While a student at a university, many years ago, I remember learning the psychological concept of ‘defense mechanisms.’ They represent the various, mostly sub-conscience, behaviors we use daily to defend and to protect our self esteem (ego). Healthy people normally use various defenses throughout life. Defense mechanisms are most often learned behaviors, mostly learned during…
Author: Emil Hanson
On Facades (Roles)
The first time I ever heard the word facade was when I was seventeen years old and working as a Hod carrier for a brick contracting company. We were contracted to put a brick facade on an old, three story bank building in my home town; new face on an old building. A facade is defined as…
On Happiness and Gratitude
A Christian, at least one who practices their religion, will be a hard working, thoughtful and kind individual, one who has a happy countenance because they know that the lives they lead are pleasing to the Lord. Gratitude is a primary characteristic of being a Christian. The main part of a Christian’s prayer is gratitude….
On Taking the Back Seat
Whether they be male or female, some people appear to be born leaders and ‘take control’ people. If there is a task to be done, they don’t hesitate; they just move ahead and do it while others are still trying to figure out what the assignment was. Take control people often are a source of…
On Wisdom
The Hebrew term for wisdom is ‘hokhima,’ but the word is used in Hebrew literature to mean many things, according to Lewis Browne: everything from ‘divine insight’ to ‘low cunning.’ Lewis Browne is the author of one of my very favorite readings, “The Wisdom of Israel.” In modern day, the Wikipedia defines wisdom as a…
On Criticism
Criticism is a two-edged sword that cuts two ways. When administered with sharpness, it can cut to the quick. When administered with kindness and love unfeigned, it can be a teaching moment like very few others. Criticizing someone isn’t always just to find fault with them or what they have done, even though that word…
On Daydreams
There are times when I become sleepy during the day and start to doze off. When I do, I sometimes daydream in a half sleep, half awake mode lasting a matter of seconds or, at most, minutes. Some of them take me into a problem solving mode, while others take me to a seemingly unreal…
On Mistakes
Has there ever been a person who lived on earth who has never made a mistake or an error in judgment that caused them a little, or even a lot of pain or discomfort? I believe the answer to that question is, No! Many of the early Hollywood productions were silent movies. The moviegoer could…
On ‘Everything is Beautiful’
Every once in a while I’ll hear a song on the radio that catches my ear (not my eye), and I’ll listen intently. Most other music goes through one ear and out the other—just as many other things do especially as I get older. Every once in a while, when I view one of God’s…
On the Kingdom of Heaven
Many of us may have wondered what heaven is like. There have been those who have been declared clinically dead and then revived; some have thought that they went to heaven. They all described similar experiences during that interim period. The common remembrance is seeing a very bright light and possibly going through a tunnel…