1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:08,479 Speaker 2: If you've been doing all the right things but still 3 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 2: feel depleted, disconnected, or out of balance, this episode just 4 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 2: for you. In honor of World Health Day, your Hope 5 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 2: Field Perspective is taking a compassionate look at whole person health, 6 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 2: addressing the deep connection between mental wellness, physical vitality, and 7 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 2: spiritual nourishment. Through faith based insight and practical application, you'll 8 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 2: be encouraged to move beyond survival mode and towards sustainable, 9 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 2: christ centered well being that honors how God designed you 10 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 2: to live. Today, we're marking World Health Day by talking 11 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 2: about something that sounds simple but is anything but how 12 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 2: to care for your whole self, Biblical and brain based 13 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: health for mind, body, and spirit. Welcome to your Hope 14 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 2: Field Perspective, where our goal is to restore hope, renew minds, 15 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 2: and empower listeners to live in your God given identity. 16 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 2: I'm your host, doctor Michelle bankson Board, certified clinical neuropsychologist, 17 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 2: their speaker and companion in your journey to mental, emotional, 18 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 2: and spiritual wellness. I'm so grateful when you take a 19 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 2: few minutes of your week to spend with us. Today 20 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:17,199 Speaker 2: we are going to be talking about how to care 21 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 2: for your whole self, biblical and brain based health for 22 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:24,479 Speaker 2: your mind, body, and spirit. We'll dive in right after 23 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 2: this brief word from our sponsor, What does it really 24 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 2: mean to care for your whole self, mind, body, and 25 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 2: spirit in a world that constantly pulls you in a 26 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 2: thousand directions? On this World Health Day episode of Your 27 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 2: Hope Filled Perspective, we explore a biblically grounded, neuroscience informed 28 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 2: approach to holistic health that goes beyond surface level self care. 29 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 2: Discover why true well being cannot be compartmentalized, how chronic 30 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 2: stress impacts your mental and physical health, and practical ways 31 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 2: to doward your God given body, thoughts, and spiritual life 32 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 2: with wisdom and intention. Joining me for this important conversation 33 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 2: is my co host, Jessica Van Rochel. Jessica, what scripture 34 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 2: can you think of that's consistent with today's theme? 35 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:18,399 Speaker 1: I am thinking about Third John Chapter one, verse two, 36 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: where it says, this Beloved, I pray that in all 37 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: respects you might prosper in being good health, just as 38 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: your soul prospers. This verse underscores God's holistic concern that 39 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: physical wellbeing and external life would reflect the health of 40 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: our soul. 41 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 2: Isn't it amazing to think that the God of the 42 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 2: universe cares about our health and wellness. We often try 43 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 2: to fix one area of our lives in isolation. We 44 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 2: focus on our spiritual life, but we ignore our emotional health, 45 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 2: or we tend to our bodies while our thought life 46 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 2: runs unchecked. But the amazing thing, Jess, is that God 47 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 2: designed us as integrated beings, and when one area is suffering, 48 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 2: the others are usually affected as well. 49 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: That is right. And if you've ever found yourself thinking 50 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: I don't know what's wrong, I just know I don't 51 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: feel like myself, then this conversation is for you today. 52 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: We're going to talk about how to recognize when we're 53 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: slipping into ill health, what we can do to interrupt 54 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: that slide, and how to guard our whole selves, not 55 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: in a fearful way, but in a faithful, intentional way. 56 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 2: I'm so grateful for this conversation because, in all transparency, 57 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 2: in the early days in my private practice, I helped 58 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 2: patients tend to their physical health, their mental and their 59 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 2: emotional health, but we rarely address the spiritual aspect. And 60 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 2: then when I became seriously ill, I realized we can 61 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 2: not address those areas in isolation, and we have to 62 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 2: bring the physical side in if we really want wellness overall. 63 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 2: So one of the most important skills we can develop 64 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 2: is learning to notice early warning signs. For many years, 65 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,239 Speaker 2: I was not good at that. I just pushed through 66 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 2: and thought I've just got to get it done. But 67 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 2: from a neuroscience perspective, our brains are constantly, constantly adapting 68 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 2: to stress. 69 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 3: But the problem is, and you. 70 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 2: And I have discussed this in various ways on other episodes, 71 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:37,160 Speaker 2: is that when stress becomes chronic, our brains and our 72 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 2: bodies begin to treat that stress as normal. So some 73 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 2: early mental and emotional signs include increased irritability or emotional numbness, 74 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 2: difficulty concentrating or remembering, racing, or repetitive negative thoughts might 75 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 2: also include losing interest in things that once brought us joy, 76 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 2: or even feeling overwhelmed by decisions that used to feel manageable. 77 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 2: But at what I want you to hear, friends, is 78 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 2: that these aren't character flaws. They're actually God given signals 79 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 2: from your nervous system. 80 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: That brings me help right there. Because I can't tell 81 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: you how many times that I've struggled with all of 82 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: those things that you've said, and I'm like, oh, I 83 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:28,359 Speaker 1: must need to mature more, or I've got something inherently 84 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: wrong with me. But to hear you say that they're 85 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: just signals from my nervous system makes me like I 86 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: have a sigh of relief now. And spiritually, those same 87 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 1: signals often show up as disconnection. You might notice that 88 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: prayer feels harder, scripture feels flat, or you're more reactive 89 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:52,039 Speaker 1: rather than reflective. Sometimes we label it as a faith 90 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: problem when it's actually exhaustion or emotional overload. 91 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 2: I think one of the most noticeable aspects when we 92 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 2: talk about taking care of our. 93 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 3: Whole self is the physical aspect. 94 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 2: I think that's the aspect that grabs our attention. But 95 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 2: the problem is is that our bodies often speak before 96 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 2: our minds catch up. Things like sleep disturbance, sleeping too 97 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 2: much or having difficulty sleeping, chronic tension which I hold 98 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,240 Speaker 2: in my shoulders and my neck. By the time it 99 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 2: reaches my scalp, then I start to pay attention. 100 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:32,839 Speaker 3: We can experience. 101 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 2: Headaches, digestive issues, or changes an appetite, and those are 102 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 2: all warning signals that we need to pay attention early. 103 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:45,679 Speaker 1: On right, or you find yourself pushing through fatigue telling 104 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: yourself I'll rest later, without realizing that later never comes. 105 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 1: And ignoring the body signals doesn't make us more faithful, 106 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 1: it often makes us more fragile. 107 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 2: In fact, I would go so far as to say 108 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:03,479 Speaker 2: that when we ignore our body's signals, we can only 109 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 2: do that for so long before our body gets to 110 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 2: the place where it makes us sit up and pay attention. 111 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 3: Right. 112 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 2: So let's talk about why we miss the signs, because 113 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 2: I think if we did a poll just most people 114 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 2: would acknowledge that they often pushed through the early warning signs. 115 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 3: Yes, So the question is why. 116 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 2: From a brain science perspective, one of the reasons that 117 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 2: we miss these signs is because our stress response system, 118 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 2: which we've talked about before, that's the amygdala, It gets louder, 119 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 2: while the part of the brain responsible for discernment and perspective, 120 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 2: that's the prefrontal cortex, that gets quieter. And that is 121 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 2: when we tend to normalize exhaustion. It's when we tend 122 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 2: to minimize emotional pain, and we tend to rationalize un 123 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 2: healthy patterns. 124 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 3: I don't know if you can. 125 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 2: Relate to any of those, Jessica, but I can relate 126 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 2: to all of them. 127 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: Oh for sure. Exhaustion I thought that was a badge 128 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: of honor. 129 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 4: And. 130 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 3: Yeah it's not, but I did. 131 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: Think it was. And minimizing emotional pain, absolutely, there's enough pain. 132 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: It's always like, well, someone else has it harder than me, right, 133 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: or rationalize unhealthy patterns like having too many cookies or 134 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 1: because I like to eat my pain away. 135 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 3: Right. 136 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,079 Speaker 1: Those are just the things that we do physically, but 137 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: spiritually we often confuse endurance with faithfulness, and that leads 138 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: us to the fact that we forget that Jesus regularly 139 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: withdrew to rest, pray, and recalibrate. If the Son of 140 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: God needs rhythms of restoration, so do we. Friends. We're 141 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: going to continue our conversation about how to care for 142 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: your whole self biblical and brain based health for mind, body, 143 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,959 Speaker 1: and spirit after we take this brief break for a 144 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: word for our sponsor. 145 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 2: And welcome back to your Hope Field perspective. Today, we're 146 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 2: having an important conversation in recognition of World Health Day. 147 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 2: We're talking about how to care for your whole self 148 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 2: biblical and brain based health for mind, body, and spirit. 149 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 2: And before the break, we talked about why we often 150 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 2: missed the early warning science. But I think it's important 151 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 2: that now we turn our conversation to what to do 152 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 2: when you notice your slipping. When you notice the slide, 153 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 2: the goal isn't to fix everything, it's to create safety 154 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 2: and regulation. So some practical brain based steps are Number one, 155 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 2: name what you're experiencing, because labeling emotions often reduces their intense. 156 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 2: If you can stop in the moment and say I'm 157 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 2: afraid yep, then you interrupt that flight or fright response. 158 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 2: Number two, slow your body first, things like deep breathing, 159 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 2: grounding exercises that we've discussed in previous episodes, and gentle movement. 160 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 2: Slow your body down because then you regain control rather 161 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 2: than continuing to slide down this slippery slope into a 162 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:34,079 Speaker 2: really difficult place to come out of. Number three challenge 163 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 2: distorted thoughts. What do I mean by that? Ask yourself? 164 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 2: Is this thought true? Is it helpful? And is it 165 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 2: aligned with God's truth? Too often we have thoughts that 166 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 2: go unchecked. We don't even pay attention to whether or 167 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 2: not they're true. We just accept them as if they are. 168 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 4: Yeah. 169 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 2: And then my fourth suggestion is to reduce cognitive load 170 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:02,199 Speaker 2: if you can make fewer decisions. Yea, simplify your schedule, 171 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 2: create more margin. Friends, this is not a sign of weakness, 172 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 2: it's actually wisdom. 173 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 1: That's so good. If I were listening right now, i'd 174 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 1: be taking notes. In fact, as you were speaking, I'm 175 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 1: like repeating each of these over and over again because 176 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 1: I have found them to be true. Yeah, the just 177 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: even creating margin. There was a string of weeks, three 178 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: weeks in a row where I was just pretty much busy, 179 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 1: like there was no margin. I scheduled a day called margin, 180 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: and I didn't allow myself to schedule anything else except margin, 181 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: and I felt so refreshed by that. Yeah, sometimes the 182 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: most spiritual thing you can do is to eat a 183 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,680 Speaker 1: balanced meal, drink some water, or get some sleep. 184 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 2: So what you're actually talking about is, in addition to 185 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 2: caring for our emotional or cognitive load, you're talking about 186 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 2: taking a physical reset. 187 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 3: Yeah. 188 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 1: Yes, I had a physical reset one Friday not too 189 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: long ago, and I'm so thankful that I did. I 190 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 1: remember thinking, I don't know if I have time to 191 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: do this, but I felt the Holy Spirit WI spirts imperative. 192 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: You need to have a rest day a physical rest day, 193 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 1: and I did. I ate good, I drank lots of water, 194 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: and I slept a lot, and it was wonderful. 195 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,319 Speaker 2: I wish that I could say I followed your example. 196 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 2: On my calendar, I actually put pajama day, which I 197 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 2: can't tell you the last time I've done that. It 198 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 2: was probably a decade ago when in North Texas we 199 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:36,680 Speaker 2: had twelve flakes of snow so everything shut down. That's 200 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 2: probably the last time I had a pajama day. So 201 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 2: I had it scheduled on my calendar. But I realized 202 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 2: that I had some difficulties with time margin coming up, 203 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 2: and so rather than taking that pajama day, I pushed 204 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:56,359 Speaker 2: through additional tasks. I did not have the same experience 205 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 2: that you did, Jessica. I did not feel refreshed. I 206 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 2: did not feel more alert. I did not feel like 207 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 2: I had increased strength to go into the next week. 208 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 2: In fact, I felt the opposite. I was physically depleted. 209 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 2: I was irritable, and as a result, about a week 210 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 2: or two later, and I can't say that it was causation, 211 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 2: but there was definitely a correlation, because about a week 212 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 2: or two later, I became sick, got the common cold, 213 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 2: and I was forced to physically rest for a couple 214 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 2: days straight. But it wasn't the relaxing kind of rest 215 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 2: that the pajama day on my calendar would have been. 216 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 2: It was forced rest where I physically couldn't do. 217 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 3: Anything but be in bed. 218 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 2: So let's talk about some reasons why physical reset early 219 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 2: on is important. Yes, I mean sleep deprivation alone increases anxiety, depression, 220 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 2: and emotional reactivity. Caring for your body is not separate 221 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 2: from caring for your soul. 222 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,679 Speaker 1: That is so true. And I'd like us to talk 223 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: about spiritual reorientation. You see, spiritually, this is the moment 224 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: to return to presence, not performance. Presence not performance. 225 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 3: That is not what I did. No, I focused on performance. 226 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: And I bet the next time you put pajama day 227 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: in your calendar, you're gonna remember. Yeah, you're right, you're 228 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: going to take that pajama day. In fact, I was 229 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: just sitting here thinking we should commit to one another 230 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: and invite our listeners to schedule a physical rest day 231 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: on their calendar. And I'm gonna if I can. If 232 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: you do that, let us know and we'll celebrate with 233 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: you that you're choosing presence and not performance in fact, 234 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: we can start to say simple prayers like Lord here 235 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: I am, or God search me and lead me, or 236 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit, restore my soul. We don't heel by striving, 237 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: We heal by abiding. 238 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 3: Oh say that again. 239 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: We don't heal by striving. We heal by abiding. 240 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 2: And that's the difference between you taking that margin day 241 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 2: on your calendar and me not taking that pajama day 242 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 2: to rest. I was striving to fit in just a 243 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 2: little bit more. 244 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, and there's no shame attash. 245 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 2: I don't feel shame, but I feel like that was 246 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 2: a really good reminder so that I could share it 247 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 2: with you. Please attend to your body when you get 248 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 2: those early warning signs. Just I fully believe that you 249 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 2: listen to the Holy Spirit that said, Okay, you've you've 250 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 2: worked hard. 251 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 3: Now you need some margin, you need some rest time. Yeah. 252 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 3: So let's talk. 253 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 2: Now about now that we know why we tend to 254 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 2: miss the early warning signs, and now that we've discussed 255 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 2: what to do when you notice that you're slipping, let's 256 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 2: talk about guarding your whole self going forward. I want 257 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 2: to use the experience that I recently had as a 258 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 2: reminder that rest, that margin can actually be considered holy practices. 259 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 2: When we consider that Jesus, who was most holy, did 260 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 2: those things, he was our model. So guarding our whole 261 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 2: self going forward, let's start by talking about mental and 262 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 2: emotional guardrails. Guarding your mental and emotional health actually means 263 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 2: building awareness and rhythms. Hmm, like regular emotional check ins. 264 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 2: Why did I respond that way? How would I have 265 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 2: liked to have responded, and what contributed to how I 266 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 2: did respond? What was the underlying emotional driver? That's an 267 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 2: emotional check in. I would also suggest that we notice 268 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 2: the stress patterns before they escalate. Maybe invite our closest 269 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 2: friends or family member, or to just help us recognize 270 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 2: when things are starting to escalate, to encourage us to 271 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,440 Speaker 2: slow down, take a pause, Take ten minutes to sit 272 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 2: out in the sunshine. Yeah, take ten minutes to take 273 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 2: a walk and lower your cortisol. You could even set 274 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 2: up reminders on your phone. You can set up alarms 275 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 2: on your phone at certain times during the day and 276 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 2: the note could be breathe yeah, because sometimes we get 277 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 2: so focused on the doing that we're breathing out of 278 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 2: the upper part of our chest instead of fully from 279 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 2: our diaphragm, and that just signals to your brain. 280 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,479 Speaker 3: Okay, there's a state of alert here. 281 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:39,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. 282 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:43,360 Speaker 2: I would even go so far going forward, set boundaries 283 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 2: around information intake. One of the best things I did 284 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 2: recently was to set boundaries around how much I would 285 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 2: allow myself to consume social media or to even post 286 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:56,639 Speaker 2: on social media. 287 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 3: That was life giving. 288 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 2: Recommendation I would make is to replace self criticism with curiosity. 289 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 2: Jessica and I are not trying to be a task master. 290 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,399 Speaker 2: We are not criticizing if you've fallen into any of 291 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 2: these patterns, because certainly we've admitted that we have. 292 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 3: But if we can replace. 293 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 2: The self criticism, which just leads into guilt, shame, and regret, 294 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:25,920 Speaker 2: with curiosity by asking, like some of those questions, I suggested, Gee, 295 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 2: what was my feeling when I responded that way? 296 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 3: What was really at the root of. 297 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 2: That response, and how could I have done something differently 298 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:39,360 Speaker 2: to lead to a better response. If we think about this, Jessica, 299 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 2: as maintenance and not crisis management, we can prevent some 300 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:46,880 Speaker 2: of these derails going forward. 301 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: I love the way that you frame that within guardrails. 302 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: I've used that when I was raising my kids, and 303 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: I talked about how some of the standards that we 304 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: live by, our guardrails. And I told them, I said, 305 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:01,639 Speaker 1: you can get a close to that as you want, 306 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:05,440 Speaker 1: but notice that you might fall through or fall over. 307 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 1: And sometimes I think I do that with my own self. 308 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: Some of the things that you say, I can't tell 309 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:14,240 Speaker 1: you how many times were, especially the breathing one, where 310 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: it's like, when was the last time I took a 311 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 1: deep breath today? When was the last time I actually 312 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 1: looked out a window and noticed the sky or the clouds, 313 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: or the sunshine, or the way that the trees make 314 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: shadows on the ground. Those are such good guard rails 315 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 1: to consider and to think of it as maintenance and 316 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 1: not crisis management. I don't like to be in crisis. 317 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 1: I don't like the person that I can be when 318 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,680 Speaker 1: I'm in too much of a crisis management mode, because 319 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 1: then I start managing everybody and they don't need me 320 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 1: to manage themselves. I have enough trouble managing my own. Maintenance. 321 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:53,119 Speaker 1: I love that word, because our bodies thrive on consistency 322 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 1: and not perfection. So we're going to turn our eyes 323 00:19:56,040 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 1: towards that physical stewardship. And I have seen that, like 324 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 1: I just said, I will sometimes forget to breathe like 325 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: forget to breathe deep. And I've learned when my heart 326 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: is racing, I can't control. I can't control how faster 327 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: my heart races, but I can control my breathing. And 328 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 1: when I can get a hold of my breathing and 329 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: start doing those inhale, hold for four, exhale, hold for 330 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 1: four inhale, I notice that my heart rate starts to 331 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 1: return to normal. And when I take those rest days, 332 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 1: I find that I am far more capable of handling 333 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 1: the issues that come up during the day. And I 334 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 1: have discovered that my body is thriving on consistency and 335 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:45,359 Speaker 1: not perfection. I don't do it right every time. I 336 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: just have to tell you. Sometimes there's days before I 337 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 1: realize when was the last time I took some deep breaths. 338 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: But I'm consistently trying, and I'm consistently trying to pay 339 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: more attention to my breath. 340 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:01,120 Speaker 2: And I think that's what we're talking about with respect 341 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:05,919 Speaker 2: to physical stewardship. How do we steward those aspects that 342 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 2: affect our physical well being, things like movement, nutrition, sleep 343 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 2: and rest, which, by the way, sleep and rest are 344 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 2: not the same thing, but they're not moral issues, but 345 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:24,359 Speaker 2: they do deeply affect our resilience. And what you were 346 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 2: talking about with even remembering to take a deep breath, 347 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:32,920 Speaker 2: it seems like such an inconsequential task. But if we 348 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 2: would recognize just how powerful it is to settle our minds, 349 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 2: to settle our heart rate, to still our thoughts so 350 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 2: we can think more clearly, that's one of the simplest 351 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:50,399 Speaker 2: things that we can do that impacts our whole self. 352 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I loved how you explain that sleep and 353 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 1: rest are not the same. I was just I just 354 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,200 Speaker 1: had this conversation yesterday with someone at church. I said, 355 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:03,360 Speaker 1: I love my Sunday afternoons because it's like I'm sleeping 356 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:05,960 Speaker 1: with my eyes open, and they looked at me. I said, 357 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 1: I'm resting. I like to be awake to enjoy my 358 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:12,879 Speaker 1: rest time. Yes, I take a short nap that I 359 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 1: like to be aware of when I'm resting. There's something 360 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 1: so peaceful and refreshing to me when I sit in 361 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: my recliner, soft blanket, cup of coffee, maybe a book, 362 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 1: maybe not. And I'm a eight to enjoy my rest 363 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 1: and I find that it does build resilience. Spiritually, we 364 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 1: need to build resilience as well, and we can do 365 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 1: this through spiritual formation. Guarding our health means that we 366 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:46,399 Speaker 1: need to anchor our identity in Christ. Our identity is 367 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: not found in productivity, it's not found in approval, it's 368 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: not found in how well we endure. Our identity is 369 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:58,440 Speaker 1: anchored in Christ. And there are practices that we can 370 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: do to help shore up that anchor, so to speak. 371 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:05,120 Speaker 1: We can begin by practicing a sabbath. Now, for some 372 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:07,240 Speaker 1: of us, the idea of taking a twenty four hour 373 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:11,440 Speaker 1: sabbath seems huge, like, we don't have twenty four hours 374 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: just a sabbath, But how about a couple of hours 375 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 1: on a Sunday afternoon. Start small. Another spiritual practice that 376 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 1: we can do is scripture meditation. This might be having 377 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:26,439 Speaker 1: like the Scripture of the Day as a widget on 378 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 1: your phone, so that every time you open your phone 379 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: there is that Scripture of the day. You version has 380 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,400 Speaker 1: a great, great option, Or we find a verse that 381 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: really means something to us and we write handwrite, take 382 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: the time to handwrite it out on a note card 383 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: and slap it on our dash of our car, or 384 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:46,199 Speaker 1: put it on our mirror or in the kitchen by 385 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 1: a cupboard. A third spiritual practice that we can do 386 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 1: is honest lament. Now, lament is this language of grieving. 387 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:59,360 Speaker 1: I'm gonna call it grieving because it's this honestly sharing 388 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: all of our heart art aches, our pain, our disappointment, 389 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:07,119 Speaker 1: wrapped in the kind of bookmarked with praise and trust. 390 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: But we have to do it honestly. I found it's 391 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 1: really hard for me to honestly praise God when I'm 392 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 1: keeping my honest feelings from him. It's challenging to honestly 393 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:23,720 Speaker 1: trust Him with everything when I'm holding something back. So 394 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 1: this honest lament is a wonderful spiritual practice that not 395 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,880 Speaker 1: only helps us clear out the gunk in our own 396 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 1: heart and our soul, but it also builds that faith 397 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:38,880 Speaker 1: and trust in Him and settles our identity in Him 398 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: because we're taking everything to Him. And the fourth spiritual 399 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: practice that we can do is community. God did not 400 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:49,719 Speaker 1: intend for us to live this Christian life in isolation. 401 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:54,959 Speaker 1: He intended for us to live in community. Small groups, churches, 402 00:24:55,560 --> 00:25:03,639 Speaker 1: Bible studies, online faith based communities, community, honest lament, scripture, meditation, 403 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 1: and Sabbath all keep us aligned with God's design for wholeness. 404 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,239 Speaker 2: I'm so glad that you brought up all four of 405 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:16,960 Speaker 2: those spiritual formation practices. I was not incredibly familiar with 406 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 2: lament in my early walk with the Lord, and friends, 407 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 2: you might not be either. That can sound like a 408 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 2: heady word, but I wrote a whole chapter about lament 409 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 2: in my book, The Hem of his Garment, reaching out 410 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,200 Speaker 2: to God when pain overwhelms. And Jessica, I like how 411 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 2: you said it is sandwiched in between praise and trusting God. 412 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 2: There's a difference between lament and complaining. God abhors complaining, 413 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 2: but he invites honest lament wrapped in. 414 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 3: Praise and trust. 415 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 2: Friends, we're going to take a real short break for 416 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 2: a word from our sponsor. But when we return, Jessica 417 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 2: and I will offer ten things you can ask yourself 418 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 2: to help you notice early warning signs of ill health 419 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 2: and move towards intentional, Christ centered wholeness. 420 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 3: We'll be right back. 421 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 2: So, now that we've talked about where we tend to 422 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:13,920 Speaker 2: slip and why we do, and how we can put 423 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:16,919 Speaker 2: up guard rails, just let's talk about ten things we 424 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 2: can ask ourselves so that we can notice the early 425 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 2: warning signs and course correct. If you will, number one, 426 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:27,199 Speaker 2: I would say when I feel off, which part of 427 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 2: me usually shows it first, my thoughts, my emotions, my body, 428 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:38,280 Speaker 2: or my spiritual life? And how do I typically respond 429 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 2: that's a good one? 430 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 1: Number two? What mental or emotional patterns have I begun 431 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:49,399 Speaker 1: to normalize? They may actually be signals of chronic stress 432 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:50,080 Speaker 1: or overload. 433 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 2: Number three. How does my current pace of life support 434 00:26:56,200 --> 00:27:01,520 Speaker 2: or undermine my ability to think clearly, regulate my emotions 435 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:04,199 Speaker 2: and remain spiritually attentive? 436 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: Number four. What physical cues such as sleep, tension, fatigue, appetite, 437 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 1: or pain have I been overlooking or pushing through instead 438 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 1: of listening to? 439 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:18,880 Speaker 3: Number five? 440 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 2: When stress rises, what thoughts about myself, God, or my 441 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 2: circumstances tend to become louder? And are those thoughts aligned 442 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 2: with truth? 443 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 1: Number six? In what ways might my spiritual practices have 444 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:42,080 Speaker 1: become performative rather than restorative? And what would it look 445 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 1: like to return to the presence of God? 446 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:53,040 Speaker 2: Number seven? What boundaries mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual do 447 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:58,399 Speaker 2: I need to establish to reinforce to guard my overall health? 448 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 1: Number eight? Who has permission to lovingly notice and speak 449 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 1: into my life when they see signs that I may 450 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:09,200 Speaker 1: be slipping into ill health. 451 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 2: That goes back to the accountability factor, which helps Number nine. 452 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:18,600 Speaker 2: What is one small sustainable change I could make this 453 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:22,679 Speaker 2: week that would support my mind, body, and spirit, not 454 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:24,719 Speaker 2: just one area but all three. 455 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 1: Number ten, If I truly believed my well being mattered 456 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 1: to God, how might I care for myself differently? 457 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 2: Friends, We've just given you ten important reflection questions. 458 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:39,160 Speaker 3: You might even want to go back. 459 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 2: And listen to this segment of the episode again and 460 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 2: jot them down, But I think those ten questions can 461 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 2: help to make a significant difference in your overall well 462 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 2: being going forward. If you are realizing today that you're 463 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:58,120 Speaker 2: running on empty, let me gently say you're not failing, 464 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:04,239 Speaker 2: but you arec receiving information, and information allows us to 465 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,360 Speaker 2: choose differently going for I. 466 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 1: Love that you're encouraging us to do that. Michelle, and 467 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 1: I want to say that whole health isn't about doing more. 468 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 1: It's about listening better. It's about listening to your body, 469 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,200 Speaker 1: to your mind, and to the spirit of God within you. 470 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:23,080 Speaker 2: As we honor World Health Day, our prayer is that 471 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 2: you would begin caring for your whole self, not out 472 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 2: of pressure, that out of partnership with the God who 473 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 2: created you the God who knows you and longs to 474 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:33,480 Speaker 2: restore you. 475 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 3: Jess. 476 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 2: As we close out this episode, if of your listeners 477 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 2: resonating with our conversation today, what hope filled perspective would 478 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 2: you offer them? 479 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 1: I would want to remind you that God sees you. 480 00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 1: He is the God who sees. He first received that 481 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 1: name in the desert when Hagar and her son were 482 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 1: sent off. They were kicked out and she felt desperate, 483 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:59,600 Speaker 1: and God said I see you. So today, as we 484 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 1: honor World Health Day, remember that God sees you. He 485 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 1: sees your physical health, your mental health, your emotional well being, 486 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:09,080 Speaker 1: your spiritual health, and He has good plans for all 487 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 1: of you, your whole self. So listen in trust him, 488 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 1: and take the next step. 489 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:18,920 Speaker 2: I would also add, friend, that you are worth caring 490 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:23,479 Speaker 2: for fully, faithfully and well. Let me remind you as 491 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 2: we close out this episode of Proverbs four twenty through 492 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 2: twenty three that says, my son, pay attention to my words, 493 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:34,640 Speaker 2: Listen closely to my sayings. Don't lose sight of them, 494 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 2: but keep them within your heart, for they are life 495 00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 2: to those who find them, and health to one's whole body. 496 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 2: Guard your heart above all else, for it is the 497 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 2: source of life. Friends, let this be a reminder that 498 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 2: what we allow into our minds and hearts directly impacts 499 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:52,280 Speaker 2: our whole being. 500 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:56,120 Speaker 1: I'd like to pray for us, Heavenly Father, thank you 501 00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 1: so much that you see us, that you call us 502 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:03,560 Speaker 1: to God our hearts. Lord, It's true that what's in 503 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:07,880 Speaker 1: our heart comes out. So Lord, as we take time 504 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:12,320 Speaker 1: to sit with you today to hear from you today, Lord, 505 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 1: I pray that you would encourage us to steward our 506 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:20,520 Speaker 1: whole selves. Lord, that we wouldn't compartmentalize ourself, because you 507 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 1: don't compartmentalize us. You see us as a whole being, mind, body, spirit. 508 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 1: So Lord, we give ourselves to you in a fresh 509 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:31,960 Speaker 1: new way, and we say, Lord, we're going to trust you. 510 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 1: We're going to steward this body, this heart, this mind. Well, 511 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:38,680 Speaker 1: we praise you for what you're going to do in 512 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: us in Jesus' name. Amen. 513 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 3: Amen. 514 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 2: Friends, if there was something in today's episode that resonated 515 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:48,560 Speaker 2: with you, or you know someone who's struggling with caring 516 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:52,680 Speaker 2: appropriately for their whole self, please consider sharing this episode 517 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 2: so that they'll have a biblically based Hope Field perspective. 518 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 3: For handling it. 519 00:31:56,800 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 2: We look forward to being with you again next week 520 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:01,840 Speaker 2: for another hope field price. But in the meantime, it's 521 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:03,959 Speaker 2: our prayer for you that you would take some of 522 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 2: what you heard today and put it into place. We're 523 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 2: talking about small baby steps. We don't expect you to 524 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 2: overhaul your entire well being, but commit to the Lord 525 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:17,520 Speaker 2: to doing as he guides you. Until we're together again 526 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:19,880 Speaker 2: next week. It's my prayer for you that you have 527 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:21,160 Speaker 2: a hope filled week. 528 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:31,000 Speaker 5: Everyone experiences pain at times. It can manifest physically, emotionally, relationally, 529 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:37,200 Speaker 5: or spiritually. It can follow tragic accidents, great loss, sudden betrayal, 530 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:43,120 Speaker 5: or unexpected and unwanted change. Often pain is temporary, but 531 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:46,360 Speaker 5: what do you do when it isn't? When pain won't 532 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:50,520 Speaker 5: go away, healing does not come, and grief and hurt 533 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:54,720 Speaker 5: settle in to stay. Drawing on her experience of chronic 534 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 5: pain in her years as a board certified clinical neuropsychologist, 535 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:03,840 Speaker 5: doctor Michelle well Bankson provides a counter cultural perspective on pain, 536 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:09,240 Speaker 5: offering hope without any false promises or empty platitudes. Doctor 537 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:13,960 Speaker 5: Benkson unwraps the complex emotional aspects of dealing with pain. 538 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:18,360 Speaker 5: She gives you permission to question God, helps you identify 539 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:21,920 Speaker 5: the lies you've believed about your pain, and reorients your 540 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:26,000 Speaker 5: perspective based on the truth of God's word. Each chapter 541 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 5: ends with a recommended playlist, reflection questions, and a prayer. 542 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:35,960 Speaker 5: Your pain may not change, but your experience with it can. 543 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:42,120 Speaker 5: Doctor Sondra Dalton Smith, physician, best selling author and a 544 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:46,480 Speaker 5: host of the I Choose My Best Life podcast, had 545 00:33:46,560 --> 00:33:49,920 Speaker 5: this to say about the Hem of His Garment. Doctor 546 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:53,680 Speaker 5: Michelle Benkson is honest and transparent, and she gives the 547 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 5: reader permission to ask hard questions and practical guidance on 548 00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 5: how to seek God during times when you feel the 549 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:04,600 Speaker 5: most wounded. A beautiful gift for every person living with pain. 550 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 5: Holy Girth, best selling author of What Your Mind Needs 551 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:13,880 Speaker 5: for Anxious Moments, says pain is inevitable, but enduring it 552 00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:17,560 Speaker 5: alone is optional. Doctor Michelle Bankson is a voice of 553 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:20,760 Speaker 5: hope who will speak into your struggles, at helping hand 554 00:34:20,960 --> 00:34:24,440 Speaker 5: who will point you to Jesus, and a wise guide 555 00:34:24,520 --> 00:34:27,880 Speaker 5: who will lead you through what you're facing so you 556 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:32,520 Speaker 5: can embrace more of what our good God has for you. 557 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:35,720 Speaker 5: Pick up a copy of the Hem of His Garment 558 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:39,200 Speaker 5: for you and a friend wherever books are sold. 559 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:46,680 Speaker 6: Thank you for joining doctor Bankson for your hope build perspective. 560 00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:51,279 Speaker 6: We hope you are encouraged by her authenticity, vulnerability, and 561 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 6: biblical truths. If you enjoy today's conversation, when you take 562 00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:58,560 Speaker 6: a moment right now, open up your podcast app and 563 00:34:58,640 --> 00:35:01,360 Speaker 6: look for the subscribe button right next to our podcast 564 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:05,120 Speaker 6: profile image. We think this podcast is best enjoyed with friends, 565 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:05,759 Speaker 6: so tell a. 566 00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:08,440 Speaker 4: Friend and click share and in your podcast app and 567 00:35:08,520 --> 00:35:11,359 Speaker 4: send a friend our link to share hope with them. 568 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:14,400 Speaker 4: If you have a comment, question, or suggest a topic 569 00:35:14,440 --> 00:35:17,160 Speaker 4: for a future show, reach out to our staff at 570 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:21,680 Speaker 4: info at Hope Prevails dot org for additional resources. Information 571 00:35:21,719 --> 00:35:25,760 Speaker 4: about doctor Bankson's books where free downloads, or to contact 572 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:29,120 Speaker 4: her to speak at your next event, Please visit doctor 573 00:35:29,120 --> 00:35:32,799 Speaker 4: Michelbe dot com. Until next time, May you have a 574 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:34,360 Speaker 4: hope filled week. 575 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:39,840 Speaker 2: I'd like to take just a second to thank the 576 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:42,799 Speaker 2: team at Life Audio for their partnership with us on 577 00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:45,799 Speaker 2: this podcast. If you go to lifeaudio dot com, you'll 578 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:49,520 Speaker 2: find dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. 579 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:53,359 Speaker 2: They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.