Episodios

  • The Neuroscience of Resentment and Forgiveness

    The Neuroscience of Resentment and Forgiveness
    Apr 17 2026
    Today’s Scripture is: Romans 12:9–18 **Today's devotional is in response to listener requests.** "Hate what is evil" and "bless those who persecute you" can feel like an impossible tension — until you understand what Paul is actually asking for. This episode unpacks one of scripture's most demanding passages and makes the case that clarity and love are not opposites. We explore: We'll explore: -The difference between naming harm and becoming hardened by it -What the research tells us about resentment and what chronic unforgiveness does to our bodies and brains -The two dimensions of forgiveness — and why neither requires you to minimize harm or trust someone who hasn't earned it We love hearing from you! If there is a topic or Scripture you'd like us to cover on the podcast, please email us at info@dralisoncook.com Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    8 m
  • 204. Procrastination Isn’t Laziness: What’s Really Holding You Back with Jon Acuff

    204. Procrastination Isn’t Laziness: What’s Really Holding You Back with Jon Acuff
    Apr 16 2026
    What if procrastination isn’t about laziness… but a disconnect between who you want to be and what you actually do? So many of us carry goals we care deeply about: habits we want to build, changes we long to make, ways we want to grow. And yet, we find ourselves stuck in the same patterns, circling the same resistance, wondering why it’s so hard to follow through. In this episode, Dr. Alison Cook and goals expert and New York Times bestselling author Jon Acuff explore what’s really happening beneath procrastination and how to finally begin moving forward. Because procrastination isn’t a character flaw. It’s a gap. A gap between your intentions and your actions. And over time, that gap can quietly erode something deeper: your trust in yourself. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed by your goals, or caught in cycles of starting and stopping… this conversation will help you understand why and what to do next. You’ll explore: Why procrastination isn’t about laziness and what’s actually driving it The hidden impact of broken self-trust (and how to begin rebuilding it) How your “soundtracks” (repetitive thoughts) shape your actions and results The real reason discipline alone doesn’t work and what does The 4 key places people get stuck in the growth process (and how to move forward) This conversation offers a practical, compassionate path forward, helping you close the gap between who you want to be and how you’re actually living, one small step at a time. More Resources: Make sure to grab Jon Acuff’s latest book Procrastination Proof: Never Get Stuck Again and then claim $97 worth of free bonuses. Take Jon's free procrastination profile here. Connect further with ⁠@dralisoncook⁠ on Instagram Want to go deeper with Dr. Alison? Join 80,000+ soul menders in our email community and receive weekly reflections and gentle practices here. Want to hear more like this? Start here: Episode 199: How the Body Teaches the Soul with Justin Whitmel Earley Episode 157: Braving Change—3 Ways to Get Unstuck and Transform Guilt and Regret 📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts! Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to ⁠Quince.com/bestofyou⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Remi - Start sleeping better with a Remi nightguard and use code BESTOFYOU and get 50% off your purchase. Go to ShopRemi.com/BESTOFYOU and use code BESTOFYOU. Aqua Tru - Join 98% of customers who have made their drinking water cleaner, safer, & healthier by visiting AquaTru.com and use promo code BESTOFYOU to get 20% off today! StoryWorth - Give your loved ones a unique keepsake you’ll all cherish for years—Storyworth Memoirs! Right now, save $10 or more during their Holiday sale when you go to StoryWorth.com/BESTOFYOU! *Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 m
  • You Can't Pour From an Empty Nervous System

    You Can't Pour From an Empty Nervous System
    Apr 15 2026
    Today’s Scripture is: Proverbs 4:20-23 Many of us have been taught that setting limits is selfish — that real love means giving without reserve. This episode makes the case, from both scripture and science, that boundaries are not walls against love but what protect love's integrity. We'll explore: -The research on compassion fatigue and what happens neurologically when we chronically override our own limits -The full context of Proverbs 4 — and why the wisdom writer connects attentiveness to your inner life with health to your whole body -Why guarding your heart is not a selfish act, but an act of profound faithfulness to God and the people you love To Go Deeper: Visit my blog, and type "boundaries" into the search bar. Visit my podcast, and type "boundaries" into the search bar. For more on external boundaries, see The Best of You or click here to get the first 3 chapters free For more on internal boundaries, see Boundaries For Your Soul, or click here to get free resources. Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    7 m
  • Deny Yourself Does Not Mean Erase Yourself

    Deny Yourself Does Not Mean Erase Yourself
    Apr 14 2026
    Today’s Scripture is: Mark 8:34–36 **Today's devotional is in response to listener requests.** This episode tackles one of the most misused phrases in all of scripture — and one that has caused real harm for a lot of people. We look at what Jesus was actually calling us toward, through the lens of psychology and the concept of the true and false self. We explore: -The difference between denying the false self and erasing your personhood -How fear-based identity forms — and why it's not the truest version of who you are -Why "take up your cross" is not an invitation to accept abuse, toxic relationships, or depression as God's will -Jesus as a model of strength, not smallness — and what that means for us To Go Deeper: Blog post: What Does It Really Mean to Deny Yourself Get the first 3 chapters free of The Best of You Episode 56: Am I Really Supposed to Die To Myself? Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    8 m
  • Attachment Wounds and Divine Holding

    Attachment Wounds and Divine Holding
    Apr 13 2026
    Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 27:10-14 This episode explores the psychology of attachment wounds through the lens of Psalm 27—one of scripture's most honest cries about being left behind. We explore: -what neuroscience tells us about how early attachment experiences literally shape brain architecture -why our nervous systems stay on alert long after the original wound, -how the psalmist's declaration speaks directly into that place. We also explore the research on prayer and the brain, and what it might mean for our nervous systems to slowly experience being held. To Go Deeper: Episode 16: What are Attachment Styles and Why do They Matter? Episode 136: Sacred Attachment—Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting in Divine Love with Michael John Cusick Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    8 m
  • Why You Go Back to Old Patterns

    Why You Go Back to Old Patterns
    Apr 10 2026
    Even after moments of clarity or growth, many of us find ourselves returning to familiar patterns. Back to what we know. Back to what once felt safe. In John 21, the disciples go back to fishing—returning to something familiar after everything they’ve just experienced. And it’s there, in the middle of that return, that Jesus meets them again. In this episode, Dr. Alison reflects on why we go back to old patterns—not as failure, but as something deeply human—and how those very places can become the ground where we are met with grace and invited into something new. Today’s Scripture is: John 21:1–14 Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    8 m
  • 203. Staying Close When Connection Feels Hard: The Relationship Skills No One Has Taught You (with Relationship Expert Dr. James Cordova)

    203. Staying Close When Connection Feels Hard: The Relationship Skills No One Has Taught You (with Relationship Expert Dr. James Cordova)
    Apr 9 2026
    What if the health of your relationship is shaping more of your life than you realize? We spend so much time focusing on our individual growth—our healing, our self-awareness, our inner work. But at some point, that work has to find its way into our closest relationships. And that’s where things often get complicated. In this episode, Dr. Alison is joined by Dr. James Cordova to explore what it actually looks like to build and sustain healthy, connected relationships over time—and why it’s so much harder than we expect. Because the truth is, relationships aren’t neutral. They’re either strengthening and supporting your overall well-being…or quietly eroding it. If you’ve ever felt close to someone you love… and also strangely disconnected, this conversation will help you understand why. You’ll explore: Why relationships are more foundational to your health than you might think What actually happens as intimacy shifts over time—and why it’s not a sign something is wrong The “porcupine dilemma” and why closeness and hurt often go hand in hand How small, everyday moments either build or erode connection What it means to respond to bids for connection—and why they matter more than you realize How mindfulness and presence shape the quality of your relationships What to do when you feel stuck, disconnected, or like you’re the only one trying This conversation offers a compassionate and practical reframe:Healthy relationships aren’t about avoiding conflict or getting it right all the time. They’re about learning how to stay present, stay curious, and stay connected—even when it’s hard. More Resources: Connect further with @dralisoncook on Instagram Read Dr. James Cordova’s Book: The Mindful Path to Intimacy: Cultivating a Deeper Connectin With Your Partner Want to go deeper? Join 80,000+ soul menders in our email community and receive weekly reflections and gentle practices here. Want to hear more like this? Start here: Episode 115: 4 Ways to Transform Your Relationship—Expert Tips to Heal Pain Points and Deepen Intimacy Episode 148: Dan Allendar on Healing, Intimacy, and Hard Fights Episode 137: The Mindful Marriage with Ron and Nan Deal 📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts! Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to ⁠Quince.com/bestofyou⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! AirDoctor - Did you know the quality of oxygen you breathe affects your brain which in turn your thoughts? Eliminate 99.9% contaminants in your home with AirDoctor by visiting AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BESTOFYOU to get UP TO $300 off today! *Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 m
  • Limiting Beliefs and Expectations

    Limiting Beliefs and Expectations
    Apr 8 2026
    Sometimes the hardest limits we face are not external—they’re the expectations we’ve quietly learned to live within. In Acts 3, we meet a man who has spent years sitting at the temple gate, asking for what he believes is possible. When Peter and John encounter him, they offer something entirely different—something he wasn’t even expecting to receive. In this episode, Dr. Alison reflects on how limiting beliefs shape what we ask for, what we notice, and what we believe is available to us—and how God often meets us beyond those expectations. Today’s Scripture is: Acts 3:1–10 Go Deeper: Episode 10: What are Limiting Beliefs? Episode 106: Transform Limiting Beliefs Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    9 m