Breaking Free From People Pleasing, Setting Healthy Boundaries, a Tribute to the Queen, and Other Resources
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Photo by Vazgan mjeshtri on unsplash
Happy last day of September!
As you know (unless you're new to my online community—in which case, welcome!), at the close of every month, I share a few of my favorite listens, reads, and resources.
As we move into October, I hope these resources encourage and inspire you as you pursue a life of purpose, joy, and intimacy with God!
As always, you are in my thoughts and prayers, and I’d love to hear from you! You can contact me here or through the comment section below!
❤️ In purpose and faith,
Finding Joy in Everyday Life...
Before we get to the resources, here are a couple of things that brought me joy this month!
I made a quick trip down to Anchorage to meet fellow writer and Joyful Life contributor Laurie Davies for dinner. It was our first time meeting, and she was such a joy to connect with! We got to talk about Alaska, books, writing, faith, and more. You can read all about our meeting and why deciding to make the trip was a leap of faith for me in this Instagram post.
P.S. Laurie is an AMAZING writer—check out her awesome blog here!
While I was in Anchorage, I also got to spend some quality time with my friend Keri, one of my dearest friends (we've known each other since first grade!).
On my way back from Anchorage, I was blessed with this beautiful view of Alaska's fall colors from above. The picture is pretty, but in person, it was absolutely stunning! You can view a little video clip from my flight here.
What brought you joy this past month? I'd love to hear about it!
Resources to Inspire and Encourage
I've been reading...
When Making Others Happy is Making You Miserable: How to Break the Pattern of People Pleasing and Confidently Live Your Life by Karen Ehman
I've long known that the ability to say no and set healthy boundaries is essential to living a fruitful Christian life. Over the years, I've had a lot of practice and like to think I've developed decent skills in this area. However, despite my ability to (usually) set appropriate boundaries, I find that I still struggle with guilt over doing so.
So, over the last few months, I've been searching for resources to help me further hone my understanding of boundaries, sort through the mixed emotions I have surrounding them, and answer some lingering boundary-related questions I've been wrestling with.
Well, this past month, my prayers for help in this area were answered in large part by this book. Karen Ehman's wisdom and encouragement have helped me so much as I continue learning how to balance a growing public ministry with home, marriage, church, and extended family. If you too struggle at all with people pleasing, as I do, I think you will love this book. You can find it here.
I've also been reading...
Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
I've heard about this book for years and am finally getting around to reading it. Though I'm just over halfway through at this point, for me, it has already definitely been worth the read. It's a little more academic feeling than Karen Ehman's book, but it goes into more depth on certain boundary-related topics. You can find it here.
I've also been reading...
"A Lifetime with the Queen: The Defender of the Faith" by Molly Law
September saw the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Great Britain's longest reigning monarch. Perhaps because of my British ancestry, I have a longstanding fascination with the royal family, and I enjoyed this tribute to the queen, which highlights her faith in Christ. You can read it here.
I've been listening...
"Wonderfully Made" by Ellie Holcomb
I got to go on several scenic fall drives this month (something I look forward to every autumn), and I enjoyed this beautiful compilation during much of my driving time.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission, with no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services I believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
