Conversations With Cinthia

What do you experience when you hear news or discussion of the recent court decisions regarding abortion laws?  This issue is tender for so many people and demands that we love well on many levels.  Cinthia's guest today, Roland Warren, is  the president of Care Net, a movement of more than 1,000 life-affirming pregnancy centers that also runs a real-time call center providing pregnancy-decision coaching.  Along with his now-wife, Mr. Warren chose life for their own unplanned child, despite being strongly encouraged by a nurse to choose abortion.  Today, he emphasizes that we must support those facing difficult pregnancy circumstances in ways that help them not only choose life but find abundant life for themselves and their families.  After the interview, Cinthia continues the discussion introduced last week regarding etiquette and its role in helping us treat one another with respect.  

What do you think of when you hear the word "manners?" Do you associate it with outdated stuffiness or see it as sadly lacking in the modern era? Today's episode is a two-for-one. Cinthia starts by building on last week's "Undoing Your Past" theme, this time exploring how to build a strong foundation in the present. She then discusses the value of showing respect for ourselves and others and ways old-fashioned etiquette can bring a little class to our lives.

Do you ever cringe when you remember things you've done? Do you know that feeling when waves of regret and shame sweep over you? We can't redo the past, but we can create new history that changes the present effects of our past decisions. 

When is it appropriate to confront someone else's annoying habit?  Is it healthy to self-censor regarding our own habits?  Cinthia continues her discussion of irritating and annoying habits we and others may display that inadvertently get in the way of social enjoyment, relationship intimacy, or business success.

Too many selfies?  Offering help when the other person doesn't want it?  Chronically late to arrive? Whether we're networking for business, talking to someone we love, or trying to enjoy a social life, some habits are just socially irritating, whether they are in our behavior or that of another person.  How do we become more aware of our own habits, and how do we deal with them in other people?  Cinthia continues the series she started last week.

From stretching to kindness, Cinthia finishes this series with a discussion of daily habits that can help you to be your own best version.  Next, she introduces the next series, a discussion of irritating and annoying habits we may have without knowing it, or may encounter in others.  How can we deal with each of these when they are getting in the way of relationships, business success, or other dreams and goals?

If you accept that you are worthwhile (per the "You're Worth More Than You Know" podcast) and that you are the only opportunity the world will ever have to experience what you were made to be (per the "Be Your Own Best Version" follow-up), what does this mean for self-care?  Cinthia looks at how basic practices like drinking enough water, breathing, eating well, and being intentionally grateful can impact our ability to be all that we were created to be.

If you liked last week's podcast on intrinsic value, this week is full of surprising applications!  Once we embrace our status as valuable to God no matter what we do, we are free to grow up emotionally and take our places in the world as emotional adults.  What would happen if you stopped trying to be good enough and started living like you have something to offer instead of something to prove?

What makes us worthwhile?  Is it our contributions to the planet, career or relationship success, conformity to a standard, positive character traits, moral choices?  Are we valuable, and how can we know?  Cinthia tells part of her own story as she explains the idea of intrinsic value, that we are worthwhile simply because the One Who made us values us, no matter what we do.

So you listed to "When to Call for Help, Part One," but have you made the call yet?  What keeps us from asking for the help we need?  Cinthia explores some of the fears and mistaken beliefs that keep us from getting the help we need.  

How do you know when you need help?  Whether we're struggling with mental health issues, relationship or career problems, even household repairs, sometimes we try to fix it ourselves until we've created an even larger mess.  None of us wants to be overly dependent on unnecessary help.  When should we keep trying to solve problems on our own, and when is it time to call a professional?  

Ever prayed for years for something, desperately pleading for help, trying everything... only to wake up day after day with no apparent answer?  What does it mean to have faith when we're not even sure anymore what answer God wants us to trust Him to give?  Cinthia continues looking at the father of the demon-possessed boy who told Jesus he believed but also asked Jesus for help with his unbelief.

For all who have ever struggled with doubt, wondered if we have enough faith, or entertained questions about what we say we believe, this podcast comes with deep breaths of fresh air.  Cinthia explores Jesus's encounter with a man who said he believed but also asked for help with his unbelief.

Lots of people offer blueprints for success in life and in business.  Rocco Cozza's outline tells you how to sabotage yourself; that way, you can check to see if you are doing so!  Cinthia discusses his ideas and then interviews the man himself.  Rocco and Cinthia discuss the importance of kindness and authenticity in life and in business.

"The best way to get control of your life," says Cintha, "is to control your thoughts.  Do you compare yourself to others?  Do you practice thinking that you will finally be happy when...?  Do you focus on all the things you think you "should" be doing but fail to do?  Cinthia continues her exploration of ways to manage our thoughts since they powerfully impact our feelings and behaviors.

How do our thoughts influence our performance?  Our lives?  Cinthia explores the way our thoughts impact us with the help of Valerie Kondos Field ("Miss Val"), UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame gymnastics coach of seven NCAA championship teams.  She was a professional ballerina and became one of the winningest coaches in NCAA history.  Miss Val discusses the way her coaching changed when she learned to coach as herself instead of trying to mimic the techniques of others.

We all want peace, but how do we actually learn to experience it?  Cinthia explores practices and beliefs that move us toward peace or away from it.

Worry and peace cannot coexist in the same mind at the same time, but our brains try to help us survive and avoid pain by paying first attention to the negative.  So how can we ever find peace?  Cinthia explores Jesus's statement that, when He ascended to His Father, He left us His peace.

Jesus said that obeying His words when we hear them is like building a house on a solid foundation.  Cinthia explores practices that can help us lay a firm foundation for our lives and our year.

We say we believe.  We want to believe.  Still, we doubt.  Cinthia explores the relational nature of trust and the difficulty so many of us have truly trusting that God is not withholding good things from us.