#077: Choosing JOY Instead of Fear

LOVE or FEAR will be our source of strength today and our bodies will develop reliance and a comfort level with one or the other. In our LIF community, we're learning what fear looks like and sounds like, and we're learning to respond to these signs and symptoms with love. In this episode, Doug shares about a time in his life when he was afraid and living DISCONNECTED from safe and meaningful relationships. DISCONNECTED is the LOVE IS FEARLESS contrast to JOY.  JOY describes life by design--in a culture of love.  Join us to hear a part of Doug's story and the real transformation that LOVE offers...when we trust it. Together, there is great hope.   We share these TAKEAWAYs in this episode: We discover JOY and build JOY strength in relationships of trust.  Our LOVE IS FEARLESS definition of JOY is "it's good to be me, here with you." When it's not good to be me, here with you--our lives are adversely affected by the power of fear instead of transformed by the power of love. The ability to "return to JOY" from every unpleasant emotion is the hallmark of mental health.  We learn to take this healing journey when we stay connected in relationships with people who are mature and who love us well, especially when we struggle and when we have experienced trauma. LOVE is the source of strength we're designed to live with--not FEAR.  LOVE supports our immune systems and protects our mental health.  It is vital that we recognize the signs and symptoms of living in a culture of FEAR and respond by helping each other experience a culture of LOVE instead. Keep choosing JOY instead of FEAR, friends.   We mention these resources in this episode: Living From the Heart Jesus Gave You by James G. Friesen, E. James Wilder, Anne M. Bierling, Rick Koepcke, and Maribeth Poole Education by Design, Not Default--How Brave Love Creates Fearless Learning by Janet Newberry