Rise Up and Shine Podcast
215 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 31 ratingsTwo Christian moms in different stages of life – stay at home Ashley with young children and Claudine in midlife with an empty nest. Together, we talk about the struggles we all face as women including overwhelm, mom guilt, frustrations in parenting and marriage, building confidence and managing our minds and emotions. We have overcome depression and anxiety and have found success in creating peace filled and joy filled lives. From chaos to coaches, we have embarked on a journey to share all we've learned with you. With real, raw, and faith-filled conversations we bring hope, insight and weekly tips so, you too, can rise up and let your light shine bright.
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Episodes
When Comparison Steals Your Joy
January 27, 2021 20:00 - 32 minutes - 31.2 MBAll of us do it. Often without conscious effort. Comparison. We compare our looks, our marriage, our kids, our homes. You name it. Although comparison can help us learn and grow from others it can also become damaging to our own mental and emotional well-being. This week we share helpful practicals to get you to stop comparison in its tracks and get more joy back into your life! Make sure to subscribe, share and check us out at claudinesweeney.com and mindoverchaos.com.
Choosing Reconciliation
January 20, 2021 20:00 - 35 minutes - 36.1 MBForgiveness takes one but reconciliation takes two. Coming off of our last episode on forgiveness we needed to tackle the issue of reconciliation. Just like forgiveness, reconciliation is a choice. In today's episode, we define reconciliation as well as discuss when we should reconcile a relationship and when we shouldn't. Don't forget to subscribe and share this episode with a friend. Also, visit us at claudinesweeney.com and mindoverchaos.com.
Forgiveness
January 13, 2021 20:00 - 30 minutes - 24 MBForgiveness is one of those things we all need but it can also be so hard to give. Everyone of us has been on the receiving end of either intentional or unintentional pain by another. The words "I forgive you" may come easy but true forgiveness in our heart? Well, that's a different story. In today's episode, we talk about the effects that an unforgiving heart can have on our bodies as well as practical steps you can take to reach true forgiveness in your heart so you can be free from the pa...
Focused Attention
January 06, 2021 20:00 - 34 minutes - 29.4 MBIt may be a new year but we may not be very interested in a new year's resolution coming off of the year we just had in 2020. What if we simply decided to have more focused attention this year on what we are already doing? Perhaps focusing on more positivity. Or more time with the family. Maybe more attention on your health. In todays' episode we talk about what focused attention is and how to be more mindful of where our attention is really going and how to keep our attention focused on wha...
Focused Attention
January 06, 2021 20:00It may be a new year but we may not be very interested in a new year's resolution coming off of the year we just had in 2020. What if we simply decided to have more focused attention this year on what we are already doing? Perhaps focusing on more positivity. Or more time with the family. Maybe more attention on your health. In todays' episode we talk about what focused attention is and how to be more mindful of where our attention is really going and how to keep our attention focused on wha...
Resiliency
December 31, 2020 02:51 - 32 minutes - 24.3 MBResilience is not something we're born with. Too bad, right? Fortunately, it is something we can learn. Just like a muscle that strengthens with exercise we can flex our resiliency muscle to make it stronger despite what challenges we face. After this past year, we all have the ability to make ourselves more resilient than ever. In this episode we share with you just how to make that happen. Make sure to subscribe and visit us at claudinesweeney.com and mindoverchaos.com.
What If Jesus Was Never Born?
December 24, 2020 03:22 - 36 minutes - 26.8 MBThe hustle and bustle of the holidays can take our minds off of the real reason for the season. Jesus! In today's episode, as Christian women first, we share our own personal stories about what Jesus means to us and a bit about the abundant life he came here to give us all. From Claudine and I we wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Please hit that subscribe button and find us at claudinesweeney.com and mindoverchaos.com for more resources.
Parenting Highs and Lows
December 17, 2020 20:48 - 38 minutes - 24.8 MBMotherhood is a journey no one is completely prepared for. Filled with highs and lows. It's exhausting, will challenge us to our core and change us like nothing else can. And our hearts will swell like never before. In this episode, we both share our own personal journey through motherhood and our top tips for cultivating amazing relationships with our children throughout their childhood and into adulthood. Don't forget to subscribe and visit us at claudinesweeney.com and mindoverchaos...
Creative Connections
December 09, 2020 20:00 - 27 minutes - 21.3 MBThere is no doubt we all have taken a big hit this year with this pandemic and quarantine. Many of us may have felt loneliness more than ever, or maybe for the first time, and now that the holidays are here that feeling may be much stronger. In this episode, we share several ideas that you can do to be creative in staying connected with those you love. Don't forget to subscribe and you can find us at claudinesweeney.com and mindoverchaos.com for more resources.
Let Your Light Shine
December 03, 2020 06:17 - 31 minutes - 24.5 MBHas your light dimmed? Are you feeling exhausted and burned out? After the year we have had I'm betting most of us can say yes to that question. In today's episode, we share several strategies so you can shine your light again this holiday season. Why wait for the pandemic to be over to feel like you're living your best life? You can start right now! Hit that subscribe button and you can also check us out at claudinesweeney.com and mindoverchaos.com for more resources.
Committment to Self
November 25, 2020 21:48 - 21 minutes - 24.8 MBDo you find yourself breaking commitments often to your friends or your boss? Probably not so often. What about to yourself? Do you cancel on yourself often? Many of us do this. We do not do a great job at keeping ourselves accountable. For whatever reason we feel it is okay to cancel on ourselves whenever we feel like it. Which can be a lot! "I don't want to go exercise now". I don't want to wake up to my alarm this early". "It's okay if I eat this cake even though I promised myself I would...
Gratitude
November 18, 2020 20:00 - 11 minutes - 14 MBDo you practice gratitude every day? With the hustle and bustle of life, especially during the holiday season, we can get caught up with the to-do's and our current circumstances that we don't always stop to think about all we are grateful for. As Thanksgiving is this week, today's episode focuses on the importance of practicing gratitude with intention so you can live a life that feels full and overflowing rather than half full or completely empty. Don't forget to subscribe and check us...
Stop Procrastinating!
November 11, 2020 20:00 - 24 minutes - 21.1 MBWe all do it. We all put things off to the last minute. However, what do we do if we have become so good at habitually procrastinating? There are many costs in our lives when we do procrastinate that we may not even realize. In this episode, we share the consequences of procrastinating as well as specific tips on overcoming this unhealthy habit! Beat procrastination once and for all! Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast. You can also find us over at claudinesweeney.com and mindoverch...
How To Do Conflict
November 04, 2020 20:00 - 26 minutes - 21.8 MBConflict is inevitable. Most of us, however, do not know how to handle conflict or even know what to do when we face it. Maybe you avoid it. Maybe you numb yourself out. Maybe you lash out and it has hurt your relationships. Truth be told, we were never actually taught how to “do” conflict. We were only given the model that others demonstrated in their own lives. Like our parents. Or television. In this episode we share several practicals when dealing with conflict so you can grow deeper in ...
Control
October 28, 2020 19:00 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBPop goes your bubble, ladies! We all try to keep control to some degree. Some more than others. You may know you are a control freak or maybe you don't. Truth is, we all need to feel some sense of control. But what if that control is causing more harm than good in your life? Or maybe your relationships? In this week's episode, we talk about our own personal struggles with control and practical tips to get it under control a bit better. Ha! You see what I did right there? Don't forget to subs...
Dealing with Disappointment
October 19, 2020 06:00 - 19 minutes - 19.6 MBWe all experience disappointment. It's a fact of life. No one can evade the challenges that life gives us. How we handle disappointment, however, dictates our life. Have you ever stopped to think about that? Have you ever asked yourself, "How do I handle disappointment?" Most of us tend to cope in order to ignore or numb the disappointment we face. In this episode, we talk about specific ways to deal with disappointment as it comes your way so you can rise above it and shine your best! Pleas...
5 Ways to Manage Stress
October 04, 2020 19:00 - 36 minutes - 36.3 MBStress is something we all experience. Now more than ever. In this episode we give tips on how to manage and minimize any unnecessary stress. Don't forget to subscribe and share this episode with a friend. You can find us at claudinesweeney.com and mindoverchaos.com.
Lies We Believe
September 27, 2020 19:00 - 20 minutes - 24.4 MBHave you ever considered yourself a liar? Well, we can prove that we lie to ourselves all the time. In this episode, we discuss common lies we believe as women and what we can do to turn that around and start believing the truth. Don't forget to subscribe and share with a friend. You can also find us at claudinesweeney.com and mindoverchaos.com.
Self Worth
September 17, 2020 16:46 - 19 minutes - 19.3 MBDo you find yourself often trying to please people? Do you struggle with perfectionism? Are you constantly striving to achieve the next big thing? Chances are you might be seeking these things to feel worthy. In today's episode we talk about common reasons why we may be looking to others for validation and specific things you can do to feel worthy just as you are now. Remember to subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend. And visit us at claudinesweeney.com and mindoverchaos.com.
Conflicting Emotions
September 02, 2020 19:00 - 19 minutes - 22.2 MBWhen we experience conflicting emotions, it can cause us to feel confusion, guilt and shame. Maybe you are feeling grateful but guilty for being grateful. Perhaps you feel afraid and angry at the same time. There are so many layers to our emotions and in today’s episode we break down some simple steps you can take that will help you take control of those emotions so they don’t take control of you. Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and check out our personal websites for ...
The Impact of our Words
August 27, 2020 03:42 - 22 minutes - 19.4 MBOur words hold so much power. They have the power to build up or tear down. In this episode, we talk about the our own personal struggles with our words as well as offer practicals on how to choose our words wisely. For the betterment of our relationships and our own well-being. Check us out at claudinesweeney.com and mindoverchaos.com for more resources. Also, don't forget to subscribe and share this episode!
When Good Is Good Enough
August 19, 2020 19:00 - 25 minutes - 20.7 MBWhat if what you were working so hard at perfecting is actually already good enough? Many of us may struggle with this idea. Why do so many of us strive for perfection? Are we seeking validation? Approval? Maybe we're afraid we'll be judged if we aren't the best. Or perhaps, we feel we will hold value or worth in society if we achieve something significant. In this episode, we share some of our own struggles with perfectionism, we discuss the tolls perfectionism can have in your life and on ...
When Good Is Good Enough
August 19, 2020 19:00 - 25 minutes - 20.7 MBWhat if what you were working so hard at perfecting is actually already good enough? Many of us may struggle with this idea. Why do so many of us strive for perfection? Are we seeking validation? Approval? Maybe we're afraid we'll be judged if we aren't the best. Or perhaps, we feel we will hold value or worth in society if we achieve something significant. In this episode, we share some of our own struggles with perfectionism, we discuss the tolls perfectionism can have in your life and on ...
Reclaiming Your Health
August 12, 2020 19:00 - 24 minutes - 21 MBDuring this pandemic it has been challenging for many of us to keep up with caring for our bodies. Oftentimes, it is unintentional yet we have found ourselves in a rut with our health. We may have gained some weight, our sleep schedule is off and we may have stopped moving our bodies because we can't seem to find the time or we are just too stressed out. In this episode, we talk about several important factors for physical health so you can start feeling good again in your mind and body. Don...
The Beliefs Behind Your Habits
August 06, 2020 04:32 - 11 minutes - 14.8 MBMany times we try to change a habit or we may try to create a new habit but it can become a daunting task. Oftentimes we give up because it gets too hard and we can feel like it's impossible. There is a reason for that. So many of us try to break an unhealthy habit or create a new healthy one but we fall short because we don't realize there is an underlying belief that stops us in our tracks. In this episode, we talk about what happens in our brains that cause us to not achieve this goal and...
Re-envision 2020
July 29, 2020 19:56 - 22 minutes - 17.3 MBWith everything happening right now we certainly didn't anticipate what this year brought for us all. We began 2020 excited and ready to go after specific goals. But, it didn't quite work out the way we thought, did it? Undoubtedly, many of us got derailed and some probably gave up completely. What if it doesn't have to be that way? Was it really the pandemic that got us off track in our goals or could it be something more? In this episode, we discuss what may have happened and practical way...
Choosing Happy
July 22, 2020 19:00 - 24 minutes - 17.5 MBBeing filled with happiness can happen more often than we sometimes believe. Choosing to be happy doesn't only belong to the free spirit type. Everyone of us can feel happy more often if we choose to. In this episode, we talk about the stumbling blocks that keep us from being happy and ways to increase the happiness in our own lives. And, we don't have to wait until our circumstances change either. It can happen today! Listen in for tips on how to increase your happiness right now. Subscribe...
How to Express Your Needs
July 15, 2020 15:28 - 23 minutes - 17.7 MBExpressing our needs can be very challenging at times. We fear they might get rejected, perhaps cause some conflict or just not be received as well as we hope. In today's episode, we talk about the importance of expressing our needs, why it can be so hard to do, and ways to communicate them effectively that serves your relationships and your own well-being best. If this podcast has blessed you in any way, please subscribe, comment, and share the love. You can also find us at claudinesweeney....
Why We Get Angry and What To Do About It
July 09, 2020 06:18 - 23 minutes - 25.1 MBAll of us get angry once in a while. It's a normal human emotion. However, sometimes it gets the best of us. So, what can we do? In this episode, we talk about what happens in our brain when we get angry, common reasons why we get angry and practical ways to handle ourselves rather than fly off the handle in the heat of the moment. If this podcast has blessed you in any way please subscribe and share with a friend. Find us at claudinesweeney.com and mindoverchaos.com.
Why We Don't Do What We Want To Do
July 01, 2020 19:00 - 22 minutes - 23.5 MBHave you ever felt like this? You do what you don't want to do and you don't do what you want to do? For many of us, it feels incredibly difficult to choose to do what's best for us because it doesn't feel good or comfortable in the moment. In today's episode, we discuss why this happens as well as tips on how to overcome this struggle so you can start making the choices you really want to make and you can start living each day who you really want to be. For more resources visit us at claudi...
The Importance of Boundaries for a Happier You
June 25, 2020 00:47 - 30 minutes - 32 MBMany of us struggle with practicing boundaries. Or perhaps some of us may not have boundaries at all. And you might be feeling miserable! Maybe it is too hard to say "no". Maybe you are a people pleaser or a conflict avoider. Maybe you even believe that boundaries are rude and selfish. Not true, friend! Boundaries are a critical piece to happiness. If you want to feel more happy in your life then you may need to start establishing some boundaries. In this episode, we give a few tips on how t...
How To Deal With Difficult People
June 17, 2020 16:13 - 23 minutes - 17.9 MBHave you ever had to deal with a difficult person? Does it sometimes feel like these "difficult" people follow you in the course of your life? We can be so quick to label someone as difficult but, oftentimes, we have trouble in knowing how to deal with these people. In this episode, we get to the root of why someone can be "difficult" for us. Listen in and learn some practical ways to handle these relationships in a healthy way for your own well-being and sanity! Please don't forget to subsc...
Overcome With Emotion During Crisis
June 11, 2020 04:34 - 20 minutes - 15.6 MBThere is so much going on with our world right now. First the pandemic and now civil unrest rooted from injustice and discrimination. Undoubtedly, our hearts are heavy with so much emotion. Sometimes more than we feel is appropriate. In this episode we talk about how to identify where all the emotion comes from. There is usually a deeper place that can exacerbate the emotions we feel due to a current situation we are facing. Please visit us at our websites for free resources as well at claud...
Guarding Your Heart
June 03, 2020 13:00 - 19 minutes - 16.2 MBDid you know the emotions you feel in your heart are a direct result from the thinking going on inside your mind? Sometimes our hearts feel troubled, worried, bitter, resentful and maybe angry. But why? How did we become filled with these emotions in our heart? Wouldn't we all love to feel more love, peace and happiness? In this week's episode, we talk about what it means to guard our hearts and how exactly we can do that so we can live more peaceful joy-filled lives.
How to Cope With Change
May 27, 2020 16:29 - 20 minutes - 15.9 MBChange is never easy; whether it's wanted or unwanted. Our brain craves familiarity and comfort and it will try to hijack you into resisting it. Everyone experiences change in their lifetime and it's how we approach it that makes the difference. In this episode, we talk about ways, we as humans, tend to cope. We try to hide away the uncomfortable feelings we feel when experiencing change. What if there are ways to cope in a healthy way? Listen in for practical ways we can cope that will best...
Stop Self-Sabotage and Live More Confidently
May 20, 2020 14:45 - 22 minutes - 18.1 MBSelf-sabotage is one of those things that we don't even realize we do it. It is so unintentional that we can self-sabotage ourselves into such a rut so quickly and we have no idea how and when it happened. We have become masters at talking ourselves out of doing things because we "don't feel like it" or because we allow some of those negative thoughts back into our minds. At times without even being aware of what we are actually thinking. In this episode, we define what self-sabotage is and ...
Tips For Feeling Better
May 13, 2020 14:56 - 37 minutes - 24.6 MBMay is Mental Health Awareness month so in this week's episode we dive into practical ways to feeling better. Now, during this pandemic, our mental and emotional health are surely taking a hit. We may be burned out, we may be dealing with more anxiety or depression. No doubt, we are feeling a myriad of emotions and just want some relief. But how can we do that when this quarantine has not been lifted yet? How can we feel better when our circumstances haven't gotten any better? Good news! It ...
Merry-Go-Motherhood
May 06, 2020 19:55 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBHappy Mother's day to all the fabulous mothers out there! In light of Mother's Day nearly approaching, in this week's episode we dive into what motherhood has been like for each of us lately. The joys and challenges of being an empty-nester yet sheltering in place with adult children, and then the other side of the spectrum, being quarantined and adapting to distance learning with two school-aged children. Tune in as we share what our experiences have been like and as we offer up practicals ...
Expectations at Home
April 29, 2020 17:58 - 25 minutes - 26.3 MBWe all hold expectations in relationships whether we consciously know it or not. We each look at things through our own lens but how often do we expect others to see things the way we do? During this quarantine that we're all forced into our home atmosphere could be affected because of an underlying playbook that we have. In this episode, we discuss what some of those expectations are and ways to boost our relationships for the better and create a more peaceful home environment.
Gain Peace, Lose Control
April 23, 2020 02:39 - 26 minutes - 26.1 MBWhen stressful times come, many of us can tighten the reigns on anything possible that we might be able to control. But if we take an honest look, how much of it is really in our control? Usually there is an underlying emotion that causes us to try to control things even more than usual. And that emotion is fear. In this episode, we dive into our own battles with control and talk about ways we can all let go little and regain peace in our lives.
Money Mindset
April 15, 2020 22:57 - 29 minutes - 29.8 MBUnprecedented times can cause such fear in our minds regarding our finances. In this episode, Claudine gives wonderful encouragement as she has experienced something like this before. Enduring the market crash in 2008, both her and her husband were self employed and had zero income. She shares her biggest takeaways from those previous experiences, such as the '08 crash, and how she applies those lessons to this new circumstance - the pandemic.
Thrive During a Pandemic
April 08, 2020 15:28 - 26 minutes - 27.8 MBWeeks into this COVID-19 pandemic and the mood has definitely shifted. We went from a "this isn't too bad" to "I'm so over this" mentality. Our lives are in disarray, a lot has been given up, and many of us are feeling frustrated and maybe even angry. Some days we're at our wit's end. Whether we are trying to attempt homeschooling on top of working from home or we are empty nesters grieving the freedom of going anywhere outside of a 3 block radius, we are all being effected by this one invis...
The Power of Vulnerability
April 01, 2020 15:11 - 18 minutes - 14.5 MBBrené Brown says it so well. She says, "vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage but truth and courage aren't always comfortable but they are never weakness". With what is going on in our world today we all need vulnerability more than ever. We are all feeling some intense emotions in various ways - frustrated trying to work with kids in the home, scared of the unknown, worried if you or someone you love may get sick or lose their job. We need to vocalize our deepest thoughts a...
Self Expectations
March 26, 2020 02:18 - 22 minutes - 16.7 MBAre you frustrated? Are you overwhelmed? Are you beyond tired? Do you feel like you are about to lose your mind? Chances are you may have too many (or too high) expectations on yourself. In this episode, we discuss some of the pitfalls of having expectations on ourselves and what we should do about it. Some expectation is good for us while most do not help in any way. Rather, they can leave us feeling discouraged, guilty, or inadequate when we don't meet them. Let's increase the peace in our...
Keeping Your Peace During a Pandemic
March 18, 2020 20:46 - 23 minutes - 25.1 MBHello friends! This, indeed, is such a wild time in our lives right now. Arguably, each of you have fallen to your own side of opinion regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic. I don't know if we ever thought we'd see the day when toilet paper was of greater worth than gold. But here it is. School is out, many working from home, or sadly being laid off. Panic has hit us hard. But it doesn't have to, friends. In today's episode, we share our own personal stories dealing with this critical time as w...
The Power of Perspective
March 11, 2020 18:00 - 22 minutes - 16.8 MBHow do you see the world? How do you see yourself? How we look at either of these things determines the quality of our lives and our relationships. We all look at things through our own view point. But who is right? In this episode, we talk about how perspective can help us or hurt us and what we can do to become more aware of how our perspective shapes our lives.
Cast the Past
March 04, 2020 12:00 - 24 minutes - 17.3 MBIt is true our past colors who we are but it is a myth that it defines us. Many disagreeable things have happened in each of our lives but it is by acknowledging and forgiving that will move you past it. The past is just that - the past. In this episode, we talk about several ways that will help you be all you are made to be in the present while daring greatly to step into your future.
Have You Lost Your 2020 Vision?
February 26, 2020 11:00 - 24 minutes - 26.5 MBTwo months down in the books for the year 2020! How is it going with your goals? Congratulations if you are going strong! But maybe you didn't quite get off to the start you were hoping for. Maybe you got discouraged and feel like or already gave up. Maybe you have wavered a bit in your "go get it" mentality. In this episode, we talk about what to do when you lose motivation and how you can get back on track! Let's do this ladies!
Fear: Survival or Imagination?
February 19, 2020 11:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBThere is a natural fear which our brain is wired for. But that's for our survival and safety. In most cases, survival isn't an issue for us anymore. Nowadays, most of our fears are not actually a matter of survival but rather a product of our imagination. Statistically speaking, around 80-90% of our fears will never even happen. So why do we spend so much time worrying? In this episode, we tackle the issue of fear and offer a few proven tips to help you gain awareness of those fears to be ab...
Self Love
February 12, 2020 11:00 - 22 minutes - 24.2 MBAre you last on your list of priorities? Maybe you self sacrifice to make sure everyone else around you is taken care of first. How is that working for you? We'll tell you a little secret. The way to GIVE your best and BE your best is to fill your cup first. In this episode, we bust the myth that self love is selfish and discuss the four key areas we need to nurture within ourselves first in order to overflow with joy and love.