Page 183 – Guideposts Articles

5 Ways to Find Spiritual Satisfaction

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Edward Grinnan

Satisfaction: the fulfillment of one’s wishes, expectations or needs

“Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones is sometimes cited as the greatest rock song ever. I might be inclined to agree with that, though the song is not actually one of my favorite Stones tunes. But it got me thinking about the concept and state of spiritual satisfaction. It’s more than just settling for half a loaf.

In the song, Mick Jagger isn’t looking for the meaning of life or a spiritual truth, nor is he seeking the perfect love or a moment of clarity; he’s just looking for satisfaction, which he can’t seem to find in his travels around the world when he’s “doin’ this and…I’m signin’ that.” But what does it mean to be satisfied? I think it’s a misunderstood, under-appreciated condition and a habit to be cultivated.

1) Check Your Blessings

“God never gives you more than you can handle,” goes the claim. I would include blessings in that category. I have yet to win the lottery, and I probably never will. Still, when I look at my life, I am given what I need at every turn. My desires are met, not always in abundance but always to satisfaction. God knows our needs better than we do. When I accept His will for me, I find satisfaction.

2) Keep It Simple

This is a phrase I learned in 12-step (often shortened to KISS—Keep It Simple, Stupid) and a concept I have admittedly yet to completely master. Simplicity begets satisfaction. The simpler my desires, the simpler my prayers, the more likely I am to be satisfied. Too often I just can’t stop myself from asking for too much. How happy do I think I need to be? In the end, God doesn’t disappoint me, I do. Keeping it simple keeps it real and enhances gratitude.

3) Look for Hidden Gifts

We all have them—the job we never thought we’d love, the friend we never thought we’d make, the place we never thought we’d call home. These are some of my greatest satisfactions. Count yours.

4) Compare Not

Some forms of social media seem designed to wreck our self-esteem. Who hasn’t given in to comparing themselves to others who are presumably living better lives? An old friend wins an award, and I ask why it wasn’t I who won the prize when I should be celebrating her achievement. I was put on the path I’m on for a reason. Comparisons are senseless when I question God’s direction for me by defining it against others. Does a loving God actually make that comparison? I definitely can’t get no satisfaction that way.

5) Love, the Ultimate Satisfaction

Nothing satisfies our souls more than love—love of God, love of family, love of country, love of self. It is both the simplest and greatest of all satisfactions. I look at the love that runs through my life like a divine current, and I am humbled by its power and immensely satisfied by its fullness.

Spiritual satisfaction is a powerful habit of accepting what God has for us. It grants a perspective on His plan for my life and my embrace of that plan.

5 Ways to Fight Back Against Caregiver Loneliness

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Ashley Lateef

This article is based on information provided by Philips Lifeline.

Feeling isolated from others can come with the territory when you are a caregiver. You can be especially vulnerable if family members or friends are not able to give you much support, either because they live far away or are too busy with their own commitments. Maybe you have no family at all. The particular demands of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia can easily lead to loneliness. On top of this, regular tasks like taking your loved one to doctor’s appointments, preparing meals and cleaning can make it difficult for you to keep up with activities and friends you enjoy.

Yet staying in touch with others is enormously important to your emotional and physical health. Not only does it matter to your overall well-being, it also enables you to be a better caregiver. Remember, you are not alone in this situation, and there are many resources to help!

Mental and Physical Health Effects of Loneliness

Caregiver isolation and loneliness can take a serious toll on your mental and physical health.

These feelings can jump-start thoughts and behaviors that exacerbate the emotional toll of caregiving. If you are experiencing these emotions, you are more prone to depression, your cognitive abilities can decline, and you can become detached from day-to-day life.

Caregivers often skip exercise and social interaction, both of which are good for body and soul. They get less sleep, eat less healthily, are prone to substance abuse and are more stressed. Studies show that people who are chronically lonely have significantly higher incidence of heart disease, are more likely to have metastatic cancer, and are at an increased risk of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. They are also more likely to have compromised autoimmune systems and lower antiviral response, and to experience inflammation.

The potential ramifications are serious: A study presented at the 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association in 2017 found that social isolation, loneliness or living alone have “a significant and equal effect on the risk of premature death, one that was equal to or exceeded the effect of other well-accepted risk factors such as obesity.”

Ways to Lessen Caregiver Loneliness

The good news is that you don’t have to suffer through these feelings. Following are some strategies to combat caregiver isolation, loneliness and depression:

Participate in a caregiver support group. Meeting regularly with others who face similar challenges reminds us we’re not alone. Support groups, many of which meet online, can be particularly helpful if our friends or family members don’t understand our role in caring for an aging parent or another loved one. It’s possible to form new, more empathetic friendships in these groups, which strengthens our social networks.

Accept a helping hand. You might often feel like you have to do it all yourself, and when you’ve completed your priority tasks for the day, you tend to cancel activities like socializing, exercising or engaging in your favorite hobbies. That only leads to further isolation. If your family members can’t take over some tasks so you have time for other things, look to respite care and home visitation services to provide direct support.

Talk to a counselor. Sometimes you may need more support than a group can provide, especially if you’re experiencing depression or anxiety. Professional therapists are excellent resources who can help you stave off loneliness and better manage your caregiving role.

Build and maintain social connections. A strong social network can help you to feel more resilient, so little setbacks don’t have such a big impact. You may find it easier to work through even bigger issues like an illness or a fall when you have others to talk to, and strong connections can release emotional anxiety. Even if you can’t meet face-to-face with people, you can establish regular video chats to see and talk with those who are important to you.

The added value of exercise. Even a short daily walk can have a positive impact on your health. You can also make use of great apps that remind you to move throughout the day in short spurts, like doing 30 wall push-ups or 10 deep breaths. Physical activity is a terrific energy, stamina and mental health booster. Studies show that even an hour of activity a week can lower the incidence of depression. Even though dealing with loneliness is not uncommon for caregivers, it’s important to recognize that these feelings of isolation do not have to be permanent. Understanding more about loneliness and connecting with the help and resources you need will empower you to fight back against loneliness and remain emotionally and physically healthy.

Don’t disregard professional medical advice, or delay seeking it, because of what you read here. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation, diagnosis or treatment; it is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. Always consult a healthcare provider if you have specific questions about any medical matter, and seek professional attention immediately if you think you or someone in your care may be suffering from a healthcare condition.

5 Ways to Declutter Your Home with Joy

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Roberta Messner

Most of us have been there. We suddenly discover we have more stuff than space, or that our treasures don’t seem to enjoy the spotlight like they once did. I found myself in that predicament recently, when props I no longer needed for my home-styling business overtook every spare inch of my home. My situation may be a little different than yours, but the discoveries I made will apply to just about any decluttering effort. Here’s what I learned:

Start with the stuff in containers. Any true, long-lasting organization begins from within. At the start of my own effort, I headed to Wal-Mart where I purchased five of their biggest plastic storage containers and three packs of colored file folders. That first morning, when I was filling one of the tubs with decorative smalls—pictures, an antique coffee grinder, knickknacks, and kitchenalia—my sister Rebekkah appeared on the scene. “You’re not solving anything, Roberta,” she challenged with a chuckle. “You’re just rearranging the junk. And did I mention, you may have a lamp fetish?” It was sad, but true.

Ask yourself tough questions. William Morris, the textile designer associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement, once advised: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” When deciding what to keep or part with, ask yourself: Is it beautiful? Is it useful? Is it extra-special to me? For if you decide to keep and display everything, nothing seems special.

Consider rotating treasures. The Japanese do this to great effect. Put your rabbit display on a table top during spring, the chickens in the summer months, and your quilts during the colder days of the year. Store a limited amount of seasonal objects in a closet or trunk.

Create three areas: keep, toss, and donate or sell. I found this to be the hardest part of the process. In fact, I could only tackle it for a couple of hours a day, before becoming emotionally and sometimes physically exhausted. Delivering a few donation bags or boxes, whether to a Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity or a church clothing closet, after every session really helped me keep going. That way, I could actually visualize my progress. You might also want to snap pictures to remind yourself of how far you have travelled.

Ask God for help. Some of my objects were antiques and vintage items, and some of these have recently depreciated in monetary value. That’s when an inner accusatory voice would taunt: “You paid good money for this, Roberta.” Through prayer, I learned there are other costs besides fiscal ones. Not being able to fully experience your home—your center and respite from a world that isn’t always kind—is an important one. God really helped me on this consideration. I felt Him leading me to take things slowly and trust the outcome. Over the course of a few weeks of research, I found that antique textiles and certain collectibles had still maintained their value. These I sold to specialized antiques dealers directly. I cosigned the furnishings that still had decorative worth to a new upscale shop in my area.

Then it was time for even more difficult decisions. Do I take a significant loss on some purchases or find a good home for them?

An example of this was a circa 1890’s grandfather clock I no longer had room for (old clocks have really taken a downturn). About that time, I ran onto a passage in a magazine: “In the end, only three things matter: How much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of the things not meant for you.” So when my mother’s dear hospice nurse mentioned that she had always wanted an old grandfather clock, I felt a nudge from heaven and I gifted it to her. It felt absolutely wonderful.

In the end, decluttering boiled down to what I actually needed to live efficiently and with great joy. Although I feared regret (“I have to keep this—my mother loved it”) and wastefulness (“Waste not, want not,” my Mamaw always said, and admittedly, I’d made some buying mistakes), the end result was a freeing one. Old batteries, outdated meds, dried-out cosmetics, and other objects that had outlived their usefulness no longer filled my cabinets and drawers. Yesterday’s décor props don’t take down my look these days. And my surplus books are enriching others’ lives now.

Above all, I have learned that the state of our homes affects the state of our lives. I planned to reward myself with a new outfit once the job was completed. But I don’t have to. Finally enjoying my home to its fullest, and living a more aware life, is the best reward of all.

5 Ways to Beat the Holiday Blues

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Pablo Diaz

The holidays are supposed to be the happiest time of the year. Yet for many, they are not. Personal challenges, hardship, grief, depression, anxiety and loneliness may make it difficult to be positive during times of cheer. This is true even for people of faith who know the spiritual reasons for the season.

A few reasons people experience holiday blues:

Loss of a spouse
Being away on business or in the military service
Family illness
Financial pressure when buying gifts
Feeling overwhelmed by too many holiday gatherings

What causes anxiety and sadness varies from person to person, but there are things we can all do to get through these nasty blues:

1) Connect with others in your church, community and work place. By taking a step towards seeking social support, you can avoid feeling isolated.

2) Worship with others to refocus on the true meaning of Christmas. Let the music and message draw you closer to the Savior. When our heart is filled with His presence, it makes a difference.

3) Help someone in need. Volunteer to wrap gifts, visit the sick or serve at a soup kitchen. When we do small things with great love, our hearts are filled with joy. Also, staying busy is a great remedy for a troubled heart.

4) Make gifts instead of buying them; you can use your skills and manage your financial resources while fulfilling the act of giving.

5) Talk with a counselor, pastor or friend about how you feel. Sharing our pain will not eliminate it, but can validate our emotions. And remember to include God in the conversation. He is always there to listen.

Our faith is our greatest resource. Give yourself the gift of working through your holiday blues.

Lord, turn our sadness into joy; help us to take the necessary steps to get through the challenges of the holiday season.

5 Ways to Be a Better Listener

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by The Editors

Diane Stark was right to worry about her widowed mother-in-law. Research shows that social isolation takes a toll on health, well-being and quality of life, especially as we get older. That’s why the Good Samaritan Society developed Kin Ministry, an innovative program that coordinates in-person, phone and video-chat connections between isolated seniors and volunteers from their faith community. Even though “technology can be an important part of the solution for loneliness,” says Denice Dengler, Kin Ministry’s manager, “people still want and need human connection.” Active listening is the key, according to Dengler and Barb Schwery, executive director of BeFriender Ministry, which trains the volunteers. Here are their tips for becoming a better, more active listener:

Do some self-reflection. We each have our own communication style, Schwery says. How have your life experiences shaped how you listen and communicate? What were things like in your family growing up? What is your role in life now? Also, consider how day-to-day occurrences affect your interactions. If someone cuts you off in traffic, say, how might that affect your conversations with colleagues later that day?

Meet the other person where they are. “If you visit someone who’s grieving, for example, they might not want to talk about it at first,” Schwery says. “Maybe they want to talk about gardening instead. Letting them lead the conversation builds trust.” They’ll talk about what’s really on their minds when they’re ready to.

Respond with understanding. In conversations, “people typically think, ‘What do I need to say next?’ rather than ‘How do I make sure I understood?’” Schwery notes. To better understand someone’s story from their perspective, restate what you think you heard. For example: “Sounds like you really miss your daughter.”

Think caring, not curing. You’re not there to teach or give advice. “Just be a listening presence,” Dengler says. Remind yourself, “I don’t have to have all the answers. It’s not up to me to fix this. I’m going in to learn.” Asking open-ended questions gives the other person the opportunity to choose how to respond.

Be nonjudgmental. It’s healing to talk about your experiences, thoughts and feelings without being judged or criticized. Provide a safe space for someone to do that. “Listen in the way you would like to be listened to,” Schwery says.

Visit good-sam.com/guideposts to learn more about Kin Ministry and other programs supported by the Good Samaritan Foundation.

For more inspiring stories, subscribe to Guideposts magazine.

5 Ways Senior Citizens Bless Us

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Michelle Cox

My phone rang recently. “This is Bill Fletcher. I was just calling to check on Paul.” Bill is a precious friend from our church, and we receive calls from him on a regular basis.

He’s in his 80s and the sweetness of Jesus shines through him as he prays for and encourages so many of us. His footsteps have gotten slower over the years, he can’t physically do as much as before, but, oh my, he’s such a blessing to us.

That started me thinking about how blessed we have been through the years by our senior citizen friends:

1) They teach and mentor us.
They share old recipes and cooking tips. They impart lessons learned about faith and life and family—sometimes so we won’t have to experience the pitfalls that they encountered.

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2) They share their stories.
About 15 years ago, our family adopted a precious elderly couple that we met at Cracker Barrel while on vacation at Hilton Head Island. Every year after that when we were on vacation there, we enjoyed meals together and visits in their home.

Their stories were fascinating as he shared about his years working on the Manhattan Project and as she talked about their travels and experiences. They enriched our lives.

3) They share their love.
I’ll never forget the first gift we received after learning that Paul and I would become parents. One of the sweet older couples at our church stopped by our house that next week with a package that contained a lovely shawl blanket and a pair of soft green booties.

What made it even more precious is that I knew that things were tight for them money-wise, and their gift had been a sacrifice. That moment happened 39 years ago, but I’ve never forgotten the love that was wrapped in that present for our baby boy.

4) They share their faith.
There are few gifts more special than sitting and talking with someone who has spent a lifetime walking with God. Stories of God’s faithfulness during hard times, His goodness on so many occasions, lessons learned through difficult times and treasures mined from God’s Word are priceless.

5) They share their prayer time.
It’s an amazing blessing to have someone who will take time to pray for you. Years with God pay off in a close and loving relationship, an intimacy as they talk with Him.

Has your live been blessed by a senior citizen? Today would be a good time to say thank you and to tell them what they mean to you.

5 Ways Anger Can Be Good For You

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Holly Lebowitz Rossi

Many of us are taught that anger is an emotion best kept inside. Anger is negative and dangerous, we are told. Be kind. Practice forgiveness. But anger has purpose and value, and when it’s processed and expressed in a healthy way, it can actually improve several areas of your life.

Read on for five ways what psychologists call “constructive anger” can be considered one of your most important tools for strong emotional health.

Understanding “Constructive Anger”
Before you can put “constructive anger” to work in your life, you need to understand how it differs from its toxic cousin, “destructive anger.” Destructive anger is aggressive, impulsive, and explosive, often marked by shouting, verbal and physical abuse, or self-destructive acts.

Constructive anger is none of those things; it is solution-oriented, proportionate to the perceived wrong, and marked by self-examination, curiosity, and respect for yourself and others.

“Constructive anger is anger that heals,” says Lisa Najavits, a Boston-based psychology professor and author of the trauma and substance abuse treatment manual Seeking Safety, in which she coined the term “constructive anger.” This healthy type of anger, she says, “is a source of important learning that leads to growth.”

Anger Can Motivate Us to Break Bad Habits
“Anger can be a very motivating force for bringing about positive change,” says Janet Pfeiffer, an anger management coach and the author of The Secret Side of Anger. If you have a bad habit, from mindless eating to too much time on Facebook, it can take getting angry at the habit’s negative effects on your life to inspire you to do something about it.

Pfeiffer, who is a survivor of bulimia, says she used the emotional energy anger brought her to replace her bad habits with healthy ones. “I directed my anger at the bulimia,” she says, “and with great determination, freed myself from what was holding me back from fully embracing life.”

Anger Can Strengthen Your Career
Whether you are observing unfair practices by your company, feel unvalued by colleagues, or are tired of a coworker swiping your snacks, anger often shows up at work. If possible, advises Pfeiffer, address concerns directly with the colleague you’re struggling with, unless involving HR is in your best interest.

To have a productive conversation, particularly with a superior, be honest with yourself about whether hurt, frustration, or anxiety is a bigger culprit than anger in the situation. “Address the underlying cause of the anger rather than the anger itself,” says Pfeiffer.

Is it truly a workplace issue, or does the situation make you angry because it reminds you of something from your past? Once you identify the reason for your anger, if it’s work-related, you can discuss it calmly, which increases your chances of being heard and respected at work.

Anger Can Change the World
Seeing a homeless person struggling on the street, witnessing prejudice or injustice, or simply scanning ever-worsening news headlines provokes many emotions, including anger. Channeling those feelings into concrete, constructive action is a long-held principle among those who advocate for social change.

“When I am angry, I can pray well and preach well,” said Martin Luther King, Jr. When you put your anger to work for a cause you believe in, you’ll feel energized and inspired, and you just might make the world a better place.

Anger Can Improve Relationships
In love and friendship, anger is inevitable, and how you confront it can have lasting consequences. Consider anger an “alert,” says Pfeiffer. Screaming, blaming, or acting out physically can destroy your relationship, but expressing anger constructively can save it.

Imagine an emergency room doctor, she says. “If the EMTs bring somebody in on a stretcher, the doctors don’t get emotionally wrapped up.” They stay calm, rational, and focused—and so should you when working through a relationship challenge. Give yourself time to calm down, set goals, and approach your partner with respect, as neutral a tone of voice as possible, and an open desire to move forward together.

Anger Can Foster Healing
Anger is a natural part of healing from traumatic life events. Najavits says, “You may feel angry at people who hurt you, at the world, at God, at yourself, at life, at family, at strangers.” Acknowledging and exploring that anger constructively, with the guidance of a trained professional, is crucial to the recovery process.

“In recovery,” says Najavits, “the goal is to use your anger as a way to learn about yourself and grow. The task is to face your anger without letting it destroy you or others.”

To those who worry their anger is too strong to contain or channel in a healthy direction, she reassures: “It is never too late, no matter how long you’ve had a problem with anger. Mainly, it requires really listening to others’ feedback about your anger, ‘owning’ your feelings rather than acting them out, expressing anger in healthy ways, and learning to tolerate the painful feelings behind the anger.”

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5 Warning Signs of Suicide

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Sophia Franklin

As a mental health clinician, I have been blessed to provide counseling and support services for those suffering from anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Although the nature of what I treat may vary, many of my clients often present with the same symptom: hopelessness.

Hopelessness is a cloud of despair consistently hovering over a person’s life that feels inescapable and can cause someone to consider suicide as the only way out. Suicide is never the answer and there are many ways that mental health clinicians can help sufferers to feel better. But while someone is feeling hopeless, a better future can be impossible to imagine. A client once told me that “trying to simply tell me how to get out of this darkness is like trying to explain color to a person suffering from blindness; it just doesn’t make sense to me.”

Saying things like “it’s going to get better,” or “cheer up,” therefore, might not only be ineffective but actually harmful to your loved ones while they are in this state of hopelessness. Instead, the best way to be in a position to help is to educate yourself on symptoms of depression and hopelessness.

Suicide is never anyone’s fault and most completed suicide attempts offer very little advanced notice. Still, here are 5 warning signs of suicide to look for in loved ones if you are concerned they may have thoughts of self-harm:

1. Has your loved one shown signs of depression? This may present as loss of appetite, loss of energy, poor concentration, recurrent thoughts of death, and also changes in sleep patterns.

2. Has your loved one shown a sudden disinterest in activities?

3. Has your loved one expressed feeling as though they have no way out? You might find your loved one is not open to discussing alternative options for their worries.

4. Has your loved one shown a change in his/her personality? This could resemble someone who is very moody one moment and then very happy the next. They could also begin engaging in reckless behavior suddenly.

5. Has your loved one shown signs of excessive guilt or shame? They may play an event over and over again in their mind, but blame themselves more each time.

After educating yourself, get connected with a professional counselor and most of all stay connected with your loved ones. Make an effort to either see them or speak with them daily and let them know how much they are loved. Continuously let them know that you are there to listen and help them however they need. If you feel immediate action needs to take place, please call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

5 Tips to Stay Motivated During a Lengthy Job Search

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Holly Lebowitz Rossi

A job search is a swirl of resume preparation, networking, research, and interviews. But when it stretches from weeks to months, it can be hard to stay fresh, sharp, and motivated. “Looking for a job is hard,” says Karen Burns, author of The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use. “The longer it takes, the harder it feels.”

It’s normal to have periods of discouragement during your search. Read on for five strategies to bolster yourself as you search for your dream job.

1. Be Your Own Project Manager
Paul Bernard, a New York City-based career coach and recruiter, has his clients treat a job search like the professional project it is. Picture it as a three-legged stool—the first leg is the overall strategy, the second are the “marketing materials” like your resume and cover letter, and the third leg is how you distribute your most precious resource, your time.

One way to reenergize a long job search, he says, is to revisit one of the legs, recasting your strategy or reexamining your networking calendar. “You have to design it,” he says, “Where do I want to be, and what do I want to do?”

2. Write a Mission Statement
Jocelyn, a mother in her 40s, is a philanthropy professional who has been looking for work for several months. She created a personal mission statement that has given her job search focus and inspiration. Using prompts from several career strategy books, she developed a statement that articulates her life’s next steps, including how her work can balance meaningfully with the other parts of her life.

The process left her with a clear, concise elevator pitch, not to mention confidence in the direction she’s taking her search. “I was feeling the need to reorient,” she says. “My personal statement is helping me stay true to what I want.”

3. Ditch the Guilt
Toxic self-talk is the stuff of discouragement and depression, says Melissa Maher, a San Francisco-based life and mindfulness coach. Feeling guilty for having lost a job, saying no to a sub-par offer, or taking an afternoon off is classic negative thinking. “We think we need self-critical self-talk, we use it thinking it’s going to motivate us,” she says.

Instead, she advises policing your internal monologue. “Focus on what’s going well, not just what’s not happening yet,” she says. Setting realistic expectations will put things in perspective. Consider this math: Bernard says it takes between 75 and 90 face-to-face conversations to get six to eight interviews– that includes everyone from colleagues you meet at a networking event to the Human Resources representative who welcomes you to an interview. Two of those six to eight interviews will become job offers. “Every ‘no’ should be a message that I’m one step closer to a ‘yes,’” he says.

4. Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is a muscle that gets stronger with regular use. Keeping yours in shape is good for your career as well as your soul. “Make a gratitude list with three things on it every day,” says Maher. “That puts the mind into a more spacious, possibility-oriented mindset.”

Jocelyn has found this practice beneficial, not only in boosting her confidence in interviews, but also in appreciating the pleasures that come with her in-between time. “It’s helped me define an appreciation of the small gifts of the day,” she says, “I try to enjoy the little things, because I know that later, I’ll be busy again.”

5. Take a Step Back
If your job search is too intense for too long, your physical and emotional health both might start to suffer. Watch for signs like upset stomachs, headaches, anxiety, or low energy, and take them as signals to step back and take care of yourself. “Self care doesn’t mean you’re slacking off,” says Burns. “It’s a way to bring your best self to achieving your goal.”

Maher advises making a “joy list” of things—small or large—that bring pleasure into your day. On any given day, at least one item from the joy list, like a walk with a friend, an extra few minutes of sleep, or a leisurely bubble bath, should show up on your “to do” list, right next to “follow up on interview” and “review resume.”

5 Tips to Prevent Loneliness and Find Community as You Age

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by The Editors

Hope Irvin Marston and Jerry Borland found the best way to overcome their loneliness after losing a spouse was to reach out to others. Judy Ryan, Ph.D., former president and CEO of the Good Samaritan Society, would applaud that. Her 46 years in healthcare administration and 15 years of retirement have shown her that relationships are the key to active aging and preventing loneliness in your senior years. Her advice:

Make a plan for your retirement. Consider all aspects of your wellbeing: physical, mental, emotional, financial and spiritual. Dr. Ryan recommends the book Always We Begin Again, by John McQuiston II, a modern rendition of the Rule of Saint Benedict. It inspired her to live a balanced life incorporating work, study, community and prayer. Her simple take on the Rule: “Be still. Be well. Do good work. Keep in touch.”

Find a spiritual focus. “Be still” refers to Psalm 46:10 (“Be still, and know that I am God”). “If you don’t have a sense of the divine—of something greater than you—it’s difficult to make sense of the changes in life as you age,” Dr. Ryan says. “I try to be awe-filled, grateful, joyful and faithful.”

Develop a daily pattern for balanced living. “Be well” for Dr. Ryan means not only following a healthy diet and exercising regularly but also continuing to learn and to grow in her faith. She has a daily practice of meditation and journaling, using the book A Guide to Prayer for All Who Walk With God, by Rueben P. Job, Norman Shawchuck and John S. Mogabgab.

Stay engaged with what you care about. That’s where “Do good work” comes in. Dr. Ryan remains an advocate for senior care through partnering with rural communities—something she was passionate about during her long career. She lives in a Good Samaritan Society senior community in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and has seen other residents pursue their own interests. Different folks run the community’s chair volleyball program, library and art room. One man wanted to do something to recognize the strength of the people of the Northern Plains, so he asked residents to share their stories and then put them together in a book.

Take charge of your relationships. “Keep in touch” with your family, friends and former colleagues. “Don’t wait for someone else to alleviate your loneliness,” Dr. Ryan says. “Reach out. Get involved.”

Visit good-sam.com/guideposts to hear more from Dr. Judy Ryan about living an active, balanced senior lifestyle.

For more inspiring stories, subscribe to Guideposts magazine.

5 Tips to Get Spiritually & Physically Fit

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Brooke Obie

Kristen Feola is a personal trainer, a speaker and author of The Ultimate Daniel Fast and Spiritually Strong. Guideposts.org caught up with Feola to find out her top 5 tips for getting spiritually and physically fit.

1. Read the Bible Every Day.
In Spiritually Strong, Feola includes her 6-week Bible study program to help readers get spiritually disciplined. “My goal is to help people establish those disciplines in a very simple way,” she tells Guideposts.org. “Six weeks is not an intimidating amount of time but it still establishes that pattern of reading the Bible every day. Make it a priority.”

2. Get moving.
This is key to getting into physical shape, Feola says. “If you’re starting from nothing, just try to walk 2-3 times a week for 30 minutes. Ease into it so you can gain confidence and get that sense of victory on the short term so you can reach a long-term goal.”

3. Drink water.
Everyone’s got an opinion on how much water you need to drink but Feola says to just jump in drinking it.”People are walking around dehydrated and that’s a huge source of problems. However much you’re drinking now, increase that by 1 glass. How much you should drink varies depending on your weight and height, but start off just drinking more water than you did yesterday.”

4. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
We’re often encouraged to eat fruits and vegetables in order to lose weight, but Feola’s got an interesting take on this: “Try a new vegetable or new fruit. Get out of the box.”

5. Remember who you are.
This step is one of the most important. Feola says, “In order to be prepared for everything God has for you to do, you need to be spiritually fit and physically fit. I never want the Lord to call me to do something but I can’t physically handle it because I haven’t been taking care of myself. I want every believer to be in a place that there wouldn’t be any hindrances to what God has called you to do. Everybody doesn’t have to be a body builder, but take care of the temple that God dwells in.”

“A lot of times as Christians we have guilt and shame when we don’t take care of ourselves. You don’t have to feel guilty about what you’ve done in the past. Just get into the joy and satisfaction in obedience to God. If you just do what God says, you will have joy. God wants us to live an abundant life.”

5 Tips to Get Back on Track After Falling Off the Weight-Loss Wagon

Posted on March 11, 2026April 23, 2026 by Anne A. Simpkinson

Since making my New Year’s Resolution to get to a healthy weight this year, I’ve had a relatively easy time of it. For months, I was focused, on target, and lost weight each and every week.

Until the first week in August, that is. Since then between cravings, work deadlines, travel and tempting summer treats, I fell off my self-designed program, got back on, fell off again—and finally got back on track.Here are some tips, advice, strategies and stories I found that helped me get re-focused and re-inspired.

1. Get back on the scale.
First step: Fess up to what damage you may have done then simply start all over again. In the weight-loss game, you’ve got to be honest with yourself about what you weigh, what you’re eating, and how much and if you’re exercising. The scale is the place to start.

2. Keep track of what you eat.
A food journal is an essential weight-loss tool. It’s one of the keys to the Weight Watchers system but you can find free online food journals like the one at myfooddiary.com or sparkpeople.com. By journaling, you stay aware of everything that goes into your mouth and are better equipped to make wise food decisions.

3. Aim for progress not perfection.
This is an article written for men, but we women can certainly make use of its very valuable advice. I love its premise: Falling off your diet is the best way to stay on it. I can’t count the times in the past when I imposed tight restrictions on my food intake and lost weight only to indulge away my resolve. To avoid that scenario, the article suggests the following:

• Plan to cheat (in moderation, of course).
• Don’t rely on snacks.
• Don’t have tempting foods lying around. Make sure you have to go out and buy your tempting snacks—very sound and valuable advice.

4. See an occasional slip-up as a part of the process.
It’s not so much that we fall off the wagon, what really matters is how we deal with the slip-ups when they happen. The most effective way is, just like the song says: “Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again.” Simple but wise advice. If you want academic research to back up that philosophy read about the abstinence-violation effect which is basically black-and-white thinking: Because I fell off the wagon, I can’t lose weight. The corollary is: I fell off the wagon, therefore, I might as well binge. The takeaway from this article in a nutshell is: Always remember, you have a choice, you are not powerless. And if you feel powerless, then call upon a power greater than yours for help: prayer.

5. Visualize positive outcomes.
If you’ve been avoiding exercise—whether it’s gardening, walking, doing yoga, swimming, whatever—remember how good you felt afterwards: refreshed, back in touch with your body, energized. When I’m exercising regularly, I hold myself differently. I stand taller and feel better. Remembering that feeling helped me get back to the health club.

When I find myself over-indulging in food and my stomach starts to pooch, I remember how good it felt to slip into jeans I hadn’t been able to wear in years! I specifically make myself remember the compliments I’ve gotten about my weight loss. And I remember how good I felt not being literally weight-ed down.

Focusing on the positive, actually conjuring up a felt-sense of energy and positivity, helped me get back on track. It can help you too!

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