Have you ever had thoughts like this?

I’m not good enough.

I’ll never have enough.

I’m not good at ____________.

Today is for you if:

How do we break the negative thinking patterns holding us back and stealing our joy?

1. Rewrite

Take that negative thought and flip it into a positive thought.

Be sure the new thought is a true thought. And a true thought can be true even if you don’t see it in your life…YET.

2. Replace

Use the law of replacement and swap out that negative thought for your new positive thought.

3. Rinse and Repeat

Do step 2 over and over until your new positive thought becomes your new pattern…your new overthinking…your superpower.

You got this!

If you’re enjoying this podcast, please take a moment and rate and review it!

Thanks a bunch for listening!! 

Until Next Time, Live Fearlessly Free

Are you an overthinker?

Do you wait for the other shoe to drop when something good happens?

Are there areas in your life that bring you more fears?

Today I’m sharing with you about overthinking and what we do with it.

Today is for you if:

I’m the courageous coach because I’ve had to work through so much fear.

The wrong thinking pattern I’m working on now is: There’s never enough.

What’s the wrong thought that’s keeping you stuck?

Where did it come from?

Take your thought through these questions to see if you should keep them or change them.

1. Is this thought true?

2. Is this thought helpful?

3. Is this thought kind?

When you believe God and think Phil. 4:8 thoughts…good, worthy and lovely thoughts…you change how you show up in the world. You enjoy the present moment instead of getting stuck in fear of the future.

Next episode, I’ll share how to break these thought patterns.

You got this!

If you’re enjoying this podcast, please take a moment and rate and review it!

Thanks a bunch for listening!!

Until Next Time, Live Fearlessly Free

Do you have habits that you wish you could stop?

Have you ever been in the middle of something and thought, “I should stop,” but you kept doing it?

Do you ever have habits that aren’t wholly bad, but they’re keeping you from being all God’s called you to be?

Last episode, #62, we talked about how to keep yourself on the good habitism train. Today we’ll learn how to jump off the bad habitism train.

Today for you if:

My son coined the term Habitisms.

Habitisms are the practice of habits. It’s receptive behaviors that we adopt, a state of being.

It’s not always just eating, drinking or drug habits.

I had a bad habit of calling myself an idiot when I messed up.

I also walked out of the room when the conflict happened.

Thoughts and behaviors can be habits too.

How do you get rid of bad habits?

1. Why do I do this habit?

When in the middle> ask yourself, “why am I doing this?”

What’s the root:

2. Replace with a good habitism

Use the law of exchange.

Then, use the trigger that caused the bad habit to trigger a good habit.

What good habitism can you replace the old one with?

3. Give Yourself Grace

Even if you jumped back on the bad habitism train…you can get back off again.

One day doesn’t mean you ruined it all.

Bad habitism keep us from living the whole life God’s called us to.

But, when we jump off the bad habitism train, we can jump onto the good habitism train and enjoy life to the fullest!

You got this!

If you’re enjoying this podcast, please take a moment and rate and review it!

Thanks a bunch for listening!!

Until Next Time, Live Fearlessly Free

How do you handle good habits? Those things you want to do for your own good?

Do you like them? Embrace them?

Avoid them like the plague? Rebel against them?

Today is for you if:

Growing up, I always called myself lazy and undisciplined because I never seemed to keep up with the good habits I wanted to.

My son Evan calls habits–Habitisms.

So if you struggle with keeping good habits, how do you keep yourself on the habitism train?

1. Know why

Why do you want to form or keep this habit? Discover why it matters to you.

2. Know yourself

My husband is a rebel.

I need accountability

Accountability?

Have people or habit tracking help you or both.

Flexibility?

My husband schedules a calendar with - I can do this or that.

Who says it has to look one way?

3. Give Yourself Grace

One day doesn’t mean you ruined it all.

Even if you fall off the train - get back on.

When you stay on the habit train, you can use it over time to help you fulfill what God’s called you to do.

You got this!

If you’re enjoying this podcast, please take a moment and rate and review it!

Thanks a bunch for listening!!

Until Next Time, Live Fearlessly Free

Resources:

The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People’s Lives Better, Too) by Gretchen Rubin

*Click here to check out the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LeLDnF

*Amazon affiliate link - I will receive a small commission if you purchase through this link

Are you a professional quitter?

When the going gets tough, do you throw in the towel?

Are you afraid you can't do what God's called you to do and want to curl up in a ball instead?

Today I'm going to give you three steps to stop quitting so you can do that hard thing.

1. Decide to get up

Get back on the horse. It's a decision to try again.

2. Get support

You can't do this hard thing alone. Let your friends or spouse know you need their love and support to keep going.

3. Keep moving forward

When it gets tough, keep moving forward. Do it afraid. 

If you need to take a moment to regroup, do it. Then, get back on that horse and keep moving forward.

If you want to kick fear to the curb, pick up my free resource, Three Habits to Live Fearlessly Free, at https://www.heatherlbunch.com/.

This worksheet will help you overcome the fear holding you back and walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

Thanks a bunch for listening!

Until Next Time, Live Fearlessly Free

Have you ever worried that God will come through on His promise?

What if He doesn’t this time?

After all, this one’s “the big one!”

Today we’re talking about the faithfulness of God and whether He will come through when we need Him the most.

Today is for you if:

“Experience with God gives us experience with His faithfulness.”

The more we experience God’s goodness, the more we reflect on what He’s done for us in the past. Reflecting gives us confidence He will be faithful with what we’re experiencing now.

Psalm 37:3-5 NKJV

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Trust here in the Hebrew is to trust, be confident or sure:—be bold (confident, secure, sure), put confidence.

We’re to put our confidence in our Heavenly Father and feed on His faithfulness. He will bring it to pass!

Hebrews 13:8 NKJV

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

If God was faithful in the past, He’ll be faithful today. If He’s faithful today, He’ll be faithful in our future. We can count on that.

So how can we avoid spiritual amnesia?

1. Thankfulness Journal

Start a journal where you can make notes of anytime God’s been faithful in your life. Write it down, whether it’s big or small.

When you hit a rough patch in your life, sit down and read over your journal and remember.

2. Read Stories Of God’s Faithfulness To Others

Find stories of others who have endured tough times and how God came through.

Some of my favorites:

Joseph: Starting in Genesis 37

Daniel: Daniel 1 - 6

Esther: Book of Esther

Paul: Starting in Acts 8

Try biographies and mémoires too.

You’re not alone. There are many more stories of God’s faithfulness to others throughout history and even today. Look for them, read about them, and be encouraged.

Remember, God doesn’t play favorites.

He’s the same yesterday, today and forever! Believe and rest in that!

Action Step:

Remind yourself of a story of God’s faithfulness in your life, and then share it with someone. You’ll both be encouraged!

If you want to discover more about the faithfulness of God, check out Mirror Moments - a 99-day devotional to inspire and heal a woman’s heart. I had the privilege to co-write it with friends Sharon Fletcher and Donna McDaniel.

https://www.heatherlbunch.com/store/mirror-moments-book

Thanks a bunch for listening!

Until Next Time, Live Fearlessly Free

Are you in the middle of a storm right now?

Does the trial of life have you down?

Today we’re concluding our three-part series on navigating life’s storms.

Today is for you if:

If you missed the first two parts, check out episodes 57 and 58.

Today, we’ll explore “Listening” skills to birth God’s faith in us to help us through the hard places in life.

2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ…

We have to walk through the trial. But, we don’t have to win the battle. Jesus already has done it for us!

When we focus on the vastness of our Savior instead of the vastness of our trials, we’ll notice more of our precious Jesus instead of the problems.

Here are four “Listening” tools to help us focus on the vastness of our Savior:

Contemplate

Dwell on His nature–love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control.

Galatians 5:22 - 23 AMP, 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is…

Think about what Jesus did for us by His death and resurrection.

There’s so much more that He’s given us than just a ticket to Heaven.

See John 10:10b

Spend time in Psalms.

It’s a great place to see God’s nature.

Read About Jesus’ Life

See Hebrews 1:3a

When we see Jesus healing the sick and loving the broken and rejected, we see our Father’s heart.

Communicate

Stay connected to your Heavenly Father by talking to Him continually throughout our day.

Saturate

Try memorizing one scripture a week or even one per month. Then think about it throughout the day.

Personalize scripture with personal pronouns, I and (your name).

Meditate (think on over and over) on His word.

Some good chapters to start with are Psalm 23 & 91 or John 15 (one of my personal favorites).

Appreciate

Go on a gratitude spree.

Record even the smallest thing you’re grateful to God for.

Digital gal? Try the Grateful app.

Look back and remind yourself of His love, blessings and faithfulness.

These skills will build up your “listening” skill, and God’s faith and persuasion will be birthed in you.

So, when those hard times come, and they do, you will be able to “get to the other side” with confidence knowing Jesus is at your side all the way.

Which four tools would you like to incorporate more in your life? Why does that particular tool stand out to you?

If you want to live a life free of fear, pick up my free resource, Three Habits to Live Fearlessly Free, at https://www.heatherlbunch.com/.

This worksheet will help you overcome the fear holding you back and walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

Thanks a bunch for listening!

Until Next Time, Live Fearlessly Free

Are you experiencing any challenges right now?

How do you handle it when nothing seems to be going right?

Do you feel like you’re walking through the “valley of the shadow of death” right now?

Andy Andrews says it best, “We’re all either in a crisis, coming out of a crisis, or heading for a crisis. That’s just part of being with us on this planet.”

So, if you’re one of these people on the planet, I’m talking to you today.

But, in the last episode, we learned through the story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35-41. Jesus doesn’t want us to die during the storm and teaches us that we can “get to the other side.”

How can we walk through the “valley of the shadow of death”?

How can we “get to the other side” when it looks like the storm will take us out?

FAITH

Faith in Greek is pístis = persuasion. It’s God-given persuasion.

We receive this faith–this God-given persuasion when we “listen.”

How to develop our “listening” skills:

Ask Questions

Asking great questions will help you extract great answers, understand the material you’re trying to grasp and get you thinking in ways you might otherwise overlook.

As you read God’s Word, here are some great questions to get you started:

1. What does that word mean?

Pick words in the scripture you’re reading that jump out to you and look up what they really mean in the original language they were written in.

I’m going to link a couple of blog posts I wrote on how to study the Bible that show you how.

The true meaning brings clarity.

2. What is Jesus saying to me that I need to “Listen” so God can give me His faith (persuasion)?

Sit and listen.

Re-read.

Sit and listen some more.

The Holy Spirit illuminates God’s Word to you, birthing faith into you.

3. How can I apply what I’ve learned to my daily life?

It’s transformation, not information, that changes us…so do something with what you’re learning.

What’s one Question you’d like to explore to develop your “listening” skills this week?

If you want to live a life free of fear, pick up my free resource, Three Habits to Live Fearlessly Free, at https://www.heatherlbunch.com/.

This worksheet will help you overcome the fear holding you back and walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

Thanks a bunch for listening!

Until Next Time, Live Fearlessly Free

Links:

How To Study The Bible In 5 Simple Steps

https://www.heatherlbunch.com/blog/2017/10/7/how-to-study-the-bible-in-five-simple-steps

How To Dig Deeper Into Your Bible Study - Three Tools To Change Your Life

https://www.heatherlbunch.com/blog/2017/10/16/how-to-dig-deeper-into-your-bible-study-three-tools-to-change-your-life

Are you struggling through a trial right now?

When you think of the challenge before you, does it make your heart sink?

How can we overcome even when it feels like all hell is breaking loose?

Today we’re talking about how you can navigate the storms of life. This will be a three-part series.

Now today is for you if:

If you’re in a trial, coming out of a trial or heading into a trial.

Challenges are just shadows.

Psalms 23:4 “even though I walk through the valley of the SHADOW of death, I will fear no evil.”

Jesus defeated death, hell and the grave (Colossians 2:15). They can’t ultimately hurt us.

We all encounter scary shadows walking toward us, threatening to take us down.

We have powerful tools to help us through.

To help us understand today’s tool, let’s go to an incident–a serious life-threatening situation–that Jesus and His disciples went through.

READ Mark 4:35-41 NASB - Jesus calms the storm

Why did Jesus rebuke them for being afraid?

This incident came right after a day of Jesus talking to the crowd in parables (Mark 4:1-34).

Mark 4:3,” Listen to this! Behold, the sower….”

Listen in Greek means to hear God’s voice, which is part of Him birthing faith within.

Jesus tells everyone to really listen to hear God’s voice because he’s going to birth faith in them.

Later Jesus says,” If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Hear is the exact same Greek word–listen.

Jesus explained each parable to His disciples because he wanted them to grasp something.

Jesus said, “let’s go over to the other side.”

Then, after Jesus calms the storm, He asks His disciples, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Faith means God giving His persuasion.

We can see from the disciples’ reaction to the storm they weren’t entirely persuaded that what Jesus said would happen, and they missed out on what Jesus wanted to do in and through them.

How do I get this Faith–God-given persuasion?

1. Listen

Listen to hear and let God birth faith in you.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Spend time in God’s word listening–actively reading in a way that we’re listening to what God wants to show us.

As we develop this “Listening” skill, God births His Faith or persuasion in us. It’s this faith that takes us through the valley of the shadow of death.

Action Step:

What’s one way you “Listen” when you’re in the middle of the “Valley of the Shadow of death”?

Next episode, we’re going to develop some strategic “Listening skills” to develop this Faith–God-given persuasion.

If you want to live a life free of fear, pick up my free resource, Three Habits to Live Fearlessly Free, at https://www.heatherlbunch.com/.

This worksheet will help you overcome the fear holding you back and help you stop the negative conditioning.

Thanks a bunch for listening!

Until Next Time, Live Fearlessly Free

What do when you feel discouragement, trouble, or hopelessness?

Who’s there for you when you are going through the muck?

Do you need encouragement, but it’s not coming?

In the Last episode, we talked about how we can encourage others. Today we’re talking about one more person that needs encouragement…You.

Today is for you if:

In the Psalms, David showed us how to encourage ourselves.

Read Psalm 103:1-5 NASB

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name…

Notice “O my soul.” David is talking to himself. “Hey soul, pay attention to this”!

David is reminding himself of how good God is.

We lose heart when we feel like drowning in painful circumstances or treading water in the daily grind.

We need to encourage ourselves daily that:

Here are some ways we can encourage ourselves:

1. Remind

When you’re in those moments of discouragement, remind yourself of something God has done for you in the past. Here are some Scriptures to remind you how good God is to us.

John 3:16

2 Corinthians 5:19

2 Corinthians 5:21

Ephesians 1:6

2. Journal

When you experience something wonderful, no matter how small, please write it down then you can go back to it again and again.

3. Music

Music fills our souls and lifts our spirits.

Most of the Psalms came straight from David, creating music to lift his soul.

Find your favorites and put them in playlists for easy access.

4. Read

Read the Psalms or the gospels in your Bible. Engaging with the life of Jesus encourages you.

Philippians is full of more scriptures on joy, and Paul was in prison when he wrote it.

You can also read a book to encourage yourself.

Try The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry. It’s all about our thought life; by choosing our thoughts, we can experience a state of joy beyond our circumstances.

And, hey, you don’t have to be down to encourage yourself. You can use encouragement to enjoy your life that much more.

Take Action:

What is one way you’re going to encourage yourself this week?

Or, what is another way you like to encourage yourself that you can share with us?

Let me give you one way if you need an idea to encourage yourself. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Journaling is a way to heal and gain clarity, peace and joy, all while connecting you more deeply with God. 

Want to learn more? Jackie Trottman has two new Journal classes coming up in mid-September 2022.

Jackie has a Wednesday lunch and learns and a Saturday morning class options.

https://www.jackietrottmann.com/journal-class/

Thanks a bunch for listening!

Until Next Time, Live Fearlessly Free.