the REALIFE Practice Podcast

We love Cheri Hudspith, and so will you. She lives in rhythms of grace that keep her grounded, listening and delighted in experiencing God's life-changing grace herself and sharing it with others. Our conversation meanders thru topics of Spiritual Direction, Life-Mapping and experiencing God first-hand. Here's her Bio: Cheri served on the staff of her church experiencing first hand the rhythms and...

Listen into Sharon Swing's conversation with Chrystal Evans Hurst. We'll talk about getting into a regular rhythm of prayer, her new book, '28-Day Prayer Journey,' and her experience with life-mapping using 'Listen to My Life.' Like me, you'll be hoping to meet Chrystal for a cup of coffee and a great conversation on a regular basis. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Here's a li...

When we gather people for a workshop or a class, we often ask people to participate in a 'one-word checkin' to help people connect with themselves and others. It helps us become more self-aware, God-aware, and other-aware. You may want to use it by yourself, with or around the dining room table sometime soon! oneLife Maps is, at its core, interested in helping people to recognize and respond to Go...

What is breath prayer, and why would you want to know? Calming, connecting, and centering, this way of praying breathes life into any collection of practices. oneLife Maps is, at its core, interested in helping people to recognize and respond to God in their stories. The seven lies Darrell talks about invitations to consider how a few shifts in perspective on how we think about God and faith effec...

Forget being productive and do what matters! Teresa loves to help people see the bigger picture and learn to feel fulfilled in all areas of life. As a Certified Coach, Speaker and Enneagram Professional, she guides clients through a step-by-step application of a customized "REALIFE Process," helping real people change their lives by discovering their REALSELF, and doing their REALWORK in the proce...

I love Steve Carter. He's a great conversationalist and a good human being. Listen in as Steve and I (Sharon Swing) talk about spiritual formation and life story. He gave plenty of sermons that included encouraging people to dive into their own life stories while he was preaching at Willow Creek Community Church while I was there. I cheered him on from the cheap seats. Life took quite a turn for S...

Are you responsible TO others or responsible FOR them? It's a very useful distinction for all of our relationships. It may keep you out of trouble, improve your relationships, and put words to why having kids grow up messes with us as parents! We have used this important piece of work from the book, 'Listen For Heaven's Sake' in many of our 'Listen to My Life' workshops as we teach listening skill...

Sibyl Towner and Joan Kelley join Sharon Swing to discuss Mama Maggie Gobran's wisdom on silence. “I learned that silence is the secret. Silence your body - to listen to your words. Silence your tongue - to listen to your thoughts. Silence your thoughts - to listen to your heart. Silence your heart - to listen to your spirit. Silence your spirit - to listen to his spirit.”  MAMA MAGGIE GOBRAN, Fou...

Is all of life prayer? Sharon Swing talks with Sibyl Towner and Joan Kelley about this intriguing idea that may have you thinking about your prayer life in a new and intriguing way. oneLife Maps is, at its core, interested in helping people to recognize and respond to God in their stories. The seven lies Darrell talks about invitations to consider how a few shifts in perspective on how we think ab...

One way to help you find your way forward is to do more of what connects you deeply to God-given design. Peak Experiences is the name of the 3rd visual map in the 'Listen to My Life' portfolio. Host of the oneLife Maps Podcast and Co-Author or 'Listen to My Life,' Sharon Swing, discusses the power of mapping and finding themes shared by peak experiences in our lives with Co-Author Sibyl Towner and...

How might you go about selecting spiritual practices that fit for this season of your life? How might you expand the number of possibilities? Sharon Swing hosts a conversation with Co-Author of 'Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story,' Sibyl Towner and Joan Kelley, Director of Facilitator Development for oneLife Maps, about the 'Life-Giving Rhythms' visual map fr...

Jon Peacock has come to love his daily time of solitude. He says he's become a better man because of it. He loves his dog, Jack, too. Jack is a big part of making this spiritual practice a part of his life. Jon is a Founding Pastor of Mission Church in Bloomingdale, IL. He is husband to Kelly and dad to his two beautiful, growing daughters. He's good at what he does. He's another fine human we wan...

I love this conversation with Ashlee Eiland. I love Ashlee. You will, too. Please listen to a piece of her story here, and then also read her book, "Human(Kind): How Reclaiming Human Worth and Embracing Radical Kindness Will Bring Us Back Together." Her memoir in short essays recounts events in her life that shaped her view of herself, of God and the world around her. Finding yourself in the midst...

Liz Lassa, Creator of the 'Spiritual Circle Journal' joins us for a conversation on how journaling helps us become God-aware and self-aware. The specifics of the journaling prompts will help you get started on this very useful tool for spiritual growth. You can purchase the 'Spiritual Circle Journal' at https://spiritualcirclejournal.com and find out more about the May 2020 'Coping Well Together'...

Adele Calhoun joins Sharon Swing for a conversation about Adele's book, 'Invitations from God.' Here's a description of her book: Some invitations we desperately want: "Will you marry me?" "Would you consider a promotion?" Other invitations we never want to receive but must respond to all the same: "What treatment do you want for your tumor?" Invitations pound away at the coastlines of the soul wi...

In uncertain times, or times of difficulty, this question of, 'what does this allow?' becomes a challenge to be at our best for the benefit of others. So, today, in the midst of the uncertainty of the corona virus pandemic, what does this question stir in you? What attitude will you choose and actions might you take? Journey thru 'Listen to My Life' with the authors, in community from wherever you...

My story, (Sharon Swing) has been blessed by effective leaders and harmed by unhealthy leaders. All of our stories contain chapters where people have influenced us in ways that shape us. Sometimes we have a choice over who leads us, and sometimes we have not had not. Leaders have a way of intentionally or unintentionally influencing our behavior, our perceptions of ourselves, of how the world work...

Sharon Swing and Sibyl Towner have a conversation prompted by a quote from Parker Palmer's book, 'Let Your Life Speak.' Here's a description of the book from Amazon: With wisdom, compassion, and gentle humor, Parker J. Palmer invites us to listen to the inner teacher and follow its leadings toward a sense of meaning and purpose. Telling stories from his own life and the lives of others who have ma...

Sibyl Towner was prepared to teach on a Roadmap for Spiritual Formation the evening we recorded this episode. She had Robert Mulholland's book, 'An Invitation to a Journey: A Roadmap for Spiritual Formation' on her mind. We hope you enjoy this episode of Sharon Swing and Joan Kelley enjoying a good conversation with Sibyl. You can purchase the book from amazon here. oneLife Maps is, at its core, i...

Christopher T. Rogers is a Marriage and Family Therapist from Asheville, NC who helps people to to bridge the gap between emotional and relational pain and healthful wholeness. On this episode, Sharon and Chris talk thru and overview of his book, 'A Field Guide to Relationships: Observing Humans in Their Natural Habitat.' With practical wisdom, Chris boils down the most frequent relational issues...

Lori Shoults is producer of Sibyl's Book Club -- and so much more! She is a catalyst on many teams producing great work in for the benefit of others' spiritual formation. Sharon Swing and Joan Kelley talk with Lori about her passion for the Ignation Exercises and her journey in finding God in ways she never knew existed. oneLife Maps is, at its core, interested in helping people to recognize and r...

This Christmas Hope with Alexander John Shaia - Episode 52 Alexander Shaia is a thoughtful and poetic man, living the ancient rhythms of his Lebanese and Aramaic heritage. Alexander is a Spiritual Director, Educator, Psychologist and passionate professional speaker traveling internationally, lecturing and leading retreats and workshops. When not on the road, home is a fishing village on the coast...

Lisa Anderson-Umaña is Director of Leadership Development in Latin America for Christian Camping International, and an Affirmed 'Listen to My Life Life' Map Guide. Lisa talks with Sibyl Towner and Sharon Swing about Listening, Learning and Leading. Please explore  www.onelifemaps.com  to download a free introduction booklet to 'Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My St...

What is the connection between our bodies and our souls? When trauma is stored in the body, how might one consider the movement of the body as a part of the healing process? Jean Masukavich is a Trauma Sensitive Yoga Teacher, a Christian Spiritual Director, and co-founder of SOWthat.com Jean has recorded an audio moving prayer meditation for our Patreon subscribers . Please consider becoming a sup...

Darrell Smith is our guest on today's podcast as we discuss the concepts of 'Original Sin' and 'Original Blessing' as theological underpinnings that have deep implications for how we come to know who God is, who we are as individuals, and how we see one another. As it turns out, where you begin has serious implications for living. Darrell Smith is the author of 'Faith Lies: Seven Incomplete Ideas...