Empathy is transformational in relationships. Like any other skill, it can be mastered with practice and patience. Empathy requires figuring out what the other person is thinking and saying before you seek to be understood. Too many people are consumed by speaking first to make their point heard. The irony is that their point willContinue reading "You Go First"
Outsiders
Let's define an "outsider" as anyone who doesn't believe what you believe. To keep those people outside, then all you have to do is make them feel as though you're better than them by judging their belief as wrong. If your aim is to keep them outside, then it's very easy to do. Simply judgeContinue reading "Outsiders"
Pre-Decide
What if we pre-decide to choose people over policies and relationships over rules? What if we pre-decide to ... exhibit patience?chose not to be offended?quit taking everything so personally?change the degrading way we talk to others?focus on what we have in common?chose the big picture?value the other person above being right? What a wonderful worldContinue reading "Pre-Decide"
I’m Third
This past week, my family took our best-ever family getaway. We went to a quaint lakeside camp nestled in the Laurel Highlands in western Pennsylvania. Run by the staff of Summer's Best Two Weeks (SB2W), this 3-day 2-night family camp, appropriately named Summer's Best Two Nights (SB2N), gave us a personalized, intimate, relationship-building experience. SB2W'sContinue reading "I’m Third"
No Credit, No Limit
Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States of America, once said, "There is no limit to the amount of good you can do, if you don't care who gets the credit." Just imagine what your family, your company, or your community could accomplish if everyone put ego aside and focused on the importantContinue reading "No Credit, No Limit"
Entrepreneurial Ministry = Purpose Driven Life
When your career becomes an entrepreneurial ministry, then your living a purpose driven life. Your career is a ministry when ... You view what you do as serving others in God's name.You help others without the expectation of getting anything in return.You are not driven by the need to receive credit, applause or attention. YouContinue reading "Entrepreneurial Ministry = Purpose Driven Life"
Our Racist Lens
Racism is not binary. It's not something you wholly are or aren't. It's more like a sliding scale. Every human is racist to some degree, and we view the world through our racist lens. The clearer the lens, the less racist we are. The more distorted the lens, the more we show prejudice, discrimination, orContinue reading "Our Racist Lens"
Love God Love People
My maternal grandfather, Michael Essey Hanna, immigrated from Damascus, Syria. I was the last grandchild he kissed, but I don't remember him. He died of a heart attack at age 71 when I was just two months old. What I wouldn't give to have a conversation with him. Among others, I have these questions: WhatContinue reading "Love God Love People"
Truth Trumps Power
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.Excerpt from The United States Declaration of Independence What makes that statement beautiful and purposeful is the humility it took forContinue reading "Truth Trumps Power"
The People We Pass By
Our days are filled with passing by other people. Whether it's on foot or by car, I can't help but to wonder more and more about the story of those that enter and exit my field of vision. You see, I'm intentionally trying to master my situational awareness, especially as it pertains to other humanContinue reading "The People We Pass By"
MindWolves 