Secrets, we all have them.
Secrets, we all guard them.
Secrets, we all fear their exposure.

Yesterday I mentioned Josh Groban’s song – Hidden Away.

If you haven’t had a chance to hear it, give it a listen. He opens the song with:

“Over mountains and sky blue seas
On great circles will you watch for me?
The sweetest feeling I’ve got inside
I just can’t wait to get lost in your eyes
And all these words that you meant to say
Held in silence day after day
Words of kindness that our poor hearts crave
Please don’t keep them hidden away”

Secrets, we all have them.
Secrets, we all guard them.
Secrets, we all fear their exposure.

This sweet song by Josh Groban describes one person’s challenge to help another feel safe enough to share those secrets.

Josh Groban – Hidden Away

“Over mountains and sky blue seas
On great circles will you watch for me?
The sweetest feeling I’ve got inside
I just can’t wait to get lost in your eyes
And all these words that you meant to say
Held in silence day after day
Words of kindness that our poor hearts crave
Please don’t keep them hidden away

He’s so hot! 

She’s so hot!

I would do anything to keep him.

I would do anything to get her.

She doesn’t know what she’s getting into.

He doesn’t know what he’s tearing down.

Ladies – Stop settling. He wants what u have more than u want what he’s offering. Hold back. When he steps back & he will, STEP AWAY #wise

Guys – When you find out she’s got her V-card (virgin), she’s not a condom to use & toss. Listen 2 ur conscience! #choosewisely #notuse

Hold Onto Your Conscience

Dating difficulties drag us down.  Whether it’s crying our way through a painful breakup, dealing with being dumped, or coping with the obvious sense  that we’ve blundered, blown it and need to move on, they all drag us down.

Dragged Down

Maybe you don’t have dating drama.  Maybe you’re jealous of the cute girl in the next cubicle, the muscular guy in the seat next to you, or the smart girl who always has the right answer.

Maybe you’re an unemployed NFL referee whose mistakes were played over and over on national TV. 

Why Come To TreeHouse?

You’ll learn you’re not alone in dealing with any issue.
You’ll learn how to support someone else in need.
You’ll realize you’re lovable, capable and worthwhile.

At TreeHouse you will always be listened to and what you say matters to others.

Mentoring at TreeHouse Makes Life Better

Decrease at-risk behavior – 98% reduce at least one at-risk behavior
Build healthy relationships with God, self & others – 81% choose to
Graduate High School – 24% more likely to graduate than their peers
Pursue an educational or vocational track for their future – 93% choose to

If you’re like most people I know, you’ve wanted to get some things done this summer.
Good intentions, but the followup through fell through.

You might be asking, “What can I do about my procrastinating?”
To that I might ask, “Why are you procrastinating now?”

Yesterday I introduced a helpful exercise I’m calling “Face It” or F.A.C.E. I.T.

F – Find something that you know you’re procrastinating with
A – Ask yourself, “Why am I procrastinating with this?”
C – Challenge your reasons to feel your feelings & find the facts
E – Examine your reasons: What do you feel strongest?

Yesterday, I exposed a few reasons why we procrastinate including:

We feel overwhelmed.
We overestimate the amount of time needed.
We would rather be doing something else.
We think if we wait long, the task will go away.
We fear failure.
We fear success.
We enjoy the last-minute adrenaline rush.

What’s beneath those reasons?

There are many factors, here are a few:

Christopher procrastinates signing up for football because he’s afraid to have all the lies he’s told about his abilities exposed.

I’m wrestling with myself, because…

I hate when I mess up.
I hate when I let down my guard.
I hate when I lower my standards.
I hate when I try to wiggle out.
I hate when I rationalize my choices.
I hate when I justify my behavior.
I hate when I make excuses.
I hate when I settle.
I hate when I plot stupid stuff.
I hate when I hide my failures.

I heard a story I’ll never forget.

My three year old son had a lot of problems with potty training; and I was on him constantly. One day we stopped at Taco Bell for a quick lunch between errands. It was very busy, with a full dining room.

While enjoying my taco I smelled something funny, so of course I checked my seven month old daughter. And she was clean. Then I realized that Matt had not asked to go potty in a while, so I asked, and he said, “No.”

I’ve been confronted by several people that I respect recently. Whether I want it to or not, confrontation can tear at, or even trample, my self-identity.

One person suggested that I sounded like I thought that I knew more than other people and “if only they knew what I knew then they would be okay.”  I hate when I’ve been condescending. 

I’ve also been confronted that I seem intimidated around people who are wealthier than me; and they are right.

Self-Doubt Sunday