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10 Minute Morning Meditation to Start Your Day Without AnxietyStop the morning dread and find immediate calm with this powerful 10-minute guided morning meditation. If you struggle with morning anxiety or racing thoughts as soon as you wake up, this audio is your essential tool to start your day without stress.We will intentionally set a peaceful, positive tone for your entire day. Listen to this session to cultivate inner peace before the day even begins.This evidence-based practice is designed to quickly soothe your nervous system and ground your body in the here and now.In this Guided Anxiety Relief session, you will use:Mindful Breathing: Gentle breathwork to drop your shoulders and truly release the lingering anxiety and tension.Gratitude Practice: A simple but profound gratitude meditation to focus on what you already have and feel thankfulness.Morning Affirmations: Powerful statements to release the need to control what you cannot and affirm, "I am calm, I am prepared for the day".Inner Strength Visualization: Imagine a white light of inner strength and resilience to push out clouds of worry or overthinking.Video & Podcast Chapters 0:00 – Introduction & Partner Read1:00 – Calming Breathwork to Soothe Your Nervous System1:47 – Gratitude Meditation & Appreciation Practice4:30 – Affirmations for Focus & Visualization9:00 – Final Awareness, Thankfulness.✨ Partner Spotlight: This episode is proudly brought to you by CozyEarth.com. Get a better night's sleep to combat morning stress with their incredibly soft bedding and pyjamas. Use promo code CALMING for 41% off their entire range.
Tap into The Power of Your Mind using Law of Attraction and Hypnosis Techniques
You're about to listen to, #448 Master Thought Control, a guided session of hypnotherapy designed to help you gain control over repetitive thinking so you can align your thoughts with your desires. This session is about breaking free from the mental loops that keep you stuck and learning how to redirect your mind toward what you actually want to create. When you take control of your thoughts, you take control of your reality — and that's where transformation begins. Through this guided hypnotherapy experience, you'll calm the noise of the subconscious, retrain your focus, and open space for clarity, inspiration, and aligned action. You'll learn how to move from overthinking and self-doubt into a mindset that supports your highest goals and manifestations. Here's what you can expect in this session: – A gentle induction to quiet the overactive mind – Guided techniques to interrupt and reframe repetitive thought patterns – Visualization to strengthen your focus on desired outcomes – Affirmations that reprogram the subconscious for positive alignment – A soothing close to anchor your new empowered mental state This session will help you with using the Law of Attraction to shift your current thought patterns and transform your desires. Tips for best results: • Use headphones for the most immersive experience • Listen daily for at least 21–30 days • Use this session when you can fully relax and won't be disturbed • Avoid multitasking during hypnosis This session is one of the many premium recordings found inside my BELIEVE app — where you'll find over 1000 high-quality hypnosis, meditation, and affirmation sessions covering every area of manifesting success. — Helpful Links: → Get the BELIEVE App with 1000+ sessions: https://www.believehypnosis.app → Download individual MP3s from my library: https://www.hyptalk.com → Take full transformational courses: https://www.personalgrowthclub.com → Work with me or learn more: https://www.victoriamgallagher.com → Grab your copy of Practical Law of Attraction: https://a.co/d/5VUdyAu Thanks for listening to the Power of Your Mind podcast. If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to rate and review — it helps more people discover these powerful tools. Stay consistent. Stay focused. And most importantly, believe in what's possible for you. – Victoria
This is the most critical day: Flow State Ignition. You've built four powerful individual tools, and now we are chaining them together into one seamless sequence. By layering the Mudra, Breath, Affirmation, and Chakra focus, you dramatically accelerate the myelination of your focus pathways. This integration process ensures that the shift from fragmented attention to a state of Deep Work becomes an effortless, automatic reflex that you can trigger on demand. This is day 6 of a 7-day meditation series, "Rewiring Your Attention Span for Laser Focus & Deep Work," episodes 3409-3419. YOUR WEEKLY CHALLENGE: The 10-minute Friction Fighter When the craving hits, do not touch the device. Immediately perform The Neural Navigator Breath and assume the Hakini Mudra for 60 seconds. Set a mental or physical timer for 10 minutes. This challenge uses behavioral conditioning to increase your brain's craving tolerance. By intentionally delaying the dopamine hit, you weaken the immediate reward circuit, making high-value, sustained tasks (like Deep Work) feel less effortful and more naturally rewarding over time. THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION JOURNEY Welcome to Dopamine Detox: Rewiring Your Attention Span for Laser Focus & Deep Work! If you feel like your attention is constantly being held hostage—pulled between notifications, endless tabs, and the relentless urge to scroll—you are not alone. In our hyper-stimulated world, distraction isn't a moral failing; it's a chemical problem. Your brain has been systematically trained by technology to seek out the tiny, instant gratification hits of dopamine that low-value tasks provide. This constant craving leaves you exhausted, scattered, and stuck in the restless loop of the Default Mode Network (DMN), making true, high-quality concentration feel impossible. This week, we are fighting fire with Neuroplasticity. This 7-day series isn't just about trying harder; it's about giving your brain a complete reboot. We will introduce targeted, science-backed meditation tools that strategically decrease your brain's dependence on instant hits and build the myelin sheaths required for Deep Work. By the end of this journey, you will have moved from reacting to distraction to proactively commanding your focus. You will build an unbreakable internal system that allows you to bypass analysis paralysis, overcome the resistance of starting difficult tasks, and enter the elusive Flow State on demand. Get ready to transform your attention span from a liability into your most powerful competitive advantage. Day 1: Release Fear Visualization Day 2: Affirmation: "I am present, focused, and my attention is my superpower." Day 3: Neural Navigator Breath Day 4: Hakini mudra for focus Day 5: Third Chakra for Clarity Day 6: Mental Focus Flow meditation, combining the week's techniques Day 7: Weekly review meditation and closure SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me on https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual! WAYS TO SUPPORT THE DAILY MEDITATION PODCAST SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support. I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com. FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques are shared at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/ sip and om Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/ SIP AND OM MEDITATION APP Looking for a little more support? If you're ready for a more in-depth meditation experience, allow Mary to guide you in daily 30-minute guided meditations on the Sip and Om meditation app. Give it a whirl for 7-days free! Receive access to 2,000+ 30-minute guided meditations customized around a weekly theme to help you manage emotions. Receive a Clarity Journal and a Slow Down Guide customized for each weekly theme. 2-Week's Free Access on iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.Let go of repetitive negative thoughts. The beach waves were composed by Mike Koenig. Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.
Reformed Brotherhood | Sound Doctrine, Systematic Theology, and Brotherly Love
In this thought-provoking episode, Tony and Jesse delve into Jesus's twin parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price from Matthew 13:44-46. They explore the profound economic metaphor Jesus uses to illustrate the incomparable value of the Kingdom of Heaven. Through careful examination of both parables, they discuss what it means to "count the cost" of following Christ while simultaneously recognizing that no earthly sacrifice can compare to the infinite worth of gaining Christ. The conversation moves between practical application—considering how believers assess value in their spiritual lives—and deeper theological reflections on Christ's perfect sacrifice that makes our entrance into the Kingdom possible in the first place. Key Takeaways The Kingdom of Heaven has such surpassing value that sacrificing everything to obtain it is considered a joyful exchange, not a loss. Both parables show different paths to discovering the Kingdom (unexpected finding vs. intentional seeking), but identical responses: selling everything to obtain the treasure. The parables are not primarily commanding material poverty, but rather illustrating the "sold-outness" required in pursuing the Kingdom of God. Counting the cost of discipleship is not only permissible but necessary to fully appreciate the value of what we gain in Christ. The ultimate treasure we receive in salvation is not merely benefits like eternal life, but God Himself—union with Christ and fellowship with the Trinity. Christ Himself is the one who ultimately fulfills these parables perfectly, giving everything to purchase us as His treasure. The irresistible draw of the Kingdom illustrates how God's grace works in the heart of believers, compelling joyful surrender. Exploring the Incomparable Value of the Kingdom The economic metaphor Jesus employs in these parables is striking—both the hidden treasure and the pearl are deemed so valuable that the discoverers "sell all they have" to obtain them. As Tony and Jesse point out, this transaction reveals something profound about how we should view the Kingdom of Heaven. It's not simply that the Kingdom is valuable; it's that its value so far exceeds anything else we possess that the comparison becomes almost absurd. As Tony notes, "For sure the worth of the kingdom of heaven surpasses anything we could imagine... there's no measure that is satisfying, there's no measure that can actually show us how worthwhile it is." This perspective transforms how we understand sacrifice in the Christian life. When opportunities or comforts are foregone because of our faith, we're not simply losing something—we're experiencing the reality that we've chosen something infinitely more valuable. The parables teach us to view these moments not with regret but with a clearer vision of the treasure we've received in Christ. The Ultimate Prize: God Himself Perhaps the most powerful insight from the discussion is the realization that the ultimate treasure of salvation is not the benefits we receive, but God Himself. As Tony eloquently states: "All of those things are attending gifts. But what we get in salvation ultimately is we get God... we get union with God, we get fellowship with Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. We get swept up into the life of the Trinity... We gain the relationship that the son has with the father by nature. We gain that by grace and nothing can compare to that." This perspective reshapes how we understand the value proposition of the gospel. It's not merely that we receive eternal life, freedom from suffering, or other benefits—though these are real. The pearl of great price is relationship with God Himself. This helps explain why both men in the parables respond with such dramatic, all-encompassing sacrifice. When we truly grasp what's being offered, nothing seems too great a price to pay. Memorable Quotes "What we get in salvation ultimately is we get God. We get union with God, we get fellowship with Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. We get swept up into the life of the Trinity... We gain the relationship that the son has with the father by nature. We gain that by grace and nothing can compare to that." — Tony Arsenal "I often say in my own line of work, that cost only matters in the absence of value... it's like at the end of days when we think about the worthiness of our God, that there's no one like him, that he's unequal, that he has no rival, that the gospel is the sweetest message that we're rescued literally from the pit. We'll just say no matter what the cost of us personally, great or small, totally worth it." — Jesse Schwamb Full Transcript [00:00:08] Tony Arsenal: All of those things are attending gifts. But what we get in salvation ultimately is we get God we get union with God, we get fellowship with Jesus Christ in the, the power of the Holy Spirit. We, we get swept up into the life of the, the God of the universe. Like the life of the Trinity indwells us. And we, we become a part of that. We get swept up into that. We gain the relationship that the son has with the father by nature. We gain that by grace and nothing can compare to that. [00:00:47] Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 469 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse. [00:00:54] Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey brother. [00:00:59] Jesse Schwamb: Hey brother. Discussing the Value of the Kingdom of Heaven [00:01:00] Jesse Schwamb: Speaking of ears to hear, we're back at it again with a whole new, or let's say different parable from our Lord and Savior Jesus. And we've been talking about how really these parables give us this view of the face of heaven through these earthly glasses. And I am pretty interested in our conversation about what's coming up because sometimes we don't like to put too fine a points to our, our point of question to our faith. And in this case, we're gonna get to ask the question, what is it all worth, this kingdom of heaven, this rule and reign of Christ? What is it all about? Who are the beneficiaries of it? And what is it all actually worth? There's a little bit of economics in this, so we're gonna get there. And while we talk and do a little affirming or denying, you should just go ahead write to just skip, go. Do not collect $200 or maybe. Pass, go and collect $200. I dunno. But just go to Matthew chapter 13 and hang out there for just a second. Affirmations and Denials [00:01:58] Jesse Schwamb: But first, I'm always curious to know whenever we talk, are you gonna affirm with something or are you gonna die against something? We've been on a string of lots of affirmations, but I'd like to think that's just because we're fun, loving, optimistic people. But there was a day where we had to do both. And now that I only have to choose one, I do find myself gravitating almost naturally toward the affirming width. But I leave it to you, Tony, are you affirming with or denying against? [00:02:22] Tony Arsenal: I, unfortunately am denying tonight. Technical Issues with Apple Podcasts [00:02:25] Tony Arsenal: So you and I already talked about it a little bit, but uh, I'm denying Apple Podcast Connect. Oh yes. So, uh, I. Obviously, like if you're affected by this, you're not hearing the episode 'cause it's not updating for you. But, uh, if you happen to be using Apple to listen to the podcast and for some reason you're listening somewhere else, maybe you realize that the podcast has not been updating for several weeks. And so you went to a different podcast catcher. Um, apple just decided for some reason that none of our feeds were gonna update. No good reason. So I've got a ticket out to Apple and hopefully we'll get it fixed. Uh, if you do know someone who listens to the show and they use Apple, please tell them to subscribe to something else or to, uh, go to the website. You can get all of the, all of the episodes on our website. You could go to Spotify, you could do something like, uh, overcast or PocketCasts. Um, it really is just Apple. It's, it's the actual account that we use to, uh, to access. Apple's Directory is not pulling new episodes and it's not pulling new episodes on another show that I run as well. So, uh, it's not just this show, it's not our RSS feed. These things happen. It'll, you know, you'll get four or five episodes all at one time. When it, when it corrects itself, usually they're pretty quick. I put in a ticket like late on Friday afternoon, so I didn't expect them to get to it on, uh, Saturday or Sunday. So hopefully by the time you're hearing this, uh, it's resolved. I would hope so, because that means it would be about a week from today. Um, so hopefully they'll have a resolve. But yeah, it's just th thorns and thistles. This is our own, our own, uh, manifestation of the curse here in this little labor that we do. It's, it's thorns and thistles right now, but no big deal. Just, uh, catch up when you can. And, uh, yeah, so denying Apple Podcasts now, really, it's, it's a great service and this is a, a little glitch. It's, it's just a little frustrating. [00:04:20] Jesse Schwamb: The sweat of our brow. Yes. Here it is. We're just toiling over getting Apple to please release our episodes. Well, it'll be your happy day if you use Apple Podcasts and then get a bunch of them all at once. That's fantastic. It's like the gift that is over in abundance. Supporting The Reformed Brotherhood [00:04:36] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, it is a good reminder that you just said, Tony, that everybody should go, just take some time. Head on over to our form brotherhood.com. You can find all the other 400 some odd episodes living over there. And while you're over there and you're perusing or searching by topic to see what we've talked about before, you're probably gonna think to yourself, this is so incredible. How is this compendium, this omnibus of all these episodes just hanging out here free of cost? And I'm so glad you're thinking about that because there are so many lovely brothers and sisters who have decided just to give a little bit to make sure that all that stuff gets hosted for free for you Yeah. And for us, so that anybody can go and explore it and find content that we hope will be edifying. So if that's something you're interested in, maybe you've been listening for a while and thought, you know what? I would like to give a little bit one time or reoccurring, we would love to, for you to join us in that mission. You can go to patreon.com/reform brotherhood, and there's all the information for you to give if that's something that you feel you would like to do, and we would be grateful for you to do it. [00:05:32] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. We, we have a group of people who support the show. They make it possible for your, uh, your ear holes to be filled with our voices. And, uh, but again, you know, the costs are going up all around and, and we would, uh, certainly love to have people partner with us. Um, we've committed to making show that the, making sure that the show is free and available. Um, it's never our intention to put anything behind a paywall or to, to barrier and in that way, but we can only do that if there's people who are supporting the show and making, making sure that we've got the funding that we need to, to keep going. So, thank you to everybody who gives, thank you to anyone who's considering it, uh, and thanking anybody who decides to, uh, jump on board with that. [00:06:11] Jesse Schwamb: Right on. We're appreciative who we really are. [00:06:13] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. So Jesse, what are you affirming or denying today? Exploring Open Webcam DB [00:06:16] Jesse Schwamb: Uh, this is what I've kind of done before, but I think I've found a new place for it. I just am continually impressed and fall in love with how great and big and lovely God's world is. So I love these types of sites that give you insight into this great big world, even if it's in unexpected places or maybe in strange places. So I'm affirming with a website called Open webcam db.com. Open webcam db.com. And it's exactly like what it sounds like. It's a database that has something like 2000 live cameras streaming daily from over 50 countries, all searchable by a category. So you can find natural landscapes, airports, construction sites, and one of my recent favorites, honestly, and this is. It's so strange, but kind of awesome is this warehouse, it's called Chinese Robotic Warehouse Buzz, and it's just robots moving pallets around or like stacks of all of these items. It's mesmerizing. But I would encourage you go to open webcam db.com, search for like your stage or your country. You'll find so many amazing things. So I've sat and just watched, you know, between tasks or when you know you just need a break or you're just curious about the world. Like I look, I watched the Krakow Maine Market Square quite a bit because it's. Beautiful and brilliant, and to think about the people moving to and fro and what they're doing, what their lives are like. There's some great scenes from San Francisco Bay. There is a bird feeder in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania that I often watch. So of course, like go out as we've said, and live and breathe and be in your own communities. And as well, if you're looking at scratch that itch of just seeing all these different places, all the different things that are happening in God's created world, I can firmly and unreservedly recommend open webcam db.com for that. [00:07:58] Tony Arsenal: Nice, nice, uh, little known fact at one point, Dartmouth Hitchcock, which is the hospital that I worked for, had to block a penguin cam, uh, because it was causing such a productivity drain combined with an actual measurable decrease in internet bandwidth at the hospital. 'cause so many people were watching this little penguin cam at some zoo in Boston. I think it probably was. Yeah, I, I love this kind of stuff. I think this kind of stuff is great. Uh, I use, uh, Dartmouth College has a, like a live one that I use all the time, especially when we're trying to figure out what the weather's gonna do. You can see it on the camera. Uh, we, we often will, you know, see, especially as we get closer to the season when we're talking about traveling to the beach and whatnot, uh, often look at the ocean grove. Oh, that's right. Uh, pier cam. So yeah, check it out. Uh, sounds like a fun time. Do not share it with too many of your friends at work. Or it may crash the network and Yeah. But [00:08:53] Jesse Schwamb: yeah, for [00:08:54] Tony Arsenal: sure. That was a funny email that they had to send out. I remember that [00:08:57] Jesse Schwamb: for sure. Use, use the penguin cam responsibly. I just did a quick search. There are four different penguin cams. Uh, three of them are in the United States, one is in New Zealand, and you better believe I'm gonna be checking those bad boys out. Yes. I didn't even think about. The penguin feature here and penguins are an amazing animal. Like we could stop right now and just shift our topic to penguins if you want to. [00:09:16] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. ' [00:09:16] Jesse Schwamb: cause there's so much there. And the spiritual truths are so broad and deep, but I just think penguins are kind of undervalued. Birds. Everybody should go check them out. [00:09:26] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. They're, they're pretty cool. [00:09:28] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. Um, I'm like, I will watch any Penguin documentary and just be astounded by Penguin. Like, whether they're Emperor Penguins or South African Penguin, wherever. I just think they're phenomenal and hilarious and seem to be living the dream. And he doesn't want a little bit of that. [00:09:46] Tony Arsenal: You just gotta get Morgan Freeman to do the voiceover in any documentary or, or nature documentary is better with Morgan Freeman doing the voiceover. [00:09:55] Jesse Schwamb: Well, I all, this might be a deep cut real quick, but I just learned this, and I'm guessing some of our listening brothers and sisters probably already know this. Maybe you do too, Tony. So, Benedict Cumberbatch, do you know where I'm going with this? Yep, [00:10:06] Tony Arsenal: yep. Pen wing. [00:10:07] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. I didn't. I cannot say that word or stumbles over its pronunciation. He did some kind of big documentary in which Penguins played at least some part. Yeah. And they were in an interview. They were giving him such a hard time because they played his reading of it like within the same kind of five minutes. And his, the word just kept degenerating in his mouth every time he said it. So it became like almost undistinguishable from the actual word. And it's like initial pronunciation. It was so hilarious. Apparently it's a big joke on the internet and I just didn't know it. [00:10:38] Tony Arsenal: Especially for someone like Bent Cumberbatch who just is, uh, like he's a world-class voice actor. [00:10:44] Jesse Schwamb: Right. [00:10:45] Tony Arsenal: And like a super smart ude guy and he just can't say the word penguin and penguin. Yeah. [00:10:51] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. He said, you got everybody go look it up. 'cause it is super hilarious. And now it's kind of gotten stuck in my head. But um, again, this suddenly became like the All Penguin episode all of a sudden. [00:11:01] Tony Arsenal: I mean like, he can pronounce his own last name just fine, but the word penguin escapes him. I like to call 'em blueberry crumble bottom or whatever. Crumble bunch. [00:11:11] Jesse Schwamb: Uh, see that's the good stuff right there. That's what everybody we know. This is what you all tune in for. This is what you're missing when Apple Podcast doesn't send everything out on time. Yeah. You're welcome. [00:11:22] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl [00:11:23] Tony Arsenal: Well, Jesse, why don't we, why don't we get into it? Because you know it, it's interesting. Let's [00:11:27] Jesse Schwamb: get into it. [00:11:28] Tony Arsenal: Well, it's interesting because when you, you know, you kind of, we, we sort of do the little lead to the episode and I, I suddenly realized that I think I've been interpreting this parable very differently than maybe you have or other people. Great. Do, uh, because I, I think I, I think I might have a different take on it. Let, let's do it. Yeah. So let's get into it. Uh, do you have the, the text in friend you wanna read? Uh, why don't we just do 44 all the way through 46? We'll do both parables in one reading. We'll come back and talk about it. [00:11:54] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. Sorry, everybody. So here's a two for one for you. Beginning in where we're in verse 44 of Matthew chapter 13. This is Jesus speaking. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field again. The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Interpreting the Parables [00:12:22] Tony Arsenal: I think maybe this is the, like the beauty of parables, uh, when Christ doesn't give us a interpretation. I, I think we're, we're, we're not free to like make up whatever we want, but these kinds of teaching tools are useful because the fact that there can be multiple interpretations actually is, is probably intentional. [00:12:43] Jesse Schwamb: Right. [00:12:43] Tony Arsenal: So it's funny because I think when you intro the episode here, it sounds like you're going to the kingdom of Heaven being a treasure hidden in a field, being something that we should sell everything we have and go after. And when I read this, I read it as the kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden a field. And the man who is Jesus goes and sells all that. He has. He gives all that he has and buys the field. So, and I, I think this is one of those ones where like. Probably both of those things are in play. Sure. But it's interesting 'cause I've never, I've never really read this and thought about myself as the person who buys the field. [00:13:19] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. Interesting. [00:13:20] Tony Arsenal: I've probably heard sermons or read devotionals where people have said that and it just never clicked. And it didn't register until just now. And you were, when you were, uh, introing the parable that maybe you are the, maybe your way of introing your, your interpretation. Maybe that's the dominant one. So I, I looked at a couple quick, um, commentaries while you were speaking and I didn't get a chance to do my commentary reading before the episode. It seems like I'm the weird one. So, but it's interesting, um, 'cause again, I think that's the, kind of the beauty of parables is that sometimes the, the, um. Ambiguity of what the possible meaning could be, probably plays into the, the, um, teaching technique itself. [00:13:58] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I, I think that's fair. I totally can take and understand what your perspective is on this. What I find interesting is that these, we've got these two abutting each other, like the cheek to cheek parallel approach here, and in doing so, there seems to be like kind of an interesting comparison between the two. Actors in this. And I think we should get into that. Like why in one case Jesus is talking about a person who finds this in a field, which by the way, I think the, the thing that jumps out to me first about that person is this person doesn't actually own the field at first. Right. That the treasure is in. So that is interesting. I'm totally with you. But then the second one, so in the first one there's kinda almost like this sense, and I don't wanna like push this too far, but that this person who finds this treasure does so very unexpectedly, perhaps like he's even the hired hand and of course not the one who owns the field. [00:14:48] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:14:49] Jesse Schwamb: And in the second case, we have somebody who almost is volitionally looking for this thing of great value, but finds the one thing above all the other things that they're used to looking for that clearly has the greatest and most. You know, essential worth and therefore the end is always the same in both of 'em. They give everything they have. They're willing for forsake all other things with great joy, recognizing the great value that's in front of them. I think there is a place to understand that as Christ acting in those ways. I think there's also interesting, again, this comparison between these two people. So I'm seeing this as we've got these varied beneficiaries of the kingdom. They both come to this place of the incomparable value of the kingdom, but then there's also like this expulsive power of the kingdom. All, all of that's, I think in there, and again, these are really, really, really brilliant, I think, because the more that you spend time meditating on these, the layers just kind of come and they fall away and you start to really consider, well, why again is Jesus using these two different characters? Why is he using this kinda different sense of things of, of worth what the people are actually after? I think all of it's in play. You're totally right. [00:15:54] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. The Cost and Value of the Kingdom of Heaven [00:15:55] Tony Arsenal: So I think, you know, when we think about the kingdom of heaven, when we think about these perils, we made this point last week, we shouldn't, um, we shouldn't restrict, we have to be careful not to restrict the comparison to just like the first noun that comes up, [00:16:08] Jesse Schwamb: right? [00:16:08] Tony Arsenal: So it's not just that the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, it, it is like a treasure, but it's like a treasure that's hidden in a field. Yes. And it's not just like a treasure that's hidden in a field, it's a treasure that's hidden in a field which a man found and covered up. Right? So, so like we have to look at that whole sequence. And I think, I think, um, you know, obviously like the, the interpretation that we are the, we're the man who finds the kingdom of heaven and we, you know, we go and buy the field. Um, that, that obviously makes perfect sense now that I'm looking at a few different commentaries. It seems to be the predominant way that this gets interpreted. And we, we look at it and we say, what, well, what does this mean for like our Christian life? Like. What does it mean? Do we have to, do we have to give everything away? Do we have to sell everything we have? Is that the point of the parable? I think some people make that the point of the parable. Um, I'm not convinced that that actually is the point of the parable. Um, because it, you know, it, it, it just, there's lots in the scripture that, that, uh, doesn't seem to require that Christians automatically like, give away everything they have. Um, maybe that's your calling. Maybe it is something that God's calling you to do to sort of, um, divest yourself of your, your belongings, either to sort of fight materialism or greed or, or just because like you're gonna need to have that fluidity and liquidity to your assets 'cause you're gonna need to move around or whatever it is. But I don't think we look at this parable and have like a, like a, a command for a life of poverty or something like that. Right. Um, really this is more about the. Utter sold outness of the Christian to pursue and seek the kingdom of God. [00:17:48] Jesse Schwamb: Right? Right. [00:17:49] Tony Arsenal: And and I think that that's the same in both, even though the way that the person in the parables comes a, comes across the kingdom or they come across this, this thing of great value or thing of great price, that they find their response in both parables is the same. And to me, that that actually tells me that that's more the point of these parables. Um, or, or maybe we shouldn't even think of these as two parables, right? Some of the introductory language that we see in when we transition from one parable to another, we don't really see that here. Uh, and if, if we're gonna follow that, actually we would be going to the next parable would also kind of fall into this. But he says the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure. And then in 45 he says, again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. We're gonna run into something like this later on when we get to like the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of lost coins. Where there are these distinct parables, but they're kind of stacked on top of each other in order to make a specific point. All of the parables that are sort of in these parable stacks are making the same point. And so I think it's not so much about like, how do we find the Kingdom of Heaven or how do we come upon the kingdom of heaven? It's more about what do we do once we've come upon it? Once we've thrown it's, that's the point of the parable that we need to unpack. [00:19:03] Jesse Schwamb: That's right. And I would add to that, like who is it that is the beneficiary of this kingdom? We have two different, very different individuals, which I, again, I think, we'll, we'll talk a little bit about, but I'm totally with you. I, I think it's, it's easier, it's almost too narrow and too easy to say. Well, this is really just about like physical ma or about wealth. Like in some way the, what we're being taught here is that you have to get rid of everything of value in exchange for this. In some ways, that almost feels too transactional, doesn't it? As if like what, what we need to do is really buy the kingdom. We express our seriousness about this kingdom or the rule and reign of God by somehow just giving up everything that we own as if to prove that we're really worthy of receiving that kingdom that we prayed enough. Right. That we've done enough, even though that we're contrite enough. Yeah. And all that stands like in direct opposition to the mercy and grace, which God gives to us through his son by the power of the Holy Spirit to bring us into this kingdom. So we know it can't really be about that. And so that leads me back again to just like the lovely details here. And like you've already said in the first case, here's what really strikes me is. For probably most of us in the West, this idea of treasure is novel and maybe romantic. There's a adventure and an energy to it. Because we've all heard stories about this, whether it's like, I don't know, pirates of the Caribbean or the county Mount Cristo. Like there's something about treasure finding some kind of, or national treasure. Sorry, that just came to my mind. Like I couldn't go any further without mentioning Nick Cage. So you know, like there's something there that pulls us in that finding this thing almost unexpectedly in a hidden place of immense worth and value is, has a real draw to it. But I imagine that in Palestine being like a war torn region in Jesus' day, in the way people might store goods of great value in the fields they own. And then of course the owner may never be able to achieve for lots of reasons, including death. And then somebody might stumble upon it. And as I understand the, the laws there, of course, if you were to stumble upon something. I was in somebody else's property and and on earth that thing take it out of the ground. In this case, you would be by law required to bring that back to the person who owned the field. So there's something interesting here that this first person, probably the more meager and humble of the two with they at least respected, like their socioeconomic status is let's, we could presume maybe going about their normal work. They find this unexpectedly in the field and it's immediately recognized to be something of great value that it is to stop and to, again, there's like a measuring that happens behind the scenes. This person at least is measuring of all the things that I own, all things I could possibly own. The better thing for me to do is to consolidate all the rest of my wealth. And this case, again, it's not the message of the story to do this, it's the exemplification of what's happening here. This person is so sold out to ensure that they acquire this great treasure that they stumbled upon, that they will take literally everything else of value that they own to exchange it for this very thing. So I'm totally with you because I think the predominant message here is not like take all your wealth and make sure that you give it to the church or that it goes to ministry or to missions. That may all be well and good and it may all be the kind of calling that you receive. However, I think the principle message here is the kingdom of God is so valuable that losing everything on earth, but getting the kingdom is a happy trade off. Like that's actually a really, really good deal. And so having the omnipotent saving reign of Christ in our lives is so valuable that if, if we lose everything in order to have it, it would be a joyful sacrifice. [00:22:20] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, I think, um, I think there is a level of. Encouragement in Sacrifice and Joy in the Kingdom [00:22:27] Tony Arsenal: Sacrifice that happens for every Christian and. I mean, I, I know there's a lot of people who they, uh, come to faith as young children and we've kind of talked about that as like, that's that testimony that, you know, I think everybody really wants is like they wish they never had a time that they didn't know Jesus and Right. I don't know any parent that I've ever spoken to, and I'm certainly not any different here that doesn't want that testimony for Jesus, but, or for, for their kids in their relationship with Jesus. But. I think most people who come to faith at some point in their life when they're able to remember it, like they, they have a conscious memory of their conversion experience. There is this sort of sense of sacrifice and e even a sort of a sense of loss. Um, I think there, there are times where, and, and you know, I think maybe, um, even people who've always been in the faith, um, they probably can resonate with this. I think there are times when we might look at how our lives could have been different or could be different if we weren't in the faith. Um, and, and sometimes there's a sort of wistfulness to that. Like being a Christian can sometimes be difficult right On, um, you know, maybe you miss a promotion opportunity because you're not willing to work on the Lord's day or because you're not willing to do something unethical. Like you, you miss out on some sort of advancement and you think, well, if I could just, you know, if I could have just gotten past that, like my life would be much different. And what this parable teaches us is. That's an understandable, like that's an understandable emotion or response. Um, and there is this weighing of the cost. And in the parable here, he, like you said, there's this calculation that goes on in the background. He finds this treasure, he makes the calculation that to have this treasure is worth. Everything it's worth everything he has. He sells everything he has, and he buys the field in order to get the treasure right. And, and there's some interesting textual dynamics going on through this chapter. We've talked about how the parables kind of like the imagery across the parables in chapter 13 here of Matthew, they kind of flip certain figures around and almost, it's almost intentional because he is getting the treasure and the treasure. The kingdom of heaven here is like the treasure, but he's also getting the field right. And the kingdom of heaven is, is the field in other parables. Um, but this, this calculation that happens, um. I don't know, maybe my heart is just sensitive to this right now. I, I, I, I feel like a lot of times we look at that sort of wis wistful second glance at what could have been if we were not Christians, and we automatically feel like that's gotta be a sinful impulse. Like, how could I ever even consider what life might have been? Like this parable implies that that's the thing we actually have to do. You have to know and consider what it is you've sacrificed or will be sacrificing in order to make this transaction happen. You can't just blanketly say like, oh, of course. You know, you've gotta, you've gotta count the cost, as it were, and then you have to actually make the purchase. So I think we should look at this as a source of encouragement. Um, like I said, I'm not sure why. I feel like maybe there's, maybe there's just a, a. I dunno, I'm feeling a little weird and charismatic right now. I feel like this is something that I definitely need to be saying, like, I feel like someone needs to hear this. Maybe it's just me that needs to hear this. And that's, I'm tricking myself by thinking of someone else. But we are able, as Christians, I think God permits us and in some sense, maybe even expects and commands us to recognize what we have given to be Christians in order that we might realize how much we have gained with that transaction. It's not just this like remorse or regret, um, for the sake of remorse or regret. It's to be able to see how good and how beautiful and how worth it is the kingdom of God, uh, to, to, to claim that. [00:26:23] Jesse Schwamb: I like that there is a great discipline and a great joy in remembering worth and worthiness. So there's gonna be times, like you said, when it's hard and if you look back, look back at the ministry of Jesus, I've often thought that he's like a poor evangelizer from like modern standards. Yeah. Because often people come to him and say things like. I, I wanna be part of the kingdom of God. Well, what do I need to do to enter the kingdom of God? And here you have like a seemingly a willing convert. And he always says things like this, like, you gotta go count the cost. Yeah. Like is, is this worth it to you? Like you have to deny yourself, you have to hate your own father and your mother, and your wife and children, and brothers and sisters, even your own life. Otherwise you cannot be my disciple. And in this kind of language, it's clear that Jesus is saying you fail often. And maybe this goes back like you're saying, Tony, it's like the parable of the soil that you fail to really take into account what it means to follow with full fidelity, to commit yourself in a fully unencumbered way. Are you willing to do that? Are you willing to consider that? And as human beings, we're just not good often at counting costs. We're not good at thinking about opportunity costs. And it's interesting here that we're called out to say, even if you've already purchased the field as so to speak, that as if you've been saved by Christ, to continue to remember how good it is to be in the kingdom of God. And that the joy. Of knowing as like the Heidelberg Catechism says in the first question that all things are subservient to our salvation. Yeah. That incredible worth of, that should be a source of encouragement in times of great trial and tribulation, no matter how big or small, so that this joy that this person has when they go and sells everything he has and he buys this field, you know those details, like you're saying, do press us. It really comes to us with this idea that we should be able to see plainly why having Christ is more valuable than all other things. If the omnipotence all wise, God is ruling, ruling over all things for our joy, then everything must be working for our good, no matter how painful and in the end, God is gonna triumph over all evil and all pain. So this kingdom is a real treasure. Like it is a, it is a real. A real quantity in our life and our wellbeing and in our spiritual consistency, that'll ought demand some reflection of how valuable it truly is. And then knowing that in our minds, that like influencing our behavior, our other thought patterns, and then our actual feelings about stuff. So that when, like you said, we're passed over, we're looked over, we're ridiculed for something, we go back and we count it all joy to be worthy of being part of God's kingdom, knowing that it was because of the entrance and acceptability and the identity in that kingdom that we experience. Those things, those hardships begin with. [00:29:05] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And, and I, um, I don't want us to miss out on the fact that even as the parable may be encouraging or forcing us to think about. The cost. It, it really is trying to emphasize the great value of the kingdom. Right? Right. We, like I said, we, we don't just count the cost. In order to count the cost for its own sake. We count the cost in order to understand the great blessing that is ours in Christ. Right. All I, I count all that I have as a loss compared to the greatness of Christ Jesus. And, um, I think we just don't often do that. I, I, I think as Christians, that's probably a thought that is in our head more as young Christians, especially if we come to the faith in, in a time in our life where we're aware of things like that. We think about things like that. Reflecting on the Cost of Faith [00:29:59] Tony Arsenal: You know, I was 15 when I first came to faith and, um, I, I don't think I was in a frame of mind as a 15-year-old boy to think about, like. The cost of what I was doing, right? It's not like I was a particularly popular kid. I didn't have a, you know, I didn't, I wasn't unpopular, but it wasn't like I lost a ton of friends when I became a Christian. I didn't really lose anything that was measurable. Um, but I do think that, as, you know, someone now in my forties, looking back at, you know, 15, 20, 25 years of, of Christian life, it's easy to see that things could have been different on a sort of temporal scale. Like my, my life could probably be more comfortable in terms of wealth or opportunities or other things that might, uh, aren't, aren't even bad things necessarily. There is a sense of sacrifice. But again, God has brought us into this kingdom and he's given us parables like this and given us the ability to recognize. That we do have a cost, that there is a cost to be counted in order that we might now look at it and praise him for how great and glorious and valuable the gift that he's given us is. Understanding the Parable of the Pearl [00:31:08] Tony Arsenal: And so I think, you know, I think that's the same basic meaning of this second, second half of the same parable. I guess the, the pearl of great price or the pearl of great value. But it's not exactly the same, right? It's not like Christ is just repeating the same ver, you know, parable with, with different words for variation. Um, every word is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching correction, reproof, and training and righteousness. And I had a, I had a prophet in, uh, in Bible college who would say like, difference means difference. And he was often talking about like minute things, like the difference, um, or why, why is this word used instead of that word? This word would've worked. And, and the author chose that one. There's a reason for that. Difference means difference, but. Christ here chooses to, to tell the parable a second time, um, in a slightly different way. Uh, and Matthew chooses to record these in the same sense next to each other in slightly different ways. So what, what do we, what do we wanna pull out of this second parable that's different and what do we think it's telling us that's a little bit different than the first version Y? [00:32:14] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that's a great question. Diverse Approaches to the Kingdom of Heaven [00:32:16] Jesse Schwamb: Uh, I love this idea because not until really, I was thinking about it this week when I read through them, was I really, again, drawn to the differences between these two main characters. Interestingly, I think in both, and we can make the case that the, the treasure, the kingdom of heaven here represented in both this pearl or in this literal treasure is in a way hidden. Certainly the first man is not necessarily looking for, it's still revealed to him, but the second in a way. And on the other hand, he knew this guy knows treasure. He's been seeking it with diligence in vigor, or at least like this is what he does for a living in his vocational career. He's out there trading pearls, presumably, and he knows something about them and how to evaluate them effectively. And so it's his business and he's dedicated himself to finding them. And apparently he's seen plenty of them over the years. But then all of a sudden, and this is wild, the beautiful, all of a sudden, clearly the search comes to like an abrupt end because he finds this one of immeasurable value, so much beauty exceeding and value exceeding all the other ones. And he doesn't need to search anymore. He just finds the one pearl that he can retire on a pearl with more than everything else. Or anything else that he's ever possessed and he gets it again. He does. And this brings him into symbol two with the first man. He does the same thing, then liquidate everything else and go after this one. Great pearl. So to me, and I'm curious your perspective on this, I'm not necessarily promulgating that. Well, the first one is not a seeker and the second one is like a seeker of of God things. Right? There is though, like you said, a difference in their approach and what they're after. And so I think what we can take from this, at the very least, is that there is diversity in these beneficiaries of the kingdom of God that's covering everybody. And just by these two kind of bookended or polar examples, that's what Jesus draws us to. But I would turn the question back to you. What do you think about this second guy? What do you think about the fact that his business is searching after these things? What? What do we take away from that? [00:34:07] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. The Ultimate Value of the Kingdom [00:34:07] Tony Arsenal: And you know, the thing that drop that jumps out to me immediately in the first parable, the kingdom of heaven is, is like the treasure hidden in the field, [00:34:16] Jesse Schwamb: right? [00:34:16] Tony Arsenal: In the second one, the kingdom of heaven is the merchant who's searching, [00:34:20] Jesse Schwamb: right? [00:34:20] Tony Arsenal: Right. The kingdom of heaven is like the merchant in search of fine pearls who finds one. That's right. And so I think that they kind of are like, almost like mirror images of each other, right? One of them is about the treasure and what it takes to come upon it and then obtain it. The second is about the person who is coming upon the treasure and, and finding it. And then what it takes again to obtain that treasure. And I think, I think you're right, there is an element here that. Um, in this second parable, the person who is seeking for this treasure is one he's seeking for the treasure, right? Right. You get the image in this, in this first parable that the dude just kind of stumbles upon it. Um, I've heard this Todd as like, it's actually more like a guy who's just walking through a field rather than like a person working the field. And I'm not sure that matters that much, but there is this sense in the first parable that the guy kind of stumbles upon it. He wasn't looking, it wasn't what he was trying to do, but you're right in the second one, the kingdom of heaven, and this is where I, this is where I think I need to think more about it, is what does it mean for the kingdom of heaven to be like a merchant searching for fine pearls right [00:35:23] Jesse Schwamb: on. [00:35:23] Tony Arsenal: Rather than the pearls being the kingdom of heaven, which is what we see in the first bearable. Um, and I don't know the answer to that question. I think I need to, need to think about it and study it a little bit more. But I do like this distinction that in, in the first case, it's sort of a happy accident. And in the second case, this is, this is the life, this man's life work. He finds he's, he's in search of fine pearls. I'm not sure I know exactly what he's trying to do with the fine pearls. It seems like it implies that he's a pearl merchant or a pearl trader, but then he finds this pearl. He doesn't seek to sell it. He buys it. Right. [00:36:00] Jesse Schwamb: Right. [00:36:00] Tony Arsenal: And, and the, the, the fact that the parable stops with him buying it sort of implies that like. He actually is not going to sell it. He's just gonna keep this pearl. Now before the, the pearls, the, the source of the value of the pearls was kind of in the, the financial gain that selling or trading them could bring. But now he suddenly finds this pearl that is so valuable. It's so great, it's so beautiful. Everything he was working to obtain before all of the money he's gathered by finding and selling pearls in the previous like mode of living. He now gets rid of all of that just to purchase this one pearl and presumably to keep it. And I think that again, is kind of a, kind of a, um, statement on our Christian life is that we, we probably have all sorts of things that we've been doing our whole life and we are seeking to, to move forward in our life. And the kingdom of heaven is kind of the ultimate goal of all of that, for those who are in Christ, for those who are called according to his purpose. The purpose is not just to accumulate wealth. It's not even necessarily, uh, in and of itself to like grow in righteousness. It's to be transformed to the, uh, to the image of God's glory son, for the purpose of making him great, making his name renowned. Right. When we look at that passage in Romans that have kind alluded to, he's, he would transform into the image of Christ so that he might be the first born among many brothers. The Incomparable Worth of Salvation [00:37:24] Tony Arsenal: Ultimately, our, our sanctification and glorification is about making Jesus great and glorified, um, to give him glory, to have our glorification reflect his already intrinsic glory and the gift that he gives us, and I think that's kind of, kind of in play here, is that. Uh, we might have all sorts of goals in our life. We might have goals in our Christian life, um, that are good things that we should strive for, but at the end of the day, all of those things only serve to bring us to the kingdom of heaven, which is this pearl of great price that we, we purchase, we buy it and we just kind of hang onto it. It is its own treasure and it's, it's not about what this, this treasure can bring to us, right? Which is what the fine pearls were before they were about what the merchant can find and sell. It's, it's now about just obtaining the pearl and enjoying that pearl. Um, which I think is a little bit different than, than, um, what I would've thought of with the par before. [00:38:19] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I totally agree with you. I think, I think you're actually onto something with the distinction because I think of. So much of my career has been spent in financial services among people who are buyers and sellers of things. They're traders. And the way I read this was very similar to what you were saying to me. What resonated was if this gentleman or this person is. Trading, collecting these pearls. Presumably they have appreciation for the beauty of the pearl itself. So there is like something innate that draws them to this particular thing. And with that experience and with that knowledge and with that, that appreciation of that beauty. I think when they see this other pearl, it moves from, well, why would I ever sell that? I've seen everything. This is the most beautiful pearl I've ever laid my eyes on. And now I want to keep it for me. I want to have it in my possession. I want to cherish it and not just keep it in the inventory and then turn around and sell it for markup, presumably, because there is no nothing that would be of greater value to this person. 'cause they just sold everything else that they had. So they, it's appreciation for the pearl itself. It's going after that finding and seeking that great beauty. And then that led me right into Philippians chapter four, where Paul writes the church in Philippi, beginning of verse eight. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever's honorable, whatever's just whatever's pure, whatever's lovely, whatever's commendable. If there's any excellence, if there. Anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Practice these things and the god of peace will be with you. So this idea, like you and I, Tony, have talked about like the world has great wisdom, it has great knowledge, it has things that can lead us by way of common grace into certain amounts of peace. But the pearl of great price, the seeking after the going after all these great things is to find the gospel, to be given the gospel it revealed to you. And then say everything else I count as a loss. Everything else is worthless compared to this thing. And if you're a person that can appreciate even just by turn of mind or God's influence in your life, you know, knowledge and wisdom, and you're seeking after that, which is the ultimate expression and representation of those things, and then you find you come upon this pearl of great price, the gospel wisdom and the beauty of God represented in his son Jesus Christ. And you say, this is it. I, I know enough to know, again, by the regeneration that comes through the spirit, this is the real deal. Then I think the message still stands. We come through two different directions into the same final culminating point, which is there is a condition for having this kingdom of God, for having the king on your side as your friend, but the condition isn't like wealth or power or negotiating or intelligence or even good trading behavior or going out and finding the right thing. The condition is that we prize the kingdom more than anything else we own. The point of selling everything in these parables is to simply show where our hearts are at. And so I often say in my own line of work, that cost only matters in the absence of value. Actually, it's true for everything that we. We presumably spend our time or our money on cost only matters in the absence of value. And I think like you and I could do a fun little experiment where I don't know, you ever talking to somebody about something and you're paying a cost to have that service delivered to you and you're, and you're just like totally worth it, like I would do totally worth it. Like, yeah, that's kind of the vibe I'm getting here. It's like at the end of days when we think about the worthiness of our God, that there's no one like him, that he's unequal, that he has no rival, that the gospel is the sweetest message that we're rescued literally from the pit. We're just say no matter what the cost of us personally, great or small, totally worth it, that that's what we'll be saying for all of eternity as we worship him. [00:41:45] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and I think even more than saying, totally worth it. I think when we are given our new eyes to see, and we no longer see through a da a glass dimly, we're gonna recognize saying that it was worth, it is is like it's a pale, like it's a faulty answer to begin with because the, for sure the worth of the kingdom of heaven surpasses anything we could imagine. And in our, you know, locked in little meat brains that we have now, we're kind of com we're just comparing it to. You know, like what, what we could have had or what we, what we've given up. Um, it, it's gonna be an incomparable comparison. Like there's no, there's no measure that is satisfying, there's no measure that can actually show us how, how worthwhile it is. And, you know, we've, we've made a point of it, like the, the blessing of salvation and, and really like what it is that we're getting, uh, in, in the. You know, the Christian understanding of salvation, it's not, it's not an eternal destiny. It's not bigger mansions in heaven. It's not freedom from death. All of those things come with it. All of those things are attending gifts. That's right. But what we get in salvation ultimately is we get God we get union with God, we get fellowship with Jesus Christ in the, the power of the Holy Spirit. We, we get swept up into the life of the, the God of the universe. Like the life of the Trinity indwells us. And we, we become a part of that. Uh, not, not in the, you know, like. Eastern Orthodox deification sense, although I think there's a proper way we can talk about deification. Um, but we get swept up into that. We gain the relationship that the son has with the father by nature. We gain that by grace and nothing can compare to that. There's nothing that we could ever point to. Um, it's funny, my, my wife and I, um, this is a little corny, but, um, we'll often say to, to each other instead of saying, I love you more than anything, we'll say, I love you more than everything. Right. And, and it's, it's a way to say like. You could take all that there is in the world, everything that I have that I could possibly consider and sum up the value. And I love my wife more than that. I love my children more than that. So it's not that I love them more than any one thing, it's that I love them more than everything combined. And this is even greater than that, right? We, we will look back at our lives and if, if it's even in our mind, if we even can, can comprehend anymore. The idea of thinking about what it costs us to obtain this pearl of great value, which is the kingdom of heaven, which is just another way to say, is just fellowship with the God of the universe. Um, we'll look at it and say no matter what it was. No matter what it could have been, I would give everything I, I love God more than everything. Right. Right. There's nothing that could ever possibly be considered that even comes close to what we gain in, in Christ Jesus, in union with, with God. And I think that's the point of this, like I think the guy who, um. Christ's Perfect Sacrifice and Our Response [00:44:58] Tony Arsenal: I think about what it would take for me to even like to sell everything, like the concept of selling everything I own. I'm not even sure how I would do that, to be honest with you. Like, I don't even know the mechanism for that kind of thing. But the idea that there's anything that could be valuable enough that I would just sell every piece of human property that I have, there's probably nothing like that in this world. Like, there probably isn't. And to, to take that comparison and then basically say like, that's just what the kingdom of God is like. 'cause that's the other thing I think we miss about parables is you, you only make a comparison when you can't describe something, um, analytically, right? There's the difference between analogically and analytically Ana lot analytically means we're able to actually quantify and explain it kind of in strict terms, right? I can, I can say that, um, uh, a heavy object ways, X number of grams or it, you know, or, um. Pounds or whatever. I can, I can measure that and make an analytical statement, or I can make an analogy, an analogy that is comparative. Uh, but by definition, or almost by by nature of the thing, when you make that comparison, you're kind of saying like, not only is it like this, but it's actually it, like it's more like this than I can even describe. Right? So when we're talking about the kingdom of Heaven here, and we say it's, it's like, it's like a man who goes, he finds a treasure and then he sells everything. He has to get that treasure. It's infinitely more like that than it actually can be described. Does that make sense? I feel like I'm rambling on that a little bit. Maybe trying to describe something that can't be described is, is hard to do. [00:46:35] Jesse Schwamb: It's, that's, yeah. But yeah, that's, that's very difficult to do. I'm actually totally with you on this. I think I understand clearly what you mean, this idea that no matter how hard we actually try to value it, we'll be incapable of doing so. Yes. And at best, it almost seems like this is a strange command in a way because it's, it's asking us to do in some ways a thing that is impossible for us to do. However, I think what you're saying is it doesn't mean that we shouldn't turn our minds toward that. We're a bit like people who, I don't know if this show is still on PBS, but like, do you know that show, remember that show The Antiques Road Show? Yeah. Where people would like come, they'd ran ransack their homes or their garages with these old antique items and they bring them to this road show where there'd be experts who would value them. And inevitably we'll be like those people who come with what we think is like a. A thousand dollars clock that we got at a garage sale thinking, wouldn't it be great? I know this is valuable. It's probably a thousand dollars. It'll be, look at the return, tenfold return, I'll get on this item, and then instead finding that it's worth $10 million when it's appraised. Yeah, I assume it'll be just like that in the Beautific vision that even maybe for all of eternity will be growing in our appreciation for just how valuable this great salvation is. And yet at the same time, I think what this should encourage us to do is to pray things like God make us real in seeing and savoring Christ in his saving work above all the other things. Yeah. So that, as you said in your example, we would cherish him above everything, above all things that you have that right place in our hearts or that we be inclined to undertake that posture, which says, God, though I cannot understand it in full. Would you help me to see that? Encouragement in Our Spiritual Journey [00:48:08] Jesse Schwamb: And I wanna just say like, as a word of encouragement, maybe I'm speaking more to myself here so everybody else can disregard this if you like, but I think sometimes there can be a little bit of intimidation then when you hear these things and say like, ah, I'm just not, I just dunno if I love God enough, like I wanna love him, or I want to want to love him more. And I think even that posture is appropriate. Yeah. Sometimes there, oftentimes in my personal life, I'll pray something like, God, help me to know how much you love me and would you give me the strength to love you back? So that even that awareness, that energy, that volition, that vitality, that, that heat, all of that, that fire itself is kindled by the Holy Spirit. It's not like we need to like try to again manufacture here. Because the point of these, these stories is not again, that we just find the means to do a transactional exchange here, but that instead we really just sit in the full promises of God. And of course to that, I would say we always need to go back to, to something like Romans eight. I mean, I know that we should, like you said, Tony, the. The standard description we give for the Bible is the one that gives itself, which is that all of it, all of it's is carried along by the Holy Spirit. All of it is God breathe. All of it is useful for something. And yet, of course, I say somewhat tongue in cheek that, you know, if I have 10 minutes to live, I'm probably not gonna the s descriptions of reading a genealogy, I'm going straight from Roman and say, Romans say, I think it's just like the pinnacle of the scriptures. And so just a couple of verses at the end there, because I think this is, this is leading us into what is this great treasure? What is the kingdom of God? Why do we value it so much? What is the saving power? And uh, these verses, I mean, always just entirely get me ready to run through a wall. So this is the end of, of Romans eight beginning verse 35. Who shall separate us from the law of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword as it is written for your sake. We are being killed all the day long. We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No. In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us for I'm sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from a love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. [00:50:22] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. That's, that's a good word. And I, I, I like what you're saying too, is, is I think we, we can. There's this paradoxical thing that happens when the scriptures is trying to encourage us to do something, is we often like to get our, in our own way. And, and actually that becomes a source of discouragement for us. The Bible calls us to something and we know we can't live up to it. And that's actually like part and parcel of, of reform theology to recognize that this is law, like the, the, the, the, you know, maybe not in like the strict sense, like when we talk about dividing the scripture into law and gospel, um. It may not be that this particular passage would fall under that rubric of law normally, but this idea that we need to count the cost and that we need to be treasuring Christ more and more, and then when we feel like I'm just not getting it. I'm just not there. Like, I don't, I don't treasure Christ as much as I so should. Um, that Yeah, that's right. Nobody does. Nobody can, like, that's, that's kind of the point of this, and that's why it's law is it's, it shouldn't drive you in Christ. It should not drive you to despair. Right. It should not drive you to discouragement. It should drive you to gratitude that God saved you anyways. That, that this pearl of great value is still yours even though you can't possibly deserve it. Um, you know, we're, we're a little bit different than the, the merchant and the man who finds the treasure in the field in that we can't sell everything we have and obtain it like they have the ability to do that in the, in the parables. Right. Um, we, we don't, and we never will. And so rather than let that drive you to being discouraged that like you're just not getting. I recognize God is of infinite value and we are finite creatures. So we, we could, uh, value God perfectly. Like whatever that means, and I don't even know what that means, but we could value and cherish and love God perfectly as far as our capacities are concerned, and it still would not be enough to sufficiently merit God's favor for us. Like as much as we can, even in, even in eternity. As much as we can value and worship and love and praise Jesus, he is worth infinitely more than we could ever give, even when we do it perfectly. And this is, this is why you know Christ coming to die, to live on our behalf, to die in our place. Why that's necessary is because only this is a, maybe a different take on it. We, I think we talk a lot about how, um. Only God could, could carry, bear the wrath of God and not be destroyed. Right. Right. Only God could, um, could stand up under his own wrath, could stand up under the wrath of God and bear that punishment and not be destroyed. And so therefore, um, Christ had to be not just a man, but had to be God. But on the flip side. And God requires perfect perpetual obedience, which involves loving the Lord your God, perfectly with your whole heart at all times. Right? Only God can do that too. So it's not just that God. It's not just that G
Send us a textYou're living a life controlled by beliefs you can't see. In this transformational episode, Alison Lager interviews Christine Peine, a subconscious reprogramming expert and health tech founder, about the one thing that will quantum leap your life: rewriting your unconscious programming.The Problem:Most personal development fails because it only addresses the 5-7% conscious mind. But 93-95% of your life is being run by subconscious beliefs—many inherited from 7-10 generations of ancestral conditioning. Affirmations don't work. Therapy talks about the problem forever. And willpower exhausts you because you're fighting beliefs you can't see.What You'll Discover:• The Sway Test — A body-based tool you can use RIGHT NOW to identify what your subconscious actually believes (not what you think you believe)• Why Ancestral Patterns Sabotage Success — How your great-grandmother's trauma, your parent's scarcity beliefs, and your family's relationship patterns are blocking YOUR money, visibility, and relationships TODAY• Why Affirmations Fail — You can hold BOTH the old limiting belief AND the new affirmation simultaneously. The real work is removing the old belief entirely (not just adding a new one)• Theta Healing: The Spiritual Reprogramming Technique — How Christine connects to divine energy and downloads new beliefs directly into her clients' subconscious, creating instant, lasting transformation• Christine's Personal Breakthrough — She healed her IBS in 2 weeks, her chronic joint pain overnight, and her severe burnout completely by identifying and reprogramming her root beliefs (perfectionism, self-judgment, unworthiness)• The Hidden Payoff — Every limiting belief serves a purpose and has benefits. Until you identify those payoffs, you can't release the belief without internal conflict• Money Blocks, Power Blocks, Sex Blocks — The three most charged topics requiring deep, persistent subconscious work• How Healing Yourself Creates World Peace — When you embody inner peace, it radiates outward. 25% of humanity embodying peace creates critical mass consciousness shift. Entrepreneurs have the power to accelerate thisThis isn't surface-level mindset work. This is accessing the 93% of your mind actually running your life and giving it permission to evolve. Perfect for entrepreneurs, coaches, and anyone ready to break generational patterns and step into their full potential.About Christine Peine:Christine is a Theta Healing practitioner, subconscious reprogramming expert, and former founder of Midaia (a health tech startup helping arthritis patients heal naturally). When her own health collapsed with IBS, joint pain, and chronic burnout, she discovered that the beliefs in her subconscious were creating her reality. Using the techniques she now teaches, she healed completely—and now helps other founders and coaches do the same. She created the ABC of Peace Framework to teach that personal healing cascades into global consciousness and world peace.Connect with Christine:Website: https://www.christinepeine.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christine_peine/Connect with Alison:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonanswers | https://www.instagram.com/lagercounselingWebsite: lagercounseling.comYouTube: Alison AnswersFacebook: Alison Answers Group & Women of ExcellenceBook: "The Wake Up Call"Episode Themes:Subconscious reprogramming, limiting beliefs, ancestral trauma, Theta Healing, money blocks, personal transformation, entrepreneurship, world peace consciousness, belief reprogramming, nervous system, self-worth, abundance mindset
Tap into The Power of Your Mind using Law of Attraction and Hypnosis Techniques
You're about to listen to, #447 Master The Art Of Allowing, a guided session of hypnotherapy designed to help you surrender control and open to receiving what you desire with ease. This session is about releasing the need to force outcomes and instead allowing life to unfold in divine timing. When you surrender, you align yourself with the natural flow of the universe — a space where manifestation becomes effortless and joy returns to the process. Through this guided hypnotherapy experience, you'll quiet the mind, relax the body, and open your heart to receive. You'll discover that letting go doesn't mean giving up — it means creating space for miracles to happen, for opportunities to reveal themselves, and for the life you've been dreaming of to flow toward you. Here's what you can expect in this session: – A deeply relaxing induction to calm your nervous system – Guided visualization to help you release the urge to control outcomes – Affirmations to reinforce trust in the process and universal timing – Energy alignment techniques to open your receiving channels – A soothing close to integrate your new sense of ease and faith This session will help you with using the Law of Attraction to let go, let things happen, and enjoy the wave of the new life waiting for you. Tips for best results: • Use headphones for the most immersive experience • Listen daily for at least 21–30 days • Use this session when you can fully relax and won't be disturbed • Avoid multitasking during hypnosis This session is one of the many premium recordings found inside my BELIEVE app — where you'll find over 1000 high-quality hypnosis, meditation, and affirmation sessions covering every area of manifesting success. — Helpful Links: → Get the BELIEVE App with 1000+ sessions: https://www.believehypnosis.app → Download individual MP3s from my library: https://www.hyptalk.com → Take full transformational courses: https://www.personalgrowthclub.com → Work with me or learn more: https://www.victoriamgallagher.com → Grab your copy of Practical Law of Attraction: https://a.co/d/5VUdyAu Thanks for listening to the Power of Your Mind podcast. If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to rate and review — it helps more people discover these powerful tools. Stay consistent. Stay focused. And most importantly, believe in what's possible for you. – Victoria
Did you know there's MAGIC in your Meditation Practice? Say Goodbye to Anxiety and Hello to More Peace & More Prosperity! Here Are the 5 Secrets on How to Unleash Your Meditation Magic https://womensmeditationnetwork.com/5secrets Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player. Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Let yourself relax, As you find the slow rhythm of your breathing. Let it slow you down. Allow your body to melt. Allow your mind to clear. And come into yourself. PAUSE (10 SEC)... Connect to yourself. And know who you are. Join our Premium Sleep for Women Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Sleep podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here --> https://bit.ly/sleepforwomen Join our Premium Meditation for Kids Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Kids podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here → https://bit.ly/meditationforkidsapple Hey, I'm so glad you're taking the time to be with us today. My team and I are dedicated to making sure you have all the meditations you need throughout all the seasons of your life. If there's a meditation you desire, but can't find, email us at Katie Krimitsos to make a request. We'd love to create what you want! Namaste, Beautiful,
In today's episode, Gina discusses the implications of what-if thinking for people with anxiety and shares a calming guided meditation to help remedy this adverse mental tendency. We are reminded that we can fall into the what-if thinking trap easily and that our brain is only trying to protect us. Through the tools and meditation shared in this show, you can stop any what-if thinking you may be experiencing and prevent future occurrences from getting out of hand. Listen in today!Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors!https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/ Thank you for supporting The Anxiety Coaches Podcast. FREE MUST-HAVE RESOURCE FOR Calming Your Anxious Mind10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety Anxiety Coaches Podcast Group Coaching linkACPGroupCoaching.comTo learn more, go to:Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.comJoin our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership ProgramLearn more about our One-on-One Coaching What is anxiety? Find even more peace and calm with our Supercast premium access membership:For $5 a month, all episodes are ad-free! https://anxietycoaches.supercast.com/Here's what's included for $5/month:❤ New Ad-Free episodes every Sunday and Wednesday❤ Access to the entire Ad-free back-catalog with over 600 episodes❤ Premium meditations recorded with you in mind❤ And more fun surprises along the way!All this in your favorite podcast app!Chapters0:26 Introduction to Calmness7:26 Guided Meditation Begins9:15 Affirmations for the Present10:55 Creating Space for Calm12:25 Understanding the Mind's Nature13:32 Transitioning to Mantras16:42 Embracing Calm and Presence17:27 Conclusion and ReflectionSummaryIn this episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, I delve into the concept of future anxiety and the detrimental effects of overthinking. By exploring the 'what-if mind,' we unpack how these relentless thoughts can spiral into overwhelming anxiety. The discussion centers on recognizing where our concerns originate, often rooted in our instinct to protect ourselves. While our minds are hardwired to anticipate dangers and potential problems, this survival mechanism can easily turn into an exhausting cycle of worry.The show emphasizes that these what-ifs can feel convincing and powerful, often painting scenarios that never materialize while neglecting positive outcomes. This pattern leads to a narrowed perspective, amplifying fear beyond reality. I stress the importance of not fighting or suppressing these thoughts but rather acknowledging their presence and gently guiding the mind back to the present—where our true power lies.Throughout the episode, I share strategies to help listeners identify and manage their what-if thoughts. The key is early recognition—skills that can be cultivated over time. I discuss the significance of labeling anxious thoughts as they arise, reframing them to acknowledge that they are simply future predictions and not current facts. This technique enables listeners to replace anxiety with grounding affirmations and return to their breath, thereby reclaiming their calm.#AnxietyRelief, #FutureAnxiety, #Overthinking, #WorryLess, #CalmYourMind, #WhatIfs, #AnxietySupport, #StressRelief, #AnxietyAwareness, #AnxietyTips, #EmotionalWellness, #QuietMind, #Mindfulness, #PresentMoment, #ReturnToNow, #BeHereNow, #BePresent, #MindfulLiving, #InTheMoment, #MindfulnessPractice, #CalmMind, #PeaceOfMind, #GuidedMeditation, #MeditationPractice, #BreathingExercises, #Breathwork, #Grounding, #Mantra, #Affirmations, #DailyMeditation, #MeditationJourney, #MindfulBreathing, #MentalHealth, #MentalHealthMatters, #SelfCare, #SelfLove, #PersonalGrowth, #InnerPeace, #Wellness, #Wellbeing, #Healing, #EndTheStigma, #AnxietyCoachesPodcast, #GinaRyan, #AnxietyCoach, #LifeCoach, #WellnessPodcast, #Coaching, #PodcastLife. #ACPSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Links & resources:To follow more info about the podcast@levelup.debbienealCheck out my personal instagram account@debbie_neal
A podcast doesn't last without the support of its friends. We're beyond grateful to fellow comic book maniacs like Badr Milligan of The Short Box, Chris Hacker and Aaron Knowles of The Oblivion Bar, and David Harper of Off Panel. Hopefully, you already subscribe to these shows, and if not, after this week's episode, you will. In October, we assembled in the Javits Center basement during New York Comic Con in an effort to share our four unique vibes with a single crowd. Weeks later, you can now experience the MaCoBoPoCro Event (or, Massive Comic Book Podcast Crossover Event). And, guess what? If video is your thing, you can actually watch the event on the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube page. This Week's Sponsors This November, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, the terrifying comic book prequel series to the classic, 90s, hellraising sci-fi film, reaches its epic third issue, and if you always wanted to know the gory details about exactly what went down when the Event Horizon crew were transported to hell, this is the issue you cannot miss. From writer Christian Ward and artist Tristan Jones, Event Horizon: Dark Descent #3 lands in comic book shops on November 12th courtesy of IDW Publishing, with a killer cover by Jeffrey Alan Love and a variant cover by Chris Burnham. "The dead have appeared to me — and there is something else loose upon the ship. If you can hear me, it may be too late for you. LIBERA TE TUTEMET EX INFERIS!" Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it'll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You'll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics CBCC at NYCC: Michael Walsh and Tristan Jones CBCC at NYCC: Alex Firer and Fred C. Stressing CBCC at NYCC: The Doughboys CBCC at NYCC Watch The Harvey Awards on Popverse Comic Book Film Club 11/16 at 5 PM EST: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp at the Winchester Alamo Drafthouse, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
Hal Elrod is the bestselling author of "The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM)." The book offers a practical morning routine that has transformed the lives of over 3 million people. In this episode, Hal describes discovering the six practices that became the SAVERS method (Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, Scribing) during the 2008 financial crisis when he needed to rebuild his life and income. He shares how implementing these practices every morning doubled his income within two months and became the foundation for helping millions of others. Listen to the full episode to hear how Hal turned life's hardest moments into practical tools for personal transformation and daily excellence. You can find episode 485 on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! Watch this Episode on YouTube | Hal Elrod on Transform Your Life (Before 8AM) https://bit.ly/TLP-485 Key Takeaways [02:44] Hal reveals he realized during cancer at 37 that he was a workaholic, so now he drives his kids to school daily and shortens his workday to align with his family priority. [04:33] Hal explains he learned the five minute rule at age 20 selling Cutco by feeling emotions for five minutes then saying "can't change it" and moving forward. [07:25] Hal recounts being hit by a drunk driver at 70 mph at age 20 where he broke 11 bones and died at the scene for six minutes but applied the five minute rule to accept his reality. [13:26] Hal confirms the five minute rule is the practical bridge to Viktor Frankl's concept of choosing one's attitude in any circumstance. [21:05] Hal explains the Miracle Morning program and why the morning routine is important for making every day your best day. [29:37] Hal shares that the expanded edition of his book adds 20 pages to the SAVERS section and two new chapters called the Miracle Evening and the Miracle Life. [33:00] Hal shares that he gives up three hours of work each day to drive his kids to school, choosing lasting memories with them over more book sales. [37:58] Hal explains that his experiences guide him toward a higher power's purpose and shares that his parents' response to his sister's death taught him to turn adversity into service. [43:12] Hal defines a good life as fulfilling your potential in service of others by showing up as your best self every day from a place of love. [46:16] And remember…"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." - Marcus Aurelius Quotable Quotes "It's okay to be negative and get upset when things don't go your way, but do not dwell on it for an extended period of time." "Set your timer for five minutes and give yourself five minutes to feel your emotions fully. Don't suppress them, don't try to act the way you think you should. Bitch, moan, complain, cry, vent, whatever you gotta do." "Every painful emotion that we experienced was self created by our resistance to our reality." "The last of man's freedoms, is to choose one's own attitude in any given set of circumstances." "You cannot change reality in this moment as it exists. You can only do things in this moment to change the next moment or the moment after that." "I believe that we create our own statistics." "Your level of success will seldom exceed your level of personal development." "If you win the morning, you win the day because you're putting yourself in a peak physical, mental, emotional and spiritual state." "Family men with businesses, not businessmen with families." (Front Row Dads tagline) "Everything you've been through is intentional and it's part of your journey, so you can help as many people as you possibly can." "Every day you wake up and you ask like, what's the best version of myself today? How can I show up at my best? How can I fulfill my limitless God given potential today?It's fulfilling your potential in service of others." These are the books mentioned in this episode Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by | www.darley.com Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com Hal Elrod Website | http://miraclemorning.com Achieve Your Goals Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/achieve-your-goals-with-hal-elrod/id820889267 Hal Elrod X | @halelrod Hal Elrod Facebook | www.facebook.com/groups/MyTMMCommunity Hal Elrod LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/hal-elrod-aa054324a Hal Elrod Instagram | @hal_elrod Watch The Miracle Morning Movie for free: https://miraclemorning.com/movie/ The Miracle Morning App | https://miraclemorning.app/
If you ever feel guilty taking a break or worry that rest makes you "lazy," this affirmation episode is for you. These guided affirmations are designed to help you rewire the belief that your worth is tied to productivity and begin embracing rest as a vital part of your well-being. Listen daily for 30 days to retrain your mind to see rest and self-care not as indulgences, but as essential acts of balance and self-respect. In this episode, you'll hear affirmations that help you: Release guilt around resting and slowing down Remember that your worth isn't defined by how much you do Honor your body's natural need for recovery and stillness See self-care as a foundation for sustainable success Embrace peace, presence, and calm throughout your day Related episodes: Positive affirmations for calm, relaxation, and confidence (for overachievers): https://youtu.be/yRBuk18AJHs Affirmations for confidence and self-worth (for high-achievers): https://youtu.be/b2yt2udqaSo Positive affirmations for perfectionism: https://youtu.be/HpqCdplT9uM ——————— Calmly Coping is a self-improvement podcast for high achievers who struggle with high-functioning anxiety to help you feel more calm, balanced, and confident from within. ——————— ✨ Enroll in the Calm & Ambitious Resource Vault: https://www.calmlycoping.com/vault
In this episode, we share affirmations to help you appreciate your unique qualities. We'll explore how small daily reminders can lead to deep self-approval.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we discuss how to craft affirmations that feel natural and empowering. We explore how wording and emotion can turn simple sentences into daily motivation.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we end the day with calming affirmations that support overnight healing and healthy transformation. We focus on releasing guilt and nurturing a peaceful relationship with your body.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we talk about how affirmations align your energy with what you want to attract. We explain how your words can shift your vibration and reality.https://selfpause.com/app/
Your words have the power to shape souls—so use them to affirm, encourage, and breathe life into those around you. -------- Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
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A generous spirit is a magnet for blessings. These affirmations help cultivate a mindset of abundance that finds joy in giving, sharing, and contributing, creating a beautiful cycle of prosperity and connection in your life. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A generous spirit is a magnet for blessings. These affirmations help cultivate a mindset of abundance that finds joy in giving, sharing, and contributing, creating a beautiful cycle of prosperity and connection in your life. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, we tap into affirmations that reignite your motivation and commitment. We focus on rebuilding inner confidence and belief in your ability to succeed.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we explore affirmations proven to enhance confidence and communication. We look at how words can reshape how you lead, decide, and inspire others.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we dive into how affirmations help you align with the life you desire. We explain how speaking your goals with conviction turns them into reality.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we review studies on the effectiveness of affirmations. We separate evidence-based insights from social media hype.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we share affirmations tailored to each trimester, helping you stay grounded and positive as your body and emotions evolve.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we go over how to design affirmations that feel real and powerful. We cover the importance of wording, emotion, and repetition.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we talk about writing affirmations that sound like your real voice. We explore how authenticity makes them more effective in changing your thoughts.https://selfpause.com/app/
You asked for another subliminal, and here it is! If you enjoy my subliminals and want me to create more, just leave a comment.Let your tension melt away with this relaxing subliminal from Hypno Wellness.If you've been carrying stress in your neck or shoulders, this gentle session helps your body release tightness and restore calm.Soft, layered affirmations work quietly in the background to retrain your subconscious toward ease, posture balance, and inner peace.You can listen while you rest, read, or sleep.The more you play it, the more natural relaxation becomes.
Welcome to the first of our physical reset tools. Your constant exposure to notifications leaves your nervous system fragmented and erratic. Today, we deploy The Neural Navigator Breath—a calming, rhythmic technique (Nadi Shodhana) scientifically proven to balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain. This practice is your fast-pass out of the agitated Default Mode Network (DMN), stabilizing your attention and preparing your mind for immediate, high-quality concentration." This is day 3 of a 7-day meditation series, "Rewiring Your Attention Span for Laser Focus & Deep Work," episodes 3409-3419. YOUR WEEKLY CHALLENGE: The 10-minute Friction Fighter When the craving hits, do not touch the device. Immediately perform The Neural Navigator Breath and assume the Hakini Mudra for 60 seconds. Set a mental or physical timer for 10 minutes. This challenge uses behavioral conditioning to increase your brain's craving tolerance. By intentionally delaying the dopamine hit, you weaken the immediate reward circuit, making high-value, sustained tasks (like Deep Work) feel less effortful and more naturally rewarding over time. THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION JOURNEY Welcome to Dopamine Detox: Rewiring Your Attention Span for Laser Focus & Deep Work! If you feel like your attention is constantly being held hostage—pulled between notifications, endless tabs, and the relentless urge to scroll—you are not alone. In our hyper-stimulated world, distraction isn't a moral failing; it's a chemical problem. Your brain has been systematically trained by technology to seek out the tiny, instant gratification hits of dopamine that low-value tasks provide. This constant craving leaves you exhausted, scattered, and stuck in the restless loop of the Default Mode Network (DMN), making true, high-quality concentration feel impossible. This week, we are fighting fire with Neuroplasticity. This 7-day series isn't just about trying harder; it's about giving your brain a complete reboot. We will introduce targeted, science-backed meditation tools that strategically decrease your brain's dependence on instant hits and build the myelin sheaths required for Deep Work. By the end of this journey, you will have moved from reacting to distraction to proactively commanding your focus. You will build an unbreakable internal system that allows you to bypass analysis paralysis, overcome the resistance of starting difficult tasks, and enter the elusive Flow State on demand. Get ready to transform your attention span from a liability into your most powerful competitive advantage. Day 1: Release Fear Visualization Day 2: Affirmation: "I am present, focused, and my attention is my superpower." Day 3: Neural Navigator Breath Day 4: Hakini mudra for focus Day 5: Third Chakra for Clarity Day 6: Mental Focus Flow meditation, combining the week's techniques Day 7: Weekly review meditation and closure SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me on https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual! WAYS TO SUPPORT THE DAILY MEDITATION PODCAST SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support. I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com. FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques are shared at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/ sip and om Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/ SIP AND OM MEDITATION APP Looking for a little more support? If you're ready for a more in-depth meditation experience, allow Mary to guide you in daily 30-minute guided meditations on the Sip and Om meditation app. Give it a whirl for 7-days free! Receive access to 2,000+ 30-minute guided meditations customized around a weekly theme to help you manage emotions. Receive a Clarity Journal and a Slow Down Guide customized for each weekly theme. 2-Week's Free Access on iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.Let go of repetitive negative thoughts. The beach waves were composed by Mike Koenig. Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.
In this episode, Christina Lecuyer gets real about clarity, boundaries, and choosing yourself—especially when the holiday season starts pulling you in every direction. If you've ever struggled to say no, felt guilty prioritizing your needs, or found yourself overwhelmed trying to make everyone happy, this conversation is one you'll want to hear.Christina breaks down what it means to be “selfish” in a way that's actually healthy, empowering, and necessary for a life that feels aligned. Because when you're clear on what you want, you not only show up better for yourself—you show up better for everyone around you.
Tap into The Power of Your Mind using Law of Attraction and Hypnosis Techniques
You're about to listen to, #446 Let Go Hypnosis Session, a guided session of hypnotherapy designed to help you release old attachments, emotions, and resistance so you can create space for new possibilities. This session is all about letting go — of what no longer serves you, of outdated beliefs, of energy that's been weighing you down. When you release resistance, you create the energetic space needed for growth, expansion, and the arrival of what you've been asking for. Through this guided hypnotherapy experience, you'll gently detach from old emotional patterns, dissolve blocks that have kept you stuck, and open yourself to receiving what's meant for you. You'll feel lighter, clearer, and more in alignment with the flow of abundance and ease. Here's what you can expect in this session: – A calming induction to help you fully relax and release tension – Guided visualization to clear out emotional and energetic clutter – Affirmations to reinforce your readiness for renewal – Energy cleansing techniques to restore balance and lightness – A closing integration to anchor your new state of openness This session will help you with using the Law of Attraction to lighten your mental load and welcome in everything that has been waiting for you. Tips for best results: • Use headphones for the most immersive experience • Listen daily for at least 21–30 days • Use this session when you can fully relax and won't be disturbed • Avoid multitasking during hypnosis This session is one of the many premium recordings found inside my BELIEVE app — where you'll find over 1000 high-quality hypnosis, meditation, and affirmation sessions covering every area of manifesting success. — Helpful Links: → Get the BELIEVE App with 1000+ sessions: https://www.believehypnosis.app → Download individual MP3s from my library: https://www.hyptalk.com → Take full transformational courses: https://www.personalgrowthclub.com → Work with me or learn more: https://www.victoriamgallagher.com → Grab your copy of Practical Law of Attraction: https://a.co/d/5VUdyAu Thanks for listening to the Power of Your Mind podcast. If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to rate and review — it helps more people discover these powerful tools. Stay consistent. Stay focused. And most importantly, believe in what's possible for you. – Victoria
Send us a textFrom being stuck in the kitchen, at the gym, or on your yoga mat - today episode is to help you get "un-stuck"Support the showTCY has a HOME on the internet! Give the website some love by clicking here!Shop TCY SwagWanna chat? Let's connect on the gram @thecaffeinatedyogico AND @caffeinatedyogitalksInterested in working together? Click here for details on 1:1 fitness, nutrition, or mobility coaching. There are also links to all things Sky's The Limit Yoga Co (like yoga events, and yoga teacher training). , 'POD10' saves on all 1:1 fitness, mobility and nutrition guidance with yours truly! Save on all things :: No Cow **this company is no longer using code! Tap here to save and support the showManduka with the code "DanielleC10"FRE Skincare with the code "Danyell"CHIKE Nutrition with code "TCY"And head over to my Amazon page to shop items on use on the reg.
In this episode, we guide you through affirmations that promote mindfulness and presence while eating. You'll learn to listen to your body and enjoy every bite without guilt.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we use calming affirmations to center your thoughts and enhance focus. We let go of tension and invite clarity into your daily routine.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we explore how affirmations build a mindful mindset. We discuss integrating them into meditation for improved focus and mental clarity.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we challenge the hype around affirmations and explore their actual impact. We look at why mindset shifts take more than repeating positive phrases.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we use affirmations to build a mindset of freedom, discipline, and confidence. We'll shift from spending impulsively to saving intentionally.https://selfpause.com/app/
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Your mind is a powerful transmitter. This session uses the principles of the Law of Attraction to tune your thoughts and feelings to the frequency of your dreams, helping you manifest your desires more quickly and effortlessly. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Your mind is a powerful transmitter. This session uses the principles of the Law of Attraction to tune your thoughts and feelings to the frequency of your dreams, helping you manifest your desires more quickly and effortlessly. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wai-Chin Matsuoka guides us in her contemplative practice, "Havening with Affirmations," from our Autumn issue.Wai-Chin Matsuoka is adjunct faculty at Christos Center for Spiritual Formation's Tending the Holy, and served on staff and as coordinator of the Chicago satellite program and as a facilitator for Alumni Development. She is also a trained supervisor for spiritual directors and a facilitator of her Soul-Tending Retreats. With more than two decades of experience in facilitating others into healing encounters with God the Divine Physician, Wai-Chin helps others “doula” new life from the ashes of trauma, change, and transition. Wai-Chin is credentialed as an Ensoulment Coach to guide others to live from the fullness of their souls, a certified InterPlay leader, and a Focused Energy Balance Index (FEBI) coach. These somatic streams add a holistic dimension to her spiritual companionship that is mind-body-heart-spirit focused.
In this episode, we explore what consistent affirmations do to your thoughts and emotions. We break down how habit and repetition change your inner narrative.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we go over the right and wrong ways to use affirmations. We explain how intention and emotion make all the difference.https://selfpause.com/app/
In this episode, we use affirmations to lift your spirit when life feels heavy. We speak strength, hope, and self-assurance into your day.https://selfpause.com/app/
Did you know there's MAGIC in your Meditation Practice? Say Goodbye to Anxiety and Hello to More Peace & More Prosperity! Here Are the 5 Secrets on How to Unleash Your Meditation Magic https://womensmeditationnetwork.com/5secrets Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player. Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Slow yourself down, As you come deep into your body. PAUSE (5 SEC)... Feel the slow waves of your breathing, Going in, And out. In, And out. Relax, And notice your mind clear. Join our Premium Sleep for Women Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Sleep podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here --> https://bit.ly/sleepforwomen Join our Premium Meditation for Kids Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Kids podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here → https://bit.ly/meditationforkidsapple Hey, I'm so glad you're taking the time to be with us today. My team and I are dedicated to making sure you have all the meditations you need throughout all the seasons of your life. If there's a meditation you desire, but can't find, email us at Katie Krimitsos to make a request. We'd love to create what you want! Namaste, Beautiful,
Did you know there's MAGIC in your Meditation Practice? Say Goodbye to Anxiety and Hello to More Peace & More Prosperity! Here Are the 5 Secrets on How to Unleash Your Meditation Magic https://womensmeditationnetwork.com/5secrets Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player. Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Relax, And breathe deep into yourself. And as you exhale, Melt yourself into comfort, As you sink further into this moment. PAUSE… Relax… And find the rhythm of your breath. Letting it slow down your mind, And slow down your body. PAUSE… Bring your thoughts and emotions to the surface, Coaxing them out of you with your inhale, And then letting them all go as you exhale. Join our Premium Sleep for Women Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Sleep podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here --> https://bit.ly/sleepforwomen Join our Premium Meditation for Kids Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Kids podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here → https://bit.ly/meditationforkidsapple Hey, I'm so glad you're taking the time to be with us today. My team and I are dedicated to making sure you have all the meditations you need throughout all the seasons of your life. If there's a meditation you desire, but can't find, email us at Katie Krimitsos to make a request. We'd love to create what you want! Namaste, Beautiful,
Thank you to our lovely sponsors : *SHOPIFY: Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://www.shopify.com/habitsofagoddess *THE REAL REAL: The RealReal is the world's largest and most trusted resource for authenticated luxury resale. And this month, you can get an extra one hundred dollar site credit when you sell for the first time. Go to https://www.therealreal.com/habits *BETTERHELP: Get matched today with a licensed therapist when you visit https://www.betterhelp.com/habitsofagoddess . * Follow and connect with me here: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jasminerasco1?_t=ZT-90xO4XoWDSH&_r=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/habitsofagoddess and Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@habitsofagoddess/videos *Here's how to support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitofagoddess *Book a Goddess Chat session with me: https://habitofagoddess.com/products/goddess-chat-calls Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sleep affirmations for subconscious programming to attract wealth, financial freedom, and create a healthier money mindset. As old limitations dissolve, the subconscious can open to being worthy of wealth. Over time, the subconscious begins shifting toward thoughts, emotions and actions that align with financial freedom and wealth.May this audio help you welcome prosperity, attract opportunity and create a peaceful, empowered future around money and wealth.For best results, listen as often as you like. Lots of love, Nicky xDo not play this audio while driving or doing anything else.This audio and its contents are for entertainment purposes only and must never be considered a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you suffer from any kind of mental health condition, please seek advice from your health care professional as to the suitability of 'sleep meditation' for you before use. Keep your audio volume to a comfortable, somewhat quiet level. Otherwise, as with any loud sound, sleep could be disrupted. Thank you.© 2025 Nicky Sutton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, we uncover affirmations that help leaders strengthen communication and boost morale. In this episode, we focus on using words to reinforce confidence and clarity in management.https://selfpause.com/app/