The Alli Worthington Show

The Science and Scripture Behind Joy with Shaunti Feldhahn

When the calendar flipped to 2021, a lot of us felt relief. We made it through a challenging year, and, finally, it seemed like there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Well, friends, while things are getting better, nothing’s magically changed yet. It can be hard to find joy when it all feels the same.    That’s why I’ve asked my dear friend, Shaunti Feldhahn, to join me on the show today. Shaunti is my favorite social research, and I’m forever wowed by her ability to combine scripture with good, factual data.    She takes us on a journey through what science and scripture say about finding joy, recognizing when we need to trust God (spoiler: always), and how to find joy and happiness regardless of what’s going on around us.    In this episode, she helps us:  Identify practical ways to look for joy in the everyday Discover what research and scripture say about a joyful life Create boundaries on negative thinking  Reaffirm that we need to trust God and his purpose for our lives, especially in times of uncertainty     Favorite quotes:   1. We're actually challenged by the fact that God says that joy is supposed to be the characteristic of the Christian, regardless of whether it's dark and cold or beautiful outside. 2. It's really astounding how God has created us. When we focus on the things that are worthy of gratitude, that emotion, that joy is one of the things that wells up inside us. 3. There is an interesting principle, about looking back, and remembering all the ways that God has been so faithful to us each time we've had a freak-out before and going ‘Oh yeah. Right.’ 4. God never, ever promises us that there is going to be this constant overflowing of time, or provision, or energy. It's always that we have enough for that day, that moment, as long as we follow the shepherd.   Great things we discussed:  1. Shaunti Feldhahn   2. Find Joy: A Devotional Journey to Unshakable Wonder in an Uncertain World   3. Understanding Green Pastures    4. Francine Rivers: Mark of the Lion Series 5.  Lord of The Rings 6. Gulu bags   7. Soul    8. Standing Strong   Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :)   xo, Alli www.alliworthington.com/shauntifeldhahn2021   

Giving up guilt with Valorie Burton

Have you ever noticed women tend to feel guilty more often than men? Whether it’s taking a day off or saying no to our children, there’s a lingering little voice inside us that second-guesses the decision we’ve made.    Well, friends, Valorie Burton is here to help us give up the guilt! Valorie is a talented writer, but more than that, she’s dedicated her career to researching how women can lead happier lives, be more successful, and, finally, let go of the never-ending guilt that threatens to hold us back.   In today’s episode, Valorie and I talk about the concept of false guilt and why it’s so important for women to understand their true callings from God. She also shares some practical strategies that we can implement right now to help us break free from the draining and sneaky cycles of guilt.    Stick around for the whole episode because we discuss:   What false guilt looks life in our everyday lives and how to spot it before it starts How to identify spiritual guilt and what to do about it Why conversations about guilt are essential in our relationships How parents can reconcile guilt brought on by the pandemic    Favorite quotes:   1. The thing about guilt is that if we allow it to take control, that’s when it becomes a problem because guilt is a message. 2. Oftentimes we need to notice when our guilt is triggered but also label your guilt.   3. We have to push through those feelings of guilt and be honest with ourselves. Because God will break those clouds open and that sunshine starts to come in.   4. It’s important to notice that your joy is missing. Notice what guilt is doing to dampen your joy and be willing to accept what is.    Great things we discussed:    1. Valorie Burton 2. Let Go of The Guilt 3.Curious George 4. Secrets of Six-Figure Women 5. Towel Warmer 6. Successful Women’s Academy   7. Greyhound    8. Standing Strong    Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli    www.alliworthington.com/valorieburton2

Showing up for your life with Hannah Brencher

Happy New Year, friend!    Joining me today on the show is mental health advocate, viral TED speaker, and author Hannah Brencher. Hannah is a dear friend of mine, and I’m thrilled to kick off the new year by sharing our conversation with you!   She shares with us the story of God leading her to show up for her life and how that inspired her latest book, Fighting Forward. In Fighting Forward Hannah cheers us on and encourages us to battle the lies we tell ourselves that hold us back from living out the life God wants for us.    We also talk about:   Taking back our stories from fear and how to practice courage and strength regularly Partnering with God to make changes for the better, not just for the sake of the calendar Digging deeper to look for God in new ways when we’re experiencing pain and loss   I sincerely hope you walk away from this conversation with Hannah feeling empowered to fight for God’s calling in your life this year.   Favorite quotes: 1. A lot of times I feel,  in the monotonous and the mundane, when we're getting to the edge we want to quit. That's when the breakthrough actually happens, you're actually closer than you think. 2. If I can look at the things that I'm doing as if all of this is progress, none of this is for naught, then I can't quit before I start to see the evidence of the actual moving and shaking of what God is doing. 3. The devil can't do much when you make the decision. Regardless, I am still going to keep showing up and that is not going to change the outcome of how I'm going to be here. 4. There are a lot of us sitting right now, waiting on something. And I think what's really important to know is that just because we've gone through these things, doesn't mean that you won't grieve, doesn't mean that you won't mourn. But at the same time, we cannot believe the lie that life is on pause because we are in this waiting or because we are suffering. Life is still very much happening all around us.   Great things we discussed:    1. Hannah Brencher Website   2. Fighting Forward: Your Nitty-Gritty Guide to Beating the Lies That Hold You Back   3.Hannah’s previous episode  4. The Queen’s Gambit 5. Crime Junkie 6. Bringing Up Bebe 7. Egg Cooker 8. Keurig  9. You Hold It All Together    10. Standing Strong    Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :)   xo, Alli  www.alliworthington.com/hannahbrencher2

Rejection, FOMO, and Living Loved from Fierce Faith

Friends, we made it to the end of 2020! Can you believe it?! At times, I didn’t think we’d get here, but here we are. And for some of us, we’ve been holding on to this expectation that if we just make it to the end of the year, things will get better. Our problems will go away. We’ll know how to better cope with suffering. The overwhelming amount of pain and trauma we’ve experienced will finally be in the past.    That expectation is lovely in theory, but really, it’s unnamed fear.    I don’t want you to head into the next week, the next month or the next year holding on to unnamed fears. When we do this, we’re saying we’d rather sit on the sidelines. That’s why I wanted to read Chapter 4 of my book Fierce Faith on the show today.   In “What If They Don’t Like Me?,” I share my own personal stories of rejection, and more importantly, how fear of rejection impacted my life. It’s not something we talk about often, fear of rejection, but it lingers in everything we do. Whether or not we post that picture of our accomplishment on Instagram. If we tell our partner about our new business idea. How we share something personal with a new friend.   I hope this chapter gives you a starting place to embrace 2021 with hope and confidence.   We break down:    1. How rejection causes us to overgeneralize and view the world from a place of hurt  2. The way Jesus dealt with rejection from his friends, disciples, and including his outcry to His own father.  3. What practical tools we can use to develop a battle plan for overcoming our fear of rejection and live a joy-filled life.    Links to great things: 1. Fierce Faith 2. Standing Strong   Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :)   xo, Alli    www.alliworthington.com/fiercefaith3

Prayer and why we can ask God for what we need

It’s almost Christmas, friends! On the show today, we’re going to dive into Chapter 10 from my latest book, Standing Strong.  I believe this chapter, which is titled Ask For It: I’m Relearning How Prayer Really Works, is especially relevant today as we look towards 2021 and what next year may bring. This chapter specifically talks about how God told me to walk away from a job I cared about and provided financial security for my family. I also share how God revealed to me that he truly wants to partner with us in our journey and how an intentional walk with him is really the adventure of a lifetime. And it all starts with prayer. Prayer is powerful, of course we know that. But our prayers also have the power to change God’s mind. He is always listening because he cares about us and he knows what matters to us. Inviting him along with us through prayer helps us better understand his plan for our life even when we’re resisting because we think we have it all figured out.  As we approach the end of 2020, I challenge you to begin asking for what you need in full faith that God will give you what is best for you.  As always, at the end of today’s episode, I share how to make it a habit to invite God into your work, your life and your relationships. I hope it makes a difference in your attitude towards prayer.  With the holidays quickly approaching, I am including you all in my prayers this week. Merry Christmas!  Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli  www.alliworthington.com/standingstrong2

For those who worry about things falling apart

Well, friends, I think it’s safe to say none of us are disappointed that 2020 is on its way out the door. As I planned what to talk about on the show today, I couldn’t help but think about how we’re all continuing to process everything that has happened this year while planning for the one to come. I felt a little nudge that I needed to talk about Chapter 9 of my book, Fierce Faith: A Woman's Guide to Fighting Fear, Wrestling Worry, and Overcoming Anxiety.  Way back in 2017, I titled that chapter “What If Things Fall Apart?”, and I don’t think anything could be more relevant right now. It feels like we are all a bit lost and lonely in our own wilderness because we’re afraid. Afraid of what’s to come. Afraid of what could be. Afraid of what our anxiety reveals about who we are. Afraid of what will happen if things actually fall apart. So I’m excited to share the chapter in its entirety with you today. It is my sincere hope for you that this chapter brings peace about the future and encourages you to find your own stones of remembrance to remind you of God's faithfulness. And stick around to the end to hear some practical tools and advice to fight fear and live with more confidence as we had into 2021.  Listen in to hear all about: 1. How fear can paralyze us from making our dreams come true 2. What can happen when we wait for the perfect moment to take action (and how it can keep us wandering around the desert for 40 years) 3. What God really thinks about our plans to become successful in all that we do Great things: 1. Standing Strong Hope you loved this episode! Share with a friend and be sure to subscribe in iTunes. While you're there: slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli

Enneagram Deep Dive with Marilyn Vancil

Hello Friends!   If you’ve been on the Internet at any point in the past couple of years, you’ve likely encountered the Enneagram. Or at least the watercolor, hand-lettered Instagram form of it.  Today, we’re pushing the memes aside (no matter how funny or true they may be!) and diving into Enneagram numbers, arrows and wings with the delightful Marilyn Vancil.  Marilyn is an author, Certified Enneagram Professional and spiritual director who uses the Enneagram to help others develop self-awareness so they can live out the unique life experience God created for them.  In her new book, Self to Lose, Self to Find: Using the Enneagram to Uncover Your True, God-Gifted Self, Marilyn explores the beloved, ancient personality typing system as a means to uncover greater freedom in one’s spiritual, emotional and relational life. We start out our conversation with a short refresher on the nine types of the Enneagram along with God’s gifts for each type. If you’re well-versed in the basics, you may want to skip ahead to about 29 minutes in. But if you’re anything like me, you’ll be interested in everything Marilyn has to say about the Enneagram. During our deep dive, Marilyn and I talk about:   1. The difference between the adaptive self and the authentic self and how to recognize them 2. What causes our disagreements with others more often than not 3. How our Enneagram wings create balance and nuance And stick around for our coaching segment, where I reveal how to determine if your business idea will work or not. Plus, I have a special offer just for this week! P.S. Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? If not, my team and I have your back! My FREE Christmas Gift Guide is over 40 pages of gift ideas for everyone on your list. Grab your copy at: www.alliworthington.com/christmas    Favorite quotes: The Enneagram helps give more definition, more understanding of what your particular obstacles are. It’s just a tool but it’s really helpful in discerning where it is we’re stuck. When we’re trying to determine our type it's good to look at what you are like under stress. Some people say you only have one wing. I think we have two and one is stronger than the other at times but we access both of them. They both influence you. We have our arrows. We have our wings. We have our dominant type. It’s really important to say this is the pattern. These are just patterns, these are not definitions. This is describing a pattern of being. It’s really important not to peg yourself or others.   In this episode I answer this question: I want to start a side business to bring in income for the family but I don’t know if I have the personality for it. How do I know if I can make it work? (50:47)   Great things we discussed:  1. Marilyn Vancil 2. Self to Lose Self to Find 3. This Is Us 4. The Liturgy of The Ordinary 5. Passion To Profit6. The Polar Express7. Tribl8. Weightless 9. Standing Strong   Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli  www.alliworthington.com/marilynvancil

Lysa Terkeurst on forgiving what you can’t forget

The holiday season is upon us! And while it brings us moments of reconnection, Christmas magic, and a whole lot of festive cheer, it can sometimes reveal deep pockets of pain that we haven’t fully addressed yet.   If you know all too well what I’m talking about, today’s episode is for you. I’m honored to share my conversation with author and speaker Lysa TerKeurst, but you may know her as the President of Proverbs 31 Ministries. She shares about her journey with forgiveness, specifically while dealing with a betrayal in her own home, and how she used it to find true healing.   In Lysa’s new book, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, she teaches us new ways to work through pain and move on with joy in our hearts. She brings a new level of honesty and vulnerability that helped me find a new perspective on this essential skill we all practice in our day-to-day lives.    Things we covered in this shorter-than-usual episode:  1. The shocking blessing of bitterness 2. The best time for forgiveness (the answer will surprise you!) 3. The false narrative we tell ourselves when we experience a trigger   After our conversation, stick around for our coaching time where I share listener-submitted questions about life, faith, and business!   And while you’re here, have you downloaded my FREE Christmas Gift Guide yet? My team and I spent weeks putting together this extensive guide to all things gifts, and I just know you’ll find the perfect item for everyone on your list. Grab your copy at alliworthington.com/christmas   One more thing, this is the last week to join Called Creatives at the introductory price of $19! After this week, the price jumps up to $29 (but if you join now, you’ll lock in the intro rate forever and ever amen).    Favorite quotes: 1. I always thought forgiveness was an unfair gift we have to give to the person who hurt us, and what I discovered is forgiveness is more about God giving the gift of healing to our hearts. 2. Forgiveness is both a decision and a process. 3. The blessing of bitterness is it actually shows us what a tender beautiful heart we have because bitterness doesn't often visit people with cold hearted hearts. Bitterness often comes to people who have loved deep so they got hurt really deep. 4. Forgiveness is supposed to be that step toward healing that we take early on, so that our heart can embrace, not just the reality of the situation, but the potential beauty of the life lessons we can learn along the way.   5. Boundaries aren't meant to shove another person away, but they are meant to help hold me together, so I can fully forgive someone.   In this episode I answer these questions: 1. What do I need to do to take care of my skin as I near my 40s? (30:17)   2. What should I do if I don't agree with all my church’s teachings? (36:30) 3. How do I know what to invest in my business? (40:36)   Great things we discussed:  1. Lysa Turkerust 2. Forgiving What You Can’t Forget 3. The Forgiveness Journal 4. Epionce 5. Bye Bye Foundation  6. Bare Minerals 7. The Crown 8. Take Courage  9. The 2020 Christmas Gift Guide    Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli  www.alliworthington.com/lysaterkeurst2

Healthy relationships with sugar and Social Media with Wendy Speake

Hey Friends! Joining me on the show today is author Wendy Speake, who is passionate about pointing others to Christ through the power of storytelling. She’s written many wonderful books on how we can help take back our lives from things that have power over us. So it’s safe to say we covered a lot of ground in our conversation, including how setting healthy boundaries with both sugar and social media can lead us to a deeper connection with God and how the stress of 2020 has impacted mothers especially. Plus, I’m sharing my best advice for handling overwhelm this season and the seemingly endless stream of information and opinions we’ve been bombarded with over the past few months.   Things we discussed:  1. How staying connected online can keep us distant from the ones who matter most   2. How triggering situations affect relationships and lines of communication between moms and their kids   3. How social media can act as a crutch to ignore our relationship with God   Favorite quotes: 1. God never asked us for a sugar sacrifice. He asked us for a living sacrifice. So we lay down sugar in order to feast on Him like we’re fasting but the whole goal is feasting. We’re taking a break from what we usually shove in our mouths, in our lives to say I want to consume you Lord. 2. The fast is so much more than a detox because we are lifting our eyes to see Christ, to see our people and then to see others.   3. If your device is your vice, if your device is divisive. It is separating you from God and others in real life. Take those details to the Lord.   4. It’s possible that when we turn to our pantries and our freezers to get us through our stress, that is actually causing us more stress. In this episode I answer this question: How do you not let information overwhelm you? (49:17)   Great things we discussed:  1. Wendy Speake (Website and Facebook)2. 40 Day Social Media Fast  3. Behold Him 4. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air5. The God Dare 6. Muscle milk chocolate powder  7. Mrs. Doubtfire 8. First Love  9. The 2020 Christmas Gift Guide  10. Standing Strong    Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli  www.alliworthington.com/wendyspeake

How to Break Busy for the Holidays

The holiday season is fast approaching, friends! But first, let’s take a moment to imagine what the holidays could look like if things were different. What if you started the season with less stress and more joy? What would it feel like if you ditched the Christmas chaos once and for all?  I’m sharing a chapter from my book, Breaking Busy, on today’s episode to give you a practical look at how you can do just that. Dive into Chapter 6 with me as we talk all about traditions, finding a way that works for us in a world of expectations, and how we can break being busy in the middle of what feels like the busiest time of year.  Plus, I’m sharing all the details about something my team’s been working hard on in the background for months now, The 2020 Christmas Gift Guide. Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli  www.AlliWorthington.com/Christmas