In your times of darkness, what kept you looking for the light? Did you rely on the witness of others? Did you pray your questions fervently? Did your experience open your heart to deeper empathy and understanding? Acknowledging and exploring doubts and questions is something the prophets have always done.

We all need people in our lives that give us permission to be real. Permission to acknowledge what is good, in the midst of what is hard. Permission to acknowledge our strengths in times when we are feeling weak. One person’s permission is most important though.

What does your quality of attention say about the identity you are cultivating? Where do you bring your sense of presence? We can appreciate our routines because unlike so many other activities they are not driven by a desire to please. They simply encourage. They get you in the moment.

Your practices become permanent, regardless of whether or not they guide you towards perfection. Practices become habits. Which practice do you want to become permanent?

I’m not sure when I went from eagerly awaiting my future to constantly catastrophizing it. It’s not as constant as it was - thanks to time, therapy, 12-step wisdom and Brené Brown. Back in the day, I was the “Worst Case Scenario Planner.”

Holidays come with a plateful of preparations and expectations smothered in a gravy of “shoulds.” Upending regular routines brings some anxiety. To practice wholehearted living, here are five gratitude practices to get you through.

What do RuPaul’s Drag Race and Thomas Merton have in common? When we can see things as they really are, we see beauty, love, joy, friendship, delight in all things. Not just preconceived “correct” things.

This past week, a few people asked me the same question about the Daring Way™ workshops I teach and facilitate: “What is an intensive? If I’ve taken one of your classes will it cover the same material?” Arianne takes your questions.

I’m not entirely sure what it means to “gain our soul” but I know what it means to speak from it. May we be prompted to do that! Share our enduring stories of strength and hope to encourage all of us.

Work gives us purpose. We want work that has meaning. As Annie Dillard wrote,”How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” That is the work that matters.

The 3 insights from my favorite bosses and mentors changed my life and perspective, and they can do the same for you, too.

If God loves everyone, invites everyone, welcomes everyone into a relationship of belovedness and belonging, why do so many of us have a story of being made to feel like we don’t belong at church?

Does your inner critic chatter, like, ALL THE TIME? Having an inner critic is a part of being human. Enlist your INNER COACH to take charge and calm your critic down.

Perennial wisdom which resonates in new ways at different points in one’s life. My recap of Richard Rohr’s The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, And Believe.

Whenever I’ve attended a clergy conference, retreat, workshop, delegation, convention, you name it – there are clusters of collars, knitting. Someone in your pews needs to be reminded of an experience, a person stitched into their heart.

We are all, individuals and institutions alike, reluctant to wrestle with, let alone expose, the dark stuff inside. What shared shadows keep us from reaching out for our neighbor, or ourselves?

Alternate title: Stop over-functioning and get comfortable disappointing people. Advice for us helping types. We are drawn to helping, sometimes too much.

If you want to walk out of your next meeting feeling like you were an effective & productive leader, begin with these 4 key questions. Whatever your title, you will be fostering community, building relationships, and modeling the heart of a leader who cares about her people.

The smile in that photo was a breakthrough, the day before had been filled with tears. Life is always becoming - a back and forth between tears and smiles, hellos and goodbyes, grief and joy, which in so many ways is what The Daring Way(TM) is all about.

Hands down the 10 best podcasts to prompt your preaching. These will leave you thinking and inspired.