I sat in the coffee shop debating my next step. I had already decided to go to graduate school. Now I just needed to decide what to study. Against the backdrop of café chatter and between sips of my Americano, I mulled over two options: a master’s in English or a master’s in counseling…
Read MoreHave you ever had a pair of shoes that didn’t quite fit?
I once had a pair of adorable brown suede flats that I LOVED. They were super cute and went with just about everything. The problem was, they didn’t quite fit. The toe box was too narrow and squeezed my toes, while the back of the shoe had elastic embedded in the leather that bit into my heel, leaving bright red stripes. Still, I was determined to wear them…
Read MoreDo you ever wish God would appear to you in a vision and explain with perfect clarity what your calling is?
I can relate. Over the years, there have been many times I wished that my direction was more clear cut. But my path to understanding my calling has been more like a meandering river than perfectly straight railroad tracks leading from point A to point B.
Yet, in spite of all the meandering, there have been moments of clarity and even epiphany.
Today, I’m sharing a bit of my story…
Read MoreDo you ever feel like you don’t have much to offer? Do you sometimes look at other people and feel like your talents pale in comparison?
Most of us have probably had at least a few days when we’ve felt discouraged about ourselves. Days when we’ve questioned our value and purpose. Maybe we’ve even wondered what God, or others, could ever see in us…
Read MoreWhen I first started my coaching business, I read lots of advice about the need for a business purpose statement, so, dutifully, I got to work crafting one. In the midst of that process, something very cool happened: I also ended up creating a personal purpose statement.
Before my business, it never even occurred to me to create a purpose statement for my life. Now, in hindsight, I can’t believe I hadn’t done it sooner! It is one of the best things I have ever done, and today I want to share five reasons why I now believe EVERYONE should have a personal purpose statement no matter who you are or what you do...
Read MoreAll I remember about the sermon is that the pastor wanted a Winnebago motorhome.
As he talked about how cool it would be to have a giant transportable abode, the pastor’s eyes were bright, his face animated.
But then he started disparaging his desire. I’m not sure of his exact words, but, as I recall, he said something along the lines of how ridiculous his desire was, asking, incredulously, “Why would God want me to have a Winnebago?” and ending with “It will never happen.”…
Read MoreIn his book, Let Your Life Speak, writer and teacher Parker Palmer describes how he spent several years working as a community organizer. Though he felt a deep desire to teach, meeting the needs of the inner city seemed the proper path.
But in time, he realized “there was a fundamental misfit between the rough-and-tumble of organizing" and his "overly sensitive nature."…
Read MoreIf I asked you to name someone who had a calling on their life, who would you name?
Mother Theresa?
Billy Graham?
Martin Luther King, Jr.?
What about yourself?
I believe every one of us has a unique, individualized calling and purpose for our lives. But before we can fulfill it, we have to first recognize it exists…
Read MoreWhat is a calling?
It’s a term we hear tossed around frequently, but what does it mean, really?
The dictionary defines calling as “a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence.”
Leadership expert Michael Hyatt asserts that it is comprised of four factors: It comes from outside yourself, it’s unique to you, it’s something you want to do, and it’s optional...
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“What are you passionate about?”
The question was posed by a trusted mentor. We were midway through a pizza dinner, and I can still envision her sitting across from me, her face bright and expectant.
I imagine my face looked disconcerted. I was about 21 years old, and I was at a loss for words...
Read MoreIt's not always easy being ourselves. Every day, we’re peppered with messages about how we “should be.” Tossed upon a sea of opinions, we sometimes question ourselves or even feel badly about our core characteristics that define who we are on a deep level.
But when we muster our courage and decide to live from our authentic selves, there are some amazing benefits...
Read MoreHave you ever tried—and failed—to change your natural preferences to fit what someone else thought you should be?
When I started my counseling internship years ago, I was preoccupied with learning to dress professionally.
I watched hours of What Not to Wear, and like a marathoner guzzling Gatorade, I gulped down Clinton and Stacy’s advice on how to be fashionable and polished. I learned that bright colors and patterns were compelling; neutrals were boring. Well, I didn't want to be boring...
Read MoreWhen I started working primarily from home several years ago, I had grand plans for all I was going to accomplish. And I did get a lot done—on any given day I could be found cleaning my office, doing loads of laundry, preparing healthy meals, answering emails...
There was just one problem.
Something very important to me wasn’t getting done...
Read MoreThere's something magical about opening a new planner.
I love the fresh, blank, creamy pages full of clean lines and empty boxes just waiting for me to fill in with appointments, projects, concerts, coffee dates...
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Hi! I'm Carina, and I'm here to help you connect with God and discover and share your unique gifts.
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