Searching Inward

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Scott Reall and George Stull speak with Heather Lefebvre, a licensed psychotherapist who focuses on marriage and family therapy. Heather previously worked for Restore Small Groups over a decade ago, where her and her husband, Steven, were essential in the development and growth of the organization. She shares her journey with Small Groups and how it inspired her to transition into the mental health field.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:05] Intro

[01:19] This week’s guest, Heather

[05:05] How Heather came to love Restore Small Groups

[11:30] Transitioning to the mental health field

[12:48] The value of individual therapy and small groups

[17:26] Vulnerability is healthy to our growth

[21:19] Why Small Groups are beneficial

[25:21] How neurobiology influences her therapy approach

[33:46] Recommended helpful practices

[37:36] We are good enough

[41:17] Heather’s website and final words

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

Heather’s Website: mytherapistheather.com

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant speak with Mike “L.A. Mike” Rada about his experience with Restore Small Groups. Mike shares how feeling lost mentally, physically and spiritually after a pretty bad case of COVID-19 inspired him to join a Small Group. He takes the host through his journey that quickly evolved into sharing vulnerably.

“It allowed me to let myself be vulnerable for once, and it was a very welcoming group of people. It was strange for me, but then it also felt great. It gave me a chance to let my guard down.” -Mike [09:11]

“I think it’s a really great description of some of the magic of what happens in a group. Where we meet one another is in our humanity first.” -Seth [11:06]

“I think you articulated well though. Like it was a catalyst for you to maybe connect your inner world and your outer world in a more honest way with the people in your life.” -Anna [15:52]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:05] Intro

[00:28] Today’s guest, Mike

[01:54] What drew him to Restore Small Groups

[05:43] His first and last days

[11:36] Sharing vulnerably

[14:50] Something that had an impact on Mike

[18:32] Why recommend Small Groups to others?

[20:46] Lighting round

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Scott Reall, George Stull, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant talk about vulnerability. They explore what this means in the context of mental and emotional well-being and break down the myths about it. Listen as they share strategies for leaning into our vulnerability and embracing authenticity.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:05] Intro

[01:19] Defining vulnerability

[03:21] Myths about vulnerability

[09:12] “I don’t do vulnerability”

[14:34] Can’t go it alone

[16:48] What is vulnerability

[22:09] Within the framework of relationships

[32:46] Takeaways and strategies 

[38:30] Four feeling questions

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant speak with Jason Adam Miller, a pastor at South Bend City Church and author of the book, When The World Breaks: The Surprising Hope and Subversive Promises in the Teachings of Jesus. Jason is a helpful voice in bringing mental, well-being and faith together in such a meaningful way, so he discusses how to find hope where there’s suffering and struggle. He shares his church’s mantras and recommended practices when the hard stuff happens such as welcoming emptiness.

“When faith works until it doesn’t at a particular time in your life, like when you encounter some kind of experience and the faith we were given, sometimes it doesn't work, and you can do one of two things: you can entirely chuck faith or you can open up to maybe a new way of understanding your faith. It could be more hopeful.” -George [05:59]

“Often failure’s the best thing, right? Like whether you’re practicing a musical instrument or spiritual practice, you come to the limit of your capacity and that’s actually the liminal space where something really powerful can happen. But if you’re afraid to fail, you’ll never let yourself go there.” -Jason [16:05]

“God created each of us so incredibly uniquely. I mean, you’ve never seen two apples that look exactly alike. Like they all have very different dimensions, different qualities, and that’s what God intended for humanity. That we’re all unique. Like no two pieces of any kind of produce are identical, but anything you get coming out of a factory will be 100% identical all the time. And when we’re driven to become a carbon copy of something that we were never created to be, I just think it’s very beautiful that you’re creating this space for people to be fully human, fully unique, fully who they are.” -Anna [18:47]

“I think a lot of times people make this misconception that surrender is a passive thing, especially spiritual kind of surrender, when I think returning to the breath is an act of surrender. That I’m letting go, but it’s a deep trust that there’s something holding me while I’m experiencing this.” -Seth [24:38]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:03] Intro

[00:24] This week’s guest, Jason Adam Miller

[02:30] What opens Jason’s heart to faith and mental health

[07:31] Letting grieve consume and losing your faith

[13:16] His church’s mantras

[19:36] Recommended practices

[25:06] Misconceptions of mental health and faith

[27:27] Welcoming emptiness

[33:48] How to contact Jason

[36:02] One final message from Jason

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

Jason Adam Miller

Web: jasonadammiller.com

IG: @jasonadammiller

Pod: South Bend City Church Podcast

Book: When The World Breaks: The Surprising Hope and Subversive Promises in the Teachings of Jesus

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Seth Abram, Scott Reall and Anna Bryant do implement the third of their four styles of episodes in this new season by talking about curriculum. They explore one of Scott’s books, “Journey to a New Beginning after Loss: Freedom from the Pain of Grief and Disappointment,” and talk about grief and loss. Scott explains how our whole life is nothing but a journey of losing things, and nothing stays the same. The three hosts discuss how people interpret grief and loss and the different types of grief and loss as there are more than death or divorce.

“Unless we’re taught how to deal with loss, most of us aren’t going to move into processing it, which is the grief, which is allowing ourselves to feel the loss.” -Seth [09:13]

“We need to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, and normalize that life isn’t always comfortable. And be ok with that.” -Anna [13:24]

“We cannot make a new beginning if I’m still holding on and stuck in the past.” -Scott [33:48] 

TIMESTAMPS

[00:04] Intro

[01:11] The inspiration for the book

[03:33] Cultural misconceptions

[06:39] To complete communications

[08:06] The difference between loss and grief

[15:07] Different types of losses we grapple with

[32:23] Final words from the hosts

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

Scott Reall’s Books:

Journey to Freedom: Your Start to a Lifetime of Hope, Health, and Healing

Journey to a New Beginning after Loss: Freedom from the Pain of Grief and Disappointment

Journey to Living with Courage: Freedom from Fear

Journey to Healthy Living: Freedom from Body Image and Food Issues

Journey to a Life of Significance: Freedom from Low Self-Esteem

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram hear from Jim Clement, a participant of Restore Small Group from Franklin, Tennessee. Jim talks about his experience in a small group, how it brought him relief during a period of grief and isolation and what the overall experience means to him.

“When I heard those stories, it was the first thing that brought me any sort of relief at all. Was just to hear that there are fellow travelers out there. I’m not alone. There are other people that are experiencing what I am.” -Jim  [06:24]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:06] Intro

[00:54] About Jim Clements

[02:05] Joining a Restore Small Group

[08:11] First and last nights of group

[13:14] The group’s impact

[14:44] Would Jim recommend a small group?

[16:42] A quick lighting round

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram start a new series format with a topical episode about awareness. The more aware a person is, the more cognizant they are of how they show up in the world. The hosts discuss how we see and understand this concept and how we can start by aiming awareness towards ourselves so that we can begin to grow.

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

After exploring The Journey of Transformation over 36 episodes, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram preview what’s to come on the Searching Inward Podcast. The new format will start in the next episode. Stay tuned!

“...We’re going to have the wonderful opportunity to invite you in to meet some of the people that we dearly know and love, who have been a part of our groups, who have experienced significant life change and are going to come and just share a little part of their story and what has been so impactful for them through the group process.” -Anna [01:04]

“Stories. That’s what we all love, and especially stories of healing and hope.” -George [01:28]

“It’s one thing to hear somebody trying to describe what Restore Small Groups is. It’s another thing entirely to hear the impact going through a group has had on someone.” -Seth [01:35]

“Things like awareness and community and loneliness and hope and vulnerability, gratitude, and growth and just topics like that. Things we can really wrap our hearts around that will encourage us to stay on the path.” -Scott [02:08]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:05] Intro

[00:40] The new format

[01:51] Different topics to discuss

[03:03] How it will work

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

Scott Reall’s Books:

Journey to Freedom: Your Start to a Lifetime of Hope, Health, and Healing

Journey to a New Beginning after Loss: Freedom from the Pain of Grief and Disappointment

Journey to Living with Courage: Freedom from Fear

Journey to Healthy Living: Freedom from Body Image and Food Issues

Journey to a Life of Significance: Freedom from Low Self-Esteem

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram wrap up their series on the journey of transformation by talking about WOOP it, an acronym that helps us turn our wishes and dreams into a concrete plan. They discuss what keeps us motivated, where motivation comes from and what are some of the factors that shape intrinsic motivation in our lives.

“Having a goal without a plan is just wishes, so how do we move from wishes and dreams into a concrete plan or process that I can implement on a daily basis?” -Scott [04:45]

“This practice is one of the best ways to sum up this book, because it’s basically you use this WOOP practice as a way to co-create a new life for yourself through the process of contemplation and action.” -Seth [17:19]

“And it does a huge comfort to the rest of us to see that you are a fellow traveler. You don’t have it all figured out, because man, how can you trust someone that hasn’t struggled? So we love that you lead by example in all areas and that includes the struggle.” -Anna [25:03]

“I think the message of this whole journey of transformation is that it is a process that we’re always on.” -George [25:44]

  TIMESTAMPS

[00:05] Intro

[03:30] Willpower vs motivation

[09:28] Positive thoughts won’t transform us

[12:14] The WOOP method

[18:22] What challenges the hosts

[27:08] What is the Enneagram

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall and Anna Bryant talk about getting out of the shadows and into the light. There is only one way there – through vulnerability – so they explore this central question: Do we run from vulnerability? Or do we embrace it?

“But the true relationships I can be honest and vulnerable with, and their input is received as helpful and life-giving and affirming and it gives me life. One gives me life. The other one pulls me down.” -Scott [07:52]

“A much more helpful way that light works is that it just kind of shines the next step, the next place to move towards… Light can be helpful or it can be blinding in a condemning way.” -George [08:57]

“It is so important to remember, yall. Shadows don't exist without bright light. So in order to embrace those things about you that are less than perfect, you also have to reconcile the fact that that means there’s really something bright inside of you casting that shadow.” -Anna [13:49]

  TIMESTAMPS

[00:05] Intro

[00:48] The voice of condemnation

[03:01] How shadow and light play out in life

[09:14] Believing we are enough

[12:28] Ego wants to keep us in the shadows

[19:05] How we protect ourselves

[26:03] Where hope breaks in

Follow and Contact

Facebook: Restore Small Groups

Instagram: @restoresmallgroups

YouTube: Searching Inward Podcast

Website: restoresmallgroups.org