Kate Motaung

There’s a saying, “What gets watched gets done, and what gets rewarded gets done again.” We may find it surprisingly easy to wander through life more or less on automatic, reacting to whatever obstacles come our way, trying to keep hitting our marks, or keep all our balls in the air, or stay afloat – whatever metaphor floats your boat. The problem with running on auto-pilot is that whatever good things come our way come by happenstance. I kept

You walk into a coffee shop and place your order. As you wait patiently for the barista to conjure up your double-decaffeinated half-caff with a single shot of sugar-free vanilla and light foam, you glance over to the side and notice a woman apparently set up to take some notes on a notepad. Beside the pad are three identical pencils and a retractable pen. While you watch, she takes a second pen out of her purse and carefully disassembles

There’s something uncomfortably glib about a word like “tricky” when applied to the panoply of family dynamics from the mild to the truly horrifying. For this article, let’s agree that tricky means what it means – a puzzle, complex but not overwhelming. If your family dynamics are genuinely overwhelming, this article may not be for you. Having said that, the tools I’m going to talk about can be used by most people in a vast array of relational settings.

From the perennial bestseller The Power of Positive Thinking (first published in 1952) to Oprah’s popular advice, positivity is heralded as the answer to many of life’s most perplexing questions and has been for the past few decades. We need look no further than self-help gurus like Tony Robbins. Touting books with titles like, "Personal Power!", "Power Talk!", and "Awaken The Giant Within" it is easy to see how seductive it can be to imagine all I need is

Along with self-care, manifesting, positive energy, and wellness, self-compassion is a millennial buzzword. But can this concept integrate with a Christian worldview, and should it? One of the key concepts in Christianity is compassion for others. Jesus exhorted us to love our neighbors and our enemies, to give to the poor, and to deny ourselves. Compassion is listed along with other New Testament virtues such as “kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12). The story of the Good Samaritan

In the following article, we'll be looking at some common signs of abandonment articles, and what you can do about it. What is the fear of abandonment? How can it lead to abandonment issues? The fear of abandonment is a real struggle that many people face on a daily basis around the world. This is the fear of losing someone close to you or that someone will leave you. It could be that you fear the death of a

If you’ve reached the point in your relationship where you’re considering couples counseling, you need to know that you’re not alone. Many marriages arrive at this point sooner or later. Life is hard, relationships are hard, and there are so many issues that can cause conflict or lack of closeness in a relationship. Whether you’ve experienced a major breach of trust, or you’ve just gradually drifted apart over the years, going to couples therapy can help you break through

Are you wondering how to stop worrying? Perhaps this article will help. Stress and anxiety have a way of sneaking up on you. An event, trauma, or the anticipation of a confrontation can leave you feeling anxious. However, sometimes the nervousness, a natural response, is overwhelming to the point of being debilitating. Perhaps your mind constantly worries, or you experience physical sensations, such as shaking, shortness of breath, or trouble swallowing. When does a small case of the jitters

Children with attachment issues can grow into adults with severe attachment disorders. How can you tell if your loved one is exhibiting attachment issues? First, we need to break down the types of attachment disorders and how they can affect an individual. If your child falls under one of these types of attachment disorders, remember only a licensed professional can truly diagnose the condition, and there are treatment options available. Types of Attachment Disorders There are four styles of

I forgot the anniversary of my mother’s death last month. I remembered two days after. It’s been seven years since she passed, and I have never missed acknowledging the day she died. I used to remember it in months much like when you have a baby and measure their age by months until they are about two years old. I texted my sisters and they had done the same. At first, I felt guilty and then I realized this is

No one wants to believe that their son or daughter might need teen counseling. Troubled teens often have difficulty asking for help. Unfortunately, some mental health conditions do not become prominent until the teenage years and early adulthood. But how can you distinguish between common teen angst and a possible mental health disorder, like depression? Believe it or not, it is not your imagination if it seems your teenager behaves differently than you. Biologically speaking, a teenager’s brain is

“He was such a good person.” “Everyone loved him.” “She was so young.” “She was a mother of two young children.”  “He did so much for his family and community.” “She was an active member of the church community.” “They did everything right, according to Jesus’ teachings.” “They tried so faithfully to have this child.” “She lived the ten short months of her life in pain. I don’t understand.” These remarks are often heard when you are filling the