ever tell you is “no.” Think about that for a moment. No is not failure. No is not the end of your story. No does not define your worth, your ability, or your future. No is simply an answer to a question you had the courage to ask. But if … More Shoot Your Shot
My parents would sometimes tell me, “You can’t see the forest through the trees.” It was their way of reminding me that sometimes we become so focused on what is directly in front of us that we lose sight of the bigger picture. And there is truth in that. Sometimes we are too close to … More The Forest Beyond the Trees
Most people look at a microwave timer because they are waiting for something to happen. I look at it because I am reminded that something is always happening. As the numbers count down — 60, 59, 58 — I watch each second disappear. Most people see a meal getting closer. I see something else. I … More The Seconds That Never Come Back
There are people who say they want peace but seem incapable of living in it. Give them a quiet home, and eventually there is an argument. Give them stability, and eventually there is a crisis. Give them someone who genuinely cares about them, and eventually that person becomes the enemy. Give them an opportunity to … More You Can’t Save Someone Who Keeps Choosing Chaos
There is a painful lesson that many people learn at some point in their lives: You can be good to someone, and they can still choose something else. You can love someone, support someone, protect someone, and give someone things they have always said they wanted — and they can still walk away. The natural … More A Pearl Does Not Become a Pebble: Knowing Your Worth When Others Fail to See It
There is a moment in life when we stop looking ahead and finally turn around. For years, we walk forward with our eyes fixed on what comes next. The next goal. The next promotion. The next milestone. The next chapter. We are so focused on crossing the bridge that we rarely stop to look at … More The View from the Bridge: Finding Meaning When Life Changes
I have a confession to make. I keep feeling like I need to do more. Another book. Another opportunity. Another person reached. Another door opened. Another accomplishment that somehow proves I’ve actually made a difference. There’s always something else sitting on the horizon whispering: Not yet. Keep going. You’re not there yet. I’ve spent a … More Maybe I’ve Already Done Enough
The greatest gifts are often the ones we stop noticing Every day, we wake up and experience something extraordinary. We open our eyes and see the world around us. We hear voices, music, and the sounds of life happening around us. We smell the coffee brewing, the rain falling, or the familiar scent of a … More What’s the Sense? 5 Things We Take for Granted