This powerhouse of a prayer—attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr—has made a remarkable difference in the lives of so many. And it can make a big difference when it is used as a compass for our sacred work…

Of course we want to be care-full as we companion another human being into their vulnerabilities. It's also the reality that the Holy Spirit shows up as an energy with fire in it. How do we tend to these seemingly contradictory dynamics, tenderness and candor?

Here’s a simple exercise I use when there is a thought or emotion that is hooking the client. I call it the 4 Rs Exercise…

Say you’re driving through the countryside and see a field of cows. They’ll draw your attention for no more than a moment. In a way, if you’ve seen one cow, you’ve seen them all. But, if you should happen to see a purple cow, that’s a different story…

Most of our clients come to us because some kind of imbalance is leading to life challenges. But it can be so easy to forget - we have 12,000 chances a day to come back to balance…

We can help ourselves find new clients is by letting go of a common misconception that gets in the way…

I’d love to see you at my upcoming class through Spiritual Directors International: Expanding Our Spiritual Direction Voice!

Here’s what I’ve seen in working with hundreds of spiritual directors: we all like the middle. Here’s what I’ve seen in working with hundreds of clients: clients like the edge…

Usually I work at my computer and do the most urgent thing that pops into my mind. Sometimes I take a deep breath, look at the bigger picture of my work, and do the most important thing. Our clients all have a Sometimes like this - let’s help them expand it…

So many clients go into a tailspin based on how they perceive their mistakes (don’t we all!). But we spiritual directors can help them see how they habitually make a mis-take in how they view their mistakes…

We can help our clients get past "should-ing" and shaming themselves, enabling their empowerment and inspired action instead. Here's how we reframe... 

The spiritual director’s role is helping clients become more selfish, spiritual, and sensational. Woah - selfish? Yep, you read that right. Becoming selfish is one of the most heretical and important steps anyone takes. How can this be? Here’s the twist…

What a powerful reflex self-doubt is: an exciting possibility comes to mind; self-doubt injects a shot of fear about all the ways it could go bad. With how much we care for our clients, it’s tough to see self-doubt insinuate itself into their lives. Here's how we can redirect it…

Clients sometimes believe that their problems reside outside of them. The truth is that their perception - or more accurately, the misperception that they are disempowered - is often the problem…

I am often reminding myself and my clients of this:

In a grace-filled and loving universe, there is a natural process of goodness, peace, and abundance that is always at work within us. So it isn’t our job to go out and create these experiences. It is our practice to awaken to them in this moment…

Okay, the title is a shameless attempt to get your attention. AND, there’s a truth in helping clients give up a certain kind of prayer. We need to help people connect deeply with God in our sessions, and some ways of praying are more effective at that than others…

If you’re like me, you have a dream and desire for spiritual work that both excites and intimidates you. As you look ahead to this year, I hope my thoughts here can help you understand better how to turn those dreams and desires into plans, and then into reality. To start, let’s talk about dreams…