Relational Skills in Real Life

The evidence is clear: loneliness is on the rise, and the loss of meaningful social connection is taking a toll on both our mental and physical well-being. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Join us as we discuss how we can push back against this cultural trend and equip ourselves—and the next generation—with the skills needed for healthy, thriving relationships. At THRIVEtoday, we help people...

Summer can pass in a blur of activities, leaving little room for meaningful connection with the people who matter most. In this episode, Chris shares practical ways to slow down, savor the moments, strengthen relationships, and keep joy at the center of your summer. 🔗 Take the 28-Day Joy Challenge: https://4habits.org 🔗 Check out the 4 Habit book series: https://thrivetoday.org/4-habits-series...

Have you ever wondered why reading a "how-to" book doesn't instantly make you an expert on that subject? Information alone doesn't equal transformation.  In this episode, we go on a deep dive into brain science to uncover the mechanics of how our brains actually change, develop skills, and build habits. Join us as we explore the neurological bridge between knowing what to do an...

Is focusing on relational skills actually Biblical, or is it just modern psychology? In this episode, Chris dives into the crucial difference between simply pursuing Bible knowledge and actually living out those truths in our daily interactions. Listen in as we explore the vital role relational skills play in our faith, and how mastering them allows us to truly reflect the character of God to a wo...

In a world that often pits logic against emotion, we are frequently taught that our feelings cannot be trusted. Many faith circles suggest that the ultimate fix for emotional struggle is to suppress our anxiety or sadness and simply declare biblical truth over ourselves. But is that how our minds—or our faith—were actually designed to function? Today we'll explore how emotions and truth work...

Experiencing a breach of trust from someone close to us can cause profound emotional pain. Navigating the road to healing and rebuilding relationships is challenging but possible. Our friend Wendy shares her personal journey through a betrayal situation. Discover how she connected with God to process her emotions, maintain healthy relationships, and move forward with wholeness. 🔗 Dive deeper into...

Why do mental health professionals consider the ability to quiet ourselves a key predictor of lifelong mental health? In this episode, Chris explores the importance of learning to rest and quiet ourselves, and why this practice is emphasized so often at THRIVEtoday. He also highlights a resource from Life Model Works designed to help us assess how well we truly rest and quiet ourselves—and recogni...

Did you know it’s possible to measure not only your level of joy, but even signs of “false joy”? While you can pay thousands of dollars for a brain scans, in this episode we’re sharing a free joy assessment resource you can use to get started as well as simple, practical ways to begin intentional strengthening your joy levels today. Understanding your current level of joy can help you identify whe...

On the heels of our event "The Pain of Disappointment: When Leaders Let us Down", this episode talks about how we can grow and become leaders who tenderly care for the people we shepherd. All leaders will make mistakes, but there are key skills and areas of growth we can pursue to become more like Jesus and lead with His heart. 🔗 Read the Rare Leadership book: https://www.amazon.com/Rar...

Tune in to hear our friend Steve tell about his journey to becoming a mature, safe elder for his children and grandchildren. He reminds us that it’s never too late to grow and become the person God created us to be! 🔗 Our 5-day in-person training is the most immersive experience we offer — designed to strengthen your skills through live practice in an intentional, joy-filled environment. Learn mo...

Chris explores how people have understood and dealt with human emotions throughout history, highlighting how different philosophies have shaped both hearts and lives. Turning to the Bible, he examines healthy ways to respond to strong emotions and gently guides us through an interaction with Immanuel, helping us process our own deep feelings in a meaningful way. 🔗 Tools for Navigating Emotions pr...

Chris and Jen explore moments when they—or the people they’re engaging with—slip into “enemy mode” during conflict. They discuss what it feels like, how it shapes our thinking, how to recognize it in others, and practical ways to shift back into a more relational, compassionate mindset. 🔗 LIVE on May 7th: "The Pain of Disappointment: When Leaders Let Us Down" Join Chris Coursey for a 3...

How can practicing relational skills enhance your everyday interactions? What impact might they have on evangelism and representing Jesus to others? In this episode, Chris and one of our Thrive missionary friends share personal stories highlighting the transformative difference these skills have made as they integrate them into both daily life and ministry. 🔗 Our 5-day in-person training is the m...

Can you learn relational skills online? In this episode, Chris explores research on how intentional choices can shape unconscious habits—habits that help us live each day more in line with who God created us to be. Tune in to discover which aspects of this growth can be developed through online learning and which require the depth of face-to-face connection. 🔗 Our 5-day in-person training is the...

If you have experienced offense, you know how difficult it can be to recover—especially when the hurt comes from someone you trust. As imperfect people, even those we respect and look up to can cause deep pain. In this episode, we explore how our heart characteristics, emotions, and attachments contribute to experiences of offense, and offer encouragement and validation, highlighting a pathway tow...

How do we know if something is spiritual/demonic vs just unprocessed pain? When encountering difficulty while helping someone, it can be hard to discern whether the challenge stems from trauma and underdeveloped relational skills or from spiritual warfare. Chris takes us through some examples of what each of these can look like, and shares some next steps of ways to respond while staying relationa...

There are foundational skills we will continue practicing and developing throughout our lives. Chris shares research on how practice shapes our brains and strengthens our abilities, and explains how beginning with growth in peace and joy lays the groundwork for more complex relational skills — equipping us to show up at our best, even in difficult situations. 🔗 Learn more about our 5-week Foundat...

When we notice we’re lacking a relational skill, we can intentionally look for someone in our lives who demonstrates that strength. Rather than comparing ourselves and feeling shame about what we don’t yet have, we can choose to learn from one another. In this episode, we’ll explore how to recognize safe people to learn from — and how to stay curious and keep growing. 🔗 Start or continue your jou...

How can relational skills help us heal from church hurt—and remain relational in the process? Many of us know this kind of pain firsthand, and we also know how difficult it can be to stay connected when we’ve been wounded. Pastor and Thrive trainer Dana Bryan shares his personal story of a painful church experience. He walks us through the hurt, his journey of processing it, the relational skills...

Many people experience a sense of dissonance between the God portrayed in the Old Testament and the God revealed in the New Testament. This can create deep attachment pain as they try to hold these images together. Certain Old Testament stories may evoke hurt or misunderstanding, causing doubts about God’s relationship toward us today. Rather than immediately engaging in theological debate, how ca...

This is the first episode in a series on using relational skills to bring reconciliation to painful situations within the church. When people are wounded by those who represent God, that pain often becomes associated with God Himself. In this series, we will explore how such wounds can be healed, how to sit with people in their pain, and how to help them reconnect with Immanuel in a way that resto...

Nikki and Clinton tell the story of what led to difficulty in their marriage and how, as they gained relational skills and pursued healing together, they learned to keep their relationship bigger than the problem. 🔗 Nikki and Clinton's book: "Glory from the Ashes" https://a.co/d/4ouzrPj 🔗 Explore our theory course based on Conflict: https://thrivetoday.thinkific.com/courses/confli...

No matter where you are in life, growing in relational skills and emotional maturity can be transformational. In this episode, Lori shares her personal journey of developing maturity in the middle of real life and ministry. Along the way, she came to a powerful realization: you can't teach what you don't know. Tune in to hear Lori’s story of growth and how that transformed her life and h...

The relationships closest to our hearts, like marriage, often carry both the greatest meaning and the greatest challenges. In Part 1 of our marriage podcast series, Chris reflects on why marriage can be so hard and offers insights on how we can grow, practice healthier connection, and protect what matters most. 🔗 Learn more about relational skills: https://thrivetoday.org/relationalskills/ 🔗 Exp...

Our friend and Thrive teammate, Kami, shares how practicing relational skills has strengthened her ability to use them in everyday life. She’s also discovered that the more she practices these skills in her interactions with others, the more she sees our abundantly loving God reflected through her life. 🔗 Explore our library of online courses that range from our Intro course, topical theory cours...