So What? Why It Matters, with Nancy Hicks

As we charge ahead in our self-care series, today we're getting into the nitty-gritty of what it actually means to take time to care for our minds, bodies, and souls. So many of us are stuck with 40 items on our to-do but only the time to complete 10—even though we feel like we should be able to complete all 40 and beat ourselves up when we don't. Podcaster and author of More Power to You Margaret Feinberg knows that cycle all too well. Margaret found herself worn down during COVID, and burned out from people pleasing long before that. But during her months in quarantine, she discovered when she gave the world a time-out and began to focus on taking care of herself first, in small and big ways, she began to regain some of the energy and passion and confidence that used to be part of her days. Margaret tells Nancy why self-care isn't a solitary act—even in the midst of pandemic, it can be a community-building exercise that helps us create a more welcoming and loving world for everyone.

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Breathe life into your soul and find your God-given power with Nancy's Called to Confidence 20-day guide. Download your FREE copy at nancyhickslive.com/featured-teachings.

We're forging ahead in our self-care series and diving into one of the hardest parts of self-care: how to care for our souls, the fire that keeps our zest for life burning. Our guest today, Bunmi Laditan, is a mom of three and a gifted writer who just released a brand-new book called Dear God: Honest Prayers to a God Who Listens (including the the viral social media account, The Honest Toddler!). Bunmi's superpower is getting vulnerable and sitting with people in the dark places—because she's traveled through the dark herself. Bunmi grew up in an extremely observant Christian home with Nigerian parents, and at 16, she found herself living on the streets then, and a couple years later, married her Jewish high school sweetheart when she decided to convert to Judaism. After she and her husband divorced, Bunmi also felt divorced her from the culture and faith she'd grown to love, and her life began to unspool. Bunmi reveals how God met her in some of the darkest moments of her life, reminding her He loves her—and all of us—right where we are. And when we live in that love, that's when our souls truly flourish.

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Breathe life into your soul and find your God-given power with my Called to Confidence 20-day guide. Download your FREE copy at nancyhickslive.com/featured-teachings.

Today we turn a page in the So What? Chapter and begin a brand-new series—this time, we're talking about *real* self-care. Let's be honest: when it comes to self-care, many of us think it's as simple as drawing a warm bath or reaching for a good book—which are totally valid ways to care for yourself. But sometimes, we need a little something more. We need to treat the real problem and not just the symptoms so can truly care of ourselves. In this episode, we're diving straight into the deep end and talking about how to care for mental health with a fierce mental health advocate named Anne Beiler—you probably know her as Auntie Anne of Auntie Anne's Pretzels. Today Nancy and Anne walk through Anne's incredible life story from growing up in an Amish family and becoming the family baker, to marrying at 19, to losing her 19-month-old daughter Angie and falling into a deep depression spiral that led to years of suffering trauma and abuse at the hands of someone she trusted. Anne shares how she battled her way back to health and clarity to build an empire while rebuilding her mental health—and why asking someone for help is the first step toward healing.

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Shrug off toxic expectations and limitations, and step into joy, purpose, and direction. Register for AWAKEN at https://nancyhickslive.com/awaken!

In the final episode of the Better Communication series, we're talking about something that seems simple, but it's actually not: saying what you mean, and then living it out. Why is that so important? Because when we don't do what we say we will,, it severs those bonds of trust between us. And when was the last time you saw a relationship thrive on broken trust? Nancy and guest Cece Jones-Davis, an ordained minister and social justice activist who practices what she preaches, dive into how we can line up what we say with what we do. Nancy and Cece talk about how to translate your words into actions, and why taking the time to communicate in ways that are mindful of who we are builds authenticity, and creates trust and connection with those around us.

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Shrug off toxic expectations and limitations, and step into joy, purpose, and direction. Register for AWAKEN at nancyhickslive.com/awaken!

In many ways, technology can give us a sense of omnipotence. We can ship anything we need right to our door. We have countless pieces of information at our fingertips, and the simple ability to communicate with people thousands of miles away. But this God-like ability can have its pitfalls. Yes, technology has improved lives in countless ways, but has it taken away our ability for "real" connection and authenticity? Andy Crouch is a thought-leader in the tech space, and his books My Tech-Wise Life and The Tech-Wise Family (written with his daughter Amy!) focus on how our evolving relationships with technology have changed the way we relate to and communicate with each other—or don't. Andy and Nancy share how to use tech and devices in healthy, intentional ways that enhance our lives, so we can bring our families and personal relationships closer together.

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Shrug off toxic expectations and limitations, and step into joy, purpose, and direction. Register for AWAKEN at nancyhickslive.com/awaken!

Newsflash: if you're not curious about the people you're talking to, if you're not curious to befriend and get to know others, then you're missing out on some incredible connections that can make your life even more rich. It's hard to believe that Morgan Harper Nichols, the viral Instagram poet and artist, battled self-doubt. But Morgan reveals that when she began to take the pressure off herself as an introvert, and when she began to get curious and started connecting with people one on one and learning their stories, she began to unlock her creativity. And today, Morgan tells the stories she's learned about from those new connections in her beautiful art, and through her two books, All Along You Were Blooming and her brand-new one, How Far You Have Come. Morgan and Nancy talk about how to set fear aside and become more open and vulnerable, how to hit hard topics head on, and why embracing curiosity as we talk to other people can not only make us better communicators—it can create a world filled with more love and empathy.

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Shrug off toxic expectations and limitations, and step into joy, purpose, and direction. Register for AWAKEN at nancyhickslive.com/awaken!

You know what's harder than it looks? Listening. Being present and tuning into someone while they share their heart is a privilege, but let's be honest: sometimes it feels like a chore (moms of small kids can relate!). Other times, listening can pump us full of fear or make us freeze, because we're not quite sure how to handle the information that's been handed to us. But one thing's for sure: listening matters, because listening is how we learn how to meet the needs of the people around us. Nancy's good friend, QVC host Shawn Killinger is here today to tackle all things listening. As a former news anchor and current on-air talent at QVC, not to mention a wife and mom, Shawn's a master at opening her heart and receiving what others have to say, because at work and at home, she's had to practice how to hand the spotlight over to someone else. Shawn shares practical tips you can put in your toolkit today to be a better listener (tip: always stay curious!) and above all, why doing the work to listen more is 100% worth it.

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Shrug off toxic expectations and limitations, and step into joy, purpose, and direction. Register for AWAKEN at nancyhickslive.com/awaken!

Welcome to our very first episode of So What? Why It Matters with Nancy Hicks! Nancy's here to give the lowdown on the first topic we're tackling in this insightful-but-practical show: better communication. We're communicating all the time, aren't we? From texts and emails, to hugs and eye rolls and smirks, just about everything we do says how we're thinking and what we hold dear. But here's the deal: we communicate because we were born to connect with other people. And the link that joins people together? It's love. Nancy breaks down why communicating with love really matters, and shares her #1 secret to communicating more effectively with your kids, partner, friends, and everyone in between—and you can start doing it today.

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Shrug off toxic expectations and limitations, and step into joy, purpose, and direction. Register for AWAKEN at nancyhickslive.com/awaken!

Raise your hand if you're looking for a life that's more full, where you're the most real and powerful version of yourself. Got your hand up? Then pop in your headphones and join former QVC host, theologian, and international speaker Nancy Hicks for her brand-new podcast, "So What? Why It Matters." In this special sneak peek, you'll learn a bit about Nancy and why the first step toward your best self is answering "So what?" about the genuine, glamourous, groundbreaking, and sometimes gritty parts of our lives. And don't forget to hit the Subscribe button so you can get "So What?" right in your favorite podcast app when we launch mid-January 2021.