In this personal and anecdotal episode, I reflect on a recent car accident that changed my perspective on pain, resilience, and staying present. Drawing from my own experience of navigating physical injury, emotional turmoil, and life's unexpected disruptions, I want to share some valuable lessons on accepting pain and choosing who we want to be in the midst of it.

Key Takeaways

• Pain is a Universal Experience: Everyone faces pain in various forms. Adjusting expectations helps to navigate life’s inevitable challenges.
• Choosing Who to Be in Pain: While we can't control painful circumstances, we can choose our response and who we want to become in those moments.
• Faith and Resilience: God is present in our suffering, showing us how to lean into pain and live authentically.
• The Value of Lament: Acknowledging and naming our losses is essential. Lamenting is not about toxic positivity but about truthfully addressing the pain while moving forward.
• Staying Present: Focusing on the current moment can alleviate overwhelm and help manage pain one step at a time.

Read the show notes and/or ask Natalie a question here

Related Resources:

• Check out the books I mentioned: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl and The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. 
• Are you wondering what is happening inside your own painful and confusing marriage? I wrote another book just for you called Is It Me? Making Sense of Your Confusing Marriage: A Christian Woman’s Guide to Hidden Emotional and Spiritual Abuse.
• My newest book, All the Scary Little Gods, is a spiritual memoir about healing from religious trauma and toxic programming. 
• Flying Free is my online membership program designed for Christian women in emotionally abusive marriages. Whether you want to stay in your marriage or leave, we want to equip and support you through this program.
• Flying Higher is my online membership program for Christian women interested in 10Xing their self-development progress.