The Best of You

We’re hitting hard today on this question “Am I really supposed to die to myself?” So many have been encouraged to misapply the message of self-denial in ways that are not healthy. So what does the Bible really say about it? Here’s what we cover:1. What "deny yourself" really means2. 3 different types of people3. A surprising invitation4. A practical exercise to apply to your own life5. Your Questions: Healed vs. SavedFind a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.Other episodes in this series:Episode 54: Can I Pray My Anxiety Away? A Surprising Approach to the Anxiety Pandemic & How to Walk Yourself & Your Kids Through ItEpisode 55: Am I Supposed to Distrust Myself? Why Trusting Yourself is Necessary to Establishing Healthy Relationships With Other PeopleYoutube Series:What Does the Bible Really SayBoundaries for Your SoulThanks to our sponsors:Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Go to fuller.edu/bestofyou to learn more about Fuller’s MS in Marriage and Family Therapy program. Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code BESTOFYOU to receive UP TO 39%! Visit christiankitchenscoffee.com and use code bestofyou for a 10% discount on your first order!Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to SundaysForDogs.com/BESTOFYOU or use code BESTOFYOU at checkout.Music by Andy LuitenSound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're talking all about self-trust—how we develop it, and why it's so crucial to the health of our relationships with other people. We also talk about how trusting God is a process that develops in the context of healthy relationships. Here's what we cover:1. The surprising foundation for trust 2. The role of attachment3. 3 relationships that contribute to trust4. What to do if you are too trusting of others5. A first step toward building self-trustFind a full transcript and list of resources from this episode ⁠here⁠.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ ⁠Leave them here.⁠Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email ⁠here.Related Episodes:Episode 54: Can I Pray My Anxiety Away? A Surprising Approach to the Anxiety Pandemic & How to Walk Yourself & Your Kids Through ItEpisode 23: Am I wounded or am I sinful?Episode 51: The 12 Common Thinking Traps, Mind Reading, Mental Filters, and How To Stop Taking Things PersonallyThanks to our sponsors:Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Listen & subscribe to Wear We Are! Visit hiyahealth.com/BESTOFYOU and get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults. Visit christiankitchenscoffee.com and use code bestofyou for a 10% discount on your first order!Music by Andy LuitenSound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s conversation is pure fire! We're talking all things anxiety with Curtis Chang, author of a brand new book, The Anxiety Opportunity. This is such a fresh take on anxiety, unlike anything you’ve heard at church or in the secular culture. We also touch on the problem of how most of us have been taught to view heaven, and how recasting that vision has everything to do with anxiety. If you’ve struggled with anxiety or if you have kids who struggle with anxiety, please do not miss this episode. Here’s what we cover:1. The problem with the “prayer” or “pill” approach to anxiety2. The anxiety pandemic3. The most important thing we can do to help our anxious kids4. Did Jesus experience anxiety?5. Curtis’s experience with crippling anxiety6. The surprising discovery he made in therapy7. Why heaven is not what you think it is & how that changes everythingPick up your copy of The Anxiety Opportunity here.Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.Thanks to our sponsors:Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Head over to WildHealth.com/BESTOFYOU and use code BESTOFYOU to get 20% at checkout.Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to SundaysForDogs.com/BESTOFYOU or use code BESTOFYOU at checkout.Music by Andy LuitenSound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are talking all about finding our strengths today with my friend, Laura Cootsona, an accomplished coach, consultant, and non-profit executive. She walks us through StrengthsFinder, a tool that helps you identify and lean into your strengths and uncover the strengths of others.Research shows that leaning into your strengths at work and in life is absolutely life-changing. Here’s what we cover:1. How to identify strengths to unleash your potential2. The link between strengths and enjoying your work3. Understanding the downside of your strong points4. How to team up with other strengths5. How to build a strength-based familyFind a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.Other episodes in this series:Episode 49: Personality, the Big Five Traits, and Why Are We So Obsessed With Personality Types?Episode 50: 9 Types of Intelligence, the Trap of Comparison, and How to Connect More Authentically with GodEpisode 51: The 12 Common Thinking Traps, Mind Reading, Mental Filters, and How To Stop Taking Things PersonallyEpisode 52: The Enneagram—9 Ways to Uncover the Best (and Worst) of Who You Are, Get Honest With Yourself, & Improve Your RelationshipsThanks to our sponsors:This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BESTOFYOU and get on your way to being your best self. Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Visit hiyahealth.com/BESTOFYOU and get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults.Music by Andy LuitenSound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a rich conversation with Enneacast hosts Jesse Eubanks and Lindsey Lewis about the 9 types of the Enneagram! We talk everything from mistyping women to Jesus, Kevin Hart, and the Apostle Paul.This is a great episode to share with your family, small group, and friends—it's an opportunity for honest conversations about your areas of brilliance. . .and the blind spots we all have.Here’s what we cover:1. The 9 different types2. Your Enneagram number as one part of who you are3. The Enneagram and narcissism4. Why celebration is a discipline we all need to practice5. How to love types that trigger us6. The difference between comfort and shalom7. What type was Jesus? Paul? Peter? Tom Brady?Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.Related Episodes:Episode 49: Personality, the Big Five Traits, and Why Are We So Obsessed With Personality Types?Episode 50: 9 Types of Intelligence, the Trap of Comparison, and How to Connect More Authentically with GodEpisode 51: The 12 Common Thinking Traps, Mind Reading, Mental Filters, and How To Stop Taking Things PersonallyBoundaries for Your Soul SeriesThanks to our sponsors:Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Please visit christianapp.org/mentalhealthtsf to donate today! Go to fuller.edu/bestofyou to learn more about Fuller’s MS in Marriage and Family Therapy program. Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to SundaysForDogs.com/BESTOFYOU or use code BESTOFYOU at checkout.Music by Andy LuitenSound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you catastrophize? struggle with taking a compliment? Are you a mind reader? A minimizer? Or do you tend to take things personally? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you do not want to miss today's episode. We're discussing 12 common thinking traps, what psychologists call cognitive distortions. These are ways of thinking that trip up every single one of us. The messages you tell yourself have a direct impact on the health of your relationships, so this is a great one to share with your family or friends.Here's what we cover:1. 12 common thinking traps 2. How to avoid toxic shame spirals3. The problem with mind reading4. How to stop taking things personally5. The trap of emotional reasoning6. Why we all need to learn how to take a complimentFind a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.Thanks to our sponsors:Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Order Aundi Kolber's new book, Strong Like Water today!Check out Nuts.com/bestofyou. You’ll receive a free gift and free shipping when you spend $29 or more! Visit hiyahealth.com/BESTOFYOU and get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults.Music by Andy LuitenSound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're digging into intelligence. And believe me, it's not what you were taught! If you've struggled with comparing yourself to others, feeling inadequate, or unsure of your unique gifts (and that's pretty much all of us), you don't want to miss this episode!Here's what we cover:1. What is intelligence?2. Why it's different than what you were taught3. 9 different types of intelligence4. 2 toxic consequences of comparing ourselves to others5. 9 ways to connect with God Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.Thanks to our sponsors: Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today. Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to SundaysForDogs.com/BESTOFYOU or use code BESTOFYOU at checkout.Order Aundi Kolber's new book, Strong Like Water today!Music by Andy Luiten Sound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week marks the launch of our brand new series, My Favorite Psychology Tools, and we're kicking things off with a deep dive into the fascinating world of personality types. With so many fads and trends out there, it can be hard to know what's actually backed by research. That's why we're here to separate fact from fiction and give you the inside scoop on what personality really is and what the latest research tells us about it. Here's what we cover:1. What is personality and why we're so fascinated with it2. The benefits and pitfalls in personality tests3. The 5 most researched personality traits4. The mysterious H Factor and why it's so important 5. How personality traits show up in the BibleFind a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Do you have questions for Dr. Alison?⁠ Leave them here.Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.See also Episode 1: What Is Narcissism Really?Thanks to our sponsors:    Go to ⁠⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ ⁠today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today.  Order Aundi Kolber's new book, ⁠Strong Like Water⁠ today!Visit hiyahealth.com/BESTOFYOU and get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adultsMusic by Andy Luiten    Sound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and  any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content  and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gosh, it can be hard to live in a body, let alone learn to love it. We have so many demands that compete for our attention, not to mention all the mixed up messages we get as women—how in the world are we supposed to honor these bodies God has given us?In today's episode, we're honoring these long-suffering bodies of ours. Here's what we cover:1. Why so many of us bypass the body2. 4 insights from psychology about the body3. 3 ancient heresies that sneak into our modern thinking4. The difference between what the Bible calls "flesh" and "body" 5. How to honor your body as part of spiritual practice6. Why I am learning to dance again (but definitely not in public)Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.Related episodes:Episode 11: How to Start Loving Your Body with Christy JoyEpisode 19: My Stroke, A Process of Healing, and How I Began to Write The Best of YouEpisode 36: An Update on My Social Media Detox & How to Create Boundaries With Toxic Distractions, Numbing, & Unhealthy Coping TacticsEpisode 45: Strong like Water—Finding the Freedom, Safety, & Compassion to Move through Hard Things & Experience True Flourishing with Aundi KolberEpisode 46: People Pleasing as Survival, How Jesus Regulated Emotions & the Problem With Toxic Positivity and Spiritual Bypassing with Aundi KolberGet 46% off Boundaries for Your Soul & The Best of You.  Thanks to our sponsors:    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ BESTOFYOU and get on your way to being your best self.Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today.  Order Aundi Kolber's new book, Strong Like Water today!Music by Andy Luiten    Sound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and  any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content  and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the podcast, we're kicking off a mini 2-episode series on loving our bodies as a spiritual practice. Today, I dig into the problem of over-spiritualizing and how that does harm to ourselves and to others. Here's what we cover:1. What is spiritual bypassing?2. Does every problem have a spiritual solution?3. How we spiritually bypass ourselves4. How not to be a "friend of Job" 5. The antidote to spiritual bypassing6. An example of spiritual bypassing from the BibleFind a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.Related episodes:Episode 46: People Pleasing as Survival, How Jesus Regulated Emotions & the Problem With Toxic Positivity and Spiritual Bypassing with Aundi KolberWant to receive free bonus content? Sign up for my free weekly email Thanks to our sponsors:    Go to ⁠www.organifi.com/bestofyou⁠ today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today.  Order Dr. Amen's new book, Change Your Brain Every Day today!Hiya Health—Visit hiyahealth.com/BESTOFYOU and get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults.Get 46% off Boundaries for Your Soul & The Best of You.  Music by Andy Luiten    Sound editing by Kelly KramarikWhile Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and  any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices