TFH SF "Renew Your Mind" - Tonya Waechter
Nov 22, 2020
Tonya Waechter, a marriage and family therapist and counselor at the Father's House community, explores the vital connection between mental health and community well-being. She shares personal stories of overcoming rejection and how biblical teachings can renew the mind. Tonya encourages listeners to embrace their individuality amidst societal pressures and discusses the transformative power of faith in shaping one's identity. She also reflects on childhood memories of sledding in Michigan, drawing parallels between the thrill of the sport and the impact of our thoughts.
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Growing Up Labeled Unchosen
- Tonya describes childhood rejection after her parents' divorce and a distant father who returned inconsistently.
- She links that early rejection to lifelong labels like "not worth choosing" that shaped her behavior and self-harm in adolescence.
Heartbreak Fueled Self-Harm
- Tonya recounts a high-school breakup where her boyfriend cheated before prom, deepening her beliefs of unworthiness.
- She describes developing disordered eating, bingeing and purging as attempts to change herself to fit worthiness standards.
Thinking As An Act Of Worship
- Romans 12:2 frames renewing the mind as active worship connected to how we think and behave.
- Tonya emphasizes that thoughts change brain chemistry and thus our feelings and actions.