Triggering or Cathartic? | Praise Podcast - Christian Podcasting Network

Diving head first into difficult topics can be triggering or cathartic. Tune in as we discuss the pros and cons.

#mentalhealth #anxiety #depression #stress #faith #prayer #bible #motivation #motivational #inspiration #inspirational #Bible #Christian #Christianity #stress #adversity #books

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00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Difficult topics can be triggering or cathartic.

00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 Tune in as we discuss the pros and cons.

00:00:11 --> 00:00:11 Hello,

00:00:12 --> 00:00:13 and welcome to Momo 634,

00:00:13 --> 00:00:19 the daily podcast chock-full of faith-filled inspiration and motivation.

00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 Please like, share, and subscribe.

00:00:23 --> 00:00:27 Momo 634, motivational moments just for today.

00:00:43 --> 00:00:44 In this episode,

00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 I'm going to talk about some really sobering,

00:00:47 --> 00:00:47 deep,

00:00:48 --> 00:00:49 dark topics,

00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 so consider this a trigger warning.

00:00:53 --> 00:00:54 Why,

00:00:54 --> 00:00:58 on a podcast focusing on good mental health,

00:00:58 --> 00:00:59 positivity,

00:00:59 --> 00:01:00 and encouragement,

00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 would we discuss such topics?

00:01:03 --> 00:01:07 Because life is real, and stuff happens.

00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 As discussed in the episode,

00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To,

00:01:13 --> 00:01:19 God gave us emotions to process all the things we go through in life.

00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 Many of the Psalms are sad or angry.

00:01:25 --> 00:01:29 Job discussed his despondency and expressed the wish that he'd

00:01:29 --> 00:01:30 never been born.

00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 King Saul clearly suffered from depression.

00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 Judas committed suicide.

00:01:38 --> 00:01:42 As regular listeners know, I read 304 books last year.

00:01:43 --> 00:01:47 Currently, I'm halfway through book 13 for this year.

00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 Sometimes I get on a theme tangent,

00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 reading books from a particular historical period.

00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 Sometimes I'll read a series with many parts.

00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 Often I'll binge-read a particular writer.

00:02:01 --> 00:02:05 I recently discovered an author whose writing speaks to me.

00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 She creates deeply layered stories about complex people.

00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 Though in the category of Christian fiction,

00:02:14 --> 00:02:19 she reflects the diversity of human experiences I just related

00:02:19 --> 00:02:20 in those biblical examples.

00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 All of her books are about flawed characters who've made poor

00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 decisions or are the

00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 victims of the bad choices others have made.

00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 Topics range from domestic violence,

00:02:35 --> 00:02:36 mental illness,

00:02:36 --> 00:02:37 pregnancy loss,

00:02:38 --> 00:02:39 or sexual abuse.

00:02:40 --> 00:02:47 How finding our path to God or back to God can help beauty

00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 arise from ashes and

00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 restore the soul.

00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 I've shared that I cry at commercials,

00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 so you can guess that it's been one big,

00:02:59 --> 00:03:03 long crying jag as I slog through this author's work.

00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 And not just crying, but ugly crying.

00:03:09 --> 00:03:14 The con in this scenario is clearly these can be triggering issues.

00:03:16 --> 00:03:20 The pro is exactly why I believe God includes them in the

00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 greatest book ever written,

00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 the Bible.

00:03:25 --> 00:03:26 We are not alone.

00:03:27 --> 00:03:32 Other humans have gone through these trials and others.

00:03:33 --> 00:03:37 Some have not done well and serve as cautionary tales.

00:03:38 --> 00:03:42 Others have weathered them and come out stronger for it.

00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 For me, the tears are healing.

00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 Seeing others grieve the loss of wanted children,

00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 as I have,

00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 or struggled with their own mental health,

00:03:56 --> 00:03:57 as I do,

00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 honestly helps in the grand scheme of things.

00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 As I mentioned in the episode New Self-Discovery,

00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 sometimes I feel like the lone freak.

00:04:11 --> 00:04:12 But reading these narratives,

00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 whether in the Bible or in the pages of fiction,

00:04:17 --> 00:04:23 help remind me that I am not alone and that I am deeply loved.

00:04:24 --> 00:04:28 That adversity can accomplish things in my life and spirit that

00:04:28 --> 00:04:29 nothing else can.

00:04:31 --> 00:04:31 Of course,

00:04:32 --> 00:04:36 some of these events occurred so long ago in my life that time

00:04:36 --> 00:04:37 has tempered the

00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 rough edges a bit,

00:04:39 --> 00:04:43 thus allowing the fictional stories not to upend or trigger me.

00:04:45 --> 00:04:45 For others,

00:04:46 --> 00:04:50 we must know our limits and whether we need to process life's

00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 difficulties with the

00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 help of a professional.

00:04:54 --> 00:04:58 I do love that God in his wisdom designed the church so we

00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 could bear one another's

00:05:00 --> 00:05:05 burdens and rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

00:05:07 --> 00:05:11 And I'm glad he gave us his word to read about flawed people so

00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 that we might have hope.

00:05:14 --> 00:05:20 Fiction, like music and other art forms, can help us process life also.

00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 Our meme for today says,

00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 art does imitate life,

00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 and through its lens,

00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 we can process and heal.

00:05:31 --> 00:05:35 How has art helped you process a difficulty in life?

00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 Chime in below.

00:05:40 --> 00:05:46 Thanks for listening to Momo 634, motivational moments just for today.

00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 Please subscribe,

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