In this week's episode of the LDS Mission Podcast, Episode 222: Trading Out the Tough Stuff, I'm sharing a concept that has been on my mind as I've worked with missionaries, returned missionaries, and missionary moms. Life on the mission—and after—can feel really tough. Whether it's stress, overwhelm, loneliness, or self-doubt, it's easy for our brains to shut down and say, "this is just too hard." But what I've learned, and what I want to share with you, is that most of the time we're not escaping the tough stuff—we're simply trading one set of hard emotions for another.

In this episode, I'll walk you through how to notice this pattern, how to stop resisting the difficulty, and how to choose which "hard" is worth it. You'll hear real-life examples from missionaries, service missions, jobs, relationships, and even my own family. Together, we'll explore why confidence is less about capability and more about being willing to feel discomfort, and how emotional resilience comes from making peace with the fact that life is always 50/50—half good and half hard.

My hope is that Trading Out the Tough Stuff will help you recognize the power you have in deciding where to put your energy. You get to choose the tough emotions that move you closer to the person you want to become. Instead of trying to avoid the hard, you can lean into it with intention, faith, and confidence—and find freedom in the process.

As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends.

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