07/20/26 MondayMatters: The REAL Attachment Theory

07/20/26 MondayMatters: The REAL Attachment Theory

https://youtu.be/LsHbPtTRAKY?si=9RJPdehTCzDjlGpf

 

Attachment Theory is a modern, overworked way of describing various kinds of unhealthy relationship styles and the reasons for them.

At the risk of overworking it again;

Anxious Attachment Style is fearful, anticipating rejection and has a mindset of “You’re okay but Im not okay.” They can smother a relationship with neediness and when it suffocates, say, “See, I knew I wasn’t good enough.”

Avoidant Attachment Style is convinced it is just safer to not be fully committed. People are not safe. I am not safe. It’s probably never going to work so I just won’t give it a chance in the first place. “You’re not okay and I’m not okay.”

Ambivalent Attachment Style is confused by all of the trauma associated with relationships and will not trust the other person. They say “I’m okay but you’re not okay.” They sabotage relationships in a first strike approach.

Well, that’s not the point of this MondayMatters. The point is to say, we are not created for any of these kinds of relationships. We are created in the image of God, deeply loved by our Creator, and made for community with other God image-bearing creatures. Our approach can be, “I’m okay and you’re okay.”

God invites us into happy, healthy, and holy relationships with one another.

-“The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.”

-“Abide in Me (Jesus) as I abide in you.”

-“Perfect love (the kind that God offers) casts out fear.”

God created you for and invites you to secure relationships. So, ask yourself:

Do I relate to others based on fear or trust that God can make this good?

Do I live in my old wounds or in the present day, restored healing that God has for me?

Am I willing to surrender my relationships to Him and allow Him to create the attachment style He desires?

You are loved and you are lovable. Go treat yourself and others that way.

 

 

What Is Old?

What Is Old?

Yesterday was my birthday. Hold on. This isn’t an attempt to make you feel guilty and start a whole batch of “happy belated” messages. It’s just the opening line to put things in context. So, here’s what I did. I started my 73rd year as I start nearly every day, a cup of coffee and… Continue Reading

07/13/26 MondayMatters:  Praying Past the Ceiling

07/13/26 MondayMatters: Praying Past the Ceiling

Sometimes it feels like our prayers just bounce off the ceiling. We are in a glass box and God cannot, or will not hear us. David felt that in Psalm 22, verse 2, “My God, I cry out by day and you do not answer me…” I feel that often, especially during a sickness or… Continue Reading

Prophet or Profit: How To Get the Help You Need!

Prophet or Profit: How To Get the Help You Need!

I have a little cough. It is residual from the bout with pneumonia I just went through. (Quick little play on your sympathy button there.) It’s not terrible, but it’s persistent and aggravating. So I started seeking some help. Maybe I need a respiratory therapist, maybe a pulmonologist, maybe a holistic person who can load… Continue Reading

6/1/26 MondayMatters: Being the True You

6/1/26 MondayMatters: Being the True You

Have you had the experience of walking away from a conversation or a party and recognizing you were not really, genuinely yourself? When you get in public you just feel the need to hide the real you, maybe by talking too much or not talking at all. This is a brief conversation about recovering your… Continue Reading

Strengthening The Core

Strengthening The Core

My daughter-in-law and I ran the Music City marathon twice. (Not on the same day 😊). We ran hundreds of miles literally to prepare, but I was surprised at how long it took to recover from running 26.2 miles. I was talking to someone about that recently, and they said, “You need to strengthen your… Continue Reading

5/11/26 MondayMatters: Procrastination

5/11/26 MondayMatters: Procrastination

https://youtu.be/CWPkfnWY7Pc?si=KvG26eLb7yqcp8Sf Link to the video. Procrastinating the easy stuff makes it hard. Procrastinating the hard stuff makes it impossible. We all tend to procrastinate. It is as much a part of the human condition as laughter or love. Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow? That’s just what we do. The issue… Continue Reading

5/11/26 MondayMatters: Necessary Suffering

5/11/26 MondayMatters: Necessary Suffering

https://youtu.be/DofjXzR6mbg    Here’s the MondayMatters Video. Yesterday, on Mother’s Day, I wrote a short blog about the tension mothers often carry between joy and suffering. I’ll post a link to that in the notes below if you’d like to read it. But that reflection prompted me to follow up here on MondayMatters with a look… Continue Reading

May 10

May 10

Today is May 10, Mother’s Day. I asked Google how often Mother’s Day has fallen on this day in my lifetime. Surprisingly, only ten until today. This is the eleventh time. Seems like more. My mother was born on this day. She passed away fourteen years ago so she only got to celebrate Mother’s Day… Continue Reading

The End of the Beginning

The End of the Beginning

Jon-Mical pitched last night in what will most likely be his last high school game. He wasn’t scheduled to start but it was a district tournament game and we got in trouble quick. Our starter was not at his best. He gave up a run and then loaded the bases with 2 outs in the… Continue Reading