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Relationship Coach PodcasterAward-Winning Author JOHN CERTALIC

HELPING PEOPLE OF FAITH FIND THE JOY WE WERE MADE FOR IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS.

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    You Were Made For This

    Our relationships are so important to living a fulfilling life, we do ourselves a favor when we do what we can to make those relationships the best they can be. To that end, listen to Episode 139 of You Were Made for This. You’ll learn the benefits of listening to this podcast in helping you find more of the joy God intends for you in your relationships.

    Latest Episodes

    “At the end of the day, nothing matters MORE than relationships.” — John Certalic

    • Be curious enough to listen

    210: Word of the Year for 2024 – Curious

    January 3rd, 2024|Categories: Podcast, Relational Skills|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    CURIOUS. It’s my pick for the 2024 Word of the Year. Curious. It’s an important relational skill we need to help us deepen our relationships with others.  Today’s

    • A better Christmas joy is the joy shared when people visit.

    207: How to Help the People We Love At Christmas

    December 6th, 2023|Categories: Family Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    In the 1947 classic Christmas film It’s a Wonderful Life!, George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, goes through a tough time during Christmas in dealing with two serious

    206: Thankful for the Stories of Others

    November 15th, 2023|Categories: Finding Joy in Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    The Thanksgiving holiday will soon be upon us here in the US, so I’ve been reflecting on what I’m thankful for. And this year I’m thinking about things

    • A meaningful conversation deepens a relationship

    205: How to Have a Meaningful Conversation

    November 1st, 2023|Categories: Finding Joy in Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    To deepen our current relationships, or to develop new ones, it’s helpful to ask ourselves an important question. Namely, “How do I have a meaningful conversation with someone?”

    • Be stingy in sharing your story when listening to others

    203: Three Reasons for Being Stingy in Sharing Your Story

    October 4th, 2023|Categories: Becoming a Better Listener, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    There’s a school of thought out there that says to make friends it’s important to be vulnerable by sharing your story. Some call it “being authentic.” Yet it’s

    • Listen to someone's story

    202: The Best Stories

    September 20th, 2023|Categories: Becoming a Better Listener, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    Most of us like a good story. I have found that the best stories are those that draw us in with emotion. They’re usually about relationships and often

    Episode Topics

    Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Social Isolation

    I recently read Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Social Isolation 2023. The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. A little long, but what

    210: Word of the Year for 2024 – Curious

    CURIOUS. It’s my pick for the 2024 Word of the Year. Curious. It’s an important relational skill we need to help us deepen our relationships with others.  Today’s

     Recent Articles

    Beauty Beyond the Landscape

    Reader, Episode 228 of our You Were Made for This podcast is now live. In it I talk about my recent vacation trip to Ireland. It’s less about scenery and landscape, and more about relationships. I think you’ll find it encouraging. For example, I reflect upon what encouraged me on our trip. Things like: Beauty found in relationships The man who wore bib overalls all the time The most common expression I heard from people in Dublin Several gray-haired men who make art all day long, hunched over...

    Talk About These Amongst Yourselves

    Reader, When I wrote my book THEM several years ago, one of the things I enjoyed most was finding an interesting and relevant quote to begin each chapter. Not many people have read the book, so I thought I’d share a few of these quotes for you to talk about among yourselves. Depression on my left. Loneliness on my right. They don’t need to show me their badges. I know these guys very well. ~ Elizabeth Gilbert, from Chapter 5 “The Visitor No One Wants.” If anger were mileage, I’d be a frequent...

    This Works When We Are Anxious

    Reader, I normally don’t worry about much. But recentlyI was anxious about a trip I was going to take in ways that surprised me. I have taken trips like this before. It was nothing new to me. Yet I was stressed about it and didn’t know why. Sometimes knowing the why we’re bothered is helpful. Other times it doesn’t matter why. This was one of those times. I just wanted to toss my anxiety into the dumpster and move on. In today’s episode of You Were Made for This I share what I learned about...

    Calming Words For Troubled Times

    Reader, I noticed recently that I’ve become more unsettled agitated. All the violence we’re seeing here in the US is getting to me. People stabbed on light rail trains. Speakers shot dead on college campuses. Children gunned down at school. So much evil. Is this getting to you, too? I realized I need to spend less attention to the news these days. So I’ve withdrawn from it a bit, and am looking to fill my mind with something more positive. In doing so, I’m drawn to Philippians 4:8 in the...

    An Example Not to Follow

    Hi Reader, Someone was upset at me recently for a decision I made. The man got very loud in expressing his displeasure, and at one point criticized my motives. “That’s not true,” I said. “You’re making an assumption about my intent and it’s simply not true.” I don’t think he heard a word I said because he kept talking on and on. It’s always dangerous when we think we are certain about someone’s motives. He predicted dire consequences from the decision I made. A few days after this incident,...

    Writer's Digest Best Inspirational Book of 2016

    THEM is all about relationships and how to make them better. You’ll read real-life stories showing the joy found in bringing out the best in others, which brings out the best in ourselves.

    Have you ever wanted to understand and help someone who is depressed or angry? How about someone who is fearful, or has trouble forgiving and reconciling with others? Maybe you want to know how to better encourage someone.

    In THEM – The Richer Life Found in Caring for Others, John Certalic weaves together real-life stories that practically show how to help others – and ourselves – deal with the challenging relational issues that affect us so deeply.

    Winner of Writer's Digest Best Inspirational Book of 2016. Endorsed by Dr. Laura Mae Gardner, Ruth Van Reken, Dr. John Powell, Stuart Briscoe, and numerous missionaries.

    Writer's Digest Best Inspirational Book of 2016

    THEM is all about relationships and how to make them better. You’ll read real-life stories showing the joy found in bringing out the best in others, which brings out the best in ourselves.

    Have you ever wanted to understand and help someone who is depressed or angry? How about someone who is fearful, or has trouble forgiving and reconciling with others? Maybe you want to know how to better encourage someone.

    In THEM – The Richer Life Found in Caring for Others, John Certalic weaves together real-life stories that practically show how to help others – and ourselves – deal with the challenging relational issues that affect us so deeply.

    Winner of Writer's Digest Best Inspirational Book of 2016. Endorsed by Dr. Laura Mae Gardner, Ruth Van Reken, Dr. John Powell, Stuart Briscoe, and numerous missionaries.

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