Conversations with Cinthia

Twilight: Leading Us In and Out of Change

Twilight is a time of ending and beginning, of changes in the light, of obscurity, of ambiguity, of change.  This can be a difficult time for some, but we need these special times of transition.  Our lives have times of twilight, as well, and we can miss their importance and significance if we don't stop to receive them.  It can usher in dark nights of the soul or the dawn for which we've longed.  Cinthia explores the significance of twilight in the Bible and in our lives, and this episode introduces a series on change.  Listen.  Appreciate and receive the gifts of twilight.

 

Guest Author Karen Kingsbury: Grief and Story

Karen Kingsbury is a #1 New York Times bestselling author who joins Cinthia to discuss her new book!  She and Cinthia discuss the grief and loss process that plays a pivotal role in the book To the Moon and Back, which involves characters who lost parents in the Oklahoma City bombing.  Sometimes story helps us deal with the tragedies of life when we have no other means to do so.  Karen and Cinthia discuss how grief can impact our view of God and how addressing this view can be a key to healing.

What Women Wish Men Knew, Part 4

Men and women have this in common: when we get what we need, we tend to be better versions of ourselves and have more to give in relationships.  Gentlemen, we're still talking about what women want and need, and security is at the heart of it.  This has implications for honesty, communication, financial risk,  the state of her home, and so much more.  You may work hard all the time, but effort in the small things may impact her in surprising ways.  What role does confidence play?  What about chivalry -- is holding the door respectful or offensive?  What does it mean to be a man at home so that your wife doesn't feel like your mother?  How do you show interest in the conversations that are important to her?  How do you show her that you are worthy of her trust?  What lets a woman know that she is a priority to you?  Cinthia tells you more about how to love a woman well.

What Women Wish Men Knew, Part 3

Women need to feel secure in order to be the best version of themselves and to be able to give themselves freely.  They don't just want security; they need it.  This does not mean women can't be strong, but women are, in many ways, wired to adapt when the need arises.  When too much adaptation is required, women can lose themselves, communicate in ways men find unhelpful, and become more distant and less relaxed.  Gentlemen, how can you bring out the best in a woman?  Treating her the way you would want another man to treat you may seem like a good idea, but it tends not to work out well.  How do your words and actions affect her?  What does it mean when she drops her point and gives in to you?  Hang in there, guys; Cinthia is here with specifics.

What Women Wish Men Knew, Part 2

What makes a woman feel loved, and where does sex fit into the picture?  Cinthia explains that women tend to experience their bodies, minds, and environments very differently from the way that men do, and that, for neurological reasons, they tend not to compartmentalize in the same way that men can.  Cinthia discusses a woman's need for security and for understanding of the way she experiences stress.  Gentlemen, does it seem like you can't win with her sometimes?  Is buying her things helpful, and does it matter how much they cost?  What are you supposed to say when she worries about her appearance?  Is protectiveness a good thing or not? There really are ways to help her feel loved.  Let Cinthia give you some guidelines.

What Women Wish Men Knew, Part 1

Men, if you've ever had trouble figuring out a woman (and, let's face it, poets, philosophers, musicians, movie makers, and lots of other groups have often tried and failed at this one), this episode is for you.  Last week was all about men: what they want, what they need, how they think and are wired. This week, we're talking about women. Don't miss this introduction to the series in which Cinthia talks about one of the greatest needs for women: ongoing affirmation, validation, and reassurance.  She really does need to hear it again, and her tears don't necessarily mean you did anything wrong.  Cinthia tells you how to give her what she's really seeking without driving yourself crazy in the process.

Guest Speaker: Mark Hancock, CEO, Trail Life USA

Masculinity is increasingly misunderstood, degraded, mocked, and feared.  In this environment, Mark Hancock, CEO of Trail Life USA, asserts that typical boys are increasingly being pathologized and treated but need instead to be challenged and engaged.  His organization puts boys in charge of planning and implementing adventures and brings them into appropriate relationships with other boys and men, helping them become the heroes they want to be instead of assuming them to be the villains.  

What Men Want You to Tell Them Bluntly and How to Lose A Guy Forever

This episode is especially important for women to hear.  (Gentlemen, next week will offer you something similar!)  Women often try to interact with men in ways that make perfect sense... to women.  Just because you've been in relationship with a man for a long time doesn't necessarily mean you know how to communicate in ways that are helpful, and it's possible to tear apart things that are precious to us and not even know how we're doing it.  This episode is crucial for any woman who wants her relationship with a man to improve.  

The Reasons Why Men Fall in Love

Once in love, men typically don't constantly re-evaluate the decision the way women often do.  Still, the reasons they fell in love are often different from the reasons women did, and the dynamics that were important to them then are still important for their enjoyment of the relationship years later.  If you are a woman, this is not about stuffing yourself into some stereotype of a male fantasy; it's about appreciating the aspects of yourself that he already loves and enjoying those aspects more fully.  If you are a man, this episode can help you appreciate the way you were made to function in relationships and be more patient with a woman who may be struggling to understand.  

What Women Need to Understand About Men

Yesterday, Cinthia began a week of focusing on men: what they are like, how they differ from women, what they need, etc.  Today's media often paints men very unkindly, and we need to see men with more clarity instead of buying into negative stereotypes.  Today, elaborating on the writing of Candace Atherton at Crosswalk, Cinthia discusses ten things that women need to understand about men.  She also explains some ways women can more effectively interact with men so that men and women both get what they need.