Living Beyond the Shadow of Doubt™

Part of being authentic is allowing yourself to be and feel vulnerable. Why should this be on your radar?  I believe there’s too much at stake when we hide our true selves most significantly in our relationships. Vulnerability presents more of a challenge if 1) you struggle to release control and allow emotions AND 2) if you do not know who you are, ---like WHO YOU ARE at your core. Knowing who yo...

In this episode I interview Samantha Nielsen, Certified Life and Divorce Coach. An active member of the LDS faith, Samantha speaks of her journey of reconciling her divorce and faith. She recognizes the importance of acknowledging doubts, questions and allowing exploration to reconcile beliefs with personal values. Self-betrayal and denial are roadblocks to achieving inner peace; creating safe spa...

Jenny Byam is the LGBTQ+ Coach ( jennybyamcoaching@gmail.com or on Instagram @LGBTQcoachjenny). In this episode, she vulnerably shares her thoughts feelings in regards to her journey as a member of the LDS faith and a parent of a transgender kiddo. It has made her who she is today and she wouldn't change any of it. Thank you for being willing to courageously share your story, Jenny. The Beyond...

Today I explore the question ‘Is there a connection between trusting your inner voice & allowing questions and doubts?' and why it’s important. References: https://laurenciesco.com/; Navigating Mormon Faith Crisis, Thomas McConkie, pg 30; BTSOD Episode 12; Richard Rohr quote here. The Beyond the Shadow of Doubt™ podcast is a proud member of the Dialogue Podcast Network found at DialogueJou...

This episode is not to be missed! Corinne share’s truth bomb after truth bomb in this candid and insightful chat.   She says, “… [God] wants us to have faith.  For those of us that believe in a Higher Power, whatever that is, we have decided to believe in it.  It was a decision we made and we made it over and over again and we started acting like someone who believes in it.  The same can happen in...

Jennifer Senn is from Buffalo, NY grew up Methodist and is a grief coach for parents of stillborn babies. When she lost her twin girls twenty-three years ago, she felt her world crumbled. She says, "You can plan life but that doesn’t mean that's how it will go. My whole life was a doubt after I lost my twins." For Jennifer, questioning started immediately. How could someone loving al...

For those who identify with the LDS faith this coming weekend is General Conference a time that many look forward to for spiritually uplifting messages and direction from church leaders.  For others, some of the messages bring cognitive dissonance, hurt, confusion and even pain. If this is you, my heart goes out to you and I hold that hurt with you.  IF this is not you, I invite you to put on the...

Tina Gosney works with LDS parents who have a child who has left the church.  She helps you find connection and peace in your families again. Tina interviewed me on her podcast over a year ago and now we come full circle as I get to have her on mine.  She shares about her niche pivot to “coaching your family relationships.”  Her hope is to help parents release the need to be validated by family re...

As the Youth Rising Coach, Lindsay Law helps teenagers see themselves as God does.   There's not enough conversation around mental health, brains, and thought work. So Lindsay took it upon herself to learn how to communicate as a mom to teens struggling to see their value, that were struggling with mental health.  She believes the earlier our brains understand how to love ourselves and have se...

I work with LGBTQ+ families of a conservative background who feel their world turned upside down. Currently there is a LOT of anti LGBTQ+, anti trans and anti drag legislation all across the US. This is significant enough that I chose to publish this episode and move the one I had originally scheduled. A couple months ago, I had the opportunity to visit Dachau concentration camp located 10 miles n...

We all have questions and doubts, even Jennie the web designer. If you find yourself thinking “she must be booked out,” take note she is human like the rest of us! Things like imposter syndrome and insecurities show up in all of our lives. In Jennie’s words, self-doubt comes up for clients especially in the beginning. Sometimes it is in the form of niche drama. Jennie shares “drama sounds negative...

Join me and Emily Wardrop, the 'drop the war' life coach, on the podcast. She shares how doubt creeps in to our lives as parents. Her goal as she works with moms of young kids in her words is for moms to believe they are a good mom. It’s not to late to catch the FREE content from the LDS Life Coach Summit, Courageous Discipleship. You can access it for Free Feb 21-22 2023. Go to my website...

Questions make us smarter! When we use our brains for what God intended we are increased.  Source cited, Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2018/05/the-surprising-power-of-questions For limited time I’m offering a complimentary coaching package for Q+ teens or young adults to coincide with trauma certification I am going through with Lindsay Poelman coaching. Please send me an email at hello...

I'm CELEBRATING 1K+ PODCAST downloads!  Leave a review on Apple Podcasts and fill out my google form and I'll send you some free stuff (temporary tattoo and LGBTQ+ Valentine).  Go here: https://linktr.ee/meaganskidmorecoaching __ Dr. Stacy Smalley joins me today in openly and vulnerably sharing how growing up Catholic has played a role throughout her life.   She shares, "All 3 of [my...

There are three primary motivators for behavior.  We usually do or say something from a place of fear (basic, primary, survival level), duty (a little more evolved) or love (highest level, what we strive for). Ask yourself honestly, what is motivating my “xyz action” or what was I feeling when I said “abc words?”  If you aren’t sure, use this as a guide and ask: Did I speak those “abc words” out o...

In this episode I answer the question, What is the difference between “finding fault” and genuinely seeking answers to questions and doubts? Join me as I share the difference between having questions and doubts about things that don’t make sense (yet) to you vs. being critical and condemning about them. I believe we can shift the discussions around this topic by doing just that—having discussions...

Elder Oaks said “When I say free agency I refer to what the scripture calls agency, which means an exercise of the will, the power to choose. We are here to be tested, and this cannot occur without opposition in all things. If we did not have opposition, we could not exercise our free agency by making choices.” As Richard Rohr says it, “Clear choice and decision gets you started, aims you on the r...

The 3 stages of faith outlined in Faith is not Blind by Bruce & Marie Hafen are useful in describing how we grow and evolved spiritually and address the “GAP of uncertainty.” In their book they share: “The best response to the GAP of uncertainty is to keep growing into Stage 3, where we don’t just see the real and the ideal, we also hold on to each perspective—with eyes and hearts wide open. Looki...

You may or may not have noticed, I’ve been on a hiatus for a couple months. It wasn’t planned; I vulnerably share that in hindsight I can see that my faith journey was taking yet another pivot. I'm looking forward to fanning these flames and get this fire going again. Today I share about the origin of the word doubt. Learning a second language opened my eyes to the complexity of language in genera...

I think it’s really important to not just consider that there’s a gap but absolutely acknowledge that one exists. By doing so, we then acknowledge that there is in fact a need for a bridge of some kind. It’s in the acknowledging that there’s something missing between point A and point B that we see the need for a bridge. Point A and B are both very important and so valuable to us, it’s not just wo...

When the tenets of one’s faith and the realities of your LIVED experience, your firsthand experience—are in stark contrast the cognitive dissonance is overwhelming. It can be paralyzing. There have been times that it has been so for me. If that is you—I feel you, I see you, I get you.   According to the Hafen's in Faith is Not Blind, "Our experience with real life often introduces a new dimension—...

In this episode I explore how faith and doubt can co-exist without it being a problem.  We cannot have and exercise FAITH if uncertainty and doubt do not exist.  When we resist, deny or ignore our questions/doubts, we are being dishonest to ourselves.  We give ourselves permission to have them through acknowledging their presence.  We can choose to let go of the shame that often accompanies having...

I grew up in AZ and I remember always being on the lookout for shadows esp in summertime.  Finding a shadow meant shade and shade meant RELIEF-the sidewalk covered by the shadow was at least 10-15 degrees cooler than the surrounding area.  A shadow is a dark area where light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object.  It is created when something (an object) is blocking the light keeping...

“The word “doubt” is an uncomfortable one in most Christian circles. It’s something that is frowned upon or even condemned in many church circles. But that doesn’t stop us from doubting; it just makes doubting shameful for many of us. We don’t know what to do with it, who to talk to about it, or how to talk about it. We just know that our questions feel like they are pulling us away from God.” -Ba...

Have you ever heard the phrase encouraging you to "doubt your doubts?"  Recently in a testimony meeting it was shared and it left me in a place of confusion, kind of a stupor of thought you could say.   To say you should doubt your doubts is like saying it's not ok to change your mind.  To me that begs the question, where does free will fit in? Have a listen and then I'd love to hear your take on...