Thriving in Christ | Burnout, Stress, Leadership, Faith & High Performance

It’s common for us to take from what we see in the world around us and use this as a barometer of our life's expectations and practices. But how many times do we pause and think, what did Jesus do? And what can we learn from Christ's life and interactions? This week, I was delighted to interview Presvytera Kerry Pappas, who has studied Christ’s compassion and the ways He took care of himself...

💡 WEEKLY TIP If you've ever felt grounded and peaceful one day and wake up the next, feeling self-critical and frustrated, then you are not alone. There is a reason for this. This state of being internally fragmented makes us feel like we are taking two steps forward and one step back. And we mistakenly take any state of being as our identity. But our true identity comes from Christ. So the quest...

Many people often question the integration between their Christian faith and science/psychology. They wonder, how can these two exist together? Actually, there is NO contradiction! And here is why - Science and Christian faith respond to different questions. This week, I interviewed Dr. Angela Deulen, a Professor of Psychology at California Baptist University, who helps her students and clients se...

As Christians, we don’t like to be critical or judgmental toward others. It is common, though, to believe that it is best to be self-critical in order to be more humble. Although great self-examination is essential in our path for healthy humility, too much of it can do inner damage and erode our sense of confidence. What is not commonly known is that Criticism and Self-Criticism are actually two...

Whether you're married or not, in a relationship or hope to be some day, we know that relationships don't come without their challenges. This week I had the privilege of interviewing Sophia Dykstra, who is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Addictions Counselor, and has been practicing for 15 years. Sophia enjoys working with couples and families, helping them heal and thrive. She truly finds g...

There is a common dilemma many of us contemplate - we want to be completely free in Christ, but we struggle with conforming to the world’s demands. And as professional Christian women and servant leaders, of course, we do not want to conform to the world. We are inspired by the bible verse "and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove w...

Our guest this week is the author of a gripping book called, Saving My Assassin. Her journey is so inspiring and a reminder of how we can be a witness to Christ in ways we can not even imagine. Virginia Prodan is an international human rights attorney, author, and sought-after international keynote speaker. She is also the host of Courageous Leadership Podcast and an allied attorney with Lions Def...

One of the questions I get the most is ‘how do we end up in burnout? What are some personal root causes?' Burnout is not a diagnosis, but a syndrome initially described in the workforce. Nowadays, especially after the pandemic, many people have started to use this word outside of work as a sense of general stress and depletion. Interestingly enough, burnout does not come with bells and whistles, s...

Sometimes we need guidance to help us create functional alignment of our mind, body, heart and soul. Coaching is a great way to do that! Our guest this week, Dr. Nicole Roccas, is a Certified Trauma-Informed Coach and author who works specifically with creative writers and people who have experienced spiritual trauma. She holds a PhD in History and is based in Ontario, Canada where she enjoys read...

*Do NOT drive or operate machinery - during this Contemplative practice* There is something very powerful about connecting with each other as Christian women through prayer. And we can do this even if we are not physically in the same space and time! In the moment you are reading this, there is someone praying to Christ right now. We can join this amazing web of prayers and light at any moment. An...

I met this amazing woman, a Christian business professional, who went from growing up in a family of farmers in a small Oregon town, to being a TOP business executive. Diane Paddison, the founder of 4word, is a Harvard MBA, former global executive of two Fortune 500 companies, a two-time author and serves as an independent director for two corporate and two not-for-profit boards. She joyfully live...

There is nothing better than a joyful Christian! If you don't find yourself in a joyful state of being throughout your day, it's time to ask yourself, 'What is getting in the way?' Many times, the blocks are connected to chronic stress, and what I call the hidden burnout. It can develop slowly, until we feel like a ton of bricks in our life's 'backpack', leaving us feeling depleted, stuck, or in p...

Struggling to experience true joy? Many people do, and often, this journey is not experienced without difficulty - BUT it doesn't have to. My guest this week experienced burnout, and it wasn't until after a major life event that she realized what brought her true joy and how to overcome the struggle of overwhelming emotions. And now, she is committed to seeking the joy that fills each day. This jo...

As Christian professionals and servant leaders, as you move to the next level of performance and growth, it is only natural to experience inner blocks or resistance. Some of the deepest blocks are subtle and come in moments of intense stress with questions such as: 'Does God answer my prayers or not?', 'Is God distant?' or 'Is He mad at me? Our conscious mind might say, "Of course not, God loves m...

In the midst of suffering and grief, how do we pray and regenerate so we don’t get stuck in the common dilemma: is it God’s will or my will? Is it my fault? Is God punishing me? After the tragic loss of her father and later navigating infertility, Dr. Amanda McNeil learned to lean into her faith and established an authoritative voice of hope and trust. Dr. Amanda is an author, leadership coach, pr...

If you want to continue to grow and reach your highest potential with coaching and want a sneak peek into my proven Coaching Program for Christian Women, then this is for you. If you search the internet, you can often find people sharing different transformational modalities, but not many combine expertise with science, psychology, spiritual care AND Christian Faith. If you are feeling like it is...

Trauma is more common than most people think. There are traumas that occur frequently and in smaller increments, and there are significant traumas, such as a major event. And praise God for mental health resources that are available nowadays to help with it on an individual level. Sometimes, though, trauma can be difficult to address in larger communities, especially without proper training. Rever...

When we are in high-stakes situations, either at work, home, or in church, and the potential for conflict exists, it is important to know how we can quickly ground ourselves in God. And as a Christian professional and servant leader, you likely experience these types of situations often. In this episode, I offer various tips from the Bible and from science to help you be present and grounded, allo...

Many successful women are faced with having to overcome many different difficulties: at work, at home, or in their neighborhoods. And finding strength in Christ seems paramount in these moments. Judy Weber , came out of an abusive relationship and survived a severe car accident with her faith shining brightly through her relationship with God. A former trial attorney and C-Suite executive (and lif...

*Do NOT drive or operate machinery - during this Contemplative practice* One of my deepest joys is to connect with God in contemplation and silence. Initially, though, contemplation was difficult, since many thoughts, ideas and emotions seemed to jump in. I felt I was constantly missing the mark, as the goal, whatever the goal was, seemed elusive. And at some point, after imperfect practice, it cl...

How do we navigate through difficult situations and what can we do to stay grounded? Are hope, faith and love feelings (which can come and go unexpectedly), or do we have a choice? I had the joy of interviewing Pamela Williams, who has responded to questions like these, both personally and professionally. Pamela is an inspiring Emotional Intelligence & Relationship Coach, healing expert, and a...

As professionals and servant leaders, we know that we often fall, then we pick ourselves up, learn from our mistakes and move on. This is what psychology calls Growth Mindset: the process of realizing that mistakes are part of the journey, that we can readjust and move forward. The problem is that it takes a lot of effort to calibrate our mindsets, emotions, and behaviors, without spiraling down....

Some people are early bloomers and discover their vocation early on. Some people are late bloomers and experience many twists and turns in crystallizing their calling. I was a late bloomer and experienced many changes in both my personal and professional life, so much so that, in the midst of them, I was not sure how all of this would come together. Now, looking back, I can see the handiwork of Go...

You work all day, support your family, respond to emails, push projects over the finish line, care for your home, attend to neighbors, pray and try to have a moment of respite when you can. You probably have a lot of balls in the air. When it is time to relax, it is common for us to want to make sure we are caught up with our social media platforms, friends, news, watching a movie, or playing game...

What do we do with the digital addiction that is plaguing so many people and families? It is so common nowadays that we might not even recognize it. Digital addiction uses the brain power through dopamine, leading to its depletion and potential difficulties, such as sleeping disturbance, isolation and decreased interest in other areas of life. This is such an ubiquitous problem and Mary Catherine...