Author: Tiffany Shores

Things I Cannot Control… My Panic Attacks

  Oh sure, I hear you fitness people in my head: ‘You can control your body if you eat better, exercise, and no … donuts aren’t a food group.’ Of course you all are right. I do try to eat right mostly, and I exercise at least 2 times a week, and if I really got serious about what I eat and bumped up my exercise I’m sure that I could lose the extra weight that I’m carrying. However, what I can’t control is the fact that I’m staring 40… Continue reading Things I Cannot Control… My Panic Attacks

Grief as a Bridge

In September of 2014, I set out for Seattle to complete an advanced counseling certificate program that would end in April of 2015. The sessions were led by Dan Allender, and if you are familiar with Dan Allender it may not surprise you that this was an extremely disrupting time for me. That journey is one of the most life changing experiences I have ever had. I am a different, changed person. It was hard and confusing and amazing. I went through phases of wanting to go, being excited about… Continue reading Grief as a Bridge

Why Am I an Addictions Counselor?

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. But go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but the sinners.”  Matthew 9: 12-13 Why do I work in addictions? I am often asked this question. The literal truth is that I needed a job and an addictions facility hired me. Then they trained me, sent me to over 180 hours of addiction education, and supported my eventual licensure. After 5 years, I had a… Continue reading Why Am I an Addictions Counselor?

What Are You Fighting For?

I like conflict. I really do. I didn’t used to, but I do now. I also like anger. I didn’t used to like that either, but I do now. Yes it’s true; my road to recovery and redemption has turned me into a fighting, angry woman. Just kidding. But it is true that ”inviting conflict” and ”accepting anger” have transformed me. Instead of a fighting, angry woman, I have slowly become a deeply trusting, emotionally present woman who loves well as often as I’m able – on my good days… Continue reading What Are You Fighting For?

Forgiveness

  This season of Lent has me considering forgiveness. It is the time where we remember specifically the most awesome moment of forgiveness we will ever know. Jesus suffered and died so that we would be forgiven. We have so much to learn from this sacrifice. How are we called to forgive, given Jesus’ example? If you have a resentment in your heart (I would venture that we all do; I know I have a few), it may feel like we have to suffer and sacrifice in order to forgive… Continue reading Forgiveness