This is the third in a series on LIVING OPEN HANDED. If you missed them, it might be helpful to go back so you understand how we got to this post.
1. LIVING OPEN HANDED: Do Not Fear
2. LIVING OPEN HANDED: I have a Need
Recognizing our fear and acknowledging we have a need leads us to
open up our ring finger for E: EXPRESS HONESTLY———-
This is the second post in the Living Open Handed series.
Let’s consider what it takes to LIVE with OPEN HANDS, in a white knuckle world.
I ask you make a fist again- because generally that is what our hand looks like when we are afraid. Now, consider your knuckles as a tool to help you remember how to OPEN your hands.
But we are going to work backwards.
First, Open your little finger and recall the N stands for:
I HAVE NEED——
When we experience fear, we become aware that we are in need. We don’t often admit it, but we usually NEED God to show up in a big way. However, too often we don’t go to God first. Instead we have to recognize that a fear appears most often because a NEED we have is being compromised. 
If you consider Maslov’s Hierarchy of Needs that I studied in my classes for coaching, maybe you can identify what need is trampled in some way.
But another way to come to terms with your needs is to read the Psalms.
How many times as you read through the Psalms do you find a Psalmist that is voicing your hearts cry.
In regard to your fears (refer to your list you made yesterday), what are the needs that are not being met? Write them down next to the fear. Be as descriptive as you can be. It will help with the next step in tomorrow’s post.
Missed the first post, click here!
Want to read the next one- here it is!
How many of us will honestly admit that we experience fears and 
insecurities – as a mom? at my job? at school? at home? Most if not all of us will confess that we are afraid! It is a common emotion that strikes to the heart of us- sometimes paralyzing our next move, sometimes forcing us to move with caution, sometimes just what we need to know we are going the right way.
I recently read a book by Henry Nouwen. He shared these words. ”
There is a story of an elderly woman that was being admitted into a psychiatric hospital. She was wild, swinging at everything in sight. The staff was so concerned by her behavior that they had to take everything away from her. But she made a fist so tight and would not give up. It took two people to pry open her clenched hand. In it was one small coin. It was her last possession. Her fear made her believe if they took it, she would have nothing more, she would be nothing more.
As I read, my immediate thought was, “I don’t want to be that woman.” Continue reading Living Open Handed in a White Knuckle World
by Linda Dillow
Well, my friends, I don’t think it is too fair of me to ask you that question and not be transparent with you about how I did.
So…here’s how my last 30 days went.
My original goal was to write 500 words every day. I did accomplish 500 words for the first 20 days. Then we left for Texas to see family and I scribbled things when I had a few minutes, but we were there to enjoy family.I actually thought that I would blog about each days noticing- but honestly, some of the things I noticed were more personal than I was ready to blog yet. I know several of you have said that I often write quite personally. That is true. But I generally don’t share it with you till I’ve done some processing myself. So…these things might show up in future posts. I’m continuing my 500 Words a day goal in December.
started writing about BROKENNESS. That is actually some of what I have been NOTICING in these 30 days. The Series is not complete- but in process. My goal for December is to complete this series.So…How about you? How’d you do in your 30 day challenge?
Did you accomplish you 30 day goals?
If so, pat yourself on the back!!!! Congratulations!
If not, what were the obstacles that kept you from it?
What is your next step?
Listen gang! We have just over 30 days left in 2015. I know the temptation is to call it ‘HOLIDAYS” and chuck the lists for a while.
But what if INSTEAD we take a few minutes to identify what needs to be done yet in 2014? What can we do that will not only give us a jump start on 2015, but will set up up for possibilities we only dreamed of in 2014?
I hope you will join us for the FINISH WELL CHALLENGE beginning 
today. By December 31st, what you want to have accomplished. Get more details here.
If nothing else, let’s take a look back at 2014 and answer some of these questions.
I’ve set my goals for the next 30 days! I hope you will join me in the journey. If you need someone to help you determine what you really want to accomplish and hold you accountable to your dreams, that’s what I do! I’m a coach! Email me at kathy@greenhopecoaching.
Here’s to finishing well!
If you started the 30 DAY CHALLENGE with me on October 27th, that means you have one week left to complete your goal.
How are you doing? Have you stayed on track with your plan?
My month went great the first 2 weeks. The fact that I set my goal and created a plan went a long way toward moving forward.
But this last week there were quite a few obstacles that I wasn’t expecting. Health, weather, life challenges…!
How about you? Have you felt your momentum getting hung up in the ‘stuff’ that interferes?
Well, today marks a PIVOT POINT! We must choose! Continue reading 30 Day Challenge Final PUSH
In my last post on Broken…Made whole 2, we considered in what ways are we broken and the many synonyms for the word.
So what did you learn? What are the areas of life that need attention? Some things are blaring- we know what’s broken and we think it can’t be fixed. I know, because I already confessed that I felt that in several aspects of life. But often, we don’t notice something is broken until we intentionally stop to look at our life.
Where are we limping by?
What are we always working around because we can’t seem to work through?
But…today’s post is on the OPPOSITE of BROKEN, Continue reading Broken…to Whole!: the ANTONYM of Broken
Have you ever considered how many ways you can be broken? I hear of brokenness in people, myself included, and I marvel at all the ways we can break.
From the internet dictionary,
I found these definitions:
bro·ken
ˈbrōkən’
Adjective
_________________________________________
Webster gave some additional definitions of BROKEN
: Violently Separated into parts.
: damaged or altered by breaking
: having undergone or been subjected to fracture
: being irregular, interrupted, or full of obstacles
: violated by transgression
: discontinuous, interrupted
: disrupted by change
: made weak or infirm
: subdued completely
: crushed, sorrowful
: bankrupt
: reduced in rank
: cut off
: disconnected
: imperfectly spoken or written
: not complete or full
: disunited by divorce, separation, or desertion
Here are some other Related Words (I left the links in so you could check the definitions)
blasted, detonated, exploded; cracked,slivered, splintered, split;
collapsed, imploded; demolished, destroyed, devastated, pulverized,
ruinate, ruined, wrecked;damaged, defaced, disintegrated,
dynamited, mangled,mutilated; eradicated, exterminated, extirpated, obliterated, wiped out; breakable, brittle, delicate, fragile, frail, frangible
We could go on- and on- and on with the study of this word broken. But I think with this list alone, all of us at one time or another have experienced brokenness! Which means in our lives, and in our world, on a daily basis we come across someone who is at some place of “broken” which directly or indirectly influences us.
It’s not always fun to stay in this topic of brokenness. But it seems it is important to consider “Where am I broken?”
Consider these different areas of your life-
Spiritual,
Family,
Professional,
Personal,
Physical,
Financial,
Social
Global
Now ask these questions.
Where am I experiencing brokenness?
Where is the source of the brokenness?
How is that broken place impacting other areas of my life?
What is God asking me to break to move forward? i.e. bad habit, or poor relationship, or a tradition
Before we can move toward wholeness, we must be willing to admit we are broken and in need of help. Maybe it’s your finances- you don’t know how you will pay the bills. Or perhaps your family is falling apart- or your marriage. Or maybe your health is suffering.
Are you willing to say, “Lord, I am broken!”
If not, what are you afraid of? What keeps you from it? Are you in denial, pretending this will all go away? Which it may, but if you don’t deal with it directly, you may carry the baggage of it with you into the future.
Are you thinking that God only wants you to think of good things- not focus on the negative? (I’ve actually heard that recently.)
God want us to see Him and know him to be GOD-enough for our real world- as things really are! He wants intimacy with us and that means being honest and real with each other. He is with us- if we are willing to see Him. But we with Him too. We have to be honest about it within ourselves- and with God!
This is the first step! Then we can begin to take steps toward WHOLE! I’m looking forward to that. Aren’t you?
Stay tuned for Part 2!
For those of you who joined us on the 30 day challenge last week, how are you doing? We would love to hear your comments, insights, celebrations and struggles in the comment box below.
Accountability is a great way to hold you to your commitment. If not here, who is your accountability partner?
One of the discussions on the Challenge call on Tuesday evening was to consider your life as a highway- 8 lane highway. Continue reading 30 Day Challenge Update
I hesitate to write this blog post today- let alone publish it. I have so many intimate emotions still tied to it. As I’ve pondered the passing of Robin Williams last week, I realize that to not share is to not tell my whole story. I want to be authentic in my story. I believe as I share, perhaps someone else will be helped.
This week is the 8th anniversary of our daughter’s death. Leisha died August 16th, 2006. I’ve known it was coming. I’ve shed many tears over the last few weeks feeling different aspects of her absence and celebrating her life as well. Each year has been different when her birthday or anniversary rolls around.
But yesterday, for some reason the intensity of that loss squeezed in on me so tightly I thought I couldn’t breathe another breath. Continue reading The moments that will change us!
