Many leaders and people in care giving vocations are notorious for focusing on others to the detriment of wellbeing. In this episode Steve is joined by his wife Lisa as they discuss core tools of self care as we approach the holiday season. Self care, in our field, is fundamentally about relaxing into God's presence, not about self nurture or self improvement. To download a free Life Giving List, click here. To learn more about the Calm, Aware, Present Journal as a Christmas gift, click here. To join Seminary Now click here. (CUSS30 gets you 30% off, it does not freely permit you to cuss 30% more often.)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr Kathleen Smith wrote one of my all time favorite Systems books called Everything Isn't Terrible. The book is brilliant, clear and witty and a great reflection of Kathleen herself.  Kathleen is a therapist in the DC area and her book gets us right into her therapy room as we follow along with her clients' journeys of healing and wellbeing. Kathleen also happens to write my favorite newsletter which you can access here.  In this episode, we dig into Bowen theory, the world of dating and why taking responsibility for yourself can be so helpful and also an occasional drag/ Thanks to Seminary Now for sponsoring this episode. To receive 30% off access, visit the MLA Seminary Now page and use coupon code CUSS30 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Steve and Jimmy look beyond problems to 'attempted solutions.' Jay Haley famously said, 'I do not address problems, I address attempted solutions.' So often we get stuck in 'more of the same' and 'try harder' because we do not see our own complicity in the situation. Steve and Jimmy look at how we get stuck and then how to get unstuck when faced with recurring problems.  Thanks to Seminary Now for sponsoring this episode. To receive 30% off access, visit the MLA Seminary Now page and use coupon code CUSS30 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, Jimmy Carnes joins Steve to continue their four part series, 'the four dynamics that infect every relationship.' They look at 'stuck' or predictable, recurring patterns. First patterns in ourselves, then in our relationships and teams. Tips to notice them and diffuse them and examples from Steve and Jimmy's own anxious lives.  Thanks to Seminary Now for sponsoring this episode. Click the link and put CUSS30 in the coupon slot for 30% off access to the Managing Anxiety videos and so much more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I often get asked about Systems Theory books to read. In this episode, I list a number of books and also offer critique or recommendation AND I also pull out of some of the books a key tool you can use in your life. So you can listen to this book review episode, not read any books and still benefit!  Books by: founders of the theory (who are all white men), women, faith based. I also talk about the challenge of Systems being such a western and individualistic theory and some pioneering work in non western or non white contexts.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aundi Kolber is a licensed professional counselor (MA, LPC) and the best selling author of the critically acclaimed Try Softer and her new book Strong like Water. She has received additional training in her specialization of trauma- and body-centered therapies and is passionate about the integration of faith and psychology. Aundi has appeared on Good Morning America, regularly speaks at national events, and is a frequent guest on podcasts such as The Lazy Genius, Typology, and The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. As a survivor of trauma, Aundi brings hard-won knowledge about the work of change, the power of redemption, and the beauty of experiencing God with us in our pain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are four dynamics that infect every relationship you have: assumptions, reactivity, stuck patterns, attempted solutions.  These four dynamics infect not only your human relationships, they also infect your relationship with God.  They also infect your relationship with yourself and they are a key reason why your wellbeing gets disrupted. On this episode Steve is joined by Capable Life trainer Jimmy Carnes to cover reactivity. What is it, how do you notice it, how do you manage it?    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are four dynamics than infect every relationship: assumptions, reactivity, stuck patterns and attempted solutions. In this first of four episodes, Steve and Jimmy Carnes dig into assumptions: what they are, how to notice them and why they make things so much bigger and catastrophic than they really are.  To live stream or watch the Unlocking Faith conference or to get more info, click here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve thoroughly appreciated this chat with fellow Aussie Benjamin Windle as he brought many profound and succinct nuggets for us. Benjamin recently wrote the excellent Good Catastrophe, looking at how God turns and uses catastrophic events in our lives. Ben has lived enough of them for all of us. He has been a local church Pastor for over 20 years, including as a Founding and Senior Pastor and he consults organizations on generational understanding. He specializes in Millennial/Gen Z and you can learn more about Ben at his website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John and Nancy Ortberg join Steve to endure several of his Gauntlet of Anxiety Questions. Not surprisingly, the questions generated MUCH wisdom from these giants in our faith. Steve found himself doing some deep work in real time as John and Nancy fleshed out a way of being human and with God.  To get tickets to our upcoming Unlocking Faith conference, click here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices