JRTherapy

09/13/2025

09/13/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16spQWgTMf/?mibextid=wwXIfr

This morning, I headed into the kitchen and grabbed my coffee cup. I put in my favorite Nespresso pod and hit start. I was emptying the dishwasher as it began to fill when it suddenly went flying off the rack and crashed to the ground, coffee splattering everywhere, tiny pieces of my beloved cup’s handle all over the floor.

My Emotional Support Coffee “crashed out,” as my kids would say. The irony isn’t lost on me.

After experiencing this last week, we could all use all little extra support, couldn’t we? I keep reading posts of opposing sides and their disgust with one another. Everyone points fingers because we are all experts and we all know best, right? That’s why our country feels safe and wonderful and love is oozing…

The truth is, we are all lost. Just like my coffee cup, we feel the weight of what surrounds us and we are broken. Broken by hearing of violence, broken by right-ness, broken by distraction. And maybe, we’re all just a little bit scared. Scared of change, scared for our kids, scared for what’s next. If THIS was possible, what else is possible? What is the next disaster on our bingo cards?

I ask you all to pause. Breathe. Let’s not fill ourself with the things of this world because they will consume us. That doesn’t mean that we close our ears, but we cannot be consumed by it. With every disaster, shooting, horrific event, there are still helpers, there is still good in the world. We have to look a little harder when our hearts are heavy and grieving. None of us is “right”.

If we view God as our parent I hear Him saying “I am disappointed in all of you.” He loves us, but he’s disappointed of the mess we’ve all made.

We are all broken and we all need Jesus. He will help us put one foot in front of the other during these next few weeks. He was our best example of love and the only way we will instill change is if we focus on being more like Him.

I’m not saying this in a “bury your head in the sand and ignore what’s happening around you” way. I say this in a “none of us has got it together or it wouldn’t feel so bad” way. We need something bigger than each of us to lean on, to soften our hearts, to help us through the mess in this world, and I believe that something is Jesus.

Please be an example of kindness and love to those around you during this crazy time. Help our cups overflow, not with brokenness, but with love.

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10/27/2023

Art | Pekka Halonen

09/27/2023

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard in session that the reason why we’re not speaking up is a “fear of confrontation.”

Well, how about instead of viewing it as a “confrontation” you view it as “approaching” “communicating” “advocating” “asserting” or a different word that’s less activating —- and more accurate.

How we frame things can make all the difference.

Sometimes creating small language shifts can help us be brave and move forward- and enable us to have the harder conversations that inevitably come up in relationships.

Personally, I like the word "approach" better than “confront" -especially for people who might shy away from assertive communication and tend to engage in more people pleasing behaviors.

Of course, sometimes the word "confront" does work better- but I think it does feel heavier and more defensive - and can cause some people not to have the conversation because they are scared away by the idea of "confronting" someone. It calls up a more defensive sort of reaction, whereas "approach" feels more assertive and authentic- and still very strong.

How does "I'm going to approach them" feel different than "I'm going to confront them" for you?

Leah 💗