Category: Emotions

• My Failures, God’s Inroads And WW Linkup!

  

  I’ve been studying in 1st Samuel and God has been bringing to my attention all the times that people either wrongly let pride overtake them or rightly let humility be their response to circumstances. [Tweet “I honestly think God brings to our attention the very things we need! #Ineedhumility”] In fact, humility is one area…

  BethSteffaniak

  May 3, 2016

  About Me, Acceptance, Anger, Attitude, Blaming, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Confession, Conflict, Criticism, Denial, Discouragement, Emotions, False Beliefs, Fear, God’s Redemption, Grace, Humility, Love of God, Mess Makers, My Failures Series, Negative Self-Talk, Perspective, Pride, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Victim Mentality, Wedded Wednesday

  Competitiveness, Conflict, God’s Redemption, God’s Refinement, Humility, Perspective, Pride, Sober view

• Giving Up on Your Marriage?

  

  I started blogging (another blog) back in Feb. 2009, and have been blogging at Messy Marriage since October 2010, so it feels like quite a long journey in many ways. For the record . . . I’ve wanted to give up on this blogging endeavor many times! I’ve felt like it’s not worth it more…

  BethSteffaniak

  April 30, 2016

  About Me, Anger, Attitude, Blaming, Blogging, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, False Beliefs, God’s Redemption, Love of God, Magical Thinking, Negative Self-Talk, Pain, Patience, Perseverance, Perspective, Proactive, Realistic Expectations, Resentments, Responsibility, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Self-Protection, Trust, Victim Mentality

  Change, Discouragement, Divorce, Faith in God, Patience, Perseverence, Seasons

• Resurrect Me from the Pull of My Desires And Linkup

  

  In my new series—Resurrect Me—I want to explore all the ways you and I let addictions, compulsions and bad habits drag us back to the “grave” of our former selves (Rom. 7:22-25). This unbridled and relentless hunger can be especially destructive in marriage—making it so very messy and ugly. There’s an important passage in James…

  BethSteffaniak

  March 29, 2016

  About Me, Addictions, Anger, Attitude, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conflict, Desires, Emotions, Faith in God, Grace, Humility, Negotiation, Resentments, Respect, Resurrect Me Series, Selfishness, Surrender, Unity, Validation, Wedded Wednesday

  Addictions, Anger, Arguing, Bad Habits, Communication, Conflict, Desires, Selfishness

• Taming Triggers in Your Marriage and Life Plus WW Linkup

  

  You’d think that after almost 29 years of marriage, my hubby and I would have tamed all of the “beasts” that arise from the moments when our wounds are triggered … but you would be wrong! 😉 I think it’s sort of like the apostle Paul’s “thorn” that God did not remove from his life…

  BethSteffaniak

  March 1, 2016

  Anger, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Emotions, Fear, Humility, Pain, Perspective, Prayer, Respect, Responsibility, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Practices, Toxic Baggage, Triggers in Marriage Series, Vulnerability, Wounds

  Anger, Communication, Conflict, Emotions, Fear, Healing, Prayer, Processing Emotions, Triggers, Wounds

• The Childhood Wound of Neglect And WW Linkup

  

  I’ve been a bit surprised by the amount of interest in this series on the wounds of our past, but definitely not shocked. I think this is an area that many couples struggle with and can relate to—realizing it brings with it much messiness and misery in marriage. The first step I want to take…

  BethSteffaniak

  February 16, 2016

  About Me, Abuse, Acceptance, Blaming, Christ-Centered, Denial, Emotions, False Beliefs, Messy Mom’s and Dad’s, Negative Self-Talk, Pain, Perspective, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Self-Reflection, Toxic Baggage, Trauma, Trials, Victim Mentality, Wedded Wednesday, Wounds

  Childhood, Pain, Self-awareness, Toxic Baggage, Trauma, Triggers, Victim Mentality, Wounds

• New Series on Wounds of the Past and Linkup

  

  Lately, it seems like God is dealing with me through all sorts of sources on the need to deal with old wounds that trigger me and my hubby in our marriage. It’s like everywhere I turn the subject turns to old wounds … From my Men and Openness Survey results (see post here on how…

  BethSteffaniak

  February 9, 2016

  Emotions, Failure, In-Laws, Marriage Mistakes, Mess Makers, Messy Mom’s and Dad’s, Pain, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Toxic Baggage, Triggers in Marriage Series, Wedded Wednesday, Withdrawal, Wounds

  Emotional Wounds, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Toxic Baggage, Triggers

• What Men Fear about Opening Up And Linkup

  

  Today I want to continue to unpack the results of the “Men and Openness” survey by looking at question #5 … What do you feel you need to overcome in order to be better able to identify and share your feelings? (I allowed the men to choose all that applied) 70.49% – My fear of…

  BethSteffaniak

  February 2, 2016

  Alienation, Anger, Authenticity, Avoidance, Balance, Blaming, Bonding, Boundaries, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Confessional Culture, Conflict, Confrontation, Control, Criticism, Discouragement, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Fear, Gender Differences, Humility, Listening Skills, Marriage, Openness, Pain, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Prayer, Pride, Respect, Security, Validation, Vulnerability, Wedded Wednesday, Withdrawal

  Affirmation, Communication, Conflict, Empathy, Fear, Listening Skills. Active Listening, Openness, Prayer, Vulnerability

• Super Mom Myth Review and Giveaway! Plus Linkup

  

  Today, I’m “super” excited to do a book review of my bloggy friend, Becky Kopitzke’s first book! Woot woot! I’m so happy for her! And, if you’d like to learn more about her or connect with her at her blog, scroll down to find out more about her below. Becky always provides such amazing insight into…

  BethSteffaniak

  January 19, 2016

  Balance, Christ-Centered, Control, Emotions, Faith in God, False Beliefs, Give-Away, Laziness, Marriage, Messy Mom’s and Dad’s, Motherhood, Parenthood, Perfectionism, Positive Focus, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Surrender, Wedded Wednesday, Worry

  Control, Motherhood, Parenting, Superhero, Surrender, The Super Mom Myth, Truth

• For the Wife Who Feels Empty in Marriage – Guest Post and Linkup!

  

  Today we are honored to have our bloggy friend Ifeoma Samuel sharing a guest post and hosting Wedded Wednesday! I hope you’ll check out her blog – Purposeful and Meaningful as well as making her feel welcome with lots of comments below! Happily married to a loving man, blessed with a daughter—everything seemed to be…

  BethSteffaniak

  January 12, 2016

  Acceptance, Choices, Christ-Centered, Counseling, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Faith in God, False Beliefs, Identity, Love for God, Love of God, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Perspective, Prayer, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Support, Trust, Truth

  Discouragement, Dissatisfaction, Faith in God, Fulfillment, Prayer, Surrender, Trust, Unrealistic Expectations

• Healthy Boundaries and Expectations for a Heart-to-Heart And Linkup!

  

  Today I’m continuing in the series that was born out of the results from my Men and Openness survey by unpacking a bit more what a wife (or any spouse for that matter) needs to keep in mind in a heart-to-heart. [Tweet “If you want to encourage openness, establish healthy boundaries and realistic expectations.”] Since…

  BethSteffaniak

  December 15, 2015

  Acceptance, Authenticity, Boundaries, Change, Codependency, Comfort, Communication, Confessional Culture, Conflict, Control, Emotions, Expectations, Listening Skills, Marriage, Perseverance, Proactive, Realistic Expectations, Respect, Responsibility, Validation, Vulnerability, Wedded Wednesday

  Active Listening, Boundaries, Communication, Emotions, Perseverance, Realistic Expectations, Reflective Listening, Respect