Meditations

How to Avoid Black or White Thinking

March 6, 2024

An Assembling God’s Puzzle video
By Fr. Garry Richmeier
We like black and white explanations of reality because they make things simple. That kind of thinking, though, causes problems, because the world has a lot more gray in it than black or white.

Git ’er Done!

February 21, 2024

An Assembling God’s Puzzle video
By Fr. Garry Richmeier, C.PP.S.
Goals help us to organize our lives in a coherent way. I can’t imagine not having goals. But one of the pieces to life’s puzzle that we have to figure out is how to balance focusing on our goals and living life in the present.

“I’m Fine, Really”

January 25, 2024

By Fr. Garry Richmeier, C.PP.S.
What do you say when someone asks how you are? Chances are, you say “Fine,” regardless of how you are really doing. Why do we do that?

Making New Year’s Resolutions Work

January 3, 2024

By Fr. Garry Richmeier, C.PP.S.
How can you prevent resolutions made on January 1 from going by the wayside before February 1? Design a process that keeps alive the good intentions and positive motivation inherent in resolutions as one moves through the slow and challenging process of real change. Here are some ideas.

Christmas and Depression, an Assembling God’s Puzzle video

December 13, 2023

By Fr. Garry Richmeier, CPPS.
Christmas — the most wonderful time of the year? Our culture tells us it is. But according to mental health agencies and therapists, more people report feeling depressed at Christmas time than almost any other time of the year. Why is that?

How to cope with crazy holiday gatherings

November 21, 2023

By Fr. Garry Richmeier, CPPS.
Holiday family gatherings can sometimes be challenging to navigate. Here are a few strategies to help you cope with family situations you might find yourself in this holiday season.

Pain: Ignore it at your own peril

November 14, 2023

By Fr. Garry Richmeier, C.PP.S.
Given a choice, we would probably design a life that is pain-free. Unfortunately, pain is an unavoidable part of the human story. Those who study pain, physical, emotional or psychological, same the same thing: Ignore your pain at your own peril.

Boy Was My Face Red: Handling Embarrassment

October 13, 2023

By Fr. Garry Richmeier, C.PP.S.
One of the puzzle pieces of life that we experience much more often than we’d like is embarrassment. It’s unavoidable, and usually crops up when we least expect it. Here are strategies to minimize embarrassment.

The Drive to be Good

September 20, 2023

By Fr. Garry Richmeier, C.PP.S.
There is a part of most every human being that I call The Drive to be Good. It can be the driving force in helping us be who we were created to be. But only if we direct and manage it well.

Spirituality or Psychology?

August 29, 2023

By Fr. Garry Richmeier, C.PP.S.
Whether a person comes to me for spiritual direction or counseling, I will be helping them deal with their perception of their world, possibly adjusting it to be more accurate and helpful, which, I hope, will result in behavior that makes life better for them and those around them.

Categories

Assembling God's Puzzle Cooking & Spirituality Encounters of the 4th Kind Family Matters Meditations Reflections on the Eucharsitic Prayers Taize Prayers The Contemplative Life Uncategorized Videos When you need a little help

By Date