I’m excited to share a simple way to connect with Jesus this Easter—through Christian meditation (we’ll even walk through a guided meditation together in this episode)!  

Let’s also explore how Christian meditation helps us slow down, calms our minds and bodies, and allows us to engage Scripture in a deeper, more personal way.  

Discover how this biblical practice supports emotional regulation, strengthens your relationship with God, and prepares your heart for Easter with greater peace, reflection, and spiritual depth. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Does Easter Feels Spiritually Dry Instead of Meaningful? 

[02:00] What Is Christian Meditation—and How Is It Different? 

[05:00] How Christian Meditation Calms The Nervous System and Mind 

[06:00] Is Christian Meditation Biblical? What Does Scripture Say? 

[09:00] How Is Christian Meditation Different From Eastern Meditation? 

[11:00] How Does Christian Meditation Help Us Hear From God More Clearly? 

[13:00] Why Slowing Down Changes Our Experience of Easter 

[16:00] FREE EASTER MEDITATION: The Love of Christ at the Cross  

Get the Christian Meditations for Daily Calm (30 guided meditations) for a simple, powerful way to connect with Jesus during the Easter season or anytime! Get access at AliciaMichelle.com/meditations 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 220: The Science of Christian Meditation: How Christian Meditation Renews the Mind, Heals the Body and Supercharges Spiritual Growth 

Ep 221: Super Busy? 15 Ways Christian Meditation Can Fit Into Your Daily Schedule 

Ep 222: How to Manage Emotional Overwhelm with Christian Meditation 

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Struggling with mom anger and feeling ashamed of how you react to your kids? You’re not alone. Every mom I’ve ever met (including me!) has struggled with mom anger to some degree in various seasons of their motherhood. How can we manage these overwhelming feelings in a way that offers both understanding for the emotions and practical solutions to stop the tension? 

In this honest conversation, anger management coach Elizabeth Andreyevskiy shares her personal story of explosive mom rage, the shame that followed, and how God led her toward healing.  

Learn what’s really underneath reactive anger, how overwhelming sensory stimulation (hello early parenting years!) fuel anger, and practical steps to respond with more calm, patience, and hope in Christian motherhood.  

This is definitely an episode to share with another mom friend who struggles here! 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] The Quiet Shame Behind Mom Anger in Christian Motherhood 

[05:00] Elizabeth’s Story: Her Breaking Point With Rage and Mom Anger 

[10:00] Is Anger a Spiritual Problem, or Is There More Going On? 

[14:00] What Emotions Are Really Underneath Mom Anger? 

[18:00] When Overstimulation and Nervous System Stress Fuel Manage Angry Emotions 

[23:00] How Mindset Shapes the Way You Show Up With Your Kids 

[27:00] What Practical Habits Actually Reduce Anger and Reactivity? 

[31:00] Why There Is Hope for Mom Anger (You Can Find Freedom!) 

Connect with Elizabeth Andreyevskiy via her website at emotionallyhealthylegacy.com, or check out her podcast Emotionally Healthy Legacy wherever podcasts are streamed. 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 341 — Step #1 to Calming Emotional Spirals: Notice + Name Your Feelings 

Ep 342 — Help for Emotional Overreaction in Relationships 

Ep 347 — When What You're Doing to Rest Isn’t Working: Living with Hidden Burnout + Exhaustion 

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Caring for an aging parent: so many of my friends are in this stage right now! If you’re also in this season, you understand how emotionally overwhelming it can be to care for an elderly parent. What do we do with the guilt, the grief and the new boundaries we must set as we try to offer support on so many levels, often while also pursuing career and personal goals (and for many of us, still raising kids)? 

In this episode, I sit down with hospice nurse and author Linda Larson to talk honestly about the emotional tension and the faith-stretching that comes with caring for aging parents. Linda offers not only biblical encouragement but also extremely practical advice for walking through this season well.  

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Why Midlife Caregiving Feels So Emotionally Complicated 

[05:00] What Emotions Are Normal When Caring for Aging Parents? 

[09:00] Why Role Reversal Creates Grief for Both of You 

[16:00] What If Your Relationship With Your Parent Wasn’t Healthy? 

[21:00] How Do You Help Without Trying to “Fix” Aging? 

[26:00] Why You Can’t Do Caregiving Alone 

[32:00] What If You Feel Resentful, Exhausted, or Spiritually Ashamed? 

[37:00] Where Can You Find Faith-Based and Practical Support? 

Connect with Linda Larson via email at [email protected], or check out her book Walk Me Home: A Companion for the Caregiving Journey on Amazon.  

JOIN ME IN MARCH/APRIL FOR A 6-WEEK STUDY ON STRESS LESS: 

If you’re exhausted from carrying situations that won’t change and feel stuck in stress loops you can’t seem to escape, join us for our next 6-week journey inside the Emotional Confidence Club: “Stress Less: A 6-Week Journey to Release Control + Make Peace with What Isn’t Changing.” 

Let’s learn how to process the emotions underneath control, release what isn’t yours to carry, and experience peace, even when circumstances stay the same. 

Go to AliciaMichelle.com/club to join the March/April study. 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 350 — Why Is It So Hard to Surrender and “Let Them”? 

Ep 349 — How Can We Stress Less + Find Peace When Nothing Is Changing? 

Ep 342 — Help for Emotional Overreaction in Relationships 

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Anxiety: when does everyday worry cross into something that needs more attention? In this episode, I talk with Becky Keife about her personal journey with anxiety, what helped her recognize when she needed support, and how God met her in the middle of it. 

You’ll learn how to tell the difference between situational worry and ongoing anxiety, why high-achieving women often struggle silently, and how simple daily practices can help turn anxiety into an invitation to connect more deeply with Jesus. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Why Anxiety Feels So Common Right Now 

[04:00] How Becky’s Anxiety Showed Up in Her Body 

[07:00] Why High-Achieving Women Often Hide Anxiety 

[12:00] How Do You Know When Anxiety Needs More Attention? 

[17:00] Why Shame Keeps Us From Getting Help 

[18:00] Why a Daily Devotional Format Helps in Anxious Seasons 

[20:00] What “Peace Practices” Actually Look Like in Real Life 

[24:00] How Anxiety Can Become a Bridge to Jesus 

Connect with Becky Keife on Instagram (@beckykeife), or check out her book A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul on Amazon or wherever books are sold. 

JOIN ME IN MARCH/APRIL FOR A 6-WEEK STUDY ON STRESS LESS: 

If you’re exhausted from carrying situations that won’t change and feel stuck in stress loops you can’t seem to escape, join us for our next 6-week journey inside the Emotional Confidence Club: “Stress Less: A 6-Week Journey to Release Control + Make Peace with What Isn’t Changing.” 

Let’s learn how to process the emotions underneath control, release what isn’t yours to carry, and experience peace, even when circumstances stay the same. 

Go to AliciaMichelle.com/club to join the March/April study. 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 349 — How Can We Stress Less + Find Peace When Nothing Is Changing? 

Ep 341 — Step #1 to Calming Emotional Spirals: Notice + Name Your Feelings 

Ep 330 — How to Manage Big Out-of-Control Emotions 

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Maybe it’s time to surrender a tough situation, or to “let” people be who they’re going to be. But how in the world does that happen? Let’s talk about why letting go feels so much harder than it sounds, what’s really underneath our resistance, and how to move toward peace without suppressing your emotions or pretending it doesn’t hurt. 

Learn why surrender often brings up grief, fear, and identity questions, how stress loops form when situations don’t change, and what it looks like to process emotions with God so peace becomes possible, even when circumstances remain the same. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Why Surrender and “Let Them” Feels So Hard 

[06:00] Our Hidden Fears Around Surrender and Letting Go 

[09:00] Here’s What’s Really Behind Our Need to Control… 

[12:00] When Letting Go Feels Like Losing Your Identity 

[14:00] Ever Confuse “Being Loving” With Taking Control? 

[16:00] How Stress Loops Form When Nothing Is Changing 

[19:00] What Real Peace Requires 

[21:00] How Emotional Tools Help You Stop Replaying Stressful Situations 

JOIN ME IN MARCH/APRIL FOR A 6-WEEK STUDY ON STRESS + LETTING GO OF CONTROL: 

If you’re exhausted from carrying situations that won’t change and feel stuck in stress loops you can’t seem to escape, join us for our next 6-week journey inside the Emotional Confidence Club: “Stress Less: A 6-Week Journey to Release Control + Make Peace with What Isn’t Changing.” 

Let’s learn how to process the emotions underneath control, release what isn’t yours to carry, and experience peace, even when circumstances stay the same. 

Go to AliciaMichelle.com/club to join the March/April study. 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 349 — How Can We Stress Less + Find Peace When Nothing Is Changing? 

Ep 342 — Help for Emotional Overreaction in Relationships 

Ep 341 — Step #1 to Calming Emotional Spirals: Notice + Name Your Feelings 

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Ever felt stuck in ongoing situations that never seem to change and leave you feeling exhausted, frustrated or hopeless? 

In this episode, we talk about the unique stress that comes from chronic, unresolved circumstances and why these stress loops are so hard to escape. 

Learn why your nervous system stays activated in repetitive stress, how bitterness and emotional hardening quietly form, and what it looks like to begin finding peace even when nothing around you changes. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Why Ongoing Stress Feels Different Than Everyday Stress 
[02:00] Why Can’t I Feel Peace When Nothing Is Changing? 
[05:00] How Repetitive Stress Activates the Nervous System and Shapes Reactions 
[08:00] When Unresolved Situations Create Emotional Baggage and Resentment 
[11:00] Does Letting Go Mean We’re Giving Up? 
[14:00] How Chronic Stress Affects Emotional and Physical Health 
[17:00] Awareness Is the First Step Out of Stress Loops 
[20:00] How to Begin Noticing and Naming Stress Without Judgment 

Join me for the Virtual Rest Retreat in Feb 2026!  

Are you exhausted and in need of deep rest (but can’t get away)? Find rest with God that fits your budget, your schedule and your season of life at my Bible-based virtual retreat for Christian women seeking deep replenishment of mind, body and spirit!  

Register for the virtual rest retreat: AliciaMichelle.com/virtual-rest-retreat  

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 348: How Can We Find Rest That Actually Restores Body, Mind and Soul? 

Ep 344: How to DIY Your Own Rest Retreat (When Getting Away Feels Impossible) 

Ep 347: When What You’re Doing to Rest Isn’t Working — Living with Hidden Burnout + Exhaustion 

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So many women are functioning in hidden burnout. Still showing up and serving. Still carrying responsibility. Still faithfully asking God for strength and trying to do the right things.  

And… still feeling depleted. 

This episode is really about one simple but honest question: why am I resting, but still exhausted? Not because we don’t believe in rest. Not because we don’t value it. But because what we’re doing to rest often isn’t touching the places where exhaustion actually lives. 

This isn’t about doing more to rest. It’s about understanding how rest actually works. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: 

[00:00] Why Trying to Rest Isn’t the Same as Being Restored 

[01:00] Why Doesn’t God’s Promise of Rest Always Feel Accessible? 

[03:00] What Does It Mean to Remain in the Vine Instead of Striving for Rest? 

[05:00] Why Are We So Confused About What Kind of Rest We Actually Need? 

[06:00] How Physical Rest Restores the Body 

[08:00] How Mental and Emotional Rest Heal Inner Overload 

[10:00] Why Spiritual Rest Creates Foundational Peace 

[12:00] How Sensory, Creative, and Social Rest Restore the Soul 

[17:00] Why Understanding Your Rest Needs Changes Everything 

[19:00] How to Begin Receiving Rest Instead of Trying to Produce It 

Join me for the Virtual Rest Retreat in Feb 2026!  

Are you exhausted and in need of deep rest (but can’t get away)? Find rest with God that fits your budget, your schedule and your season of life at my Bible-based virtual retreat for Christian women seeking deep replenishment of mind, body and spirit!  

Register for the virtual rest retreat: AliciaMichelle.com/virtual-rest-retreat  

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 344 — How to DIY Your Own Rest Retreat (When Getting Away Feels Impossible) 

Ep 331: Overcoming Overwhelm: Less Chaos in Your Head, More Peace in Your Life 

Ep 347 — When What You’re Doing to Rest Isn’t Working — Living with Hidden Burnout + Exhaustion 

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Are you resting but still exhausted? In this episode, I talk about the kind of burnout that doesn’t go away with sleep, vacations, or time off, the hidden exhaustion so many women carry while still functioning, serving, and showing up. 

Learn why surface-level rest doesn’t heal deep depletion, how faith and exhaustion often get tangled together, and how God responds to burnout with care instead of condemnation. This episode will help you recognize hidden burnout, understand why what you’re doing to rest isn’t working, and begin responding to exhaustion with wisdom, compassion, and truth. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: 

[00:00] Why “I’m Tired” Doesn’t Always Mean You Need More Sleep 

[01:00] Why Doesn’t Rest Work When I’m Praying and Asking God for Help? 

[03:00] What Is Hidden Burnout and Why Is It So Normalized? 

[06:00] When You Associate Exhaustion with Faithfulness and Worth 

[08:00] God Meets Exhaustion with Care, Not Condemnation 

[13:00] Why Inner Chaos Matters More Than Outer Busyness 

[16:00] Rest Isn’t a Willpower Problem but a Self-Understanding Problem 

[19:00] Why Learning the Different Types of Rest Changes Everything 

Join me for the Virtual Rest Retreat in Feb 2026!  

Are you exhausted and in need of deep rest (but can’t get away)? Find rest with God that fits your budget, your schedule and your season of life at my Bible-based virtual retreat for Christian women seeking deep replenishment of mind, body and spirit! 

Register for the virtual rest retreat: AliciaMichelle.com/virtual-rest-retreat 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 344 — How to DIY Your Own Rest Retreat (When Getting Away Feels Impossible) 

Ep 346 — Seasonal Affective Disorder: When the Darkness Affects Your Emotions 

Ep 341 — Step #1 to Calming Emotional Spirals: Notice + Name Your Feelings 

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Do you feel heavier, more tired, or spiritually foggy during the darker winter months?  

Let’s talk honestly about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), what’s actually happening in your body, how reduced light affects your emotions and motivation, and why this struggle doesn’t mean your faith is weak. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder doesn’t always announce itself clearly. For many women, it shows up quietly, through lower energy, emotional heaviness, irritability, foggy thinking, or a sense of spiritual distance they can’t quite explain. 

In this episode, I wanted to make this real and human by sharing stories from three women, Chrissie, Melody, and Beth, whose experiences reveal how differently Seasonal Affective Disorder can affect emotions, energy, and faith, especially in darker seasons. 

This conversation isn’t about diagnosing yourself or forcing solutions. It’s about understanding what darkness does to the body and nervous system, and how God meets us with compassion instead of shame. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: 

[00:00] Why Seasonal Affective Disorder Is Real and Why It Affects So Many Women 

[04:00] What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder and How Does Reduced Light Impact Emotions and Energy? 

[08:00] Why Does Winter Darkness Affect Motivation, Mood, and Spiritual Clarity? 

[12:00] How Different Women Experience SAD in Unique Emotional and Physical Ways 

[17:00] Why Experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder Doesn’t Mean Your Faith Is Weak 

[18:00] How Can SAD Be Reframed as a “Wilderness Season” Instead of a Personal Failure? 

[22:00] How God Uses Darker Seasons to Invite Deeper Awareness and Growth 

[23:00] Using the A.D.D. Model to Confidently Manage Emotions During SAD 

[28:00] What Practical Supports Help the Body and Nervous System During SAD? 

[31:00] Why You’re Not Alone and Taking Gentle Next Steps Toward Support 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode: 

Links to tools and resources mentioned in this episode are shared below to support emotional health and energy during darker months. Some of these may be affiliate links, which provide Alicia with a small commission at no additional cost to you. 

• Light boxes 
• Sunrise Alarm 
• Better Help Counseling (10% off link) 
• Free 7-Day Notice + Name Course 
• Emotional Confidence Book 

Get the FREE 7-Day Course: Notice + Name Your Feelings  

Learn the simple mindset tool that helps you understand what you’re really feeling, so you can stop spiraling and experience more peace!  

Start the free course here: AliciaMichelle.com/feelings  

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 330 — How to Manage Big Out-of-Control Emotions 

Ep 341 — Step #1 to Calming Emotional Spirals: Notice + Name Your Feelings 

Ep 343 — Is Your Emotional Health Blocking Your New Year Breakthrough? 

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What does it look like to show up well for those walking through grief? When someone we know is walking through grief, we want to help by knowing what to say to ease their pain.  

And yet, many of us feel awkward around grief and loss. We worry that we’ll make things worse by saying the wrong thing. Often we don’t know how to emotionally support others without trying to fix the situation or offer what can feel like empty platitudes.  

Today I’ve invited my friend and fellow podcaster Sherrie Pilkington to share her grief journey after the sudden loss of her husband several years ago. As an advocate for those walking through grief, Sherrie offers practical, much-needed suggestions to best care for a loved one on a grief journey in order to show Christian compassion during this challenging time. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: 

[00:00] Why Grief Feels Confusing and Uncomfortable for Everyone 

[09:00] “Grief Doesn’t Need Answers. It Needs..” 

[12:00] Why Sitting With Someone’s Grief Is Often More Healing Than Trying to Fix It 

[14:00] How Consistent, Thoughtful Support Helps Restore Connection To the Grieving 

[16:00] Why Does Being Remembered After the Initial Loss Matter So Deeply? 

[18:00] What Does Grief Support Look Like When Words Fall Short? 

[23:00] How Simple, Tangible Gifts Can Help Those Grieving Feel Seen 

[25:00] Which Phrases Unintentionally Increase Pain for those in Grief? 

[29:00] Monthly Grief Boxes: How to Offer Realistic, Specific Help Without Overwhelming the Grieving 

Connect with Sherrie Pilkington via her podcast Finding God in Our Pain, on Instagram (@livelovedthrive), or check out her Sealed With a Hug Grief Boxes (for those wanting to support others walking through grief).  

Get the FREE 7-Day Course: Notice + Name Your Feelings  

  
Learn the simple mindset tool that helps you understand what you’re really feeling, so you can stop spiraling and experience more peace!  

Start the free course here: AliciaMichelle.com/feelings  

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 119 — Find Healing Through Grief by Serving Others with Ashley from Bridget’s Cradle  

Ep 177 — Coping with Grief and Shattering Loss When Tragedy Strikes (with Lisa Appelo) 

Ep 297: Believing in God’s Love Again After You’ve Been Hurt with Rachael Adams 

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Do you long for deep rest but feel like getting away just isn’t realistic in this season? In this episode, let’s talk about how to create your own version of a rest retreat—right where you are! 

We’ll explore how to design intentional rhythms of rest that meet your physical, emotional, spiritual, and creative needs. I believe we can all find practical ways to build small, sustainable rest into life and experience real replenishment even when extended time away feels impossible! 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: 

[00:00] Why Neglecting Rest Eventually Affects Your Body, Emotions, and Relationships 

[03:00] Why Forced Rest Is Not the Same as Chosen, Intentional Restoration 

[07:00] What Is a “DIY Rest Retreat” and Why Does It Matter? 

[08:00] What Does True Rest Look Like for You in This Season? 

[10:00] The Different Types of Rest: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual, Creative, Social, and Sensory 

[14:00] How Do You Discern Which Kind of Rest You Need Most Right Now? 

[16:00] Why Superficial Dopamine Hits Don’t Replenish the Soul 

[18:00] How Can You Design Rest That Leaves You Truly Filled Instead of Drained? 

[19:00] Why Starting Small Creates Sustainable Rhythms of Restoration 

[24:00] How Creativity, Solitude, and Time with God Deepen Soul Renewal 

[26:00] Why Understanding Your “Why” Makes Rest a Spiritual Priority 

[28:00] How Do You Begin Designing Your Own Personal Rest Retreat? 

Get the FREE 7-Day Course: Notice + Name Your Feelings  

  
Learn the simple mindset tool that helps you understand what you’re really feeling, so you can stop spiraling and experience more peace!  

Start the free course here: AliciaMichelle.com/feelings  

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 335 — Need Deep Soul Rest? Join Me in 2026/2027 for Women’s Retreats That Restore Your Spirit 

Ep 336 — Stories from the Italy Retreat: Blessings and Surprises from Our Time in Tuscany 

Ep 330 — How to Manage Big Out-of-Control Emotions 

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