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Coping with Parenthood Burnout

Coping with Parenthood Burnout

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T08:57:34+00:00December 21st, 2022|Couples Counseling, Family Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

Are you struggling with parenthood burnout? Do any of the following situations seem familiar? Colicky babies. Screaming toddlers. No babysitters. Around-the-clock feeds. Sleep deprivation. Financial strain. Behavior challenges. Constant touching/loud environments that leave you mentally and physically drained. Feelings of failure when trying to figure out a family/faith/career balance. Having to move away from family/support system due to jobs. Spouse long work hours/demanding travel schedules. While being a parent is one of life’s greatest treasures, it can also be one of the most demanding and depleting tasks you are faced with. While doting new parents are head-over-heels in love with their precious bundle of joy, it isn’t long before parents are thrown new curve balls and obstacles that need to be overcome. The weight of caring for, raising, and nurturing another life can feel like too much to carry alone. Sometimes parents who are feeling overwhelmed by circumstances and parenthood burnout do not want to ask for help, because they feel like it means they do not love their baby. Your feelings are valid. Feeling overwhelmed by parenthood means you are human. If you feel overwhelmed because your baby won’t sleep, you aren’t alone. If you feel overcome with postpartum anxiety/depression, you aren’t alone. If you feel so tired and drained that you could fall asleep standing up, you aren’t alone. If you wish you had a trusted babysitter or family around to help, you aren’t alone. If you do not know how to ask for help, you aren’t alone. How to Cope with Parenthood Burnout If you are wondering what to do next as you navigate the trenches of parenthood, consider these steps: Make the call or send the text. If you have a trusted friend or family member who can watch your kids for a few hours so [...]

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Studying Bible Verses About Loss to Cope with Grief

Studying Bible Verses About Loss to Cope with Grief

Melissa Plantz2024-09-27T09:26:19+00:00November 26th, 2022|Featured, Grief Counseling, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

The sense of loss can run deep. It encompasses mourning and grief. It can stem from the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the failure to accomplish a dream or goal. The grieving process applies to any loss and includes five stages: denial (shock), anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Whatever stage of the grieving process you are currently going through (you can cycle through the stages a few times before acceptance), studying Bible verses about loss can help you see how God brings us comfort during the hardest trials in our lives. He helps us overcome grief. Bible Verses about Loss We live in a fallen, sinful world, and we experience loss and grief because of this. Our tears fall, and our hearts hurt for what could have been or the memories of something or someone special to us. Yet, God sent us His Son to ensure that we will have joy and no more tears for eternity after this life. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Revelation 21:3-4, NIV In the meantime, we must walk through dark times, knowing that we will emerge stronger, braver, and wiser. We will come out the other side and move past this loss. When we enter the denial stage, we want to avoid the pain. We procrastinate on the arrangements after the death of a loved one, often delegating them to someone else. [...]

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Ways to Manage Stress While Losing Weight

Ways to Manage Stress While Losing Weight

Melissa Plantz2024-09-27T09:26:46+00:00November 24th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Weight Loss, Women’s Issues|

Did you make losing weight a New Year’s resolution? Did you decide that this was the year for a new start? And just like every year prior, is it hard to manage stress, when it feels like your stress level has gone through the roof? You are not alone. A large percentage of the population cites losing weight as a goal at the beginning of the year. However, the responsibilities of life bear down on us, making reaching that goal that much harder. But you do not have to let the pressure derail your weight loss efforts this year. Instead, learn ways to manage stress and make small shifts in your behavior and mindset to reach your goals. Ways to manage stress and while losing weight When it comes to ways to manage stress, you may have to incorporate the trial-and-error method. For some people, walking each morning outdoors is enough to lower their stress levels. For others, frigid temperatures make walking difficult, so they rely on stretching sessions throughout the day. When you have several options to choose from on ways to manage stress, you can select the ones that work with your lifestyle and forget the rest. Read the tips below and choose a few you can try today. Go outdoors. Getting out into the fresh air can lift your spirits and boost your calorie burn. Sunlight provides vitamin D and can lower blood pressure. Combine this with the act of walking, and now you are strengthening bones and boosting the immune system. When you make walking outdoors a consistent endeavor, it changes your mindset. You come back from your walk energized and calmer than when you started. Practice deep breathing. Deep breathing forces your muscles to relax as you focus on your breath. When you inhale through [...]

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Moving Past Failure On Your Journey Toward Self-Development

Moving Past Failure On Your Journey Toward Self-Development

Kate Motaung2024-10-29T13:55:35+00:00September 29th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development|

For the longest time, Jason had no concept of self-development and felt as though his life was spiraling out of control. He was one of those people who’s been gifted with intelligence, a good sense of humor, and a warm personality that was inviting to others. But it just seemed as though things never quite lined up for him – his relationship with his fiancé ended after they found themselves on different paths in life, and various other friendships of his crumbled when he sought to build accountability into those friendships. He had tried his hand at various business ventures; he had great ideas and a solid work ethic, but somehow things just never quite got off the ground. It wasn’t long after that Jason began to feel like not only had he failed at a few things – he felt as though he was a failure. Life doesn’t always go according to plan or stick to our schedule. Our desires for a certain kind of life get frustrated through a combination of our poor choices, the choices and actions of others, and circumstances simply not lining up in our favor. A business can fail because there are poor systems in place, but even the best-positioned business can struggle in the face of huge events such as a global pandemic or a severe economic recession. The dynamics in personal relationships aren’t always under our control, and that’s partly the reason they are both rewarding and a little scary. Failure will happen in everyone’s life. When things go off the rails, that leaves one with a choice of how to respond meaningfully to that setback. It is possible to use failure to catapult yourself further toward your goals, but that requires the cultivation of a certain mindset regarding self-development. How [...]

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Preparing for the Big Day: Bible Verses about Marriage

Preparing for the Big Day: Bible Verses about Marriage

Melissa Plantz2024-09-27T09:25:33+00:00September 26th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Premarital Counseling, Spiritual Development|

A wedding includes so many details that it is easy to get caught up in the planning stage. Many couples want a church, minister, rings, flowers, candles, reception, food and drinks, party savers, photos, groomsmen, and bridesmaids. But how much time are you putting into planning your marriage? Are you studying Bible verses about marriage? The wedding and reception will last less than a day, but your marriage will hopefully last for the rest of your life. Yet, we place more emphasis on the wedding than the marriage. The Bible speaks of the union of a man and a woman, the partnership, and the intimacy. Studying Bible Verses about Marriage Pick a time when you and your significant other can sit down and study Bible verses about marriage. Consider seeking out a counselor for premarital counseling. It may be a much more beneficial investment than the wedding and honeymoon combined. Making Christ the center of your marriage and your family will help when times get tough, knowing that in God’s strength you can strive to be the godliest and most loving spouse possible. If you want the same for your partner, make sure they know where you stand. The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” – Genesis 2:18, NIV God created the union of a man and a woman with the creation of Eve. God had already made the animals and saw that Adam needed a companion, a helpmate. God thinks so highly of marriage that the church is referred to as a bride waiting for her groom (the return of Jesus). God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” – Genesis 1:28, NIV [...]

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What Does Forgiveness Mean?

What Does Forgiveness Mean?

Joanna Kucherera2024-09-27T09:26:57+00:00August 8th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues, Spiritual Development|

Perhaps one of the most thought-provoking and challenging things Jesus ever commanded was for us to forgive those who have offended us seventy-seven times if necessary (Matthew 18:20-21 NIV). He had many other things to say about forgiveness and practiced it remarkably even while dying unjustly on the cross (Luke 23:34, NIV). Why is forgiveness often such a difficult thing to do? What does it truly mean to forgive? What Forgiveness Is Not If we are honest with ourselves (and with God), forgiveness is not something that comes easily. It is often difficult to let go of the emotions that arise from experiencing injustice. A partial explanation of this is that anger, bitterness, and resentment – emotions commonly associated with unforgiveness – are immensely powerful emotions, and they can be a form of toxic fuel. In many cases, we never receive an apology let alone restitution. Should forgiveness wait until there is an apology or acknowledgment of guilt? The answer is no. Forgiveness is different from being satisfied with justice. The parent who looks the murderer of their child in the eye and forgives them does not receive their child back. It is not justice. There will remain an empty space in their life, but with forgiveness, that emptiness will no longer be filled with bitterness, resentment, and anger. Forgiveness is also not reconciliation. You are not bound to make amends with the party who hurt you. Forgiveness does not require you to build a bridge that was broken. The abused child may find it in their hearts to forgive their abuser, but that does not mean the relationship is mended, nor does it mean they should try to repair it. In many cases, it is wisdom and self-preservation to cut ties with the one who has damaged you. Forgiveness [...]

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How to Manage Stress with God’s Help

How to Manage Stress with God’s Help

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T08:58:07+00:00July 25th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development|

It is something you see wherever you look: your immediate network of friends and colleagues and most certainly on social media – people trying to manage stress by working more. This faulty logic may be that work equals money, and because money is inversely proportional to stress the more money you have, the less stress you have as a result. Is this true? If people could expertly manage stress through more work, then why would God designate a whole day every week to rest and worship? Well, let us start by taking a look at what it is to remember the sabbath, and then how this relates to managing stress. Manage stress through obedience to God Remembering the Sabbath is a command from God. It is not just a good idea that we should seriously consider. It is a direct instruction from the one who designed and knit together each one of us so that we would live in line with how we were designed. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. – Exodus 20:8-11, NIV For a refresher on the type of work God undertook in those first days, open up your Bible to the first page of Genesis. Like himself, God has given us the [...]

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Anger in the Bible: Distinguishing Between Righteous and Unrighteous Anger

Anger in the Bible: Distinguishing Between Righteous and Unrighteous Anger

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T08:58:19+00:00July 13th, 2022|Anger Issues, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Anger seems to be around us everywhere. To be sure, there’s no shortage of good reasons to be angry, from errant politicians to abuses of power by people in positions of authority, and frustration over social and other causes one can think of. Even a cursory look at social media and in-person interactions reveals people expressing anger over a whole host of things. We often see anger that quickly flares up and descends into vitriol and violence. But anger in the Bible? Unfortunately, our sentiments toward anger and its expressions are shaped by what we typically see. For people who only experience destructive outward expressions of anger, it can be hard to reconcile that with the message of the Bible, and so in their own lives, they may resolve to hold onto their anger, button it up, and not express it under any circumstances. The very idea of “righteous anger” would seem a misnomer, or a bad joke someone’s trying to make. How can anger be righteous when it looks like people throwing tables and chairs at each other at a buffet spot? The Bible does make such distinctions, however, and they may help us to steer away from the types of anger and expressions that are displeasing to the Lord, and toward those that honor the Lord and constitute healthy and constructive expressions of anger. Anger in the Bible: Righteous Anger Can anger be “righteous?” The Bible has many examples of people doing horrible things to one another in their anger. After the Lord rejected Cain’s sacrifice, we read, “So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is [...]

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7 Bible Verses About Anxiety

7 Bible Verses About Anxiety

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T08:58:28+00:00June 6th, 2022|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Did you know that over forty million adults in the United States have an anxiety disorder? Anxiety is unfortunately a normal part of life, and we all experience it on different levels and for different reasons. Today, we’re going to take a look at the emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety, types of anxiety disorders, what causes anxiety, seven Bible verses about anxiety, and some different strategies for minimizing anxiety in our everyday lives. The Symptoms of Anxiety Anxiety comes in all shapes and sizes and can affect each person adversely. Let’s unpack the physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety below. Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Pounding or racing heart Shortness of breath Sweating Tremors Twitching Headaches Fatigue Insomnia Upset stomach or other digestive issues Frequent urination Diarrhea Emotional Symptoms of Anxiety Restlessness Irritability Feeling tense or jumpy Feelings of apprehension or dread Anticipating the worst Being watchful of signs of danger Types of Anxiety Disorders There are many anxiety disorders out there, each coming with different symptoms and causes. Let’s explore the most common types of anxiety disorders below. Social Anxiety Disorder Some might mistake social anxiety disorder as shyness, but it goes deeper than just that. When someone has Social Anxiety Disorder, they experience intense fear about social interaction. These fears are often driven by irrational worries about being humiliated or not accepted. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Generalized anxiety disorder is when someone experiences chronic, exaggerated worrying about everyday life and daily tasks. This type of anxiety can consume a person’s days and interfere with daily living. Headaches, muscle tension, or nausea often accompany generalized anxiety disorder. Panic Disorder Panic disorder is characterized by frequent panic attacks and sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. Symptoms of a panic attack include: Heart palpitations Shortness of breath Chest pain [...]

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