You Would Think

What if some of the things you believe about recovery, grace, love, emotions, and even yourself… are wrong?On August 15th, 2020, I took my last drink.Six years later, I’ve learned a lot—but maybe more importantly, I’ve learned just how wrong I can be.So instead of celebrating six years of sobriety by telling you everything I’ve learned, I want to talk about something different:In this special six-year sobriety episode of You Would Think, I share six misconceptions that recovery, Scripture, and my relationship with Jesus have slowly dismantled.Together we’ll explore:✔️ Why sobriety is the bare minimum—not the goal✔️ Why recovery can actually make life harder before it gets better✔️ How people-pleasing and codependency can disguise themselves as love✔️ Why authentic grace doesn’t just forgive us—it transforms us✔️ Why honesty requires more than simply “telling the truth”Recovery hasn’t just taught me new things.It has dismantled old things.📖 KEY SCRIPTURE• Proverbs 8:34• Galatians 5:22-23🎙️ ABOUT YOU WOULD THINKYou Would Think is a podcast devoted to confronting our own thoughts and feelings so we can learn to face reality as it is instead of continuing to be disappointed by how we wish it was.We talk honestly about faith, recovery, addiction, codependency, people-pleasing, relationships, emotional health, biblical wisdom, boundaries, and what it looks like to follow Jesus in the real world.If this episode encouraged you, I’d love for you to:👍 Like the video💬 Leave a comment: What’s something you once believed that life, recovery, or God eventually showed you that you were wrong about?📲 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it🔔 Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes📬 Join the Newsletter:https://youwouldthink.riverside.com/newsletter🎙️ One-on-One Recovery & Mental Health Coaching:mailto:[email protected]#SixYearsSober #Sobriety #AddictionRecovery #Recovery #ChristianRecovery #FaithAndRecovery #Codependency #PeoplePleasing #EmotionalHealth #MentalHealth #ChristianPodcast #RecoveryPodcast #Jesus #Faith #PersonalGrowthMusic licensed through Soundstripe.Code: OQVVVE3SVPUZKFLW, UYXTGYVLBB7NBZU2

Have you ever stayed in an unhealthy relationship because you believed someone would eventually change?In this episode of When Helping Hurts, I share the conversation I wish someone had with me when I was twenty years old.As a recovering people pleaser, codependent, and addict, I spent years building relationships on potential instead of patterns. I convinced myself that if I just loved harder, sacrificed more, explained things one more time, or waited a little longer, people would eventually become who they promised they would be.I was wrong.Using Proverbs 13:20 as our anchor, we'll unpack one of the most overlooked relationship principles in all of Scripture:"Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm."Together we'll explore:✔️ Why codependency confuses love with fixing✔️ The difference between grace and enabling✔️ Why healthy boundaries are biblical—not selfish✔️ How to recognize the difference between someone's potential and their patterns✔️ What Proverbs actually means by "a fool"✔️ Why trust is built on consistency, not chemistry✔️ How the people you walk with shape the direction of your lifeThis episode is not about judging people or writing them off.It's about taking responsibility for who we choose to walk through life with.If you've ever struggled with people pleasing, codependency, unhealthy relationships, narcissistic abuse, addiction recovery, or setting biblical boundaries, I hope this conversation encourages you.And if you have a teenager or young adult in your life who's beginning to navigate friendships, dating, or relationships, please consider sharing this episode with them. I genuinely believe learning these biblical principles earlier could save years of unnecessary pain.📖 Key Scriptures• Proverbs 13:20• Proverbs 10:8• Proverbs 12:15• Matthew 7:16-20• John 2:23-25🎙️ ABOUT THIS SERIESWhen Helping Hurts is a series on the You Would Think podcast where we explore biblical wisdom, recovery, boundaries, codependency, trauma, addiction, relationships, and what it means to follow Jesus in the real world.📬 CONNECT WITH MEIf this episode encouraged you, I'd love to hear from you in the comments.If you have a question or you're interested in one-on-one faith-based recovery and life coaching, my contact information is in the description below.Please consider liking, subscribing, and sharing this episode with someone who needs it.Keywords: codependency, people pleasing, biblical boundaries, Christian relationships, Proverbs 13:20, healthy relationships, narcissism, recovery, addiction recovery, Christian podcast, toxic relationships, emotional health, biblical wisdom, faith and recovery, setting boundaries, trust, people pleaser recovery, codependent recovery, relationship advice, Christian counseling#WhenHelpingHurts #Codependency #PeoplePleasing #BiblicalBoundaries #HealthyRelationships #ChristianPodcast #Recovery #Proverbs1320 #Faith #RelationshipAdvice #AddictionRecovery #PersonalGrowth

What if "follow your heart" isn't just bad advice... but the exact opposite of what Scripture teaches?In this episode of You Would Think, we dive into one of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible:"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." – Proverbs 4:23What does it actually mean to "guard your heart"?Is the heart simply our emotions, or is it something much deeper? Why would God tell us to guard our hearts if Jeremiah says they're deceitful? And what does it look like to live this out in everyday life, relationships, recovery, and following Christ?In this episode, we explore:✅ What the Bible really means by the word heart (Hebrew: leb) ✅ Why Proverbs 4:23 may be one of the most practical verses in Scripture ✅ Why God gives us a new heart but still commands us to guard it ✅ The difference between trusting your heart and trusting the Lord with all your heart ✅ How unguarded relationships nearly destroyed my life and fueled my addiction ✅ Why whatever captures your heart eventually directs your life ✅ Practical ways to guard your heart in a world competing for your attentionIf you've ever struggled with people-pleasing, codependency, addiction, unhealthy relationships, or simply trying to follow Jesus faithfully, I hope this conversation encourages and challenges you.Remember:You don't guard your heart because it's trustworthy. You guard it because it's influential. Everything you become flows from it.If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to:👍 Like the video 💬 Leave a comment sharing your thoughts or questions 📲 Share it with someone who needs to hear it 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss future episodesThanks for watching, and remember...Just because you have a thought or feeling doesn't make it true.God bless.#GuardYourHeart #Proverbs423 #ChristianPodcast #Faith #Recovery #BiblicalWisdom #MentalHealth #Codependency #AddictionRecovery #PersonalGrowth #ChristianLiving #Discipleship #YouWouldThink #BibleStudy #TrustGodMusic licensed through Soundstripe.Code: FHYNUWBXJIVS6KVA

Have you ever been told to "follow your heart"?It sounds inspiring.It sounds authentic.It sounds like good advice.But what if it's actually one of the most dangerous pieces of advice you'll ever hear?In this episode of You Would Think, I challenge one of the most common cultural sayings through the lens of Scripture. We'll explore why the Bible never tells us to follow our hearts and why Jesus offers us something far better.Drawing from my own story of addiction, alcoholism, and recovery, I'll share how following my feelings led me deeper into bondage—and how God transformed my life by giving me a new heart and renewing my mind.In this episode, we'll discuss:• Why "Follow Your Heart" is such a dangerous philosophy• What the Bible really teaches about the human heart• Why feelings are real but make terrible authorities• The difference between following your heart and following Christ• Eve in the Garden of Eden vs. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane• God's promise of a new heart in Ezekiel 36• How Ephesians 4 and Romans 12 explain spiritual transformation• My personal testimony of addiction, surrender, and salvationFreedom isn't found by trusting yourself.Freedom is found by following Jesus.📖 Scriptures Referenced:• Genesis 3• Jeremiah 17:9• Proverbs 28:26• Ezekiel 36:26• Romans 12:2• Ephesians 4:22–24• Luke 22:42👍 If this episode encouraged or challenged you, please:• Like the video• Subscribe to the channel• Leave a comment• Share it with someone who needs to hear it📬 Join the Newsletter:https://youwouldthink.riverside.com/newsletter🎙️ One-on-One Recovery & Mental Health Coaching:mailto:[email protected] —You Would Think is a Christian podcast devoted to confronting our own thoughts and feelings so we can learn to face reality as it is instead of continuing to be disappointed in how we wish it was.Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: 4CTQ3SDEZFBZTUWY#FollowYourHeart #ChristianPodcast #BiblicalTruth #Faith #Jesus #Discipleship #ChristianLiving #AddictionRecovery #Recovery #Sobriety #MentalHealth #RenewYourMind #IdentityInChrist #BibleStudy

"Have nothing to do with such people." — 2 Timothy 3:5Wait... the Bible actually says that?In this episode of When Helping Hurts, we unpack one of the most misunderstood—and often ignored—commands in the New Testament.If you're a recovering people pleaser, codependent, or someone who has spent years trying to fix, rescue, or tolerate destructive behavior in the name of "love," this episode is for you.We'll explore why biblical love doesn't always mean unlimited access, why boundaries are an act of obedience rather than selfishness, and how God calls us to protect what He has entrusted to us without becoming bitter, controlling, or unforgiving.This isn't about canceling people.It's not about avoiding conflict.And it's definitely not permission to weaponize boundaries.It's about learning the difference between loving someone... and allowing destructive patterns to continue.📖 In this episode:• What 2 Timothy 3:1–5 actually teaches • Why Paul says, "Have nothing to do with such people" • The difference between a mistake and an ongoing pattern • Why Jesus didn't give everyone unlimited access to Himself • The connection between codependency and enabling • Why guilt and conviction are not the same thing • Why you don't need to diagnose someone to recognize unhealthy behavior • What biblical love actually sounds like • Why boundaries protect what God has entrusted to you📚 Scriptures Referenced2 Timothy 3:1–9John 2:23–251 Corinthians 15:33Proverbs 4:23Proverbs 13:20Psalm 34Psalm 51Psalm 138Proverbs 15📬 Join the Newsletter:https://youwouldthink.riverside.com/newsletter🎙️ One-on-One Recovery & Mental Health Coaching:mailto:[email protected]🎵 Music licensed through Soundstripe. 🎙 About When Helping HurtsWhen Helping Hurts is a series on the You Would Think podcast where we apply Scripture to recovery from codependency, people pleasing, and unhealthy relationship patterns.My prayer is that these episodes help you stop trying to control what God never asked you to control and instead find the freedom that comes through obedience to Christ.💬 I'd love to hear from you:What was your biggest takeaway from this episode?Have you ever confused love with unlimited access?Leave a comment below.👍 If this episode encouraged you, please:Like this videoSubscribe to the channelShare it with someone who needs to hear itUntil next time...Remember:Helping always hurts when we try to do someone else's work instead of trusting God to do His.#WhenHelpingHurts #Codependency #PeoplePleasing #Boundaries #2Timothy3 #ChristianRecovery #BiblicalBoundaries #Recovery #YouWouldThink

Have you ever felt like all the work you're putting into recovery isn't accomplishing anything?The meetings.The prayers.The counseling.The Scripture.The confessions.The ordinary faithfulness.What if you're not failing?What if you're just watching the wrong timestamp?In this episode of You Would Think, I share one of the most powerful illustrations I've ever encountered. A simple woodworking video about transforming an old whiskey barrel into an artisan end-grain butcher block became a vivid picture of addiction recovery, Christian discipleship, sanctification, and God's process of transformation.Sometimes transformation feels like destruction.Sometimes healing feels like being cut apart.But what if the Craftsman already sees something beautiful that you can't yet recognize?If you're tired, discouraged, or wondering whether all the work you're doing is making any difference, I hope this episode encourages you to trust the process and remember that God is never finished with His workmanship.📖 ScriptureEphesians 2:10"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."💬 Question for you:Which part of the woodworking process resonated with you the most? Let me know in the comments!🎥 Original Woodworking Video (Ryan Hawkins):https://youtu.be/uiu0Hkd6mb0?si=cX6WyxQc2Y0dcAI5📬 Join the Newsletter:https://youwouldthink.riverside.com/newsletter🎙️ One-on-One Recovery & Mental Health Coaching:[email protected]🎵 Music licensed through Soundstripe.License Code: LI970WGGIX5J4SKA#YouWouldThink #ChristianRecovery #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryJourney #FaithOverFear #TrustTheProcess #Ephesians210 #IdentityInChrist #BiblicalRecovery #SpiritualGrowth #Sanctification #MentalHealth #Codependency #JesusChrist #ChristianPodcast

Can Adderall addiction hide behind productivity? Can burnout be a symptom of something deeper than a busy schedule?In this episode of When Helping Hurts, I share my personal story of Adderall addiction, alcoholism, burnout, and the moment I realized I wasn't just addicted to a stimulant—I was addicted to striving.For years, I believed I simply needed more energy to keep up with my responsibilities. Instead of asking whether I had taken on more than God intended, I kept searching for something that would help me work harder, do more, and meet every expectation. Adderall became my solution... until it nearly destroyed my life.Using Hebrews 4, we'll explore why God's invitation to rest isn't about laziness—it's about faith. If you've ever struggled with work addiction, people-pleasing, codependency, perfectionism, stimulant misuse, or the fear of slowing down, this episode is for you.We'll talk about:What Adderall addiction can look like in everyday lifeWhy burnout is often more than a time-management problemHow Christian recovery addresses the heart behind addictionWhat Hebrews 4 teaches about God's restWhy busyness can become an idolHow fear, guilt, pride, and approval can quietly drive our schedulesThe difference between carrying Christ's yoke and carrying burdens He never asked us to bearIf this episode encouraged you, consider subscribing to You Would Think and sharing it with someone who feels overwhelmed, exhausted, or trapped in a cycle of striving.📖 Scripture: Hebrews 4, Matthew 11:28–30, Psalm 127, James 1Connect with me:📧 Coaching & Questions: mailto:[email protected]📬 Join the You Would Think Newsletter:https://youwouldthink.riverside.com/newsletter🙏 If you're struggling with Adderall addiction, stimulant misuse, alcoholism, codependency, or burnout, know that there is hope. Recovery begins with honesty, surrender, and learning to trust Christ more than your own striving.#AdderallAddiction #ChristianRecovery #Burnout #AddictionRecovery #Codependency #Hebrews4 #MentalHealth #Faith #Recovery #Sobriety #Jesus #YouWouldThinkMusic licensed through Soundstripe.Code: XX3JYROVZ85KDKJM

🦝 Who let all these raccoons in?!Have you ever noticed how quickly one thought can take over your entire day?"I'm a failure.""They must be mad at me.""I'll never change.""If people knew the real me, they'd leave."In this episode of You Would Think, we're unpacking one of the most practical verses in the New Testament:"We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." — 2 Corinthians 10:5Using one unexpected illustration—raccoons—we'll explore how unhealthy thoughts quietly move into our minds, influence our emotions, and eventually shape our lives if we never stop to question them.We'll also talk about:🦝 Why you don't have to believe everything you think🧠 How thoughts become beliefs—and beliefs become behaviors💭 Practical ways to take your thoughts captive❤️ The connection between trauma, shame, anxiety, and the stories we tell ourselves✝️ Why God's truth—not our emotions—has the final sayWhether you're walking through addiction recovery, struggling with anxiety, battling shame, or simply trying to follow Jesus more faithfully, I hope this conversation encourages you to stop believing every thought that knocks on your door... and start measuring those thoughts against the truth of Christ.If this episode encouraged you, consider subscribing, sharing it with a friend, and joining the conversation in the comments.What "raccoon" have you been letting live rent-free in your attic?Connect with me:📧 Coaching & Questions: mailto:[email protected]📬 Join the You Would Think Newsletter📰 https://youwouldthink.riverside.com/newsletter🎙️ More episodes from You Would Thinkhttps://www.youtube.com/@YouWouldThink🙏 If this episode was helpful, please consider:👍 Like💬 Comment📤 Share🔔 Subscribe#ChristianPodcast #Recovery #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #Codependency #Anxiety #TraumaHealing #TakeEveryThoughtCaptive #2Corinthians105 #Faith #BiblicalTruth #ChristianLiving #RenewYourMind #YouWouldThinkMusic licensed through Soundstripe.Code: L6ASEO6HITCXVHQY

Do you ever feel responsible for everyone else's happiness?Do you replay conversations in your head, avoid conflict at all costs, or feel guilty whenever someone is disappointed with you?If so, this episode is for you.In this episode of When Helping Hurts, we're talking about one of my dad's favorite T-shirts that simply says:"Breaking News... I Don't Care."At first glance, that sounds selfish.But what if learning to say, "I don't care," isn't about becoming cold toward people?What if it's about finally letting go of responsibilities God never asked you to carry?As a recovering people pleaser and codependent, I spent years believing that loving people meant fixing them, rescuing them, and keeping everyone happy. The problem was... I wasn't carrying my cross—I was carrying everyone else's.Together we'll explore:• Why caring isn't the problem—misplaced responsibility is.• The difference between love and control.• Why Jesus disappointed people and why that's actually good news.• How codependency can quietly become a trust issue with God.• What Galatians 6 teaches about carrying burdens without carrying someone else's life.• Practical questions to help you recognize unhealthy responsibility before it steals your peace.Healthy boundaries aren't about loving people less.They're about trusting God more.If you've ever struggled with codependency, people-pleasing, enabling, anxiety over disappointing others, or feeling responsible for everyone around you, I hope this episode encourages you to experience the freedom Christ intended.If this episode encouraged you, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who needs the reminder that they are not responsible for carrying the weight of the world.Scriptures referenced:Galatians 1:10Galatians 6:1–5Luke 15:11–32 (The Prodigal Son)Matthew 11:28–30Proverbs 4:23Connect with me:📧 Coaching & Questions: mailto:[email protected]#WhenHelpingHurts #Codependency #PeoplePleasing #Boundaries #ChristianRecovery #Recovery #MentalHealth #BibleStudy #Healing #AddictionRecovery #YouWouldThink #EmotionalHealth #ChristianLiving #FaithAndRecovery

Have you ever felt like you needed to escape an uncomfortable feeling as quickly as possible?What if that feeling isn't the problem... but the very place where God wants to meet you?In this episode of You Would Think, we explore a concept my 12-step recovery group calls "the ick." It's that knot in your stomach. That anxious feeling that makes you want to run, hide, defend yourself, or make the discomfort go away as quickly as possible.But what if healing doesn't happen by escaping discomfort?What if it happens by learning to remain?Together, we'll look at what Scripture teaches about emotional discomfort, why our first reaction is often to run, and how Jesus modeled faithful obedience even in the middle of overwhelming sorrow.We'll unpack:Why uncomfortable emotions aren't always emergenciesHow trauma and old coping mechanisms shape our reactionsWhy curiosity is more powerful than condemnationWhat Proverbs 4:23 teaches about guarding your heartJesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and what He teaches us about staying instead of escapingWhy James 1 and Romans 5 reveal that perseverance produces hopeHow learning to "sit in the ick" can become one of the most important recovery skills you'll ever developWhether you're recovering from addiction, struggling with anxiety, navigating people-pleasing, or simply trying to grow closer to Jesus, I pray this conversation encourages you to stop running and begin trusting God in the places you've spent your whole life trying to avoid."Not every feeling deserves obedience... but every feeling deserves curiosity."If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.📖 Scriptures in this episode:Proverbs 4:23Matthew 26:36-46James 1:2-4Romans 5:3-5Connect with me:📧 Coaching & Questions: [email protected]#ChristianRecovery #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #Anxiety #TraumaHealing #Codependency #PeoplePleasing #Boundaries #Discipleship #12Steps #Faith #Jesus #EmotionalHealing #BiblicalCounseling #YouWouldThink

On today’s episode, I want to challenge one of the biggest lies many of us have either heard or maybe we even believe: That boundaries are really just a means to control other people.If you have a question, or are interested in one-on-one coaching, shoot me an email: mailto:[email protected]#podcast #recovery #bible #jesus

On today's episode, we're going to start with one simple question:Who do you think you are?Not who do your parents say you are.Not who your past says you are.Not who your trauma says you are.Not who your addiction says you are.Who does God say you are?Because one day every voice will be silenced except His.And the voice you learn to believe now will determine how you live until then.If you have a question, or are interested in one-on-one coaching, shoot me an email: mailto:[email protected]#podcast #recovery #bible #jesus

Do I have an anxiety problem... or a pride problem?If you have a question, or are interested in one-on-one coaching, shoot me an email: mailto:[email protected]#podcast #recovery #bible #jesus

This episode is built around one simple idea that has challenged me over and over again throughout my life, and that’s this:Knowing better doesn't mean doing better.Or, as many have heard me say before:You can't think your way into right behavior, but you can behave your way into right thinking.If you have a question, or are interested in one-on-one coaching, shoot me an email: [email protected]

Little "t" trauma is not about bad things that happened.It's about good things that should have happened but didn't, which is why we don’t remember it.If you have a question or want to talk about one-on-one coaching, shoot me an email: [email protected]

Do I love the thought of Jesus being my savior, but balk at the thought of Him being my Lord? There is a general and I would say universal expectation that Jesus can, will, has, and does save us, which is true, but have we misplaced the expectation on ourselves to submit to Him as our LORD? That’s what we are going to look at in this video so we can hopefully realign our expectations of what a follower of Jesus really looks like.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCOSa0nxzyU&t=12sGo look up these verses for yourself about being seated with Christ and heirs with Christ:1 Peter 1:3-4, 18-21Colossians 2:9-10; 3:1-3Romans 8:16-17, 29Galatians 4:6-7Titus 3:7 Ephesians 2:5-6, 3:62 Timothy 2:12Revelation 3:21; 20:6

Acceptance of the things we cannot change and the courage to change the things we can are the setup statements for the conclusion of the Serenity Prayer, which is what we are going to talk about today, and that is, “the wisdom to know the difference.” If you have a question or want to talk about one-on-one coaching, shoot me an email: [email protected]

This video is the story behind why I'm making this content.If you have a question or want to talk about one-on-one coaching, shoot me an email: [email protected]

Courage isn’t impulsive or reactive. Courage is thoughtful and intentional. Simple and small acts of courage simplify what fear tries to complicate. If you have a question or want to talk about one-on-one coaching, shoot me an email: [email protected]

Acceptance begins when you stop arguing with what already is.If you have a question or want to talk about one-on-one coaching, shoot me an email: [email protected]

Just because you have a thought or feeling, doesn’t make it true.