By Teresa McCloy & Lindsay Sterchi
4.6
2121 ratings
The podcast currently has 90 episodes available.
In this special bonus episode of the podcast, you'll hear spiritual director and oneLife Maps Founding Leader Sibyl Towner share her life story. We believe each story matters, and we know you'll be inspired by Sibyl's life and journey with God.
JOIN THE REALIFE PRACTICE MEMBERSHIP
The REALIFE Practice Membership is designed for those who want to grow spiritually, but feel like REALIFE is getting in the way. We’ll learn how to integrate meaningful spiritual practices and tools into our daily lives through live group calls, group coaching, training videos, downloadable resources, and an interactive community. CLICK HERE to join us today!
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MEMBERSHIP? JOIN US DECEMBER 5!
Join us December 5th, 2024 @ 12pm CT to learn more about the REALIFE Practice Membership from our team and get your questions answered in real time. CLICK HERE to RSVP!
JOIN OUR FREE COMMUNITY
CLICK HERE to become part of the FREE REALIFE Process® Community! Connect with Teresa & Lindsay and other podcast listeners, plus find additional content to help you discover your best REALIFE.
LIFE MAPPING TOOLS
Gain clarity at life’s transitions and know yourself and God better through our visual life maps. CLICK HERE to learn more about oneLife Maps.
READ TERESA’S BOOK
Banish busyness and discover a new way of being productive around what truly matters. Learn more at DoWhatMattersBook.com.
About Teresa McCloy:
Teresa McCloy is the founder and creator of the REALIFE Process®, a framework designed to empower individuals and groups with the tools, training, and community needed for personal and professional growth. Through the REALIFE Process®, Teresa is on a mission to help others grow in self-awareness, establish sustainable rhythms, and enhance their influence and impact by integrating faith and work into their everyday lives.
She lives with her husband of 42 years on their 5th generation family farm in central Illinois and enjoys great coffee, growing beautiful flower gardens, and traveling as much as possible. Connect with Teresa on Facebook or Instagram.
About Lindsay Sterchi:
Lindsay Sterchi is the REALIFE Practice Executive Director at the REALIFE Process®, where she leads and guides our REALIFE Practice Membership and Community. She also writes about habits and rhythms for the Mind, Body, and Soul for a holistic approach to spiritual growth and formation at lindsaysterchi.substack.com.
She lives with her husband Tyler and elementary-aged twin daughters. She has an M.A. in Transformational Leadership from Bethel Seminary, and her background is in church ministry.
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, you’re most likely to find her reading a good book. Connect with Lindsay on Facebook or Instagram.
What does practicing solitude look like in different seasons? Today we are thrilled to welcome special guest Sibyl Towner, spiritual director and Founding Leader of oneLife Maps. She shares her experiences and practical insights on finding quiet spaces in a busy world.
Sibyl emphasizes the significance of creating environments conducive to solitude, shares her journey into practicing solitude, and discusses how it has evolved throughout her life.
We also share more about our new REALIFE Practice Membership, and share about our first book of 2025 Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer through conversations led by Lindsay and Sibyl.
Additionally, Sibyl shares a poignant Psalm reading and her ongoing journey with centering prayer. We know you’ll learn so much from Sibyl’s wisdom, so we hope you’ll join us!
00:00 Introduction to the Real Life Practice Podcast
00:34 Exploring the Practice of Solitude
01:13 Special Guest: Sybil Towner
04:22 Defining Solitude and Its Practice
09:50 Personal Stories and Practical Examples
14:54 Living a Life of Solitude at a Retreat Center
18:22 Creating Space for Solitude in Everyday Life
27:15 Solitude in Community and Family Life
29:37 Upcoming Real Life Practice Membership
36:42 Conclusion and Bonus Content
JOIN THE REALIFE PRACTICE MEMBERSHIP
The REALIFE Practice Membership is designed for those who want to grow spiritually, but feel like REALIFE is getting in the way. We’ll learn how to integrate meaningful spiritual practices and tools into our daily lives through live group calls, group coaching, training videos, downloadable resources, and an interactive community. CLICK HERE to join us today!
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MEMBERSHIP? JOIN US DECEMBER 5!
Join us December 5th, 2024 @ 12pm CT to learn more about the REALIFE Practice Membership from our team and get your questions answered in real time. CLICK HERE to RSVP!
JOIN OUR FREE COMMUNITY
CLICK HERE to become part of the FREE REALIFE Process® Community! Connect with Teresa & Lindsay and other podcast listeners, plus find additional content to help you discover your best REALIFE.
LIFE MAPPING TOOLS
Gain clarity at life’s transitions and know yourself and God better through our visual life maps. CLICK HERE to learn more about oneLife Maps.
READ TERESA’S BOOK
Banish busyness and discover a new way of being productive around what truly matters. Learn more at DoWhatMattersBook.com.
About Teresa McCloy:
Teresa McCloy is the founder and creator of the REALIFE Process®, a framework designed to empower individuals and groups with the tools, training, and community needed for personal and professional growth. Through the REALIFE Process®, Teresa is on a mission to help others grow in self-awareness, establish sustainable rhythms, and enhance their influence and impact by integrating faith and work into their everyday lives.
She lives with her husband of 42 years on their 5th generation family farm in central Illinois and enjoys great coffee, growing beautiful flower gardens, and traveling as much as possible. Connect with Teresa on Facebook or Instagram.
About Lindsay Sterchi:
Lindsay Sterchi is the REALIFE Practice Executive Director at the REALIFE Process®, where she leads and guides our REALIFE Practice Membership and Community. She also writes about habits and rhythms for the Mind, Body, and Soul for a holistic approach to spiritual growth and formation at lindsaysterchi.substack.com.
She lives with her husband Tyler and elementary-aged twin daughters. She has an M.A. in Transformational Leadership from Bethel Seminary, and her background is in church ministry.
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, you’re most likely to find her reading a good book. Connect with Lindsay on Facebook or Instagram.
What do you actually DO in solitude? In this episode, we get really practical as we share practical tools and practices you can engage in during solitude, including various apps like Lectio 365 and Pray As You Go. We also walk you through a technique called “download” and introduce you to The Welcoming Prayer by Thomas Keating.
You’ll also hear about the new REALIFE Practice Membership launching in January 2025, which is a space to help you integrate your faith into everyday life through community support, live calls, group coaching, and more. This episode is full of ideas and practical steps you can take to support you in your practice of solitude.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to the Real Life Practice Podcast
00:45 Exploring the Practice of Solitude
01:05 Practical Tools for Solitude
02:46 Using Technology in Solitude
06:48 The Welcome Prayer and Download Practice
12:14 Evening Solitude and Daily Review
14:51 Introducing the REALIFE Practice Membership
19:22 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes
Links mentioned in the episode:
Lectio 365 app
Pray As You Go app
Pause app
The Welcoming Prayer by Thomas Keating
JOIN THE REALIFE PRACTICE MEMBERSHIP
The REALIFE Practice Membership is designed for those who want to grow spiritually, but feel like REALIFE is getting in the way. We’ll learn how to integrate meaningful spiritual practices and tools into our daily lives through live group calls, group coaching, training videos, downloadable resources, and an interactive community. CLICK HERE to join us today!
JOIN OUR FREE COMMUNITY
CLICK HERE to become part of the FREE REALIFE Process® Community! Connect with Teresa & Lindsay and other podcast listeners, plus find additional content to help you discover your best REALIFE.
LIFE MAPPING TOOLS
Gain clarity at life’s transitions and know yourself and God better through our visual life maps. CLICK HERE to learn more about oneLife Maps.
READ TERESA’S BOOK
Banish busyness and discover a new way of being productive around what truly matters. Learn more at DoWhatMattersBook.com.
About Teresa McCloy:
Teresa McCloy is the founder and creator of the REALIFE Process®, a framework designed to empower individuals and groups with the tools, training, and community needed for personal and professional growth. Through the REALIFE Process®, Teresa is on a mission to help others grow in self-awareness, establish sustainable rhythms, and enhance their influence and impact by integrating faith and work into their everyday lives.
She lives with her husband of 42 years on their 5th generation family farm in central Illinois and enjoys great coffee, growing beautiful flower gardens, and traveling as much as possible. Connect with Teresa on Facebook or Instagram.
About Lindsay Sterchi:
Lindsay Sterchi is the REALIFE Practice Executive Director at the REALIFE Process®, where she leads and guides our REALIFE Practice Membership and Community. She also writes about habits and rhythms for the Mind, Body, and Soul for a holistic approach to spiritual growth and formation at lindsaysterchi.substack.com.
She lives with her husband Tyler and elementary-aged twin daughters. She has an M.A. in Transformational Leadership from Bethel Seminary, and her background is in church ministry.
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, you’re most likely to find her reading a good book. Connect with Lindsay on Facebook or Instagram.
Where is your sacred space for solitude? In this episode, we continue our conversation about the practice of solitude as we explore how it can transform from an obligation to an invitation to connect deeply with God. We discuss creating personal spaces—whether at home, in nature, or even in the car—for reflection and prayer, emphasizing the use of breath prayers to maintain a sense of God's presence. We’ll share practical ideas to help you establish rhythms and routines for solitude, identify potential quiet spaces, and discern attributes of God that resonate with you.
Check out our FREE PDF quiz download: Quiet the Noise at www.therealifeprocess.com/solitude.
00:00 Introduction to the Real Life Practice Podcast
00:33 Exploring the Practice of Solitude
00:49 The Importance of Solitude in Spiritual Life
02:18 Reframing Solitude as an Invitation
03:29 Biblical Insights on Solitude
05:52 Creating Space for Solitude
08:02 Identifying Your Solitude Space
10:08 Creating Sacred Spaces
10:45 Personalizing Your Space
11:39 The Importance of Solitude
13:55 Breath Prayers: A Deeper Connection
16:38 Integrating Solitude into Daily Life
19:06 Practical Steps for Solitude
20:01 Conclusion and Resources
JOIN OUR FREE COMMUNITY
CLICK HERE to become part of the FREE REALIFE Process® Community! Connect with Teresa & Lindsay and other podcast listeners, plus find additional content to help you discover your best REALIFE.
LIFE MAPPING TOOLS
Gain clarity at life’s transitions and know yourself and God better through our visual life maps. CLICK HERE to learn more about oneLife Maps.
READ TERESA’S BOOK
Banish busyness and discover a new way of being productive around what truly matters. Learn more at DoWhatMattersBook.com.
About Teresa McCloy:
Teresa McCloy is the founder and creator of the REALIFE Process®, a framework designed to empower individuals and groups with the tools, training, and community needed for personal and professional growth. Through the REALIFE Process®, Teresa is on a mission to help others grow in self-awareness, establish sustainable rhythms, and enhance their influence and impact by integrating faith and work into their everyday lives.
She lives with her husband of 42 years on their 5th generation family farm in central Illinois and enjoys great coffee, growing beautiful flower gardens, and traveling as much as possible. Connect with Teresa on Facebook or Instagram.
About Lindsay Sterchi:
Lindsay Sterchi is the REALIFE Practice Executive Director at the REALIFE Process®, where she leads and guides our REALIFE Practice Membership and Community. She also writes about habits and rhythms for the Mind, Body, and Soul for a holistic approach to spiritual growth and formation at lindsaysterchi.substack.com.
She lives with her husband Tyler and elementary-aged twin daughters. She has an M.A. in Transformational Leadership from Bethel Seminary, and her background is in church ministry.
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, you’re most likely to find her reading a good book. Connect with Lindsay on Facebook or Instagram.
Welcome to the REALIFE Practice Podcast, Season 1: Solitude. In this episode, we'll introduce the theme of solitude and explore the concept of finding quiet spaces amidst the noise of everyday life. How can we identify sources of noise that keep us from quiet, both internal and external? You'll also hear practical guidance on incorporating solitude into daily routines to foster a deeper connection with God. Even a few minutes of solitude in your day can have a big impact, so we hope this episode inspires you to incorporate this practice into your life.
Check out our FREE PDF quiz download: Quiet the Noise at www.therealifeprocess.com/solitude.
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 Welcome to the REALIFE Practice Podcast
00:33 Exploring the Practice of Solitude
01:02 Identifying Sources of Noise
04:32 Understanding Solitude Beyond Alone Time
11:44 Connecting Solitude with Community
14:53 Practical Steps to Practice Solitude
18:37 Invitation to Practice and Connect
JOIN OUR FREE COMMUNITY
CLICK HERE to become part of the FREE REALIFE Process® Community! Connect with Teresa & Lindsay and other podcast listeners, plus find additional content to help you discover your best REALIFE.
LIFE MAPPING TOOLS
Gain clarity at life’s transitions and know yourself and God better through our visual life maps. CLICK HERE to learn more about oneLife Maps.
READ TERESA’S BOOK
Banish busyness and discover a new way of being productive around what truly matters. Learn more at DoWhatMattersBook.com.
About Teresa McCloy:
Teresa McCloy is the founder and creator of the REALIFE Process®, a framework designed to empower individuals and groups with the tools, training, and community needed for personal and professional growth. Through the REALIFE Process®, Teresa is on a mission to help others grow in self-awareness, establish sustainable rhythms, and enhance their influence and impact by integrating faith and work into their everyday lives.
She lives with her husband of 42 years on their 5th generation family farm in central Illinois and enjoys great coffee, growing beautiful flower gardens, and spending time with her daughter, son-in-law, and first grandson. Connect with Teresa on Facebook or Instagram.
About Lindsay Sterchi:
Lindsay Sterchi is the REALIFE Practice Executive Director at the REALIFE Process®, where she leads and guides our REALIFE Practice Membership and Community. She also writes about habits and rhythms for the Mind, Body, and Soul for a holistic approach to spiritual growth and formation at lindsaysterchi.substack.com.
She lives with her husband Tyler and elementary-aged twin daughters. She has an M.A. in Transformational Leadership from Bethel Seminary, and her background is in church ministry.
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, you’re most likely to find her reading a good book. Connect with Lindsay on Facebook or Instagram.
Join hosts Teresa McCloy and Lindsay Sterchi in the premiere episode of the Real Life Practice Podcast as they reintroduce the former One Life Maps podcast under a new name. This season focuses on the practice of solitude and how to find quiet spaces in our busy lives to connect with God. The hosts share their personal experiences and insights on spiritual growth, exploring life stories, and paying attention to God in both ordinary and extraordinary moments. You'll also learn about the tools and resources they offer for integrating faith into everyday life and how to connect with their free online community.
TIME STAMP:
00:00 Welcome to the Real Life Practice Podcast
00:37 Introduction to the New Season
00:58 Reintroducing the Podcast
01:50 Exploring Spiritual Practices
03:01 Meet Your Hosts
05:24 Connecting with Us
06:10 Join Us on This Journey
Subscribe to the Podcast on your Favorite Podcast Player: CLICK HERE
JOIN OUR FREE COMMUNITY
CLICK HERE to become part of the FREE REALIFE Process® Community! Connect with Teresa & Lindsay and other podcast listeners, plus find additional content to help you discover your best REALIFE.
LIFE MAPPING TOOLS
Gain clarity at life’s transitions and know yourself and God better through our visual life maps. CLICK HERE to learn more about oneLife Maps.
READ TERESA’S BOOK
Banish busyness and discover a new way of being productive around what truly matters. Learn more at DoWhatMattersBook.com.
About Teresa McCloy:
Teresa McCloy is the founder and creator of the REALIFE Process®, a framework designed to empower individuals and groups with the tools, training, and community needed for personal and professional growth. Through the REALIFE Process®, Teresa is on a mission to help others grow in self-awareness, establish sustainable rhythms, and enhance their influence and impact by integrating faith and work into their everyday lives.
She lives with her husband of 42 years on their 5th generation family farm in central Illinois and enjoys great coffee, growing beautiful flower gardens, and traveling as much as possible. Connect with Teresa on Facebook or Instagram.
About Lindsay Sterchi:
Lindsay Sterchi is the REALIFE Practice Executive Director at the REALIFE Process®, where she leads and guides our REALIFE Practice Membership and Community. She also writes about habits and rhythms for the Mind, Body, and Soul for a holistic approach to spiritual growth and formation at lindsaysterchi.substack.com.
She lives with her husband Tyler and elementary-aged twin daughters. She has an M.A. in Transformational Leadership from Bethel Seminary, and her background is in church ministry.
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, you’re most likely to find her reading a good book. Connect with Lindsay on Facebook or Instagram.
We are excited to let you know that oneLife Maps will have a new home with the REALIFE Process® and Teresa McCloy’s stellar team.
Our teams have had both personal and professional connections for years and we want to share what this move means for you, and why the REALIFE Process® is something we think you’ll be intrigued by, both for yourself and for those whom you serve.
Listen in to this conversation Sibyl and Sharon recently had with Teresa McCloy, founder of the REALIFE Process®, and Lindsay Sterchi from the REALIFE Process® team.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
Whether you start with the maps or the components of the REALIFE Process®, these tools work well together and complement one another in helping one to discover and live out what truly matters to them. We are thrilled to see how this partnership continues to develop, so stay tuned for what’s to come!
We’d love for you to learn more about the REALIFE Process®. You can visit their website HERE. You can also check out their 15-minute documentary film where you’ll hear Teresa’s story, how the REALIFE Process® began and developed, plus how their Certified Facilitators are using the Process in the work that they do.
As always, you can continue to find everything you need for oneLife Maps at our website.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
oneLife Maps is, at its core, interested in helping people to recognize and respond to God in their stories. There is so much to be said on the topic of life story as a spiritual practice that we recorded a second episode on the topic that moves in a different direction. I hope you enjoy this one, too.
If you have engaged in 'Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story' visual life mapping, you'll see that this conversation relates directly to the bottom line on the 'My Life Story' map, where you are asked to consider how you have noticed God, or viewed who God is over the course of your life. This conversation is a great way to help you sort out what stories you have been handed about who you are and who God is -- and prayerfully decide what to take with you, and what to leave behind.
Please explore www.onelifemaps.com to download a free introduction booklet to 'Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story,' that contains the artwork we refer to in this episode. You can purchase your 'Listen to My Life' portfolio on that website, too.
Audio Meditations as a Thank You for Your Support
We're on a mission to help people recognize and respond to God in their story. Will you help?
Our Patreon subscription, at http://www.patreon.com/onelifemaps offers you access to recorded audio meditations that are created to assist you in becoming self-aware and God-aware.
Sibyl Towner and I (Sharon Swing), co-authored the 'Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story' visual maps, and we produce the oneLifemaps podcast along with our friend and Director of Facilitator Development, Joan Kelley.
We are offering you the opportunity to support the continuation of the oneLifemaps podcast and the publishing of 'Listen to My Life' in and weekly audio meditations as a token of our appreciation.
If we can serve you, please let us know by emailing us here.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sharon Swing hosts a conversation with Jodi Niznik about the life of Moses and her new study, Choose.
Jodie Niznik is Adult Ministries Pastor at Irving Bible Church in Irving, Texas. She holds a master’s degree in Christian education with an emphasis in women’s ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary and has served in various pastoral roles in the church. Jodie is the author of Choose: A Study of Moses for a Life That Matters, and coauthor with Sue Edwards of Galatians: Discovering Freedom in Christ Through Daily Practice.
Please explore www.onelifemaps.com to download a free introduction booklet to 'Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story,' that contains the artwork we refer to in this episode. You can purchase your 'Listen to My Life' portfolio on that website, too.
Audio Meditations as a Thank You for Your Support
We're on a mission to help people recognize and respond to God in their story. Will you help?
Our Patreon subscription, at http://www.patreon.com/onelifemaps offers you access to recorded audio meditations that are created to assist you in becoming self-aware and God-aware.
Sibyl Towner and I (Sharon Swing), co-authored the 'Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story' visual maps, and we produce the oneLifemaps podcast along with our friend and Director of Facilitator Development, Joan Kelley.
We are offering you the opportunity to support the continuation of the oneLifemaps podcast and the publishing of 'Listen to My Life' in and weekly audio meditations as a token of our appreciation.
If we can serve you, please let us know by emailing us here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jim Brule is a Maggid, a trainer of story-tellers from the Jewish tradition and an End-of-Life Dula. His passion is transformational storytelling -- the art of thought-provoking wisdom-sharing. Listen in as Sharon Swing talks to Jim about how stories connect, transform and heal us.
You can learn more about Jim at http://www.transformationalstorytelling.org and listen to stories from many tellers on his Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/PowerfulStorytelling
Please explore www.onelifemaps.com to download a free introduction booklet to 'Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story,' that contains the artwork we refer to in this episode. You can purchase your 'Listen to My Life' portfolio on that website, too.
Audio Meditations as a Thank You for Your Support
We're on a mission to help people recognize and respond to God in their story. Will you help?
Our Patreon subscription, at http://www.patreon.com/onelifemaps offers you access to recorded audio meditations that are created to assist you in becoming self-aware and God-aware.
Sibyl Towner and I (Sharon Swing), co-authored the 'Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story' visual maps, and we produce the oneLifemaps podcast along with our friend and Director of Facilitator Development, Joan Kelley.
We are offering you the opportunity to support the continuation of the oneLifemaps podcast and the publishing of 'Listen to My Life' in and weekly audio meditations as a token of our appreciation.
If we can serve you, please let us know by emailing us here.
Equipment
We've had some questions about our podcasting equipment. Here is what we use:
Recorder
Microphones
Microphone Stands
Headset
Microphone Wind Screens
Headset Extension Cords
Headset Cable Splitter
The links in this episode may give us a minuscule amount of affiliate revenue from Amazon, but they won't cost you anything at all. Thanks for the support.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The podcast currently has 90 episodes available.
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