Relational Skills in Real Life

Why is it important to practice relational skills? At THRIVEtoday, we value helping people build healthy habits by embedding these skills into our character so we can reflect Jesus in the best version of ourselves. Chris and Kristy compare practicing relational skills to exercising our bodies—simply reading about them doesn’t make them show up in real life. Through daily practice, we can form new pathways in our brains so godly character becomes our natural, first response in any situation. 🔗 Registration for Premier Training is open for both 2026 events! Learn more: https://thrivetoday.org/premier-training/ 🔗 Keep your eyes open for details on our upcoming online memberships. Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

At THRIVEtoday, we’ve been focusing on experiencing our profoundly loving God. As we enter the new year, we’re invited to reflect that love in our relationships. Practicing relational skills helps us grow in our capacity to reflect God’s presence and character, strengthening relationships, building community, and bringing forgiveness and hope—even in difficult moments and with the people we care about the most. 🔗 Learn more about the free PDF Facilitator Tips that accompany 4 of our books: https://thrivetoday.org/facilitator-resources/ 🔗 Registration for Premier Training is open for both 2026 events! Learn more: https://thrivetoday.org/premier-training/ 🔗 Keep your eyes open for details on our upcoming online memberships. Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

As this year comes to a close, we turn our hearts toward the year ahead. We reflect on what God has taught us over the past year and look forward with anticipation to what is to come.  When we seek God’s perspective, He helps us cultivate appreciation and discover the hidden treasure of peace He places in every moment.  Chris shares practical ways to practice peace, appreciation, joy, and Godsight as we reflect on the past and step into the future with God's peace. 🔗 Learn more about Habit Builder Courses: https://thrivetoday.thinkific.com/collections/skill-practice Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

Immanuel means ‘God with us,’ and what a gift that is during the busy, stressful, or grief-filled moments of the holidays. The relational skill of Godsight—Seeing What God Sees—helps us view life through God’s loving perspective and remember we are never alone. Someone is glad to be with us. Someone delights in us. This is the Jesus we celebrate. Thrive trainer Dana shares how he uses Godsight to offer his family the gift of God’s tender, joyful view of them. 🔗 Learn more about the skill of "See What God Sees" aka "Godsight" at www.thrivetoday.org/skill13 🔗 The 5-Day Appreciation Journal walks you through daily prompts that will help you build appreciation, tune into your body, increase awareness of what you feel, and connect with Jesus in those feelings. Download yours here: https://thrivetoday.org/freebies/#journal  ** Tambien en Español: Descargar ** Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

The holidays can bring joy for some and stress or grief for others. Relational skills—especially the skill of quieting—help us stay grounded whether we’re navigating big joy or big emotions. Our friend Shannon shares how she planned intentional quiet moments into her family’s holiday gathering to help everyone connect more deeply. Stay tuned to the very end as Chris coaches us how to implement this intentionality into our own holiday plans. 🔗 Get your Holiday Peace Toolkit PDF. The holidays can be a time for slowing down and finding more quiet and rest, but it can also be a season of travel, parties, family gatherings, and relational stress. Here is a free gift to help you bring strategy to maintaining your internal peace: https://thrivetoday.org/freebies/#peace 🔗 Learn more about the skill of "Simple Quiet" at www.thrivetoday.org/skill2 Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

During the holidays, we talk about joy, look forward to joy, and surround ourselves with decorations that highlight joy. But how can we use the brain skill of "sharing joy" (aka Skill 1) to genuinely increase joy in our own lives and in the lives of those we love? This episode dives into the “share joy” brain skill and provides practical ideas for putting it into action during the holiday season. Hear from Rebecca and Chris. 🔗 This time of year is supposed to be all about being with loved ones and relational connection, but for many of us it brings a mixed bag of joy and pain. Watch this short segment as Chris shares tips for how you can build connections with the people in your life in the midst of obstacles you might be facing: https://youtu.be/3k0XT5Y6ReA 🔗 Check out our Holiday Connection Bingo PDF which offers several ideas for building connections when you are short on time or are away from loved ones - choose the page that works best for you this year. Get it here: https://bit.ly/holidayconnectionbingo 🔗 Learn more about the skill of "Share Joy" at www.thrivetoday.org/skill1 Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

In this episode, Lynn shares how she uses the skill of appreciation to experience the presence and love of God. Chris also explains how relational skills can help you overcome barriers to sensing God’s peace, and he offers guidance on discovering which skills will help you most—and how to practice them in your daily life. 🔗 Learn more about Skill 13 - Godsight: https://www.thrivetoday.org/skill13 🔗 Explore our topical online course - Defeating Your Barriers to Jesus: https://thrivetoday.thinkific.com/courses/defeating-barriers Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

Appreciation is all about remembering the good things, feeling the good things, and sharing the good things! Chris shares some fun activities he did with a group of friends in person to help them build joy and remember meaningful moments in their lives. These exercises can help us live with greater joy and peace, strengthening our ability to handle tough situations and conversations—even on hard days or when we’re not feeling our best. Reliving appreciation allows us to revisit joyful memories and bring that same joy into the present! 🔗 PDF Freebie - Download this free exercise you can use during any Thanksgiving with your friends and family, in person or from afar: https://bit.ly/thanksgivingappreciation Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

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 and reminds us that living in shalom is truly possible. 🔗 See more stories for navigating emotions with our Free webinar; Stories of Emotions: https://youtu.be/EbI1AEpU5X8 🔗 Work on your emotions at home with one of our Return to Joy courses: https://thrivetoday.thinkific.com/collections/skill-11 🔗 And consider joining us at a Thrive Premier Training: https://thrivetoday.org/premier-training/ Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

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 ourselves and others. 🔗 See the book series from Dr Jim Wilder: Growing a More Human Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFZN9YK7 🔗 Learn more about our 4 Habits book series: https://thrivetoday.org/4-habits-series/ Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

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 skill of "Create Appreciation". 🔗 Join our upcoming online event "From Shame to Strength" on November 10, 2025: https://thrivetoday.org/shame-to-strength Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

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 upcoming online event "From Shame to Strength" on November 10, 2025: https://thrivetoday.org/shame-to-strength 🔗 Head to https://thrivetoday.org/skill11 to explore our resources on emotions. Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

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.org/premier-training/ 🔗 Learn more about Relational Skills: https://thrivetoday.org/relationalskills/ Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

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" on November 10, 2025: https://thrivetoday.org/shame-to-strength 🔗 Head to https://thrivetoday.org/skill11 to explore our resources on emotions. Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

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 negative emotions in Track 2 of the training. You can learn more here: https://thrivetoday.org/premier-training/ Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. www.thrivetoday.org

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-training/ Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes.

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 matters!  🔗 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-training/ 🔗 Download your THRIVEtoday Emotions Wheel: https://thrivetoday.org/freebies/#wheel *Our NEW Emotions Assessment will be out on Oct 31st!* Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes.

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 identity as we grow. 🔗 Learn more about Thrive premier Training, specifically check out Track 1: https://thrivetoday.org/premier-training 🔗 Listen to these Podcast episodes: E41 Maturity Matters E48 Growing in Maturity E66 Psuedo Maturity & Attachments Styles 🔗 Explore the Growing book series by Dr Wilder: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFZN9YK7 Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes.

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 listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes.

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 God is, even in the midst of big emotions. 🔗 The NEW Return to Joy course is out soon! You can join the Habit Builder Group in September which will take you through 10 lessons from the new course in a facilitated group once a week for 10 weeks. Learn more: https://thrivetoday.thinkific.com/courses/skill-11-HBG-wednesday 🔗 Learn more about Skill 13 - Godsight: https://thrivetoday.org/skill13 🔗 Learn more about Skill 4 - Create Appreciation: https://thrivetoday.org/skill4 Thank you for listening! Subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes.