Finding Joy in the Journey

I’m sharing a book I just read—Whole Brain Living by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor (of the My Stroke of Insight TED Talk)—and how it’s helping me. She explains we don’t just have a left and right brain, but four “characters”: the left thinking brain (my organized planner, “Monica”), the left emotional brain (my fear-based protector/inner child, “Sheri”), the right emotional brain (present-moment joy and s...

I’m sharing what I’ve learned from wearing a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) off and on for over a year, using Stelo (no prescription needed). Seeing my glucose responses has helped me treat food and movement like a personal science experiment—like comparing ice cream with and without a short walk afterward—and it’s been a strong motivator, especially during the holidays. I’ve learned practical p...

I’m learning to emotionally surrender my timeline and enjoy the present. I compare it to learning chess on Duolingo—when I make the wrong move, I get reset and shown the right one—and I feel like God has been doing that with this timing. During the sacrament I had a visual of giving Jesus all my turmoil, feeling His calm, and choosing to believe time is working in my favor. I reflect on Acts 1:7:...

A simple tool I use when I get stuck in a worry spin: shifting from “what if” to “what is.” Because my nervous system reacts to imagined scenarios like they’re real, looping on worst-case what-ifs, keeps me activated. While focusing on present facts helps me regulate and get back to being present, calm, and flexible.

When it comes to talking to others about p*** , whether we are struggling with it, or we find out someone we love is struggling. It is helpful to have a new perspective. One that doesn't go to shame. This is audio from an old video I created over 10 years ago, after teaching a lesson at church about this. Here is the link to the video if you prefer to watch. https://vimeo.com/140003122?share=copy&...

Today I share a lesson based on Elder Soares’s April talk about Jesus Christ as the true vine. I explain why vineyards appear so often in scripture and break down the roles—God as the vinedresser, Jesus as the vine, and us as the branches—focusing on pruning and how it can feel painful but is loving and meant to increase fruitfulness. I explore seasonal vineyard care, including the idea that in Jo...

Whitewater Rafting and Practicing 75% Good or Better I share my whitewater rafting adventure and how it became a real-life practice of aiming for “75% good or better.” Rivers are unpredictable, with calm stretches and turbulent rapids that can change with conditions, and the trip helped me practice being present through both. For me, the 1% horrible was the poop box (from the last episode), and th...

My Whitewater Rafting Adventure (and the Poop Box) I share a story from a five-day, four-night whitewater rafting trip from Moab to Lake Powell where I had to tent camp and learn to use the “poop box” system because the company has to pack out waste in the desert. As the trip got closer, I got increasingly nervous about sleeping in a tent and the bathroom logistics, so I coached myself with travel...

Today I share a tool that’s helped me move up the vibrational scale when I’m stuck in fear: shifting from fear to love. Gratitude is usually my go-to, but in two recent, very different situations, I couldn’t get there—and I realized I didn’t have to. In my weekly prayer group, a friend reminded me that the miracle is being able to shift from fear up to love, and I experienced how powerful it was t...

Today I share how I’ve seen God prepare me in advance for things I couldn’t predict. How being willing to follow my promptings has been a blessing in many surprising ways!

In this episode, I share a church lesson I gave based on Emily Belle Freeman’s talk “Best Days and Worst Days,” which teaches that mortality includes both best and worst days as a place for growth as we walk with Christ. I relate this to my son Devon’s traumatic birth with rapid swings between fear and relief, and to a difficult year marked by postpartum depression. I share two tools for handling...

I’ve been practicing praying in advance with gratitude —thanking God for outcomes before they happen— and it’s felt powerful and better in my body than praying from worry. I share how I did this for my parents during a busy, challenging fall when my dad had three surgeries while they were selling their house and moving, and how things ultimately worked out, including a buyer who wanted their uniqu...

I tried to record a podcast about getting triggered at church, realized I didn’t record it, and started over feeling frustrated. A speaker from outside our congregation shared a message on a common topic, but his angle and the “sticky,” old-fashioned, heavy emotional language didn’t resonate with me, so I stepped out for a bit, prayed to run into someone, chatted in the hallway, and then returned...

Today I reflect on letting go of old identities, behaviors, and thought patterns, comparing change to shedding a snakeskin and a crab molting, which can feel unsafe until a new “shell” hardens. I saw an image of wearing hundreds of layered “Hi, my name is” stickers—some worth keeping (mom, friend, daughter) and others that no longer serve me. Instead of covering old labels with new ones, I’m learn...

In this episode of Finding Joy in the Journey, I share the four levels of fun my husband and I developed from the outdoor “types of fun” concept, and I explain how they affect relationships and decision-making. I break down level one (easy and pleasurable), level two (challenging but still enjoyable), level three (hard and painful in the moment but fun in hindsight), and level four (a bad decision...

In this follow-up to my Clean Start episode, I talk about “clean stops” —the practice of consciously deciding what “done for now” looks like so I can stop without feeling behind. I explain how unfinished tasks keep mental and energetic loops open, and how setting clear finish lines ahead of time helps my brain and body relax, builds self-trust, and creates calm momentum.

I share how “clean starts” help me begin overwhelming tasks with intention, gentleness, and a small spark of motivation. Instead of focusing on a big goal, I explain how choosing a ritualized, simplified first step creates a tiny win, a dopamine boost, and momentum—like opening my laptop and pulling up my list of podcast ideas, or deciding to floss just one tooth. I guide you through a short visua...

In this episode, I share a simple way to get clarity on my to-do list by separating items into routines (ongoing) versus projects (finishable). I walk through asking, “Do I actually want to do this?” and what to do if the answer is yes, no, or not right now. I also share how I identify obstacles, make a plan, delegate, or move ideas into a “parking lot” list for later.

A Guide to Spiritual Routines and To-Do Lists Explore how to incorporate the secret ingredient of love into your daily routines and tasks. Learn about two unique 'love matrixes' that enhance your spiritual and practical life through the lens of Christ's teachings. Transform your approach to time management and love by applying simple, yet profound, spiritual equations.

In this episode, I explore a powerful Buddhist parable that has transformed how I respond to life's challenges. I'll share the story of the empty boat and offer practical tips to help you shift your perspective from emotional reactivity to wisdom and peace. This episode is perfect for parents and anyone seeking more tranquility in their daily interactions.

In this week's episode, I share a powerful two-step idea to end the year and start the new one with intention and love. I encourage you to write 2 heartfelt letters. One to your past and one to your future self, reflecting on your personal growth and setting aspirations for the future. I also share my own letters, offering inspiration and guidance for embracing this reflective practice.

I share a powerful experience from a recent sacrament meeting where an experience with Jesus reminded me tofocus on Him amidst personal worries. There is transformative peace and power that comes from focusing on Jesus instead of life's problems.

Join the Ask the Angels Voxer Group: Embrace Angelic Assistance This DecemberDiscover a new supportive space to invite angelic help into your daily life. Learn about the benefits of the Ask the Angels Voxer group starting December 8th, and how it can help transform your spiritual practice into real-life miracles. Embrace this opportunity to share experiences, gain confidence, and strengthen your p...

Discover how to ask angels for help and witness miraculous changes in your life. Learn from some of my personal stories and get access to a free mini-class that provides practical steps to connect with angelic assistance in both challenging and everyday situations. https://sheridanripley.com/ask-the-angels

I share 2 beautiful stories about divine timing and then give tips for you to recognize it in your life! (This was also posted on my Awesome Autism Tools podcast)