10 Life Principles To Help With Holiday Stress

These 10 Life Principles were first posted in December 2018 but I thought it was important to post them this Christmas season once again.

 1.         Life is NOT fair.  Almost daily something unfair happens to us.  The holidays are no different so expect unfair things to occur during this holiday season.

 2.         Avoid either-or/good-or-bad thinking.  Today is not going to be a good day or a bad day.  Good things will happen and not so good things.  Likewise, this holiday season will have positive occurrences and not so positive happenings.

 3.         Money never brings happiness.  Understand that money, or the lack of it, will not determine your holiday happiness.  Memories and not material things is what you will remember from this Christmas.

 4.         Don’t expect perfection from life.  Perfection is the enemy of good.  Hope for a good Christmas not a perfect one. 

5.         You can’t change family or friends.  This holiday season accept the fact that your family and friends will be the same as always so take them for who they are and go with the flow.

6.         Avoid absolute thinking like “always” and “never.”  Thinking we have “always” done it this way or we “never” did that before during the holiday season will only create stress.  Openness and flexibility will lead to a happier holiday season. 

7.         Don’t have binocular vision.  Avoid focusing on just negative occurrences with the holidays so they don’t become bigger than they really are.  Look at all the positives to have a more realistic outlook on the holidays. 

 8.         Avoid labeling people and experiences.  Others will have differing opinions and behaviors.  Nonetheless, you can still enjoy them and not let that diminish your holiday happiness. Focus on the good qualities of family and friends.

9.         Think percentages in life.  Every day is somewhere between 90%(A-) to 60%(D-).  Daily, this holiday season will also have a range.  Expect this holiday season to average about a C+ to B-.  Anything more is very satisfying, anything less is then not too disappointing. 

10.       Avoid mind-reading.  You can never know what another person is thinking.  Look at the facts not your feelings when assessing how family and friends are enjoying the holidays. 

 This Week:  Begin implementing one or two life principles to help with holiday stress. 

Please share on Facebook, Twitter - @Dr_Randy_S, and Instagram.  Please also “SUBSCRIBE” on my website, www.DrRandySchroeder.com,  for future newletters.  See past blog posts under SIMPLE HABITS for Marriage, Parenting, and Life. 

SIMPLE HABITS FOR MARITAL HAPPINESS – Practical Skills and Tools That Build a Strong SATISFYING RELATIONSHIP, released March 2020 on Amazon -  https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Habits-Marital-Happiness-Relationship/dp/1633571750 will make a great gift for married friends, children, grandchildren, parents, and other family members. 

MONDAY MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE

Similar to the wisdom of Proverbs, every Monday I will share a practical wisdom quote.  I pray this quote will make a difference in your personal life and relationships.  

“It's a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.”
Germany Kent

Write Out Your Purpose In Life

I think it is so very important for every one of us to live life with a purpose.  Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish . . . .” 

The apostle Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  Regarding his purpose Billy Graham said, “I was faithful to what God wanted me to do, I maintained integrity in every area of my life, and I lived what I preached.” 

What is your purpose for living today?  The four questions below may help you find your purpose.

1.  What will your “footprints” be on this earth?

2.  How would you like to be remembered by family members, friends, and associates?

3.  How would you spend your precious time if you only had two years to live?

4.   What would you like to see etched on your tombstone?

Today: Write out your purpose in life by completing this sentence, “My purpose in life is . . . .”  

SIMPLE HABITS FOR MARITAL HAPPINESS, released December 2019, will make a great Christmas gift for married friends, children, grandchildren, parents, and other family members.  Please share on Facebook, Twitter - @Dr_Randy_S, and Instagram the December release of SIMPLE HABITS FOR MARITAL – Practical Skills and Tools That Build a Strong SATISFYING RELATIONSHIP.  

Please also “SUBSCRIBE” on my website, www.DrRandySchroeder.com,  for future newletters and information about SIMPLE HABITS FOR MARITAL HAPPINESS.  See past blog posts under WEEKLY WISDOM for Marriage, Parenting, and Life. 

MONDAY MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE

Similar to the wisdom of Proverbs, every Monday I will share a practical wisdom quote.  I pray this quote will make a difference in your personal life and relationships.  

Monday, July 29, 2019

“There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.”
– Martin Luther

MONDAY MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE

Similar to the wisdom of Proverbs, every Monday I will share a practical wisdom quote.  I pray this quote will make a difference in your personal life and relationships.  

Monday, July 8, 2019

“Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.” Albert Einstein

Recommend An Enjoyable Restaurant!

I thought I would make this Wednesday’s blog post fun by seeking your favorite restaurants from around the U.S. 

Last week my wife and I attended the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference to learn marketing ideas for the future launching (released later in 2019) of my Christian marriage book, SIMPLE HABITS FOR MARITAL HAPPINESS - Practical Skills and Tools That Build a Strong Satisfying Relationship.  We had delicious barbecue at MARK’S FEED STORE in Elizabethtown voted “Best of Louisville.” 

I am sure you have eaten at wonderful restaurants.  Will you please email your favorite restaurant either locally or during your travels?  I will not share your name but only your restaurant suggestion in future blog posts.  Others will delight in discovering hidden gem restaurants. 

Today:  Please email your restaurant recommendation to info@DrRandySchroeder.com.   

Enjoyed this post?  Like or share on Facebook and Twitter to spread the word!  Please also “SUBSCRIBE” on my website for future newletters and information about my Christian marriage book.  See past blog posts under Practical Wisdom for Marriage, Parenting, and Life. 

MONDAY MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE

Similar to the wisdom of Proverbs, every Monday I will share a practical wisdom quote.  I pray this quote will make a difference in your personal life and relationships.  

 Monday, June 24, 2019

The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand.  We listen to reply.

MONDAY MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE

Similar to the wisdom of Proverbs, every Monday I will share a practical wisdom quote.  I pray this quote will make a difference in your personal life and relationships.  

Monday, June 17, 2019

“There is no shame in having fallen.  Nor any shame in being born into a lowly estate.  There is only shame in not struggling to rise.  And also shame for not wishing to attain the better.  Or not dreaming about it and praying for it.”  Samuel Amalu

7 Ways to Rebuild Broken Trust

Trust is one of the key components for healthy relationships.  Shattered trust will severely crack any friendship, family relationship, or marriage connection.  Broken trust may occur from lies, abuse, infidelity, financial secrets, etc.  Shown below are 7 ideas to rebuild trust in order to restore a relationship bond.

1.  Acknowledge the problem.  The offender must admit that their words or actions demolished the trust.

2.  Sincere repentance.  The offender offers either a verbal or written genuine apology. 

3.  Request forgiveness.  Just saying “I am sorry” is not enough because asking for forgiveness helps validate a repentant attitude.

4.  Choose to forgive.  The offended person needs to offer forgiveness to begin the reconciliation process. 

5.  Restorative words and actions.  The offended person may make a list of words and actions for the offender that will restore faith in the offender.

6.  The offended needs to risk wisely.  Please use reason and logic and understand that rebuilding trust increases 1% at a time through truthful words and honest actions.

7.  Trust is a percentage.  Realize that no one is 100% trustworthy but the higher in the 90th percentile a friendship, family relationship, or marriage is the more likely for a satisfying relationship. 

Today:  If necessary, begin using these 7 steps for rebuilding a broken trust in order to achieve the goal of a healthy reconciliation. 

Enjoyed this post?  Like or share on Facebook and Twitter to spread the word!  Please also “SUBSCRIBE” on my website for future newletters and information about my Christian marriage book.  See past blog posts under Practical Wisdom for Marriage, Parenting, and Life. 

MONDAY MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES

I pray these two quotes will honor our fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for our great nation.     

Monday, May 27, 2019, Memorial Day

“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”  President John F. Kennedy
“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it."Unknown