I equip people to serve God and others in a way that is both fruitful and sustainable. I do this through teaching, writing, and coaching. This newsletter is part of that work.
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1. A New Plan! ... were to find my writing
2. Book Signing party -- rescheduled for THIS WEEKEND (Feb 9)
3. FEATURE ARTICLE: Five Things I Learned from a 30-Day Media Fast
4. Other Stuff You Should Read This Week
5. Quote of the Week
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1. A new plan! ... where to find my writing
Each of these sites has a different focus, and in the past few years I've sent a lot of articles out in this newsletter that haven't found their home in one of these websites. Sometimes this is because I'm not sure where it should go ("Is this more about leadership, or recovery, or emotional health, or spirituality?").
I've decided to start posting my content simply on my own personal website -- markbrouwer.com -- and then linking to that website from everywhere else. So the articles you find here will be hosted on the markbrouwer.com website, and if you want to read them in their entirety you can follow the link and do so on the site.
This will keep me from sending out such a long newsletter every time, and hopefully keep things more organized. I'll be posting more articles on the markbrouwer.com website all the time. Keep checking back.
Let me know what you think!
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“If you feel like it's time to level up your game, and make a bigger difference -- this book will show you how. Mark is someone who knows what he's writing about. He's lived it, and he's helped equip leaders around the world to maximize their impact.”
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- Paula Rizzo
Media consultant, former Fox News producer, author of "Listfully Thinking"
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2. Book Signing party in Milaca, MN rescheduled -- new date is February 9
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The book reading / presentation that was set for January 25 got pushed back to THIS weekend, February 9. It's happening at a great local coffee shop in Milaca, MN. I'll be talking about the challenge of our time -- helping people overcome overwhelm, distractions, and discouragement in order to do the important work of their lives.
Date: Saturday, February 9
Time: 10am to 12pm (presentation at 11am)
Place: King Sparrow Coffee Shop
(1000 5th St SE, Milaca, MN 56353. Ph: 320-983-5556)
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3. FEATURE ARTICLE: Five Things I Learned from a 30-Day Media Fast
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“We now live in a world where we eat content, drink content and breathe content, without giving a single thought to its composition or what kind of impact it has upon our lives.”
Not long ago, I took a month-long media fast: time away from social media, online news, magazines, newspapers, TV and radio news. I’m thinking about doing it again. Here’s what happened, and what I learned:
What I did … and why
I was aware of — and bothered by — two things: (1) How much time I was spending on social media, surfing the internet, and watching TV (2) How agitated I was getting, especially from social media and television content that focused on politics and news.
I read a lot — books, magazines, and Internet articles — and it seems like my head is often swimming in stories, opinions, news flashes … most of which seem to focus on what is bad or wrong about our world, things I should be worried about, or trying to change.
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4. Other Stuff You Should Read This Week
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We're all busy, and there's too much stuff to read. So let me narrow things down for you :-) Of course you should read everything I've ever written, but after that, what? Here are two articles you might find interesting:
This is a short article -- on a website for music! -- that has two great charts, based on research done by neuroscientists in 1999. I found it while researching for one of my presentations in Thailand.
This is a good article from HuffPost about the interplay between Anxiety and Depression, which is structured as a list of myths about these problems, and then information to correct the myths. In case you're curious, here are the myths that the author debunks:
- Myth: Anxiety and depression are completely unique disorders.
- Myth: Both conditions are rare.
- Myth: There is something wrong with you.
- Myth: You shouldn’t ask questions if someone tells you they have anxiety and depression.
- Myth: The only way to deal with the conditions is to power through them.
- Myth: Everyone with anxiety and depression experiences the same symptoms.
- Myth: You always know if you have anxiety and depression.
- Myth: It’s something people can just “get over.”
- Myth: Anxiety and depression are just genetic.
- Myth: People saying they have both conditions are just being dramatic.
- Myth: These conditions will go away on their own.
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"I am reminded of the humility of those early theologians who knew that when we seek to speak of God we do so only out of the glimmers of understanding that sparkle amid the vast background of uncomprehended mystery."
- Robert J. Russell
I write and speak at events as director of Renew Resources. I also am leader and teacher at Bethel Church in Princeton, MN. If you're ever in the area, come join us on a Sunday morning! Places to find my writing:
The Recovery Journey
Check out my 90 Day program for starting (or renewing) your recovery from sexual addiction / compulsion called "The Recovery Journey". There's also a special program for the partners of addicts. Also check out my other Audio Product:
Read my latest book:
"Leaving Your
Mark Without Losing Your Mind"
This book focuses on the innate need we all have to make a difference with our lives ... and what gets in the way. Building a life of meaning and purpose is essential for our happiness, but many people get sidelined because of stress, overwhelm, and discouragement. This book will help you find strategies to overcome those challenges (and others).
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