The Mission Driven Mom Podcast

“No mere acquisition of knowledge was of any value in her eyes in comparison with a longing to dedicate it to the service of humanity.” ~Francis Tiffany about Dorothea Dix Dorothea Dix was remarkable!  Despite being raised by a mentally ill father, deprived of a proper education, born down by the early responsibility of two younger brothers and suffering from her own physical illnesses, Dorothea determined to make something beautiful and purposeful of her life.  Not surprisingly, her life perfectly exemplifies the 7 Laws of Life Mission. Through her determination to love God and serve Him, she learned to better care for her health, studied hard to gain a deep classical education, took on adult responsibilities at a young age, and came to love people of all cultures and faiths. Then, as it always does, her calling came when she visited insane women in prison. Moved by deep compassion for their helpless state, she determined to spend the rest of her life championing the cause of the insane poor in a world that was indifferent to their plight.  The story of Dorothea's life will encourage and inspire you to strive a little harder to fulfill your own life mission! Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.  4:47       Her feelings on being a public figure 9:22       Her father 12:20     Leaving home-Her grandmother 15:10      Determined to teach 18:37      Law 1 - Letters of examination 20:09     Law 2 - Love of self 22:25      Law 3 - Love of truth 23:51      Law 4 - Love of humanity 26:20     How she gained a love of humanity 31:42      Law 5  - The catalyst for her work     34:25      Law 6 - She studies insanity 36:04     The Massachusetts Legislature 39:04     Law 7 - Being a voice for good Quotes from this episode: “I feel it right to say to you frankly that nothing could be undertaken which would give me more pain and serious annoyance, which would so trespass on my personal rights,…or interfere more seriously with the real usefulness of my mission. I am not ambitious of nominal distinctions, and notoriety is my special aversion. My reputation and my services belong to my country.” ~Dorothea Dix “I never knew childhood!” ~Dorothea Dix “Eager for knowledge, ambitious for more refined and intellectual social opportunities, loaded down already with a premature sense of responsibility, thus early had the iron entered her soul, and the conviction been developed in her of the reality and sharpness of the battle of life.” ~Francis Tiffany  “To become independent in means, to educate herself for a position that would command support and respect, to be able to get her two younger brothers under the same roof with her and enact the part of child-mother to them—this early developed into the indomitable purpose of her life.” ~Francis Tiffany  “Happily preparation for this calling [teacher] was in the line of the deepest instincts of her nature. These were at that time thirst for knowledge and longing to exert direct moral influence.” ~Francis Tiffany  “Her sense of pitiful compassion for the ignorant, degraded, and suffering was the strongest element in her being.” ~Francis Tiffany  “The hour of bodily suffering is to me the house of spiritual joy. It is then that most I feel my dependence on God and his power to sustain.” ~Dorothea Dix “No mere acquisition of knowledge was of any value in her eyes in comparison with a longing to dedicate it to the service of humanity.” ~Francis Tiffany  “…vivid interest in all the branches of natural history, which unquestionably would have asserted itself as the dominant passion of her mind, had it not been overmastered by the still stro...

In a world full of conflicting voices, IMAGINE youth who clearly discern truth.  IMAGINE youth who can powerfully articulate the evidence of their faith.  IMAGINE youth who can stand up and lead others to believe in God. - So, what is the key?

“It is peculiar to humankind that they can only live by looking to the future. This is man's salvation in the most difficult moments of his existence--although he sometimes has to force his mind to the task.” ~Viktor Frankl What crisis are you facing? Rebellious child, troubled marriage, financial setbacks, poor self-image? The Principles of Vision, when understood and practiced, empower you to face those troubles with newfound hope and energy. Principles are the tools for overcoming obstacles permanently. Join Audrey this week as she shares powerful stories of those whose faced insurmountable difficulties and overcame them with the Principles of Vision! Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.  2:34      Viktor Frankl 8:04     Lost in Motherhood 11:57    James Allen 17:02    Luck vs Vision 19:23    The Event - Mothers of Vision - Tools for Gaining a Vision 24:53    Be a Stellar Mom 26:38    Scripture and Vision 28:02    First Principle of Vision 28:47    Second Principle of Vision 29:36    Immaculée Ilibagiza 32:34    Norman Vincent Peale 28:47    Be a Mother of Vision 35:43    Pay the Price Quotes from this episode: “Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion.” Fisher and Allen “It is peculiar to humankind that they can only live by looking to the future and this is man's salvation in the most difficult moments of his existence, although he sometimes has to force his mind to the task.” ~Viktor Frankl “The worse your circumstances are, the more critical it is for you to have a vision for the future, of something meaningful you are preparing to execute that will make a difference for others.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher Frankl speaking about dwelling on the problems of daily life in the camp - “I forced my thoughts to turn to another subject. Suddenly I saw myself standing on a platform of a well lit, warm, and pleasant lecture room. In front of me sat an audience on comfortable, upholstered seats. I was giving a lecture on the psychology of the concentration camp. All that oppressed me at that moment became objective, seen, and described from the remote viewpoint of science. By this method, I succeeded somehow in rising above the situation, above the sufferings of the moment, and I observed them as if they were already of the past.” ~Viktor Frankl “He (Frankl) moved from being totally problem-centered to being solution-centered.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher Speaking of mothers - “We choose what we put into our minds and how we train them. We choose how focused we are going to be and how mentally tough we are going to be.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “In spite of all the enforced physical and mental primitiveness of the life in a concentration camp, it was possible for spiritual life to deepen. Sensitive people who were used to a rich intellectual life may have suffered much pain (they were often of a delicate constitution), but the damage to their inner selves was less. They were able to retreat from their terrible surroundings to a life of inner riches and spiritual freedom.” ~Viktor Frankl  “Suffering ceases to be suffering as soon as we form a clear and precise picture of it.” ~Viktor Frankl “But I came to learn that God never shows us something we aren't ready to understand. Instead, He lets us see what we need to see, when we need to see it. He'll wait until our eyes and hearts are open to Him, and then when we're ready, He will plant our feet on the path that's best for us...but it's up to us to do the walking.” ~Immaculée Ilibagiza “Someone had once told me that it was important to visualize what you want to happen in the future because doing so can actually help make it come true...

“She will never assert herself for herself—she will suffer wrong first—but for others she will be perfectly fearless…Throw responsibility upon her.” Mr. Fowler of the young Clara Barton Young Clara Barton struggled with shyness, yet as a young woman,

By the time Audrey Rindlisbacher was 19 years old, her father and two close friends had passed away unexpectedly. Through these trials Audrey learned for herself that life is very fragile. She knew that we have to make the most of the day we are in, because we never know when it might be the last day for us or someone we love.  

"Many people live as if someday they’ll arrive at “happiness” like one arrives at a bus stop. They figure that someday everything will fall into place, they will take a deep breath and say, 'Here I am at last…happy!' Hence their life story is one of 'I’ll be happy when…'" ~Andrew Matthews

When we relegate our happiness to the future, we rob ourselves and others of the chance for deeper connection, joyful moments, and greater fulfillment. The mindset of waiting to be happy keeps us from seeing all the beautiful things in our lives right now. When we realize that happiness is a choice, that it is, "something we make inside ourselves," we are able to shift our focus from all the things that are making us unhappy, to all the things that can bring us happiness and fulfillment every day.

Join Audrey and other women in The Mission Driven Mom Mastermind FB Group for a replay of a "Lighting Our Lamps: Morning Inspiration for Moms" FB Live from the spring of 2020, where Audrey shares stories, quotes, and tips that will inspire you to choose happiness today.

Listener's Guide:

Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast. 

2:29    Why We Are Unhappy

3:22    Happiness is a Decision

4:45    Audrey's Story

5:55    "Learning in Wartime"

7:37     I Made a Decision-Andrew Matthews

10:23   From The Hiding Place

13:54   How Can I Be Happy Today? 

15:38   Sharing Gratitude

Quotes from this episode:

“Truth seldom is sweet; it is almost invariably bitter." ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 

“Being happy can be one of the greatest challenges that we face and can sometimes take all the determination, persistence, and self-discipline we can muster. ” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher

“If we’re unhappy, it’s because life is not as we want it. Life is not matching our expectations of how it ‘ought’ to be. We want the future, not 'the now'. We don’t want what is, we want what isn’t. Too much of this and you go crazy.” ~Andrew Matthews

“Life is not perfect. Life is about being exhilarated, frustrated, sometimes achieving, and sometimes missing out. So long as we say “I’ll be happy when…” we’re deluding ourselves.” ~Andrew Matthews

“Happiness is a decision. Many people live as if someday they’ll arrive at “happiness” like one arrives at a bus stop. They figure that someday everything will fall into place, they will take a deep breath and say, “Here I am at last…happy!” Hence their life story is one of “I’ll be happy when…” ~Andrew Matthews

“Each one of us has a decision to make. Are we prepared to daily remind ourselves that we have only a limited time to make the most of what we’ve got, or will we while away the present, hoping for a better future?” ~Andrew Matthews

“The world is not perfect. The degree of our unhappiness is the distance between the way things are and the way we ‘think’ they ‘ought’ to be.” ~Andrew Matthews

“Value people. Don't go to bed angry. Let people know how much they mean to you.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher

“Make today one you would want to end on.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” ~Abraham Lincoln

“It's not what happens to us in life that determines our happiness as much as the way we react to what happens.” ~Andrew Matthews

“You've got today. That's all you've got. You might as well be happy.

In studying forgiveness as a moral action, I dug deeper into the idea of morals and morality itself. What I often call "natural law" can also be called the "natural moral law" so I wanted to better understand the moral component of the natural law. I had some huge insights -- things I'd never thought of before that make my own inner battles with myself and my conscience take on a whole new dimension.

Join me today as we dig into what it means to be moral, why we say something is "not wrong" and how that harms us, and the role of scripture in our moral, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional lives.

Check Out My BOOK and Courses: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/

"As for this superior morality of some non-believers, supposing we grant it, what does it amount to? Just to this, that the universe of mind, as the universe of matter, is governed by unwritten laws of God...

“Now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility to acknowledge that I owe the mentioned happiness of my past life to his divine providence, which led me to the means I used and gave them success.” ~Benjamin Franklin This podcast is different from other our other Mission Driven Stories podcasts. We usually focus on how proper preparation in childhood leads to the virtues and successes of great men and women. Today's podcast, however,  focuses on the foibles of a youth, Benjamin Franklin, who, despite his early mistakes, eventually gained self-mastery and became a remarkable man. This podcast gives hope to every parent--demonstrating that despite their own poor choices, your child can still embrace principles, praise God and become a wise and successful human being.   Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.  1:40       Why This Podcast is Different 5:30       His autobiography-The Central message 7:48       His Father 10:43     The Printing Trade 15:29     The Silence Dogood Letters 18:41      Independence in Philadelphia 20:47     The Folly of youth 30:56     England and More Poor Choices 38:56     Religion 40:29     Moral virtues Quotes from this episode: “Now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility to acknowledge that I owe the mentioned happiness of my past life to his divine providence, which led me to the means I used and gave them success.” ~Benjamin Franklin “My early readiness in learning to read (which must have been very early, as I do not remember when I could not read), and the opinion of all his friends that I should certainly make a good scholar, encouraged him in this purpose of his.” ~Benjamin Franklin “I remember well his [my father] being frequently visited by leading men who consulted him for his opinion in affairs of the town or of the church he belonged to, and who showed a good deal of respect for his judgment and advice. He was also much consulted by private persons about their affairs when any difficulty occurred, and frequently chose an arbitrator between contending parties. At his table, he liked to have, as often as he could some sensible friend or neighbor to converse with, and always took care to start some ingenious or useful topic for discourse which might tend to improve the minds of his children. By this means, he turned our attention to what was good, just, and prudent in the conduct of life.” ~Benjamin Franklin “Often I sat in my room reading the greatest part of the night when the book borrowed in the evening had to be returned early in the morning, lest it should be found missing or wanted.” ~Benjamin Franklin “His prayer: 'O powerful Goodness, bountiful Father, merciful Guide! Increase in me that wisdom which discovers my truest interests; strengthen my resolutions to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to thy other children, as the only return in my power for thy continual favors to me.'” ~Benjamin Franklin “Fundamental religious creed: That there is one God who made all things. That he governs the world by his providence. That he ought to be worshipped by adoration, prayer, and thanksgiving. But that the most acceptable service to God is doing good to man. That the soul is immortal. And that God will certainly reward virtue and punish vice, either here or hereafter.” ~Benjamin Franklin Franklin's morning question: “What good shall I do this day?     Franklin's evening question: “What good have I done today?” Franklin's 13 Moral Virtues: Temperance - “Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.” 

“Confidence is something we can choose! It is something we can work on today!” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher One woman recently shared struggles that so many women are experiencing today: “Where do I start if I’m at zero? Last week you asked us to write down things we liked about ourselves and I went blank. I thought about it for a couple of days and still came up empty. All the things I’ve been saying about myself lately are negative ones and I’ve struggled [to get] away from them. They are really loud.” What is happening? Why are good, honest, well-intentioned mothers unable to see all the good in themselves? Why are their thoughts so negative and destructive? Why do they so deeply lack confidence? Confidence can seem like such a fragile thing, coming and going throughout our lives, and often seeming so out of our control. Understanding the definition of confidence gives us insight into why women are suffering and how they can begin to develop greater confidence. In fact, in this podcast you'll learn that there is a formula for gaining and retaining confidence--and it's simple and very doable.  You'll also come to see the real meaning of confidence, how it is tied to living true principles and why it is in your control. Audrey will equip you with three key tools which will enable you to ask yourself questions that will empower you to build greater confidence in yourself!   Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast.  1:30       The event that got Audrey thinking about confidence    5:53       The Keys to Confidence - Trust & Truth 9:57       The two kinds of truth 12:13      If I'm doing my best why do I still lack confidence 18:30     Three components of trust & empowering questions 19:49     Who you are 22:50     What you know 25:10     The quality of your relationships 28:43     Angela's story Quotes from this episode: “You have to affirm yourself and draw your worth from God. No one can do that for you and make you feel enough.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “We have to start by leading ourselves first.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Confidence is a state of being where we know the truth and we trust our ability to live that truth. ” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Then Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~John 8:31-32 “Desired blessings come only by obedience to divine law, and in no other way. My lifetime thus far has been focused on learning those laws. Only as the laws are known, and then obeyed, can the blessings we desire be earned.” ~Russell M. Nelson “The key to self-mastery is to take responsibility for ourselves and to work on aligning our lives more closely with truth and principles. This increases our power. ” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Trust is something you can do something about— and probably much faster than you think.” ~ Stephen M.R. Covey “CONFIDENCE is something we can choose! It is something we can work on today!” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “[My] pursuit of truth through the MDM Academy has given me confidence, to care for myself, to pursue truth and to live principles regardless of what others are doing” ~Karen Bates  Empowering Questions: 1. Do I have personal integrity and follow through on the commitments I make to myself?    Is my heart really in the right place? Do I have the right intentions? Is my character what it ought to be? 2. Do I truly have the skills to accomplish my goals and commitments? Do I really know how to do this job properly? 

Get your FREE "Truth Seekers Starter Kit": https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/

Have you heard any of the following statements lately:

"I have to figure out what I believe."

"I don't believe that."

"I can't ask someone to act contrary to their beliefs."

WHAT IF THEY WERE ALL WRONG?

Join me in this podcast we explore what it means to "believe," why so many people are currently exploring their beliefs, and what we can do if we truly don't believe.

Ready to explore the idea of God and improve your relationship with Him? Check out my book The Mission Driven Life: https://www.audreyrindlisbacher.com/store