The Heartlifter Way

How much can one heart hold? And how do we recognize when we're carrying more than we have the emotional capacity to manage?

In this episode of The Heartlifter Way, we explore the meaning of emotional capacity—our ability to experience difficult emotions, navigate uncertainty, and remain grounded without losing ourselves in the process.

Drawing inspiration from Chris M. Courey's What to Do with What You Feel, we'll consider the difference between emotional strength and emotional overfunctioning, the wisdom of listening to our nervous systems, and why growing our capacity doesn't always mean learning to carry more.

Through personal reflections, practical tools, and the beautiful invitation of Luke 13:10–17, we'll discover what it means to become women who can love deeply, honor their limits, and make room for joy—even in life's most uncertain seasons.

What You'll Take Away:

You'll learn how to recognize when you're approaching your emotional limits, distinguish healthy compassion from carrying other people's emotions, and practice five gentle ways to strengthen your emotional capacity. Most importantly, you'll discover how to remain fully yourself in difficult relationships and uncertain circumstances—without sacrificing your peace or joy.

A question to carry: What if emotional maturity isn't measured by how much we can carry, but by how faithfully we remain connected to ourselves, others, and God?

There is a gentler way of carrying life. And you were never meant to carry it alone.

What does a dream about riding a unicycle on an unfamiliar dark road have to do with becoming a Modern-Day Matriarch? On today's show, Janell unpacks the metaphorical meaning behind riding a unicycle in her dream:

1. Unicycles require intentional concentration and balance.
2. We can move through unfamiliar, dark spaces, like the road in Janell's dream, with a grounded, courageous sense of self.
3. The Heartlifter Journey is a transformative journey of becoming.

Connect with Janell & The Heartlifter Way on Substack

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• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠janellrardon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janellrardon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theheartlifterway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠The Heartlifter Way⁠⁠⁠

• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"When God Speaks in Metaphors"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Unlearning with The Waiting Room"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"The G.E.N.T.L.E. Path"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PDF

"When we spiritually bypass our pain in an attempt to look spiritually mature, we circumvent the suffering that matures us" (Wendy Speake).

What does it look like to become a woman of wisdom, peace, and quiet influence in a noisy world? In this episode of The Heartlifter Way, I welcome author and speaker Wendy Speake for a heartfelt conversation about spiritual formation, intentional living, and making room for God's voice.

Wendy also shares her upcoming November Ask Fast, an invitation to step away from habitual asking and cultivate a deeper posture of trust, gratitude, and prayerful dependence on God.

Join us as we explore what it means to live with greater intention, less striving, and a heart rooted in God's presence.

Subscribe and ⁠⁠⁠Support the Show on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Janell & The Heartlifter Way on Substack

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠janellrardon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janellrardon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theheartlifterway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠The Heartlifter Way⁠⁠
• Visit Wendy's website and Join the November, Ask Fast: ⁠wendyspeake.com/praise⁠
• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"When God Speaks in Metaphors"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Unlearning with The Waiting Room"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"The G.E.N.T.L.E. Path"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PDF

Question to Carry: What if the “more” my soul is longing for isn't found in doing more, but in discovering the sacredness of the life I'm already living?

Have you ever wondered, “There must be more than this” in your spiritual life? In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Gerald Sittser, author of Water from a Deep Well, we explore the spirituality of the Christian mystics, the sacredness of ordinary life, and our longing for a deeper experience of God.

What if spiritual journey isn't about doing more, but becoming more attentive to God's presence in the life we're already living?

Join us as we discover how ordinary holiness forms us into people of grounded wisdom and quiet influence.

Subscribe and ⁠⁠Support the Show on Spotify⁠⁠

Connect with Janell & The Heartlifter Way on Substack

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠janellrardon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janellrardon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theheartlifterway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠The Heartlifter Way⁠
• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"When God Speaks in Metaphors"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Unlearning with The Waiting Room"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"The G.E.N.T.L.E. Path"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PDF
• Visit Dr. Sittser's website: ⁠Jerry Sittser⁠
• Watch Dr. Sittser's series with John Mark Comer: ⁠Practicing the Way

Before we ask how to influence our families, churches, and communities, perhaps we need to ask:

• What is forming us?
• What spiritual practices are shaping our inner lives?
• What kind of presence are we becoming?

A familiar proverb says, "Unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything."

In Part 1 of my conversation with today's guest, Dr. Gerald Sittser, author of "Water From a Deep Well," we explore the rich history of Christian spirituality and the practices that cultivate grounded wisdom, spiritual maturity, and quiet influence. Together, we consider how deep spiritual roots shape the presence we bring to our families, churches, and communities, and why becoming a modern-day matriarch begins with forming our own souls.

Today's Takeaway: We cannot consistently offer others what we have not cultivated within ourselves. The quiet power of a modern-day matriarch flows not from her ability to manage or influence others, but from a soul deeply rooted in God's presence, wisdom, grace, and love.

A Question to Carry: What spiritual practices shape us into people whose very presence becomes a source of grounded wisdom, peace, grace, and love for others?

Subscribe and ⁠Support the Show on Spotify⁠

Connect with Janell & The Heartlifter Way on Substack

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠janellrardon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janellrardon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theheartlifterway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: The Heartlifter Way
• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"When God Speaks in Metaphors"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Unlearning with The Waiting Room"⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"The G.E.N.T.L.E. Path"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PDF
• Visit Dr. Sittser's website: Jerry Sittser
• Listen to Dr. Sittser's series with John Mark Comer: Practicing the Way with John Mark Comer

What does it mean to become a modern-day matriarch in a culture obsessed with influencers? Perhaps our deepest influence isn’t loud or visible at all. Perhaps it grows from the grounded, embodied way we live, love, and lead.

In this opening episode, I re-introduce G.E.N.T.L.E. as a way of practicing this kind of quiet influence:

G — Grounded in what is real

E — Expressing emotions with self-compassion

N — Nourishing our nervous systems

T — Trusting in God’s daily presence and care

L — Listening to the quiet language of our bodies

E — Embracing micro-movements forward in hope

Becoming a modern-day matriarch isn’t about becoming the woman who carries everyone. It’s about becoming a woman whose grounded presence quietly influences the people she loves.

Subscribe and Support the Show on Spotify

Connect with Janell & The Heartlifter Way on Substack

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠janellrardon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janellrardon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theheartlifterway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: Heartlift Wellness
• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"When God Speaks in Metaphors"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠"Unlearning with The Waiting Room"⁠⁠⁠

• Download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"The G.E.N.T.L.E. Path"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PDF
• Visit Britt Piper: Body-First Healing
• Listen to Britt on The Heartlifter Way: E313
• Visit Emily P. Freeman: The Next Right Thing

Send a text

*Visiting the archives today in commemoration of 9/11.

Welcome, New York Times Bestseller Michael Hingson, survivor of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, and his guide dog Roselle, as they share profound wisdom about bravery, overcoming adversity, and moving forward with faith as we celebrate our 300th episode.

The conversation takes us through the powerful lessons Michael has learned from each of his guide dogs, from Squire to Alamo. These 11 principles form a roadmap for anyone facing challenges: awareness builds confidence, preparation prevents panic, flexibility and faith move you forward. 

Order Michael's Books:

1. Live Like a Guide Dog

2. Thunder Dog

New Series: Becoming a Modern-Day Matriarch

Sometimes clarity doesn’t arrive as an answer. Sometimes it arrives as a recognition: Oh. I think I see what has been taking shape here. I see hints and am beginning to make sense of it all.

As A Birth Season comes to a close, Janell reflects on an unexpected realization: two book projects she has been developing for years—Moving Day and Modern-Day Matriarchs—are no longer simply ideas she is writing about. She is living them.

In this tender transition episode, she explores what she is being invited to leave behind, what she hopes to carry forward, and how a possible move to Kansas has awakened a deeper calling to become an intentional matriarch for the generations she loves. It’s the beginning of a new conversation—and perhaps a new season.

Connect with Janell & The Heartlifter Way on Substack

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠janellrardon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janellrardon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theheartlifterway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: Heartlift Wellness
• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"When God Speaks in Metaphors"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠"Unlearning with The Waiting Room"⁠⁠⁠

• Download the "Principles of Discernment" PDF: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trust What is Taking Shape⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Download the "Discernment Prayer" to use during our Birth Season: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Prayer PDF⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"The Three Pots" ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Graphic to use during the meditative exercise.
• Download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"The G.E.N.T.L.E. Path"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PDF

"May all that is unforgiven in you

Be released.

May your fears yield

Their deepest tranquillities.

May all that is unlived in you blossom into a future

Graced with love."

John O'Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us

What if a season can be complete even when the story isn’t?

In this final episode of “A Birth Season,” we arrive at Day Five of our closing journey: BLESS. After 90 days of listening, noticing, releasing, and learning what is ours to carry forward, we make room for what remains unresolved.

Together, we’ll practice blessing the unfinished—honoring what has been, receiving what has been born, and trusting God with what is still becoming.

Because perhaps discernment doesn’t always end with an answer.

Sometimes it ends with open hands, a faithful next step, and a blessing.

Connect with Janell & The Heartlifter Way on Substack

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠janellrardon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janellrardon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theheartlifterway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: Heartlift Wellness
• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠"When God Speaks in Metaphors"⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Revisit ⁠⁠"Unlearning with The Waiting Room"⁠⁠

• Download the "Principles of Discernment" PDF: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trust What is Taking Shape⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Download the "Discernment Prayer" to use during our Birth Season: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Prayer PDF⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"The Three Pots" ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Graphic to use during the meditative exercise.
• Download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"The G.E.N.T.L.E. Path"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PDF

What if finding our way home has less to do with hurrying toward an address—and more to do with trusting the quiet instincts God has placed within us?

In Episode 27, Janell reflects on the box turtle that keeps returning to her Virginia garden and its remarkable homing instinct. As A Birth Season draws toward its close, this little creature becomes a beautiful metaphorical mirror for transition: move slowly, carry home with you, and trust the way forward even when you cannot yet see where you will land.

Perhaps home isn't something we have to chase.

Perhaps, in its own mysterious way, home is finding us.

Connect with Janell & The Heartlifter Way on Substack

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠janellrardon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janellrardon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theheartlifterway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: Heartlift Wellness
• Revisit ⁠⁠⁠"When God Speaks in Metaphors"⁠⁠⁠
• Revisit ⁠"Unlearning with The Waiting Room"⁠

• Download the "Principles of Discernment" PDF: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trust What is Taking Shape⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Download the "Discernment Prayer" to use during our Birth Season: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Prayer PDF⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"The Three Pots" ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Graphic to use during the meditative exercise.
• Download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"The G.E.N.T.L.E. Path"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PDF