Livin' What You're Given

Author, speaker and coach of creatives, Allen Arnold joins me today as we talk about the price our creativity pays when we are unable to dismantle the three pillars - comparison, competition and control of Queen Perfectionism. Allen has a fresh way of recognizing perfectionism in ourselves when we honestly look at our hold on being happy only when things go as we want them to go.

When we think we are valued for what we do and not who we are, as children of God first, we can miss the blessings of being in creative processes with God. 
He tells us that concentrating on being flawless in our relationships, our holidays or any aspect of our lives can author toxic emotional environments for ourselves and all around us. Instead of competing, comparing and attempting to control outcomes, Allen encourages us to release people and situations into the care of God. By being expectant for God to do great things instead of clinging to our expectations of how we think things should be, we can find blessings not only at holiday time but all year around and in all situations.

He challenges us to think about who we want to be, what kind of atmosphere we want to create and how we want to show love instead of demanding perfectionism in our world. 

To find more about Allen Arnold, his books and other work visit his website at www.withallen.com.

"The Queen's Court" composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him or find out more about his music at [email protected] 

The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com 

Speaker, award-winning author and  a licensed parent and family educator and parent coach.  Lori Wildenberg, joins me today as we unpack the myths around perfectionism. Through the authentic voice of a mom of four, plus three (in-love kids), she offers suggestions for alleviating stresses brought on by perfectionistic expectations during our holidays.

With suggestions and insight, she helps us see that embracing the reality, "We are All imperfect" can enrich and, in some cases, save our relationships while creating treasured memories and more solid relationships for a lifetime. Through her gentle, truthful way, Lori walks with us as we embrace the reality that relationships (families especially), and life in general are indeed messy. And she reminds us that Pobody's Nerfect.

To reach out to Lori, find her books and resources visit: https://loriwildenberg.com/


"The Queen's Court" composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him at [email protected] 

To connect with Laura go to https://lauralpadgett.com

Author, podcaster and blogger Sarah Geringer shares some practical tips around how to simplify the holiday season and put perfectionism at bay this year. She tells authentic stories around lessons she has learned on her parental journey about what can serve as avenues to author meaningful and memorable holidays.

By dismissing the three handmaidens of perfectionism - comparison, competition and control, we can relax into peace this season. Yes, we can do this. We discussed Sarah's book, "Christmas Peace for Busy Moms". In her book as well as this interview Sarah and I discuss ways to make relationships the priority for the holiday celebrations, have reasonable expectations of ourselves and others and modeling healthy values around spending and holiday participation for our children.

To learn more about Sarah's books, blog, speaking topics and podcasts, check out her website at https://www.sarahgeringer.com/. You can reach out to her there to find where she is located on other social media sites as well as how to connect with her.

"The Queen's Court" composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him at [email protected] 

The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com

With the Holiday Season upon us, we usually see an increase in stress. That stress can be magnified for the people giving care to a loved one. Sharing her experiences as a caregiver and a consultant for caregivers my guest, Nadine Roberts-Cornish, shares her wisdom to help release some of that stress. 

Nadine offers resources for and suggestions of some ways we can support the caregivers in our world and ways for the caregivers to feel good about asking and receiving that support. Speaking about the truths, myths and blessings of the journey from the lens of the person giving care and the one receiving care, Nadine gives us examples of connecting with the caregiver and the care recipient by offering simple, loving ways to show support.

Through her two published books, Tears in My Gumbo: The Caregiver’s Recipe for Resilience and Prayers in My Gumbo: The Caregiver’s Recipe for Peace, she offers valuable and authentic insights and encouragement into the caregiver’s journey.

To purchase her books or reach out to Nadine for services her company provides for caregivers contact her at https://tcgcares.com

"The Queen's Court" composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him at [email protected] 

The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com 

In the Bible Jesus said, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" Matt 5:48 NIV. But did He really mean He expects us to be perfect? James Early, Bible Study teacher, blogger and host of "The Bible Speaks to You" podcast, joins me today to help us unpack the language in this verse so we can examine what Jesus really meant.

In this series of "Livin' What You're Given," we are seeking to help dismiss the myths and pressures around the idea that we can and should attain perfection. James reminds us that as we see ourselves as perfect, we often feel others are less than, even in the body of Christ, if they do not do things as we do or see things as we see them.

As we walk into the halls of the castle that houses the Queen Perfection, supported by her handmaidens of Comparison, Competition and Control, we see that even in the relationships with the Disciples and Jesus, there was evidence of the unhealthy elements that support perfectionism. It is possible for us to identify and put aside the perfectionistic traits that harm us, our families, our churches and often remove the joy and peace of our holidays.

To learn more about James Early and his podcast, check him out at https://thebiblespeakstoyou.com/podcast. And he has a special gift for those who have listened to this episode on my podcast if you go to his website https://thebiblespeakstoyou.com/livin/

And do check out episode 103 to hear more about James' take on the perfectionistic attitude.

"The Queen's Court" composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him at [email protected] 

The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com 

 

Tis the season to be jolly, generous, family-oriented and oh yes...Perfect, right?  Wrong.

Please tune into this episode where I describe why I think this is such an important time of year to dismiss the Queen Perfectionism, supported by her three handmaidens or court assistants - comparison, competition and control. When we focus on being better than, doing more than and holding onto controlling all outcomes, we risk not only loss of joyful parts of the season, but damaging relationships and authoring deterioration of our serenity and mental health.

Drawing from lessons I learned as I spent years performing, competing in and teaching the art of dance, we discuss the damage to the soul when our goal is perfection. Let's try to find ways to put Her Majesty and her handmaidens out the door for our Thanksgiving and Christmas. I would love to hear how you are showing the Queen the door this year too.  You can reach me at the contact info on my website below. You can also find my blog entree and other podcast episodes there.

To connect with Laura go to https://lauralpadgett.com

"The Queen's Court" composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him at [email protected] 

Join my guest, Sue Donaldson, and me for a fun-filled romp through the castle of the evil queen Perfectionism as we dismiss her three handmaidens - Competition, Comparison and Control. As Sue shares her stories with wit, humor, and authenticity about what she sees hospitality is, you will feel like you have known her forever. One of those reasons is because she is open, warm and has a great message and tips about helping us connect with others regardless of how inadequate we feel.

She helps us to understand that entertainment is always about the host but hospitality is about the guest. And if we can get over our egos we can dismmiss the excuses that cause us to compete, compare and try to control so we feel perfect in our hospitality endeavors. She has some tips and helpful resources for us at the links listed below too.


Sue blogs at WelcomeHeart: Knowing and Showing the Heart of God and hosts a weekly podcast: Make it Count: Living a Legacy Life- https://welcomeheart.com/podcast 

Sue’s books include and can be found here: https://welcomeheart.com/from-welcome-heart
Come to My Table: God’s Hospitality and Yours
Hospitality, 101: Lessons from the Ultimate Host, a 12-Week Bible Study
Table Mentoring: A Simple Guide to Coming Alongside
Say Something Special: 252 Conversation Starters, The Ultimate Guide to Stimulating Table Talk 

Sue's 15 keynotes and 8 Retreat Series can be found here: https://welcomeheart.com/speaking-topic-detail 

Join Sue's FREE Hospitality Facebook group Welcome Heart, Welcome Home https://www.facebook.com/groups/welcomeheart

FB https://www.facebook.com/suemooredonaldson/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/suemooredonaldson/

 The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com 

The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com 

Worship services, fellowship gatherings, Bible Studies, men and women's groups, outreach to church members and the marginalized communities in need of food, clothing and visitation. These are just a few things that have typically defined churches in the U.S. Then COVID hit, and it hit hard. This was a harsh blow to churches who were told to close their doors immediately for an undetermined amount of time. 

My guest today is Pastor Lisa Petty of the United Methodist Church in Montrose, CO. The story of how the leadership and church members in this rural church pivoted in and out of their pews is inspiring. Through prayer, conscious decision-making and heart wrenching choices, this congregation chose to continue worshiping God, loving each other and their community well. 

"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere" Psalm 84:10 (NIV). This verse calls all who claim a Judaeo-Christian faith base to ask and answer the question, "Where exactly are God's courts?" Pastor Lisa and MUMC redefined worship with online and outside services as well as making worship packages and delivering tablets loaded up with worship services to shut ins. Their determination to love each other and their community meant being creative in finding ways to deliver meals that once were served daily in the church basement once they could not let anyone in the building.  So, they hired a food truck to deliver meals in the parking lot. The tender story of meeting with parishioners through their windows and on cell phones will melt your heart. 

These are just a few ways this church rose to the occasion of loving each other well while in lock down of COVID. They are a stellar example of "When the going gets tough, the tough get creative."  

To find MUMC on line or to find out about times and days of worship services and outreach opportunities go to: https://www.montroseumc.org/

The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com 
 
 The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com

The unspeakable pain of losing a child, at any age, is our topic today as my guest shares her journey and her pivot forward from that agony. Gwendolyn Burton lost her adult son to a seizure from his epilepsy. In the hours, days, weeks, months and years since his passing she has walked a path of deep dark days, tears that spoke to God for her pain as she could not, and seeing truths about how we are taught to grieve loss and how we often "try" to help those who are grieving.

In this episode, Gwen talks about her observation of not wanting to show her true pain because she did not want to cause others to hurt. This is an all-too-common place for those grieving loss to find themselves in. Once Gwen decided she needed to be real to heal, she knew she needed to dismiss the idea that others' pain was more important than her healing through authenticity.

She says she will never be totally healed from this wound until she is reunited with her precious son, Miles, in their eternal home. She also notes that her earthly healing has been increased by reaching out to others. Gwen founded Sister’s in Solace (SiS), a support group for mothers of child loss, and is currently writing her first book, "You Don't Know Just How I Feel." Additionally, she is keeping Miles' legacy alive by establishing the Christopher Miles Burton Memorial Scholarship.

To find out more about Gwen, her upcoming book, the CMB Scholarship or to reach out to her please visit:  https://www.gwendolynoburton.com

The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com 

The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com

Could you save your life if you had to? Could you pivot from a mindset of panic and into one of self-preservation? That is exactly what Realtor Dawna Hetzler had to do while showing a house to a man who was threatening her life and demanding she comply with his instructions. She tells of the slow motion, tunnel vision of reality when she knew she was in a dangerous and maybe even deadly situation. 

Because she carries a firearm and is trained in its use, Dawna was able to escape harm and maybe death. She not only relates that this could happen to anyone, she is intentional about telling people to train, train, train if you are going to be a firearm carrier. Additionally, she emphasizes that a gun may not be your choice for self-defense but to always be aware of your situation and be on alert for possible danger.

Dawna has used this experience to train other realtors in safety measures and often collaborates with a former police officer turned realtor in this endeavor. She is convinced that her life was not saved because she carries a gun, but because she knew how to and was willing to use it. 

Dawna  is the author of the book "Walls of a Warrior" and has another book coming out in 2022. She is a national speaker and founder of Jericho Girls Ministry based in Denver, CO. 

To follow Dawna Hetzler's blog, find her books,  or learn more about Jericho Girls Ministry, she can be found at:  https://dawnahetzler.com/

"The Pivot" was composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him at [email protected] 

The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com