Similar to the wisdom of Proverbs, every Monday I will share a practical wisdom quote. I pray this quote will make a difference in your personal life and relationships.
Monday, February 25, 2019
“It’s so important to realize that every time you get upset, it drains your emotional energy. Losing your cool makes you tired. Getting angry a lot messes with your health.” Joyce Meyer
Certainly, 100-year-old individuals have made some mistakes along the way but they also have tremendous wisdom from their long life experiences. Shown below are tremendous thoughts from centenarians that can benefit each of us.
1. You cannot go too far without passion. Find a job you are passionate about and pursue it.
2. There is nothing that can be gained in worrying.
3. Believe in yourself. Such belief can propel you to unbelievable heights.
4. Forgive yourself and everyone around you.
5. Your relationships are vital to who you will become. Learn to develop the right relationships.
6. Laugh. There is no point in taking life too seriously.
7. Life is fun. It’s all up to the person. Be satisfied. You don’t have to be happy all the time, you need to be satisfied.
8. Don’t look at the calendar, just keep celebrating every day.
9. The only thing constant is change, so you have to learn to embrace it.
10. Don’t compare. You’ll never be happy with your life. The grass is always greener.
11. Concern yourself only with what really matters in the long run.
12. Happiness comes from a positive attitude, optimism, and living in the now.
Today: Read the 12 thoughts out loud to absorb the wisdom of 100-year-olds.
Enjoyed this post? Like or share on Facebook and Twitter to spread the word! See past blog posts under Practical Wisdom for Marriage, Parenting, and Life.
Similar to the wisdom of Proverbs, every Monday I will share a practical wisdom quote(s). For President’s Day, I pray these seven presidential quotes will make a difference in your life.
“Honesty is the first chapter of the book wisdom.” Thomas Jefferson
“Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who make excuses.” George Washington
“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” Abraham Lincoln
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” Abraham Lincoln
“Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abraham Lincoln
“Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.” Ronald Reagan
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” John F. Kennedy
The number “7” in the Bible stands for completeness, perfection, or wholeness. This Valentine’s Day, complete your relationship and make your connection perfectly wholesome and satisfying.
Tomorrow, value your spouse and help them feel special without spending any money. Shown below are 14 money free ways to love your spouse.
1. Hold your spouse’s hand for at least 7 minutes.
2. Leave a love note.
3. Hug your spouse 7 different times.
4. Tell your spouse the internal attribute that you appreciate the most about them.
5. Smile at your spouse 7 different times.
6. Share with your spouse your best day ever together.
7. Enjoy discussing with your spouse your favorite mini-vacation or vacation.
8. Look into each other’s eyes for 7 minutes.
9. Share a romantic memory with your spouse.
10. Complete this sentence with your spouse, “I feel loved and valued by you when . . . . .
11. Give your spouse 7 kisses.
12. Share with your spouse the first time you felt emotionally close.
13. Plan and set a date for a special future time together.
14. Compliment your spouse in a specific way with the words, “I appreciate . . . . .
Tomorrow On Valentine’s Day: Commit to implementing 7 of the 14 ways listed, or utilize your own loving ways, and help your spouse feel really loved on this special day!
Enjoyed this post? Like or share on Facebook and Twitter to spread the word! See past blog posts under Practical Wisdom for Marriage, Parenting, and Life.
Similar to the wisdom of Proverbs, every Monday I will share a practical wisdom quote. I pray the quote will make a difference in your personal life and relationships.
“Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, love does not boast, love is not proud. Love does not dishonor others, love is not self-seeking, love is not easily angered, love keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” First Corinthians 13:4-8
One of the most important decisions a person will make in life is selecting a future spouse. Unfortunately, numerous spouses just choose the wrong partner and the result is divorce. I estimate that 80% to 85% of the time a divorce happens because one spouse is deeply flawed and demonstrates extreme unhealthy thinking and/or behaviors.
No matter your age, if you are single, shown below are 7 ways to find that healthy spouse.
1. Write down 15 qualities that you are seeking in a wholesome partner.
2. Write down 5 intolerable flaws or deal breakers that you absolutely want to avoid in a future spouse.
3. Avoid dating a person who needs “fixing.” “Fixes” rarely happen after the wedding day.
4. Only date potential marriage partners.
5. Have your eyes wide open while dating, and then half closed after the wedding ceremony.
6. Date for at least 12 months or the four seasons so you fully know your potential spouse before getting engaged.
7. Recognize the flaws your future spouse possesses before marriage, will be to a greater degree after the wedding day.
This Week: Write down 15 qualities and 5 intolerable flaws so you have your list when you begin the dating process.
Enjoyed this post? Like or share on Facebook and Twitter to spread the word! See past blog posts under Practical Wisdom for Marriage, Parenting, and Life.
Similar to the wisdom of Proverbs, every Monday I will share a practical wisdom quote. I pray the quote will make a difference in your personal life and relationships.
“Encouragement requires empathy and seeing the world from your spouse’s perspective.” Gary Chapman
I have had spouses, pastors, and even other counselors ask what I believe are the foundational aspects that matter the most for a gratifying marriage. Counseling and written materials that provide skills and tools in 7 major areas can help build a strong, wholesome relationship for lifelong marital happiness.
When couples are effective in the 7 essential components shown below, the probabilities for a gratifying relationship are significantly increased.
1. Expectations: Very simply, expectations will either create a strong emotional connection or deep disappointment and hurt. Whenever a couple is satisfied in their relationship, the simple reason is expectations are being met. Whenever a couple is disappointed in their marriage, expectations are not being fulfilled.
2. Disagreement Discussion Guidelines: Disagreements are natural occurrences in happy marriages. Couples in satisfying relationships certainly have disagreements—but they rarely have fights, arguments, and conflicts. So a disagreement is never the problem, it is how a couple handles a disagreement while finding a solution.
3. Apologizing and Forgiving: The Bible has nearly 125 references to the importance of forgiveness for interpersonal relationships. When spouses have the momentous goal to apologize and forgive one another for marital hurts or sins that substantially improves the chances for a gratifying relationship.
4. Finances: 70% of couples fight over finances. Couples need a budget and financial guidelines to produce financial harmony.
5. Communication: Words and behaviors can either build up or tear down a relationship. Couples need basic skills for improving daily communication in both verbal and physical aspects of a relationship.
6. Boundaries: Healthy couples set limits with unhealthy behaviors. Those “guards” make a significant difference in generating a satisfying relationship.
7. Faith Life: Worshiping on a regular basis, praying at meals, and simply praying together for blessings, the needs of others, or personal requests of almighty God can strengthen a relationship. Striving to please God usually leads to healthy behaviors and nurturing words.
This Week: Discuss with your spouse what steps you can take together to strengthen or improve your relationship in all 7 major aspects of a marriage.
Enjoyed this post? Like or share on Facebook and Twitter to spread the word! See past blog posts under Practical Wisdom for Marriage, Parenting, and Life.
Similar to the wisdom of Proverbs, every Monday I will share a practical wisdom quote. I pray the quote will make a difference in your personal life and relationships.
“Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now!” Denis Waitley
Of the marriages that I have seen end in divorce, I estimate that a third of the time an affair is the reason. Due to the newness and false passion with an affair partner, the marital couple often has little chance of restoring the relationship. Shown below are 7 Steps to hopefully prevent an affair.
1. Understand that every spouse is capable of being unfaithful. We read in the Bible that King David, “a man after God’s own heart,” committed adultery.
2. You can never have 100% trust in your spouse. From betrayed partners I have heard numerous times, “I thought my spouse was 100% trustworthy.” The goal is always the upper 90th percentile but no partner ever achieves 100%.
3. Relationships are bank accounts with deposits and withdrawals. With affair partners, there are almost no withdrawals. Limit your innocent deposits with friends of the opposite sex.
4. Watch your social media deposits. Text messages, emails, quick phone calls, etc. can easily lead to unfaithfulness. Due to social media, I have actually seen affairs start with old friends in another state resulting in a divorce.
5. Never have any secrets in your marriage. Secrets hurt relationships and affairs start in secrecy.
6. Know your spouse’s passwords. One of the best ways to overcome secrecy is to know each other’s passwords and make your cell phone and email an “open book.”
7. In Proverbs 4:23, God tells spouses to “guard your thoughts.” Continually be on your guard against words and behaviors that may lead to unfaithfulness.
This Week: Sit down with your spouse and discuss together the 7 steps to prevent an affair.
Enjoyed this post? Like or share on Facebook and Twitter to spread the word! See past blog posts under Practical Wisdom for Marriage, Parenting, and Life.
