I have wanted to write a post about Resilient Politics for a while. And I’m going to explain shortly what I mean by the term Resilient Politics. But first, I want you to imagine a scenario I’ll call The Party Loyalist Scenario. The Party Loyalist Scenario Imagine that one day someone from your political party,… Continue reading Resilient Politics: What It Is, Why We Need It
How to Hope
I want to write about how to hope. But first, I want to be honest that sometimes it is hard for me to hope. One of the reasons it's hard is that I ALWAYS have to know why. My mom says that as a toddler, I used to follow her around the house asking "Why?"… Continue reading How to Hope
Why Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s Deportation Matters to All of Us
If you have read the news lately, you may have run across the name Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Garcia is an immigrant who recently suffered deportation. I will return to his case in a moment. Picture courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. But first I would like you to imagine a situation I will call the Trespasser Scenario.… Continue reading Why Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s Deportation Matters to All of Us
Computer vs. Tree: New Metaphors, More Resilience
I have discovered that changing our metaphors can greatly increase our confidence, joy, and resilience. That may seem like a strange claim to make. So let me explain. Metaphors are framing images we use to understand a concept better. They are common in literature. For instance, a poet might compare the moon to a silver… Continue reading Computer vs. Tree: New Metaphors, More Resilience
When Does the Right Become Dangerous? It May Surprise You
This post is about when the right, as in the political right, becomes dangerous. And at the end, I want to talk about when the left becomes dangerous, too. First, I want to tell you some interesting history about the terms right and left, in the political sense. The use of these terms politically began… Continue reading When Does the Right Become Dangerous? It May Surprise You
Four Basic Truths that Help to Cultivate Resilience
I wanted to tell you about four basic truths I use in my own life to help cultivate resilience.* First, here is my definition of resilience: Resilience is the skill that allows people to pursue their potential, to engage confidently in the growth process, to welcome challenge and adversity, and to flourish in all areas… Continue reading Four Basic Truths that Help to Cultivate Resilience
Resilience: What it Is, Why It Matters for Everyone
Resilience is important, and it matters for everyone. You are probably somewhat familiar with this term already. Resilience is a capacity (or a virtue) that helps us to handle challenges and bounce back from adversity. What is especially interesting about resilience is that it is documented by research. And research suggests that resilience is a… Continue reading Resilience: What it Is, Why It Matters for Everyone
An Important Blog Update–I have a New Blog Name
I have an important blog update! I have renamed my blog Resilient and More. A Quick Story about My Blog I have been blogging for close to ten years now, and it has been such a meaningful process full of growth and discovery. Thank you to all of you who have read my posts and… Continue reading An Important Blog Update–I have a New Blog Name
My Evangelical Grief
Hello, I’m Shelly, and I have a lot of evangelical grief. I don’t think I am alone in this. So, I thought I would write a blog post about it. Perhaps in writing this, other people who feel evangelical grief like I do won’t feel alone. And also, in writing this, maybe I will feel… Continue reading My Evangelical Grief
How to Know if You are Truly Just: A Lesson from Socrates
I care about being a just person. I’m sure you do, too. People disagree about what justice is exactly. For instance, some people equate justice merely with obeying the law of the land. However, that can’t be what justice is because sometimes the laws of the land are evil, for instance in cases of slavery… Continue reading How to Know if You are Truly Just: A Lesson from Socrates