Instead of going straight to a diagnosis like obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or anxiety, or labeling ourselves as too uptight, or too this or too that, the IFS model invites us to turn towards the parts of ourselves that are causing disruption in our behavior, to dialogue with the part and to ask them what need wasn’t met in the past.

What might they need to let go of? What do they want brought to the light? What needs to be said? What are they afraid would happen if they didn’t work so hard doing this particular thing in the system?

“We are all internally at our core dealing with our own little storms, and prison was a huge educator for me. Whatever the outside looks like - businessman, stay-at-home mom, gang member, you name it, we are all more alike than we like to admit.”

— Seneca Alma

I recently talked to Alma who works as a business and social entrepreneur providing mental and physical fitness opportunities to others. If you’re inclined to check out his social media profiles, you’ll find his inspired hashtag #prisonchangedmylife.

And now he’s using his experience to bring transformation and change to others’ lives.

Located in Red River County, Texas, a local Dallas family and fellow spiritual director Arva Tatman offers a day and overnight retreat to those seeking temporary leave from the noise of city life. Visiting pilgrims can enjoy the local produce grown on he land.

Who knew my younger brother had such wisdom!? I actually did. He is much sweeter than me, quietly sharing little nuggets of truth along the way. I share this, because it touched my heart, as it serves as such a good reminder.

Whatever and however you are this Christmas season, and for those who don’t celebrate Christmas, I still offer these words and story, because it is grounding.

My heart tells me he might have been saying:

All we need is love. All we need is each other. All we need is God.

We have all we need.

What beauty and aliveness might be even more bright and radiant because of my limitation? Also, I think of the dancers and painters and other artists who sang with and escorted Bocelli on and off stage, making the artistic expression even more full through their mutuality. Who in my life might co-create with me and I with them, making the experience even more full and more lovely?

An interview with a fellow spiritual director who has discovered her call within a call - the gift and healing power of labyrinths in urban areas.

Retreat House Spirituality Center is a non-profit in the Dallas area - a place for spiritual directors and other pilgrims to nurture their true selves and grow in their knowledge of God and themselves.

We sat cross-legged across from each other on the astroturf of my parent’s backyard. Her face seemed a bit drawn, less bright than usual. She was normally talkative or silly or inquisitive. Something told me to let the silence connect us.

~ An excerpt from an essay on a day with my niece and a loving kindness meditation towards self

The Experience Circle is a tool and way of thinking that encourages us to widen our perspective, looking for the ways we hear, feel, see, taste, touch and notice the Divine in all areas of our life. Enjoy this meditation as a solo prayer practice or in 1:1 or group spiritual directions sessions.

This is a poem written about the bittersweet nature of loving and leaving a home. New beginnings also bring goodbyes.

Emily visits with fellow trained spiritual director Aaron Manes in this podcast interview - “What is Spiritual Direction?”

Shelton reminds us that while we all are uniquely and creatively made in God’s image, we are also all very much human and not that different from one another, at least in the way in which life’s joys and sorrows will meet us all - at one point or another. Oftentimes, there’s desire or belief that our life or circumstances are drastically different than our neighbors. We think in terms of absolutes - oh, I must be the only one.

A few years of major life changes, loss and some struggle, I had spent a great deal of time in a sort of perpetual state of petitionary prayer. Whether driving, showering, working at the office, each breath in and out, silently carried questions.