049 - Practicing Spiritual Curiosity

Welcome to The Fully Lived Life podcast! A podcast for those who are longing to pursue the full life and want to break free from anything that holds them back. Listen in as two friends - a psychologist, Dr. Merry and a life coach, Gillian - talk about life, love and purpose - with wisdom, humour and transparency -  through the lens of science, psychology, and life experiences.

What:

In today’s episode Merry and Gillian share how this season of Covid and Advent have led them to explore questions of faith, tradition, spiritual beliefs, and the wrestle to bring those questions out into the open.

In” Fierce, Free and Full of Fire”, author Jen Hatmaker encourages us to explore our own beliefs, as she believes this questioning can be a sign of maturity. Merry also shares from a book called “Finding Church” by author Wayne Jacobsen, that is upending some of her former beliefs about church and spiritual practices.

Now What:

Join in the conversation as we share from our own thoughts and journeys and invite you to ask your own questions. What have you been questioning about your own faith journey?

So What:

Therapeutic Response:

Everyone has a faith background, even if it is not believing in any particular faith. Consider what messages you have been taught.

1. What has been helpful? What has been harmful?
   
2. How has shame affected you from your religious upbringing/background?
   
3. How does the statement from Finding Church sit with you?  “Jesus’s purpose was not to make us worthy of God’s love but to set us free to see that we already have it”.
   

Life Coaching:

As you look forward to this Christmas season examine the following:

1. What are the traditions that you have in your family that you feel are rooted in your own faith? Where do they come out of - a felt need, tradition, a desire, or to create meaning?
   
2. What in your household is reflective of the racially and culturally appropriate nativity story?
   

Links:

Dr. Merry’s book: https://amzn.to/2rCrJyI

Dr. Merry’s videos: https://bit.ly/377eFR0

Dr. Merry’s website: https://drmerry.com

Dr. Lin & Associates: http://drlinandassociates.com

Gillian’s Website: https://gillianmcshane.com

Jen Hatmaker's book: https://amzn.to/2Z6QcKf

Wayne Jacobsen’s book: https://amzn.to/380L8KE