27Dec 2015 by CJ

Change in behavior could change your life

Life & Living, Youth
“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”  - C.S. Lewis Some of you might be familiar with the initials CBT. For those who are not, it stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy -  a common form of mental health counseling, which has been used to treat anxiety and depression for years. From the Mayo Clinic’s website: “Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking, so you can view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way.” And while many of you may dismiss CBT based on your current mental health status, they go on to say, “But not everyone who benefits from cognitive behavioral therapy has a mental health condition. It can be an effective tool to…
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20Nov 2015 by CJ

Having a nice house doesn’t equal happiness

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living
Whenever I’m feeling a little down in the dumps, there’s a gentleman at work who’s quick to point out, “You live in a nice house – what do you have to be unhappy about?” I’m always amused by such statements. I’m not really sure how a house, a car or any material possession can ever be a predicator for happiness. And yet Americans spend more time than they probably should convincing themselves that such “things” will bring them elation. Let me be the first to tell you – they won’t. That momentary gratification fades over time, a short time to be exact. What you’re left with is still that emptiness inside – that longing to belong to something; to be unconditionally loved by someone; to be deemed important enough that…
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13Nov 2015 by CJ

Thanksgiving – unlock the fullness of life

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie When my wife and I purchased our New Jersey home back in 2002, we looked forward to hosting many memorable holiday celebrations – one being Thanksgiving. We both love the fall season – the sights, sounds and foods you only seem to dine on one day out of the entire year! We enjoy preparing the menu and the details, cooking together days before and creating a warm and…
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10Nov 2015 by CJ

Why you want to lead – a necessary question

Life & Living
As we age and mature through life’s stages, it’s important to ask ourselves where our lives are going and what truly brings us fulfillment, purpose and joy. Lately I’ve pondered how important holding a leadership position in my career would ultimately be. While I have no doubt of my abilities to successfully perform the role (as I have in the past), there’s more to being a “leader” than simply achieving the title. Yes, we all have functions of our jobs that require us to be a “leader” to some degree, but leadership comes with responsibilities and expectations that few people who hold such a position ever fully realize. I’ve experienced truly amazing leadership, mediocre leadership and down right awful leadership – learning invaluable lessons from each. Perhaps Klaus Balkenhol sums…
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02Nov 2015 by CJ

Don’t let past hurts contaminate your future

Life & Living
"Sometimes what you want is right in front of you. All you have to do is open your eyes and see it." - Meg Cabot I'm a glass half empty kind of guy. Regardless of the situation or circumstance, I often find myself with a rather cynical viewpoint. Some might assume I'm an overly jaded person who likes rainstorms instead of sunshine, but that's far from the truth I assure you. I guess you could say, in my four decades here on Earth, I've learned and experienced a lot about the workings of society and the people running it. Does that make me a card-carrying member of the Naysayers of America Club? Hardly. What it does make me is a guarded realist. Let's face it, when you've been burned before…
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