Positioned to Prosper with Erica Pyle

#017// Do you feel like you actively consider the words that are coming out of your mouth on a regular basis? Or do you let just any old thing tumble out? Do your feelings rule when it comes to what you say? And how's that been working for you?

Spoken words are powerful. The book of Genesis tells us the entire world was created when God spoke. And we're made in the image of God, so we carry that creative capacity inside of us. When we speak, we create, too.

So how can you make sure that the words you speak carry power to create the things you want to see created? And how can you get into the habit of declaring powerfully without feeling like you're just saying things and hoping they're going to happen? That's what we're talking about in this episode. So grab your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

#016// You know what's more valuable than money? And what's even more valuable than time? Your health! Think about it . . .

There is no amount of money in the world that can buy you health. Sure, it may be able to buy you better food, a personal trainer or even expensive therapies if you become sick, but it's not a sure thing that these things will make you well. And when it comes to time -- to the length of your life or even the quality of life that you're living -- your health is actually a driver and a determining variable.

Here's the question: How are you stewarding the health you have? How are you caring for the body, soul and spirit God gave you? Do you need to step it up a little bit? Or a lot? Either way, I've got you covered in this episode about how to steward your health well right now. I've even got a simple, effective plan for you to try if that's what you're needing to get this "stewarding health show" on the road.

So, if  you're ready to wade into this topic of stewarding health on purpose as a function of your Christianity -- Uhhhh, YEAH. We're going there. -- Then grab your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

#015// How do  you do with  asking for help? I'm talking about anything from asking for a little bit of help like, "Can you pick something up for me at the store you're already going to?" all the way up to that BIG ask of helping you to be accountable in a major life transformation you're going after. There's this really broad spectrum of things in life that we can be asking for help on, but no matter what we need help on, it's the ask that generally trips us up the most.

I've learned a little bit about my listener over these past few months of podcasting and asking questions, and one thing I know is that you're a highly motivated bunch. You have a sense of destiny on your life, you know you have a call on your life to do something great, and you love to see transformation happen!

What I've also come to know about you is that you're likely to have a slightly "weird" relationship with asking for help because, like many of us, you've picked up the idea along the way that you have to do this stuff all by yourself. That somehow the quality of the success you're going to see is somehow based on whether you were able to do it on your own or not.

But can I tell you something? That is SUCH a lie! We are human beings who were designed by God to live in community and to help one another. I believe this ability to ask for help, and to do it in a healthy way, is actually a massive gift from God to us . . . if we steward it rightly.

Has this concept of asking for help in a healthy way got you thinking? Are you interested to know four tips that can get you asking for help with less drama and stress, and more results you can feel good about? If so, I want you to grab your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

#014// Do you love to think about vision and targets and goals, or things you want to accomplish in the upcoming year? I know I sure love it and, in fact, I have been a planner since I was five or six years old. True story! Since elementary age I was known for carrying a planner around everywhere I went, and being a planner is just part of who I am now. 

But I've learned some things these last forty or so years as I've spent some time at the end of each year looking back and reviewing, and looking forward and planning. Some things that have helped me to avoid the traps of perfectionism and being hyper-critical. And other things that have taught me how to really use planning as a tool to increase productivity and my sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.

Is this something you're interested in? Would you like to see your productivity go up in this coming year? Would you like to feel fulfilled and accomplished by what you did with God over just 12 short months? If so, I want you to grab your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

#013// Are you a Goals Girl? Or a Goals Guy? Do you just LOVE goals? Does part of your process at the beginning a year involve sitting down and devising a whole set of S.M.A.R.T. goals? 

I used to be a HUGE Goals Girl. My background is in accounting and taxation. I went to school for a BA in business administration with a minor in accounting, and then went on to earn a Masters of Science in taxation. During my thirteen year career in the marketplace, I worked jobs where specificity, precision and measurement were highly valued.

I'm a Type A, you guys! I'm an Enneagram 1w2 -- a "Reformer" type. So I really love rules and process and and analytics and all that sort of stuff. And I spent every minute of my time in my marketplace jobs celebrating goals, requiring them to be set and followed by my teams, and living and dying by them all along the way. 

Until, one day a few years ago, when I was sitting with the Lord in a prayer time, and I felt him ask me this question: "Erica, are goals my best for you?" Right then and there, I realized . . . Maybe Not. And I went on a journey into the Bible to see what God really has to say about goals and what truly is his best for me.

Is this topic piquing your interest? Have you been wondering if goals are really helping you to live an "on purpose" life that bears fruit and feels fulfilling? If so, I want you to come along on this journey of an episode today. Grab your journal and a pen . . . and Let's Go!

#012// How do you do when you know you need to choose truth over feelings? Are you driven by your feelings even though you know somewhere, deep down inside, it would be best for you to choose truth in the moment?

And let me ask you this: Do you have a standard for truth? Or have you hopped onto the recent cultural bandwagon of belief that claims we can define truth for ourselves? "My truth is . . . " Or, do you stand on the word of God as absolute truth and understand that "my truth" and "your truth" is simply a statement of opinion?

Sticking with the standard of absolute truth is one of the most important things you can do for your emotional health, and this is especially true during times of change, transition, acceleration or even outright chaos. That's because the temptation to live our lives by following our feelings is so loud, and doing so regularly creates train wrecks in our lives that distract at best...and derail and destroy at worst. Feelings make the worst drivers!

If you're ready to learn the Why and How of choosing truth over feelings consistently so you can create a life you really love to live -- one that isn't wrecking you at every bend and valley -- then you're going to want to grab your journal and a pen and . . . Let's Go!

#011// How do you shift a spiritual atmosphere? Have you ever walked into a room and just known that a few minutes before people had been fighting in there? That's picking up an atmosphere. Or how about this . . . you walk into a different room and now you feel the overwhelming peace and presence of God? That's picking up an atmosphere, too.

See, we humans are spiritual beings, and we have the ability to pick up spiritual atmospheres. And as I've been asking folks what they'd like me to talk about next here on the podcast, the overwhelming answer I've received has been: Can you teach me how to shift a spiritual atmosphere? So that is what we're going to do on this episode of Positioned to Prosper.

I love this question about shifting atmospheres because it tells me something: If you're asking the question then you know somewhere deep down inside that, as a child of God, you have the ability to shift an atmosphere. You just want to know how. So if you're ready to learn about how to shift spiritual atmospheres in all different kinds of situations, I want you to grab your pen and a journal, and . . . Let's Go!

#010// Do you remember that book, Boundaries, by Dr. Cloud and Dr. Townsend? Have you ever read it? I did, back in the 90's while I was in counseling and also participating in a recovery group at my local church. I grew up in a family that really didn't have great boundaries -- we were fairly enmeshed -- and I'm betting that many who will listen to this episode could say, "Me, too." Codependency and lack of healthy boundaries is a fairly common story when it comes to the majority of families in the "westernized" world. So, where did all the talk about codependency and boundaries go lately? I don't think it actually went anywhere; I think it just morphed. I think we learned how to control it some, we learned how to "Christianize" it as it came into churches unhealed, and I think we allowed it to shape shift into justifiable blame in some situations. In this episode we'll be picking that conversation back up. What's "new" with codependency and boundaries, and what the heck are long runways? And how can I show up to my relationships better, as I learn how to set healthy boundaries and navigate long runways? If you're okay with getting a little uncomfortable so you can get a little bit healed and a lot more powerful in your relationships, I want you to stick around for this episode. Grab your journal and a pen, and . . . Let's Go!

#009// What is God saying to his Church in this moment? As we come through COVID, quarantines, and mask mandates, as we navigate social justice issues and a historic American  election, what is the role of His Church in this volatile season? We're shaking things up a bit on the Positioned to Prosper podcast this week, stepping away from the step-by-step strategies and practical life-skills topics as I share a series of words I've received in prayer over the past year on what God is calling His Church to be and do in this hour. We are entering a season of Reformation in the Church and it requires an awakened and risen up church who is ready to cross the river and walk by His Spirit in absolute Biblical truth and love. Are you ready for this? And what's your role in all of it? Let's consider these things together as I share what I see for The Church in this upcoming year.

#008// Have you been feeling stuck? In your work or maybe in a relationship? How about your life in general? Are you feeling stuck overall? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I want you to know that you’re in the right place. On this episode of Positioned to Prosper I’ve got four questions – or SETS of questions, actually – that will help you to get unstuck in a hurry. Yep, I really think these questions will help! If you’ll walk through these four questions with God and lean in to get the answers, you WILL start moving again in the direction of your destiny.  So, if you’re ready to get UNSTUCK, I want you to grab your journal and a pen – you’ve grabbed a special, separate journal or notebook just for this podcast, right? – I want you to grab it right now along with a pen and . . . Let’s GO!