Hey everyone, my name is Austin and welcome back
to another episode of Unfiltered Thoughts with
Austin. If you are just tuning in for the first
time, I would encourage you to click off of this
episode and go and listen to the first episode
titled, The Art in Finding Happiness in the Unlikely,
Part 1. Please tune into this episode once you're
finished with the previous one. Today I am thrilled
to continue our journey together and exploring
those little and big moments that bring light
into our lives, especially during tough times.
This is part two of a two -part episode where
we dive deep into the personal anecdotes shared
by you guys. Stories filled with resilience and
transformation and most importantly, joy. Let's
start with a little reminder of the psychological
benefits of focusing on the positives in our
lives. Research shows that When we actively seek
out the silver lining in our experiences, we
can significantly boost our mental well -being.
It's a skill we can all develop. The act of shifting
our perspectives from what's wrong to what's
right, from what we've lost to what remains,
is a practice that not only uplifts us, but also
inspires those around us. Today, we're not just
recounting stories of struggle. We're celebrating
the triumphs that arise from them. And speaking
of triumphs, let's dive into the first story,
a powerful testament to resilience and hope.
Life can throw us curveballs that leave us feeling
lost and overwhelmed. But as we'll discover together,
those very challenges can lead to unexpected
opportunities and even silver linings that we
never saw coming. I'd love to share a listener's
story that beautifully illustrates this point.
Lindsay wrote to me about when her mom was diagnosed
with breast cancer. Initially, it felt like the
end of the world. Seer in uncertainty clouded
her thoughts. She didn't know what would have
happened if she lost her mom. She trusted God
that he would heal her. But over time, she started
creating these scenarios in her head about the
situation that ultimately dug her into a deep
depressive hole. But as time went on, she decided
that enough was enough. She said she leaned on
the support of her friends and family around
her and asked them, all to pray that God would
heal her mom. God eventually healed her mom and
and now she says she's cancer free. Well, got
Lindsay through this tough experience was the
fact that she had countless people to lean on.
She had daily devotionals and went on the occasional
prayer walk. She said she found gratitude in
being comfortable about asking people for help
and receiving help as well as knowing that God
was always going to be there for her. and all
she had to do was spend time with people that
God brought into her life as well as God himself.
She expressed how this experience taught her
the importance of leaning on family, friends,
and God. An incredibly uplifting reminder that
sometimes when life gives us challenges, we can
always lean on friends, family, and God for more
support. Before we dive into some practical tips,
let me ask you this. Have you ever found joy
in an unexpected place? Think about it. When
we let go of the need to control every aspect
of our lives, we open ourselves up to new experiences
that can lead to happiness. Here are some practical
tips for embracing uncertainty with open arms.
First of all, we need to practice mindfulness.
Engage in mindfulness practices like meditation
or deep breathing techniques. This can help ground
you in the present moment and reduce anxiety
about the future. And secondly, let's create
flexibility mindset. Instead of rigid plans,
try to cultivate a mindset that welcomes flexibility,
allowing yourself to pivot and adapt. This can
lead to creativity and innovation in your thinking.
And then let's celebrate small wins. Focus on
the little victories in your day -to -day life,
whether it's finishing a book or discovering
a new favorite recipe. These moments matter.
Let's cultivate gratitude. Keep a gratitude journal
by regularly writing down what you're thankful
for. You'll start to shift your focus away from
what's uncertain, what's abundant in your life.
And then lastly, connect with others. Share your
feelings and experiences with friends or family.
You'll often find that you're not alone in your
uncertainties. And there's comfort in community.
Speaking of community, gratitude plays a huge
role in strengthening our bonds with others.
I want to highlight some incredible stories we've
received about people coming together during
hardships. It's truly inspiring how adversity
often brings out the best in humanity. Another
touching story comes from Colt. For Cole's entire
life, he lived a very healthy and athletic lifestyle.
He said he was in the best shape of his life
when he was about 24 years old. Well, one day
he said he was squatting at the gym and a disc
in his back pinched the sciatic nerve. He said
that due to the injury, he endured daily pain.
He could barely put his socks and shoes on. Some
time had passed and he thought he was healed
from his injury. So he went to play some basketball
and when he jumped up to make a basket, He said
he felt something really bad, and when he landed,
he felt something even worse. He said the next
morning he couldn't even walk. The pain from
his sciatic nerve went from his lower back to
his hip, to his hamstring, and his calf. And
at some time, he said the pain would reach his
foot. He said he was bed -dressed for an entire
summer. From hitting a super active lifestyle
to being bed -dressed, it was a shock. It was
horrible. It was a horrible experience for him.
He said he couldn't even go to the bathroom and
shower without pain. After a while with physical
therapy, he felt better physically, but emotionally,
he said he was crushed because that summer he
had signed up to be a leader at a church summer
camp. He said he was still able to go, but he
had to drive everywhere and couldn't participate
in much or anything at all. He said that during
worship, He couldn't even stand to praise God,
and that was devastating for him. He felt like
he was letting God down at the moment, but the
one thing that got him through it was a good
set of friends. He said that they rallied beside
him. One of them told Cole that he didn't have
to stand up to worship God. You can worship God
right where you are, and he will receive just
as much. In that moment, Cole recounts just sitting
down and lifting his hands during a song. story
comes from Nicole and similarly to Cole it highlights
navigating pain and loss only this time it's
an emotional struggle rather than a physical
one. Back in 2018 she lost her grandmother to
dementia and Alzheimer's. At first she said she
didn't know how to feel because she was feeling
so many emotions and they were conflicting with
each other. She and her grandma weren't particularly
close but at the same time She often felt like
she lost someone that she could have had a whole
life with. Nicole had a lot of things in common
with her grandma, like art and music. She says
she even felt lost on how to mourn her, and felt
even worse with the advice she was given. Didn't
hear a thing, but often hear things like, stay
busy and try not to dwell in any sad feelings
so you don't fall into depression and waste time.
Or, she's no longer with us so she's no longer
suffering. So, don't be sad anymore. And it's
in the past now. She said she found herself torn
up by the thought of what it meant to have lost
her grandma before really even getting too close
to her. She said she was grateful for her close
friend and his words of comfort and advice. The
advice he gave her was that it's okay to sit
with her feelings, allow herself to cry, and
see God. She said that in her time of distress,
she was thankful for his fate and found his understanding
of her pain and sadness to help her find peace
with her grandmother. her grandma's past. She
said she's grateful for him and uses that same
advice today and shares it with others. As we
reflect on these stories, let's remember that
tough times can lead to remarkable transformations,
not just for ourselves, but for the communities
we inhabit. It's during those difficult seasons
that we often discover the greatest depths of
our strengths and the warmth of human connection.
To every one of you who is listening to this,
Your experiences are invaluable. And by sharing
them, we can inspire one another and build a
tapestry of resilience that we can all draw from.
As we wrap up today's episode, let's take a moment
to celebrate those delightful moments of joy
that come when we least expect them. Whether
it's a kind word from a friend or a community
of people rallying together beside each other
and being there for a friend in need of some
support or whatever it might be. Let's remember
that happiness often lies just around the corner.
Thank you for joining me on this journey today.
I hope you feel inspired to look for the silver
linings in your life to embrace the joys that
come from uncertainty. Join me next week as I
dive deep into the nuanced distinction between
loneliness and solitude. As we navigate a world
increasingly shaped by social media, feelings
of isolation can easily creep in, often blurring
lines between being alone and feeling lonely.
Join me as we explore the psychological benefits
of embracing solitude, stereopractical tips for
carving out intentional quiet time, and discover
how to transform new feelings of loneliness into
opportunities for meaningful connections. Whether
you're seeking peace and stillness, or looking
to cultivate deeper relationships with others,
this episode will equip you with the tools to
foster a healthier mindset around your personal
space and social interactions. Tune in for another
unfiltered conversation that encourages reflection
and growth. Until next time, stay authentic and
keep seeking a fresh one.