Walk with me as I explore the nature of each of the seven generations that co-exist in America today: The Greatest Generation > The Silent Generation > Baby Boomers (I & II) > Generation X > Millennials > Generation Z > Alpha Generation. Align yourself as a member of one of these generational groups based […]
In light of the foreboding cultural climate of the early 20th century that we’ve explored, we can’t help but consider factors that may have contributed to the nature of the world we live in today. Natural characteristics such as creativity and vision were subdued by forced compliance. Respect turned into fear. Work ethic became drivenness. […]
A landmark article by the US Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD explains how the emotional trauma World War II imposed on American men profoundly changed how they functioned as men, husbands, fathers, and citizens. “PTSD can make somebody hard to be with. Living with someone who is easily startled, has nightmares, and […]
Prior to the 20th century, adults demanded strict adherence to a very stringent code of behavior and conduct – privately and publicly – for both themselves and their children. Despite many of their techniques appearing harsh and primitive by today’s standards, history appears to show that the effects of these methods were not as emotionally […]
As far back as the Mayflower Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock in 1620, woven into America’s DNA has been the cultural norm of utilizing shaming as a means of discipline, particularly in the disciple of children. A methodology we in the 21st century have come to perceive as detrimental is what our predecessors considered to […]
Shame that is a product of our acting out is somewhat different than shame that was the precursor to our acting out, although both weeds share the same roots. And shame is often at the core of our struggles with anxiety, depression, and relational issues. As we looked at in detail already, precursor shame leads […]
The Bible tells us that each of us is made by God as a composite of three distinct components: “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NLT) In […]
I wish I had come up with this quote: “The definition of insanity is doing the very same thing over and over and expecting a different result.” Why do we do that? What is it within us humans that takes us back to the same painful choices again and again? In the year 700 BC, […]
Common sense might say that if we just do the opposite of the shaming we witnessed in childhood it will produce a healthy life, marriage, children, and family. The flaw in this reasoning is that, without of a person’s heart being regenerated through Christ, the opposite of shame-based is not self-worth, but rather pretentiousness (covering […]
I’ve devoted much of my recent writing to helping you understand the more subtle – even “unintentional” – ways that shaming occurs. I would be remiss, though, to not commit space in my writings to address the more obvious forms of shaming. I wrote my blogs for the person who has been overtly shamed through […]