Thanks for listening to the first episode of 2025 and we have some sad news, it is our last episode too (at least for now). After some reflection and rest, we feel it is time to take a break from podcasting to focus on other aspects of Rise and Form and our personal lives. It's one of the best formation moves we feel we can make but are still sad to be hanging up the mics for now. Please keep in touch though! We will be here, rising and forming every day!

Merry Christmas! In this Steep, Aundrea talks about how, true, Spirit-led love transcends mere feelings. She identifies a lack of empathy as a hindrance to love and gives 5 ways to enhance your empathy.

Advent week 3! Magnifying joy does not mean minimizing hardship. Attending to a more balanced perspective which includes the joy of the hope that we have in our God. One of the more prevalent researched based barriers to experiencing joy (and a cherishing of life) is a biased/imbalanced perspective that focuses on, or ruminates on negative things. Steep in!

Coming up! Aundrea discussed how groundedness and the lack of groundedness can impact our peace.  She really highlights what really does bring ultimate peace and the importance of inner peace, which is... ready for it...is achievable! Well okay sort of. Aundrea highlights the importance of mindfulness and groundedness, disconnected from external chaos. The episode ends with a practical and useful guided deep breathing and visualization exercise designed to help listeners feel and hold onto peace amidst holiday stress. Steep in!

In a time like now, it is not only possible to be distracted, it is inevitable. This episode is a couple thoughts on how to cut through the distractions that hold you back and focus on your highest values.

The more reflective you are, the more effective you are! As we wrap up Season 3 of the Rise and Form Podcast, we want to take a moment to reflect on salient parts of the Fruit of the Spirit focus, exploring how we can weave these some thoghts and values into our daily lives, especially as we approach the holiday season.

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re thrilled about what’s coming next! We have some exciting plans that we can't wait to share with you. But until then, don’t forget to join us for our Monday Steep sessions where we’ll continue to offer insights and encouragement.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Your support means the world, and we can’t wait to return in January with Season 4. Until then, let’s keep reflecting on how we can apply the fruits of the Spirit in our lives and strengthen our communities. Stay tuned!

In this steep, Aundrea talks about ways to move towards gentleness by cultivating humility.  She shares three key aspects of humility based off of Dr. Daryl van Tongeren's book 'Humble:' knowing yourself, checking yourself, and going beyond yourself. She emphasizes the importance of being curious about oneself, one's reactions, and others.  By practicing these principles, one can foster a habit of humility, which ultimately enhances gentleness.00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:07 Exploring Gentleness and Deference
00:44 The Role of Humility in Gentleness
01:17 Understanding Humility: Knowing Yourself
02:04 Understanding Humility: Checking Yourself
02:58 Understanding Humility: Going Beyond Yourself
03:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

To close out the season on the fruit of the spirit, we have a chat with Dr Sherri Yoder to discuss the fruit of "gentleness". Dr. Sherri Yoder is a former Clinical Psychologist turned executive director of a not for profit; Thriving Thoughts Global, she is a leader in the global community on promoting mental health and challenging cultural narratives on that topic with her podcast, writing, speaking and influence.

"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." - Phillipians 4:5.

Steeping in Kindness with Abe! We need it right now!

We chatted with New York Times best selling author and memoir expert Susy Flory. Susy shares her insights on the transformative power of kindness, a crucial fruit of the spirit, and its significant crossover with mental health and the power of our personal and corporate narratives. With over 14 books to her name, including the acclaimed 'Thunder Dog,' Susy discusses the importance of sharing our unique stories for fostering connection, healing, and growth. She emphasizes the importance of being generous and non-judgmental when telling stories. Susy also reflects on her faith journey and how it shapes her work and writing. Tune in to explore how kindness enriches our personal and shared stories, and learn how to yield to the Holy Spirit in the creative process. This episode is filled with wisdom for us all as we as writers, storytellers, and anyone interested in the art of memoir. 
To connect with Susy's life and work see susyflory.com and westcoastchristianwriters.com.