Wholehearted Summer || Learning in Community - A Panel Style Conversation with Collective Coaches
Jul 10, 2023
Show Notes:
Now I've often heard a phrase that goes something like "It's lonely at the top." I often think of it as a phrase that's being said to leaders, a room full of leaders, senior pastors, or even business owners. But today, I would like to extend this phrase or this feeling to my fellow mamas. Yes, motherhood is a role that can often feel lonely, especially if you're juggling being a mom, a full career, and looking to be intentional with your faith.
And friend, you're not alone. I have worked with women in various stages of these roles with so many wonderful opportunities, but also a lot of responsibilities. And being a coach to these multi-passionate women, I've heard some of the same questions and helped them through similar struggles again and again.
I thought it would be fun to capture some of the answers to the questions that I often hear and share it with you in hopes that as you've maybe encountered the struggle or wondered how you do this and juggling all the things, that you don't feel so alone, but you also feel strengthened and encouraged to take the next possible step for you.
[4:15] Friends, thank you for joining me today as I cover these questions. We're all at different stages and our motherhood, and I'm just excited about what I'm gonna learn today and what's gonna be captured here to help the next person.
[7:15] Janay to Sarah: "How do you personally invite your children and your family into that rhythm of spiritual formation and just practical tips for integrating it into your daily routines. Spiritual formation is not something that is just for adults, right?"
Our kids are going to learn from what is naturally overflowing out of us. So instead of, "here are the five tips that you need to teach your kids", the best thing you can be doing is being spiritually formed yourself by pursuing the Lord on your own.
Sarah shares her routines for incorporating spiritual formation with her family.
[13:59] Sarah to Amy: "How would you say that you prioritize faith while also balancing family and work?"
What's maybe just one thing, like don't hear all of this, and if you're starting at the beginning, try to implement all of this. Choose one thing that stuck out to you and is doable for you based on your rhythm, your capacity, how your family dynamic works. But let me tell you, even if you did one of those things, oh my goodness, the fruit that people are gonna experience!
Amy shares how she prioritizes her faith while also balancing family and work.
[18:08] Amy to Deanna: "What advice would you give us about effective communication to either use with your spouse or your kids, whether we're talking about summertime or just in general?"
I agree with the order of Jesus first and then the rest of it will fall into place. There's a reason why He said "Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you." Listening is the best language that we can do with our children, with our spouses, with our family. That's probably the best communication advice I would give. And the older I get, the better I learn to listen and so I hope that translates into my children and grandchildren now.
[22:43] Deanna to Janay: "How do you foster a sense of unity and teamwork within your family?" I choose to forgive and show grace. And so those, doing those four things, I can almost guarantee that you will see a sense of unity and teamwork come about within your family.
Janay shares how she works to create unity and teamwork within her family.
[29:30] Janay to Amy: "Do you have any strategies for creating quality bonding time amidst all of the busyness that you have and experience?" Honestly, the word "intentionality" birthed this whole idea of Simply Wholehearted. It takes thoughtful planning. Like everything else here that we're talking about today is being mindful ahead of time of what your availability is and just owning it instead of winging it or just think it's going to just somehow naturally fall into place is to go, "Okay, what is it?"
[33:39] Amy to Deanna: "We all, I think we all have those, no matter what stages we are in our motherhood, we have learned at some point like, 'Okay, this advice or this idea that I had or this normal way of coping, it doesn't work.' But for you, what is it? What has it looked like for you to engage. Either handle conflict with your kids or utilize discipline and training in a way that does align with your faith and maybe even what you've learned as you've grown in your faith and grown in your parenting."
I guess you guys are getting the idea that if we love the Lord, first of all, four of us, and that stepping into the places with Him, and the Holy Spirit will guide you. He wants to tell you the way He says when you seek Him with all your heart, He will, we will find Him and He will tell us, great and unsearchable things we do not know. So that includes parenting.
[38:50] Deanna to Sarah: "How do you prioritize your self-care and maintain your own well-being while caring for your family?"
A lot of that trial and error has been a journey for the Lord to reveal to me what is really caring for myself and my soul, versus just escaping the moment, ignoring the moment, avoiding the stress. And that's a big, that's a big differentiator. And so the first step towards that is, becoming in tune with your own soul. What does your soul really long for and really need? Because believe it or not, for each of us, that looks a little different.
[41:52] Sarah to Deanna: "What has it looked like to navigate through all the different seasons of motherhood? From babies to toddlers to teens, and now adult children. How have you stayed connected to your faith through all of that?"
[47:03] Deanna to Janay: "How do you build a support network and find like-minded moms who share your faith values, and what does that look like to build community for you?"
Well, friend, that's a wrap for this Wholehearted Summer Series. I hope that you have enjoyed every episode and if you missed one, be sure and take this mini break that we're gonna be doing over the next several weeks as an opportunity to go back and listen to any episode that you may have missed. Now if you're new to the podcast and you see that there's over 300 episodes to choose from, have no fear because I have got a podcast playlist designed specifically for you.
Yep. It's arranged for each Enneagram type, so whether you wanna learn more about your type or another type that you are getting to know. Then all you need to do is head over to the show notes where you can get a playlist right at your fingertips and catch up on your listening as you head out on that road trip this summer, or maybe out to the pool or to the neighborhood playground if it's not too hot in your neck of the woods.
All right, friend. Like I said, we're gonna take a little bit of a break here, but we are coming back in August with so many amazing episodes and series headed your way to help you thrive in faith, in family, and in the work that you do. Until next time, friend, continue to pursue God's perspective, purpose, and plans for your simply wholehearted life.
The best is yet to come,
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