More Than Fine

When we're wounded in life, we often start to "perform" for love and approval. But when what we do on the outside is rooted in pain, we will always end up with results that are not what we really want. In this episode, I share how pain and woundedness impair the way we relate to others, particularly as it relates to God's design for femininity and masculinity. But I also talk about how, through pa...

Anger is one of the more complicated emotions we have to deal with. Not only does it not feel great, but sometimes it seems to remain- even after you've done the work to forgive someone. In this episode, I share about an experience that caused me to realize that something deeper is often hidden inside of our anger. I also share how thinking differently about your wounds can give you the patience a...

When it comes to the things we struggle with in life, sometimes we think they are too small for God to care about. Other times, we think they are so big that maybe we are just supposed to learn to take care of things on our own. Neither of those things are true. In today's episode, I share about a very small example of what it looks like to fully depend on God, and how it changes the way we look a...

Have you ever uncovered a lie you've believed about yourself, only to struggle to believe the truth is true? Sometimes you can know something intellectually is true, and yet not believe it because it doesn't match your experience. And sometimes the only way to change that is to change your experience. In this episode, I'm sharing about confronting old ways of doing things and what it looks like to...

Do you feel like God is mad at you? Like He's just "up there," watching and waiting for you to mess up? If so, you're not alone. Many Christians do. But that's not the truth of who God is, and that is not how He feels about you. In this episode, I share about the distorted perceptions we often have of God and how to figure out where they come from. I also share about the difference between condemn...

While emotional and spiritual healing does involve deep work, it doesn't always have to be that way. Healing also involves the light work of learning to experience goodness again- to see it, savor it, and expect it in your everyday life. In this episode, I share the story behind my middle name and the secret treasure buried within it that I wouldn't unearth for four decades. I also discuss how the...

You may know what the Bible says about you as a child of God, and yet- you may struggle to actually believe it's for you. In this episode I'm talking about the times when head knowledge doesn't sink down into your heart, and how to identify and stand against demonic torment you may be experiencing in the process. In This Episode: Learn more about healing painful moments with the free PDF "God With...

Is what you're seeing a bad habit? Or a red flag? When you're healing from a heartbreak, it can be hard to tell the difference. In this episode, I share about the pitfalls of discerning red flags in friendships and romantic relationships, and how to deal with situations that are not so obvious. In This Episode: Learn more about healing painful moments with the free PDF "God Within Us: A Guide to P...

There are times when doing deep emotional processing can create more problems than it solves. In this episode, Michelle shares about the difference between productive and unproductive processing, and what to do when "feeling your feelings" turns into a full-scale spiral. In This Episode: Learn more about healing painful moments with the free PDF "God Within Us: A Guide to Processing Pain with Jesu...

We may use or hear the phrase "doing the work" but what that means can be somewhat unique for each of us. Champion Forward co-founder and retired professional baseball player Ben Zobrist opens up about his experiences with "doing the work" in his own life. We also talk about the role of pain in becoming emotionally aware, the benefits of processing emotions within safe community, and how to pass o...

Sometimes you may become so overwhelmed by a distressing experience that figuring out where to begin your healing process seems too daunting. In this episode, I'm discussing the role of resources & support in initiating the process of repair, and how to incorporate spiritual "scaffolding" into an approach that invites not just repair in the present, but also restoration of the past. In This Episod...

Triggered traumas and intrusive thoughts can leave you feeling profoundly fearful and alone. Regulation techniques can help calm the nervous system, but an underlying sense of loneliness and vulnerability may remain. In this episode, I share about the role of relationships in regulating emotions, and how an early lack of support can cause distress into adulthood. Also, I share ways to incorporate...

We often think of the spiritual part of ourselves as being separate from our body/mind/emotions; but the truth is we are experiencing spiritual realities in our natural being – And that includes spiritual warfare. In this episode, I share about the role of spiritual warfare in mental and emotional distress, and what it looks like to incorporate spiritual care into a holistic approach to addressing...

When you feel hopeless, it may seem like there's no way you'll ever find hope (and there's definitely no way you'll figure out how to "make it happen." But what if that's exactly where hope is found? In this episode, I'm sharing about a time when I felt like I was coming apart at the seams, and how God helped me to understand this is exactly the place where He unties us from our pain and tethers u...

We've all made choices that we regret, and sometimes those choices have hurt the people we love in ways that seem to be beyond repair. In this episode, I'm sharing about a situation just like this, and the unexpected way God revealed He truly is bigger (and better) than our mistakes. In This Episode: Check out my Bible study,  Made for More: Life Beyond the Wreckage of Hurt, Loss, & Heartbreak Vis...

Okay, so last week I talked about learning to be vulnerable with safe people- but for me, that's not really where learning to be vulnerable started. It didn't start with friends or family- it started with my Father. This week I'm sharing about what it looks like to be vulnerable in a relationship with God, and the healing that comes when we are really honest with Him. In this episode: Download "Go...

Do you hate asking for help? Asking for help can be a humiliating experience, and receiving it can feel even worse. In this episode, I share an experience where I had to face the shame of opening myself up to receive help, and what it taught me about the beautiful way God pours out His love on us through safe people. In this episode: Safe Haven: A Devotional for the Abused & Abandoned Follow me on...

"God, I need people." I prayed this desperate prayer in a season of loneliness and isolation, when NOTHING I did to find community was working out. I asked- and God answered (and NOT in the way I expected). In this episode, I'm sharing how God used a 1600-mile move to change more than just my zip code, and what He did to teach me more about hearing (and being heard by) Him. In This Episode Purchas...

How involved do you think God is when it comes to what you need? Or what you want?  In this episode, I share what God showed me about our needs and wants, and how much more we gain when we trust Him to provide. Follow me on Instagram @themichelledonnelly or Facebook @themichelledonnelly Check out my books and services at uncommonvalor.co In This Episode Purchase access to my devotional, What Are Y...

Okay, you may know you need a break, but you might not be sure how to get one. With all you have going on, it may not seem possible (or responsible), and even if you got a break, you may not feel like you'd be in the headspace to actually enjoy it. In this episode I want to share with you a little bit about what I learned about rest during my podcast hiatus, and how you can sneak in special moment...

The holidays can be kind of a mixed bag. This time of year can be full of high hopes and dashed dreams. Emotions run high – and not just our own. With the intensity of the season, it can be hard to figure out what you need while supporting the needs of the people in your life. In this episode, I share how I learned to understand my own needs at the holidays, and how you can create a strategy that...

Do you tend to brace for the worst? Sometimes we think we're being diligent, that we're being prepared. But what if we're not actually preparing but panicking? In this episode, I share about my own tendency to worry about the future, and how you can enjoy today without bracing for fear of the future. Follow Michelle on Instagram @themichelledonnelly Purchase access to the new devotional, What Are...

Can you say 'no'?  Sometimes we say 'yes' to everything because we want to be seen as dependable and reliable. We like being the one people can count on – and we like how that makes us feel. It makes us feel like we matter. But what what if you already matter? What if your significance isn't tied to how much you do for other people at all? In this episode, I share how I discovered I had a problem...

The strange thing about insecurity is the more we try to control it, the more it ends up controlling us. Insecurities are built on lies, and while there might be one big one you are aware of, often there are dozens of little ones that go with it. Which makes untangling them like untangling a knotted necklace. Ugh. In this episode, I share about the unexpected way I discovered the web of lies benea...

We often think of the storms of life as the circumstances outside of us. But what do you do when the storm is inside? Our thought lives can be really stormy. Obsessions, worries, and intrusive thoughts can cause us to feel like we are at the mercy of our minds. Is there a way to make it all stop? In this episode, I share my own struggles with troubling thoughts and finding freedom in my mind. Also...