Relational Skills in Real Life
Chris Coursey brings you the THRIVEtoday podcast, full of real-life stories of encouragement and transformation from people using relational skills every day! What are "Relational skills"? They are brain-based skills that give us the ability and capacity to build meaningful connections with the people in our lives. With practice, relational skills are what we use to maintain our relationships during strain, conflicts and difficulties so we endure hardship well as we stay connected. www.thrivetoday.org
Episodes
We all want to live as the best versions of ourselves—the way God designed us to be—even when we’re experiencing big emotions. But that takes practice!
Our friend Rivers shares stories about times when he felt overwhelmed and stressed, how he recognized what was happening, and what he did to respond with peace and strength instead of reacting from that stress.
Hearing these real-life stories—ones we can all relate to—gives us hope an...
One of the skills that is learned in the child level of maturity is to discover what satisfies us, so that we can become adults who know how to fulfill our needs and desires in a life-giving way and live a life of contentment. Do we, as adults, have this skill? How can we help our children learn? This episode shares stories about recognizing true satisfaction and how to step through that process, so that we can care for ourse...
Chris and Jen share an update on their year, offering a perspective shaped by appreciation. They walk us through how they’ve learned to recognize gratitude, even in situations that initially feel discouraging. They also offer a glimpse into how they continually practice the skill of appreciation, helping them remain rooted in hope and connected to Immanuel.
🔗 Visit https://thrivetoday.org/skill4 to explore our resources on the skil...
In this episode, Kristy shares her personal journey through the complex terrain of shame—how it shaped her and how she found healing. Then, Chris dives into various signs that we struggle with this difficult emotion, and shares practical, compassionate strategies for breaking free and growing through it. If you've ever felt weighed down by self-doubt or hidden pain, this episode is for you.
🔗 Join our upcomi...
A new, and increasing common trend in our society, has been to turn to AI companions for validation and friendship. Is this healthy and helpful longterm? Why is this happening and what do people need? Chris takes a look at the underlying needs that everyone has.
🔗 Joy Starts Here: https://bit.ly/joystartsherebook
🔗 Habit Builder Courses: https://thrivetoday.org/skill-practice-courses/
🔗 Thrive Premier Training: https://thrivetoday....
In this eye-opening episode, Chris Coursey and Kristy Harrang explore the surprising blessing of unpleasant emotions. From anger to hopeless despair, they look at how our most difficult feelings can become unexpected gifts. Through stories from their own lives, they reveal how embracing emotional discomfort can guide us toward growth, healing, and deeper connection.
🔗 Join our upcoming online event "From Shame to Strength"...
What are high energy emotions? When do our brains go to these high energy responses and why? Chris answers these questions and more as he looks at how God designed our brains and bodies to work and how we can develop life-giving response patterns to the stresses of life.
🔗 Check out our Return to Joy (skill 11) courses: https://thrivetoday.thinkific.com/collections/skill-11
🔗 Our Premier Training focuses on returning to joy from n...
In this episode Chris discusses the topic of low energy emotions, which emotions fit into this category, and signs that we are experiencing them. You will also hear from Amy, as she shares a story of a time she was feeling the low-energy emotion of sadness.
🔗 Check out our Return to Joy (skill 11) courses: https://thrivetoday.thinkific.com/collections/skill-11
🔗 Learn more about Premier Training: https://thrivetoday.org/premier-tr...
In this episode, Chris makes the connection between awareness and conscientiousness, which is a more important character trait than we may have thought.
Our ability to distinguish finely between our emotions results in increased flexibility when regulating emotions and a decreased likelihood that we'll turn to alcohol when stressed or retaliate against people who hurt us? Listen in and learn more about why emotional awareness ...
There can be some grief that accompanies growing in maturity. When we begin to grow, we start to notice how our growth has been stunted by missing maturity needs and tasks. That can bring up sorrowful feelings, both for ourselves and for our lack of ability to pass on good things to our children. Listen in to hear what is it like us, as mature people, to do when these feelings come up, and how to move forward in our God-given ident...
What creates the lens for how you understand God? In this episode Chris will look at how our past relationships with people can affect how we understand, view, and interact with God - a skill we call "Godsight".
🔗 Learn more about Skill 13 - Godsight: https://thrivetoday.org/skill13
🔗 Check out the Skill 13 Habit Builder Course: https://thrivetoday.thinkific.com/courses/skill-13-godsight-habit-builder
Thank you for listeni...
Are there patterns in your life that you get stuck in? Are there situations and emotions that knock you out? Everyone struggles with different things and there are good reasons for that. Being able to see some of what God sees when we are having a hard time can be a game changer, and this is the brain skill of 'Godsight' that we can practice and learn.
Come on the journey with us to discover where the living, ever-present ...
In this episode, Chris shares the fascinating science about how our relationships affect our bodies and emotions. He also shares examples of ways that we can practice staying relational and keeping the relationship bigger than the problem when dealing with tough situations.
🔗 Learn more about Skill 0 - The Relational Circuits
🔗 Learn more about Skill 11 - Return to Joy
🔗 Watch our latest webinar: Rhythms of Growth: Exploring Capaci...
In this episode Chris reflects on why the church needs relational skills and how we can spread relational skills in our congregations and communities. You'll also hear perspective from Karen, a pastor and graduate of the 3 Premier Training Tracks, as she has actively sought to spread these skills in the church and through her outreach.
🔗 Do you have a small group looking for the next resource? Explore our Foundational 5 Intro...
Quieting is an often under-rated skill that some regard as a waste of time. Chris explains the fascinating science behind quieting, and why it is a critical skill that is a life-long predictor of mental health, as well as many other life-changing benefits. We also hear a story from our friend Gina about how her knowledge of Quieting impacted a time she was at work.
🔗 Learn more about Skill 2 (Simple Quiet) and see our learning pat...
We all go through season and transitions in life. These can be hard to navigate because our brains use our memories of the past to predict what the unknown future might be like. The resulting anxiety and stress can keep us from being our best, relational selves. This episode shares how practicing relational skills can help us grow, thrive and connect with Jesus even when we are outside our comfort zones.
🔗 Our next LIVE online Prac...
Today we hear from Eric & Jiayan who saw a tangible difference in their marriage when they started learning and practicing relational skills together. As they enter parenthood they are so thankful for a stronger bond. Chris weighs in on what a blessing it is when you are relational in your most important relationships.
🔗 Read The 4 Habits of Joy-Filled Marriages. Perfect to read as a couple or with a small group: https://bit.ly...
One of the exercises we do when practicing relational skills is to notice what is happening in our bodies and minds and what is happening in the people around us. Chris shared how training our brains to be aware is crucial to knowing what we need and how to interact in a life-giving way with the people in our lives.
🔗 Learn more about the Foundational 5 Intro Course: https://thrivetoday.thinkific.com/courses/f5
In this extended episode, Kristy and Jen interview each other to wrap up the mini series of interviews with our team. They share some fun relational skill history and share with us their stories of ways relational skills have changed their lives in a transformational way!
🔗 Listen to Episode 59: Return to Joy
🔗 Listen to Episode 89: Emotions Myth Busters
🔗 Learn more about the Foundational 5 Intro Course: https://thrivetoday.thinki...
Our guest in this episode, Michel Hendricks, is a Thrive relational skills trainer, a consultant who helps churches and mission organizations incorporate relational practices in their ministries, and also the author of "The Other Half of Church". He shares some of the difficulties he ran into as a discipleship pastor and a parent, and how learning more about how God designed our brains and relational skills has helped him...
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