Familiarity breeds contempt.
You’ve heard that line before. It’s almost a cliche.
But before any phrase gets worn out, it takes off because of the truth it communicates.
And familiarity often keeps us from experiencing the power of something.
I’ve spent a lot of time over this last year with the words I’ve shared on this website. I’ve shared between 75,000 and 100,000 words with you over the last 12 months.
And so, in an attempt to make sure my familiarity doesn’t keep you from finding a word (or two) which you need today, I went into my stats app and found the top 10 most read articles on my site in 2017.
5 of the articles were new ones in 2017, the other 5 were written in 2015 and 2016. The articles covered a variety of subjects like mental health to loneliness, fun movies to navigating tough conversations, making a difference in the world and social media addiction.
I’m grateful readers like you are following along with new content and discovering my archives as well.
Check out the top 10 posts below and please share them with your friends if the content matches a need or curiosity they have!
Top 10 Most Popular Posts in 2017:
1) When the Healer is Wounded: An Interview with Tim Guptill
In this post, a local pastor from Eastern Canada shared his struggle with depression and how his battle with mental health led to difficult transitions in his life. Tim’s story blew up my sites for a few days in 2017 after its publishing with a lot of visitors. I know Tim’s transparency helped a lot of people then and it could help you today.
2) Social Media, Affirmation, and Validation
My most popular legacy post from 2015 continues to pick up steam each year, this article has been republished by Relevant Magazine and obviously struck a chord with those trying to navigate our current moment with their sense of self intact. If you’re on social media and have a pulse, this post remains a must-read.
3) 10 Ways to Make Your Next Tough Conversation A Win For Everyone
We’ve all likely had at least one tough conversation this year. This post picked up increased traffic when another article about tough conversations for Thin Difference picked up steam in 2017. If you’re prepping for a tough conversation in 2018, this article will help you get ready.
4) Is Regret A Good Thing or a Bad Thing?
As we look back on 2017, there are probably some things which we regret. But regret isn’t always a bad thing and it can lead us to positive change. I shared some of the scientific research about regret in this 2015 article and decipher the gap between the good and bad of regret.
5) How Can I Overcome Fear with Courage?
In one of my first posts at ScottSavageLive, I shared how to faced down the voice of fear in your life and defeat it with courage. The 2015 post includes a hilarious video interview with Nicole Kidman and Jimmy Fallon along with a special movie clip starring Matt Damon. If you’re battling fear today, this is your jam!
6) Expectations: Avoiding Disappointment in Relationships
Most relationship conflict comes from an expectation gap. And at a time of year when we’re faced with the state of our relationships – what we like and don’t like – this piece is a great resource to help you set, clarify, and adjust your expectations. Read this post from 2016 if you want to save yourself or others from disappointment.
7) Two Mondays in October: More Than Just a New Perspective
In October 2017, two events in Las Vegas rocked my world. The first was the mass shooting at the Mandalay Bay – a spot I knew well as a Las Vegas native. I know people who escaped without physical harm. In this article, I also shared a very personal story involving my mom’s heart attack. While the final outcome was about as good as we could’ve prayed for, it’s never fun to consider the mortality of your parents or make a drive over several hours while uncertain of a loved one’s condition.
8) 5 Life Lessons from The Sandlot
The Sandlot is my favorite movie. It reminds me of my childhood, playing baseball in my neighborhood with friends. I wrote this post in the summer of 2016, when I was living in Phoenix through an excessive number of days over 110 degrees. If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll have fun with this post.
9) Lean Into Your Burden: The Counter-Intuitive Way to Finding Your Calling
I wrote a series of posts in May 2017 about calling. In this popular post, I shared about my experience with extreme racism in China and how burdens birth calling. I also share the story of Brad, a pastor in Phoenix who became an abolitionist.
10) The Biggest Threat Facing Men Today
Some research surfaced in 2017 which indicates white middle-aged men are the leading demographic committing suicide in America. I explored how many men are lonely and isolated today. This post got a lot of traction on Facebook and I’d love it if you forwarded the link to a man you care about.
Bonus: 2017 Book Reviews
And if you haven’t seen it, I wanted to make sure you’ve checked out my 2017 Book Reviews. I’ve just finished by 38th book this year and have two set aside for the final two weeks of this year! Excited to hit 40 books this year and share the good ones with you!
