I asked our church recently how many have struggled with anxiety or depression in the last year and hands shot up throughout our gathering space. No one was surprised, of course, because we have seen reports and news stories about mental health deteriorating in our society. The hands raised throughout the room reminded those of…
Anxiety
4 Ways to Live Wisely Through a Season of Being Overwhelmed
According to Gallup’s research the only people whose mental health increased from 2019 to 2020 are those who attend church every week. Other than those people, mental health reached a twenty-year low in 2020. No one was surprised. 2020 was filled with news and moments that angered, scared, and frustrated people. We dealt with those…
Diagnosed with Disconnection and the Beauty of Community
The phrase “diagnosed with disconnection” comes from a compelling story in Johann Hari’s book Lost Connections. He tells the story of a psychiatrist, Dr. Derek Summerfield, who traveled to Cambodia to learn about the mental health of the Cambodians. The Cambodians realized there were people who struggled with deep sadness and pointed to this one…
What You Can Look Forward to on the Other Side of Being Overwhelmed
The cliché: “Don’t bite off more than you can chew” is unhelpful because it is good for a leader’s development to occasionally do so. The same is true with lifting weights. If you want your muscles to grow, you must lift heavier weight, and put your muscles under stress and pressure. If you lift the…
5 Ways Exercise Helps the Leader’s Mind
I recently read Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain and walked away from the read more convinced in the importance of exercise. While we often think of exercise as critical to a healthy body, it is also essential for a strong mind. In his book, Dr. John Ratey offers a compelling…
3 Easy Ways to Burn Out Your Team
The painful paradox of serving on a burned out team: less of an impact while feeling like you are working more.
Links for Leaders 1/22/16
Micromanaging is almost never a good thing. But, toeing the line between being a good manager and a micromanager can be tough. Ron Edmondson shares some of the most common reasons many leaders micromanage. In leadership, whether you’re leading in the church, in the workplace, in the home, or some combination of the three, you will face…