As we step into a new year, there is so much conversation around fresh starts, clean slates, resolutions, and becoming a new version of ourselves. In this episode, I talk honestly about why that idea can feel both hopeful and heavy at the same time. While the new year promises possibility, it often brings pressure, comparison, and unrealistic expectations that leave many of us discouraged before we even begin.

I also share a little about why I took a break from recording over the holidays and why rest and resetting are sometimes necessary, especially in full and demanding seasons of life. Pausing does not mean quitting or falling behind. Sometimes it is exactly what we need to move forward in a healthier way.

In this episode, I unpack why we are drawn to the idea of starting fresh, why starting over is not always the answer, and how chasing reinvention can sometimes cause us to miss refinement. I explore what Scripture actually says about new beginnings, reminding us that God offers renewal daily, not just once a year. His mercies are new every morning, not just every January.

We talk about the difference between resolutions and spiritual growth, and why self fixing often leads to burnout while God following leads to transformation. I reflect on how Jesus calls us into relationship rather than perfection and how real change happens through abiding, not striving.

I also share practical and realistic ways to approach the new year with intention and grace. This includes taking inventory instead of making endless lists, choosing rhythms over resolutions, setting intentions that align with who you are becoming, and remembering that growth is often quiet and unseen.

If you are entering this year feeling weary, behind, or disappointed with how the last season went, this episode is for you. Starting fresh does not mean starting over. Sometimes it simply means continuing forward with more wisdom, humility, and trust than before.

My prayer is that as we move into this new year, you would feel less pressure and more peace, less striving and more clarity, and a deeper awareness that God is walking with you right where you are.

Thank you for being here and for stepping into another season with me.

In this episode of Thrive Through the Fire, I talk about something many of us quietly struggle with but often feel uncomfortable admitting. The holidays can be hard. They are hard even when everything in life is good, and they can feel especially heavy when we are walking through something difficult. As a mom of four, I feel the pressure every year to make the season magical, to give my family memories and experiences, and to hold it all together. Yet there have been years when I showed up to holiday gatherings carrying pain, exhaustion, or discouragement, and I did not want to feel like a burden or a bummer to everyone around me.

In this episode, I share my own story of what it feels like to go through something challenging during the holidays and how isolating it can be. I open up about what it is like to be in a room full of people who seem joyful when inside you feel broken or overwhelmed. I talk about how it affects you personally and how it affects the people around you who do not always know what to say or how to support you.

I also explore several stories from Scripture about people who wrestled with heavy emotions while the world around them was celebrating. Hannah is one of those people. Every year she traveled with her family to what was essentially a joyful holiday celebration, yet she carried deep grief and disappointment. While others were celebrating, she was weeping bitterly before God, and He met her right there.

I also talk about David, a man who felt deeply and honestly. His writings in the Psalms are full of emotional ups and downs that mirror the emotional whiplash so many of us experience during the holidays. One moment he was full of praise and the next he was overwhelmed with fear or sadness. His honesty reminds me that I do not have to hide my feelings from God.

I share about Elijah who reached a point of emotional and physical exhaustion after a major victory. He told God he had nothing left to give. Instead of correcting him, God sent rest, nourishment, and comfort. Elijah’s story mirrors exactly what many of us feel when we are burnt out or depleted during the holiday season.

I also reflect on Jesus who understood emotion better than anyone. He experienced grief, exhaustion, pressure, and sorrow. When Lazarus died, Jesus wept even though He knew resurrection was coming. He shows me that God does not rush my healing. He sits with me in my sorrow before He leads me toward joy.

These biblical stories remind me that the people in Scripture were not spiritual superheroes. They were people who felt the full weight of human emotion, just like we do. Their lives show me that God always meets us where we are, including during the messy, complicated, emotional moments we experience around the holidays.

I offer practical advice in this episode for anyone navigating a hard season. I share how to set gentle expectations for yourself, how to make space for rest, how to communicate your needs, and how to hold room for both joy and sorrow at the same time. I also talk about the importance of having a small support system who can walk with you through the season without judgment or pressure.

My prayer is that this episode helps you feel seen and understood. If the holidays feel heavy for you, you are not alone. God is not offended by your sadness or overwhelmed by your emotions. He draws near to the brokenhearted and He promises to give rest to the weary. You do not have to pretend. You do not have to perform. You can show up exactly as you are, and God will meet you there.

Take a breath. Slow down. Let yourself feel what you feel. And trust that God is with you in every part of this season.

In this episode of Thrive Through the Fire, I talk about naturopaths, what they are, what they actually do, and why they can be such an important part of a healing journey. As someone who walked through cancer and learned to support my body in new ways, this topic has become incredibly personal and meaningful to me.

I explain how naturopaths look at the whole body instead of treating symptoms in isolation and how their approach focuses on finding the root cause, supporting the body's natural ability to heal, and addressing lifestyle factors like stress, sleep, nutrition, and hormones. I also talk about why people often turn to naturopaths when they need deeper answers, longer conversations, and a more complete picture of what their body is going through.

I share the space to tell my own story of working with a naturopath during my cancer recovery and how her wisdom opened my eyes to rest, melatonin, nutrition, and the importance of slowing down so my body could actually heal.

I also connect this topic to Scripture, showing how God designed our bodies with intention and how Jesus consistently cared for both the physical and emotional needs of the people He met. Rest, stewardship, and whole-person healing are all woven throughout the Bible, and this episode ties that spiritual layer into the conversation.

I wrap up with signs that you may benefit from working with a naturopath and encouragement to explore this type of support if you feel unheard, overwhelmed, or unsure where to turn next in your wellness journey.

If you are curious about holistic health, struggling with unexplained symptoms, recovering from illness, or simply wanting to understand your body better, this episode will give you insight, encouragement, and permission to pursue deeper healing.