Listen to the 6-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video High achievers get more done than most people. Sometimes, that achievement comes at a cost. Alan is a high achiever. Although not an actual person, he represents many people. Perhaps you, or someone you know. Alan is smart, and
Listen to the 7-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Do you remember what summer was like when you were a kid? The thrill of the long-awaited last day of school. Giddy anticipation of endless afternoons doing whatever you want, or nothing at all. The promise of exciting adventures
Listen to the 5-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video In other STEPS Journey Blog articles, we discussed how widespread addiction problems are in the U.S. But what is addiction? It is simply when we keep doing things even though they have negative consequences, and we find ourselves unable to
Listen to the 9-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video All parents want to protect their kids from harm and for them to have happy lives. The question is: “How?” As they grow up, most teenagers make at least some bad decisions, and it’s hard for parents to know
Listen to the 6-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Do you have empathy for what young people go through, including your own kids? Each person on earth is different, traveling their own path. Teenagers sometimes take a circuitous route becoming an adult. They may be focused on having
Listen to the 7-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video God is meant to be the primary focus of our lives. Is it that way for you? Everyone’s spiritual journey is different. But there are certain steps that will help any of us move in the right direction, even
Listen to the 8-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video In Part 1 of this article, we saw the dangers of addiction with white collar professionals: we are surrounded by addiction, encouraged toward it, and not limited in our pursuit of it. The situation is actually worse than that.
Listen to the 7-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video The last blog article I wrote titled “An Alcoholic at IBM” said that after I retired: “IBM has roughly 400,000 employees. With me gone, that means there are at least 39,999 people still there with alcohol or drug abuse
Listen to the 6-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video This is your life story. But I’m not going to write it all out for you. This is just an outline, a rough script for your role in the saga that is your life. It will be up to
Listen to the 6-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Many parents want to control their kids. That’s understandable, but there’s a problem with that approach: ultimately, it won’t work! As parents, we should be proactive, and we can help our kids learn to live in a controlled manner.
Listen to the 4-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video As people move through life, they often begin to think more about deeper questions they ignored earlier. Sometimes, they begin to feel angst or remorse for things they wish they had done, and sad realizations may creep into their
Listen to the 6-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video When I was 16, I discovered something that would change my life: drinking is fun! And it’s relaxing. Starting then, most of my enjoyable activities—for the next 30 years—included alcohol. It came to be an adventure to drink as
Listen to the 6-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video The last STEPS Journey Blog article gave an outline for “Writing Your Life Story” to deal with the issues or problems you may be facing. And develop a happy and satisfied lifestyle at the same time. This article will
Listen to the 5-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video All parents want to protect their kids. These days, that can mean from drugs, alcohol, and other dangerous habits, and it also includes misfortunes such as anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. There are many roles parents take on to offer
Listen to the 9-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Addiction is like a car crash. It can harm or kill the driver and hurt anyone else along for the ride. The good news is that, with the right driving techniques, we can be trained on how to avoid
Listen to the 8-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video If you haven’t done so already, please read Part 1 of “How to Be Proactive About Vaping” which addressed many of the most common questions people have about the issue. But it’s also important for parents to understand that
Listen to the podcast version Watch a 1-minute summary video Many ideas accepted in today’s world are wrong. What people think “feels okay” in the moment can be wrong. And when we allow false thinking in our lives, we falter. We tend to focus only on ourselves rather than God and
Listen to the 11-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video In the last few years, many parents are hearing something like this coming from their teenager: “Mom and Dad, can I try vaping? They’re not dangerous or illegal, and it’s no big deal. My friends use them, and their parents
Listen to the 10-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Harmful habits, compulsions, and addictions are issues which strike us all. If we haven’t yet been affected by one of these conditions, we likely will be in the future. Unless we do something about it first, by re-learning how
Listen to the 7-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Think about the people you know—especially teenagers—and how they interact with their electronic devices. What do you notice? Do you see occasional and casual usage, or something more compulsive? Does their use of technology affect how they interact with
