Imagine Yourself Podcast

Sometimes life takes a turn in a bad direction, leaving us feeling helpless and uncertain about the future. Sure, we realize that God is in control and can find comfort in that; however, if we’re being honest, it’s usually not enough to bring us peace. In this episode, both of us (Lanee and Sandy) share some big curveballs life has thrown our way recently. As we’re in the midst of these trials, we...

Do you have a vision for what you would like your life to be?  Your dreams and goals are unique and so is the journey you’re traveling to get there. However, one thing that seems to be true for everyone is that the road isn't often easy – but that’s not a bad thing!  According to our guest Lisa Howze, it’s actually those times when we fail or fall short that can be our best teachers and motiv...

Do you have a constant inner-critic? Are you tired of believing the toxic nonsense it spews on a daily basis?  If you feel these thoughts are holding you back, you should know there are strategies to conquer what is often called negative self-talk. In this episode we dig into it with Blaine Lawson. She’s has spent decades dedicated to mental health and wellness as a Psychotherapist and a Behaviora...

If you’re not satisfied with where you are in life right now, instead of wondering how you got there, remember that it is largely the choices you make moving forward that will affect your future. These can be major decisions that send you on a certain trajectory or small daily choices that sometimes have a big impact on your life or well-being. Are you following God’s plan for the best outcomes? I...

There are times our faith gets shaken. Whether by personal circumstances or what’s happening in the world, we can find ourselves struggling. If you’re in that space right now or your faith could use some reinforcement, we invite you to look at the little things inside you and around you that can strengthen your resolve and your relationship with God.   Our guests are Tecia Janes & Andra Pape f...

What’s the inner dialogue you have running? Does it lift your hopes and dreams, or deep down are you sabotaging yourself with negativity and doubt? There’s a famous quote by Lao Tzu that says, “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it...

It goes without saying that our thoughts can have a powerful impact on our moods and emotions. We also know what we think can turn into words and influence actions. Thoughts can even have a direct effect on how we feel about ourselves. Is there any way to gain control of our thoughts and impact our lives in a positive way? In this podcast we look at that question.  According to our guest, it’s not...

Is there something whether big or small in your life you'd like to change? Something you've tried and failed over and over.  Well, it's kind of like Glinda told Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz about getting home to Kansas: you've had the power within you all along!  If you remember, though, Dorothy had to learn something to access the power of her ruby slippers. In her case it was...

Human beings are obsessed with love. The number of songs, movies, books you can find about it seem infinite! Of course, there are many types of love, but the one we’re focusing on in this episode is the romantic kind. A few weeks back, we featured an episode with Relationship Coach Renee Suzanne called “Finding Love at Any Age.” The episode was so popular the advice she gave was so incredible, we...

We love a good success story, especially when someone finally achieves a goal after years of defeat. For those trying to lose weight or just get healthier, Erin’s story will especially resonate. Her loss of a whopping 130 pounds was preceded by countless diet attempts with calorie or entire food-group restrictions. These would either not work for her or she would gain the weight right back. She ca...

It’s been said that good time management is a key that can unlock success and happiness. There have been countless books, systems, and apps dedicated to it. Yet it remains elusive for many. Handling your time well may even be the ticket to finally achieving your dreams. As many of us set out with new goals for a new year, we thought it was a great time to re-visit this topic. We’re zooming in on t...

It’s true that we can make changes any time of the year. There’s nothing magical about the coming of a new year that will help good habits stick or bad habits disappear. However, it is a time that many of us commit to these “resolutions.”  Maybe there’s something about a fresh calendar year that inspires us to believe these previously illusive changes are now possible, or perhaps it’s just become...

Getting or staying healthy can certainly be challenging any time of the year, but during the holiday season the temptations come at you hard. It begins with the first bag of Halloween candy you purchase in October and probably doesn’t stop until January 2.  From holiday parties to the cookie exchanges and everything in between, how do we keep from going overboard without feeling deprived? This req...

We might love to sing along with “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” but it doesn’t always feel wonderful. Maybe there’s a part of us that feels swallowed up by the stress caused by all the extras in our schedules.  During the holiday season, it’s definitely important to make a special effort to monitor our health and wellbeing, including squeezing in some of that precious downtime. Howeve...

From fairy tales to romcoms we are enchanted by couples who despite enormous odds, find each other, fall madly in love and then live happily ever after. In real life, things can be uh…a little more complicated. Not to say that romantic dreams don’t come true, but navigating the process of meeting people, dating, getting into relationships and maybe marriage is a challenging business. Now, add in t...

You may have heard the quote, “You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” These days, we hear so much about people reassessing their lives; and in doing so re-discovering dreams, passions and purpose. Their stories inspire us but may also leave us wondering if we could do that too…and if we did, where would we even start? Life has a way...

We’ve all seen those quotes that say: “Happiness Is…” They’ve been around for decades, from the old Peanuts cartoons to quotes on social media. Happiness is holding a warm puppy . Happiness is a long walk with a friend . Happiness is smelling fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. No doubt you could fill in your own with many things. They are all wonderful, but they are circumstantial. They don’t get...

Sometimes it feels like there is a never-ending cycle of tragedy, disaster and divisiveness in the world.  Now more than ever kindness, compassion and empathy are needed.  Instead, it seems like conflict, name-calling and resentment are the norm. Is there even hope for the centuries-old saying “Love Thy Neighbor”? For people of faith, of course, it’s not just a saying or an ideal, but something we...

Basements, garages, and closets can all become havens for clutter. But so can your mind! Influenced by the steady stream of input which can at times be unhelpful at best and toxic at worst, our brains can feel full of cobwebs. In our last episode, Easy Ways to Stay Organized , we talked with Clutter-free living expert, Deanna Yates. Our focus was on habits, routines, and processes to help organize...

Being more organized is something that can add both efficiency and productivity to your life. Chances are it would also make life easier. To be fair, it definitely comes more naturally to some people, but anyone can get the hang of it. It’s also true that getting organized isn’t a one-time thing. It’s all about creating systems that work for you and those in your house, so things can stay the way...

When we’re in the middle of a challenging or difficult time, sometimes it seems like the worst part is all the uncertainty. We tell ourselves it would be easier to get through if we just knew how the situation would turn out or even how long we’d be going through it. Why can’t it be like finding out  what happens to our favorite character in the season finale of a Netflix binge?... at least at som...

Do you ever feel like the biggest thing holding your back is…you? Whether it’s starting something new or starting something over, many times fear and self-doubt creep in and try to squash our dreams. Vocalist Gabbie McGee is an inspiration for all of us looking to overcome these confidence killers. Her story is one of leaning on faith, family, and her own determination to bring her amazing talent...

For many of us, there’s no shortage in changes we’d like to make. The little voice in our head never seems to shut up about the things we’d like to do better or more consistently. Sometimes we beat ourselves up about bad habits we’d like to break.  It can be overwhelming.  In this episode, we take a deep breath and a step back to focus instead on small changes and their potentially large impact . ...

 Do you ever watch children race around without ever tiring and think, “I wish I had that kind of energy!” Sure, that sort of stamina may be out of reach (and honestly not really needed for most grownups), but it is possible to “up your game” to meet the mental and physical challenges of everything you juggle.  In fact, re-igniting energy and helping with stress and burnout is what our guest, Crai...

Whether prayer is a daily practice, a sometimes thing or an emergency outlet, most of us have called out to the Almighty. In our last episode “ God, Please Speak to Me ,” we explored whether He communicates back; and if He does, how it could happen. Our guest, Kelli Shelton from Seek Well Ministries, really opened our eyes (and ears) and the episode is becoming one of our most listened-to. In this...