Recently I had the pleasure of attending my high school reunion which has a way of making you feel both old and young simultaneously.

It was just me going to this thing so I had not backup with my super cool husband to fall back on, but honestly I think going at it alone was the best option for me. I was able to engage and be present with people I hadn't seen in decades in a way I don't think I could have been with reinforcements.

I also learned a few things that I'd like to share with you today.

Now, these may be principles that you've heard before, but hearing them again, I think, can only help. So, if you will induldge me, I'd like to talk about the people, the places and the chapters of our lives that matter the most. And why stepping back in time - pausing to reflect on life gives you more drive for what lies ahead.

You ready to dive in? Hit that play button!

Regardless if we have ever met or not, there's something I know about you...

You've got something special going on.

You've got something within you that is dying to be let out. It's a business idea or a passion project or a new vision for your family. Perhaps it's just a better, healthier version of yourself. It's the thing that keeps you up at night and gets you out of bed in the morning. It's a stirring within your soul - something that you just can't shake.

And yet, it sits there.

Day after day, month after month, year after year but why?

It obviously matters to you, otherwise you would have forgotten about it long ago. It must matter to God since He is likely the one who put it there in the first place. But, for whatever reason, you won't make a move on it.

Please, please let it out. Take the first step. Put it down on paper. Do something about it. Whatever it is, the world needs it, your family needs it, you need it.

As we begin a new season of the Inside Voice Podcast, let this be the very juice you need injected into your veins. It's time to dream again, to want more for yourself and your family again. It's time to get out of your comfort zone and become the main character in your story again.

Are you ready to move? Then hit that play button and let's get going!

Ever feel like you're just watching your life go by? I mean, you could chase after that big dream in your heat, but the thought of it not working out leaves you sitting on the sidelines.

That's insecurity ruling your life.

This is a weight we tend to carry with us even into adulthood. We're unsure of outcomes, success or every progress and we use that as an excuse not to try. It's too risky. It wouldn't be wise to try that. I've got too much at stake.

But what if life - your real life - was waiting for you on the other side of your try?

It's time to drop the weight of insecurity and get back to living!

In this episode we'll pinpoint where our insecurity comes from. (spoiler alert: some of it is valid), we'll talk about why it's unhealthy for us and we'll identify some helpful exercises that will help us unload this weight once and for all.

You ready? Hit play.

This summer we're slimming down! But rather than focus on physical weight, we're working to drop the mental and emotional burdens that are truly holding us back.

Like, remember that thing that happened seventeen years ago that you're still letting consume your life? The person who hurt you or the job that didn't work out.

If you find that you're still (as my dad would say) walking around with a chip on your shoulder, there's no better time than now to drop that weight. Unburden yourself of the heaviness that's hurting you in more ways than one.

In this episode we'll talk about bitterness, resentment and anger and the things you can do to finally get out from underneath this weight.

Ready for it? Hit that play button!

Summer is a season in which many people work to slim down their physique. But what if the weight you need to get rid of has nothing to do with your physical appearance?

Today we're working to get rid of a mental weight that is holding us back.

Anxiety.

Living each day in panic mode or a state of worst case scenarios can really hinder your growth. And the worst part is that eventually anxiety begins to feel normal.

In this episode we'll talk about why this behavior is unhealthy and identify the ways that anxiety is holding us back. We'll also devise a fitness plan to help us shed this weight once and for all.

So, ready to drop this weight? Hit play!

Summertime is upon us and while many are focusing on slimming down physically, we're focusing on dropping a different kind of weight that is holding us back.

Jealousy.

Comparing yourself to others is getting a little old and quite frankly it is a weight you no longer need to carry.

In this episode we'll talk about why this weight is unhealthy and identify the ways that jealousy is holding us back. We'll also devise a fitness plan to help us shed this wretched behavior once and for all.

So, ready to drop this weight? Hit play!

This last week, we were reminded of just how precious life is.

We watched as NASCAR racer Kyle Busch was hospitalized and then pronounced dead just hours later. What makes the whole thing so harrowing is what he said in his post-race interview just days before.

"You never know when the last one is," he said after winning yet another championship.

See, we all know that life is short and tomorrow is promised to no one. Kyle's death and a day like today - Memorial Day - are reminders of that.

But are we really living like that's the case?

Many of us are watching our lives pass us by. We scroll. We binge. We bail on plans. We get comfortable sitting on the sidelines because trying takes effort and risk and time... And we just don't have the bandwidth for that.

Hey, I get it. Life is busy and overwhelming and stressful.

But it's also just that -- Your life. And if you don't live it, no one else is gonna do it for you.

And as Christians, we should be living the most abundant lives the world has ever seen, because that's literally what Christ came to give us - abundant life. And when you're walking with the creator of the universe, how could you not live that way?

Oh, we're going there on this one. Ready?

When is the last time you took time away from work? If you can't remember, it's time to punch in for some PTO.

See, your personal time off is there for a reason. No one should work through the entire year without taking a few breaks. You know it and your boss knows it.

And yet, so many vacation days go unused. In fact, there are some companies that offer unlimited PTO as an incentive knowing deep down that the majority of people won't take advantage of them. It's kind of sad, really.

You know the phrase, "almost everything works better if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you"? We all nod our head in agreement, but forget to put it into practice.

In this episode, we'll talk about the important of taking time away from work and the stress of everyday life. And while an extended period of rest is necessary, there are two other types of personal time we should be taking on a regular basis.

So, if you're ready to check out for a bit, hit that play button.