207. Coping Strategies That Really Make a Difference

Hey mission fam! In this episode, I'm diving deep into coping strategies that actually make a difference in your mission experience. We often think coping means avoiding tough emotions, but I'm here to tell you it's really about learning to move through those feelings with intention and grace.

I share a personal example of a returned missionary who was using planning as a way to squelch her anxiety, which sparked this whole conversation about how we handle stress. I break down the concept of a stress response cycle - imagine it like a bell curve of emotion - and explain how most of our go-to coping mechanisms actually interrupt our ability to process feelings fully. I'll walk you through some powerful questions to help you understand whether your current strategies are truly helping you build emotional resilience or just providing a temporary escape. Spoiler alert: sometimes a Netflix binge is totally okay, but knowing the difference is key!

By the end of this episode, you'll have a toolkit to recognize when you're using band-aid fixes versus strategies that help you grow. My goal is always to empower you to feel any emotion, because when you can do that, you can literally do anything. Whether you're preparing for a mission, currently serving, or a returned missionary, these insights are going to help you navigate life's challenges with more confidence and emotional strength.

As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends.

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