1 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:19,770 Speaker 1: Life Audio Hey friend, have you ever noticed how your 2 00:00:19,829 --> 00:00:24,290 Speaker 1: surroundings can change the way you feel? What if beauty 3 00:00:24,550 --> 00:00:29,290 Speaker 1: isn't just extra or just decoration, but it's one of 4 00:00:29,310 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: the ways God designed us to experience greater calm, joy, 5 00:00:34,140 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 1: and healthier rhythms. Well, friend, welcome to Breathe, the stress-less podcast. 6 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Bonnie Gray. I'm a soul care mentor 7 00:00:45,620 --> 00:00:50,030 Speaker 1: and best-selling author of four books on soul care and rest, 8 00:00:50,430 --> 00:00:54,050 Speaker 1: one of them being Breathe, 21 Days to Stress Less 9 00:00:54,570 --> 00:00:58,660 Speaker 1: and Transform Chaos to Calm. Well, friend, this fall, I'm 10 00:00:58,700 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: excited to begin a new science and scripture series here 11 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: on Breathe. When I was healing from panic attacks, anxiety, 12 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:11,690 Speaker 1: and insomnia, I discovered something that changed my life. God 13 00:01:11,850 --> 00:01:15,130 Speaker 1: used both scripture and science to help restore my body 14 00:01:15,230 --> 00:01:19,590 Speaker 1: and emotions to have more calm and God's peace. So 15 00:01:19,970 --> 00:01:22,890 Speaker 1: this fall, I want to explore this question together. What 16 00:01:22,950 --> 00:01:26,580 Speaker 1: does science tell us? about how God designed us and 17 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: how does scripture help us live it? And so today's topic, 18 00:01:32,300 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 1: I'll start with a question. When you look around your home, 19 00:01:34,900 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: does it make your soul exhale or does it kind 20 00:01:37,540 --> 00:01:42,179 Speaker 1: of feel blah, just functional? Sometimes when we go through 21 00:01:42,260 --> 00:01:45,940 Speaker 1: survival seasons or caring for everyone else first, we stop 22 00:01:45,980 --> 00:01:49,530 Speaker 1: noticing beauty around us. We keep things tidy and we 23 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,310 Speaker 1: might even keep them functional, but we forget to make 24 00:01:52,410 --> 00:01:55,620 Speaker 1: them delightful. And so today we're going to talk about 25 00:01:55,660 --> 00:01:59,020 Speaker 1: how beauty is an extra. It's actually essential for our 26 00:01:59,100 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: soul care and how God designed beauty as a gift 27 00:02:03,780 --> 00:02:07,380 Speaker 1: to restore your soul. We're going to learn about visual 28 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,180 Speaker 1: cues and how they can help us form new healthy habits. 29 00:02:10,220 --> 00:02:12,940 Speaker 1: And of course, I always give you something practical based 30 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,530 Speaker 1: on science and scripture to help add more joy and 31 00:02:16,570 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: beauty in your daily life. So before we jump in, 32 00:02:21,220 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: I just want to ask, do you have a devotional 33 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,060 Speaker 1: that you love using? I want to invite you to 34 00:02:26,900 --> 00:02:32,210 Speaker 1: think of Whispers of Rest. It's my 40-day devotional where 35 00:02:32,290 --> 00:02:35,490 Speaker 1: I combine science and scripture, and I put 40 of 36 00:02:35,550 --> 00:02:39,250 Speaker 1: the most beautiful, powerful scriptures that help me to overcome 37 00:02:39,830 --> 00:02:42,940 Speaker 1: anxiety and stress. So I wanted to share with you 38 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,369 Speaker 1: what encouraged me. And this is a really beloved devotional 39 00:02:46,389 --> 00:02:49,309 Speaker 1: to my heart and to many different readers who've written me. 40 00:02:49,370 --> 00:02:51,989 Speaker 1: And I hope that you'll consider it. I'll put a 41 00:02:52,090 --> 00:02:54,130 Speaker 1: link in the show notes and you can check it out. 42 00:02:54,730 --> 00:03:11,850 Speaker 1: And we'll be right back. Well, let's begin with our 43 00:03:11,910 --> 00:03:15,830 Speaker 1: breath prayer. It's a moment of just peace and tranquility, 44 00:03:16,650 --> 00:03:21,510 Speaker 1: focusing on God's loving word. Our word for this week 45 00:03:21,550 --> 00:03:27,530 Speaker 1: comes to us from Ecclesiastes 3.11. He has made everything 46 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:36,940 Speaker 1: beautiful in his time. Let's inhale. You make my life beautiful. Exhale. 47 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:45,490 Speaker 1: You make everything beautiful in its time. Just again, inhale. 48 00:03:46,450 --> 00:03:52,070 Speaker 1: He has made everything beautiful in its time. Again, inhale. 49 00:03:53,070 --> 00:03:59,420 Speaker 1: You make my life beautiful. Exhale. You make everything beautiful 50 00:03:59,960 --> 00:04:05,380 Speaker 1: in your time. Just continue to relax. Remind yourself of 51 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,820 Speaker 1: how God has brought beauty in your life. In the past, 52 00:04:09,820 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 1: And he'll continue to make it beautiful in his time today. Well, 53 00:04:16,660 --> 00:04:21,950 Speaker 1: our wellness insight is about the stressor of a function-only environment. 54 00:04:22,810 --> 00:04:26,510 Speaker 1: Did you know that our surroundings send constant signals to 55 00:04:26,589 --> 00:04:31,430 Speaker 1: our brain, affecting our mood, energy, and even our ability 56 00:04:31,470 --> 00:04:36,790 Speaker 1: to stick to healthy habits? Psychologists call it environmental cues. 57 00:04:37,490 --> 00:04:42,370 Speaker 1: And when our space is purely functional with no visual delight, 58 00:04:43,170 --> 00:04:47,710 Speaker 1: our brain doesn't get that dopamine spark that beauty brings. 59 00:04:48,250 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: And over time, this can keep us feeling flat or unmotivated, 60 00:04:53,940 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 1: especially if we've been in a season of just quote-unquote 61 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: surviving or getting by. Brain research shows that beauty, whether nature, art, 62 00:05:03,970 --> 00:05:10,529 Speaker 1: or color, activates the brain's reward system. And it releases dopamine. 63 00:05:10,650 --> 00:05:14,890 Speaker 1: That's the little spark you get. And it lowers cortisol. 64 00:05:15,070 --> 00:05:20,330 Speaker 1: That's the stress hormone. Beauty tells your nervous system, hey, 65 00:05:20,390 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 1: it's safe to relax. You can enjoy this moment. I 66 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 1: really relate to that because when I was going through 67 00:05:29,540 --> 00:05:32,930 Speaker 1: severe anxiety, I wanted to do as much as I 68 00:05:33,020 --> 00:05:37,950 Speaker 1: could in my ability. with God's help, to help my environment, 69 00:05:38,050 --> 00:05:41,270 Speaker 1: to set good cues for me, my emotions, and my 70 00:05:41,310 --> 00:05:46,539 Speaker 1: body to calm. And learning about environmental cues really was helpful. 71 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: Another insight as to why the visual cues can actually 72 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:55,710 Speaker 1: help you build better new habits, here's the science twist. 73 00:05:56,190 --> 00:05:59,650 Speaker 1: Visual cues aren't just about making things pretty around us. 74 00:06:00,050 --> 00:06:06,090 Speaker 1: They're powerful habit triggers. Studies from the University College London 75 00:06:06,589 --> 00:06:10,050 Speaker 1: found that pairing a new habit with a visual cue, 76 00:06:10,550 --> 00:06:13,910 Speaker 1: something you actually see, will help your brain anchor the 77 00:06:13,950 --> 00:06:18,060 Speaker 1: behavior faster. Your eyes will signal to your brain, oh, 78 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:21,539 Speaker 1: this is the moment when I can do fill in 79 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,900 Speaker 1: the blank, whatever your new habit or rhythm is. And 80 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,660 Speaker 1: that's why a brightly patterned mug by your coffee maker 81 00:06:28,860 --> 00:06:31,580 Speaker 1: can make you more likely to start journaling in the 82 00:06:31,620 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 1: morning when you have your notebook and your pen all 83 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:39,690 Speaker 1: right there. Beauty can be functional and soul nourishing. It 84 00:06:39,790 --> 00:06:44,230 Speaker 1: helps you have a bridge between what you intend and 85 00:06:44,250 --> 00:06:48,750 Speaker 1: the action you take. Well, I have a story. It 86 00:06:48,870 --> 00:06:54,549 Speaker 1: just happened. I just came back from Durham, North Carolina. Hi, 87 00:06:54,670 --> 00:06:58,450 Speaker 1: friends from the South. I went there just, I just 88 00:06:58,490 --> 00:07:01,490 Speaker 1: came back. I went there to help my son Josh 89 00:07:01,589 --> 00:07:07,270 Speaker 1: settle in for his fall internship. And because we're both Californians, 90 00:07:07,690 --> 00:07:10,770 Speaker 1: neither of us have spent any time in North Carolina, 91 00:07:11,790 --> 00:07:14,710 Speaker 1: I wanted to go with Josh that first week to 92 00:07:14,770 --> 00:07:19,020 Speaker 1: help him get settled and make this unfamiliar place feel 93 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: a little more like home. And so friends, I just 94 00:07:21,780 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: went into full mom mode. While Josh was at work, 95 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:29,460 Speaker 1: I was out buying things for his kitchen, setting up 96 00:07:29,500 --> 00:07:33,330 Speaker 1: his pots and pans, choosing plates. And I noticed that 97 00:07:33,370 --> 00:07:37,550 Speaker 1: I wanted everything to feel cozy and inviting. I wanted 98 00:07:37,610 --> 00:07:41,150 Speaker 1: the colors to work together. And I really insisted that 99 00:07:41,290 --> 00:07:43,850 Speaker 1: he not, you know, bring in those old hangers and get, 100 00:07:44,150 --> 00:07:47,150 Speaker 1: you know, matching ones. And somewhere in the middle of 101 00:07:47,250 --> 00:07:51,369 Speaker 1: shopping for him, I just had this aha moment. I said, 102 00:07:51,530 --> 00:07:54,590 Speaker 1: why don't I do this for myself? Why am I 103 00:07:54,730 --> 00:07:59,770 Speaker 1: so intentional about creating a beautiful environment for Josh, for 104 00:07:59,930 --> 00:08:03,929 Speaker 1: people I love, but so willing to just make do 105 00:08:03,990 --> 00:08:08,500 Speaker 1: with my own surroundings? That question stayed with me since 106 00:08:08,570 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: I've been home. I've spent so much of my life 107 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: caring for my boy's spaces. You know, when they were little, 108 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:17,660 Speaker 1: I made sure the rooms were bright and playful and 109 00:08:18,340 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: yellow when they were babies and then Josh got blue 110 00:08:22,020 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: for his room and green for Caleb as they got older. 111 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,950 Speaker 1: But when it came to my own spaces, I've tended 112 00:08:27,990 --> 00:08:32,830 Speaker 1: to think it's fine, it works. So this fall, I 113 00:08:32,870 --> 00:08:37,750 Speaker 1: decided I'm going to take more care in my environment 114 00:08:38,350 --> 00:08:41,209 Speaker 1: to give that same kind of attention for beauty, what 115 00:08:41,490 --> 00:08:44,670 Speaker 1: I would like. Well, I just came back and I've 116 00:08:44,690 --> 00:08:46,950 Speaker 1: been shopping for a new rug to place in our 117 00:08:47,010 --> 00:08:49,949 Speaker 1: family room. where I spend a lot of my mornings 118 00:08:50,570 --> 00:08:55,930 Speaker 1: reading God's Word, journaling my prayers, and I'm thinking about 119 00:08:56,070 --> 00:09:02,059 Speaker 1: trying some new projects. I chose a soft oatmeal color 120 00:09:02,260 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 1: rug with touches of light teal and florals in blue 121 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,340 Speaker 1: and green. And I even replaced something as small as 122 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:13,329 Speaker 1: my own oven mitts. I've been using ones I've received 123 00:09:13,429 --> 00:09:17,780 Speaker 1: as a gift for a long time because They work 124 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:21,460 Speaker 1: perfectly well, but you know what? They weren't the colors 125 00:09:21,660 --> 00:09:25,540 Speaker 1: I would ever choose myself. So friends, these seem maybe 126 00:09:25,710 --> 00:09:29,710 Speaker 1: small things, but I started noticing something. My mornings have 127 00:09:29,790 --> 00:09:33,390 Speaker 1: felt different. I make my coffee, sit down with my 128 00:09:33,450 --> 00:09:36,830 Speaker 1: Bible and journal, put on some soft guitar music, and 129 00:09:37,390 --> 00:09:41,410 Speaker 1: I actually just want to linger there. And instead of 130 00:09:41,429 --> 00:09:44,850 Speaker 1: immediately checking my email, the beauty around me just became 131 00:09:45,190 --> 00:09:49,700 Speaker 1: an invitation to slow down. sip my coffee, make myself 132 00:09:49,740 --> 00:09:54,260 Speaker 1: a nourishing breakfast, spend some time with Jesus, and just 133 00:09:54,340 --> 00:09:57,550 Speaker 1: make room for some new interests and ideas that I've 134 00:09:57,590 --> 00:10:02,860 Speaker 1: been exploring. I didn't expect a rug or these new 135 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,740 Speaker 1: colors to do that, but beauty has become a cue 136 00:10:05,860 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 1: for a healthier rhythm. And it's made me realize, friend, 137 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: maybe creating beauty for ourselves isn't frivolous. Maybe sometimes changing 138 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: what we see can help change how we live. So friend, 139 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: how about you? What are some things around in your 140 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: environment that you can update or change because it's how 141 00:10:32,220 --> 00:10:37,839 Speaker 1: God's created you to experience peace or beauty? In Matthew 142 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 1: chapter 6, verse 28 to 29, listen to what Jesus says. 143 00:10:42,780 --> 00:10:46,330 Speaker 1: Consider how the lilies of the field grow. They do 144 00:10:46,380 --> 00:10:49,870 Speaker 1: not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not 145 00:10:50,010 --> 00:10:53,820 Speaker 1: even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one 146 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: of these. Friend, Jesus points us to beauty in creation, 147 00:10:59,059 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: not as a luxury or something that's frivolous, but it's 148 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:08,620 Speaker 1: a reminder of his care. If Jesus dresses the flowers 149 00:11:08,700 --> 00:11:13,260 Speaker 1: in beauty, Jesus cares even more about you being surrounded 150 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:20,860 Speaker 1: by beauty that nourishes your spirit. Beauty isn't selfish. It's sacred. 151 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:26,300 Speaker 1: It reflects God's heart for you. So if you've ever 152 00:11:26,380 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: felt like adding beauty into your life is selfish, I 153 00:11:30,230 --> 00:11:32,370 Speaker 1: want you to know it's actually one of the ways 154 00:11:32,770 --> 00:11:37,809 Speaker 1: God expresses his care for your soul. And this is 155 00:11:37,830 --> 00:11:42,710 Speaker 1: where science and scripture come together so beautifully. Science helps 156 00:11:42,730 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: to understand why what we see can affect how we feel. 157 00:11:47,820 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: and behave. And scripture reminds us that beauty isn't something 158 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:58,010 Speaker 1: we invented. God did. When he created the world, the 159 00:11:58,050 --> 00:12:02,050 Speaker 1: environment for where he placed us in, he wanted us 160 00:12:02,130 --> 00:12:07,230 Speaker 1: to see beauty. Jesus himself tells us to notice the lilies. 161 00:12:08,170 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: Maybe noticing beauty isn't a distraction from our spiritual lives. 162 00:12:13,860 --> 00:12:16,420 Speaker 1: Maybe it's one of the ways God invites us to 163 00:12:16,500 --> 00:12:23,079 Speaker 1: slow down. notice His care, and receive His peace. Well, friend, 164 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:25,260 Speaker 1: when we return from our break, I'm going to share 165 00:12:25,420 --> 00:12:28,850 Speaker 1: one small soul care practice to bring more beauty into 166 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:43,970 Speaker 1: your week and bring in God's calm. Well, this week's 167 00:12:44,050 --> 00:12:50,220 Speaker 1: soul care practice is this. Add one beauty cue to 168 00:12:50,780 --> 00:12:54,939 Speaker 1: your daily space. Okay, so choose a place, a spot 169 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,900 Speaker 1: where you already spend time. Maybe it's where you have 170 00:12:57,940 --> 00:13:01,590 Speaker 1: your morning coffee, read your Bible, you have an interest 171 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:05,260 Speaker 1: or hobby, cook, work, or you're getting ready for the day. 172 00:13:05,750 --> 00:13:11,329 Speaker 1: Ask yourself this question. What would make this space feel 173 00:13:11,610 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 1: beautiful to me? Here's some ideas. Pick a favorite color, pattern, 174 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:23,140 Speaker 1: or fresh flowers, a throw or a pillow, a piece 175 00:13:23,179 --> 00:13:28,209 Speaker 1: of art, or even new oven mitts. Choose one thing 176 00:13:28,370 --> 00:13:32,250 Speaker 1: that brings you delight and place it somewhere you will 177 00:13:32,290 --> 00:13:37,580 Speaker 1: see it regularly. Connect that beauty cue with a rhythm 178 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:42,370 Speaker 1: you want to nurture. Maybe your beautiful mug becomes your 179 00:13:42,530 --> 00:13:46,410 Speaker 1: cue to sit with Jesus five minutes before checking your 180 00:13:46,450 --> 00:13:49,850 Speaker 1: phone in the morning. Maybe it's flowers on your table 181 00:13:49,910 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: to remind you to slow down while you eat. Whatever 182 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:58,100 Speaker 1: it is, friend, just bring it into your environment and 183 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:04,590 Speaker 1: make that environment, that space beautiful. It's your invitation to journal, read, 184 00:14:04,650 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 1: or just simply rest. Research shows that beauty not only 185 00:14:09,059 --> 00:14:12,500 Speaker 1: lowers stress, it can help break the worry cycle by 186 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 1: giving your brain a visual anchor for calm and joy. 187 00:14:17,370 --> 00:14:20,070 Speaker 1: And when you tie it to a habit or rhythm 188 00:14:20,090 --> 00:14:25,750 Speaker 1: you wanna build, like prayer or walking or maybe eating fruit, journaling, 189 00:14:25,850 --> 00:14:29,910 Speaker 1: it strengthens the habit loop. So what are some ideas 190 00:14:30,470 --> 00:14:33,350 Speaker 1: that have come up as I've been sharing with you? 191 00:14:34,050 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: Whatever ideas popped on your heart, add beauty into your environment. 192 00:14:39,180 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 1: So remember, beauty is not extra. It's part of the 193 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:48,420 Speaker 1: way God created you to experience calm and peace. Because 194 00:14:48,470 --> 00:14:51,910 Speaker 1: beauty doesn't have to be extra. It's God's invitation for 195 00:14:51,970 --> 00:14:55,470 Speaker 1: you to meet with him in a healthier rhythm and 196 00:14:55,510 --> 00:14:59,450 Speaker 1: to notice the beauty God's already placed in your heart 197 00:14:59,950 --> 00:15:05,310 Speaker 1: and around you. Let's pray. Jesus, thank you for surrounding 198 00:15:05,390 --> 00:15:09,940 Speaker 1: us with beauty in creation, in color, and in the 199 00:15:10,020 --> 00:15:13,820 Speaker 1: spaces we call home. Show us how to make room 200 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:18,290 Speaker 1: for joy in our environments so our hearts can breathe 201 00:15:18,310 --> 00:15:24,450 Speaker 1: in your goodness each day. Amen. And friend, if you 202 00:15:24,490 --> 00:15:27,050 Speaker 1: have a friend you want to share this episode with 203 00:15:27,270 --> 00:15:30,110 Speaker 1: as we start this new series of scripture and science, 204 00:15:30,150 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: please invite them. It's so much better to share the 205 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: journey together, isn't it? And if you want to look 206 00:15:38,620 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: for a devotional that can help you reinforce your soul's 207 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: well-being with scripture and science, just pick up Whispers of Rest, 208 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:51,050 Speaker 1: 40 Days of God's Love to Revitalize Your Soul. And again, 209 00:15:51,070 --> 00:15:52,630 Speaker 1: I'll have that link for you in the show notes. 210 00:15:53,570 --> 00:15:58,690 Speaker 1: Remember that you're loved and you're cherished. Just rest. And 211 00:15:58,730 --> 00:16:07,140 Speaker 1: I'll see you next time. Breathe, the Stress Less podcast 212 00:16:07,300 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 1: is a production of Life Audio and Salem Media. If 213 00:16:10,420 --> 00:16:12,570 Speaker 1: you liked what you heard today, please take a second 214 00:16:12,610 --> 00:16:15,810 Speaker 1: to rate and review this podcast in your favorite podcast 215 00:16:15,910 --> 00:16:18,670 Speaker 1: app so that more listeners like you can find the show. 216 00:16:19,450 --> 00:16:23,530 Speaker 1: For more faith-filled, inspirational podcasts, visit us at lifeaudio.com.