The Connected Life

For many, faith and mental health simply don’t mix. People either have strong spiritual practices that lack practical understanding of the human condition or they lack any type of spirituality and their tools for self-help are their religion. In this episode Abi and Justin bridge the gap between faith and emotional health as they discuss the need for spiritual and practical answers to the human condition. Through a lens of compassion, they discuss the detrimental problems that arise when leaders of faith deny the much needed practical tools presented by the mental health community while addressing the need and power of a spiritual encounter. If you’re looking to create a life that’s full and well rounded this balanced conversation might just be the answer you’re looking for.

Since the beginning of time, religion has been a universal thread throughout humanity. Though varying immensely in its expression from culture to culture, the sad but common bond of performance ties them all together. In this episode Justin and Abi use their Christian faith as the focus of dialogue to explore how all expressions of faith are built on a hierarchal structure. These structures are mankind’s way of attempting to get to God, leaving those ascribing to this system judging themselves and others. If we are ever to find our way back to the arms of love that we came from, performance MUST be eradicated from our faith. If you’ve been burnt or burned out by religion, or you’re looking for a more authentic way to express your faith, this episode is a must.

Faith can be a touchy subject for many people. For some, faith is what miraculously saved them from their deepest darkness. For others, it’s the source of some of their greatest pain. Faith is an undeniable part of the general human experience, which is all the more reason to explore it. In this conversation starting episode Abi and Justin dive into their personal histories with faith as the foundation to a larger dialogue they’ll be exploring in the coming months. They share how they came to have a relationship with their Creator and how that journey was, and is, filled with confusion and mystery. If you’ve ever had a battle with faith, disappointment, humanity, and God, this on-going conversation might just heal something inside of you, or fuel the fire for even greater faith experiences in your journey.

In today’s society, the moral compass regarding pornography points in many directions. In a world that has become progressively sexualized, the normalization and acceptance of pornography is at an all time high. With so many varying opinions on the matter, who’s to say what is really right or wrong about pornography? In this sobering episode, Justin and Abi are joined by their close friend and filmmaker, Benji Nolot. Benji shines a light on the real world of pornography as he shares his story of going behind the scenes and documenting firsthand the experiences of those producing and performing. He breaks down the devastating affects to those involved in the creation of it as well as the viewing of it. This may be one of the most powerful episodes The Connected Life has ever recorded and no matter what your stance, or experience with porn, this is a must listen to and SHARE episode. Listen now and join the revolution to help liberate an enslaved world and restore innocence to humanity.

Life has a way of passing us by if we’ll let it. In the end, many  people find themselves feeling regretful for what they didn’t do and what they didn’t say, especially in connection to the relationships they care about the most. In this episode, Justin and Abi are joined once again by their good friend Jenna as they talk about how to get present with life and express it to the fullest. Jenna shares many of the powerful ways she’s chosen to intentionally cultivate experiences and create a culture that leaves a lifelong impact on her and all the people she loves. If you’re tired of sitting on the sidelines of your life, get in the game and start making decisions that leave you with stories worth telling. You won’t regret it!

New Year’s resolutions are often about making a change, but rarely are they about simply desiring more freedom. Our need for change can often be rooted in shame and only further exacerbate the problems we’re experiencing. A desire for freedom, however, can inspire a shame-free exploration of our lives, where we can get honest about the reality of our humanity. In this Episode Abi and Justin explore how getting honest with the messy things in life is the first step to self-acceptance.  This opens up a world of possibilities. Through a lifestyle of acceptance, compassion, and ownership each of us have the opportunity to experience greater measures of love and healing, without all the pressure to perform. If you’re looking to create a vibrant and healthy life, it’s time to reflect on your circumstances through a patient and gentle understanding of how you got here, while compassionately taking ownership for your role in creating your experience. Get ready for a giant dose of freedom inducing truth as this episode hands you baby steps into a 2021 filled with hope and endless possibilities!

2020 has been a rollercoaster ride for the entire world. It’s been a year that has shaken many to the core. In all the craziness, some times it’s hard to see the light. Often times it’s not until we look back that we can see with clarity the goodness that is sprinkled throughout even the hardest seasons of life. In this episode Justin and Abi share about their Christmas miracle while taking an honest look back at their 2020. They talk about the beauty of the suddenly’s happening that have been years in the making and how our hardest seasons hold hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. If you’re needing a dose of hope and clarity moving into 2021 this FINAL episode of 2020 is just what the doctor ordered.

Granting access to the parts of our lives that feel too painful or messy to look at can be incredibly difficult. It’s easy to feel scared and powerless to what’s hiding behind locked doors within our hearts. However, these hidden rooms hold the keys to creating a lifestyle of hope, joy, peace, and love. In this episode, Justin and Abi discuss how they’ve dissociated from pieces of their own story and the ripple affects of that in their emotional health as well as their relationships. Together they layout a roadmap to taking the steps necessary to experience a vibrant and healthy life. If you’re wanting to shake off the heavy weights bogging you down, this is a MUST listen to episode.  The FINAL DAYS for our Living Fully Alive 2021 Course are here. Head to www.justinandabi.com/livingfullyalive to sign up NOW before enrollment closes on December 31st, 2020. 

Sexuality is often a subject shrouded in shame or minimized into absolute irrelevance. As a formative part of the human condition our views and expressions of sexuality have a deep impact on our relational connection to ourselves, others, and God. Because of this, open conversations about our sexuality are a vital component to creating a fulfilling, healthy life. In this episode Abi and Justin dive into a deep conversation with their dear friend Paul Young, author of The Shack, about his childhood laced with shattered sexuality. He vulnerably shares about the long term repercussions of his painful beginnings and how the exposure of his affair as an adult led to the restoration, and redemption, of his battered soul. Truth, love, and redemption diligently stand at the door of our hearts knocking and waiting for us to open. If you’re wanting understanding, hope, healing, or so much more around the issue of sexuality, this episode can’t be missed! Looking for a pathway to freedom in your sexuality? Head to justinandabi.com to sign up for Living Fully Alive to get the help you need before sign ups end!

It’s time to celebrate. The Connected Life is 100 episodes old! We’re like an expensive fine wine, aged to perfection. We’re here to answer questions live as we dive into a discussion directly about connecting to ourselves, others, and God. In this episode we’re joined by an enormous number of our Connected Life family as we chose to record this episode, in it’s entirety, live. Join us as we laugh, reminisce, and explore deeper aspects of connection. And if you want to celebrate our efforts over the last 100 episodes, please rate, review, subscribe and share! And be sure to head to justinandabi.com/livingfullyalive to join us in for our 2021 transformational class!