Podcast

Unleash: Heart and Soul Care Sheets

Resources:

You can connect with Jolene online via Twitter/Instagram/Pinterest at @theJoleneU or via the Cultivated Life Newsletter.

Thank you so much for joining me this week on the Thrive: Mental Health and the Art of Living Free! Make sure to visit my website where you can subscribe to the show so you never miss a show. Hey, while you’re at it, help me out by adding some stars to the rating and tell a friend about the show.

Be sure to tune in next week, where we continue our conversation on Soul Care. I’ll be wrapping up this series by sharing with you my thoughts, challenges, and advice on practical ways for you to care for your soul.

Have a great week, stay healthy and wash your hands!

Melissa

Apr 10 2020

Episode 13 Soul Care:: An interview with Rachel Kang

Thank you so much for being here! I believe listening to this podcast will leave you feeling excited, educated, and empowered.

We are in new the middle of a series on soul care. Last week’s interview with Becky Lauridsen was so good! I loved her practical advice on soul care and how we can practice this daily.

Today we will continue the conversation with a new friend of mine, Rachel Kang.

Rachel Kang is a writer, editor, and the creator of Indelible Ink Writers, an online writing community full of journal-keepers and closet poets. She is a graduate of Nyack College in New York where she studied Creative Writing with Bible and Christian Ministry. Rachel’s writing has been featured in Christianity Today, (in)courage, and My Influence Circle. When she is not hiding behind the pages of poetry and paperback, you’ll find her drinking tea, chasing laundry piles, and stealing away for mornings at the lake. She lives with her family in North Carolina, a blink away from The Queen City.

On the show today, Rachel and I discuss some of the following:

Challenges facing when one practices soul care, especially during a pandemic
Difference in soul care and self-care
Is soul care is Scriptural?
Practical ways to practice social distancing without being socially distant

Listen now:

Novel Marketing Podcast with Thomas Umstattd Jr.

Resources:

Building a Story Brand Podcast with Donald Miller

You can find Rachel on her website : https://www.rachelmariekang.com and https://www.indelibleinkwriters.com

Be sure to tune in next week, where we continue our conversation on Soul Care.

Have a great week, stay healthy and wash your hands!

Melissa

Apr 03 2020

Episode 12:: Soul Care – An Interview with Becky Lauridsen

April is FINALLY here! We made it through another LONG week in the midst of COVID-19, social distancing and the global pandemic.

Today, We are starting a new series on soul care. For years, I used the term self-care. I heard influencers online talk about self-care Sunday. Chatting about facial masks and getting a pedicure. Getting pedicures and massages are amazing! But these acts aren’t enough to truly care for your soul.

Most of us are overwhelmed, depleted and exhausted. Our batteries are generally drained. Our relationships are anemic. I believe we must first care for our soul. In these series, I’ll be talking with friends, colleagues, and you’ll hear from me about soul care. We’ll get into the nitty-gritty by defining soul care. And discuss practical ways to practice soul care.

Today, I’m interviewing Becky Lauridsen .

Becky is an Licensed Professional Counselor and Founder of IOME. It’s an I Owe Me instead of an I Owe You, offering Guilt Free Self Care by partnering with local businesses to offer discounted self care services and products. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, it became alarmingly clear to Becky just how important self care is and just how detrimental it is without.

On the show today, Becky and I discuss some of the following:

The difference between self-care and soul-care
strengthening relationships by practicing soul-care
Whether or not soul care is spiritual ?
Practical and tangible ways that you practice soul care through establishing a routine, spending time alone, doing something you love

Listen now:

The IOME Guilt Free Soul Care Journal

Resources:

You are the girl for the job! By Jess Connelly

IOME self care membership program

You can find Becky at @iowemenow for Facebook and Instagram and Email her at becky@iowemenow.com

Be sure to tune in next week, where we continue our conversation on Soul Care. I’ll be chatting with a new friend, Rachel Kang.

Have a great week, stay healthy and wash your hands!

Melissa

Mar 20 2020

Episode 10:: Thriving in the Midst of CoronaVirus

This week, I have no guests or interviews. Simply, I’m going to share with you my thoughts about Covid-19.

In this episode, I share how I’m struggling in the midst of this pandemic. Why I’ve been struggling and why you may be struggling as well. As always, as always, I want to leave you feeling equipped and empowered with a few action steps to help in the midst of the chaos. We’ll talk about some steps you can take to cope with your anxiety. This includes how to care for people in your world like aging family members and children.

On the show today, we discuss some of the following:

Everyone’s heightened anxiety about the Coronavirus and the global pandemic
Identifying your emotions and what is triggering you
The Feelings Wheel
Coping strategies help to lessen the intensity of attacks and also helps to mitigate some of the anxiety.

Listen now:

Resources:

The Feeling Wheel

Mindfulness meditation helps fight insomnia, improves sleep – article by Julie Corliss (Harvard Medical School )

SoulTime – an app for Christian meditation

Calm – #1 app for Sleep, Meditation and Relaxation

A Big Shout out to all of you that have subscribe, left a rating,etc. The podcast is doing consistently well and it is ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!

Be sure to tune in next week, where I’m going to share with you my journey with anxiety. I am also going to discuss how I’ve learned to manage my anxiety and how these practices could be helpful for you.

Have a great week and wash your hands!

Melissa

Mar 06 2020

Episode 8 :: Interview with Kristin Funston

Welcome to Episode 8 of THRIVE: Mental Health and the Art of Living Free!

March is finally here… can you believe it?

Today, we begin a new series on anxiety and how to cope with it. For most, Anxiety is often a vague concept. We know it affects our emotions, but for some, it can be difficult to describe. This is because anxiety feels different for everyone. However, I believe with all the special guest interviews we have this month, it will leave you empowered, educated, and feeling a little more normal.

On today’s show, I interview Kristin Funston. Kristin is a Christian author, speaker, web designer, and regular contributor to multiple popular blogs. She’s been featured on sites such as The Better Mom, City Moms Blog, FaithIt, TODAY Parenting, and Scary Mommy.

In this episode, I discuss:

My long story with anxiety
How to overcome roadblocks like Mom Guilt and Shame
How faith impacts your mental health journey
Kristen’s struggle as a Believer and anxiety/depression

Listen now:

Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts

Click here to listen on Spotify

Click here to listen on Stitcher

Resources:

Thank you for joining me this week on the Thrive: Mental Health and the Art of Living Free. Hey, while you’re at it, help me out by adding some stars to the rating and tell a friend about the show.

Be sure to tune in next week, where we continue the conversation about anxiety. I’m interviewing Jacyln Weidner. She is a wife, mom of the 3 girls, a writer, speaker, podcast who also struggles with anxiety. You are going to be encouraged by her story and words of wisdom.

Thank you – Have a great week!

Melissa