172: Transform Your Chaos Into Calm with Bonnie Gray

Bonnie Gray knows a thing or two about being stressed. During the first year of the pandemic, Bonnie’s once full, black hair began falling out. Overwhelmed by the exhaustion of disrupted routines and pressure to meet expectations at work, parenting, ministry and a bottomless checklist of To Do’s, Bonnie focused on meeting everyone else’s needs at the expense of neglecting her well-being. With her usual coping mechanisms stripped away, she was drained by worries, stress, and anxiety. On Episode 172, Bonnie describes how using soul care and breath prayers can create healthy habits with God to help restore peace and joy in your life.

In This Episode, You Will Hear About The Following:

• The concept of soul care and the four areas of wellness
• The importance of social wellness and building meaningful relationships
• The impact of negative emotions on our bodies and the importance of naming and discussing them
• Tips for managing burnout and improving sleep quality
• The practice of breath prayer and its impact on managing stress

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Breathe: 21 Days to Stress Less and Transform Chaos to Calm by Bonnie Gray
• Sweet Like Jasmine: Finding Identity in a Culture of Loneliness by Bonnie Gray
• https://thebonniegray.com/soulcarequiz/
• Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast
• Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul

Quotes and Images:

Discussion Prompts For You As A Couple:

• Bonnie describes her experience with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. How do you think these conditions might affect a person’s ability to communicate and connect in a relationship? How can you support each other during such times?
• The concept of soul care is discussed, focusing on nurturing the soul in four different areas: emotional, physical, spiritual, and social wellness. How can you actively support each other in these areas of wellness? Are there specific strategies or actions you can take together to nurture our souls?
• Reflect on your own experiences with stress, burnout, or challenges related to physical and emotional wellness. How have these experiences affected your relationship? Have you found ways to lean on each other for support and healing?
• The practice of breath prayer is introduced as a way to combat stress and anxiety. Have you ever tried using breath prayer or a similar mindfulness technique as a couple? How might incorporating such practices into your relationship help you both manage stress and connect on a deeper level?
• How can you create a more open and supportive environment for discussing mental health challenges within your relationship? Are there ways you can actively encourage each other to seek help and share feelings and experiences without judgment?

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Meet Bonnie Gray: