Girl On A Hill: Recent Episodes
Bekki Lindner, Jolene Lau, Sydney Naumann, Krystal Wagner & Rachel Reyes
We continue our series on emotions with an honest conversation about anger. We’re easily rattled and small everyday things have us flying off the handle. Today we talk about WHY. What’s underneath our anger? Why do we react the way we do? It’s time to get real about the way our unhealed pain, fear, and love of control affect our reactions and our uncanny ability to go from mildly irritated to raging in 3 seconds flat. We learn how our anger hurts us, hurts others, and makes us less effective. We share tips for working through our anger and wrap it up with a truth about the way our anger reveals the things we’ve made more important than they ought to be.
We continue to dig into our emotions by taking an honest look at envy. No one wants to admit they’re envious, but it’s something we all struggle with - and it’s time to talk about it. We need to wrestle with our discontent and get real about our harmful obsession with comparison. We talk about the need to recognize our blessings and reject our belief in scarcity. We’re embracing confidence, getting thankful, and owning who God made US to be.
We continue our series on emotions by talking about embarrassment. We’ve all felt our cheeks flush as we want to run and hide, but what’s really going on beneath our embarrassment? Why do we feel this way? Why do we care so much about what other people think? We confront our obsession with image, get real about shame and perfectionism, and wrap it up with some powerful truths - reminding ourselves we’re only human, and that’s okay! We share a few tips to work through our embarrassment and wrap it up with a reminder to focus on what matters to help the silly stuff fall away.
We continue our discussion of emotions by digging into ennui. It’s a word you may not be familiar with, but an emotion you’ve likely felt. While we may not want to admit it, most of us know what it’s like to cross beyond boredom into apathy - to feel empty and without purpose. Today we talk about why. We get honest about burn-out and monotony but also don’t shy away from our struggle to feel like our life is meaningful and that what we do matters. We share some ways to reconnect to purpose, to live fully (even when we don’t feel like it), and wrap it up with a hard truth about our focus.
We continue our series on our emotions by talking about disgust - the emotion that makes us say, “eww.” It’s all well and good when we’re talking about worms and rotten milk - but what do we do with our disgust when it’s directed towards other people? We confront the truth of our disgust - the pride and fear underneath it and the way disgust hurts, separates, and divides. We get real about loving our neighbor and using that love to help us overcome our disgust, extend our reach, and live the way we’ve been called to live.
Today we begin our new series- where each week we’ll take a closer look at one of our emotions. Today we dive headfirst into sadness. We push our sadness away - doing our best to stuff it, hide it, and distract ourselves from feeling it- but today we look at the role of sadness in our lives and the importance of working through our sadness instead of pretending it isn’t there. We talk about the things lurking beneath our sadness and attempt to combat the lie that feeling sad is weak and shameful. Everyone gets sad. But there IS a way through and it’s ok to feel this way. We wrap it up today by sharing ways to feel our sadness so we can heal.
This week we look back on our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind Series. I take some time to briefly review each of the 8 topics covered, share some of the commonalities between each of these struggles, and share a few tips universal to the challenge of working towards personal growth. We wrap it up with a few wise words from Paul about refocusing our thoughts to the good and the true.
Today we wrap up our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind series by getting real about the negative habit of taking things personally. We talk about the truth of our self-centeredness and the way our negative self-talk leads us to make hurtful assumptions. We acknowledge the importance of recognizing that like us, everyone else is hurting and healing - and everyone’s pain affects their mindset and behavior. We’re identifying triggers, fact-checking our thoughts, and working to view our offenders through eyes that see with compassion.
We continue our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind series by diving into the destructive habit of future predicting. While we’re not pulling out a crystal ball, many of us escape our present and actively anticipate future worries - most of which will never happen. We’re afraid, desperately want control, and are wildly comfortable with uncertainty. We confront all of this today with some powerful (and yes, slightly painful) truths acknowledging both our lack of control AND the hope and freedom available to us when we’re willing to accept what comes as it comes and trust God’s plans for our future.
We continue our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind series today by getting honest about blame-shifting. Why do we avoid owning up to our mistakes? What makes accepting responsibility so hard? We confront these questions head on as we get honest about our fears and insecurities. We talk about the inevitability of making mistakes and share how owning them allows us to grow. We’re sharing tips, truths, and the freedom that comes when we’re willing to humble ourselves and ask forgiveness for the wrong things we have done.
Why does everything always happen to me? Life isn’t fair! Everything is terrible! We all have these thoughts from time to time, but when we allow them to persist, our pity parties become life-long events that steal our energy, rob us of joy, and keep us focused on our problems. We’re getting real about the dangers of self-pity and talk openly about how our habits of complaint and negativity feed into this destructive habit. We want to be resilient problem solvers, so we wrap it up today with tips, truths, and our need to turn our eyes upward instead of inward if we want to rid ourselves of self-pity for good.
We continue our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind Series by facing avoidance head on. We spend our limited energy avoiding people, situations, and feelings that make us uncomfortable - all the while avoiding necessary growth, change, and the truth that we CAN do hard things. We’re staring down truth, soaking in the tips, and admitting out loud that we must face what we’re running from and that we can do it all with the help of our Savior.
We continue our Spring Cleaning series by taking an honest look at some of the many ways we self-sabotage Some of the behaviors and mindsets that have become second-nature are holding us back - keeping us in negative thought loops and preventing us from not only taking steps towards growth but from walking in obedience. We confront the truth, share tips, and wrap it up with an encouragement to walk in faith - knowing we have been set on a course by a God who loves us.
We continue our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind 3.0 series by taking an honest look at Codependency. Codependency often begins from a place of good intentions but can quickly develop into lasting and destructive patterns of people-pleasing, living without boundaries, and bearing burdens far beyond your responsibility. Our own issues of fear, avoidance, and a need for approval lead us to codependent behaviors but there is hope. We get to the truth of why codependency is not loving or the answer, and share tips to lead us away from unhealthy attachment and problem-solving to loving others while maintaining boundaries, working towards our own growth, and relying on God to love and care for the people in our lives.
Today we kick off our Spring Cleaning 3.0 series by digging into one of the ugliest and most harmful emotions we all experience - jealousy. We talk about what jealousy is, what it looks like, and how fear, discontent, comparison, and a lack of trust in God fuel our feelings. We’re afraid to lose and afraid we’re not as good as someone else. We confront these lies and encourage rooting out our triggers and recognizing our worth. And as always, we wrap it up with tips and truth to help us sweep away the lies and move us closer to accepting the person we were created to be and the life God prepared for us.
Things have a way of not going to plan. In fact, more often than not, our plans fall apart - requiring us to adapt and yes, even become semi-comfortable with change. When plans to record a new podcast didn’t work out this week, I decided to re-mix our episode on Disappointment. Today we wrestle with the gap between expectation and reality, get real about our lack of control, and discuss the beautiful truth about what can happen when we’re willing to meet what comes and what is with open arms.
We’re wrapping up our Wellness series today by taking a look at our occupational wellness. It’s an area of your life you might not be thinking about in connection with your whole body health - but finding meaning and joy in your work (no matter where you work) matters! We talk about our behaviors and mindsets that get in the way of our finding meaning in our work, share ways to cultivate our occupational wellness, and wrap it up with a few truths that could change the way we think about the work we’ve been called to do (whether it’s our dream job or something we’re doing out of necessity.) What you’re doing matters, and we’re getting into why.
We all know the basics - drink water, eat a balanced diet, get enough rest - but many of us are choosing to ignore what we know our bodies need. Today we’re getting honest about why - digging into things like immediate gratification and confronting just how good we are at ignoring our body’s signs and signals. We talk about our misconceptions surrounding physical wellness, share the signs that we’re working towards physical wellness, and wrap it up by sharing ways to cultivate physical health that are practical, doable, and don’t require you to completely give up donuts. We’re moving more, ignoring less, and taking small steps (and then bigger ones!) towards physical wellness today.
Today we take a look at our home as we evaluate our environmental wellness. We talk about the importance of creating a peaceful home environment and dig into what that really means and looks like. We talk about the practical and tangible practices like ditching the clutter and the deeper issues affecting peace in our home like the way we interact with our family and handle the unrest inside our heart. We’re sharing tips, speaking truth, and taking steps towards creating homes that truly feel like home.
In today’s podcast, we’re taking an honest look at the status of our spiritual health. Where are we struggling? How do we treat others? What do we believe and value - and does how we reflect those beliefs and values? We’re getting honest about our growth, our mindset, and the way our faith is or isn’t changing our life. We share what gets in the way, ways to cultivate our spiritual health, and wrap it up with a series of reflection questions to kickstart your own personal evaluation.
Our lives are spent in relationship with others - but how does the health of those relationships impact our health? As we continue our current series, we take an honest look at our social wellness - exploring the benefits of connectivity and belonging while also getting real about loneliness and the truth about how hard it is to establish friendships as an adult. We share signs of social health, talk about the barriers that get in our way, share ways to cultivate healthy connection, and wrap it up with a few truths to keep in mind as we seek to build the relationships we need to thrive.
Our emotions are a part of us - on purpose for a purpose, and are not to be feared or ignored - but how well do we cope with our emotions? How do we allow stress to affect us? Do challenges break or build us? As we take a look at our emotional wellness, we address these questions and talk about overcoming the barriers that keep us from feeling and healing. We share ways to cultivate our emotional health and confront the concepts of triggers, loss, mindset, and balance head-on. We’re here to feel our feelings and work towards accepting and growing through our emotions rather than running from them.
We continue our series on the 8 Components of Wellness by looking at our financial health. It may not be something we’ve considered, but our relationship with money affects our mindset, our choices, and our overall wellness - so we need to talk about it! We get real about the barriers that stand in the way of a healthy relationship with money and wrap it up by sharing some practical ways to cultivate our financial health - no matter the size of our paychecks. We’re talking values, our attitude about stuff, and contentment, and we’re so glad you’re here to get financially well along with us.
We kick off our new series on the 8 Components of Wellness by talking about our Intellectual Wellness. We’re digging into the importance of things like curiosity, commitment to life-long learning, and the bravery to take on new challenges. We get honest about the way our mindset and our aversion to change get in the way of intellectual growth - but share tons of practical (and pretty fun) ways to start cultivating this necessary component of our overall wellness. We’re trying new things, thinking about our thinking, and recognizing the power of learning.
We’re wrapping up our Fruits of the Spirit series by getting honest about self-control, and our lack of it! We get real about the role our negative emotions (and our refusal to deal with them) plays in our inability to control ourselves and talk about how our lack of control is sabotaging our goals. We’re wrestling with our temptations, talking about our triggers, and getting to the root of the things binding us to our old habits. We’re saying goodbye to over-indulgence and poor coping skills and saying hello to the disciplined and balanced life God has called us to.
Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit that sounds easy enough - until you understand being gentle means dealing with your anger, living a life full of grace, and keeping your emotions in check for the benefit of others. We get honest about all of it and provide you with a few ways you can start to cultivate gentleness in your day-to-day life. We’re working to love others (even when they’re difficult), slow down our judgements and responses, and learning how our belief in God’s goodness helps us to live gently.
We’re digging into the topic of faithfulness today, as we wrestle with our own reliability as well as our response to God when things get tough. We talk about what faithfulness looks like lived out and why we struggle with both our own dependability and our hesitancy to depend on the Lord. We share some challenging (but necessary!) ways to cultivate faithfulness in our everyday lives and wrap it up with a few truths and some important thoughts about trust.
We continue our series on living out the Fruit of the Spirit in our everyday lives by discussing the concept of goodness. We hear the word “good” a lot - but do we really know what it means? We talk about what goodness looks like lived out and share why we struggle. We address our selfishness and get to the root of what our motivation needs to be to reflect true goodness. We wrap it up by sharing ways to cultivate goodness and some painful but necessary truths to embrace as we seek to live lives that bless others and reflect our good Father.
Kindness is a trendy word and something we all like to think we show, but do we truly understand biblical kindness? We talk about what a kind person looks like, share why we struggle to be kind (including a few reasons you may not have considered before), and share some difficult but doable ways to cultivate kindness in your daily life. We wrap it up by sharing some truths that challenge our motivation and just might cause us to rethink the way we think about what kindness is and what it isn’t.
We’re continuing our Everyday Fruits of the Spirit series by digging into patience. We all know we need more of it, but if we’re being honest, most of us don’t really want it. And we get honest about why waiting is so hard! We bring up uncomfortable words like control, flexibility, and uncertainty and get real about how we make patience even harder than it has to be. We share a few ways you can start cultivating patience in your daily life and wrap it up with some painful but necessary truths to help us start to walk in patience and find peace in the wait.
We’re continuing our series on living out the fruits of the spirit in our everyday lives by talking about peace. We tackle some tough questions like, “Do we really understand what peace is?” and “Why are we rejecting the peace of God that’s available to us?” We get brutally honest about how our own behaviors and thought patterns keep us from experiencing the calm heart we long to have and share some practical ways to cultivate peace in our day to day lives. It’s time to end the spiral, trust our Savior, and embrace the peace-filled life intended for us.
We continue our series on the fruits of the spirit by talking about joy. We all want it, but what is it, and what's keeping us from experiencing it? We get honest about why we struggle to be joyful, acknowledging that joy requires intense vulnerability and a choice. We share what joy looks like, ways to cultivate joy in our everyday lives, and wrap it up by sharing some truths about joy all wrapped up in hope.
Today begins our series on living out the fruits of the spirit in our everyday lives and we’re jumping into the deep end today as we discuss love. We say we love pizza, our husbands, our friends - and we’re commanded to love our neighbor, but do we really understand what love is?
We talk about what love is, what it looks like, and why we struggle to love the people in our lives. We share ways to cultivate our love and wrap it up with a few truths we need to hear if we want to live the lives of love we were called to.
Today I’m wrapping up our series on rest by reviewing what we’ve learned and sharing how rest can change your life: and it can, because it’s changing mine! I share signs you need rest and why we’re exhausted. I dig into some of the lies we believe about rest, share some powerful (and painful!) truths, and a few ways to get the rest we need- the rest that’s always been a part of Gods plan for you.
Today as we start to wrap up our series on rest, we dig into the importance of spiritual rest - the rest that restores our soul and draws us closer to God, the source of true rest. We get honest about things like disconnection, worry, and our deep unhealed pain - and how those things keep us feeling broken and soul-tired. We talk about laying down our burdens, relying on God, and accepting the rest from our Savior that will not only nourish our soul but keep us from spinning.
We continue our series on rest by digging into a type of rest we all need - sensory rest. We’re overwhelmed by constant stimulation and even in our extra moments, we’re choosing noise. We talk about our relationship with silence, share some tangible fixes, and get honest about how sensory overload sends us over the top. It’s time to embrace quiet and get the sensory rest we need.
Our lives were built for connection, but are all connections restful? Today, we talk about the importance of recognizing and embracing the social interactions that lift us up and leave us feeling refreshed, and what to do about the ones that leave us feeling drained. Social rest is vital for our whole-body health, so we're digging into what it is, how to get it, and why we're feeling so alone. We're examining our boundaries, dropping the people-pleasing, and learning to love who we were made to be, all in the name of getting the social rest we so desperately need.
Our minds are overworked and exhausted, leaving us feeling stressed, cynical, and more distracted than ever. Today, we're talking about the importance of mental rest - the much-needed break our mind needs. We talk about the way mind-chatter and the constant onslaught of information wreak havoc on our brains and how things like perfectionism and drive play a role in our mental fatigue as well. We share ways to give our brains a break and some important truths we must embrace to truly get the rest we need.
We're emotionally exhausted, and it's time to fix it. Our minds and spirits need emotional rest. Today, as we continue our series on whole-body rest, we talk about what emotional rest is, digging into the why behind our stress and emotional burnout. We're out of balance, we stuff our feelings, we lack support, and we normalize constant stress - and it's showing! We talk about how to get the emotional recovery we need, why we need it, and why the changes we need to make to get it are worth it.
We continue our series on whole-body rest by digging into the concept of creative rest. While creative rest probably isn’t something you’ve ever thought about - it’s likely something your mind needs. We talk about the mental wear and tear of constant problem-solving and our need to reconnect with things that fill us with awe and wonder. We share practical ways to get creative rest that you can put into practice today and wrap it up by sharing tips, truths, and a few examples from Jesus.
We're tired, worn-out, depleted, and let's be honest it shows. We need rest! We're kicking off our new series on rest by digging into the concept of physical rest, what that means, signs we need it, and how to get it. We chat about sleep, movement, and the underlying issues that may be keeping us from the rest we need and were designed to get.
OH, Sorry!!! You may not even realize hose often you're apologizing, and today, we take a look at our habit of over-apologizing and dig deep into why we do it. Over-apologizing is wrapped up in perfectionism, shame, and people-pleasing, and it's time to let it go, unapologetically as we stand secure in who we are: worthy and loved.
We like being right but so often our need to be right gets in the way of relationship building, growth, and happiness. I get honest about the pitfalls of arguing and share how being right is about so much more than fact-checking. I talk about the blessing it is to not know everything, (we get to keep learning!) and wrap it up by talking about the power of love and the importance of seeing the person behind the difference of opinion.
We all want to be liked - but when we need everyone to like us, we put not only our mental and emotional health in danger, but begin to forget the truth about who we are and where our worth comes from. (Spoiler alert - it’s not what other people think of us!) We get honest about the cost of hustling for validation and talk about the traps of people-pleasing and perfectionism that go hand in hand with a need to be liked. We share hard truths, some tips for loving and embracing who you were created to be.
If we’re being honest, most of us don’t just yearn for control - we love it. We’re control freaks who are using the illusion of control as a way to cope with our stress and anxiety - only, it’s backfiring. Our attempts to control everything and yes, everyone - are exhausting, damage our mental health and relationships, and shut down creativity and new possibilities. It’s time to own up to the fact that our way isn’t always the best way and that if we truly want control, we should start with controlling ourselves. We wrap it up with tips and a hard truth about the link between our desire to control our world and our trust in God.
Why is the past so hard to let go of? Why do so many of us struggle to make forward mental and emotional progress? Leaving our past requires us to not only heal old wounds, but to accept change and appreciate the truth of our present circumstances. It’s a challenge, but a process we must work through if we want to grow, have healthy and fair relationships, and if we want to fully embrace who we are and what we have in our right now. We wrap it up by sharing a few helpful tips and the two things you need to actively look for if you truly want to leave your past behind and love your present.
We've all put decisions on hold, kept ourselves from taking risks, and hesitated to put ourselves out there relationally and creatively because we just want to be sure of how things will go. Today we're letting that go because as hard as it is to accept, we can't always be certain. We're getting honest about how control, fear, and anxiety play a part in our need for certainty, talk about allowing a little bit of room for a little bit of maybe in our lives, and share a paradigm-shifting statement about what certainty really is. As always, we wrap up today's pod with tips, and I share a reminder of the one thing of which you can always be certain.
This week, we’re continuing our Letting Go series by dropping our hurtful narratives - those negative thought loops running through our brain. We talk about how that hurtful inner monologue isn’t just keeping us sad and angry - it’s actually making our decisions and changing the direction of our life. We get honest about why these negative thoughts are so hard to shake and share the truth of why we need to start changing them. We’re changing our lives one thought at a time.
We want life to be fair, and most of the time, if we're being honest, we expect it to be. But as long as we're clinging to the idea that life has to be fair to be good, we'll be living a life filled with discontent, resentment, and chronic unhappiness. Today we're acknowledging that we must change what we can and work to accept the rest so we can learn to love our life, even in the midst of situations and circumstances we didn't choose.
Today we’re letting go of our mistakes - releasing the guilt and shame we’ve been carrying so we can move forward in freedom. We dig into what it means to forgive ourselves, but get honest about why forgiving ourselves is so hard. The guilt and the overthinking isn’t working - but there’s hope. We share tips for forward progress, a life-changing Scripture, and some truths that remind us of the abundance of grace available to us if we’d only uncross our arms and accept it.
We talk ourselves out of a lot of things in the name of being cautious or fully prepared when in reality, most of the time, we're just scared. Today we're kicking off our new "Letting Go" series by dropping our need to feel 100% ready before taking action. We're tired of putting our lives on hold while waiting for fear to subside. We get real about the things that keep us from moving forward in faith and share honest tips and truths that can help propel us out of the waiting zone into action. We're talking initiative, living that carpe diem life, and leaning into God's strength as a source of courage instead of waiting for ours to show up.
In the last episode of our "I Want You To Be Happier" series, we dig into just how important and beneficial it is to serve others. We get honest about why we don't help and get real about how things like selfishness, insecurity, and unhealed pain feature in our excuses for not getting involved. We share tips for starting small and stress the importance of serving who you know where you are. We're working to put love into action as we serve our families, neighbors, and communities.
We’ve all heard the advice, “Just be yourself.” So why do most of us spend our lives trying to fit in and be like everyone else? Today, we’re talking about the fear that holds us back from letting our personality shine, leaning into who God made us to be, and embracing what makes us - us.
How often are we fully present in our moments? The truth? Not often enough. Today we’re talking about the barriers that prevent us from living present and the changes we can make to help us be more mindful. We’re working to embrace the right now, accept what is, and be all the way where we are.
Life’s too short to spend it watching - just going through the motions, always the passive observer. So today, we’re talking about jumping into our life with both feet- rejecting fear, embracing growth, and daring to leave our comfort zone. We’re taking risks, joining in, and choosing to believe that there is more than a half-hearted, numbed-out, sitting on the sidelines kind of life. We’re choosing to LIVE!
We're continuing our "I want you to be happier" series by talking about our need to calm down. We talk about the way we've normalized stress, our misconceptions about what calm is, and how living rattled affects us mentally and physically. We share tips for calming down and wrap it up by talking about calming ourselves vs. trying to calm the storm and our need to rely on the one who is always in the boat with us.
We’re kicking off our “I Want You To Be Happier” series with a choice many of us don’t even realize we have - our mood! We talk about digging deep and uncovering what’s underneath our bad mood, how we give away our power and control when we fail to take responsibility for our mood, and how the way we think about the things we’re going through affects our moods. We wrap it up by sharing some mood lifters and some truth about the One thing that can hold us steady.
It's our 100th episode, and we're celebrating!!! Today we're celebrating, not only the podcast, but each other, highlighting our own journeys up the hill. We play a few games celebrating our quirks and personalities, and then get real about how we're growing, what we're learning, and the truths that are sinking in and causing life-change.
We call it many things - getting things off our chest, putting it out there, letting people know -but really, venting is the unhealthy habit of dumping our negative emotions without the intention of working through them, healing, or finding support. It’s time to get honest about venting and the way it’s hurting us - prolonging and strengthening our anger while hurting the person listening. Venting is an energy thief holding us in place, and it’s time we seek processing and solutions-minded conversations instead of practicing our anger by continually talking about it. We’re here to grow and become life-giving women who bless others with our words instead of agents of negativity who incite fear and stress.
Call it unsatisfied. Call it unhappy. Either way, we all know what it’s like to be discontent. We’re getting honest and going deep - not stopping at the way ingratitude and comparison contribute to our lack of contentment but sharing how living unchallenged and outside of our purpose can create a restless ache in our soul. We’re paying attention, sharing truths, and working to allow what God has for us be what satisfies.
We all walk through seasons of discouragement, so today we're talking about it: Working through what it means, how it got there, and how it affects us. Discouragement keeps us stuck, causes us to lose hope, motivation, and the desire to press on. We wrap up today's podcast by sharing truth, tips, and the joy and freedom that come from trusting our faithful God.
We’ve become mean in the way we speak to and about ourselves - having written off the way we devalue who we are as no big deal. It is. And every time we self-deprecate, we’re retraining our brain and unconsciously lowering our self-esteem. So today we’re getting honest about our need to stop this destructive habit and accept and live out the truth of our value and worth.
In today’s episode, we’re taking a look at pride - a destructive heart-attitude that keeps us from growth, from truly being known, and distorts our view of self. We share what pride looks like lived out, how it affects our relationships, and how it may be pointing to unhealed pain or insecurity. We wrap it up by sharing practical tips to live humbly, and I share what I learned when I asked the question, “Is pride really that big of a deal?” Spoiler alert - it is, and we’re here to sweep it out of our hearts.
Today we’re taking an honest look at laziness - a habit that encompasses far more than parking yourself on the couch. We talk about the grip laziness can have- keeping us sidelined and living small. We share some of the ways laziness sneaks up on us, talk about our love of comfort, our need for purpose, and the role fear plays in keeping us from forward progress. We wrap it up by sharing tips and the truth about living the full life God intended for us.
Some of us tend to always think the worst, so today, we're tackling the damaging habit of catastrophizing. Living in the land of worst-case scenarios keeps our minds in a constant state of crisis while pulling us away from our moments. We get real about the damage catastrophizing causes, share tips for healing, and truths you need to hear. We wrap it up by sharing the two things you need to remember the next time you're facing a mountain or a molehill.
In today’s podcast, we’re getting honest about the way we respond to our feelings - often letting them control our behavior and shut down our rational brain. Our feelings are valid and important, but they’re often temporary, untrustworthy, and out of sync with the truth. We allow our feelings to talk us out of doing things, to mislead us, to speak and act without thinking, and to live our lives on an emotional roller coaster. But there’s hope! As we pay attention to our triggers and learn to find healthy ways to express and cope, we can help our thoughts and feelings work together.
We continue our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind series by diving into the topic of judgment. It’s not something we want to admit, but we need to reckon with this destructive habit and the damage it causes - not just to others, but to ourselves. We get real about the reasons we judge and what our tendency to judge says about ourselves. We give some tips and share some hard truths as we work to spread love instead of judgment.
We continue the Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind series by getting real about perfectionism and the fear, shame, and insecurity driving it. We give you some traits to help you identify perfectionism in your own life, sharing the way perfectionism is actually holding you back, keeping you from the fullness of life. We talk about behavior vs. the heart, share some tips to break free and reclaim joy and true growth, and wrap it up by getting real about perfectionism and modern-day Pharisees.
We’re kicking off our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind Series by diving head-first into the topic of people-pleasing. We like to be liked and like making people happy - but what’s at the heart of our desire to please? We get honest about the fear, low self-worth, and misplaced identity that often fuels our boundary-less, peace-keeping behaviors. We give you a self-checklist and talk about the truth of who you are. Your needs and voice matter. You are worthy. We share some tips to help you break free from the bondage of people pleasing and begin to take up space in your own life and wrap it up by sharing the freedom that comes from accepting the approval of the only One who matters.
I’m joined by my husband David this week as we chat about communication. We share some of the most common communication mistakes made in relationships, digging into how our bad communication habits can hurt the ones we love while preventing us from being heard and understood. We share some of our own experiences, including what we’ve learned and how we still need to grow. We’re here to champion honest and direct communication that seeks to grow healthier relationships.
None of us want the people we love to be in an unhealthy relationship - so we need to talk about it. We need to share the patterns and behaviors of abuse. We’re getting real about the small and subtle behaviors, the things we’ve normalized, the things we rationalize, and the things none of us deserve. It’s time to talk openly about relationship red flags - but we’re here for the green flags too. Krystal shares her story and we’re facing this topic head-on so hopefully you won’t have to.
So many of us are lonely, feeling more disconnected than ever before. In today's episode, we're getting real about making and keeping friends as adults. It's hard! We share some of the things that keep us from trying to connect, acknowledge what makes it hard and scary, and wrap it up by sharing some truths to keep in mind as well as tips for forming new friendships.
Change is hard! And in today's podcast we're talking about a quality that not only helps us roll with the changes that happen to us, but also helps us make the changes necessary to keep things working. We're digging into adaptability and sharing, not only what it really means, but how we can develop it and put it into practice.
Today we’re digging into the concept of wonder and why more of us need to take the time to slow down, take notice of the beauty around us and let it fill us with awe. We’re in a hurry - rushing from Point A to Point B, ignoring the journey. It’s time we take a pause, think deeply, and allow ourselves to be like children - full of awe and wonder. It just might be the energy refresh we all so desperately need.
Some of us want adventure and some of us may feel like adventure is out of reach. But in today's podcast, we share how every day can hold an adventure if our mindset is right. We talk about what adventure really is, share how our comfort zone holds us back, and how saying yes and being open to new experiences opens us up to a life full of adventure. We're taking risks, trying new things, and embracing whatever the day holds.
In today’s podcast, we dig into the intention of simplification and talk about what it would look like to put it into practice. We talk about decluttering not only our physical space but our calendar space and mental space. We’re constantly stressed and our souls are drained. We’re talking about our need to create room for the things we love and value most. We’re embracing less so we can live with more.
In this week's episode, I share my thought on the importance of intention and reflection. I talk about my experiences, share my reflection questions, and how my chosen intention often ends up shaping my year in unexpected and meaningful ways. Happy New Year!
We close out our How’d We Get Here Series by talking about the problem of hurry. So many of us are always in a rush, constantly feeling behind, and hesitant to slow down - and today, we dig into why. We talk about the lies that may be fueling our frantic pace, share how this non-stop sense of urgency is hurting us, and wrap it up by sharing a few ways we can overcome hurry sickness and live at a comfortable and sustainable pace.
Merry Christmas from Girl on a Hill Podcast. I love this time of year, but know that for many, Christmas can easily become a time of stress - where we’re feeling far more overwhelmed than jolly. In keeping with our, How’d We Get Here Series this week, as we’re spending time with our families, we’re revisiting our episode on finding joy during the holidays. In this episode, I share how our expectations, comparison, perfectionism, distraction, and the lie of not enough cause us to miss out on the wonder of the season. Whether this is your first time hearing this episode or if you’re re-listening like me, I hope these words brighten your day and help you cling to what matters this Christmas.
The expectations we place on ourselves and others loom large in our lives, creating stress, pressure, and resentment. In today's episode, we talk about the strain living with unrealistic expectations creates. We share the harm the word "should" has caused and the absolute need for grace and an acceptance of our shifting capacity. We wrap up today's podcast by sharing a few truths to help us let go of the expectations that weigh down our hearts and steal our happiness.
We live in a loud world with noise coming at us constantly from outside and within. In today's episode, we address the three primary sources of noise, dig into why we fill up the quiet spaces and resist silence, talk about the benefits of silence, and share why we need to allow the thoughts and feelings quiet brings to surface and be felt and heard. We wrap it up with a discussion about what silence is and how we can start to put some quiet back into our noisy lives.
We’re more stressed and unhappy than ever - and today we’re getting uncomfortably truthful about one reason why. As we continue to dig into how we got here, we get real about resentment and why so many of us struggle to let it go. We talk about what resentment is, get honest about why we insist on packing around our pain, and share the truth about the gift of forgiveness and surrender - they’re for YOU! We’re walking away from pain into healing today.
Happy Thanksgiving from Girl On A Hill. We are so grateful for each and every one of you. We are taking the week off to spend time with our loved ones, so this week we are revisiting our episode on gratitude. I gave it a re-listen this week. I needed to hear what we had to say as I'm heading into this season of Thanksgiving. Whether this is your first time hearing it, or if you're re-listening like me, I encourage you to take a few minutes to rest and take it in as you prepare for the coming season.
We’re continuing our How’d We Get Here series by talking about worry. We talk about the strangle-hold worry has on our thought-life and the ways it destroys our happiness and leaves us weighed down by burdens we were never meant to carry. We get honest about why we worry, and wrap it up by sharing some uncomfortable truths that may help us stop.
We all need help - but none of us likes asking for it. In today’s episode, we share some of the biggest things that keep us from seeking help and support, talk about why we need to ask, and wrap it up by discussing how to ask. We’re here to grow, and if we want to escape burnout, we have to learn that we can’t go it alone.
We’re kicking off our “How’d We Get Here?” series by talking about balance - and why so many of us feel off-kilter. We share the wrong ideas we’ve been taught about balance and how wrong thinking along with comparison and expectations only make the problem worse. I share my life-changing revelation about what I think balance really is and how self-grace and acceptance of our shifting capacity and life’s variables is necessary to live a life we can sustain.
We all know we need rest and soul refreshment, so why do we resist it? Today we’re talking about Sabbath - and some of the reasons we fight the gift of rest. We talk about God’s example, share the excuses we give to persevere at all costs, discuss our wrong ideas about rest, and wrap it up by sharing what a Sabbath can look like. Rest was given to you. Take it. It’s for you.
Burnout happens when our stress exceeds our ability to cope, so today, we’re addressing the typical ways we attempt to cope with stress. We get honest about our poor strategies, talk about our tendencies to ignore, numb, or control, and finish up by sharing some lifestyle changes that can help us face and successfully deal with the stress in our lives.
Today we're taking an honest look at stress, getting real about our stressors and the role our thought life plays when it comes to stress. We talk about in a constant state of fight or flight, the road to burnout, and our tendency to push ourselves past our breaking point. This is one we all need to hear today.
We all know what it’s like to be tired, but in today’s episode, we really dig into the ways physical exhaustion affects every aspect of our lives. We’re sharing scientific studies, passages from the Word, and our ow experiences as we work to prioritize our whole body health by moving away from exhaustion into rest. We’re getting real about the ways our habits, our heart, and our mind keep us awake and away from the rest we need.
In our last heroes episode, we dig into the life of Elisabeth Elliot. Elisabeth was a woman marked by an absolutely unrelenting faith and desire to obey, even in the aftermath and midst of suffering. Her ability to forgive is mind-boggling, as is her devotion to seeking God’s will. Hers was a life of service, and her impact will continue to be felt for many years to come. I invite you to get to know Elisabeth better and learn from this incredible woman of God.
We continue our heroes series by digging into the bold life of Irena Sendler. Irena risked her life to save others, willing to fight injustice at all costs. She courageously used her position, placement, and resources to act - never content to sit on the sidelines. She fought for what was right and lived a life that inspires.
In today’s episode, we discuss a woman with grit, courage, and inspirational faith - Harriet Tubman. I knew the stories of Harriet on the Underground Railroad but was deeply humbled and convicted as I learned more about her determination, selflessness, generosity, and unwavering faith in and reliance on God.
We’re kicking off our heroes series today with everyone’s neighbor, Fred Rogers. Mr. Rogers was more than a tv personality - he was a man deeply rooted in a calling: to extend kindness and unconditional love and to help children grow in their emotional honesty. His story is moving, his integrity, work ethic, and authenticity inspiring, and his caring and compassion were groundbreaking. We share pieces of his story, tales of his audacious emotional authenticity, and wrap it up by sharing lessons learned from the life of Mr. Fred Rogers.
We wrap up our Woman Of…Series with something the world needs more of - hope! We dig into the link between hopelessness and worry, define what hope is, and share how hope fuels us in seasons of difficulty. We talk about the role resolve plays in a hope-driven life and wrap it up by sharing science-backed ways to increase your hope.
Today we’re digging into what it looks like to be a woman of confidence. We talk about the truths we struggle to accept, our ugly relationship with validation, and how comparison fuels or insecurity. We wrap it up by sharing ways to start developing your confidence and accepting the awesome woman God made you to be.
We continue our Woman of Series by talking about what it means to be a woman of resolve - a woman who doesn’t just talk about doing things, but a woman who does them. We talk about excuses, motivation, and the choice between what we want now and what we want most. We talk about intentionality and the need to push through discomfort. We wrap it up by sharing ways to start building your resolve.
We all know play is important for kids, but most of us have written it off as something we no longer have time for. In today’s podcast, we talk about why we need to be women of playfulness. We talk about how achievement identity and exhaustion as a badge are running us ragged and how play is vital in renewing our mind, body, and spirit. We share ways play impacts our whole body health and wrap it up by sharing what play can look like as an adult.
In today’s podcast, we’re looking at what it means to be a woman of integrity. We talk about our values and practicing them vs. just professing them. We dig into how struggle often reveals the cracks in our integrity and our goal to be women who have the character to withstand the storms. We wrap it up by really digging into what integrity looks like lived out and share some tough but practical ways you can assess your integrity.
In today’s podcast, we’re talking about what it means to be a woman of mercy. We talk about mercy’s deep ties to compassion, how our brokenness and backstories often put us in a position to need the mercy of others, and how our unhealed pain, anger, and unforgiveness can prevent us from extending mercy to those who need it. We talk about the similarities and differences between grace and mercy, how gratitude plays a role in our ability to show mercy, and wrap it up by sharing a few ways to show mercy to someone who may need it today.
We’re continuing our new series by diving into what it looks like to be a woman of adaptability. It’s a trait many of us struggle to exhibit because change is hard. We dig into why we resist change and how developing adaptability can help us view and react to change in a different and emotionally healthier way. We talk about types of change, the traits that exemplify an adaptable person, and wrap it up by sharing practical ways you can start developing your adaptability today.
Today we begin our new A Woman Of series! And I don't know about you, but I want to be A Woman Of Courage!
We share four attributes of a courageous person, talk about courage’s role in managing our emotions, dig into how courage affects our decision-making, and the choice we must make between courage and comfort. We talk about courage and living our purpose and how it takes courage to live with a growth mindset. We wrap it up by sharing a few practical ways you can start building your courage today.
Purpose. Being yourself. Being who you're meant to be. These are big words and concepts, and today we're diving in and coming in hot. We're excited about leaning into our passions and living out the purpose we were made for. The world needs you. You were made on purpose, for a purpose and today we're talking about figuring it out, leaning in, and living it out.
Every week, you hear me encourage you to start shining, and today we're talking about what that means. We dig into not only how we can shine, but why we need to. Girl up on that hill, the world needs your light. And in today's episode we hope to inspire you to make the choice to switch yours on and lighten up that darkness.
Every week you hear me say "Stop Hiding." Today we dig into what that means. We talk about how shame, and our longing for approval and belonging often cause us to hide who we are. We share what hiding can look like and how to tear off the masks we wear, let our joys and feelings out, and allow ourselves to be seen and known. Because we are people worth being seen and known.
Welcome to Season 2! In today’s episode, we spend some time getting to know the girls on the hill a bit better as we play Rapid Fire. We also share some podcast facts, our favorite episodes, and our biggest aha moments from the first season. We’re getting real, sharing some laughs, and celebrating our first season.
As we bring the Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind Series to an end, I take a look at the second half of the topics we covered - the issues of the mind. In today’s episode I really dig into how our thought life changes everything - and how if we want to change anything in our life, we have to change our thoughts. I talk about renewing our minds, evaluating our thoughts, and stopping that mental spiral dead in its tracks. We get to choose. Let’s clear out these six negative thought patterns once and for all.
Our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind Series is wrapping up as we dig into the topic of criticism. We talk about what a critical person looks and sounds like - and how to recognize this unhealthy trait in ourselves. We talk about some of the root causes of a critical spirit, how to deal with the critical people in our lives, and most importantly - how to change. We’re getting real, sharing our own struggles, and climbing up that hill with you.
We’re beginning to wrap up our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind Series by taking a look at false beliefs. We talk about core beliefs, how they develop, and how they shape not only our mindset and choices - but the direction of our lives. We wrap it up by discussing how to identify our false beliefs, get to the root of their origin, and replace them with the truth.
Today’s episode is all about parenting. My husband David and I share the big ideas we've used to guide our kids and the decisions we've made for our family and share some of the best parenting ideas, thoughts, and analogies that have been shared with us over the years. We wrap it up by talking about common parenting pitfalls that we've definitely made. We're not perfect parents (because that's not a thing) but we're committed to learning and doing the best we can for our kids - just like I know you are.
We’re taking a break from our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind Series to encourage moms. In today’s episode, I’m getting real - real about your worth, real about the struggles of motherhood (this gig is hard!), and real about what changed the game for me personally. We’re talking about breaking the approval cycle, the courage to be authentic, unrealistic expectations, and that phrase that plagues far too many of us - not enough. There’s truth in today’s episode for every woman - but moms out there, know we think you’re amazing.
We continue our spring cleaning of the heart and mind series by talking about over-thinking. We poke some fun at what it looks like, but get serious as we dig into why we do it, what it feels like, its link to control, and how it hurts us and our relationships. We wrap it up by sharing hope for taking action (we can beat this!) and talk about flipping the script on over-thinking.
In today’s episode, we continue our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind series by digging into the topic of shame. It’s a tough topic to tackle - but a problem that overwhelms so many of our hearts and minds, causing us to believe the lie that we’re not enough. We talk about where shame comes from, what it feels like, what it hurts and steals, and how to begin to heal.
We're continuing our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind series by talking about negativity. Today we're really digging into negativity as we share some common negativity patterns, discuss negativity bias in the brain, and we wrap it up by sharing some practical application for freeing ourselves of the burden of negative words and thoughts. This is a battle we can win ladies.
In Today's episode we continue our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind series by talking about worry. For most of us, worry isn't just a part of our reality, it's our default setting. And it shouldn't be. We talk about the way worry impacts not only our physical health but our emotional health. We talk about its link to control, faith, and wrap it up by sharing some practical ways we can remove from that center spot of our life.
In today’s episode, I break down what it means to tackle spring cleaning of the heart and mind. I talk about the damage pretending to be fine when you’re not causes, feeling our feelings vs stuffing them, and how unprocessed pain limits us and prevents us from healing. If we want to rid ourselves of these negative thoughts and behaviors, we have to feel, and we have to heal.
As we continue our spring cleaning of the heart and mind series, we're finally digging into unforgiveness. It's messy and challenging. It feels unfair and too hard. But if we want to heal and move forward in freedom, we have to let go. It's a difficult process, but a choice we need to make if we want to heal our hearts.
In today’s episode, I’m continuing to sweep out the dark places of our hearts and minds by talking about comparison. Not only does it steal our moments and shatter our security, but it distorts our vision and thinking. When we compare, we see and think about other women incorrectly - and maybe even more importantly, forget who WE are and who we were made to be. It’s time to stop comparing and own who God made us to be ladies.
In today’s episode, we continue our spring cleaning of the heart and mind series by digging into the topic of rage. It’s ugly and messy and something far too many of us would like to keep pretending isn’t a struggle. But it’s time to confront our rage, figure out why it’s there, and work to resolve our anger and minor frustrations before they erupt. We’re talking self-control, truth, and facing our hurts.
In today’s episode, we continue our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and Mind series by digging into the topic of gossip. We talk about what it is, why we do it, and how destructive it really is. We wrap it up by talking about how we can make the change and decide to start lifting others up.
In today's episode, Sydney and I kick off our Spring Cleaning of the Heart and mind series by talking about insecurity. We talk about what it is, how it starts, what makes us feel insecure, and how insecurity can manifest. We wrap it up by talking about insecurity hurts us by causing us to miss out on things, and finally, how we can fix it. It's a hard one, it's a deep one, but we need it.
In today’s podcast, we wrap up our fresh start series by talking about habits. We dig into habit loops, routines and rewards, and how to over-ride our mental ruts. We wrap it up by discussing how to go about replacing our bad habits. We’re sharing strategies, stories, truth, and a big dose of encouragement today. We’re developing our grit, changing our mental soundtrack, and starting to believe in our own possibility.
In today’s episode, I’m joined by my husband David as we break down 5 habits of healthy relationships - habits designed to not only help your relationship last - but thrive. We break down the importance of shared interests and respecting who our partner is, discuss how we must refuse to speak negatively about our spouse in public, and share how we sometimes burden our spouse by expecting them to meet our every need. We also talk about where our kids fit in. We’re sharing our insights, struggles, and how we’ve grown over the last 20 years together.
In today’s episode, we talk about our desire to learn and try new things - and all the ways we talk ourselves out of it. We break down the lies and barriers that keep us from taking the leap, share our own struggles, and talk about what it is we want to try. We wrap it up by talking about the importance of becoming a lifelong learner - people who delight in growth, accept and adapt to change, and dare to leave their comfort zone.
The present is where so many of us long to live, but all too often, we find ourselves in a hurry to leave it. Whether we’re in pursuit of the “next” or stuck replaying the past in our head, it’s so easy to mentally and emotionally be anywhere but where we actually are. In this episode, we share some of the most common traps to living present and our fervent desire to not only live in, but delight in the present.
In today’s episode, we break down optimism - and discover, it’s more than happy thoughts. Yes, optimists look for the good, but they also view and respond to their setbacks differently. My husband David and daughter Hannah join me as we discuss the importance of our mental focus, our ability to change the way we think, and when it’s tougher to be optimistic.
In today's podcast, we talk about delight - the practice of intentionally shifting our focus to noticing and reveling in life's small (but wonderful!) things. It's a practice that's changing my life - and I suspect it can change yours too. Delight not only helps us recognize and appreciate the good but rewires our brain, turning all of those little moments life is made of into enough.
Today’s Girl on the Hill is an open and honest conversation about prayer. It’s wonderful - but can feel confusing and complicated, and we wanted to share our own prayer journeys with you. I share my incredible prayer story we’ve been teasing for a while and we talk about how prayer opens our eyes to good and to God. But we also get real about our own prayer struggles, sharing some of the things that have held us back.
In today’s episode, we talk about procrastination -which ironically enough, was a topic we kept putting off recording. Krystal and I share our extreme procrastination and anti-procrastination stories and talk about how both ends of the procrastination spectrum are two sides of the same coin. We discuss the consequences, share some tips for conquering the urge to procrastinate, and dive into the science that suggests there’s a lot more to procrastinating than laziness or poor time management. It’s a good one. Don’t put off listening to it.
It’s the time of year when many of us reflect on who we are and who we want to be in the coming year. In today’s episode, I’m joined by my husband David as we talk about starting fresh, setting goals, and why some may feel resistant to making changes. We share what’s worked for us, get giddy about new beginnings, and trust me - you won’t want to miss our epic “word of the year” story. We’re closing out 2021 with you today. Thanks for being here.
Several weeks ago, I was invited to speak at a women’s event at the church I grew up in, and today I’m sharing the audio from that event with you. In my talk, I shared about 5 common thieves of joy - things that distract us from the beauty of our reality, steal our focus, and keep us in a mental and emotional spiral. These things can hit us any time, but let’s be honest - Christmas can be a little extra. So I invite you to listen as I share my struggles, my heart, and my hope for you this Christmas. Have a very merry imperfect Christmas everyone.
Having gone through the past two years, we all know what it's like to be tired, emotional, and stressed. But some of us find ourselves in a state of burnout - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually exhausted and over-extended. Today on the hill, we're getting real about burnout - what it is, how we end up there, and how we can get out. (Because we can!)
In today's episode, we're talking about loving difficult people. If we're being honest, we all have people in our life that are harder for us to tolerate - let alone love. We're learning to work our empathy muscles and see the difficult people in our lives as people to love, rather than problems we wish would go away. We're also admitting that difficult people shine a light on our own hearts - exposing all of the negative emotions, attitudes, and responses we've hidden away. We're sharing some tips and giving you a few tools to help you love when you'd really rather not - and reminding you, that you (just like all of us) are sometimes difficult too.
The Christmas season is full of joy and holiday experiences - but for many of us, it can also be full of depression, anxiety, and stress. Christmas can be magical - but it can also be complicated, and whether you love it or dread it, the season tends to add a lot to your plate. So today, we're sharing a few ways to reduce holiday stress so you can actually ENJOY this special time of year. Here's to a low-stress Christmas season. Thanks for being here.
We talk a lot about thankfulness in November, but do we actually live like we're grateful? In today's episode, we talk about the benefits of gratitude and the joy that comes from taking the time to notice life's small blessings. We also break down some of the mental barriers that prevent gratitude and acknowledge the power our thoughts and outlook have on the quality of our life. This week it's about recognizing life's ordinary delights and letting those daily acknowledgments snowball into a life that seeks and finds the good. Thank YOU for being here. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
I won't lie. Today's episode was hard to record and difficult to digest - because honestly, complaining has become such a big part of how we communicate. Complaining has become so normalized, that most of us don't even recognize when we're doing it. It may feel satisfying in the moment, but ultimately, complaining doesn't change our situation - it only changes us. (And not for the better.) Changing complaining culture starts with us. It's time to examine our conversations and exchange our venting and negativity with talk about our joys and passions.
It's here! It's the long-awaited Introvert Show! Whether you're an introvert who longs to be seen and understood (you know, without having to leave your house) or an extrovert who wants to better understand their introverted loved ones, today's show is for you. The introverts on the hill share some of the common misconceptions about introverts, as well as some of the things we love and some of the things we could do without. We are here to encourage you and make sure you know that introversion is NOT a character flaw. You've got introvert superpowers and we're so glad you're you.
In today's episode, I'm joined by my husband David, as we break down some common relationship pitfalls. I share how the high expectations I put on myself sometimes create a more stressful home environment. David shatters the myth that men can read minds and shares his intentionality behind offering the "fix" or the "solution" when I'm upset. We wrap up by talking about our mutual needs to unwind and recharge so that we're able to give the best of ourselves. Today is all about giving grace, assuming the best, and unlearning some of the wrong thinking that trips our relationships up. Nearly 20 years in, and I'm still learning. I'm right there with you today.
Feeling like you're on a cross-country road trip on the struggle bus? You're not alone. In today's episode, we get crazy real about being real! (And by real, I mean someone who sometimes handles stress poorly, isn't always happy, and yes - even sometimes doubts their faith.) In today's episode, we talk about breaking down, spiraling mentally, blaming God, and covering up our pain. We're messy, broken, and not always ok. And that's ok. This one is deep, raw, brutally honest, and maybe exactly what you need to hear today. We are in this with you.
Given the choice, we'd almost always choose something comfortable over something hard. But, when we cling to our comfort zone, we miss out on everything that strengthens us, teaches us, and helps us grow. Today, we're talking about kissing our comfort zones goodbye. We talk about making changes, finding out what we're made of, and pushing past excuses. And, as a special treat, Krystal shares a story about recently getting out of her comfort zone to accomplish a lifelong goal.
Let's be honest. We're great at stress. Great at over-working. Even better at burn-out. But fun? We've forgotten about fun - and make all kinds of excuses about why we can't have it. In today's episode we talk about the barriers that keep us from having fun, common misconceptions about fun, and the three key components of true fun. We were not made to trudge through life - we were made to enjoy it!
You don't have to look very hard these days to find someone who's angry. Anger is everywhere and we're becoming quicker to fly off the handle for increasingly smaller issues. So today, we're tackling the topic of anger. We examine our triggers and get honest about our need to heal old wounds. We discuss how anger affects not only our relationships - but ourselves. Anger is a takeover emotion, a boomerang, and an emotional check engine light. Let's dig in, get to the root, and heal - so we can start spreading peace to counteract everyone else's rage.
Today's podcast is about lists - but honestly, it's about so much more. In this episode, we chat about our tendency to tie our worth to how much we get done, smart goal-setting, and yes, we circle back to control and comparison - because those issues can be unrelenting. We share our tips, our struggles, and some laughs too. It's a pros and cons list about lists today on the hill.
Break out your bouquet of newly sharpened pencils, because today, the girls on the hill are celebrating all things fall! In this light-hearted episode, we chat about our favorite fall foods, drinks, and activities. We're ready for soups, sweaters, and trips to the pumpkin patch! So pour yourself a glass of hot cider or pick up a pumpkin spice latte, kick back, and help us welcome this beautiful season! Happy fall everybody.
We all know what it's like to be disappointed. In today's episode, we talk about that sometimes difficult leap we make between what we'd hoped for and what we got. We discuss our expectations, control, and the joy that's possible when we let go of what we thought would be and accept what is.
In today’s episode, we dig into the topic of boundaries. We discuss why we struggle to say no, how boundaries affect balance, and why we must set boundaries if we want to avoid resentment and soul burn-out. It's time to have the conversations, draw the limits, and protect what we value most.
In today's episode, Rachel and I have a very honest and raw conversation about our own battles with anxiety. We share a few of our coping strategies and some tips for getting through the spirals. We talk about triggers, control, and being mindful of our input. Anxiety can feel overwhelming, but there is hope, and we're walking up the hill with you.
In today’s episode, I’m joined by my teenage daughter Hannah as we talk about confidence. We talk about the negative soundtrack in our head, how comparison gets in the way, and our problematic tendency to shrink and hide – when really, we were made to SHINE. It’s time to own who we are and start believing we’re enough.
Whether we do it consciously or not, we all tend to believe a few myths about other women. We feel alone in our humanity and think we're the only one who isn't living up to our crazy standards. So today, we're debunking three common myths: the myth that everyone else's house is always clean, the myth that everyone else is always perfectly put together, and the myth that everyone else is always out having a great time. (They're not! They're all normal - just like you!) And while we're chatting, the hosts of today's pod go down a Disneyland rabbit trail - but that was just us being human. We're walking up that hill with you.
In today's episode, I'm joined by my husband to talk about something most of us tend to struggle with - finding rest. It sounds silly, but for many of us, the idea of slowing down and taking a breath is a struggle. We talk about what rest is and what it isn't. David and I dig into some of the "whys" behind our resistance to rest, chat about our own experiences, and discuss David's acronym for a solid resting plan.
William Penn said it the best, "Time is what we want most, and use worst." In today's episode we examine some of the "whys" behind our wasted time. We dig into how binge watching and endless scrolling are often used to prevent us from facing difficult feelings and situations. We examine how we can over-priortize good things, talk about why we hurry, and contemplate the reasons behind constantly being late or early. We wrap up by touching on a few sneaky time-wasters: over-thinking and dwelling on the past, and recognize that it can be hard to let go of our time-wasters, because we've made a time investment in them. We know your time is precious, so we're thankful you're spending it with us today.
In today's episode, I sit down with my sister-in-law to talk about money. We talk about the power of small victories, the importance of budgeting for fun and play, and the role gratitude and contentment play in our attitude and approach to our finances. We talk about the need to teach our children about money management, the problems both super-spenders and misers have with money, how priorities tend to change when we do, and how feelings of scarcity can cause us to act out in different ways regarding money. We wrap it up by sharing a few small but realistic action steps you can take today to gain control of your finances.
If I asked you how you were doing, would you say "fine" - even if you're not? Even if you're heartbroken, weary, or trapped in an anxiety spiral? I get it. We all do it. In today's episode, we start to unpack some of the reasons we pretend to be okay when we're not and how trying to handle the hard feelings on our own can sometimes backfire. We talk about what safe people mean to us, why some people overshare, and why we tend to suppress our feelings. It's a big one. An important one. And it's my favorite episode yet. Thanks for being here.
We all walk through hard things. Things we'd never choose. Things we didn't see coming. In today's episode, we share how we were able to gain perspective and see goodness in the midst of pain. Though the pain remains, we're still standing, and there is still joy to be felt and lived in. We're choosing to see the good.
It’s summer! In today’s episode, we celebrate our favorite summer foods, activities, and vacation destinations. Get ready for tips, stories, and summer nostalgia. Pour yourself a cold glass of sun tea, kick back, and enjoy our celebration of all things summer.
When we hear the word "diet" we tend to think about what goes in our stomach. But, our diet is about so much more than what we eat. Today we talk about how what we read, watch, listen to, scroll through, obsess about, and who we spend time with affect our mood, thought life, and overall health. In this episode, we get real about how media input has influenced us and how the changes we've made in our input diet have impacted us.
Are you feeling overwhelmed, overtired and stretched too thin? If you’re anything like the hosts of today’s podcast, you’ll find your’re not alone. In this episode, we try to get to the WHY behind those sometimes suffocating feelings. Why do we wear busy like a badge? Why do we waste time on comparison? We dig into the lie of “not enough”, our urge to do all the things, and how we sometimes fill time to avoid our thoughts. It’s time to lay down the loads we’re carrying. I hope you’ll join us on the journey.
Ahh romantic comedies. We love to watch them, but is that really what love looks like? In today’s episode, we’re talking about the myth of romantic comedies - and how those picture-perfect movie moments tend to create crazy expectations no one can live up to. We may never slow dance in the park or talk about our feelings on a sleigh ride, but there is magic in our mundane. It’s the little things. It’s doing life together.
Fear has a way of keeping us stuck. In today’s episode of Girl on a Hill, we’re getting real about fear - what it feels like, how it holds us back, and how we so often get in our own way. We also talk about moving forward and doing the scary thing - even when we’re afraid. Because we can. (Yes, for real - we can.) You’ve got this - and we’re in it with you.
It’s Episode 0! Thanks for being here. In this introductory episode of Girl on a Hill, you’ll get a chance to meet the regular hosts, find out why we’re here, and learn what you can expect when you decide to tune in each week. We’re here to bring the joy, lift you up, and walk the journey up the hill with you.