1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 2: Hi friend, welcome to Breathe the stress Less Podcast. I'm 3 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 2: Bonnie Gray, your host for this time designed just for 4 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 2: you to rest and refresh your soul. You're going to 5 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 2: pick up a practical soul care tip based on science 6 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 2: that will help you restore peace to your emotions and 7 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 2: your body, and you'll receive a loving word of affirmation 8 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 2: from God in scripture. I'm the author of Breathe twenty 9 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 2: one days to stress Less and Transform Chaos to Calm, 10 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 2: and I'm also the founder of Soul Care School. Let 11 00:00:54,920 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: me ask you a question. What happens when planned change, 12 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 2: especially during the holidays. Do you feel disappointed, stressed, or 13 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: pressured to make things work the way they quote unquote 14 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:14,479 Speaker 2: always have? 15 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 3: You? 16 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: Know? 17 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:22,559 Speaker 2: So often the holidays bring expectations, traditions, to keep routines, 18 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:27,759 Speaker 2: to repeat plans that we feel responsible to hold up 19 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 2: together and that creates a lot of stress. But what 20 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 2: is the very change that is happening even unexpectedly, is 21 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 2: actually an invitation from God to care for your heart 22 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 2: in a new way that your heart really needs well. 23 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: In today's episode, we are talking about why breaking a tradition, 24 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 2: even a small one or maybe a big one might 25 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: be exactly the care your heart needs needs this season 26 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 2: to feel God's calm and peace and love that you 27 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:10,959 Speaker 2: really are worthy of receiving. You know, the holidays, they're 28 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 2: just really, really heavy. It's such an avalanche of stress, 29 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 2: right expectations, and if you're feeling pressured to keep everything 30 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 2: the same, but while your heart is wanting something else, 31 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 2: more beauty, more peace, and if you're longing just for 32 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 2: a gentler way to experience Advent this year, I created 33 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 2: my Advent Wellness course, Unwrapping Jesus in Your Story, because 34 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 2: God always enters into our story and he wants to 35 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 2: change it so we can experience more peace and joy. Well, 36 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 2: this course is going to help you lower those top 37 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 2: holiday stressers, and I'll help you tackle them so that 38 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 2: you can experience more peace and joy and hope and 39 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 2: love in ways that really fit what your heart needs. 40 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 2: So you can slow down, you can breathe, you'll make 41 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 2: space for God to meet you right where you're at. 42 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 2: You can sign up at mysolcare school dot com. Just 43 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 2: go to mysoulcare school dot com and you'll be able 44 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 2: to get a really beautiful prayer journal. You'll be able 45 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 2: to just experience ways to let stress dial down. Remember, 46 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 2: just go to mysoul care School dot com and we'll 47 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 2: be right back. As we begin, Let's hold our heart 48 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 2: open to God's touch. It's just wonderful when we face 49 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 2: the impossible situations of expectations and plans falling apart. I 50 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 2: love this wonderful declaration with God. Nothing will be impossible. 51 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 2: That's from Luke one thirty seven. And we're going to 52 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 2: have a second breath prayer, which is from Mary's response 53 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 2: when she was faced with plans totally falling apart and 54 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 2: she heard this promise from God. She responded with a prayer, 55 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 2: let it be with me according to your word. So 56 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 2: let's just gently breathe in with God, nothing will be impossible, 57 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 2: and breathe out. Let it be with me according to 58 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:44,239 Speaker 2: your word. I love that it's according to what God 59 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 2: wants for us and not what other people might want 60 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 2: for us. Isn't that beautiful? It's so freeing when we 61 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 2: can sense what God is wanting to place into our lives, 62 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 2: we can be free and nothing is impossible with Jesus. 63 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: By our side. 64 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 2: Well, last weekend, I decided to celebrate my birthday by 65 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: doing one of the things I love the most hiking 66 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 2: among the redwood trees. Now, my foot has been hurting, 67 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:20,720 Speaker 2: dealing with inflammation, and so I knew I couldn't hike 68 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,840 Speaker 2: anything steep, but I thought, well, at least I can 69 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 2: walk the flat part of the trail just twenty minutes 70 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 2: and be among the trees. And Friend, that was the 71 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 2: first time I'd been on a hiking trail since March. 72 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 2: Oh my goodness. Wow, I could hardly even walk ten 73 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 2: minutes in March, so being there on that trail just 74 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 2: felt amazing. I was euphoric now. I was even surprised 75 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 2: that I could take a few steps of a gentle incline, 76 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 2: just very gentle, and I walked into a redwood grove 77 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 2: and my heart just felt alive again. Now, after this 78 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 2: brief hike, I just call it nature walk. Actually, Eric 79 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:05,359 Speaker 2: and I planned to go to my favorite birthday tradition. 80 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 2: There is a village cafe near that hiking spot with 81 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 2: the most delicious stone o then pizza. It has It 82 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 2: had become my favorite birthday lunch place now. But when 83 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 2: we sat down and we opened the menu, Friends, there 84 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 2: was no pizza. I was like, what none. The waitress 85 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 2: explained that on the weekends they only serve brunch, so 86 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 2: we usually go on a Friday weekday for like my 87 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 2: birthday lunch. So I was so crushed. I had been 88 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 2: looking forward to it, and my mind started racing. I 89 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 2: had already eaten breakfast that morning, so I didn't want 90 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 2: anything on that menu. And I remembered something months earlier, 91 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 2: Eric and I had walked past a restaurant we'd never tried. 92 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 2: It was a cozy Spanish tapas place. They're like little 93 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 2: ordures Spanish orders, small place, and I casually had said, Hey, 94 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 2: maybe sometime we might go there for a special celebration. 95 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 2: So right then and there, I asked Eric, my husband, 96 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 2: I said, would you mind? Would you feel embarrassed if 97 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 2: we left and just tried that other place instead. I 98 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 2: braced myself. I thought he might feel a bit awkward 99 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: leaving like that, but he said, hey, sure, let's go 100 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 2: for it. Now. That unexpected disappointment turned into one of 101 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 2: the most delightful meals I've ever had, Just amazing tapas 102 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 2: and it was just so fun because everything was just 103 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 2: so different and new and delicious. It was a warm atmosphere, 104 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 2: and when they heard it was my birthday, they even 105 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 2: brought out a small dessert called torrija. It's like French 106 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 2: toast with ice cream. Oh my goodness, it was so delicious. 107 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 2: So what I thought was a ruined plan became an 108 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 2: unexpected gift. Dear friend, what if God is inviting you 109 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 2: to something new, something that your heart longs for, in 110 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 2: the midst of plans that are falling through, or pressures 111 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 2: and just things not working out. What's the season you're 112 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 2: in right now? You know, Mary's story reminds us of 113 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 2: this truth. God works outside the plan we expect. Mary's 114 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 2: response wasn't logic or fear, because it definitely didn't make 115 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 2: sense that she would be pregnant before she was in 116 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 2: un married. But Mary's response was openness. And so here's 117 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 2: a question I want to gently as ask you today. 118 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 2: Will you make space for what God wants to do 119 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 2: new in you in your life, in your current season 120 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 2: and chapter. Will you respond with pressure and control, or 121 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 2: like Mary, will you take a leap of faith and 122 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 2: allow God to enter your story in a different way. 123 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 2: Let's just rest into this beautiful invitation God has for us, 124 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 2: and when we come back, I'm going to share the 125 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 2: science behind newness and doing things different. Well, here's the 126 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 2: wellness insight behind this. Psychologists tell us that when we 127 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 2: fin disappointment or change, our brains will cling to familiar 128 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 2: routines because familiarity might feel safe. The brain just has 129 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 2: these connections that are made out of routine. But research 130 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 2: on novel experiences shows us something very fascinating trying something new, 131 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 2: especially when it engages one of your five senses taste, smell, sight, sound, 132 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 2: or touch. It activates the brain's reward system. Novel sensory 133 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 2: experiences increase dopamine. That's the hormone that makes us feel 134 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 2: energized and motivated, and it reduces stress because it shifts 135 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 2: our nervous system out of threat mode and it moves 136 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 2: us into feeling curious yes, and that is where we 137 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 2: can activate our rest response. In other words, newness creates 138 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 2: room for wonder, and wonder calms the nervous system, and 139 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 2: calm makes space for joy. Sometimes you want to jump 140 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 2: straight from stress to feeling joy, but there's a process 141 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 2: our nervous system needs. In order to experience joy, we 142 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 2: have to have calm, and so this is one of 143 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 2: the ways God designed our bodies to respond to change. 144 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 2: We want to respond with openness to new things. Instead 145 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 2: of fear. Fear will turn on our stress response and curiosity. 146 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 2: Trying something new that activates our rest response, and when 147 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 2: we're in that mode, that's when we can experience joy. Now, 148 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 2: this week, I have this week's soul care practice. I 149 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 2: want you to try one new thing that sparks wonder. 150 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 2: That's the fun part of wonder. This week, especially as 151 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 2: holiday plans may feel chaotic or shift or change, I 152 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 2: want to invite you to try one small thing differently. 153 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 2: I want you to ask yourself, what is one new 154 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 2: experience God might be inviting me into. It doesn't have 155 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 2: to be big. Some ideas a new cafe, a new bakery, 156 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 2: a different walking route, a new advent ritual, a new scent, 157 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 2: new candle, new music, a simple meal but prepared differently. 158 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 2: Let it engage your senses. That's key, Okay, something that 159 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 2: engages your five senses and let it spark curiosity. And 160 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 2: as you do, you can pray the breath prayer with God. 161 00:12:55,800 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 2: Nothing is impossible. Let it be with me according to 162 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:05,599 Speaker 2: your word and friend, God has loving words of affirmation 163 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:11,359 Speaker 2: for you. God treasures how He created you to experience 164 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 2: peace and joy. And it's very different from what others 165 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 2: might say to us, that's why it's according to God's word, 166 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 2: not other people's words. Let's pray, Lord Jesus, thank you 167 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 2: for meeting us in the unexpected when plans fall apart. 168 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 2: Help us to see your invitations, give us courage to 169 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 2: release what no longer fits, and trust you with something 170 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:44,440 Speaker 2: new as we step into advent. Help us say, like 171 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 2: Mary once did, let it be with me according to 172 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 2: your word. 173 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: Amen. 174 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 2: Well friend, if you're longing for a gentler advent, something different, 175 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 2: one that lowers your holiday stress and helps you experience 176 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 2: peace and joy in new ways, I'd love to walk 177 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 2: with you inside my wellness course for Advent unwrapping Jesus 178 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 2: in your story. It's very customized to you personally experiencing faith, hope, peace, 179 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 2: joy in this season and God's love. You can find 180 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 2: it anytime at mysolcare school dot com. Again, just go 181 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 2: to mysoulecareschool dot com. You'll join thousands of women of 182 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 2: faith who've really enjoyed this advent wellness. It will help 183 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 2: you bring calm and wonder and joy to your Christmas 184 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 2: with Jesus. Now, is there someone that would be encouraged 185 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 2: by today's episode? Please share this episode with them, And 186 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 2: if you haven't got a chance, will you share your 187 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 2: review for this podcast. It would really bless our community. 188 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 2: It will help others find this podcast. Thank you so 189 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 2: much for your support in this Man, this tree. Remember 190 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 2: that you're loved and you are cherished. Just brust and 191 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 2: I'll see you next time. 192 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 3: Breathe The stress Less Podcast is a production of Life 193 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 3: Audio and Sale Media. If you like what you heard today, 194 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 3: please take a second to rate and review this podcast 195 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 3: in your favorite podcast app so that more listeners like 196 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 3: you can find the show. For more faith filled, inspirational podcasts, 197 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 3: visit us at lifeaudio dot com.