The Stand Strong Podcast

We know that loving relationships are a key to our physical, emotional and spiritual health.  Did you catch that?  Our physical... health.  Not just our emotional health.  And our spiritual health too.
These are 5 strategies to help create friendships several of which come from the workbook "Finding Strength In the Lord: Emotional Resilience".

#1 To start out we take a look at improving our listening skills --specifically through prayer.  

In the Self Reliance course: Emotional Resilience, there is a section on prayer in the Building Healthy Relationships chapter.   It has a 4 step chart on listening skills.  

These skills sound like something you would practice on a human being that you are with.  But the chart is placed in the prayer section for when you are speaking with Deity.  These steps to listening include watching body language and not interrupting.  Much can be learned -- and practiced-- by employing these steps while praying.

#2 Have genuine interest in other people.  Not feigned.  And even when you don't share their interests.  This is a different focus than the approach of trying to find someone with the same interests as you.  This helps you broaden your capacity to know and understand many more people.

#3 Smile.  It feels good to have someone smile at you.  It can create an immediate connection with another human.

#4 Switching "you" sentences to "I" sentences.  Such as "You always interrupt me when I am trying to go over the family schedule.  You look at your phone or you act like you didn't even hear me."  This can be changed to "I feel dismissed when you look at your phone while I talk to you."  

Changing it to an "I" sentence does two things.  1) It keeps you from getting into a blaming mindset and 2) It helps you become aware of what you are feeling.  

#5 Focus on the other person as being important.  Even imagine them as being smart.  Everyone is smart about something and we can learn something from everyone we meet.

This strategy employs the golden rule.  We all like to feel important-- like what we say matters.  Allow others this gift of being heard and their voice being valued.

Schedule a free call to check out my Stop Overeating for Comfort workshop.  https://calendly.com/karristokercoaching/40-min

Or go to my website KarriStoker.com for more information

Karri is creating a 4 month workshop beginning next week to help clients stop overeating as a way to comfort themselves and buffer/avoid discomfort and pain.  

We often head for the pantry for a snack or we take extra helpings at meals or we eat more treats than we ought.  This is because those things give us a dopamine hit and dopamine feels good!  Only its just a cover up.

In this 4 month program you'll learn tools and strategies to turn this behavior around such as: 1. setting up your environment for success  2. Listening or reading information about healthy eating; 3. Where to get the best up to date information about the body, nutrition and human behavior; and 4. Learning to coach yourself.

Hormones also play a big role in your overeating and snacking habits.  

Why this focus as a mental health coach?  Because almost to the person my clients say this (overeating or snacking) is what they do to buffer/avoid a feeling.  And this is often coupled with something having to do with a screen.  

Teaching and coaching to stop overeating is such a valuable skill because those same skills can then be used in other areas like money management, abusing prescription drugs, viewing pornography.

Reading in 1 Nephi 19 we see Nephi compiling words of several prophets to get a fuller picture of Jesus Christ's birth, ministry, crucifixion and resurrection.

Karri has compiled years of study and experimentation from experts in the field of nutrition, social science and human behavior and coaching to create this amazing program. Thank you Nephi for the inspired process!

The program will be ready for registration on June 9th when the next Stand Strong Podcast will be published.  

Thoughts about Jacob 5.

An upcoming hike encouraged my husband and I to help each other prepare for it.  As I train by running and walking my legs are a little sore but I am getting stronger.

In the Book of Mormon we read the "Olive Tree Allegory" in Jacob chapter 5.  One day years ago I had a question:  "What do these verses have to do with Primary?"  

As I studied those scriptures with this question in mind I learned so much about being strengthened through challenges. 

I also learned that we need to figure some things out and experience some things so that we can grow and produce our own healthy, delicious fruit. 

The Book of Mormon in Helaman 3:29 talks about the "everlasting gulf of misery".  But before that it talks about how we can be led over that gulf on a narrow path (bridge maybe) through the Word of God.  

Karri experienced this through coaching herself from misery to confidence.  

Coaching works!  Listen to Karri's story and how the scriptures support the process of change (repentance) through coaching.

The tree designed and taught by Stacy Harmer is a beautiful analogy of how to bring health and vitality to your life.  Examining the different parts of the tree we learn the 7 steps to vibrant living: Nourishing the roots-- body, heart, mind, and soul; setting up systems and structure as seen in the trunk of the tree; finding our purpose and passion-- branching out; and then finally the fruit-- sharing our gifts and talents.  

When we examine these 7 elements in our life and address any issues then we can take steps to recovering our overall health.  

And then we can be prepared to lead and serve our family.



Final days before the Vibrant Living Wellness Conference.  Grab your tickets
www.VibrantLivingWellnessConference.com

Visit www.StacyHarmer.com to read more about the 7 steps 

Jesus Christ gives us much to think about in the verses of Mark chapter 6.  Including the guidance to Stop Worrying!  We let our minds spin on what's going to happen in the future when actually no one can predict that 100%.  So why not give the mind a very positive scenario? 

In this episode you'll learn several strategies on how to stop worrying and how to start living more in the moment.

Have you ever had an off day where your mood and energy is low?  Create a new "state" of being.  Become more energized, clear thinking and lighten your mood by utilizing five easy tools.  

Also mentioned in this podcast:
Indigo's Healing Kitchen   https://www.indyycookclub.com  Karri spent a week in Hawaii at a Vibrant Living health retreat (see StacyHarmer.com) where Indigo was a on-site chef. 

May 14th VLWC
www.VibrantLivingWellnessConference.com

Sister Rebecca Craven in April 2022 General Conference gives us something to really consider: what matters the most.  We learn beautiful life lessons from the experiences we have in life pursuing God's will for us and through our obedience to His word.  Scripture study became the thing that mattered the most many years ago and I love that God showed us a fun way to make that a consistent practice for our family.


https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/04/33craven?lang=eng

I've found that in a group of people it feels more comfortable to talk about cancer than it is to talk about mental health challenges.  And maybe that's okay.  But what if we could create a little more space for that conversation so that more people can find voice to their challenges?  Christ reaches us all in the depth of our seen and unseen sorrows.  

Just like money, amazing families grow on trees.  This week we look at 18 years worth of experiences around the big willow tree in Karri's front yard.  These stories demonstrate different aspects of caring for the tree and how its use has blessed the family.  And the  way you think about your family matters.