Blog Health of a Christian Leader Psychological Wellbeing Maintains Emotional Well-Being
Maintains Emotional Well-Being
Emotional stability, and healthy coping with difficult feelings.
Replenishing Emotionally
Learning to fill the tank My journey through burnout and recovery has remade me. I used to just go, run fast, and pay little or no attention to how I was doing. To recover from burnout, I had to learn to rest. For some reason, cultural—the pioneer spirit, a warped Christian perspective of self-emptying, or just plain low self-value, I … Read More ... Read More
25 May 2026
Grief in the Face of Change
Previously, I announced our big news: Adrienne and I are stepping down as Senior Ministers of the C3Robina church. This transition has been five years in the making. I feel joy in the fact that we know this is the right decision. I feel proud of what we have accomplished in our time as Senior Ministers, and I’m excited for ... Read More
13 Oct 2022
Three Steps to Recover from Emotional Bruises
Emotional Abuse-Blog 4 Residual Feelings We have reached the last post in our series on dealing with emotional abuse: handling residual feelings. We have been looking specifically at situations with acquaintances and strangers, not focusing on intimate relationships. These encounters, no matter how brief or random, can be traumatic. We have examined reacting, reflecting and recovering from these uncomfortable encounters, ... Read More
30 Dec 2021
Recovering from Emotional Abuse
Emotional Abuse Blog 3 Recovering Here at Verve Lead, we are in the middle of a series examining how to handle emotional abuse from people around us, specifically situations with acquaintances and strangers, rather than intimate relationships. We’ve looked at how to respond in the moment of an angry blow-up, and how to reflect and process that situation. Today, we ... Read More
23 Dec 2021
Dealing with Emotional Abuse - Blog 2
Reflecting In our last blog, we began diving into how to handle that moment when you find yourself on the receiving end of an angry blow-up. There are very few moments where it is appropriate to scream at someone, especially at someone you do not know well. Still, almost everyone has experienced some unjustified or irrational rage directed at them ... Read More
16 Dec 2021
Is it selfish to maintain your emotional well-being?
What would happen if you hit another crisis? On top of dealing with COVID and the normal challenges of life? Would you go under? If so, what can you do to strengthen buoyancy? Yes, verve can be lifted. My big encouragement here is to find someone to help you build emotional well-being. That person’s role is to help you see ... Read More
19 Oct 2020
3 Keys to Developing Emotional Well-being
1. What level is your emotional tank? How are you doing emotionally? Is your tank empty, just some in the tank, or full and ready to assist others? Yes, I am repeating myself.The key to maintaining your emotional well-being is firstly to take time to regularly reflect. This is wise. You should ask this question at least weekly: what level ... Read More
13 Oct 2020
Building and Maintaining Emotional Well-being
Here is the benchmark: Healthy Christian Leaders Maintain Emotional Well-being. What does that look like? It’s living life with vigour and vim, not just keeping one’s head above water, but swimming with strength and ability sufficient to rescue others. One of the great keys to building emotional well-being is self-reflection which builds self-awareness. Another outcome of building self-reflection is self-moderation ... Read More
6 Oct 2020
5 Things that give emotional buoyancy.
How is your buoyancy? Buoyancy is the ability to float. Also, it’s the cheerful and optimistic attitude or disposition. It’s your verve, your vim, your va-voom. In floating terms, there are two forces at play, weight that pulls down and buoyancy that is upthrust. One of the 5 key gauges to keep watch on is your emotional well-being. This measure ... Read More
27 Apr 2020
3 Keys to thriving COVID-19
3 more Gauges Continuing on with Thriving through COVID-19, here are some more thoughts on paying attention to your gauges for well-being. Gauges help you know how you are doing, and reflecting on this allows you to make plans to replenish.You are designed to make a difference. Running out of fuel or oil will stop you. Filling your tank gives ... Read More
20 Apr 2020
Thriving through COVID-19
In 43 years of ministry/leadership, I have never seen our world under such pressure. COVID-19 has put everyone under immense pressure. Our families, workplace and our neighbourhoods are caught up in it. Our churches have been prevented from gathering indefinitely. Coupled with all this is the demand to reinvent the way we do church and ministry. Can we effectively minister ... Read More
9 Apr 2020
A board can make a difference in emotional well-being
I asked my builder if I could help lay the timber floor for our new house. Graciously he consented if I completed a health and safety course. I got my white ticket and enjoyed making a difference. Our spotted gum floor looks wonderful. There is no white ticket for my industry. Do you know where the hazards and risks are ... Read More
14 Nov 2019
Let’s remove the stigma from depression.
Remove the shame I was embarrassed to admit that I was moderately depressed. It was much easier to admit to high stress and low anxiety in my burnout. It felt ok to acknowledge the high stress, as it came with a false badge of honour awarded by a busy life. My embarrassment over depression came from a wrong understanding of ... Read More
19 Sept 2019
Returning to normality from grief
As we came to the six-week mark of James’ passing, it seemed that life is returning to normal. I am grateful that people still ask how are you doing? While I recognise that sometimes I am not doing well, I’m grateful to be able to say, that most of the time I am doing ok. I often answer, “The time ... Read More
15 July 2019
The high impact of burnout on key relationships.
Lost Sight of Self and Others When we are physically sick, it is hard to pay attention to the needs of others. Depending on the severity, we focus on getting ourselves well. Similarly, when we are not well emotionally, we lose awareness of what is happening in us and around us. At these times our emotional sight is impaired. I ... Read More
10 June 2019