Do You Operate in Crisis Mode?

Beth Vogtchallenges, choices, crisis, emotions, In Others' Words, lifequotes, perseverance, perspective, Quotes 8 Comments

Learning to Balance Our Emotions by @bethvogt   “This is a deadline, not a crisis.” I woke up in the middle of the night with that phrase running through my head. I’d gone to bed a couple of hours earlier frustrated yet again. Staring down a looming writing deadline and an insufficient word count. I’d been chasing that deadline for …

Identifying Unclaimed Emotional Baggage

Beth Vogtchange, choices, courage, freedom, Identity, Life, perspective 18 Comments

Being Brave Enough to Deal with Our Stuff by @bethvogt Last weekend one of my closest friends texted me this question: When does all the baggage stop bubbling to the surface? Her question is a bit of a mixed metaphor, yes, but still it brought to mind a vivid image: a murky lake filled with suitcases bobbing to the the …

The Danger of Believing Everything We Think

Beth Vogtchoices, confidence, perspective, Quotes, Thoughts 14 Comments

Why We Need to  “Mind Our Mind” by @bethvogt Mind your manners. Chances are, we’ve all said those words before. Maybe we’ve also been reminded to mind our manners. When we mind our manners, we’re taking extra care to be polite. To remember, as I would tell my kiddos when they were younger, to use their “nice words,” like please …

How Real Life Redefines Bravery

Beth Vogtbravery, courage, crisis, Life, perseverance 20 Comments

What Happens After a Crisis by @BethVogt “Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” ~Brené Brown, American research professor Can I just be honest and say life went off the rails last week? The past seven days have been all about trying to find some sense of calmness in the midst of recovering …

Understanding Estrangement

Beth Vogtbrokenness, family, perspective, Quotes, Relationships 43 Comments

A Few Truths I’ve Learned Living with Brokenness                                                                                                            …

The Power of Prayer When Life Hangs in the Balance

Beth VogtFaith, perseverance, prayer 8 Comments

How God Allows Us to be Lights in the Valley of the Shadow by @bethvogt A friend’s 16-year-old son fought for his life last week. Ten days ago, Schafer was diagnosed with Influenza A. He developed a secondary bacterial infection and within two days of his initial diagnosis he was taken by Flight for Life to Children’s Hospital in Denver …

In Others’ Words: The Importance of Protecting Our Dreams

Beth Vogtdreams, In Others' Words, Quotes 11 Comments

Confronting Our Doubts @BethVogt   We all chase after dreams. During our childhood, the simplest of questions may spark a dream: What do you want to be when you grow up? Pause for a moment and let’s remember that oh-so-much-younger us. The one who didn’t hesitate to believe we could become a ballerina. Or an astronaut. Or a dolphin trainer. …

In Others’ Words: Thoughts on How to Keep Growing

Beth Vogtchange, In Others' Words, Quotes 6 Comments

Doing Better Than Your Best @bethvogt “I did the best I could.” I’ve never been a fan of those six words. Here’s how the conversation usually goes: I’m sitting across from someone who is recounting a struggle they faced where there was no resolution. No improvement. And then they sum up their efforts by saying, “I did the best I …

In Others’ Words: Choosing Which Moments Define Us

Beth Vogtchoices, In Others' Words, perspective 15 Comments

Of Milestones and Moments @bethvogt At some point in our lives, we’ve all been cautioned not to make a mountain out of a molehill. Some well-meaning person thinks we’re overreacting to a situation – or maybe thinks we’re overreacting to them – and wants us to calm down. Maybe they’re right . Maybe we need to step back and take …

In Others’ Words: Coming to Grips with Age

Beth Vogtage, In Others' Words, Quotes 41 Comments

Jamie Lee Curtis, Barbie, and Me @bethvogt   Did you know Jamie Lee Curtis, one of my favorite actresses, turned 60 last November 22? And Barbie – yes, that Barbie, whose real name is Barbara Millicent Roberts – turns 60 in a few short months on March 9. And then there’s me. On May 5, I’ll be 60 years old. …