Today we'll unpack "self-conscious" emotions: feelings we can only experience once we have a concept of self. Specifically, these are shame, envy, and pride. Each of these pose different discomforts of their own, which we will discuss, but they are all rooted in the issue of misplacing our focus on ourselves. Sometimes these feelings can sneak up on us without us noticing, so we’ll talk about some ways I have seen them show up in my life. It can be so easy to get caught up in worrying about the state of our own lives, but God has been revealing to me how much peace and freedom there is to experience when we shift our focus to Him!

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Let's talk about anxiety. We'll start by unpacking how anxious thoughts may actually be a fear of uncertainty or of not having control. Luckily for us, the Bible has a lot to say about these topics! We'll spend some time reflecting on a couple of my own personal experiences with anxiety as well as a recent conviction the Lord has given me: am I making an idol out of clarity and "knowing" in my life? It is so important for us to remind ourselves not only that God is in control, but of His goodness and love towards us so that we can actually feel at peace that He is in control. Last but not least, I'll share a couple methods I've picked up as a counselor in training on how to confront anxious thoughts (hint: it has to do with "taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5).

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What if you were "bad" at everything you did for the rest of your life? You were not successful as a student, an athlete, a performer, a son/daughter, a spouse, a parent, in your career? If you're anything like me, that's a terrifying thought. But what if our purpose in life has nothing to do with being "good" at stuff? What if our inherent value is actually received from God? In today's episode we'll journey through a long-winded recap of my experience as a dancer, and how in a moment of enjoyment rather than striving, God gave me a revelation about more than just dance. Maybe for you, it’s not dance, but you can fill in the blank of where you place your identity. He's teaching me about letting go of my understanding of leading a "meaningful life" and I pray He would do the same for each of us!

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Despite not really believing in New Year's Resolutions, there is undoubtedly value in making changes in our lives! So what happens after empty goals are forgotten? Starting with one of the “big ones”, we'll talk about the discipline of reading the Bible daily and my own journey of building that habit. We'll also jump around between a few ideas in psychology and how they relate to the idea of why we must replace habits when trying to break others. There are SO many examples of this in Scripture! To close out, we’ll see self-control as a key element to making change.

Red Rocks sermon mentioned: https://open.spotify.com/episode/61foIh0dO5z6sj751TbE4T?si=sM3sBte7RYKniPvWDule-g

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Take a deep dive into the way my brain works and how I've recently been processing living out God's grace more fully. This idea started back when I became aware of my grace towards others, which reflected how I saw grace in my own life. We'll unpack an understanding I was holding of how God views me, a sermon I heard about knowing our identity in Christ, challenging our core beliefs, and meditating on God's word.

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In this episode, get caught up on everything that has happened during the past 5 months! We’ll talk through a journaling prompt, despite not usually enjoying journaling, that encouraged me to see what God has been doing big-picture in my life recently. From jobs, to living in a new a place, to finding community; life transitions can uproot so many things. We’ll also discuss discerning God’s will and the temptation to put more hope in certainty than in our true Savior.

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In the FIRST EVER episode of Heart to Heart, we'll talk about where all of this started! Since God is our Creator, and so much of psychology is studying His Creation (people!!!) it's no wonder that the two are continuously intersecting. We'll take a dive into some of the sermons, books, and lectures that first got me interested in this topic. We'll also talk about why instead of waiting for the "right time" to share what I'm learning through a book, I've felt called to step into faith now and share these things with you through a podcast! I am SO glad you're here :)

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