Homebody with Maddie

When you need a daily D.O.S.E. of happiness (Unlocking your brain's well being chemicals + daily activities to release them)

Recently I heard about the challenge of implementing activities into your day to promote a "daily D.O.S.E." of feel good neurotransmitters/hormones. These four neuro happy chemicals are dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. Each serves a unique physiological purpose within your body and can affect things like anxiety levels, productivity, and digestion. 
I believe that God created us so specifically to live an abundant life, and in this episode we're talking all about the activities you can do to promote the production and release of happy hormones into your body naturally! We'll also be diving into the importance of making these activities routine, what a deficiency of each neurotransmitter does to your body, and how you can avoid toxic activities that deplete your stores of them.
Thanks for listening :)

Forgiveness Part 3: When you thought you were gonna get off easy (Why you must ask for forgiveness before you can extend it)

We're taught over and over about the importance of forgiving others in order to be forgiven ourselves, but recently I learned that there is another step that comes before being forgiven... Repentance.
We often wonder why those who have hurt us refuse to apologize to or reconcile with us, but rarely do we assess our own histories to see if there's anyone we've hurt who may be wondering the same thing about us.
The Bible commands us to confess our transgressions and to make things right with people we've hurt, but why do we find it so hard to do so?
In this episode we'll be talking about why we must repent, who we need to repent to, the benefits of apologizing, and how to go about it. Plus, I'll be sharing my own recent story of repenting to someone whom I had tried to forget and how the Lord used it to teach me a thing or two about forgiveness.
Thanks for listening :)

Forgiveness Part 2: When you're ready to forgive but don't know how (+ 4 tips for practicing forgiveness daily)

No matter the hurt we've experienced, bitterness creeping into our lives can cause a lot of pain, and eventually we're all confronted with the call to forgive. But, despite our best efforts, sometimes we're left disappointed and confused about why the pain of the past is not subsiding.
I used to think that the right mix of words perfectly strung together in prayer would magically release the weight of unforgiveness so that I never had to look back at the hurt or the people who caused it. But eventually I learned that forgiveness is more than a one-time phrase or confession- it is, like all spiritual disciplines, a daily practice.
Join me in part two of our series as we talk through four ways to practice forgiveness on a daily basis so that you can move forward in your healing journey.

Forgiveness Part 1: When unforgiveness hurts you more than it hurts them (+ 5 ways to know if you're holding a grudge)

The Bible is very clear about forgiving those who hurt you, but sometimes we prefer to sweep hurt under the rug, to pretend we've let go, or to ruminate on every bit of wrongdoing we've faced to protect ourselves. Unfortunately, none of these approaches actually deal with the issue- and unforgiveness continues to wreak havoc on our bodies and souls.
In this series, we'll be covering the topic of forgiveness as we're commanded to do it, along with practical, everyday ways to truly forgive those who have hurt you and finally heal. To start, we're going to be talking about some of the damage withholding forgiveness can do to you, along with 5 ways to know if you're holding a grudge.
Thanks for listening :)

Summer Health Series Part 6: When stiffness has taken over your mind and body

When discussing health, we cannot ignore the fact that our bodies and souls are deeply intertwined. Our mental and emotional experiences affect our physical health, and vice versa. 
In the final installment of our Summer Health Series, we're diving into flexibility. Do you deal with chronically stiff back and leg muscles? Is the rigidity of your body causing you pain? What about the rigidity in your thinking and feeling? Have you thought to address it?
We'll also be going over top tips to increase both your physical and mental flexibility so that you can feel better, think better, and become more open to what the Lord has for you.
Thanks for listening :)

Summer Health Series Part 5: When you're battling chronic stress

In the fifth installment of our summer health series, we're talking all about stress- what it is, how it affects us mentally and physically, and ten ways we can alleviate it. Whether you're facing heavy, chronic stressors in your daily life or you're being proactive by adding tools to your toolkit for when stress does rear its ugly head, this episode is for you!
As always, thanks for listening. :)

Summer Health Series Part 4: When exercise feels like a chore and you need some new inspiration

Usually when we hear the word "exercise" we're immediately bombarded with feelings of exhaustion, disgust, and disdain. Somehow we've been convinced that moving our bodies means we must force ourselves into postures and practices that we hate in order to look a way that will please people we don't even know... but what if it's not supposed to be this way?
Is there a way to make exercise enjoyable? Is God honored when we move our bodies? Were we created to do it anyway?
In this episode of Homebody, we're talking about shifting our mindset around exercise and how taking care of our physical bodies can impact us spiritually more than we think.
Thanks for listening :)

Summer Health Series Part 3: When you want to eat healthy but you don't know how

Everyday we are bombarded with mixed messages around food: Cut out all processed foods. Eat whatever you want. Kill your cravings. Everything in moderation. But no sugar or carbs. It's hard to process all of these things and to feel confident about our food choices, no matter what our health goals are.
So what is God's design for us? Should we only eat what we can hunt and gather? Should we eat to be skinny? Or eat foods we hate just for nutritional value?
In this episode of Homebody, we're diving into some of these questions to get to the root of why we're designed to eat healthy. And it may not be what you think...
Thanks so much for listening. :)

Summer Health Series Part 2: When you don't like the taste of water

Our bodies are 60% water, yet over 75% of Americans are dehydrated. We're told everyday that we should be drinking more, yet we barely bother to fill our cups. Why is that? And why did God create us to need water in the first place?
In this episode of Homebody, we're talking all about water, what it represents, what it can do for us, and why God created us to need it. 
Some scripture references: Genesis 1, John 4, John 19, Luke 11, Psalm 63

Summer Health Series Part 1: When you're a slave to the system and you don't even know it

Hello everyone!!
I am so excited to be back with the first part of our Summer Health Series! In this intro episode, we're talking about our mindsets regarding health and wellness and how much of what we believe is actually true. Romans 12:1-2 reminds us not to conform to the patterns of this world, but to renew our minds regarding EVERYTHING in our lives (including our approach to wellness!) so that we can test and approve what God's will is for us.
I am overjoyed to continue this series and I can't wait to talk to you next week!
Thanks for listening :)