Always Forward with Joe Sikorra

There is a huge difference between guilt and shame. Although neither feels good. Guilt is that sense that you've hurt someone. But you can change those guilty feelings with a change of behaviour. Shame is different in that no matter what you do, you still feel bad. This episode shares some fascinating research about what doing kind acts for others does for your happiness and your sense of gui...

You will act on your beliefs.  You will make all decisions, big and small, based on what you believe. But where and how do you form beliefs about yourself and the world? The truth, your beliefs about yourself begin forming in infancy.  You may believe that rejection by others causes you your pain. It does not. I will explain in this episode. There is a better way to re-shape your beliefs so that y...

There are two questions about belief Jesus asks that I find fascinating:     1. "Do you believe I can do this?" He asks this to two blind men who were seeking healing. Your belief in you may (and probably will) falter. But healing, experiencing the miraculous, etc. isn't about what you believe you can do, but what God can accomplish. The blind men answered, "Yes! We believe YOU...

You may believe that after you leave the dysfunction of your family of origin - including your siblings - you will have a more functional life. But not necessarily.    In childhood, you may have learned that you cannot trust; that relationships are precarious and untrustworthy. Perhaps for a good reason, you have cut them off, or they have cut you off. Nevertheless, those “lessons” remain. You lon...

You might love the holidays. But for many, they are extraordinarily painful and challenging. Whichever side you're on, this information can help.    First, remember to breathe. It sounds too simple to be true, but it is. Deep slow breathing shuts down the fight or flight response.     Meals may be a source of stress for you. But keep in mind that Jesus was about feeding the masses. It wasn&ap...

Stressed? Not sure? Here are a few signs:  Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests Difficulty concentrating and making decisions Nightmares or problems sleeping Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, or skin rashes Worsening of chronic health problems and mental health conditions Increased u...

Life can be tough. You may have been a victim. But you don’t have to remain defeated. You can become resilient and mentally tough. God is strong and he wants you to be strong. How? With resilience, you harness the strength necessary to meet challenges. When you develop mental toughness you stop focusing on what got you down and shift to what you can do to get back up. Without resilience, you may t...

As the song says, "You've Lost that Loving Feeling." But maybe it doesn't stop there. You've lost your joy, enthusiasm, and zest for life. YOU CAN GET IT BACK!    As the apostle, Paul says, "This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touc...

Even when all feels lost, it is not. That is just your feeling. You can cultivate hope! “Once you choose hope, anything is possible,” said Christopher Reeve, best known for his role as “Superman”. You can choose and cultivate hope!    You don't have to trust in the power of you. The apostle Paul said, "We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down...

You may feel like your life is spiraling out of control. But that's a FEELING. You can get it back on track.     First, remember, to accept the fact that life can be messy. Accept that you will not do this perfectly. Even as your life moves in a better direction, it will not be without setbacks. But do not label yourself a "failure." Failure implies that this is an inherent trait. Y...

What keeps you from getting what you want? Achieving your goals? You may know what you want or "should" do, but you lack... What? What obstacles stand between where you are and where you want your life to be? Research indicates that the kind of motivation you have will allow you to set aside temptation.  Simply, it comes down to whether you "have to" do something or "want...

If you feel that there just aren't enough hours in the day, it may be a clue that you need to address your productivity. It's not about working harder but working smart. First, think about boundaries. You have to guard your time when you're doing what is essential. Turn off the phone and set aside the distractions. It would help if you let people know when you're not available....

You want to feel heard and understood. An intimate relationship, however, isn't just about having an intellectual understanding of another. It's about getting into their emotional world; what they feel and how they experience life. But then you must take that next step... God says, “Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in t...

It's exciting to make new friends while strengthening the bond with the old ones. It's not a mystery how to become a more likable you! There are simple steps you can follow starting right now! Research in social psychology indicates that becoming more likable has to do with showing up. You have to get out and be seen. The more we are exposed to something, the more we tend to like it.  Ge...

Research says we are more lonely than before. The answer? Friendship! You might be afraid of pursuing friendship because you don't think you'll be liked. If you ASSUME people will like you, it is more likely you will be liked! Unlike when you were a kid, when friendships were created easily, you must be proactive do make friends as an adult. It won't just happen magically. Maybe you...

Divorce rates are increasing around the world, and relationship experts warn the pandemic-induced break-up curve may not have peaked yet. But there is HOPE! You may feel rejected, angry, hurt, or that life is out of control. When the Apostle Paul thought all was lost, here's how he responded: "We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us ......

Many are struggling with mental health. But if you're in a relationship, or the parent of a child with mental illness, you should be considering your mental health as well. The Helper Needs Help - and that includes you! Your job is to love. You can't be your spouse's or family member's therapist. You can't solve their problems.  Peter, in 1 Peter 4 says, " Most of all...

Recent data indicate lower levels of well-being among young people, but there are solutions. God reminds you: " Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught" [John 14]. Life has gotten more expensive; social media leads to competition and fighting, and it's hard to compare your life with unreliable posts...

Intimacy matters! And you can improve your most important relationships in many ways.  Intimate relationships offer great benefits, including greater health and wellbeing, and improve our odds of survival by 50 percent (Holt-Lunstad, 2010). “People are most likely to thrive when they feel intimately connected to significant others” (Pietromonoco, 2017). One important way to create greater intimacy...