The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast CNLP 760 | Your Brain is Lying to You 80% of the Time: Judah Smith and Les Parrot on Why Leaders Self-Sabotage and How to Break the Cycle
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Oct 14, 2025 
Judah Smith, Lead communicator of Churchome and bestselling author, joins Dr. Les Parrott, a clinical psychologist and bestselling author, to explore the mental challenges faced by leaders. They reveal that our brains deceive us 80% of the time, leading to self-sabotage, especially in ministry. Judah shares personal experiences with ministry pressure, while Les highlights toxic thought patterns and the dangers of people-pleasing. The duo emphasizes the importance of grace over performance and offers practical insights for breaking negative cycles.
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Early Counseling As Preventative Care
- Judah and Chelsea sought therapy before crisis struck to protect their marriage and ministry.
- Les and Leslie became long-term counselors who provided objectivity and practical help over 15 years.
Pressure, Not Perversion, Drives Failures
- Judah describes ministry pressure as a ticking time bomb driven by weariness, anxiety, and exhaustion rather than moral failure.
- That pressure created a persistent fear he would inevitably 'screw this up' and required outside help to process.
Protect Congruence, Avoid Performing Health
- Protect congruence by refusing to perform authenticity on stage when your life is out of alignment.
- Seek honest help so you minister from health instead of hurt and avoid misleading your congregation.
