Searching Inward

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Scott Reall, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant have a conversation around loneliness, belonging and community and the relationship between the three. In this vulnerable conversation, the three hosts discuss how these deeply connected elements play a significant role in mental and emotional well-being and share practical takeaways to deal with loneliness in a healthy way and build a more meaningful community.

“I also think that the chronic epidemic of loneliness is deadly. I don’t think we can talk enough about how important it is that a person finds true connection.” -Scott [09:40]

“I’m just thinking about how the fine line between loneliness and belonging is largely around disclosure, how much of yourself you’re willing to disclose to truly find belonging and connect with people or not.” -Seth [14:46]

“Community is the antidote to loneliness and belonging, but just to remember that community is the people. It’s not person.” -Anna [42:29]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:05] Intro

[01:58] Loneliness: the pain of being alone

[06:27] The biggest loneliness pandemic

[14:12] Belonging: security and support

[22:35] Community: mutual support and belonging

[33:42] Bringing these three terms together

[43:04] Self-esteem vs self-worth

[50:54] Practical takeaways

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Scott Reall, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant continue to explore one of Scott’s books, “Journey to a New Beginning after Loss: Freedom from the Pain of Grief and Disappointment,” and focus on the second chapter about anger–one of the stages of grief. They discuss our relationship with anger, the benefits of it during this stage and how to work through it.

“Anger is a hard one to wrestle with, and I think it’s so important for us to recognize that every feeling, whether it’s a pleasant feeling or a seemingly unpleasant feeling has both a benefit and an impairment.” -Anna [05:23]

“When you lose something, you feel that just complete untethered-ness to what was normal. Anger is what holds you up, I think, especially in the beginning. Anger is what holds you up and keeps you from being completely lost in it all. Anger is just vital, I think, to the grieving process.” -Seth [08:30]

“Forgiveness is a big part of our work in grief recovery.” -Scott [22:38]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:05] Intro

[01:20] Stages of grief

[05:02] Benefits of anger

[09:25] Reality hits

[15:10] Wrong expectations

[19:58] Resentment and regret

[23:53] The role of forgiveness

[27:43] How to work through anger

[33:35] Final thoughts

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

Scott Reall’s Books:

Journey to Freedom: Your Start to a Lifetime of Hope, Health, and Healing

Journey to a New Beginning after Loss: Freedom from the Pain of Grief and Disappointment

Journey to Living with Courage: Freedom from Fear

Journey to Healthy Living: Freedom from Body Image and Food Issues

Journey to a Life of Significance: Freedom from Low Self-Esteem

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Scott Reall and George Stull speak with Heather Lefebvre, a licensed psychotherapist who focuses on marriage and family therapy. Heather previously worked for Restore Small Groups over a decade ago, where her and her husband, Steven, were essential in the development and growth of the organization. She shares her journey with Small Groups and how it inspired her to transition into the mental health field.

“If I’m sitting there with a therapist, I want to know that they’ve been down this road too. ‘Cause you and I say you can’t lead somebody out of the desert if you’ve never been in the desert. And so, Heather’s been in the desert.” -Scott [04:31]

“Group is always a tethering point of I am not alone. I am not the only one who struggles. I cannot process in my head alone and think that that is going to help me challenge belief systems, challenge my neural pathways. Like that’s not enough. I really need to go and be around, be in community, be with people who are also fighting the good fight, who are also continually seeing life as a growth opportunity.” -Heather [14:34]

“So friends, when your therapist is encouraging you to move to a more vulnerable place, trust them. They really do understand how we can grow and how we can heal.” - George [21:07]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:05] Intro

[01:19] This week’s guest, Heather

[05:05] How Heather came to love Restore Small Groups

[11:30] Transitioning to the mental health field

[12:48] The value of individual therapy and small groups

[17:26] Vulnerability is healthy to our growth

[21:19] Why Small Groups are beneficial

[25:21] How neurobiology influences her therapy approach

[33:46] Recommended helpful practices

[37:36] We are good enough

[41:17] Heather’s website and final words

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

Heather’s Website: mytherapistheather.com

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant speak with Mike “L.A. Mike” Rada about his experience with Restore Small Groups. Mike shares how feeling lost mentally, physically and spiritually after a pretty bad case of COVID-19 inspired him to join a Small Group. He takes the host through his journey that quickly evolved into sharing vulnerably.

“It allowed me to let myself be vulnerable for once, and it was a very welcoming group of people. It was strange for me, but then it also felt great. It gave me a chance to let my guard down.” -Mike [09:11]

“I think it’s a really great description of some of the magic of what happens in a group. Where we meet one another is in our humanity first.” -Seth [11:06]

“I think you articulated well though. Like it was a catalyst for you to maybe connect your inner world and your outer world in a more honest way with the people in your life.” -Anna [15:52]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:05] Intro

[00:28] Today’s guest, Mike

[01:54] What drew him to Restore Small Groups

[05:43] His first and last days

[11:36] Sharing vulnerably

[14:50] Something that had an impact on Mike

[18:32] Why recommend Small Groups to others?

[20:46] Lighting round

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Scott Reall, George Stull, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant talk about vulnerability. They explore what this means in the context of mental and emotional well-being and break down the myths about it. Listen as they share strategies for leaning into our vulnerability and embracing authenticity.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:05] Intro

[01:19] Defining vulnerability

[03:21] Myths about vulnerability

[09:12] “I don’t do vulnerability”

[14:34] Can’t go it alone

[16:48] What is vulnerability

[22:09] Within the framework of relationships

[32:46] Takeaways and strategies 

[38:30] Four feeling questions

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant speak with Jason Adam Miller, a pastor at South Bend City Church and author of the book, When The World Breaks: The Surprising Hope and Subversive Promises in the Teachings of Jesus. Jason is a helpful voice in bringing mental, well-being and faith together in such a meaningful way, so he discusses how to find hope where there’s suffering and struggle. He shares his church’s mantras and recommended practices when the hard stuff happens such as welcoming emptiness.

“When faith works until it doesn’t at a particular time in your life, like when you encounter some kind of experience and the faith we were given, sometimes it doesn't work, and you can do one of two things: you can entirely chuck faith or you can open up to maybe a new way of understanding your faith. It could be more hopeful.” -George [05:59]

“Often failure’s the best thing, right? Like whether you’re practicing a musical instrument or spiritual practice, you come to the limit of your capacity and that’s actually the liminal space where something really powerful can happen. But if you’re afraid to fail, you’ll never let yourself go there.” -Jason [16:05]

“God created each of us so incredibly uniquely. I mean, you’ve never seen two apples that look exactly alike. Like they all have very different dimensions, different qualities, and that’s what God intended for humanity. That we’re all unique. Like no two pieces of any kind of produce are identical, but anything you get coming out of a factory will be 100% identical all the time. And when we’re driven to become a carbon copy of something that we were never created to be, I just think it’s very beautiful that you’re creating this space for people to be fully human, fully unique, fully who they are.” -Anna [18:47]

“I think a lot of times people make this misconception that surrender is a passive thing, especially spiritual kind of surrender, when I think returning to the breath is an act of surrender. That I’m letting go, but it’s a deep trust that there’s something holding me while I’m experiencing this.” -Seth [24:38]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:03] Intro

[00:24] This week’s guest, Jason Adam Miller

[02:30] What opens Jason’s heart to faith and mental health

[07:31] Letting grieve consume and losing your faith

[13:16] His church’s mantras

[19:36] Recommended practices

[25:06] Misconceptions of mental health and faith

[27:27] Welcoming emptiness

[33:48] How to contact Jason

[36:02] One final message from Jason

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

Jason Adam Miller

Web: jasonadammiller.com

IG: @jasonadammiller

Pod: South Bend City Church Podcast

Book: When The World Breaks: The Surprising Hope and Subversive Promises in the Teachings of Jesus

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Seth Abram, Scott Reall and Anna Bryant do implement the third of their four styles of episodes in this new season by talking about curriculum. They explore one of Scott’s books, “Journey to a New Beginning after Loss: Freedom from the Pain of Grief and Disappointment,” and talk about grief and loss. Scott explains how our whole life is nothing but a journey of losing things, and nothing stays the same. The three hosts discuss how people interpret grief and loss and the different types of grief and loss as there are more than death or divorce.

“Unless we’re taught how to deal with loss, most of us aren’t going to move into processing it, which is the grief, which is allowing ourselves to feel the loss.” -Seth [09:13]

“We need to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, and normalize that life isn’t always comfortable. And be ok with that.” -Anna [13:24]

“We cannot make a new beginning if I’m still holding on and stuck in the past.” -Scott [33:48] 

TIMESTAMPS

[00:04] Intro

[01:11] The inspiration for the book

[03:33] Cultural misconceptions

[06:39] To complete communications

[08:06] The difference between loss and grief

[15:07] Different types of losses we grapple with

[32:23] Final words from the hosts

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

Scott Reall’s Books:

Journey to Freedom: Your Start to a Lifetime of Hope, Health, and Healing

Journey to a New Beginning after Loss: Freedom from the Pain of Grief and Disappointment

Journey to Living with Courage: Freedom from Fear

Journey to Healthy Living: Freedom from Body Image and Food Issues

Journey to a Life of Significance: Freedom from Low Self-Esteem

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram hear from Jim Clement, a participant of Restore Small Group from Franklin, Tennessee. Jim talks about his experience in a small group, how it brought him relief during a period of grief and isolation and what the overall experience means to him.

“When I heard those stories, it was the first thing that brought me any sort of relief at all. Was just to hear that there are fellow travelers out there. I’m not alone. There are other people that are experiencing what I am.” -Jim  [06:24]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:06] Intro

[00:54] About Jim Clements

[02:05] Joining a Restore Small Group

[08:11] First and last nights of group

[13:14] The group’s impact

[14:44] Would Jim recommend a small group?

[16:42] A quick lighting round

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram start a new series format with a topical episode about awareness. The more aware a person is, the more cognizant they are of how they show up in the world. The hosts discuss how we see and understand this concept and how we can start by aiming the awareness towards ourselves so that we can begin to grow.

“I think you can’t find change, real meaningful change and lasting change in your life or growth in your life without cultivating some capacity for awareness, self-awareness, awareness of yourself.” -Seth [01:49]

“There’s two parts to awareness for me. There’s awareness of how I got here, but there’s also an awareness of where am I resisting? Where is it that I don’t want to be aware?” -Scott [06:58]

“Sometimes we protect ourselves and don’t want to be self-aware because there’s some greatness or some responsibility that we have to show up in the world in some way, right? And there’s some gift we are to the world. So sometimes, it can be protecting ourselves from, we don’t want to fail.” -George [09:20]

“Everybody has limitations. Everybody struggles. Everyone also has strengths. And so, the sum of your strengths doesn’t make you more superhuman. And the sum of your limitations doesn’t make you less than human. We are all human. And having an understanding of that and holding the tension between that is critical for self-acceptance, and you have to have that in order to grow.” -Anna [11:47]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:04] Intro

[01:06] An intimate look at our lives

[02:53] How we see and understand this concept

[05:30] We see what we believe

[10:51] Non-judgemental presence

[14:54] Looking from a place of shame, doubt and fear

[17:45] Moments of unawareness

[26:11] It doesn’t matter old how you are

[29:02] A couple of takeaways

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

After exploring The Journey of Transformation over 36 episodes, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram preview what’s to come on the Searching Inward Podcast. The new format will start in the next episode. Stay tuned!

“...We’re going to have the wonderful opportunity to invite you in to meet some of the people that we dearly know and love, who have been a part of our groups, who have experienced significant life change and are going to come and just share a little part of their story and what has been so impactful for them through the group process.” -Anna [01:04]

“Stories. That’s what we all love, and especially stories of healing and hope.” -George [01:28]

“It’s one thing to hear somebody trying to describe what Restore Small Groups is. It’s another thing entirely to hear the impact going through a group has had on someone.” -Seth [01:35]

“Things like awareness and community and loneliness and hope and vulnerability, gratitude, and growth and just topics like that. Things we can really wrap our hearts around that will encourage us to stay on the path.” -Scott [02:08]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:05] Intro

[00:40] The new format

[01:51] Different topics to discuss

[03:03] How it will work

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

Scott Reall’s Books:

Journey to Freedom: Your Start to a Lifetime of Hope, Health, and Healing

Journey to a New Beginning after Loss: Freedom from the Pain of Grief and Disappointment

Journey to Living with Courage: Freedom from Fear

Journey to Healthy Living: Freedom from Body Image and Food Issues

Journey to a Life of Significance: Freedom from Low Self-Esteem