E4 — Overwhelmed by therapies, appointments, and never-ending “to-dos”? Author Jillian Benfield shares practical tools for families experiencing disability—offering parents guidance on setting limits, saying yes to what matters, and finding beauty in everyday life. Jillian and Amy Julia Becker explore:

• Parenting and caregiving without burning out
• Developing a yes/no filter
• Turning routines into lasting habits
• Creating a clear vision for your family
• Honest gratitude as a tool for resilience

UPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Response episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/

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FREE DOWNLOAD: 30 Next Steps for Parents available at: amyjuliabecker.com/parent-gift/

00:00 Introduction
04:49 Overwhelmed AND Grateful
05:43 The Beauty of the Unexpected
07:26 Discerning a Vision for Your Family
11:10 Creating a Yes/No Filter
16:04 Acknowledgment of Limitations and Possibilities
17:15 The Difference Between Routines and Habits
20:34 Honest Gratitude
23:00 You Don't Have to Do It All

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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Podcast episode: James Clear: Building & Changing Habits (#183 rebroadcast)
• Jillian's newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df185a2154bd20026a1b01b
• Jillian’s books: Overwhelmed & Grateful: The Key to Finding God's Goodness in All Life's Ups & Downs and The Gift of the Unexpected: Discovering Who You Were Meant to Be When Life Goes Off Plan

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WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube

SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com

JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker

LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/

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ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Jillian Benfield is a former journalist and news anchor. She holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Georgia. Her freelance essays about living an unexpected life have appeared on sites such as TODAY, Good Morning America, Yahoo! News, and ABC News. Jillian regularly advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in her writings and community, and as a part of the National Down Syndrome Congress's National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition. Jillian and her husband, Andy, and their three children make their home on Florida's Space Coast. Learn more at JillianBenfield.com.

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Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals.

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