Agape Soul Spa

Eventually in any relationship, you will need to tackle the topics of forgiveness and reconciliation. When is each appropriate, what’s the difference, and how do you forgive when you’re hurting? Check out this ultimate guide to what, how and why. Show Notes: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode41  The podcast is going on a brief hiatus so be sure and subscribe so you get notified when episodes are available.

You don’t have to be Jesus or Mother Teresa to love everyone no matter what. Discover how to love someone unconditionally (and why it benefits you to do so). It’s not as hard as you might think. Listen to the podcast (or read the show notes). Show notes: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode40/ 

Misunderstandings and misconceptions about boundaries in relationships are one of the biggest causes for pain and suffering in our relationships. Today I’m sharing with you highlights of what I’ve learned about godly boundaries over the past thirty years of intense study and practice of this skill. If you’ve ever wondered what boundaries are, why they’re important, and whether or not they are biblical, you’re in the right place. Show Notes Page: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode39 

Discover the foundation for how to build healthy relationships. Using what Jesus said were the greatest commandments as our foundation, we explore three steps to healthier relationships in all areas of your life. Visit the show notes page to get more free resources to improve your relationships with God, yourself and others. https://agapesoulspa.com/episode38 

If you want to know how to get better results the key is found in this episode. Learn to harness the power of your emotions and you can transform the results you’re getting in your life. Visit the show notes and get the free exercise to help you with step one of this 3-step process. Show notes at https://agapesoulspa.com/episode37/

When you can feel any emotion, you can do anything! This is why God has given you authority over your emotions. He has prepared good works for you to do. Are you ready? The exercise I share is the first step to walking out your God-given purpose. Let’s go... Download the free exercise at https://agapesoulspa.com/episode36/ 

When the pursuit of a goal or new habit gets hard, most quit. Figuring out how to not quit is what will insure you cross the finish line strong. It changes you. Who will you become as you persevere?  

Everyone fails. But perfectionists tend to make failure mean something others don't. And that meaning radically transforms their experience of failing. It makes it excruciating.  And the fear of failure keeps us from showing up in big, bold ways to live out God's calling on our lives. Discover how to make peace with failure so you can lean into the discomfort of trying new things that you will likely fail at while learning and growing into who God is creating you to be. Show notes and devotional guide is available at https://agapesoulspa.com/episode34/ 

Emotional immaturity keeps us stuck. But when you develop emotional maturity your relationships thrive, you can accomplish your goals, and you can show up as the best version of yourself in any situation no matter how awkward or uncomfortable. Discover how to put your childish ways behind you and live as an emotional adult. Show notes: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode33/ 

Don't resist temptation or give in. There's a better way that will make your cravings go away for good. Listen and find out how to allow your cravings without giving in. Show notes: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode32/ 

Now that you’ve set some goals for the new year, you are probably encountering some obstacle thoughts. By that I mean all those thoughts that flood your brain that tell you why you won’t be able to accomplish your goal. Well, this episode is going to equip you with a simple 5-step process you can do in about 30 minutes that will clear away those obstacles and actually get them working for you instead of against you. This is a practical application of Paul's principle outlined in Romans 12:1-3. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Grab the cheat sheet on the Show Notes page at https://agapesoulspa.com/episode31 

We are kicking off Season 5 today. This season is devoted to helping you crush your 2019 New Year's Resolutions. Want to be among the 9% of people who actually keep their New Year’s Resolutions? Then you need to make sure you listen to this episode. Are you even setting the right resolutions? We are exploring that question along with these: Does anyone actually keep their resolutions? What’s the difference between a NY’s Resolution and a Goal? Which one is better? Why do I start out with such enthusiasm only to abandon my resolutions before the end of February? How can make sure I don’t quit on my resolutions? Listen and set yourself up to succeed this year instead of quitting by the end of February. Show notes: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode30 

Discover how to love like God. We are taking a deeper look at a famous passage in Scripture that describes godly love: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. I think you’ll be surprised to find a very unsentimental take on just what love is. This is who God is and how He loves you. And this is how God calls us to love others. Show notes and links mentioned can be found at: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode29 

If you ask people what they want in life, most will tell you they just want to be happy. And in our common everyday use of the words happiness and joy, those two are interchangable. They are both words for the experience of pleasure, well-being and good fortune. The biblical concept of joy is quite different from our idea of happiness. And that is why it is possible to rejoice regardless of our circumstances. In this episode, we are looking the secret to experiencing joy—even in the midst of hard times. View the show notes at https://agapesoulspa.com/episode28  And join me in the private Facebook group, The Oasis, to ask questions and take the discussion even deeper. You'll find the link on the show notes page.

Do you know the difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking? Once you do, you'll understand why God calls us to be peacemakers. Also, I'm highlighting some exciting plans for 2019 and how you can enter to win a prize worth $300. Find out what we've got going on over in our private Facebook group, The Oasis. And share with me how I can help you accomplish your goals, overcome your challenges and show up in 2019 as your best self! Show notes page: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode27 

Welcome to Season 4 of the Podcast! This short 4-episode season is devoted to exploring the traditional themes of Advent. But the concepts will be applicable year-round. Each episode will explore one of the four traditional Advent themes: Hope Peace Joy Love I think it is so fitting the Advent season begins with the theme of hope. Hope is such a forward-focused mindset. As we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ, hope is central to that preparation. How well do you hope? We are exploring the advent theme of hope. See if you're making this common hope killing mistake and how to hope with more confidence. Also, learn what's on the horizon in 2019 at Agape SoulSpa! Some very exciting stuff will be happening. I'd love for you to be a part of it. And I'm inviting you to share your requests and ideas to help me serve you even better in the coming year.  Visit the show notes page to provide your input and access links mentioned in the show: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode26 

Are you dreading Thanksgiving with someone difficult? You won’t be after you hear this! This episode builds upon the concepts I taught in Episode 24. So if you haven’t listened to that yet, you’ll get more from this episode if you hear that content first. Our focus in Season 3 is on preparing ourselves for the holidays. However, the 7 simple steps I’ll share in this episode about how to deal with difficult people are ones you can use throughout the year. And they aren’t limited to just difficult people, either. Use these for any kind of situation you want to cruise through with less stress or negative reactions. Be sure and get your copy of the checklist to help you implement the steps I’m teaching you in the podcast. You'll find that and other helpful links and resources on the show notes page. Show Notes Page: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode25/

We are continuing our focus in Season 3 on preparing ourselves for the holidays. However, the stress triggers we’ll address in this episode and the secret to addressing them are relevant  anytime of year. Most of the stress we feel at this time of year can be traced to one (or some combination) of four common causes. The bad news is that these situations are very difficult to avoid encountering any time of the year, but especially during the holidays. The good news is you don’t have to avoid them in order to navigate them well and not let these circumstances create stress for you. Visit the show notes for links to the free gift I mention in the podcast. This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to implement the secret I revealed in the podcast. Imagine navigating the holidays with dramatically reduced stress levels. This is your secret weapon for making that fantasy a reality! You will also find a link on the show notes page to learn more about working with me as your personal life coach. Whatever challenges you are struggling with, whatever goals you want to achieve, I can help you get your desired results faster and easier. New clients get the first session free. Show notes page: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode24   

This episode builds on the concept we explore in the previous episode. Many of us spend way too much time worrying about doing more and more feel like we are enough. This is the issue that I hear voiced more than any other struggle women have. In fact, it is actually at the root of many of our challenges with stress, depression and anxiety. And this struggle with our sense of self-worth can really flare up during the holiday season. So let's get this question of whether or not we are worthy settled once and for all! Show notes: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode23  Be sure to request your free gift: the 5-part Scripture audio meditations "Who You Are in Christ". Just visit the show notes page and click the link there to let me know where to send your free gift. 

Many high achieving people spend way too much time worrying about doing more and more to succeed. We can easily forget to focus on being the kind of person who succeeds. In this episode, my friend Bobby Klinck of Your Online Genius shares four key attributes of the kind of person who will achieve true and lasting success. In keeping with our theme of preparing ourselves for the holiday season, I invite you to reflect on what kind of season you want to experience. Now, what kind of person would you need to be to live out that ideal experience? I bet the four keys Bobby shares will help you with that. Links to all the resources mentioned are available on the Show Notes Page at https://agapesoulspa.com/episode22 

Did you know it is your job to meet your needs? Yep, God put that responsibility square in your court. So, how are you doing with that? In this episode, we are kicking of Season 3 of the podcast—a season devoted to equipping you to prepare and care for yourself so you can best handle the hectic months ahead. How different would the next few months be if you had a rock solid understanding of your self-worth and what’s yours to manage and what isn’t? Well, in the six episodes of Season 3, I'm going to show you how to achieve that. In this episode, my friend Marian Schulze returns for a helpful conversation around the topic of self-care. Don’t know what we mean by that term? No worries, that’s the first thing we cover. You'll find the free gift (9 Signs You Need to Soup Up Your Self-Care) and all the other links and resources mentioned in this episode over at the Show Notes Page: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode21 

We all need to practice our emotional adulting skills. In this no-holds barred account of my trip to San Diego I share the tips and strategies I practiced to overcome my fears (of flying, not fitting in and more) and handle up on my tendency to indulge in emotionally immature thinking around following my nutrition protocol. Prepare for some true confessions, knowledge bombs, and an opportunity for YOU to put on your big girl pants, get over yourself, and do some #EmotionalAdulting in whatever areas of your life are bringing out the whiny, temper-tantrum throwing emotional toddler within.

Being busy has become a symbol of status in our culture. But busyness, in and of itself, is neither good nor bad. What activities comprise our busyness and how it impacts us and those around us are key indicators of whether or not we are too busy. My friend Melissa Denton shares her insightful method of insuring she is equipped to wisely prioritize her activities so she is productive yet still approachable and available to others around her. Melissa and I offer some tests to help you discern if you’ve become too busy. If you are too busy, you’ll want to grab the free gift “What to Do When You’re Too Busy”. This little checklist offers 8 biblically grounded strategies for restoring sanity to your schedule. Request your copy on the show notes page: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode19. And if you need help with setting limits, saying no, and generally setting better boundaries, get on the waitlist for my new course: Experience Life-Changing Freedom with Healthy Boundaries. Link to get on the list is on the show notes page.

While the days of parenting are long, the years whip by in the blink of an eye and before we know it we find ourselves preparing for an empty nest. Marci Seither, author of Empty Nest: Strategies to Help Your Kids Take Flight (and mom of six adult children) provides spiritual and practical perspective on how to prepare our kids to soar and ourselves to thrive through the nest emptying season. Be sure to get the free sample from Marci’s book. (Link on the show notes page.) Additional resources are available on the show notes at https://agapesoulspa.com/episode18.  Episode brought to you by my new course The Life-Changing Freedom of Healthy Boundaries. Quickly master the skill of boundary-setting so you can ditch your approval addiction, tame your inner-control freak, and let your authentic self shine without feeling guilty, mean or unloving. Learn more at https://agapesoulspa.com/boundaries.   

If you, or someone you know, is in a time of difficulty and feeling like God is nowhere to be found, this episode will offer you hope and encouragement that you can be certain God has not left or forsaken you. My guest, Dr. Wayne Stiles, author of Waiting on God: What to Do When God Does Nothing, also shares practical ways we can actively wait on God and reap the benefits of a changed life as we experience God’s faithfulness through our circumstances. Be sure and download the free gift I made for you in which I share the 7 life-changing principles that most impacted me from Wayne’s book. Links to Wayne’s blog, books and Walking the Bible Lands virtual tour of the Holy Land as well as the free download (7 Life-Changing Principles from Waiting on God) are available at https://agapesoulspa.com/episode17.

If I focus on something I can’t change (what other people think), rather than what I can change, (what I think), I feel helpless and overwhelmed. String together a few days like that and hopelessness sets in as well. On the other hand, when I focus my energy on the things I can impact, I feel empowered and hopeful. In this episode of the podcast I'll share how you can choose whether you operate from a victim mindset or a survivor mindset. It all has to do with how you exercise stewardship of your God-given realm of responsibility. If you want more peace and less strife; if you want to make a bigger influence more effectively, then you must stay in your lane and exercise good stewardship over those areas over which God has given you authority. And you've got to discipline yourself to stay out of the lanes of others. Listen and learn what you can control and what you can't. Also, if you struggle with these types of boundary issues, I've got great news for you. My course on how to set healthy boundaries and enjoy the freedom and security that come from doing so is going to be open for registration soon.  Visit the show notes at https://agapesoulspa.com/episode16 to learn more and get on the early interest list so you can be the first to claim your spot. Space will be very limited for certain levels of the course so you'll want to register as soon as the doors open.

What we believe and consistently think will radically transform how we live. If we buy into these three factors that undermine the reality of who we are in Christ, we will short-change ourselves and fail to live the abundant, effective lives God has created and empowered us to live. Be sure and get one of the free gifts I've created to help you combat the lies these three tell you. Fill you mind with God's truth and you will change how you think, feel and act regardless of the circumstances life throws at you.   Show notes (and the free gifts) are available at https://agapesoulspa.com/episode15 

Can you actively participate in the world without getting ensnared in the non-biblical messages? Listen to this episode to find out why I believe Scripture’s answer to that is a resounding “YES!” and the important qualifier that goes along with that yes. The culture we live in is saturated with many messages that offer the same alluring promise the serpent offered up to Adam and Eve in the Garden: you can be like God - you don’t need God when you can be your own god. In the face of the potential danger of being ensnared by these viewpoints, many Christians opt for the "bubble-wrap" approach to life. But if we are tucked away in our Christians-only bubble, how are we to be salt and light to hurting people longing for a real and lasting solution to the emptiness and brokenness they experience as an absolute reality? How do you navigate being in the world and interacting with others who live life from a non-biblical vantage point? And how do you enthusiastically engage with people who think differently from you, while protecting your own heart and mind—without whipping out the bubble-wrap? Find out the essential key to how to guard your heart and mind from non-biblical worldviews in this episode! Show notes at https://agapesoulspa.com/episode14

Discover your purpose and experience true significance, make a meaningful impact in the world around you, and feel passionately engaged in your daily life. Stop just going through the motions and trying to fill the emptiness with material things and/or the approval of others. Live into your God-given calling! In this episode, I'll outline how you can discover your purpose plus 5 obstacles that might trip you up and how to overcome them. Show notes: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode13 Skip the overwhelm, frustration and confusion of trying to figure it out on your own. Let me be your faith stylist and help you put together all of the pieces and enjoy a perfect-fit purpose. Book a free consultation at https://agapesoulspa.com/faithstylist.  

What am I here for? How do I figure out my purpose? In this episode we take the first step in discovering our God-designed purpose by learning who we are and whose we are. Our purpose flows from our identity. And when you know who you are, you are one giant leap closer to knowing the reason you were created. FREE GIFT: "Who You Are in Christ" Scripture Meditation Audio Download Series Show notes and free gift available at https://agapesoulspa.com/episode12/

How do we make the right decision? As Christians we want to make decisions that align with God’s will, but how do we determine what that is? I’m sharing the five practices I use when evaluating an opportunity or choice. After you gather up all the facts and data related to the choice you need to make, try using these five practices to help you make the best possible decision. Get the cheat sheet summarizing the key ideas of each practice. That and other resources are available on the show notes page. Show notes at: https://agapesoulspa.com/episode11/ 

Everyone fails at some point. How we respond to our failure determines our future. So let's learn to fail forward! Discover 4 essential principles that will free you from the shame and defeat of failure so you can passionately pursue your calling. I'll share my repeated area of failure and the four liberating principles I uncovered in the story of the apostle Peter's repeated failure and how Jesus responded to it. Then I'll share how you can apply these principles in your own life so you can come to terms with your failure and get back on track and pursue your calling with confidence and passion. Grab the Failing Forward Cheat Sheet in the show notes. Show notes available at https://agapesoulspa.com/episode10  

Small groups, especially in the church, are an awesome venue for forming precious friendships, building a support network and learning and growing. However, as we move through different seasons in our lives, our needs and preferences change. And occasionally, group dynamics can change causing it to no longer be a safe, healthy space. So, how do you know if you should leave a group? And, if you do decide to leave, how do you leave without damaging friendships or disrupting the group? Listen and discover 5 simple steps you can take to leave well. Show notes, the Exit Strategy Roadmap, and additional resources are available at agapesoulspa.com/episode9.

Discover the root causes of your clutter and how to be free of it with the tips and strategies (along with some pretty hilarious stories) shared by well-respected clutter-clearing expert Kathi Lipp. Kathi specializes in approaching this challenging issue from a biblical perspective. And don't worry, she's not some neat freak whose going to shame us messy Marys. Rather, she has overcome her own struggles with stashing stuff and she knows the fear, guilt, and shame that keep us stuck in our piles of junk. She has conquered her clutter and is living clutter free and wants to help us do the same. So get ready to laugh out loud and be equipped to confront your stuff and make the mindset shift to living clutter free.  Resources and links are available at https:/agapesoulspa.com/episode8/.

Real relationship can only happen when we are authentic with one another. In this episode, we explore three steps you can take to wisely discern how and when to share what with whom. This process provides perspective to help us check our motives, keep ourselves safe, and allow us to share the comfort we have received from God with others who are walking through troubled times similar to those God has brought us through. (see 2 Corinthians 1:3-4) Be sure and get your copy of the infographic that summarizes the process outlined in the episode. You'll find it and other resources and links on the show notes page at www.agapesoulspa.com/episode7.

My dear friend Marian Schulze joins me in this episode for a refreshingly honest conversation about dealing with depression. Both Marian and I have battled depression and anxiety and have experienced the stigma and shame that can be projected toward those who suffer from mental health issues. I've asked Marian to share a bit of her story with the goal of providing hope and understanding to you if you are also dealing with depression or anxiety or any mental health issue. And if you yourself are not depressed, you'll gain perspective and practical tips and strategies for how to support someone who is. You'll find the quotes, links and resources mentioned in this episode along with a free guide to 9 Strategies to Defeat Depression at www.agapesoulspa.com/episode6.

Do you ever find your mind spinning an endless supply of what if scenarios into a worry spiral? This episode will equip you with powerful, biblical strategies to stop the spiral!  I share my story of what could have been a disastrous, panic-attack-inducing turbulent airplane trip but which became a breakthrough triumph over my tendency to wind myself up with imagined worst-case what if possibilities. So, what transformed the potential 2+ hour worry spiral into a productive and worship-filled flight? Listen and find out how I applied a verse in Philippians coupled with some important boundary-setting principles I've learned over the years.   Grab the free "5 Strategies to Calm Anxious Thoughts" at AgapeSoulSpa.com. Register for my Philippians Workshop at AgapeSoulSpa.com/Philippians.

B-SMART and set some  life-changing goals with this proven process. Fitness instructor Melody Lusk joins me for the follow-up to Episode 3. Learn my twist on the traditional SMART goals framework and power up your goal-setting by tapping into God’s calling. Grab the Planning Page and you’ll have your own step-by-step framework to B-SMART with your goals. 

Fitness instructor Melody Lusk speaks to the topic of faith, fitness and food. If your struggle in these areas is less about knowing what to do and more about finding your motivation to “just do it” you’re going to love the encouraging words Melody has for us on this topic as well as some practical tips and strategies to help us fan our little spark of want to into a blazing flame.    Show notes at www.agapesoulspa.com/episode3  Learn more about the Philippians Workshop at www.agapesoulspa.com/philippians 

If you ever find it hard to hear God or truly experience His presence with you in the midst of your fast-paced, jam-packed day-to-day activities, you’re going to LOVE today’s episode. Discover the dangers of the compartmentalization trap and how to avoid it. I’ll shares a simple framework I’ve used for the past few years to help me connect with Jesus throughout my busy day. You can use these strategies, too! No major schedule makeover required! You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to naturally and easily incorporate prayer, worship, and Scripture into the activities you do every single day. These four tactics offer an endless array of options, limited only by your imagination. So no matter what your style, season of life, budget, or technical proficiency, you can do this! And I’ve even created a handy checklist to help you implement the tips and ideas Laura shares in the podcast. This cheat sheet will help you customize the framework to seamlessly work with YOUR daily activities and put your ideas into action. Begin reaping the benefits of abiding more closely with Christ. Benefits like more peace and contentment, even when chaos swirls all around you. As always, slip into The Oasis and engage with your SoulSpa Sisters in discussion, share ideas, and give/get some encouragement. Show Notes: www.agapesoulspa.com/2 The Oasis FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/571048773269943/

Amy Carroll, author of Breaking Up with Perfect and member of Proverbs 31 Ministries, joins me (host Laura Naiser) to discuss the perils of perfectionism and how we can be free of this exhausting mindset once and for all. If you’re not a neat freak, Type-A personality, you may not consider yourself a perfectionist. However, this joy-robbing, relationship-squelching issue comes in many flavors. Amy shares the two main mindsets that underlie the many different manifestations of a perfectionist. See which one resonates with you. But don’t worry, we go way beyond identifying the problem. Get actionable tips for kissing perfectionism good-bye and enjoying glorious freedom from the constant pressure, stress, and fear that goes along with maintaining your carefully crafted “perfect” façade. Grab the free “Root Out Perfectionism” Reflection Guide and spend some time with God reflecting on your own root causes, fears, and perfectionistic patterns. Then share your ah-ha moments, questions, and words of encouragement for others over in our private Facebook group, The Oasis. Show Notes: www.agapesoulspa.com/1 The Oasis FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/571048773269943/

In this intro episode, I’ll help you get to know me (Laura Naiser, founder of Agape SoulSpa and your podcast host) as I share my vision for the podcast.  Discover the behind-the-scenes story of how Agape SoulSpa came to be (hint: it involves a world-class spa in Maui, a less-than-sophisticated attempt at using the spa’s swiss jet shower, and a whisper from God while I sat on a lanai overlooking the Pacific Ocean). I’ll share who I have in mind when I’m creating the podcast episodes and what topics we’ll address. I also want to tell you about the very important role I have in mind for YOU in this process. If you are a woman who is serious about your personal and spiritual growth but don’t take yourself too seriously, you’re going to love this podcast and the role designed especially for you to play. Each episode will provide you practical insights, biblical principles, and actionable strategies to equip you to renew your mind, revitalize your relationships, and restore balance and peace to your often-stretched-too thin life. Take a listen and then join me and your fellow SoulSpa Sisters over at The Oasis (Facebook group) and participate in the discussion. Sound good? Then click play and slip in to the Agape SoulSpa. Meet you inside… Show Notes: www.agapesoulspa.com/0 The Oasis FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/571048773269943/