How to Have a Conversation with Someone Who Disagrees
Few people want to have a conversation anymore. They want to rant about their own opinion, but don’t really want to hear from those who disagree. This is especially true in politics and in the church. Now, to be fair, people don’t negotiate their closely held values. Politics and religion are values-driven. But there’s […]
Four Simple Things You Can Do to Improve Your Health
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple[ of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians [6:19]-20 Taking care of your body not only honors God, it is good […]
How to Take an Emotional Stand-Part 2
In Part 1, I shared what I have learned about taking an emotional stand. I defined taking an emotional stand as being able to say what I feel and what I believe in a non-anxious way. That post was mostly about technique: using “I” statements, not blaming, giving others the freedom to disagree and keeping […]
How to Take an Emotional Stand
For the first three decades of my life, I had difficulty taking an emotional stand. I define that as being able to say what I feel, what I believe, in a non-anxious way. I would just stuff my feelings. I thought it was no big deal, but what happened was at some point I would […]
Two Addictions I Kicked (or Clarity Happens)
I have an addictive personality. I always knew this. But, when I was in seminary I took a family systems course and did my genogram. A genogram is a family tree that focuses on emotional process and how things are passed from generation to generation. My own genogram showed me that addictive personalities were common, […]
Finding a Path without Anxiety or Blame
This is my take on where we are as country at the beginning of the Trump Administration. Here is the video transcript. Please remember that it will read like a conversation, not a term paper (maybe that’s a good thing). Hey there, Jack Shitama. Today is January 21st 2017, the day after inauguration day. That […]
Why the Supporters of My Candidate’s Opponent Don’t Upset Me
I have found that the key to being an effective leader is learning to be a non-anxious presence. That means not letting your own anxiety affect your relationships while still staying emotionally connected. It’s easy to not let your anxiety interfere if you disconnect emotionally. It’s also easy to stay connected emotionally without keeping your […]
What I Learned in Hiroshima-A Personal Pilgrimage
I am proud of my Japanese-American heritage. My grandfather, Ichimatsu Kihara, emigrated to Seattle in the early 20th century. He and his brothers formed Main Fish Company, a seafood wholesaler. They had the first non-Anglo owned business on the Seattle waterfront. My mother was born in Seattle, but was sent with her mother and siblings […]
Small Actions Can Lead to Big Change
Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. 2 Divide your gifts among many, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. 3 When the clouds are heavy, the rains come down. When a tree falls, whether south or north, there it lies. 4 If you wait for perfect conditions, you […]
