Quick tips for leaders with introversion, shyness, or social anxiety.

You didn't start this thing intending to become the central spoke that everything runs through. It just happened — little by little, decision by decision, growth upon growth.

When women support women, we build each other up, grow stronger, and reach new heights. Sometimes this looks like competition, but in genuine relationships this competition is not rooted in hoping the other fails but striving to see just how good I can become and hoping those with me rise higher too. 

In her new book, “Living the Blessed Life: Seven Keys to Trusting God and Embracing Joy,” Melissa Overmyer offers a delightful, simple, seven-week guide to deepening our relationship with God and thus finding the happiness we all seek. Weaving in personal stories of finding happiness in the wake of various hardships and even tragedies, she demonstrates how to find happiness and joy by growing closer to God, regardless of the waves that rock our boats. 

St. Ignatius of Loyola is well known for founding the Jesuit religious order and writing the Spiritual Exercises. Before he was a devout Catholic, he was a wealthy nobleman and soldier. He was badly wounded in battle. During his long recovery, he experienced a deep conversion while reading about Jesus and the Saints.

While we met Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in the Gospels, we don’t learn much about them, other than they were close friends and disciples of Jesus. We don’t know how they met Jesus or whether they were related to Him. Yet, our Church has designated July 29th as the day we celebrate their lives and the impact they have had on our faith.