Shayne on September 23rd, 2009

Not much to say about today’s study. I agree that some ‘non-assertive people often wait until their anger builds up before passing on their opinion about something , and then what they say comes across as hostile’.  It may mean that such people need to practice presenting their views in a non-threatening environment, such as [...]

Continue reading about Let your ‘Yes be ‘Yes’

Shayne on September 22nd, 2009

A lot of what Selwyn writes about today is very good – again, it brings us to the question – ‘who are we trusting in?’ In my later years I’ve become a lot less assertive as compared to my younger more aggressive years. I tend not to be assertive in those situations, which I think [...]

Continue reading about Are you non-assertive?

Shayne on September 21st, 2009

One of the main problems, I think, with assertive people is that it can come across as a form of bullying. Some assertive people keep drowning out all other voices by constant repetition of their own opinions. Consequently, I like what Selwyn has to say, in today’s study.” … Total yieldedness would make us everybody’s doormat (not necessarily [...]

Continue reading about Was Jesus assertive?

Shayne on September 20th, 2009

Sewlyn writes about our ability to face negative emotions as well as positive emotions.  It’s just part of human nature – we have the ability to feel a range of emotions – the palette of life’s colours contains some rich, warm colours as well as some dark, brooding colours – if, anything less than this [...]

Continue reading about The soul’s tambourine

Shayne on September 19th, 2009

I liked the way Selwyn describes the four common ways of managing emotions: “First, we can repress them – we can push them deep into the unconscious and forget all about them. Second, we can suppress them – we can push them into the subconscious, where they are not entirely forgotten, but temporarily submerged. Third, [...]

Continue reading about Four ways

Shayne on September 18th, 2009

Selwyn now looks at the emotional aspect of life. It perhaps a good idea to consider the various emotions ascribed to God throughout the Bible. As Selwyn mentions in his conclusion: “All through the Bible we see God touching the whole gamut of emotion, from joy to sadness, from deep inner peace to the turmoil [...]

Continue reading about Blunted sensibilities

Shayne on September 17th, 2009

Selwyn tell us today, of the importance of using our minds. As his focus he uses Paul’s letter to the Philippians, especially the following verses (Philippians 4:4-9, NLT): “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is [...]

Continue reading about The mind matters