The Soul Enchilada

We’ve all heard the phrase “no pain, no gain.” Most of the time we don’t like hearing it, but it’s true. In our world of access to comfort, it’s easy to avoid the pain of doing hard things and we miss out on becoming our best selves.     Small Group Questions:   1.  Is there a situation right now that you’re trying to control? What leverage do you or don’t you have?   2. When Christine mentioned l...

On some level, we’re all addicted to Dopamine, the chemical our bodies secrete when we’re experiencing pleasure. And that’s a good thing… in general. But in our world of easy access to all we want, many people are able to skip the pain of getting what’s pleasurable, and are left depressed and wanting more. This week, we talk about some strategies for maintaining that balance.   This Week’s Listene...

Why do you do what you do?... WHY? It’s such an important question, because the process of finding the answer can lead you to your passion and purpose, and maybe even out of an unfulfilling life on autopilot.   Small Group Questions:   1.  What powerful insights can arise when you ask yourself ­– WHY do I do what I do?   2.  What “tables could you turn over” in your life to be more purposeful in h...

When your mind works overtime, it’s hard to get much of anything done, let alone sleep at night. And counting sheep and medicating ourselves may be quick fixes, but they won’t stave off the inevitable depression, anxiety, and irritability that go along with insomnia. This week, we tackle sleep deprivation with healthy ways to calm those out of control thoughts.   This Week’s Listener Question: I h...

Nobody likes conflict. But it will eventually show up in our relationships… all of them. How we handle it says a lot about us and will determine the future of those relationships. This week, we talk about moving from blame, criticism, and judgement to a place where we handle conflicts with curiosity and compassion.   This Week’s Listener Question: I have a friend who violated my confidentiality an...

It’s good to be wanted and needed, and it usually feels really good to help the people in our lives… as long as that relationship is in balance. But what about when it’s not, when we’re doing for others what they could (and should) be doing for themselves? Whether that comes out of guilt, coercion, or a need to fulfill ourselves, it’s an unhealthy relational imbalance called “Co-Dependency.” This...

How we view our bodies drives what and how we eat. And, as we talked about last week, many of us struggle to have a positive image of ourselves. So it makes sense that many women wrestle with some degree of an eating disorder. It’s sometimes subtle, but it’s there… and it’s not good. This week, we’ll walk through how to recognize an eating disorder, why it’s there, and the first steps in overcomin...

Summer’s here, and for many women, so is the shame of having to show our bodies in shorts, t-shirts, or -GASP-  even a bathing suit. Many of us have lived with this our whole lives, and despite knowing better, we just can’t break free. This week, we bring that shame out into the open and work through ways to squash the negative self-talk and love ourselves for the queens we are!   This Week’s List...

Like The Soul Enchilada? You’re going to love this. We’re hosting a series of LIVE CONVERSATIONS It will be like sitting in on a live Soul Enchilada podcast… and YOU get to participate We’re going to take on the three most common issues women in my practice are struggling with On July 20th, we’re talking anxiety and giving you practical steps for managing it and supporting loved ones who are wrest...

If you think about it, faith can be challenging at times. Even when we’re feeling strong in ours, others may be wavering, or even totally shut off. But it’s natural, and even healthy to doubt. Because doubting can be a catalyst for healthy conversations and introspection that can strengthen our own relationship with God.   This Week’s Listener Question: I’m really frustrated because Sundays cause...

Extreme views seem to be the norm these days. “You’re on my side, or you’re wrong!” But what about when people claim their views are God’s views? This tends to make any discussion of the matter like walking through a minefield, so most of us just stay quiet. Nobody really likes conflict, but sometimes you just have to speak up. So when should we do that, and how?     This Week’s Listener Question:...

Everyone makes bad choices. But they don’t have to haunt us for the rest of our lives. This week, we talk about how bad choices and regrets can actually be opportunities to learn and grow once we learn to forgive ourselves. After all, we were all just doing the best we could at the time.   This Week's Listener Question: I just returned from a class reunion where I ran into an old boyfriend. Let’s...

When faced with situations where there is no obvious solution, we are often so overwhelmed by the confusion that we grab at an answer just to “make it stop.” But confusion can be fertile ground for growth. It forces us to ask questions and learn about ourselves and our circumstances, and that curiosity is a key that opens the door to possibilities we may otherwise never have seen. This week, we ta...

Have you ever watched kids on a playground? Complete strangers come together and start making mud pies within minutes. Why is that so hard for us to do as adults? Even when we’ve got reasons for connection, like kids, sports teams, jobs, and neighborhood activities, it’s still hard. And that’s reflected in the latest statistics showing that loneliness is an epidemic. So how do we fix that?   This...

How do we find the “why” in our lives? It’s a tough question on our best days. But what about after major life changes, like a death, a divorce, a job loss, or in Laura’s case this week: a charging moose?   This Week’s Listener Question: What’s my purpose now that my soul has been shattered? How do I go on after losing a child?   Small Group Questions:   1.   What are your first reactions after he...

It’s nice and cozy in our comfort zones. So comfy, in fact, that it’s easy to get stuck there without even realizing it. But it’s when we’re outside that we develop and grow. Whether it’s a job, a relationship, or a retreat, the first thing we’ve got to do to make a change is to GO!   This Week’s Question: Christine, why are you so passionate about taking women to Northern Ireland on a retreat cal...

Happy Mother’s Day!!!… or was it? Research shows that up to 1/3 of women won’t be happy. Whether you’re going through a loss, or you’ve built up expectations for the day that are un-met and leave you disappointed. And that’s likely true for many holidays throughout the year. This week, we talk strategies for how to let special days feed your soul rather than suck you dry.   This Week’s Listener Qu...

This week, we piggyback off of last week's topic, pornography, to focus on how to best make intimate connections with the important people in your life This Week’s Listener Question: I just discovered my husband has a porn addiction. I feel like he’s cheating on me. It makes me feel really anxious all the time. How do I get him to stop?   Small Group Questions: 1.  What are your personal boundarie...

Pornography. It’s everywhere. And it’s here to stay. The statistics on its usage are staggering. This week, we get into the weeds of pornography and its impact on the expectations and insecurities of our relationships.   This Week’s Listener Question: I just discovered my husband has a porn addiction. I feel like he’s cheating on me. It’s making me feel really anxious all the time. How do I get hi...

This week, we pick up where we left off with some helpful tips, tricks, and hacks to manage our thoughts when they start to swirl out of control   This Week’s Listener Question: I’ve been wrecked recently with anxiety and fear. I’m usually a calm, level-headed person but lately I’m feeling so out of control that I can’t sleep and I just had my first panic attack. What do you think I should do?   S...

Anxiety, fear, and panic attacks – Oh My! They can cause us to do some crazy things - like Laura accosting the Amazon driver who she thought stole her dog. Fear is such a powerful emotion that we needed two episodes to talk about how to recognize and manage it…. Because without an Amazon driver, you’re all alone in this world.   This Week’s Listener Question: I’ve been wrecked recently with anxiet...

This Week’s Listener Question: My high school aged daughter is spiraling deeper and deeper into depression. It’s so painful to watch and I’m scared! What can I do to help?   Study after study is showing that mental health issues are becoming more and more prevalent, especially among young adults and teens.   How we react and help is so important, but it’s often really hard to figure out what to do...

This Week’s Listener Question: There was just another school shooting in Nashville, TN. How do I deal with the helplessness and overwhelming sadness I keep feeling? How do we keep going and trust God when bad things keep happening all around us?   How do you deal with the overwhelming helplessness that comes when we’re hit with tragedy? Many of us employ the strategies of avoidance, denial, and co...

Ah Spring…. time to get going after a winter’s slumber. It’s getting warmer and staying lighter longer, so open the doors, start cleaning, planning, and doing. Summer’s coming!   With all those added pressures, is it any wonder that mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and even suicides spike in the Spring?   This week, we talk about slowing down. Giving yourself permission to put your p...

This Week’s Listener Question: My life is a massive mess (truly a "shitshow") right now. I'm dealing with intense family conflict which makes me feel like I have to pick sides. When I do, one family member will have to move out. At the same time, my work is also exhausting and thankless. I never have time for myself or anywhere I can go to "reboot.” I feel like I'm surrounded with overwhelming dem...