Many of us spent years feeling alone, outsiders looking in, isolated by shame. Then we found people who knew us. In fact, they were just like us. Whatever we had thought, felt, or done, so had they. We are accepted completely. We are not alone anymore.

Pray for me. My personal trainer just texted "see you at 6" and I have never felt so close to God.

When we stop hiding our pain, admit how powerless we are, and turn it over to God, something changes. Letting go makes room for a shift in perception and for healing to come in. Holding on pushes away what we want. Releasing gives it room to breathe.

Nobody is pulling the strings. That's the frightening part. We gather on our own. Saturday, 10 pm ET.

We can cherish or regret our yesterdays, but we can never live them again. An occasional backward glance is natural, but we grow by living today and planning for tomorrow. The past gives us memories, today gives us reality, and tomorrow gives us dreams.

It can feel like we must either hurt a friend or give in to the intrusion. But we have the right to shape our own lives. We’re free to say, “I need more time alone.” That isn’t rejecting others; it’s honoring our need for solitude and finding a healthy balance.

Stuck behind a slow driver, we rage and try to will them out of the way. Then we notice we’re not really angry at the driver. We’re angry because we’re trying to control what we can’t change. Sometimes no one else is making us crazy. We’re doing it to ourselves.

As long as we keep saving our joys for the future, we’re postponing happiness until life is perfect, and it never will be. That’s why those who’ve walked this road before us suggest living life on its terms, as best we can, one day at a time.

Most of us have had a friend who wants to spend every waking moment with us. At first we enjoy the attention and the excitement. Then suddenly we feel smothered. With no time alone, we lose touch with ourselves.

When we stop treating ourselves carelessly, we give our bodies the care they deserve. Choosing what truly nourishes us over what only fills a moment is an act of self-respect.

Many of us had to push and force our way to where we are. But life doesn’t have to be that hard anymore. Everything has its own natural rhythm, and the joy we’re seeking doesn’t come from force. We can’t make life happen. We can relax, let go, and let it happen.

When something has taken up too much of our attention, it’s a relief to keep it simple. We don’t have to spend so much time and energy deciding. If today’s choice isn’t especially pleasing, we’re free to choose differently tomorrow.

Happiness always seems to be somewhere else. We tell ourselves we’ll be happy when we reach some goal or finally find the time, but the goal keeps moving and the time never comes. Happiness isn’t a matter of timing. It grows from the small things we do each day.

When we try to take an honest look at ourselves, Pride whispers, “You don’t need to look,” and Fear warns, “You’d better not.” But pride and fear are only wisps of smoke. When we push them aside and look anyway, we find relief and a confidence beyond words.

We may hold back forgiveness because it seems too kind for those who hurt us. Why should we let them off the hook? But forgiving dissolves the resentment we carry. We don’t have to rush it or force it. When we’re truly ready, we forgive to set ourselves free.

Grace is gentle and full of love. When we feel scared or closed off, it won’t last. We can take a walk, feel the earth beneath us, and ask God to help us open up. Gently and with care, life will lead us back to an open heart and a soul aligned with love.

We don’t always know what’s best for us. Sometimes our own issues cloud the present so much that we can’t see what to do. Those are the days to pray, trusting that our prayers are heard. Prayer is always with us, and it is how we change and grow.