Open Pages Podcast: Recent Episodes
Michele Sfakianos
This podcast will help you create the life you were meant to live. The content will help you to grow forward and tackle life issues such as personal growth, self-care, parenting, marriage, and assist you to discover how all of this can affect your work life.
What if it doesn’t work out? What if it does!
We live in a world where too many people live from “What If”. What if I don’t get the job. What if you do? What if my team loses? What if they win? Why are we so dependent on the “what if’s”? What if is driven by fear. Stop living in fear. Learn to move forward with confidence and love from God.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Ask, Seek, Knock, then Trust Him
We are told “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you,” but what happens when he run into closed doors? When an opportunity is blocked, God has a reason. Do you try to take the reigns of your life? Join me for reasons God might block our pathway.
Check out my website at openpagespublishing.com
Stop waiting and start doing!
Happy New Year! Are you living in faith or fear? Are you ready to plant your tiny mustard seed and watch it grow into the life you are meant to live? Join me to see how faith helps with goal setting and new starts.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
What will your 2024 look like?
Are we clear about our intentions? Our decisions? Our commitments? I hear people say all the time, “I’ll try to make it to your meeting.” If you really wanted to attend, you would make time in your schedule and attend. The same goes for New Year’s resolutions. The “I’m going to “TRY” and lose weight this year.” You must be clear about what you “intend” to do. You will either lose weight and do everything you can to accomplish the goal or you won’t lose weight and stay on the same course you’ve been on for years. Join me to learn how and why to set intentions.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com.
It’s never too late to return to God!
It’s a busy time of year. We are rushing and running to get the best gifts, the best deals, and trying to make a wonderful Holiday season for everyone around us. Many of us have some not-so-good memories around Christmas time and it is hard to be joyful. We need to put things into perspective and celebrate the reason for the season. No matter how far you have run, it is never too late to return to God.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
What is a micronutrient?
What is a macronutrient? What is a micronutrient? I don’t know about you, but I want to know what is good for me and what I’m putting in my body. The Lord only gives us one body, shouldn’t we respect it and treat it like the temple that it is? Join me to learn about what you may or may not be missing in regards to your nutrition.
Please visit my website at Open Pages Publishing.
What is your reaction?
From the moment you get a call that throws you into a tail spin – what is your first reaction? Do you all apart or do you start praying? Have we required proof that the Lord will do as we ask, and in the meantime try and do it ourselves? We need to put our trust in the Lord and have the faith that empowers us to pay attention to Jesus and trust that He will make good on His promises, no matter what we see now. I want to give you hope – hope in situations and hope in taking care of yourself.
Please visit my website at Open Pages Publishing.
Are you living with should have, could have and would haves?
Are you living your life thinking you “should” be doing things? Are you listening to others tell you what you should be doing? Stop the should, the could, and the would thinking in your life! Join me to find out how.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
If you are interested in my coaching CDs, please contact me at michele@openpagespublishing.com
Are you passionate about what you are doing?
Are you living and working in your purpose? Or are you unsure of your purpose? You were born on purpose for a purpose and it’s time to find out why! Join me to find out how. Need additional help? Contact me at michele@openpagespublishing.com to get your coaching CDs that I have available for purchase.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Are you ready to achieve your dreams? There are success principles to live by. Do you know what they are? The principles of success are applicable in everyone’s life. It’s up to you what you want to do with them. If you learn how to master unpleasant situations and change them in useful and positive…More
Do it for yourself! Controlling others may be the only way we can control our own emotions – especially if others behave in a certain way. The problem is this can cause arguments and we might inadvertently push people away. Worrying starts when we doubt we will be able to remain in control or when…More
Which one do you possess? If you cannot see, taste, hear, smell, or feel it, do you have faith it exists? This is called Human faith. We need to go deeper and experience God’s faith – supernatural faith. How? Join me to find out. Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.comMore
Being more like Jesus Things in this world change every second, every minute, but Jesus Christ never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Are you striving to be like him? Or are you standing back and letting others do the work? How can we be more like him? Join me to explore…More
Responsibility earns freedom. Getting your driver’s license gives you the freedom to drive, but it also means you must be responsible. Teaching your children to be responsible in age-appropriate ways, helps them to earn certain freedoms. Join me to learn how to associate freedom with responsibility. Please visit my website at Open Pages Publishing.More
It is possible! No matter how hard we try, we may still experience burnout. The experience of burnout feels pretty bad – but burnout is treatable, and the recovery process can be deeply empowering! Join me to learn how to recover from burnout and live the life you were meant to live. Please visit my website…More
The good news is burnout is avoidable. Are you suffering from burnout or headed that way? Join me to learn different ways to try to avoid burnout and live the life you were meant to live. The Bible says to “work as if you are working for the Lord.” Are you? Please visit my website…More
The struggle to seek wisdom in our life. So, is Faith the “Magical Ingredient for Wisdom?” What does believing in God have to do with wisdom, faith and trust? Join me to learn the differences and how to live the life you were meant to live. Please visit my website at: openpagespublishing.comMore
Is your attitude louder than your words? Are your actions speaking louder than your words? Are you able to handle difficult people? Join me to learn how to communicate effectively and how to destress when you deal with difficult people. Learn how to place your stress level at a minimum by putting your confidence in…More
10 Reasons Why You Need Personal Growth Are you working on yourself? Are you taking classes, workshops, reading books or doing anything to improve your life? Why or why not? Do you know the importance of personal growth? Join me today to learn 10 advantages of personal growth. Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.comMore
Do you know how it all started?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t remember how Memorial Day started. I’m sure I was taught in school many, many years ago. I know what it stands for, but how and when did it get started? Join me to learn the origins of Memorial Day. I hope you will pause at 3pm local time on Memorial Day and pray for our fallen soldiers and their families. We need to unite as a country, not just on this day, but every day. Wishing you a Happy Memorial Day.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com.
Do you have a scarcity or an abundant mindset?
What are you doing when opportunities are right in front of you? Do you believe in yourself? Do you know you can make a difference? Or do you even think about it at all? Are you missing out on opportunities because they have risks? Join me to help you work through these answers and more.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com.
Let Go and Let God
Time to let go and become the healed version of yourself. Do you know how to stay put and be present to feel, think, and sort it all out? Today is the day to start to let go of the hurt and pain caused by others, and let God take the wheel. Are you ready?
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
What’s the harm in asking?
Are you a risk-taker?To be successful you must be willing to take risks. One of the risks that can generate the greatest fear is the word “no.” No one wants to feel rejected and the word no is the biggest rejection of all. Do you know the type of mentor you want? Do you know the approach to a finding mentor? Join me and learn just how to find and acquire that mentor you need.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Step out in Faith
FEAR=False evidence appearing realAre you frustrated because you know you aren’t doing what you are meant to do? Are you letting fear rule you? Do you know how to step out in faith? Fear is a tool Satan uses against us to make us miserable and destroy our lives. Let’s learn some ways to leave this irrational thinking behind.
Visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Can people trust you?
Keeping your word can lead to better life experiencesKeeping your word means to be true to what you say you will do. It is agreeing to follow through on a commitment. Do you keep your word? Can people trust you? Do you trust yourself? What are some reasons people don’t follow through? What are the consequences? Join me to find out these and other questions.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Whether your first, second or last – it is possible.
True love is a beautiful thing. It shouldn’t be downgraded to a pipe dream for the lonely-hearts-club. True love is something that everyone should strive for. Life is a lot more fun when we can share it with a person who brings out our bright light. Have you presented your request to God? Give it to God and he will fill the desires of your heart.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Time to break free and get out!
Do you find yourself sitting home alone? Whether you are single or married, you can still feel as if you are alone. God made us to be in community. Are you letting fear hold you back? I’m not talking depression, I’m talking being and feeling alone. Loneliness can also wreak havoc on your health. Join me to learn out to break out of that feeling and get out of your own way.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Break free from yourself!
Freedom is one of our most prized possessions. However, every human being is born into captivity to sin. Do you try to break away from past transgressions, only to end up staying in that same lane and living it over and over again? It’s time to break free. Join me to learn how to let go and let God.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
It’s not the end of temptation!
God wants you to know the truth about temptation. He wants you to stop believing the myths about temptation. You will always be tempted in this earthly life, but you can choose to sin or not. Do you “fall” into temptation? No. No one “falls” into anything, they “choose” to do something. Join me in this last message how to deal with temptation and live the life you were meant to live.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Are Christians free from temptation?
The myth that Christians are free from temptation is just that – A MYTH! We are all tempted and will continue to be tempted for the rest of our earthly lives. God promises to deliver you from temptation – he doesn’t promise to deliver you from being tempted. Join me in part 2 of this series to learn more about how to deal with temptation.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Is temptation a sin?
A big part of overcoming temptation is understanding exactly what Satan is trying to do and how he is attempting to carry out his schemes. Many become so discouraged over temptation, so much so – that is controls their emotions and they become unmotivated. Join me to learn how to overcome temptation and live the life you were meant to live.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Many adults haven’t even mastered these!
There is no definitive list of life skills. Certain skills may be more or less relevant to you depending on your life circumstances, your culture, beliefs, age, geographic location, etc.. However, there are basic life skills for everyday living and there are mandatory life skills to help your kids not only survive on their own, but to thrive on their own. Do you know what they are? Join me to review the most important life skills that you should be teaching your kids.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
It’s not always easy – but it is possible!
Laughter can improve emotional and mental health, it lifts our spirits, and it dispels worry. It’s almost impossible to be anxious and laugh at the same time. This is why we would be wise to express joy in laughter every day. Are you living – really living? Are you in love or hoping for love? Join me to learn the principles you need to live, laugh and love every day of your life!
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Gut Feelings, Anxiety or Paranoia
The old saying “trust your gut” refers to trusting these feelings of intuition, often as a way to stay true to yourself. Following your instinct can direct you toward the best path for you. However, you might wonder whether you should put so much trust in a feeling, an instinct you can’t explain. Do you know the difference between gut feelings (intuition), anxiety and paranoia? Join me to learn 4 tips to help you decide if you should trust your gut.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Can people trust you?
Keeping your word can lead to better life experiencesKeeping your word means to be true to what you say you will do. It is agreeing to follow through on a commitment. Do you keep your word? Can people trust you? Do you trust yourself? What are some reasons people don’t follow through? What are the consequences? Join me to find out these and other questions.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Are you setting the right priorities for you and your kids?
Do you have misplaced priorities? Listen for 3 ways how your may be setting the wrong priorities. Have you made your children’s walk with God a priority? What about your own walk? Keeping Christ first makes it harder for other pursuits and pleasures to distract us. Join me to learn how to set the right priorities.
Please visit my website at: openpagespublishing.com
Everyone should have one!
I read an article on creating yourself a self-care box. I found it interesting and wanted to share. A self-care box is a basket or package filled with things that will make you feel good, safe and help soothe anxiety and stress. Join me to learn what to put in your box, or a box for a friend, to help you to live the life you were meant to live.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
This concept will change your life
In my last Podcast I spoke about having power thoughts to change your life. The quality of our thoughts creates the quality of our life, and our thoughts create experiences, and we experience what we think. Join me today to learn more about how our thoughts can improve the quality of our life.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Are you ready for 2023?
Are you ready to live free from fear? Ready to be difficult to offend? Do you know that God loves you unconditionally? Join me to learn how your power thoughts will determine your future.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com.
Where did the year go…and what’s next?
Shockingly, it will be 2023 in a few days. Where did the year go? I’ve been a part of many conversations in the past couple of weeks where one person says, “Can you believe it’s almost Thanksgiving?” and the other people shake their heads, looking a bit dazed. So, in the service of not ending the year feeling as though you’ve been flattened by the march of time, join me for ways you can finish the year ready to start fresh.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Keeping the reason for the season out front
Christmas ramps up earlier each year and often overshadows Halloween and Thanksgiving. It should be a special day to express our gratitude to God for all His care and blessings, however it has become the early kickoff of the demanding holiday season and the overloaded schedules, financial concerns, and general frustrations. Join me to learn how to capture the reason for the season and kick holiday stress to the curb.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Claim your freedom from loneliness
Loneliness and depression do not discriminate with any one type of person. They don’t just appear because of a death or a separation. The two can come seemingly out of nowhere with no outward valid reason, and they invade every aspect of a person’s life. Are you in seclusion during the holidays? Join me to learn how to get out of seclusion and into joy during any holiday season.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
It doesn’t have to be difficult!
Man and woman relationships alone are difficult. When you add his kids, her kids, his ex, her ex and the in-laws, most people cannot handle the pressure. Step-families require more effort and understanding because of more people involved, and this often includes young ones who didn’t ask to be put into the situation to begin with. Now add holidays! Join me for tips and tricks to get through the holidays with your step family.
For more information on Step Parenting, check out my book on Amazon at The 4-1-1 on Step Parenting
Make sure to visit my website to check out my other books at openpagespublishing.com
Are you shining brightly with your God-given gifts?
God has told us: “You are the salt of the earth. … You are the light of the world…” Are you using your God-given gifts, talents, opportunities, and skills to point others to Christ? Or, are you in seclusion only satisfying your own needs? Tough question…but worth answering. Join me to learn how to be a bright light to others.
Please visit my website at openpagespublishing.com
Are you forgetting the reason for the season? It’s called a budget because you set it, then you don’t budge! That can be difficult during the holidays if you tend to get drawn in by the influx of holiday sales. Plus, you’ve got your standard monthly expenses, responsibilities and other things to consider. Are we…More
Taking the negatives and making them positive. Did you know your brain has the ability to rewire and make an optimistic outlook your norm? Do you allow those negative situations to ruin your day/week/year/life? It’s time to learn how to turn those negative situations into positive ones! Join me to learn how. Please visit my…More
Putting your values to work for you. Our self-reflection is an important first step to finding meaning in our lives. What values are important to you? Are you putting them to work to help you find your purpose? God has a plan and a purpose for each of us. It is up to us to…More
What does that even mean? Psychological safety is a shared belief by members of a team that others on the team will not embarrass, reject, or punish them for speaking up. Do you feel psychologically safe at work? Do you feel psychologically safe at home? Are you a leader at work that promotes psychological safety?…More
Knowing your worth is not selfish – it’s empowering What do you believe you are worth? Knowing your worth is essential for your happiness and success in life. From the time that we’re born, society conditions us to believe our worth is tied to achievements. But as people, we’re much deeper than just our accomplishments. Are…More You must stand up for yourself!
How do you know your spiritual roots are deep in Christ? Like the plants we see everywhere, Christians have to be rooted to grow. Plants and Christians need their roots until the day they die. Do your roots – and your children’s roots – run deep in Christ? As Christians, we can also fall and…More Our Christian roots are not seen, but the results are clearly visible.
Stop holding on to things (and people) that poison your future Do you feel overwhelmed? Stressed? Tired? Do you take on too much? It may be time for a life detox, decluttering what’s obstructing our way and preventing us from feeling happy and successful. Detoxing as a way of life is a healthy thing to…More What do you need to release?
Are you a good friend? Friends will come and go in our life. No matter how long our friendships last, the most important thing is your friends’ acceptance of you for who you are. A good friend “walks the talk” and shows they care by their actions – big and small. Don’t just be a friend after…More The most important thing is acceptance
Hurricane Ian is gone and my area is devastated, but we will rebuild! Hurricane Ian was here and gone. Our beaches are gone. Homes are destroyed or completely gone. People are missing. Businesses are gone – along with jobs. But, we are Southwest Florida strong. We will rebuild. Will you help? Please visit my website…More We are SWFL strong!
Make yourself a priority. Even though personal boundaries can be challenging to navigate, setting and communicating them is essential for our health, well-being, and even our safety. What areas of your life do you need to set boundaries? Are you confident saying ‘no’ without an explanation? Join me to discuss how to set boundaries and…More Honor yourself and your boundaries
Are you wasting it wisely? Time is the most precious and best gift that God has given us. It is priceless. ‘Time is more precious than money’. You cannot buy time. You cannot redeem it with any form of money or property. If that were possible, the rich could buy time and fix their past…More Is your time priceless?
Time to get rid of distractions If there is one thing for certain, it is we could all use a lot more focus. Do you get distracted easily? Do you give up on tasks because they are too big to accomplish? Join me to learn how to get rid of distractions and learn to stay…More Let's increase our productivity
How to find happiness Are coping skills effective 100% of the time? No, nothing is. There are going to be days when it feels like nothing works and everything is against you. What coping skills do you use? Join me to learn some coping skills to get you on the road to happiness. Visit my…More Why should you care about coping skills?
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. No matter what happens, we need to keep moving forward, embracing the future that God has for us. Stop looking back at our old life, and the lives of others, where the grass is not greener. We all have hopes and dreams, but we need to…More Happiness is a state of mind
Just take that first step already! When it comes to making decisions, don’t be afraid to fail forward, because a lot of the time, the best decisions come from doing what scares us the most. Although there’s no way of knowing where life will lead you, it’s important to love and respect yourself enough to…More Are you frozen in fear?
Maybe it’s time to take care of you Deep, honest relationships take time and effort, but not everyone is willing to put in the time or put forth the effort. Do you have a habit of engaging in one-sided relationships? It’s time to take a good look at what a one-sided relationship looks like and…More End the pattern of one-sided relationships
Why quiet quitting may not be for you The new trend in the workplace is quiet quitting. Quiet quitting doesn’t actually mean turning in a resignation. Instead, it has been deemed a response to a fast culture and burnout; employees are “quitting” going above and beyond and not doing tasks they are not being paid for.…More Is quiet quitting a cop out?
Why leaving it all behind may not be the answer When you take whatever personal issues you’re dealing with, add in the ongoing political and social upheaval we’re experiencing, well then you just might have the perfect recipe for wanting to escape and leave it all behind. But, will that solve your issue? Join me…More Maybe it's not all about escape
7 steps to move forward with confidence There’s no easy way to start over. Whether after a relationship, the end of a career, an unexpected move, or any other situation, it isn’t easy to pick up and move forward. Life comes in seasons and some people are only in our life for a season. Should…More Learn to fail forward
Who do you trust for the right answers? Life can be confusing and not knowing where or who to turn to for advice can be a struggle for most. Do you turn to a friend, a colleague, or a trusted family member? How can you tell the right answer from the wrong one? Or should…More There is only once place you should go!
Emails, junk mail and personal advice – are you done yet? We get daily “spam” in our life. Whether it’s through email, junk mail or just talking to friends and family. How do you deal with it? Join me to learn techniques on how to limit (because we know we will never completely stop it!)…More This is a growing problem in our life!
Are you a people-pleaser? Although it is very important to devote time to your relationship, taking time for yourself is just as important. By taking care of yourself first, everything else will fall into place. You know the old saying “if mom ain’t happy, no one is happy”! Do you know what it takes to…More Be true to yourself
What’s the harm in asking? To be successful you must be willing to take risks. One of the risks that can generate the greatest fear is the word “no.” No one wants to feel rejected and the word no is the biggest rejection of all. Do you know the type of mentor you want? Do…More Are you a risk-taker?