Last week we discussed the nature of panic attacks—sudden episodes in which one feels intense emotional and physical sensations associated with a sense of doom or dread. These “attacks” don’t directly result from anything dangerous; the sense of panic is spurred by perceptions that something...
A sudden sense of impending doom; something awful must be happening! Your body doesn’t feel right—heart pumping, breathing fast and difficult, your insides feel like Jell-O. There is no real danger, at least not anything obvious. There must be something wrong with you… Panic attack—a sudden...
In the 1970’s comedian Flip Wilson created a ridiculous character whose signature line was, “Here comes the judge! Here comes the judge!” That phrase has often passed through my mind as I work to help people recognize the problems with judgment—even those small, seemingly-harmless thoughts that...
As I work with couples to help restore love, and individuals to enjoy life more fully, I am wracked by the price we pay for judgment. “What a jerk!” “You have no right…” “They have no idea…” “I was so dumb.” “Utah drivers!” Judgment has many forms but comes down to...
As the month draws to an end so does this series regarding dating, courtship, engagement and marriage. It reminds me of the young bride on her wedding day who told her mother, “I am at the end of my troubles!” Mother wisely responds, “Yes, but...
I would bet that at least 50 couples in our reading area got engaged in the past week. (I understand; I proposed to my wife on V-Day as well.) Even if you did not make or accept a proposal of everlasting love and commitment in...
“Courting” sounds so old-fashioned, so unhip, so…well, so much like my parents. The idea of working hard to know someone, to demonstrate your value and your values, and practicing cooperating with another adult seems awfully dull. Perhaps that is one key reason our parents generally...
Dating is dying. I am not suggesting that going on dates is akin to death. I am simply pointing out that dating—the time-honored activity of sharing your time and interest with someone of the opposite sex for two or three hours—is on a sharp decline. The most...
I know; the only readers shocked by this headline are those who are not yet married and who were raised on a steady diet of Disney princess movies. But this column is not intended to scare anyone away. I hope it has the opposite effect, that...
Just last week Greg Little, Editor of the Standard-Journal, and I were swapping stories of where we had lived and worked. I was surprised when he shared some observations about his experience working in correctional facilities. I have to say that I learned some valuable...
