Lifting the Lifter's Podcast Jessica Rydalch

Every single one of us has a problem or challenge that can feel like we are walking around with a 50 pound weight on our shoulders. They can be heavy, burdensom, and tiring.  And sometimes it feels like we are completely alone when packing that challenge.  
I know that I have a tendency to keep my worries and burdens to myself, to not ask for help from God or from anyone else.  Probably due to some pride and also some fear. Fear of being vulnerable and letting my gaurd down.  Fear of admitting that I don't have it all figured out and can't do it all alone.
In this podcast we talk about asking for help.  Who do we ask?
First, Heavenly Father. The one who knows all and is always working in our favor. Ask Him.  He will help us get the answers and solutions we will need to move forward, problem solve, and he will give us the strength to endure.
Second, ask others.  There is a statistic that says that if we have a challenge and explain our situation to three trusted individuals, those 3 people will be able to help you get the answers and solutions you will need by either having the answer or helping you find the answer.
We are not alone in this life or in our challenges.  We have many who care and love us and who want to help. All we have to do is ASK!
Listen in to hear more and ways to implement this!

There are many times when things go just as we thought they would. When we have planned and prepared and everything goes perfectly, and then there are times when they don't. In fact. As I think about most things, they often look different than I thought they would have in my mind, but it's OK.
This week we had a surprise text that followed with having our son Cody coming home from his mission from Costa Rica! He has been having several health challenges for months and we've done all we can to support him out there, but after months of "gutting it out" he decided it was time to come home to get some tests and care here.
In this podcast I talk about that and what it felt like on this journey.  There was sadness, fear, frustration, anger, happiness, joy, and many other emotions. It's been a roller coaster for sure! And there are many things we have learned and are learning.
First: It's OK to be sad that things are different than you thought. It's OK to mourn that ideal expectation or scenario. However, sometimes our sadness gets layered on with many other emotions like anger and then we do things that aren't who we are. We can pull away, disconnect, and abandon our true selves.  
After giving yourselves a minute to be sad, choose to see opportunity. Choose joy. Choose happiness. There will be blessings and more joy, there will be growth and learning, and there will be peace.
Listen in for more!

Easter is coming! I love this holiday and the opportunity to reflect on Jesus Christ. A few years ago I was asked to write an essay to enter into a compiled essay book.  While the book is still in the works,  I am sharing this essay with you today in celebration of the Easter holiday!
Mother's Who Know, Julie B. Beck
Will You Engage in the Wrestle? Sheri Dew

As promised, this week we are going to talk about Easter and some Traditions to incorporate with your families.
Some of you may do easter egg hunts, baskets, and bunnies, and some may not, and choose to just focus on the Savior, his life, and his resurrection. And some may do both. We try hard to find a balance between both. So I am going to give you a couple of ideas for both!  There really isn’t a right or a wrong, it is whatever you feel is best for your family.
All traditions take a little bit of planning, work, and time. 
Decide which ones you want to do.
Why do you want to do them?
Is it just a tradition you just do?
Why?
My why is because it brings us together.
It is fun to spend time together
Talk with your families if there is too much and see what they say about your traditions.
I know there are some nonnegotiables for me, but there may be some others that the kids could take or leave that you're spending A LOT of time and energy doing!
Sometimes, doing traditions can be a bit overwhelming, and a bit much. 
Sometimes we can put a lot of pressure on ourselves to have everything look perfect, but we forget the reason we have them. Maybe even just a little bit of simplifying or asking for some help will make all of the difference and your traditions more enjoyable for you. 
Is there a tradition you’d like to start?
So many talented people share ideas online!  I always seem to find one that I love, and then make it my own. 
The reason for traditions is to gather and build relationships with family.
They are to spend time together. To have experiences together that bind and create bonds that last, and at Easter to remember Christ.

We all have things we’re pretty good at.
I would say I’m a pretty good cook.
I’m a pretty good housekeeper.
I’m good at exercising.
I’m good at taking care of my family.
I’m good at something else.
Worrying.
I have heard myself say “I’m a worrier”
I spend a lot of time thinking, and overthinking, about things. Over and over and over.
I spend time worrying about things that others may or may not give a second thought over!
Do any of you worry?
In today's podcast, we are going to discuss worry, because it’s something that I’ve been learning more about, working on, and trying to help my family and clients with, and also teach you some pretty amazing things that one of my children taught me.
If you think about where you're head is when you worry, it’s not present, it’s in the future. It’s not here, it’s there.  By keeping our brains busy on the worry, we don’t take action and move forward on items that can be done and off of our minds. We disconnect from present, what’s happening in the moment, and miss what is happening in front of us.  
Listen to today's podcast as we discuss more about worry and how to handle worry! We will talk about 
Acknowledging when we are worrying Regulating our Nervous System Getting our worries out of our minds by writing them down or giving them away to something, and most importantly to our Heavenly Father. Believing everything is going to be OK and moving forward!  

Every single one of us has stress. We have so much on our plates as we juggle family life, kids, jobs, and the list goes on.  We all do our best to manage and deal and cope, but do we understand stress?  In this podcast, we are going to discuss the stress response to help us better understand it, and by understanding it, we can help manage it.
Stress is caused by the "stressors" in our lives. These are outside sources that we all juggle. Our nervous system then interprets these stressors.  This interpretation is influenced by our past learning, cultures, upbringing, health, and so many other factors and imprints that flavor this interpretation.  This then elicits the "stress response."  When we are all talking about our stress, what we actually mean is our stress response. 
This stress response causes a reaction in our bodies. Sometimes it benefits and helps us, and sometimes it doesn't.  Sometimes the stress response is no big deal, and sometimes we can get to the point where we are stuck in that hyper or hypo active state due to our stress response.
What can we do?! Establish safety.  We are all little boys and girls screaming on the inside for safety.  Follow these 3 steps:
Am I safe? Ask yourself this. Remind your brain you are not in physical danger. (If you are in physical danger, RUN! Get to safety!)  Do I feel safe? Most of us don't feel safe. Inside some tension and something is screaming for help. Find that tension. Relax. Relax that part of you that is tense, that is tight, that the stress is sitting in.  There are many different ways to help us relax and regulate our nervous system to help us manage our stress.
Stress cannot live in a relaxed body! Too often we try to go through our minds and talk ourselves through the stress. Try going through the body!  
We all have stress we are trying to deal with.
We all have imprints and stamps from our life experiences.
These imprints flavor our interpretations of our stressors.
Be kind, we are all doing our best, and are managing the best we know how!
Listen in for more!