The Empowered Catholic Podcast

The energy you bring to your life makes a huge impact! Your positive energy will drive your success in all areas of life. Negative energy is sometimes useful, yet it’s your positive energy that creates the impacts you want. Sometimes it’s good to hide “in the cave” with your negative energy, yet it’s getting out of the cave to interact with your situation that creates all the difference. We want you to be empowered to create the energy you need to THRIVE in life. We are sharing about the Energy Level model. Resources: Your seven levels of energy, see iPEC’s explanation. Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

You have some signature strengths. These are virtues that you do particularly well. It might be perseverance, or kindness, hospitality, love of beauty, humor, or any of many other possibilities. Putting them to work for you with intentionality is an excellent way to excel, achieve, and to pursue happiness. (Happiness is a word we use to mean flourishing, or thriving). “Signature Strength” is a Martin Seligman term for key virtues that promote happiness. You can use them creatively to enhance your effectiveness, authenticity, happiness, and holiness. Resources Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment – January 5, 2004 - by Martin E. P. Seligman Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

Happiness is a primary goal of every human. It is inseparable from the human person. God made us to be happy and pursuing it is an important part of His plan for us. It’s part of our human nature. Positive psychology is the study of what makes people authentically happy. What do happy people have in common, and what is it that they DO that helps them get happy and stay that way? In fact, one study even found a correlation between longevity and cheerfulness. One of the models for authentic happiness is Seligman’s PERMA model - listen to learn how you can use this model to understand more about how happiness is showing up in your life. Resources Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment – January 5, 2004 - by Martin E. P. Seligman A Gentleman in Moscow – September 6, 2016 - by Amor Towles Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

The working genius model created by Patrick Lencioni is so useful. A project starts with Wonder (seeing an opportunity) and ends with Tenacity (get it finished!). Patrick reports that there are four more steps between Wonder and Tenacity. You, your spouse, your kids, and your co-workers all have a couple of these steps that you are best at, and that you like to use. You also have a couple of these steps that you do not like and feel hard for you. Once you realize how your zone of genius is different from those around you, you can see the best way to interact with them. Your spouse has different genius zones than you do: once you realize what they are, you will nod your head and say, “That explains a lot!” Resources The working genius assessment: https://www.workinggenius.com/ Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

Learn about the FIVE CONFLICT STYLES and learn which one is your go-to style. Learn how different conflict styles—competition, accommodation, avoidance, compromise, and collaboration—play out in various scenarios. How can you navigate conflicts more thoughtfully and flexibly? Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

There’s so much wisdom in Scriptures warning to “judge not.” So much! Why should we embrace this wisdom? And how? What’s the OPPOSITE of judgment? How about ACCEPTANCE. What could acceptance do for you that judgment cannot. Learn what judgment is COSTING you and what NON-judgment could do for you. And learn what we mean by “judgment.” Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

Judge not lest ye be judged! It’s in the Sermon on the Mount. What would happen if we lived up to this standard? What would happen to us? To those close to us? To the world? Judgment closes doors and hearts. “Judge not” opens them. Here’s Jesus telling us not to judge others. How seriously will you take this? What’s YOUR “take” on JUDGE NOT? Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus literally tells us not to worry about what to eat, drink, or wear. He says that worrying is ineffective (Can any of you add a cubit to your height?) Is this idea of not worrying important to you? Should it be? Why does the book of Matthew spend valuable scriptural space on this idea? Is this just a tip? An important rule? Is it possible? And HOW do you “not worry” anyways? We have explanations and HOW-TOs. Enjoy. Don’t worry. Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

Adults manage their emotions. It’s what we do, right? Sometimes we forget how important it is to create some positive emotions to help us do what we need to do! There are traps to avoid when regulating emotion, including dismissing it as being of small importance or letting it capture us, for instance by rumination. Our brains’ powerful negative bias will suck us down into negativity if we don’t resist it by cultivating optimism and more powerful ways of viewing our lives. Let’s go! Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

Justice. It’s not what you think! Our habits of thinking about justice are not the habits of thinking about justice that are found in Scripture. Our modern minds view justice in narrow and legalistic ways, with a big focus on retribution or paying back. It’s not like that for the Jewish peoples in the times of Jesus that were familiar with Scripture. It’s more about bringing order and goodness, balance and truth, into a situation - like shalom. More broadly, the ancient mind associated justice with giving others what they were owed in light of your relationship with them, with generosity being a big part of that. Listen and recalibrate your ideas about justice and think about what you are aiming for when you seek justice or are asked to be more just. Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com Resources The Eight Doors of the Kingdom: Meditations on the Beatitudes by Jacques Philippe. 2018 Scepter. The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary June 2017 by Jonathan T. Pennington

The Beatitudes are fascinating. We pick up the first one, “Happy are those who are poor in spirit.” What’s going on here? If I am spiritually impoverished, is that a good thing? Yes. Surprising, right? Spiritual humility is important for RECEIVING from God. And what does trust have to do with it? It surprisingly came up as a related topic in our discussion. It’s a curious thing and a profound truth. Come join us! Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com Resources The Eight Doors of the Kingdom: Meditations on the Beatitudes by Jacques Philippe. 2018 Scepter. The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary June 2017 by Jonathan T. Pennington

It turns out that “perfection” is a terrible translation of Matthew 5:48. It’s found in the Sermon on the Mount: Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect. It’s a typical example of Western English speakers seizing on a word and running with it, while being ignorant of what the speaker is talking about, i.e., mostly you hear ignorant and unhelpful things about this passage. Fortunately, you are here and we can clear this up for you. Yes! It’s the Greek word teleios that is often translated as “perfect.” When you peek into the scholarship around this word and the words in the Hebrew Bible that are translated as teleios, you get a much different picture than the one conveyed by “perfect.” It’s more a matter of wholeness, of whole-heartedness for God, of thriving, of being truly well in all areas of life, as a whole person. Karen and Curtis talk it over! Let’s go. Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com Resources The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary June 2017 by Jonathan T. Pennington

It turns out that “blessed” is a terrible translation for the beatitudes (Matthew 5) That’s quickly evident when you review the original Greek and Hebrew meanings behind the word often translated as 'blessed.' The Beatitudes are often viewed as moral directives or do-this-to-get-that kinds of promises but that’s missing the point. The Beatitudes are actually an invitation to understand and participate in God's kingdom in a way that transcends our usual expectations. They offer insight into the mysteries of how God operates in the universe and in His Kingdom. Resources Discussion and details about translations of beatitudes: Here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU-H1cpo6lI Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

We like Pope Leo’s reflection on the parable of the workers. It touches on the pursuit of happiness, the quest for meaning, and the need for belonging. It’s a message of hope! Hop in and check it out. Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com Resources Pope Leo’s homily about the laborers in the vineyard: HERE

What’s “the THING” in your life that you are SO DONE WITH but it’s not done with YOU? We share stories of past clients that got rid of that THING in their life that had troubled them for so long that they thought it would never be dealt with. Transformation IS possible! Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

“How does coaching help me as a Christian?” was a question recently asked of us. We see people undergo transformations that make a HUGE difference in their life. The kind of changes that change everything. It impacts who they are and how the do things. It impacts whatever roles they have in life, like mother, father, worker, leader, child-raiser… Think about an area of life where you would love to have a transformative change. We love seeing clients dump the baggage they have around some area of life. And seeing how they now have energy to really be much more of that person they are trying to be. We are integrated beings. We have integrated mental, emotional, physical and spiritual lives. These are not separate. It is somewhat helpful to think of these “lives” as separate so we can better understand our human experience, but we only have one life and each of us is only one person. Removing obstacles in one area creates improvement in all areas. Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

Part of our job description as humans is to get busy with the work of the Holy Spirit. Removing interior obstacles is a big part of that job. We have seen, many times, how a focus on what’s really important, what we really want, is so helpful to discerning what the Holy Spirit has in mind for us. We often worry that checking in with what we want will lead us astray. Yet once we push aside distractions and temptations the “what we really want” is always something very good. It is a key to learning how we can make our own special contribution to the Kingdom. Often we ask for too little, perhaps because we can’t really imagine “more” for ourselves and those around us. Or we have perfectionistic ideas that become obstacles to the good. Finding your excellence is a wonderful thing and we leave you with questions for that purpose. Resources We mentioned past episodes on perfectionism, which we don’t want! See Episodes 79-81. https://thmlcoaching.com/episode-79-barbie-you-are-perfectionanists/ https://thmlcoaching.com/episode-80-me-my-and-your-perfectionism/ https://thmlcoaching.com/episode-81-scripture-never-tells-you-to-be-perfect/ Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

Lean into this mindset: Everyone is Doing the Best that They Can with the Resources that They Have. It’s surprising how useful it is to keep this in mind. It takes so much of the drama out of people and circumstances that are obstacles to you. Instead of indulging in the drama and responding to THAT, you can respond as seems best without taking most things personally. It’s a mindset for excellence. It also applies to YOU. Yes, YOU are doing the best you can with the resources that you have. In fact, you are very resourceful when you put your mind to it. We might worry that this mindset will encourage slacking-off. Yet what actually happens is we waste less energy on accepting what “is” and spend more energy on what “is actually possible.” It also feels great, which is not surprising because a positive outlook beats a negative one every time. Resources We mentioned past episodes on perfectionism, which we don’t want! See Episodes 79-81. https://thmlcoaching.com/episode-79-barbie-you-are-perfectionanists/ https://thmlcoaching.com/episode-80-me-my-and-your-perfectionism/ https://thmlcoaching.com/episode-81-scripture-never-tells-you-to-be-perfect/ Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

Sometimes we lack IMAGINATION when we have given up in some area of our life. Imagination is the creative faculty for envisioning various possibilities based on what we know, perceive, or otherwise experience. When we start to think about ACTUALLY pursuing excellence and imagine what SPECIFICALLY may be involved, what is POSSIBLE moves into the realm of what is actual. Vague goals can be comforting because they are not an actual call to action. When we are stuck in some area we may be rehashing the same old options and are not using our IMAGINATION to think beyond our usual list of behaviors. VIRTUES are the pursuit of excellence, which helps us get to what is REALLY important. Resources We mentioned past episodes on perfectionism, which we don’t want! See Episodes 79-81. https://thmlcoaching.com/episode-79-barbie-you-are-perfectionanists/ https://thmlcoaching.com/episode-80-me-my-and-your-perfectionism/ https://thmlcoaching.com/episode-81-scripture-never-tells-you-to-be-perfect/ Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com

Focus on excellence. Likely you are focused more on solving problems, avoiding pain, getting by, or putting out fires! That’s human nature. And we naturally resist change. And yet. And yet we crave freedom, opportunity, and beauty. Seeking excellence is so rewarding. Let it be more top of mind for you. What if you pursued excellence in one of these areas of life: Health; Family; Marriage or Primary Relationship; Spirituality; Personal Growth; Friendship/connection; or Career/Mission? What’s going to happen if you do? Why are you NOT? What’s not going to happen if you don’t? Resources We mentioned past episodes on perfectionism, which we don’t want! See Episodes 79-81. https://thmlcoaching.com/episode-79-barbie-you-are-perfectionanists/ https://thmlcoaching.com/episode-80-me-my-and-your-perfectionism/ https://thmlcoaching.com/episode-81-scripture-never-tells-you-to-be-perfect/ Contact Info Text us: The Empowered Catholic Podcast: 612-208-9150 Email us: EmpCatholic@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredcatholicpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredcatholicpodcast/ Website: https://empoweredcatholics.com