Anchored Not Anxious

What happens to your faith when chronic pain shows up uninvited and refuses to leave? In this episode of the Why She Trusts God series, I sit down with best-selling author and speaker Carolyn Dale Newell. Carolyn opens up about trusting God as her spiritual flame flickered out during two years of debilitating pain, and how she fought — devotion by devotion — to resurrect hope when suffering and ho...

Ageism after 40 is real — and if you've ever wondered whether your best professional years are behind you, you're not alone. In this episode, I share two stories — including my moment of humility in the workplace — that reveal why the skill you least want to learn might be the very thing that keeps you employed, confident, and calm. Because staying relevant isn't just a career strat...

You were raised to handle things yourself — figure it out, don't ask, don't need. And for a long time, that worked. Until it didn't. If you're a midlife woman wrestling with anxiety, chronic worry, or overwhelm, there's a good chance the very strength that kept you standing has quietly become the ceiling on your healing. In this episode, we're taking an honest look at...

You don't have 48 hours. Maybe you don't even have 8. But what if 30 minutes could open something in your soul that years of busyness has kept closed? In this episode, I introduce a mini spiritual retreat for women titled You Are Known: Who God Is and Who You Are to God — a three-session guided experience designed to be done in your car, your closet, a park bench, or wherever you can fin...

Have you ever reached for something — a drink, a pill, a buzz — just to take the edge off? You're not alone, and there's no shame in admitting it. In this honest, no-judgment conversation, Terri pulls back the curtain on the complicated relationship between anxiety and the quick fixes we reach for when we just want to feel better — from alcohol and THC to prescribed benzodiazepines like...

Moses spent 40 years running from fear before he ever heard from a burning bush. And honestly? I think that's more relatable than we realize. Because most of us don't leap from crippling anxiety straight into unshakeable trust in God. We wander through the fear territory first. We doubt. We run. We try to figure it out on our own — and we end up in Midian like Moses. But here's what...

One evening as I lie in bed overwhelmed by everything happening in the world around me, these words rested on my mind: Terri, you weren't meant to bear these burdens. These are mine. Can I just say — sometimes we don't even realize how much we're carrying until we're completely buried under it. Jesus never meant for us to hold the weight of what we cannot control. And yet here...

You want an anxiety reducer at your fingertips, right? But how does this happen? Listen to this 4 minute episode as I explain exactly what you can do so you've got the tools in that moment of panic, intense anxiety, or invasive worry. You can do this! Get The Anchored Life twice-monthly email. You can include Jesus in each day for reassurance, wisdom, hope, identity, transitions, and as a spi...

If you've ever found yourself pre-mourning an ailing pet who's still alive, you're not imagining things—you're experiencing anticipatory grief.  And if you've had someone tell you that losing your dog "can't compare" to losing a human? I'm so sorry. Grief is grief, and there are no qualifiers.  In this episode, I'm sharing my story of losing Bosco...

When anxiety hits hard, have you ever wished Jesus would just speak out loud or sit beside you? You're not alone. Even the disciples struggled when Jesus said He was leaving—until He promised them the Holy Spirit as their Counselor.  But what does that actually mean for managing anxiety today? In this episode, I explore how the Holy Spirit functions like a professional counselor: listening, r...

Listen to Sue share stories from her book, Never Alone: Stories of Connection & Invitation. With stories from her life, Sue illustrates the purpose and power of connection. You can have eyes and ears for the people who cross your life path, extend an invitation, and let God reveal the purpose as you connect with them.  Sue's Favorite Relaxing Recipes:  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60db7...

Living with a chronic condition means navigating the unpredictable terrain of high-energy days and low-energy days. One morning you wake up ready to conquer your to-do list, and the next, a simple shower leaves you depleted. This fluctuation doesn't just affect your body—it impacts your mental and emotional wellbeing, often triggering anxiety and discouragement. In this episode, we explore th...

What if trust isn't about getting what you want when you want it—but about learning a path that never becomes a dead end? In this episode, I use the imagery of a nature trail to explore what it means to truly trust God when you're waiting, when answers haven't come, or when the outcome isn't what you prayed for. We'll walk through the three movements of trust.  This isn&ap...

Monster fires in the California mountains consume everything in their path. It takes only a spark to start a raging blaze. What if there was something like fire that could consume your worry just as an actual fire consumes anything in its path? Something that would scare it into silence? There is—if you're willing to be reckless and ruthless. God’s Word gives us examples of women and men who...

A high school friend messaged me after decades: "I've thought about you 8 million times since 1978." She remembered a powerful conversation about faith and obedience—a lesson she'd carried with her and shared with countless people over the years. The twist? She had the wrong Terri. That wasn't me. But here's what struck me: That other Teri remained relevant all these...

I worked with someone who moved the boundary lines daily. Some days she was warm and open. Other days? Ice cold. I never knew which version I'd get. The relationship became dysfunctional because it impeded our ability to work together—and it made me increasingly tense. The truth is, people can elevate our stress and anxiety. In this episode, I break down six reasons why certain relationships...

What’s the Point of Knowing Jesus?  She wasn't invited to the dinner party. Her reputation was well-known. And nobody thought her life mattered except for Jesus. What made her believe Jesus could make her life better? What happened next was an act of complete surrender. In this episode, I show you a few women who followed Jesus like Joanna and Susanna. Each one followed Jesus not just for a d...

Ever noticed how scrolling through your favorite photos can instantly lift your mood? There's actual science behind it.  In this episode, discover how photographs—whether of grandchildren, nature scenes, or peaceful landscapes—can lower your blood pressure, reduce stress, and interrupt anxious thought patterns.  Get practical tips for creating your own "calming photo file" to use in...

Do you avoid opportunities because you can't control all the variables? In this episode, Terri explores intolerance of uncertainty—the fear of what's not known and the mental struggle with ambiguous situations.  Through a personal story about overcoming flight anxiety, discover how behavioral experiments can help you test your beliefs and increase your tolerance for life's unknowns....

In this episode, I have guest Lynne West VanHeusden. She is a certified Laughter Yoga Teacher and leader.  Lynne is also certified in Ashtanga Yoga, Chair Yoga and other vibrational modalities. Lynne has been an avid Laughter Yoga practitioner for 16 years. (Watch the video version on YouTube at Anchored Not Anxious.) What is Laughter Yoga? It may sound strange but Laughter Yoga is the practice of...

You can know someone by name, in a specific context, or deeply—through countless conversations and shared experiences. But how well do you really know Jesus?  In this episode, explore what it means to move beyond surface-level faith into a relationship marked by curiosity, questions, and genuine connection.  Drawing from Isaiah 26:4 and personal journey, discover how getting to know Christ transfo...

If you’re in a season where God doesn’t make sense, where your prayers feel unanswered, where you’re stuck between what you desperately want and what God seems to be allowing – this episode is for you. December’s podcast episode may be one of my most vulnerable as I share a despairing season of my life.  A time when I discovered something I really didn’t want to learn… The turning point was the mo...

Are you reading your Bible but feeling like you're just going through the motions? Like gulping food without tasting it? There's a better way. In this episode, I lead you through a Lectio Divina—sacred reading—practice that transforms your time in Scripture from boring obligation to intimate encounter. I'll walk you through exactly how to do it, using Habakkuk 3:19 as our example te...

Overwhelm. Overthinking. Anxiety. Worry. If these describe your mental state as you head into the holidays (or any busy season), this episode is your lifeline. I'm giving you a comprehensive 7-point plan to manage anxiety and emotional upheaval before they manage you. From learning to watch your "yeses" and understanding how dehydration affects your stress levels, to discovering the...

Ever wonder what would actually be on your to-do list if Jesus was the one writing it? Spoiler: it's probably not "organize the garage" or "respond to 47 emails." In this episode, I share four things I believe Jesus would want on your daily list—and they're all surprisingly doable. Listen to the Holy Spirit's nudge the first time (not the third). Pray with people...