194: Finding Peace in the Emotional Storm with Alicia Michelle

In this episode, we delve into the topic of emotions, especially in the context of parenting, with our guest Alicia Michelle, a certified Christian life coach. Alicia provides insights from her book “Emotional Confidence: Three Simple Steps to Manage Emotions with Science and Scripture,” where she underscores the importance of acknowledging, discerning, and deciding how to respond to emotions.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About the Following:

• Understanding the complexities of emotions in parenting.
• The significance of recognizing and managing emotions.
• The impact of emotions on family dynamics and conflict resolution.
• The concept of emotions as indicators of deeper needs and experiences.
• Practical strategies for fostering emotional intelligence in parenting.
• The three-step method for managing emotions: Acknowledge, Discern, Decide.
• The importance of self-reflection and understanding the origins of emotions.
• Differentiating between emotions and objective truth in situations.
• Embracing both positive and negative emotions as part of the human experience.
• The journey of emotional awareness and growth in parenting and personal development.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Emotional Confidence: Three Simple Steps to Manage Emotions with Science and Scripture
• The Christian Mindset Podcast with Alicia Michelle
• Alicia Michelle’s website

Discussion Questions:

• Communication & Understanding
  • The episode highlighted the importance of “active listening” and repeating back what your partner says to confirm understanding. Have you ever felt misunderstood in our conversations? How can we practice active listening better?
  • In the podcast, Alicia mentioned that “most conflicts stem from miscommunication rather than real disagreement.” Can you think of a time in our relationship when a misunderstanding led to unnecessary tension? How could we have handled it differently?
• Conflict Resolution
  1. The podcast shared an example where a couple used a “pause button” during arguments to prevent escalation. Do you think something like this would work for us? How could we implement it in a way that feels natural?
  2. In the episode, the following idea was suggested: that “resolving conflict isn’t about winning but about finding a solution together.” Do you feel that we approach disagreements as a team, or do we sometimes fall into a competitive mindset? How can we shift our focus to resolution instead of being “right”?
• Emotional Connection & Intimacy
  • The episode talked about “micro-moments of connection” like sending a thoughtful text or sharing a small act of kindness. What are some small, daily things we do (or could do) to make each other feel valued?
  • Alicia shared a personal story about feeling emotionally distant from their partner despite spending time together. Have you ever felt that way in our relationship? What helps you feel truly connected?
• Personal Growth & Relationship Development
  • The podcast mentioned that couples who support each other’s individual growth tend to have stronger relationships. What’s a personal goal you’re working on right now, and how can I support you in achieving it?
  • Alicia advised taking time to reflect on “who we are as individuals within the relationship.” How do you think we’ve changed as individuals since we first got together? Has our relationship adapted to those changes?
• Future Vision & Relationship Goals
  • The podcast encouraged couples to have regular “relationship check-ins” to assess how things are going. Would you be open to trying this? What would be a good way to structure these check-ins?
  • What do you think about the idea of creating a “relationship vision board” with shared goals? If we made one, what would be some things we’d include?

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Meet Alicia Michelle: