Day One of Sobriety | Christian Recovery, Emotional Healing, Overcoming Shame, Spiritual Coaching

16. Overthinking Everything? How to Find Peace by Surrendering Control

Do you ever feel like worry runs your life?
In this episode of the Day One of Sobriety Podcast, we’re talking about why worry happens in the brain, what God’s Word says about it, and four practical steps you can start using today to break free from the cycle of anxiety. You’ll also hear real-life encouragement, Scripture promises, and a neuroscience tool you can put into practice immediately to shift from fear to peace.
 
✨ What’s Inside This Episode?
Why worry is like running the “What-if Olympics” in your mind — and how it exhausts your brain and body.
What happens in the brain when worry becomes a habit, and why you actually can rewire it.
Key Scriptures that show how God calls us to cast anxiety on Him and receive His peace.
The illusion of control — why clinging tighter breeds more fear, but surrender brings peace.
A practical 4-step tool: Catch–Shift–Thank–Release to break destructive worry loops and anchor your mind in God’s promises.
🔑 Why This MattersWorry doesn’t prevent tomorrow’s problems — it only steals today’s peace. When you learn to renew your mind with truth and science-backed tools, you trade fear for freedom.
 
🛠 Practice the Catch–Shift–Thank–Release Strategy
Catch the thought — say aloud, “This is fear talking, not truth.”
Shift the focus — move from “what if” to “even if” with Scripture.
Thank — speak gratitude out loud to rewire your brain for peace.
Release — surrender control to God with a spoken prayer of trust.
👉 Want the Catch–Shift–Thank–Release Tip Card? You’ll find it inside the free Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook Community.
 
🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned
Join the free Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook Community to access the Catch–Shift–Thank–Release Tip Card.
Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog for deeper teaching and encouragement.
Learn more about applying the Neurocycle with Mind Renewal Coaching.
Listen to the beginning of the journey: EP 1 — The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety.
✝️ Your Turn This week, practice the Catch–Shift–Thank–Release strategy daily. Speak it out loud, pray it through, and watch God replace worry with peace. Share your experience in the Facebook community so we can celebrate with you!
 
📩 Connect with Me 📧 Email: brenda@day1ofsobriety.org 🎙 Podcast: Day One of Sobriety Podcast 📝 Blog: Day One of Sobriety Blog 📘 Facebook: @day1ofsobriety 📷 Instagram: @day1ofsobriety
 
🚶 Next Steps
Download the Catch–Shift–Thank–Release Tip Card in the Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook Community.
Explore this week’s Day One of Sobriety Blog for more encouragement.
Coaching 1:1 support through Mind Renewal Coaching.
⚠ Disclaimer The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.

15. Break Free from Stress Eating: Stop Numbing and Start Healing

Do you ever find yourself standing in front of the fridge or pantry, not even hungry, just searching? Stress eating is one of the most common ways we numb our emotions. But here’s the truth: food can never fix what only God can fill.
In this episode of the Day One of Sobriety Podcast, we’re uncovering why stress eating is so powerful, how the food industry engineers “hyper-palatable” foods to hook us, and how both science and scripture reveal the path to freedom. Together, we’ll discover how to HALT before we snack and invite Christ into our true needs.
✨ What’s Inside This Episode?
Why stress eating is more common than you think (25–40% of people do it monthly).
How sugar and fat temporarily soothe the brain — but deepen the shame cycle.
The hidden way processed foods are engineered to hijack your appetite.
The biblical HALT method — Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired — with truth anchors for each struggle.
A practical action step to help you “HALT and ask what you really need” before turning to food.
🔑 Why This MattersStress eating doesn’t just affect your body — it impacts your brain, your spirit, and your identity. God never designed food to carry the weight of your soul. By renewing your mind with biblical truth and neuroscience tools, you can rewire cravings, find lasting satisfaction in Christ, and break destructive cycles.
🛠 HALT with Truth Anchors Tool
Hungry (Emotionally Empty): Psalm 107:9; John 6:35 — Only Jesus satisfies.
Angry (Stuffing Emotions): Psalm 62:8; Ephesians 4:26-27 — Pour your heart out honestly.
Lonely (Relational Gap): Psalm 68:6; Hebrews 13:5 — God is present; He places you in community.
Tired (Quick Fix): Matthew 11:28-29; Isaiah 40:29-31 — Rest and strength are found in Him.
👉 Get the HALT with Truth Anchors Resource when you join the free Mind Renewal Made Simple Facebook Community.
🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned
Join the free Mind Renewal Made Simple Facebook Community to access the HALT with Truth Anchors resource.
Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog for deeper teaching on this episode.
Want help applying mind renewal principles in your own life? Learn more about Mind Renewal Coaching.
Listen to the story that started it all: EP 1 — The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety.
📩 Connect with Me📧 Email: brenda@day1ofsobriety.org🎙 Podcast: Day One of Sobriety Podcast📝 Blog: Day One of Sobriety Blog📘 Facebook: @day1ofsobriety📷 Instagram: @day1ofsobriety
🚶 Next Steps
Join others breaking free from stress eating inside the free Mind Renewal Made Simple Facebook Community.
Dive into this week’s Day One of Sobriety Blog for additional encouragement.
Explore 1:1 support with Mind Renewal Coaching.
⚠️ DisclaimerThe Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.

14. Breaking Free from Comparison: God's Antidote to Anxiety

13. Finding True Rest in a Busy World -- 4 Tools That Eliminate Stress

Do you feel the pace of life quickening as summer fades and fall ramps up? 🍂 School is back in session, calendars are filling fast, and the holiday season is just around the corner. In this busy season, rest often feels impossible—but it’s actually essential.
In today’s episode, we’re diving into faith-rest: God’s invitation to step out of striving and into His peace. Together we’ll explore three types of rest—physical, soul, and spiritual—and uncover how rest is not laziness, but worship.
You’ll learn:
Why rest is critical for your body, soul, and spirit
The brain science behind how rest rewires your mind and lowers stress
What Hebrews 4 calls the “faith-rest life” and why unbelief blocks us from entering it
Practical steps to pause, redirect, anchor in Scripture, and build faith over fear
Friend, true rest is not about quitting—it’s about trusting. When you enter God’s faith-rest, you’re breaking the destructive habits of worry and striving, while renewing your mind in His truth. Grab your notebook, and let’s step into freedom together!
Ready to break free from destructive choices?
Join Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple—our free Facebook community of listeners where knowledge moves to application and transformation. Every week we share challenges, encouragement, and accountability that calm the chaos.
✝ Join now: Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
🎙 Hear about the miracle that started it all – EP 1: The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety
🔗 Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog
Contact & Connect
📩 Contact ➡ brenda@day1ofsobriety.org🎧 Podcast ➡ Day One of Sobriety Podcast👥 Facebook ➡ @day1ofsobriety📸 Instagram ➡ @day1ofsobriety
Next Steps
Step 1: Join others who are breaking free from toxic thoughts and painful pasts at our free Facebook group Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple.
Step 2: Do you have an overcomer story you’d like to share? Email me at brenda@day1ofsobriety.org.
Step 3: Get more personalized support with 1:1 mind renewal coaching at www.day1ofsobriety.org/coaching.
DISCLAIMER
The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.

12. Do I Really Have the Holy Spirit? Facts, Faith, and Freedom

Not feeling the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean you don’t have Him. Many believers wrestle with doubt, uncertainty, and feelings that don’t line up with their faith. In today’s episode, we dig into three powerful words—Facts, Faith, Feelings—and discover how this order can help you renew your mind, break destructive habits, and walk in confidence with the Spirit of God.I’ll share part of my own winding faith journey and the breaking point that shifted me from knowing about God to actually walking with Him. Together, we’ll explore how science and scripture beautifully agree that your brain can be rewired, and that the Holy Spirit is your partner in the process of transformation.You don’t have to stay stuck in toxic thoughts. You can wire out whatever you’ve wired in. Freedom is possible when you anchor to God’s facts, choose faith, and let feelings follow.Grab your notebook and let’s walk this out!
Ready to break free from destructive choices?
Join Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple—our free Facebook community of listeners where knowledge moves to application and transformation. Every week we share challenges, encouragement, and accountability that calm the chaos.✝️ Join now:  Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
 
🎙️Hear about the miracle that started it all – EP 1: The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety
🔗Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog
 
Contact & Connect
📩 Contact ➡ brenda@day1ofsobriety.org🎧 Podcast ➡ https://www.day1ofsobriety.org/podcast👥 Facebook ➡ @day1ofsobriety📸 Instagram ➡ @day1ofsobriety
 
Next Steps
Step 1: Join others who are breaking free from toxic thoughts and painful pasts at our free Facebook group Mind Renewal Solutions Made SimpleStep 2: Do you have an overcomer story you’d like to share? Email me at brenda@day1ofsobriety.orgStep 3: Get more personalized support with 1:1 mind renewal coaching at www.day1ofsobriety.org/coaching
 
DISCLAIMER
The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.

11. Teaching My Son to Drive Taught Me Everything About Trusting God

Have you ever been in a situation where you knew you had to move forward, but fear made you freeze?In this episode, I share a funny-but-terrifying story from the passenger seat of my son’s first driving lesson — and how it taught me everything about trusting God. You’ll discover three “Just Keep Seeking” mindsets that can move you forward when fear tells you to stop, plus four practical steps to strengthen your trust in the Holy Spirit.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How a Pixar movie inspired our family’s mantra — and how it grew into a spiritual truth.
The three “Just Keep Seeking” mindsets every believer can apply when life gets hard:
Don’t Give Up – Romans 15:13
Take Action to Survive – Ephesians 6:10 (TPT)
You Will Not Drown – Philippians 4:13 (TPT)
Four practical steps to build and reinforce trust in God:
Start Small
Journal What You See
Pause Before Reacting
Practice Gratitude
How neuroscience confirms what the Bible already teaches about renewing your mind.
Encouragement to keep moving forward — even when fear makes you want to freeze.
📌 Download --> EP11 Podcast Guide
Why This Matters:If you’ve struggled to trust others because of past hurts or disappointments, you might find it hard to trust God, too. But through neuroplasticity and the renewing of your mind in God’s Word, you can rewire old fear pathways into trust-filled ones. God’s faithfulness in the past is your confidence for the future — because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:
✝ Join our free Facebook community: Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
🎙 Listen to EP1: The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety
📖 Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog
📌 Get 1:1 Mind Renewal Coaching: Learn More Here
Next Steps:
Join others breaking free from their painful pasts in our free Facebook group Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple.
Share your “overcomer” story — email me at brenda@day1ofsobriety.org.
Take your growth deeper with 1:1 mind renewal coaching at day1ofsobriety.org/coaching
DISCLAIMER:The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.
 

10. Are Fearful Thoughts Making You Sick? Boost Your Immune System With These Tips!

Not all health risks are linked to your DNA or inherited from your parents.  In fact, a good number of health factors can be attributed to the quality of our thought life.  It’s true that “you are what you eat” – but today, the phrase “You are what you think” is taking center stage in today’s podcast.
 
Did you know that negative thinking can trigger physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, digestive issues, muscle pain, and cardiovascular risk, as well as emotional symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Addressing these thought patterns early is crucial for maintaining both physical and emotional health.
 
You control your mind, it doesn’t control you!  This means, you're also in the driver’s seat to direct a life of sickness or health.  Grab a notebook and a pen, and let’s dive in!
Ready to break free from your destructive choices?
Join Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple - our Facebook community of listeners where knowledge moves to application and transformation.  You can join a fun challenge, share your own stories, and hear the successes of others.
 
✝️ Join now:  Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
🎙️Hear about the miracle that started it all – EP 1: The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety
🔗Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog
 
Contact ➡️brenda@day1ofsobriety.org
Podcast ➡️ https://www.day1ofsobriety.org/podcast
Connect ➡️ Join our free Facebook group Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
Instagram ➡️@day1ofsobriety
Facebook ➡️@day1ofsobriety
 
Next Steps:
 
Step 1:  Join others who are breaking free from their painful pasts at our free Facebook group Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
Step 2:  Do you have an overcomer story you’d like to share?  Email me at brenda@day1ofsobriety.org
Step 3:  Get more personalized support with 1:1 mind renewal coaching www.day1ofsobriety.org/coaching
 
DISCLAIMER: The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.

09. Sobriety - It's About Thinking, NOT Drinking! Do You Have a Sober Mind?

Today we’re digging into what it means to have sobriety, which in its purest definition means a sound and well-balanced  mind.  You see, sobriety actually comes from the Greek word “sophron,” which refers to an unhurried and calm mind; a mind that has self-control.  That’s why sobriety is all about thinking and not drinking!  
 
We’re also taking a closer look at the name of this podcast – Day One of Sobriety.  If you’ve received salvation, you received the capacity for a sound mind on day 1 of salvation.  So why, then, do you struggle with a messy mind?  I’ve got the answer to that and more in today’s episode.
 
So if you’re ready to discover the power of your thoughts, and learn why taming them is the first step in gaining control and balance in your life, grab a notebook and pen, and let’s dive in.
Salvation Prayer & Information:
 
To accept Jesus as your savior, you pray a prayer out loud and believe with faith that you receive the gift of salvation. A salvation prayer includes the five steps below: 
Acknowledge your sinfulness: Recognize that you have sinned and fallen short of God's standards. This can be expressed through the words "I know that I am a sinner". 
Believe in Jesus' sacrifice: Express your belief that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins and that He rose from the dead. 
Ask for forgiveness: Humbly ask God to forgive you of your sins. 
Invite Jesus into your heart: Ask Jesus to come into your life, to be your Lord and Savior. 
Make Jesus the Lord of your life: Commit to following Him and living according to His teachings. 
Use your own words or read this prayer out loud:
"Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior". 
 
Ready to break free from your destructive choices?
 
Join Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple - our Facebook community of listeners where knowledge moves to application and transformation.  You can join a fun challenge, share your own stories, and hear the successes of others.
 
✝️ Join now:  Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
🔗 Resource:  Getting the Know the Holy Spirit
🎙️ Hear about the miracle that started it all – EP 1: The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety
🔗 Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog
 
Contact ➡️brenda@day1ofsobriety.org
Podcast ➡️ https://www.day1ofsobriety.org/podcast
Connect ➡️ Join our free Facebook group Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
Instagram ➡️@day1ofsobriety
Facebook ➡️@day1ofsobriety
 
Next Steps:
 
Step 1:  Join others who are breaking free from their painful pasts at our free Facebook group Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
 
Step 2:  Do you have an overcomer story you’d like to share?  Email me at brenda@day1ofsobriety.org
 
Step 3:  Get more personalized support with 1:1 mind renewal coaching www.day1ofsobriety.org/coaching
 
DISCLAIMER: The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.

08. If I'm Saved, Why Am I Stuck? 3 Mindsets You Need to Thrive & Overcome (Part 3)

Do you sometimes feel stuck as a Christian?  Is the “Sweet Life” with Jesus more sour than you’d like to admit? Do you look at believers with “unshakable faith” from a vantage point of shaking in your boots, wondering what they have that you don’t?  
 
I walked in those shaky boots for two decades before I discovered a consistent, unchanging, and unshakable God.  He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever.  I went from being ruled by my emotions to living a life fueled by faith.   
 
In this 3-part series, I’ve shared 3 powerful mind renewal mindsets that will break you out of the rut and propel you forward in your Christian walk.  Today we’re digging into the last mindset - Faith is Not a Feeling - It’s a Choice.  Let this mindset help you to come unglued – the God way!
 
If I’m Saved, Why Am I Stuck? 3 Mindsets You Need to Thrive & Overcome! Series
🎧(Episode 6) Part 1: Mindset #1: Embrace Change & Commit to the Process
🎧(Episode 7) Part 2: Mindset #2: Nurture & Grow Your Relationship with God
 
Ready to break free from your destructive choices?
 
Join Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple - our Facebook community of listeners where knowledge moves to application and transformation.  You can join a fun challenge, share your own stories, and hear the successes of others.
 
✝️ Join now:  Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
 
🎙️Hear about the miracle that started it all – EP 1: The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety
 
🔗Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog
 
Contact ➡️brenda@day1ofsobriety.org
Podcast ➡️ https://www.day1ofsobriety.org/podcast
Connect ➡️ Join our free Facebook group Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
Instagram ➡️@day1ofsobriety
Facebook ➡️@day1ofsobriety
 
Next Steps:
 
Step 1:  Join others who are breaking free from their painful pasts at our free Facebook group Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
 
Step 2:  Do you have an overcomer story you’d like to share?  Email me at brenda@day1ofsobriety.org
 
Step 3:  Get more personalized support with 1:1 mind renewal coaching www.day1ofsobriety.org/coaching
 
DISCLAIMER: The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.

07. If I'm Saved, Why Am I Stuck? 3 Mindsets You Need to Thrive & Overcome (Part 2)

Sometimes we can feel stuck in our Christian walk.  We look around and get caught in comparison traps, thinking everyone has it together, but us.  We know we should be spending quality time with God, but our busy schedules are so chock full of commitments, we just don’t know how to fit God in!  We stop growing, feel disconnected from our faith, and the stressors of life start to overwhelm us.   
 
You’re not alone!  When I committed my life to Christ 16 years ago I was under a mountain of mess.   I had been trapped by toxic thinking and destructive habits for many years.  I got stuck – A LOT – but I broke free!  For me that freedom meant saying good-bye to depression & anxiety medications for good!  Today we’re uncovering a Relationship Mindset and the Three C’s that will keep you deeply rooted and connected to God.
 
🎧EP 2: Is Your Mind a Mental Mess? The Four Warning Signals You Need to Know
🎧EP 3: You Were Created for Mind Renewal - Discover the Truth About Your Amazing Brain!
🎧EP 4: How Do I Begin to Change? The Triple AAA Plan!
🎬 Frank Turek on Church Hurt & Christians Are Hypocrites
🎯 Fruit of the Spirit Assessment
🔎 Suggested Bible Study Resources & Tools
 
Ready to break free from your destructive choices?
 
Join Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple - our Facebook community of listeners where knowledge moves to application and transformation.  You can join a fun challenge, share your own stories, and hear the successes of others.
 
✝️ Join now:  Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
 
🎙️Hear about the miracle that started it all – EP 1: The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety
 
🔗Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog
 
Contact ➡️brenda@day1ofsobriety.org
Podcast ➡️ https://www.day1ofsobriety.org/podcast
Connect ➡️ Join our free Facebook group Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
Instagram ➡️@day1ofsobriety
Facebook ➡️@day1ofsobriety
 
Next Steps:
 
Step 1:  Join others who are breaking free from their painful pasts at our free Facebook group Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
 
Step 2:  Do you have an overcomer story you’d like to share?  Email me at brenda@day1ofsobriety.org
 
Step 3:  Get more personalized support with 1:1 mind renewal coaching www.day1ofsobriety.org/coaching
DISCLAIMER: The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.