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Praxis Podcast with Rhett Smith

A podcast tailored to help you bridge the gap between theory and practice in order to live a more transformational life -- with therapist, author and coach, Rhett Smith. I have a special interest in helping people face their anxiety with courage, so that they can have a more meaningful connection to self and others. As well as the interface of psychology and theology and the many and varied ways that can bring deep insight and healing to our lives.
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Now displaying: 2018
Sep 19, 2018

"Love consists in this, that two solitudes, protect and border and salute each other." -- Rainer Maria Rilke

 

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I returned from a "marriage adventure" on the Inca Trail in Peru. This adventure (through WinShape and Intrepid), led us for four days and 3 nights hiking along the 33 miles to Machu Picchu.

This was an unbelievable experience for my wife and I as we led four other couples on this marriage adventure. But probably one of the most transformative aspects of the trip was the moments (sometimes very long moments -- hours at a time) of silence as I walked along the trail. And what struck me most was the moments of silence between my wife and I. A comfortable silence where neither of us felt the need to talk or crack jokes, or lighten the levity with noise. But instead, it was that silence that drove me closer to God, and closer to her. And it was in that silence that I really grew.

 

In this episode I reflect on the importance of silence in relationships, which is something that I'm trying to work on and get better at in my own life.

 

In the episode I mention the wonderful book by Henri Nouwen, The Way of the Heart: Connecting to God Though Prayer, Wisdom and Silence.

And I also mention the book by Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet.

 

 

Aug 23, 2018

As many of you know from listening to my podcasts, or reading my blog over the years, is I'm pretty obsessed with the novels of Susan Howatch. Particularly her Starbridge Series of which I'm about to finish my 9th reading of the series in the last 15 years. It's that impactful and transforming in my life.

 

But I talk about one book in particular in this podcast episode (Absolute Truths by Susan Howatch), and more specifically about one verse. The verse is Romans 8:28. The NIV translation is as follows:

 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 

The Scottish theologian William Barclay translated the verse the following way:

 

“God intermingles all things for good for those who love Him.”
(Romans 8:28, translated by William Barclay)

 

I'm particularly drawn to this translation of the Greek text, especially as it tends to communicate that God takes all the bad and good, all the light and dark, all the negative and positive, and mingles them together. God weaves them together for good. God doesn't necessarily remove all the dark, but in mingling them together creates a beautiful tapestry of our lives that contain both the light and the dark. The implication of the translation has very different trajectory and understanding for one's life, than another translation.

 

With this in mind, I reflect in this episode on this translation.

 

In the episode I also talk about an article my dad wrote called Our Intermingling God, which I find particularly insightful for what is being discussed in this episode.

Jul 18, 2018

 

"I'd like to know more, of course, but I've accepted that there's nothing more he has to say; I've accepted that there's a limit on our knowledge of even those who are closest to us. The older one gets the more one realises how saturated life is in mystery, and the biggest mystery of all, it often seems to me, is the mystery of the human personality." -- Lyle Ashworth

 

Scandalous Risks by Susan Howatch

In this episode I explore the mystery that are people, and how it's not really until we create a safe space for others, become curious about them, and acknowledge that not all is to be known about ourselves and others, can we truly live in grace with one another.

 

Mentioned in the Episode

Lost

Susan Howatch

Starbridge Series

Glittering Images

Glamorous Powers

Ultimate Prizes

Scandalous Risks

Mystical Paths

Absolute Truths

Dallas Willard

Renovation of the Heart

Jean Marie Rilke

Letters to a Young Poet

Kalil Gibran

The Prophet

Jan 17, 2018

One of the things that happens at the beginning of every year, or at the start of a major transition, is that you see people setting goals. If you were like me you probably thought about all the goals you wanted to achieve in the New Year, and you might have even taken the time to write them down. But if you are also like me, it's possible that you have declared goals in the past, but never quite saw them to completion.

 

I count it a privilege that I get to spend about 1200 hours a year in session with people because I get to learn all kinds of helpful tools and tips from them. Though they are coming to get help from me (and I hope they find it helpful), I too am learning from them.

 

So in this episode I want to share with you 8 principles that I have found to be helpful in setting and completing goals. These are principles I've gleaned from reading, and from clients and colleagues and friends, and most importantly, they are principles I have put into action and had success with in my own life.

 

So in this episode I share with you these 8 important principles when it comes to goal setting:

  1. Focus on a limited number of goals (ex. 1-4 goals).
  2. Allow goals to build sequentially over time, or have "baby steps" built into them.
  3. Be very specific. (i.e. not I want to be fit, but rather, I will run this specific 5K).
  4. Attach goal to a bigger purpose/vision (i.e. I want to be able to keep up with my kids, etc.)
  5. Create accountability.
  6. Write the goals down
  7. Re-Evaluate the goals along the way (i.e. have a check-in process)
  8. Celebrate the accomplishing or achievement of the goal.

 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family by Patrick Lencioni

Palo Duro Trail Run

Charity Water

Scott Harrison interview on the Rich Roll Podcast

Jan 10, 2018

The new near can bring forth a lot of varying emotions from people. In my experience, a large number of people come into the new year very excited about change and all the potential possibilities that await them. It's often a time to start anew. But there is also a large number of people who come into the new year with a lot of fears about what awaits them, perhaps because the prior year was so challenging. And when I think about these varying experiences I think about anxiety. Anxiety is both an excitement about something new and that we care about, but it can also be about things that create fear for us. Anxiety can be healthy or unhealthy as I have written about and said many times before.

 

In this episode I want to explore some principles and strategies that you can implement for yourself, or help others with this year. So if you work with a group of people this could be very helpful for you. And to do this, I primarily "piggyback" off a recent article I wrote for the Fuller Youth Institute called Helping Adolescents Work Through the Rising Tide of Anxiety.

 

In the article and in this podcast I explore:

  • Create space and give permission to talk about anxiety.
  • Help identify the roots of anxiety.
  • Provide tools to help manage the anxiety.
  • Reframe anxiety as an opportunity to grow.
  • Practice working through the anxiety.

 

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast

Helping Adolescents Work Through the Rising Tide of Anxiety

Downloadable PDF of the Pain Cycle (i.e. feelings/emotions)

Feeling Word Vocabulary (Think 2 Perform)

 

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