Conquer Addictions and Bad Habits – Soul, Mind and Body Summer Series

The Three-Legged Stool of Life

We need three legs of the stool of life (soul, mind and body) to have peace and joy that surpasses all understanding and to do God’s complete will.  Many of us have one or two legs of the stool of life in a wobbly state or perhaps even non-existent, which leaves us imbalanced and seeking God’s peace. Are you ready to stabilize these three in your life so you can be the walking example of Jesus here on earth? It’s time to live out your mission as a disciple – but first – we have to conform to Jesus.

This summer, join me and Relevant Radio and Iowa Catholic Radio (EWTN Affiliate) as we look at all three and their connection and reliance on each other for true transformation. There will be more details at the end of this article. First, let’s look at your soul, mind and body to see how balanced you are currently.

Time for Soul Searching

A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your Holy Spirit. Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit (Psalm 51:12-14).

How is your soul and your relationship with God? As you may know, the first of the Two Greatest Commandments is to love God with our heart, soul, mind and strength. This means that we must schedule time with Him every day to meditate on His Word and what He wants us to focus on in our 24-hour journey with Him today.

Let’s be honest with ourselves, shall we? These questions are meant for you to search your soul a little, so grab a pen and search your heart. Ask yourself, “Why not?” if you answer “No”.

Do you pray every day?
Can you discern God’s voice?
Do you have a sacramental relationship with the Holy Trinity?
Do you understand how to fight the spiritual battle?
Do you speak about Jesus, Catholicism and Moral Issues with courage in today’s culture?
Do you live in His Spirit – communicating all day?
Are you struggling with mortal sin, perpetual sin, or vice in your life?

Develop Your Mind

Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2).

Do you have a thirst for learning? One of the most enlightening things God showed me this past year was the understanding of how the human brain works. I learned how psychology comes into play, but also the basic science and biological reactions with the brain and the rest of the body. How can we keep ourselves growing and developing if we do not understand the part of our body that controls everything? How does the mind work with the soul (heart/feeling) and the brain (mind/thoughts)?

The brain is the largest file cabinet we have. We can learn how to heal past traumas and triggering thoughts and emotions which spiral us back into stress, “dis-ease” and sub-conscious programs. We also need to live more consciously in the present. In my last article, I introduced the reality that 95% of our lives are lived subconsciously. Do these statements below reflect you?

I have a thirst to learn like a child – I am a perpetual learner
I live 50% in a fully conscious state – I can identify triggers before they come
I can discern between The World, The Flesh and The Devil – I know My Voice, God’s and Satan’s
I do not worry about yesterday or concern myself about tomorrow
I can identify and control my bodily urges
I can control my thoughts and speech
I reflect throughout my day – Examination of Conscience
I enjoy learning more about myself and how my soul, mind and body work together with God

The Body as The Mind

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body (1COR6:19-20).

This was the last leg of the stool that was almost non-existent in my life. I did not know how my body worked, how I should feed it or how I should move it. All I knew was that my body was achy, and it was not serving me at all. My hips ached when I slept, my knee sounded like a firework display and every joint in my body hurt. Even though I appeared to get enough sleep, I never woke up feeling rested. Because of how I felt, I had no energy to exercise.

I not only allowed my muscles to atrophy but I allowed my body to rule me for almost 50 years. After a lot of research into our anatomy, biology, and chemistry, studying all the systems in our wonderfully made human body, I realized that I was not serving my body or the Holy Spirit who resides in it. I was actually doing the exact opposite.

Some of you may be thinking, “Great, Kendra, let me know exactly what you eat, how much, and what you do with your body for exercise, and I will copy!” I wish I could do that for you. We are ‘Bio-Individual’ and you will need to experiment with what works for your specific genetics. However, we will learn about how our body reacts to our thoughts and emotions by downregulating or upregulating certain genes. We can take control of our physical health by understanding this relationship – soul, mind and body. Let’s search our souls again and be honest about whether or not our bodies rule us. Do you strongly agree or strongly disagree with these statements:

My body is submissive to me – I do not succumb to temptation
My body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit – I feed it and move it optimally
I know the promptings and movement of the Spirit in my body
I can move without moaning and groaning
I can go up a flight of stairs with ease
I can get up from the floor without using my hands

I can walk leisurely and carry on a conversation
My body does not have constant pain and ample energy throughout the day

It’s Time To Be FREE

Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18).

Why am I doing this? I have been trying to conform to Jesus for the past 10 years of my short journey and I am so grateful He finally connected all of this for me. My mission of the ‘Soul, Mind and Body’ group is to help you develop your own relationship with God, understand your mind and your body better. It’s time to love every aspect of our struggles and to open our hearts to the renewal of minds (and soul and body). So, let’s look at what you will learn this summer:

Over the 13 Weeks (June – August) You Will Learn How To:

• Find Balance in Your Soul, Mind and Body
• Enjoy The Journey – Not the Destination
• Understand Your Identity and Your Why
• Build Your Relationship with God – Mental/Meditative Prayer
• Walk in The Spirit of God – Deepen Relationship with Holy Spirit
• Discern His Voice
• Fight the Spiritual Battle – Deliverance
• Live in the Present Moment – Awareness
• Take Every Thought Captive – Discover Obedience
• Re-program Your Sub-conscious Programs (psychology and physiology)
• Control Your Thoughts, Words and Deeds Living in The Present
• Live for The Audience of One – Discipleship
• Do God’s Will – Evangelization

If you are excited to begin your journey to freedom, beginning the week of June 5^th, you can listen to Relevant Radio on Mondays (7:30 am CT) and Iowa Catholic Radio Network – EWTN affiliate on Tuesdays. (7:45 am CT) as we discuss how to “Conquer Addictions and Bad Habits”. If you want more details with LIVE coaching videos and specific training for prayer, exercise (age appropriate) and overall lifestyle using the Soul, Mind and Body approach – then join me and other like-minded people trying to live their calling on my Youtube Channel!