Finding Joy in the Journey

Today I share how I’ve seen God prepare me in advance for things I couldn’t predict.

How being willing to follow my promptings has been a blessing in many surprising ways!

In this episode, I share a church lesson I gave based on Emily Belle Freeman’s talk “Best Days and Worst Days,” which teaches that mortality includes both best and worst days as a place for growth as we walk with Christ.

I relate this to my son Devon’s traumatic birth with rapid swings between fear and relief, and to a difficult year marked by postpartum depression.

I share two tools for handling life’s extremes: the “75% Okay or Better” perspective (most of life is neutral/okay, with small portions that are awful or amazing), and...

I’ve been practicing praying in advance with gratitude

—thanking God for outcomes before they happen—

and it’s felt powerful and better in my body than praying from worry.

I share how I did this for my parents during a busy, challenging fall when my dad had three surgeries while they were selling their house and moving, and how things ultimately worked out, including a buyer who wanted their unique home.

I also share how I’ve been doing this for one of my kids by setting a daily phone alarm to p...

I tried to record a podcast about getting triggered at church, realized I didn’t record it, and started over feeling frustrated.

A speaker from outside our congregation shared a message on a common topic, but his angle and the “sticky,” old-fashioned, heavy emotional language didn’t resonate with me, so I stepped out for a bit, prayed to run into someone, chatted in the hallway, and then returned and enjoyed the end.

Afterward I processed what happened with my coach, named my emotions, and even rewatched the talk to pinpoint what bothered me.

I real...

Today I reflect on letting go of old identities, behaviors, and thought patterns, comparing change to shedding a snakeskin and a crab molting, which can feel unsafe until a new “shell” hardens.

I saw an image of wearing hundreds of layered “Hi, my name is” stickers—some worth keeping (mom, friend, daughter) and others that no longer serve me.

Instead of covering old labels with new ones, I’m learning to uncover and remove them through support like coaching, learning about emotions (including reading Language of Emotions and using the workbook), and other practices.

In this episode of Finding Joy in the Journey, I share the four levels of fun my husband and I developed from the outdoor “types of fun” concept, and I explain how they affect relationships and decision-making. I break down level one (easy and pleasurable), level two (challenging but still enjoyable), level three (hard and painful in the moment but fun in hindsight), and level four (a bad decision that isn’t fun during or after).

Using examples like the steep “Switchbacks” hike, the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim-to-rim, and even a work project where my husband enjoyed “fighting with AI,” I...

In this follow-up to my Clean Start episode, I talk about “clean stops”

—the practice of consciously deciding what “done for now” looks like so I can stop without feeling behind.

I explain how unfinished tasks keep mental and energetic loops open, and how setting clear finish lines ahead of time helps my brain and body relax, builds self-trust, and creates calm momentum.

I share how “clean starts” help me begin overwhelming tasks with intention, gentleness, and a small spark of motivation. Instead of focusing on a big goal, I explain how choosing a ritualized, simplified first step creates a tiny win, a dopamine boost, and momentum—like opening my laptop and pulling up my list of podcast ideas, or deciding to floss just one tooth. I guide you through a short visualization to identify your own tiny first step, encourage you to try it as soon as you can, and invite you to tell me how using a clean start turns resist...

In this episode, I share a simple way to get clarity on my to-do list by separating items into routines (ongoing) versus projects (finishable).

I walk through asking, “Do I actually want to do this?” and what to do if the answer is yes, no, or not right now.

I also share how I identify obstacles, make a plan, delegate, or move ideas into a “parking lot” list for later.

A Guide to Spiritual Routines and To-Do Lists

Explore how to incorporate the secret ingredient of love into your daily routines and tasks. Learn about two unique 'love matrixes' that enhance your spiritual and practical life through the lens of Christ's teachings.

Transform your approach to time management and love by applying simple, yet profound, spiritual equations.

In this episode, I explore a powerful Buddhist parable that has transformed how I respond to life's challenges. I'll share the story of the empty boat and offer practical tips to help you shift your perspective from emotional reactivity to wisdom and peace. This episode is perfect for parents and anyone seeking more tranquility in their daily interactions.

In this week's episode, I share a powerful two-step idea to end the year and start the new one with intention and love.

I encourage you to write 2 heartfelt letters. One to your past and one to your future self, reflecting on your personal growth and setting aspirations for the future.

I also share my own letters, offering inspiration and guidance for embracing this reflective practice.

Join us as we explore the powerful tradition of choosing a word of the year.

Discover how a single word can bring focus, peace, and hope amidst the chaos of life.

Learn practical steps to find your word, and hear personal stories of transformation through this practice.00:46 Personal Experiences with Words of the Year02:31 The Impact of the Word 'Miracles' in 202504:30 Free Mini Class: How to Find Your Word04:55 Steps to Finding Your Word06:48 Encouragement and Additional Support Options

I share a powerful experience from a recent sacrament meeting where an experience with Jesus reminded me tofocus on Him amidst personal worries.

There is transformative peace and power that comes from focusing on Jesus instead of life's problems.

Join the Ask the Angels Voxer Group: Embrace Angelic Assistance This DecemberDiscover a new supportive space to invite angelic help into your daily life.

Learn about the benefits of the Ask the Angels Voxer group starting December 8th, and how it can help transform your spiritual practice into real-life miracles.

Embrace this opportunity to share experiences, gain confidence, and strengthen your partnership with your angels, all in a stress-free and flexible environment.00:29 Why Voxer Groups are Amazing02:56 How the Angel Voxer Group Will Work04:58 The Importance of Practicing in December07:20 Encouragement and Final Thoughts

Discover how to ask angels for help and witness miraculous changes in your life.

Learn from some of my personal stories and get access to a free mini-class that provides practical steps to connect with angelic assistance in both challenging and everyday situations.

https://sheridanripley.com/ask-the-angels

I share 2 beautiful stories about divine timing and then give tips for you to recognize it in your life!

(This was also posted on my Awesome Autism Tools podcast)

In this episode, we delve into the incredible story of Charles Blondin, a 19th-century daredevil famous for tightrope walking across Niagara Falls.

Through his astonishing feats, including carrying his manageracross the tightrope, we explore the deeper metaphor of trust and faith, particularly in how we can depend on Jesus to navigate life's challenges. We also connect this idea to the last episode on staying flexible amidst life's inevitable changes.

01:03 Niagara Falls: A Force of Nature

01:50 Blondin's Daring Feats

02:15 The Wheelbarrow Challenge

02:49 Trusting in Jesus: The Ultimate Lesson<...

In this episode we explore how to navigate sudden changes in life with grace and adaptability.

I share some personal stories of interrupted plans and howflexibility allowed for new opportunities and insights along with practical tips.

01:07 The Impact of Unexpected Changes

03:00 Stories of Flexibility and Adaptation

04:12 Navigating Change with Curiosity

06:45 Making Conscious Choices

08:28 The Power of Flexibility and Flow

10:11 Practical Tips for Embracing Change

12:07 Conclusion: Finding New Paths

Explore my favorite money tools that can transform how you think and manage your finances. From Ramit Sethi's Teach Meto Be Rich series to a practical budgeting app and 2 other enlightening books on money mindset

00:04 Exploring Ramit Sethi's Financial Resources

01:56 Benefits and Challenges of Financial Discussions

03:01 Second Favorite Tool: YNAB (You Need A Budget)

04:08 Recommended Books for Financial Mindset

In this episode, I share the items and concepts that have significantly impacted my life over the past year. From practical household tools to self-improvement resources, discover a variety of recommendations that might save your life too. Visit my website for links to all the products and services mentioned.

https://sheridanripley.com/2025-top-picks/

Essential Tools for Enhancing Communication in Your Marriage

In this episode, we're diving into two key tools that have transformed my marriage by improving communication. I'll share insights from Dr. Wyatt's 'The Bullseye Question' and the Connection Codes' emotion wheel.

Demonstrating how these techniques create a safe space for sharing and understanding emotions.

Tune in to discover how you can apply these practical tools to strengthen your relationship with your spouse

00:57 The Bullseye Question by Dr. Wyatt

02:55 Connection Codes Emotion Wheel

<...

In this episode, I share some exciting changes coming to the Finding Joy in The Journey podcast. With my primary focus shifting to the Awesome Autism Tools podcast, I'll be releasing new episodes of Finding Joy in The Journey every other week until the end of 2025. Despite the changes, I'm committed to delivering content that brings joy and value to our listeners, and I look forward to your input and feedback on future series and episodes.

On the final day of the Loving Yourself More experience, I encourage you to reflect on your journey of self-love. Ponder using the idea of implementing a 'fast, feast, ask' approach for the next 40 days. Some examples you could choose from (or create your own!): fasting from negative self-talk - feasting on kind words for yourself - asking for increased self-lovefasting from victim energy - feasting on gratitude - asking for more 'hero' energyfasting from mean girl energy - feasting on being your own best friend - asking for more self-worthfasting from self-judgement - feasting on new daily routine...

I encourage you to continue using the self-love techniques you have learned over the past 19 days. Here is a recap of all the strategies discussed so far and suggest you choose one or two techniques that resonate with you the most to incorporate into your daily routine. Show up for yourself!Visualization of unlocking love balls and placing them in the heart.Embracing all feelings (good and bad), practice how to feel feelings.Seeing yourself as the hero of your own story.Clarify your desires and reasons behind them.Clear unhelpful beliefs daily - use the simple 3-minute tool...

I love the transformative power of gratitude and how it can elevate your journey towards self-love. Learn how gratitude is intertwined with forgiveness and love, and how it can change your energy and perspective. From simple daily acknowledgments to profound insights, discover the hidden tool that can bring more joy into your life. Don't forget to write down five things you're grateful for about yourself as part of this weeks challenge!Join the online classroom for a special forgiveness squared with yourself tool.

Join the online classroom here for more tools!

https://school.sheridanripley.com/56472<...

Harness the transformative power of forgiveness. Learn why we struggle with self-love and how feelings of guilt and judgment hold us back. Discover how forgiving ourselves, others, and even inanimate objects can free us from negativity. Take time to embrace forgiveness today and unlock the love you deserve.https://sheridanripley.com/14-hooponopono-squared-a-silly-name-for-a-powerful-healing-tool/Or join the online class to access a visualization of Forgiveness Squared - specifically for forgiving yourself.https://school.sheridanripley.com/56472

Join my VIP group for a coupon code! :)

https://sheridanripley.com/about-me/enjoy-life-newsletter/

Also join us in my MPoWeR Facebook...

Loving Yourself through good and challenging timesHow can you love your life and experiences, especially the challenging ones?Discover tools to bridge the gap between challenge and love, and the significance of forgiving yourself and moving forward with faith and hope. Here is a link to The Mexico Miracle - https://amzn.to/4gvSPtu

Dive into the concepts of grounding and shielding to enhance self-love. Learn why it is important to stay grounded and protect your energy from external influences.This will help your heart to feel safe to love itself more! Ground - https://sheridanripley.com/7-grounding-in-3-steps/Shielding - https://sheridanripley.com/8-color-shield-crazy-way-to-stay-safe/Sign up for my newsletter for my Ground and Shield with a Song Class https://sheridanripley.com/about-me/enjoy-life-newsletter/

Let’s explore how to remember and embrace past experiences of love, either love for ourselves or for others. By tapping into these moments, we learn how to feel that love deeply and accept it into our hearts. This practice helps in increasing our self-love, reminding us that every little bit counts in our journey to love ourselves more.Here is a link to The Mexico Miracle - https://amzn.to/4gvSPtu

Today we focus on the power of affirmationsand how they can help us speak kindly to ourselves. Let Affirmations build on each other to help our minds and bodies accept them.Downloadable PDFs and Word documents containing these affirmations will be available in the online classroom.Join the online classroom here for more tools! https://school.sheridanripley.com/56472

Today, we dive into the importance of positive self-talkand how it can transform your relationship with yourself. I'll share my personal journey from negative self-chatter to loving self-communication. Drawing on my experience as a birth doula, I emphasize the power of speaking to yourself with kindness, much like you would to someone in a delicate situation. Join me in setting small, manageable goals to improve the way you speak to yourself, ultimately creating greater self-love. Remember, every kind word is a step towards a brighter, more loving you.

Today's focus is on doing something kind for yourself, recognizing yourself as your own best friend. Whether it's reading a book, listening to a fun song, going on an adventure, or simply enjoying a cup of herbal tea.The key is to find what feels right for you and make time for it. Remember, acts of self-kindness can be small or bigand it's important to listen to your needs and desires. Join the online classroom here for more tools! https://school.sheridanripley.com/56472

This week I recap key highlights from our recent Zoom class in the online classroom, where we cleared a negative energetic weapon, symbolized by a giant hammer of judgment and criticism. We replaced it with comforting images of a soft blanket or pillow embodying love and acceptance. Additionally, we visualized repairing our love bucket, transforming it into a beautiful, ornamental bucket brimming with love. Tune in to explore how we can remove hurtful energetic weapons from our lives and replace them with comforting, loving energy. Don't miss out on the deep dive into these transformative exercises by watching the...

Today, we'll explore a unique tool to help you love yourself and your body more. By focusing on something you love in nature, like a flower, tree, or animal, and transferring that love to yourself, you can boost self-love and acceptance. Try this exercise and let me know if it makes a positive difference for you!

This weeks challenge involves looking into the mirror and expressing gratitude and love for the parts of yourself that you may not like. Whether it's a scar, your hair, or a part of your arm, acknowledge it, thank it, and tell it you love it. This exercise aims to help you cultivate self-love and acceptance. Tomorrow, a new idea will be shared to further support this specific challenge .

Explore two powerful tools for increasing self-love: prayer and angels. Learn how to ask for divine assistance from God, Jesus, and angels, and discover how specific prayers can help you foster self-compassion and kindness. Here is how to access a free 5-day course on asking angels for help.https://sheridanripley.com/ask-the-angels-they-are-anxious-to-help-you/Join the online classroom here for more tools! https://school.sheridanripley.com/56472Join my VIP group for a coupon code! :) https://sheridanripley.com/about-me/enjoy-life-newsletter/Also join us in my MPoWeR Facebook Group for discussion! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mpowerwithsheridan

Learn the importance of being your own best friend and nurturing self-love. We can not depend on other people to fill our love buckets!By focusing on loving and appreciating yourself, you can increase your inner love!

This week we delve deeper into the beliefs that obstruct self-love. Discover how to identify and clear limiting beliefs efficiently, using various tools and techniques. We discuss sorting beliefs into core categories for rapid clearing, and link to a related podcast episode for more insights. You'll also find practical exercises and resources to start shedding these beliefs and enhancing your self-love journey.

In the online classroom, the hour class I did was a session on clearing out limiting beliefs, including inherited ones, about loving ourself and then putting IN the positive beliefs about loving ourself. It was...

This week our focus is on identifying and understanding your motivation for self-love. It is important to recognize what you want and why you want it, as this awareness helps maintain momentum and overcome obstacles.

Join the online classroom here for more tools!

https://school.sheridanripley.com/56472

Join my VIP group for a coupon code! :)

https://sheridanripley.com/about-me/enjoy-life-newsletter/

Also join us in my MPoWeR Facebook Group of Instagram @powerupyourprayers for discussion!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mpowerwithsheridan