Growth & Grace

Okay, it's a new year and everyone is talking about getting healthy. We have weight loss goals and the gyms are packed. In this episode, I unpack what it looks like to have a positive body image in EVERY stage of life. Body Image refers to how we think, feel, and react to our bodies. It's just now we look. If you're setting health goals or struggle with having a healthy body image, then this episode is for you!  www.amberleagray.com 

Happy New Year! I'm only accepting good things from 2022, and I'm excited about a fresh start. I'm not saying that this new year will be perfect, I'm 100% it will not go as planned. At the same time, I'm choosing joy on the journey. In today's episode of the podcast, I'm walking you through the steps I'm taking to kick start this new year.  Freebie: Word of Intention Worksheet www.amberlegray.com 

On today's episode of the Growth & Grace podcast, I'm sharing a sermon based on Luke 2:1-20. Maybe you've heard the Christmas story before, but I'm willing to bet you've never heard it told like this! Merry Christmas Growth & Grace listeners and a Happy New Year!  www.amberleagray.com

What a year! I can't believe another year has passed by so quickly. Before I jump into 2022 planning and goal setting, I want to pause and reflect on all the lessons that 2021 has taught me. So in today's episode, I'm sharing with you FIVE lessons from 2021. I would love to know if you can relate or if learned something completely different.  www.amberleagray.com   

We all struggle at some level with living up to the expectations of others. Honestly, expectations are a natural part of life. They aren't all bad. It becomes a problem when we value the expectations of others to the point that we start living for their approval. So in today's episode, I'm giving some practical tips on how to release the expectations of others while stepping into who you are called to be.  www.amberleagray.com  

I recently read that 85% of people in the USA struggle with self-esteem. Y'all, that is a lot of people. So today I'm chatting about what self-image is and sharing some practical things we can do to cultivate a positive self-image!  www.amberleagray.com

Here's what I'm realizing… We spend a lot of time and energy on things that we cannot control. It creates stress and anxiety. It consumes us. What would it look like to focus on things we can control? How can we do that? Where do we start? I unpack all of that and more in today's episode!  www.amberleagray.com

So I was recently journaling and recalled some lessons I learned a few years ago when I saw a Spiritual Director. Some lessons on discernment, that have come up for me over and over again. So it in today's episode, I unpack a little bit about Spiritual Direction and share what my 'aha' moments were about discernment!  www.amberleagray.com  

Last week we talked about the signs of unhealthy relationships, and I had a number of you reach out to me wanting a follow-up episode about signs of healthy relationships. Ask and you shall receive! In this episode, I unpack what a healthy relationship looks like! Honestly, relationships are hard, and sometimes it is important for us to be able to see what we're doing well.  www.amberleagray.com

So often we know things in our gut, but we doubt our instincts. So today I just want to lay it out. I'm not even going to number these. I'm just going to talk through some signs of an unhealthy relationship. These are not just for romantic relationships, but many can be applied to all relationships! If you've been questioning whether your relationship is healthy or not… well, that's the first sign. Listen up, because this episode is for you! www.amberleagray.com  

Do you feel guilty every time you take a break? Do you struggle with feeling unproductive? What is your internal dialogue when you take the time to rest? We live in a culture that values being busy and wears it like a badge of honor. Guess what, that's not healthy. Rest is important! In Today's episode, I'm talking about the difference between Rest and Laziness.  www.amberleagray.com

Every person on the planet experiences shame. We know what it feels like, but we have a really hard time describing it much less overcoming it. In today's episode, we are unpacking shame. I was in shock when I learned how much shame can impact a person's life. I share a couple personal stories, and give some practical tips on how to work through shame. This episode is SOO good y'all. So many nuggets of information that can help you or a friend!  www.amberleagray.com

Cultivating surrender is essential to living a deep and meaningful life. I think surrender is often one of those things we talk about on a meta-level, but don't fully understand. In this episode, I try to pull back the curtain on surrender. What is it? What is it not? How do we practice surrender on the daily? Listen to this episode for all that and more!  www.amberleagray.com

A few weeks go my feelings got hurt and to be honest, I did not know what to do with that. The reality is that we all get our feelings hurt from time to time, but we can't control other people. So when we get our feelings hurt, what do we do? I did a little research, and this is what if found! AND what I found most helpful in my own situation.  www.amberleagray.com 

I published this at the beginning of the summer. We need to hear it again. Seriously, take 5 minutes to listen. Seriously, so proud of you!  www.amberleagray.com

Today on the podcast I'm sharing with you 10 ways that are scientifically proven to bring happiness! I no lie saw this on an infographic several weeks ago and haven't stopped thinking about it since. If you have been feeling down, these are 10 things you can implement in your life TODAY!  www.amberleagray.com

I had a conversation today where someone said, "I can't shut my mind off." The reality is so many of us are feeling that right now. Are you an overthinker? Why do people overthink? How do you switch from ruminating on the past and worry about the future to being solution-focused? In this episode, I unpack these questions and more!  www.amberleagray.com 

Is it worth the risk? That's what I've been asking myself lately. I've been having a lot of conversations lately about the impact of fear on the choices we make. Is fear holding us back from going after what we really want? How do we know if something is too risky? Is there a difference between risky and reckless? These are all things I'm learning and start to unpack on this episode.  www.amberleagray.com

A lot has shifted in our culture in the last 18 months, and people are starting to re-evaluate their lives. We slowed down long enough to ask the tough questions. Now people are making some serious changes. That includes wanting to remove themselves from toxic situations and stepping away from toxic people. If you're in the same boat, this episode is for you!  www.amberleagray.com

For so many years I was taught that in order to be productive, I needed to better manage my time. I've realized that doesn't work for me. In today's episode of the podcast, I talk about a productivity hack that has been a game-changer for me: Energy Management. Stop beating yourself up that you're not a morning person, and start planning your day around when YOU are most productive... when you have the most energy!  www.amberleagray.com