In honour of Mental Health Awareness Week in New Zealand, this episode is an important conversation around the power of hopeful thinking.Hope is a clear theme throughout the Bible.Hope is a clear theme in positive psychology.Hope is a clear theme in mental wellbeing.So, how could hope become our anchor this week? What can we learn from scripture and from science to incorporate into our lives to raise our level of optimism, which then raises our overall level of wellbeing?*Please note: In this conversation, we will talk about suicide / suicidal ideation and how hope acts as a buffer against it. No personal stories or details are shared here, I will simply mention the research and the power of hope in combatting this. God bless,Darcie--Book referenced for scientific research: 'One More Day' by Niyc Pidgeon Podcast referenced for more listening during Mental Health Awareness Week: 'Living Well Podcast' by Elim Christian Centre (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcyp_1PdsFfLK2UZpo6a1u61DPD45QHeR&si=IBNZFIO_X56ARP2B)Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti
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Get Your Mind Out of a Bind | Ep. 34
Last week, we finished off our list of 5 behaviours that will make you happier by talking about the powerful biblical practice of taking captive every thought. This week, I wanted to dive deeper into this practice.How do you take captive every thought? How do you know when a thought is unhealthy and is leading to a mental mess? How do you untangle the emotions and memories and thought patterns that are binding your mind? Let’s talk about it. Let’s identify the state of our minds, let’s find out what we might be hoarding, and let’s figure out how to clean up the mental mess that is affecting our daily lives. Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti
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5 Behaviours That Will Make You Happier | Ep. 33
Have you ever wondered how you could shift your mood through a simple, practical action? Have you ever wondered how you could possibly find joy on a hard day? In this episode, I'm sharing with you the five behaviours that will make you happier, as identified by a professor of positive psychology.Spoiler alert: You are fully capable of doing all five of them this week ;) And even though the psychology professor didn't intend for this list to be grounded in scripture... there's biblical truth that can be found in each item on her list. So, let's talk about it!Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti
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Blessed Are Those Who Mourn: The Theology of Lament | Ep. 32
This past week was heavy... and many tears have been shed over the violence of murders that have taken place, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk. How is it that some could laugh while others mourned? How has our society become so numb and desensitised to violence? How can our hearts handle it all? This episode is not about politics; it's about processing pain — something that we all need to do better at no matter what you believe or who you vote for. Our brains are adapting to violence by tuning it out and shutting down empathy circuits. Our brains are becoming numb through the constant, unfiltered scroll... constantly seeing more but never fully processing. So, let's talk about empathy, grief and lament. Grief is something we all encounter, but lament is a practice many of us overlook. In this episode, we explore the biblical practice of lament — how Scripture not only gives us permission to bring our pain before God, but invites us to find Him in the midst of it.Through the Psalms of Lament, we’ll look at how lament shapes us into people of deeper empathy and compassion. Lament isn’t about rushing past sorrow; it’s about naming our grief before God, holding onto hope, and learning to weep with those who weep.If you’ve ever wondered how mourning could possibly be called “blessed,” this conversation will help you see how lament can transform our hearts, our brains, and our empathy in this hurting world.Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti
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How to Handle Negative Emotions, Develop Distress Tolerance, and Avoid Toxic Positivity | Ep. 31
Dr. Becky Kennedy from Good Inside said, "Regulating difficult emotions is a prerequisite for happiness."We have to learn how to navigate through our negative emotions and our negative experiences in order to discover a newfound joy. Suppressing it all is just distress avoidance, and that's not healthy for any of us in the long run.I know this episode will speak to so many parents that are helping to coach their kids through meltdowns and hard days... but I have a feeling that this episode is going to speak to any adult... because adults have hard days too. Plus, not everyone learned how to handle the big emotions as a kid, and it's now evident in their adult life.Drawing on research from Dr. Becky, insights from a course taught by Professor Laurie Santos, and inspiration through other timely conversations, join me as we discover how to sit on the benches in life that can feel really uncomfortable and sometimes lonely.--Course mentioned in this episode was The Science of Well-Being for Parents by Professor Laurie SantosSong mentioned in this episode was written by Tawnee Kendall from @music_forlittlesConnect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti
A podcast to help you discover how to cultivate a life of hopeful expectation and daily celebration. I’m Darcie Frost, an Oklahoma girl now living in New Zealand and leading a church with my husband (and our two toddlers in tow). Through weekly episodes released every Monday, I’ll be exploring Christian theology and studies in psychology to better understand the powerful effects of gratitude and hope. No matter what season of life you are in, we could all benefit from a bit more joy infused into those ordinary, everyday moments. I’ll be tackling questions like: How do I keep believing after so many setbacks? Why hasn’t God answered my prayer yet? How do you know God is good and on your side? How do I find the strength to celebrate others, while walking through grief, disappointment, and pain? What’s the difference between happiness and joy?Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app, so you don't miss a single episode!
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