There are several reasons why I became Catholic. And even more reasons why becoming Catholic was the best decision I made for myself and my family. I was NEVER going to become Catholic One of the biggest fights my husband and I ever had was over faith when we were dating. It almost ended our relationship. I was intrigued by becoming Catholic During college, several of my friends were Catholic. The Newman Center for the hospital complex and for college students at Washington University was across the street. There was not a Lutheran church within walking distance, and I didn't want to go alone. I also wanted to sleep in on Sunday morning or work. So, I went to the Saturday evening Catholic mass with my friends. Faith that floundered Throughout college, my faith was hot and cold. Then I met my husband. The biggest fight The lack of what we needed When my husband was asked to move to the East Coast for his job, we had to start the church search all over again. It was years of searching. Then, football saved the day. Then, a God wink. About a week into playing for the CYO team, we were told that our son had to be in CCD to play. This was a new rule. Several of the kids in the league had to join CCD or leave the league. I am a challenger by nature. If you are on my email list, you already know that part of my identity is being a challenger. And I set out to challenge the deacon teaching the RCIA classes. What I learned about becoming Catholic Why I became Catholic By becoming Catholic, I grew closer to Jesus. A relationship that I had not previously developed. My trust grew. I discovered the Holy Spirit and developed a new understanding of grace and mercy. The eucharist became a lifeline of forgiveness, for myself and for me to be able to forgive others. I healed from past traumas and grew in my ability to share my faith with others. Even after 15 years in the Catholic church, I feel like a young Catholic. There is more I could say about why I became Catholic, but the reality is that it has been a life-changing journey, a healing journey, and an opportunity for our family to grow together in our faith and become stronger because of it. No judgement I hope that this has clarified a few items about the Catholic faith. If you want to learn more, please share your questions with me. If I don't have the answers, I will get them for you. I can also recommend an incredible resource, Lisa Brenninkmeyer, founder of Walking with Purpose and a fellow convert, and Jeff Cavins, a convert and Catholic educator and evangelist. It is important for me to emphasize that I believe Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, and that it does not change with time or science. In fact, I believe that science is just now catching up with Scripture, and that when we lean into Scripture, our lives are changed and God opens doors we could never have imagined. It's when we lean into Scripture and have a relationship with the triune God that we heal from past wounds and traumas and can break through anxiety-driven behaviors and live in the purpose God has for us. His redemption is how we are delivered from perfectionism, the need to control, fear, and people-pleasing. What a blessing! Read the full show notes and access all links. Video on Eucharist by Greg Pratt.

The conversation around alcohol consumption has evolved as many begin to question its place in daily life. Rethinking alcohol goes beyond mere abstention; it's about understanding its role and effects on our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. As society often normalizes drinking, it's crucial to explore how alcohol impacts individuals differently, and why some may choose a path of sobriety for deeper, more personal reasons. Alcohol and Spiritual Conflict Alcohol is often touted as a social lubricant or a way to unwind, but its effects are far from benign. For many, alcohol creates a conflict between personal values and societal norms. Engaging in a faith-driven lifestyle while consuming alcohol can lead to an internal struggle. This struggle is especially pronounced in those seeking spiritual growth, as alcohol can hinder one's connection to their faith. Alcohol can cloud the mind and prevent one from leaning into the Lord and hearing the Holy Spirit. The Intersection of Anxiety and Addiction Understanding the link between anxiety and alcohol is essential in the rethinking alcohol conversation. Breaking the Stereotypes of Alcoholism Rethinking alcohol also means challenging the stereotype of what an alcoholic looks like. Exploring Personal Journeys Personal stories of sobriety illustrate the complex relationship many have with alcohol. Embracing Faith in Recovery Faith can play a transformative role in the journey to sobriety. Many find that their spiritual beliefs provide comfort and strength, helping them overcome the hurdles of addiction. Society's Role in Supporting Change Encouraging societal change in how we view alcohol can have lasting impacts. Website for Ericka Andersen Buy Ericka's book: Freely Sober Additional resources: Addiction and Parenting: Truths Every Parent Needs to Know Narcissism 101:Truths You Need to Know Download the free eBook: Alleviate Anxiety by Developing Healthy Habits for a Healthy Mind Links for You, Me, and Anxiety: Parent Book Teen Book Schedule a free consultation discovery call with Robyn. Read the full show notes and access all links.

The body talks. It may shout or whisper, but God created it to communicate its needs and your needs physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. How can you know if your body is speaking to you? You must have awareness and listen. Then you must pause to hear as the body speaks to you. God miraculously created you to have a sense of awareness and connection between mind, body, and spirit. It is your choice to listen and embrace the gifts given to you. The Miraculous Connection Between Body and Mind Our body is a remarkable creation, intricately designed to communicate with us. This relationship between the physical and the spiritual aspects is profound. Understanding how your body talks is key to health and wellness. For many, recognizing the nuances of this dialogue can be transformative. Recognizing Your Body's Signals Many of us have grown up in environments disconnected from bodily awareness. The Journey to Reconnection Some may go straight from complete disconnection to an obsessed awareness of the body. The Power of Chiropractic and Natural Health Chiropractic care offers a pathway to this reconnection. Strategies for Tuning Into Your Body Our bodies crave what they need. Sometimes, a lack of progress in healing or weight loss can mean the body has become resistant to current practices. Stewarding Our Physical Selves Like any valuable resource, our bodies require stewardship. The Role of Emotions and Spirituality Your body does not exist in isolation. Understanding the Whispering Signals The warnings our bodies give, such as sneezing or slight joint pain, often indicate underlying issues. Responding Rather Than Reacting In moments of stress or when facing health challenges, pausing rather than reacting can be powerful. Listening to Your Body: A Lifelong Practice Becoming attuned to your body is a journey, one that involves continuous learning and adjustment. Your Body, Your Partner in Well-being This journey is unique for each individual. Your body is a wise entity designed for resilience and healing. Website for Dr. Brook Sheehan Additional Resources Adopt the Holy Pause to Stop Overreacting. How Gratitude Reduces Anxiety Bible verse quoted: Psalm 100:3 Schedule a free consultation discovery call with Robyn. Links for You, Me, and Anxiety: Parent Book Teen Book Read the full show notes and access all links.

Discovering your identity in Christ is a profound journey that can lead to an extraordinary purpose in life. Embracing your identity in Christ is not merely about adopting labels or roles, but understanding a deeper essence that aligns with God's vision for you. Your identity in Christ will lead to your purpose and to an extraordinary life. To truly be extraordinary, aligning your identity with your God-assigned purpose is essential. Exploring Your Identity in Christ Living Out Your God-Given Identity When you live in alignment with your God-assigned identity, your actions, decisions, and life pursuits flow naturally from this core understanding. The Power of Community in Identity Discovery Community plays a vital role in discovering and living out your identity in Christ. Overcoming Barriers to Identity To fully embrace your identity in Christ, it is crucial to release past identities rooted in fear, guilt, and shame. Embracing Your Extraordinary Purpose Every believer is called to impact the world significantly. The Eternal Perspective Our earthly journey is just a small part of a larger eternal story. Scripture verses referenced throughout the conversation with Kimberly Joy: Psalm 3:3 - "Thou Lord, our shield about me and the lifter of my head." Second Samuel - Reference to God calling David from shepherding to make him king over Israel. Jeremiah 29:11 - Reference to God having a plan and a blueprint. 2 Chronicles 25 - Reference to King Johoiachin being favored, released, and given a seat at the king's table. Hebrews 12:1-2 - While not directly quoted, the concept of "fixing our eyes on Jesus" aligns with biblical teaching. Psalm 139:16 - A reference to God having a book in which our days are written, suggesting a predestined purpose. Website for Kimberly Joy Additional Resources What Does the Bible Say About Your Identity? The Need to Forgive Because Unforgiveness Increases Anxiety Why Are You People-Pleasing Gratitude Reduces Anxiety Adopt the Holy Pause to Stop Overreacting Links for You, Me, and Anxiety: Parent Book Teen Book Schedule a free consultation discovery call with Robyn. Download the free eBook: Alleviate Anxiety by Developing Healthy Habits for a Healthy Mind Read the full show notes and access all links.

Father wounds result in nervous system dysregulation, anxiety, and long-term love-seeking behaviors. Anxiety and father wounds often go hand in hand. Many women experience emotional chaos because of unrecognized father wounds. The Need for Acceptance and Love In the depths of our hearts, each of us carries the need for acceptance and love from our earthly fathers. Understanding Father Wounds Father wounds stem from the absence of a nurturing, supportive father figure. Restoring through Redemption and Grace Redemption involves reclaiming what was lost. Embracing a New Identity Discover a new identity in Christ. The journey from wounds to healing culminates in living as redeemed daughters of God. About Rachelle Starr Rachelle Starr is the founder of Scarlet Hope and Freedom Signal. Rachelle's book, Outrageous Obedience About He Calls Me Daughter He Calls Me Daughter is for women who have felt unseen, unsupported, or unsure of their worth—and who long for love that feels safe. Fathers Play a Crucial Role in Healthy Development The film highlights how fathers play a crucial role in guiding children with biblical values. Tickets for He Calls Me Daughter at Fathom Entertainment. For more information, visit hecallsmedaughter.org. Read the full show notes and access all links. Links for You, Me, and Anxiety: Parent Book Teen Book Additional Resources Schedule a free consultation discovery call with Robyn. Download the free eBook: Alleviate Anxiety by Developing Healthy Habits for a Healthy Mind

Your self-talk is powerful. It will build you up or tear you down. What is your self-talk saying about you? Positive self-talk will build you up, give you strength, and confidence. Negative self-talk will tear you down, wear you down, and hold you back from healthy relationships and success. What self-talk does to you. How is self-talk biological Intersection of science and Scripture Mind over matter The neuroscience connection Self-talk has roots in scripture Genesis 1:26 2 Timothy 1:7 James 1:21 Philippians 4:6-7 Matthew 28:18 Proverbs 23:7 Psalm 145:3 Romans 12:2 Romans 11:33 Proverbs 3:5-6 Proverbs 19:21 2 Corinthians 10:5 Matthew 6:25-33 When your mind starts to take a wrong turn, pause, assess, and adjust. Ask yourself these questions and implement the 6 C's strategy: Where is this thought coming from? What do I know to be true about this thought? Would someone that I know, love, and respect be thinking the same thing about me? What does Jesus say about me? What is my identity in Him? If the answers to those questions do not align with what you know to be true, change the thought. Write down a positive self-talk alternative and repeat it to yourself. Over and over. Read the full show notes and access all links. Schedule a free consult discovery call with me today to move from being stuck in an anxiety response loop to renewing your mind to become calm, confident, and consistent in your work, relationships, and the communities you serve. Download the free eBook: Alleviate Anxiety by Developing Health Habits for a Healthy Mind, including the 6 C's strategy.

Rest is something every human needs to thrive, experience joy, feel happiness, build healthy relationships, achieve success, and have a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Rest is not just a luxury; it's an essential part of maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle. With mounting pressures from various facets of life, from work to family commitments, tapping into different forms of rest everyone needs to reduce anxiety and improve overall well-being. Understanding the True Meaning of Rest Rest goes beyond merely sleeping or taking a break from physical activities. It encompasses nurturing your mind, body, soul, and spirit to rejuvenate and restore your energy levels. Unlike a day at the spa, rest is about creating daily habits that allow you to live less stressed and more fulfilled lives. No one is exempt from needing rest. Rest is an integral part of overall health and wellness. The Seven Types of Rest to Reduce Anxiety Understanding the diverse types of rest helps individuals tailor their self-care practices. There are seven primary types of rest: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, social, sensory, and creative. Each type addresses unique aspects of your daily life, providing a comprehensive approach to reducing anxiety and promoting peace, longevity, strong relationships, and success in parenting and career. Rest is crucial for mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being. Physical Rest Physical rest is often perceived as sleep, yet it also includes activities that enhance circulation and muscle relaxation, such as posture correction, stretching, or taking leisurely walks. Sleep is a restorative process. However, deep restorative sleep can not be achieved without rest. Everyone needs to adopt a habit of rest to achieve the sleep levels needed to restore cells throughout the body. Mental Rest Meanwhile, mental rest involves quieting a racing mind, which might include taking breaks to let your thoughts settle or practicing mindfulness. Nervous system regulation is also important for mental rest. Moving the brain from a place of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn into a space of being able to access the pre-frontal cortex for better decision making will help you achieve mental rest. It is about quieting the mind, which has control over the brain, to allow the brain to heal and restore and rejuvenate the neural pathways. Spiritual Rest Spiritual rest involves cultivating a sense of belonging and purpose, often through spiritual practices like prayer or meditation. Connection with friends and Bible studies are additional ways you can rest spiritually. Having prayer partners is another way to rest spiritually. Read the Full Show Notes and Access All Links. Website for Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith Buy the book: Sacred Rest Buy the book: Being Fully Known Download the free eBook: 15 Journaling Prompts and Scripture Verses Schedule a free consult discovery call with Robyn. You, Me, and Anxiety Teen Edition You, Me, and Anxiety Parent Edition

Unforgiveness disrupts your ability to feel calm and keeps you stuck in a cycle of negative emotions, feelings, and thoughts about yourself or others. Notice, if you are feeling anxious, irritable, or unfulfilled for a period of time, it could be that unforgiveness and anxiety have partnered to disrupt your nervous system regulation. Perhaps you are striving to please people, feeling exhausted by the need to control, or living in a constant drive for perfection. Everyone sins, therefore everyone needs forgiveness. The connection between unforgiveness and anxiety. If we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts, whether toward ourselves or others, fear and shame grow. Anxiety is an abnormal sense of fear. And it is our nervous system's way of keeping us safe. So if anxiety is building, our nervous system is dysregulated, and therefore we are not able to access our pre-frontal cortex to make good, effective, meaningful decisions. In addition, shame results in fear and nervous system dysregulation. Nervous system dysregulation When the nervous system is dysregulated for long periods, it can manifest in your body and reduce overall well-being. First, your brain is operating from the limbic system and relying on fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses. Here's what happens in each state: Fight: You become irritated. Instead of responding to others or situations, you overreact. Overreaction leads to more shame, guilt, and disruption in relationships. Flight: You run, and avoid. Freeze: You feel stuck. Fawn: People-pleasing becomes part of your identity. Nervous system regulation strategies: Breath Pray Practice gratitude Get creative - color, doodle, write, draw, paint, etc. Go for a walk Spend time in nature Get sunlight Journal Read Connect - spend time with family or friends Tapping Hum Listen to music Laugh Cry Practice mindfulness Progressive muscle relaxation Confirmation that unforgiveness and anxiety go together Proverbs 10:12 Matthew 6:14-25 1 John 1:9 Luke 6:37 Colossians 3:13 (ESV) Mark 11:25 (ESV) Forgiveness is hard. Unforgiveness is easy, until it's not. Forgiveness awaits. Read the full show notes and access all links. If you are struggling with anxiety or would like to start a journaling practice that includes Scripture verses, download our free resources today. Schedule a free consultation discovery call with Robyn. Links for You, Me, and Anxiety: Parent Book Teen Book

Awareness of attachment styles in relationships is crucial for maintaining healthy, sustainable relationships. Once you are aware of your attachment styles in relationships, you will begin to see areas where you may need healing. Understanding Attachment Styles and Anxiety Understanding how you relate to others is deeply influenced by your attachment style. This concept, rooted in early life, plays a pivotal role in how you experience relationships today. The Root of Attachment Styles Attachment styles begin to form during the first three years of life when the brain and nervous system are most malleable. Types of Attachment Styles There are several types of attachment styles to consider: Secure Attachment: Developed through consistently supportive caregiving, resulting in trusting and balanced relationships. Anxious Attachment: Arises when caregivers are unpredictable, leading to worry about relationships being untrustworthy or unstable. Avoidant Attachment: Occurs when a caregiver is consistently dismissive or unavailable, causing an emotional distance in adult relationships. Disorganized Attachment: Results from trauma or inconsistent caregiving, creating confusion and fear around intimacy. The Impact of Anxiety Attachment styles are not merely theoretical; they are intricately connected to anxiety levels in relationships. Anxious and avoidant tendencies can manifest through fear of abandonment or difficulty with closeness and vulnerability. Pathways to Healing and Establishing Secure Attachment Awareness is the primary step in transforming your attachment style. Here are some methods to guide your journey: Therapy and Professional Support: Engaging in therapy, especially when informed by attachment theory, can provide profound insights and tools for change. Techniques such as Somatic Experiencing or neurofeedback can aid in reconditioning the nervous system. Grief and Story Work: Unprocessed grief from childhood needs acknowledgment. Story work in a supportive group setting can help reframe past narratives, providing healing and a sense of empowerment. Co-Regulation: Finding relationships where co-regulation is possible helps. Whether through therapy, a coach, or a supportive spouse, being with someone who models secure attachment can naturally elevate your own attachment style. Exploring Spiritual and Emotional Growth: Acknowledging Christianity's role can also promote healing. Secure faith and trust in Jesus as your savior can provide stability and comfort. The Crucial Role of Community Healing from attachment-related wounds is not a solitary journey. Awareness, Acknowledgement, and Hard Holy Work Acknowledging and working with your attachment style is a critical component of improving interpersonal relationships and managing anxiety. A Relationship With the Lord God is at our side and ready to help us heal. Read the full show notes and access all links. Website for Kathryn Wessling Additional Attachment Style resources from Kathryn Books How We Love Secure Love Attachment Style Quizzes: How We Love The Attachment Project

Intimacy goes beyond sex; every marriage needs intimacy. Marriage and intimacy go hand in hand for a strong marital foundation. Intimacy in marriage helps you connect on a deeper level, communicate more effectively, and build bonds that are hard to break. In addition, intimacy and marriage are biblical concepts. Healthy relationships are built on trust, and intimacy influences trust and confidence in others. The crucial nature of intimacy Intimacy is crucial in maintaining a healthy marriage. It's not solely about physical connection; it's a powerful blend of emotional bonding and communication. The Significance of Physical Connection Physical intimacy plays a crucial role in strengthening a marriage. Navigating Emotional Intimacy and Marriage Emotional intimacy is as important as physical connection, if not more so. Addressing Challenges in Intimacy Creating a Safe Space for Vulnerability Intimacy flourishes best in an environment of safety and trust. Maintaining Intimacy in Marriage Sustaining intimacy requires dedication and intentionality. Nurturing both physical and emotional intimacy is imperative for a thriving marriage. Faith and Intimacy God created us to be in relationship. Read the full show notes and access all links. Website for Lindsey Maestas Buy Lindsey's book: Don't Burn Your Own House Down Additional Resources: A Happy Marriage, A Happy Family Links for You, Me, and Anxiety: Parent Book Teen Book Schedule a free consultation discovery call with Robyn. Download the free eBook: Alleviate Anxiety by Developing Healthy Habits for a Healthy Mind