Soul Talks With Bill & Kristi Gaultiere

What is the difference between empathy and codependency? Sometimes our empathy for loved ones can cross over into codependency, rescuing, and trying to protect them from consequences of their choices that are necessary for their growth and maturity.Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi unpack empathy and codependency. You will learn from the Scriptural example of carrying someone’s burden versus his load, and how to draw close to people with empathy while also being able to step back with appropriate boundaries.Resources for this Episode:Spiritual Direction Training ProgramSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding InstituteDonate to Soul Shepherding 

Anticipatory grief is often triggered by our own aging, or a loss or grief we know is coming in the future. While these emotions can be robbers that steal the joy of the moment, they can also open us to receive more of God’s grace.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi talk about healthy and unhealthy ways of handling anticipatory grief. You’ll learn how to acknowledge these conflicting feelings of sadness and gratitude, grief and joy, and be present to enjoy the moments you still have now.Resources for this Episode:Support the Ministry of Soul ShepherdingSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual Directors

Some circumstances we encounter can trigger an “anger allergy”—a strong reaction that may connect to deeper feelings below the surface. Angry emotions are painful and we often want to avoid them, but they are actually a form of intelligence that can help us to grow. Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi unpack some recent anger allergies and model the importance and process of emotional repair. You’ll learn steps to understand your anger, resolve conflicts, and restore effective partnerships in life and ministry. Resources for this Episode:The Apprentice PrayerSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual Directors

We all need a safe place to be completely authentic, free from the pressure to manage our reputations. We are blessed when we have a person in our life who knows us, listens to us, and seeks the Lord on our behalf.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks where Bill and Kristi discuss the benefits of spiritual direction. You’ll learn how a spiritual director can help you in all seasons of your faith, creating space to be present to you and to God—praying for you, listening to the Lord, and helping you access emotions you may not be aware that you carry. This practice is a critical component to a healthy spiritual life. Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. CoachesSoul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding Network with Soul Care Groups

Many of us would like to become more thankful, but how do we cultivate grateful emotions? Research has shown the tremendous value of gratitude for our mental health and physical well-being, but in spite of simply trying to think the right thoughts, we may have emotions that could block our ability to feel thankful.Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss the benefits and pathways to cultivating a grateful life. You will learn keys to grow in gratitude and overcome emotional roadblocks to thankfulness.Resources for this Episode:Surprising Joy: A Journey with Jesus for AdventSoul Shepherding InstituteSr. Spiritual DirectorsSr. Coaches

In the coming season of Advent, we love to celebrate together with friends and family and in times of silence and solitude. You can experience greater depth and intimacy with Jesus during advent by meditating on the biblical accounts of Christ’s birth even in the midst of stressful circumstances.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share which character in the Christmas story they most relate to in this season of their life and ministry. You’ll learn how you can use Surprising Joy: A Journey with Jesus for Advent for visual devotions to deepen connections in your small group, ministry, and family gatherings as well as for your personal devotions.Resources for this Episode:Surprising Joy: A Journey with Jesus for AdventSoul Shepherding InstituteSr. Spiritual DirectorsSr. Coaches

Our lives are full of distractions— from both the world around us and from our own choices. Seeking to numb out as a medication for worry, fatigue, sadness, or overload robs us of true rest. Jesus invites us to join him in every moment of our day to find true refreshment and life.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks where Bill and Kristi unpack living in a world of distractions versus tuning into God. You’ll learn how to train your soul to live in God’s presence, and combat habits of distraction to redeem each moment as a work of love.Resources for this Episode:Breath Prayer GuidesSoul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding NetworkSr. Spiritual Directors

We may wonder how we find God when our emotions, thoughts, and service are running dry. A season of hitting the Wall might feel like failure, but can actually be God’s means of grace in our lives. We find rest in Jesus’ easy yoke — through practices and sacraments that invite us into renewal with Jesus and his people.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks where Kristi talks with Aaron Damiani, lead pastor of Immanuel Anglican Church in downtown Chicago, and author of Earth Filled With Heaven: Finding Life in Liturgy, Sacraments, and Other Ancient Practices of the Church. Hearing their discussion of his story and the 3 questions of spiritual formation will help you catch a vision for these ancient church practices that are essential supplies for Jesus’ life-and-death Kingdom rescue mission.Resources for this Episode:Immanuel Anglican ChurchEarth Filled With Heaven: Finding Life in Liturgy, Sacraments, and Other Ancient Practices of the ChurchIgnatian Meditation GuidesBreath Prayer GuidesLectio Divina GuidesSab

When we combine God’s word, simple breathing, and a specific need, we discover an effective, engaging, and powerful way to pray— forming a habit that will fill small moments throughout our day with meaningful spots of prayer.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share how practicing breath prayers can help you release stress into the Father’s hands.  You will learn techniques you can practice regularly to nourish and strengthen your union with Jesus, and use for intercessory prayer.Resources for this Episode:Breath Prayer GuidesSoul Shepherding NetworkYour Best Life in Jesus’ Easy Yoke

In leadership we experience different kinds of suffering, including loneliness, opposition, and spiritual attacks. Shepherding others involves following Christ into his way of blessing and also his suffering. Yet our Risen Savior walks with us through our trials, comforting us with his empathy, presence, and purpose.Tune in to this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi unpack some of the challenges of leadership. You will be encouraged to find enduring joy even in painful times of leadership because you are not alone—you serve with Jesus and the God of all grace, and can find support from fellow soul shepherds who understand your suffering.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding NetworkSr. Spiritual DirectorsSr. Coaching

Many of us have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse ourselves, or care for people who have these wounds. The cycle of abuse can be emotionally and relationally trapping, but the good news is that it can be reversed.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks where Bill and Kristi unpack the dynamics of the cycle of abuse. You’ll learn the necessary steps to break this cycle, increase your own awareness of the needs of those around you, put words to experiences of abuse, and help bring healing and freedom to those who are hurting.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding NetworkSr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Coaching

We are blessed by our pastors who faithfully serve—loving us well, visiting hospitals and homes, counseling, teaching, and preaching. It’s a challenging time to represent Christ formally as a pastor. Often pastors carry the weight of expectations and responsibilities that many of us don’t see or understand.Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share encouragement for those in pastoral leadership. You’ll receive insight to understand the challenges pastors face and learn practical suggestions to support and uplift your own pastors.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteSr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding CoachingSabbatical Guide

Trauma can come in many forms, and all of us have experienced soul wounds. Masking our trauma under addictions—to include busyness— denies and delays the healing the Lord can bring us. We can find courage to face our trauma through connectedness with one another, and connectedness with the redemptive heart of God!Tune into this episode of Soul Talks, where Kristi talks with Evan & Jenny Owens, founders of Reboot Recovery, and authors of Healing What’s Hidden. You will find practical and accessible tips for overcoming trauma in your own life and turning your pain into purpose.Resources for this Episode:Reboot RecoveryHealing What’s HiddenJourney of the SoulSoul Shepherding Network

What is your source of motivation? Our culture tells us to focus on self-motivation, but Jesus tells us the ultimate power and purpose for our lives comes from our connection with God.Join us for Best Soul Talks as Soul Shepherding’s Director of Operations and Programs, Jessica Stong, shares one of her favorite episodes—229 EQ: The Energy You Need. Bill and Kristi show how you can increase your emotional intelligence—focusing on the importance of activation and motivation— through greater intimacy and responsiveness to Jesus.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteEmotional Intelligence: 5 Steps with Jesus to Better Living & Leading

So much of our lives focus on what we do for God. Yet burnout in ministry is common when we depend on our own strengths, natural gifts, and abilities instead of depending on Jesus. While this often leaves us feeling distant from God, there is hope!Join us for Best Soul Talks as Soul Shepherding’s Director of Operations and Programs, Jessica Stong, shares one of her favorite episodes— 207: How to Love and Lead WITH Jesus. Bill and Kristi offer deep personal and biblical insight and practical tools to help you step into life with Jesus, where his love and delight restore your soul.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteSr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding CoachingSabbatical Guide

Workaholism and people-pleasing are well-worn paths that inevitably lead to burnout. Jesus offers a different way! Being overly busy can steal your peace and joy, and it affects those around you. But following Jesus’ way of working brings renewed peace and strength when we set aside time for what is most important instead of just what is most urgent.Join us for Best Soul Talks this week as Sr. Spiritual Director and Coach Jessica Stong shares one of her favorite episodes— 299: The Unbusy Person.Bill & Kristi extend an invitation to live “unbusy” and “learn the unforced rhythms of grace” (Mt. 11:28-30 MSG) Jesus demonstrated in his life and ministry.Resources for this Episode:Sabbatical GuideSr. Spiritual DirectorsAbandonment To Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre De CaussadeYour Best Life In Jesus’ Easy Yoke by Bill GaultiereMere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Feelings of failure in ministry and life are far more common than we may realize. Whether we are “feeling” as though we failed, or we have in fact failed at something, in Christ, failure is not fatal! Join us for Best Soul Talks this week as Dave Rimoldi shares one of his favorite episodes— Failure is Not Fatal. Dave supervises the Soul Shepherding Spiritual Direction Training program and is a Sr. Spiritual Director and longtime pastor.In this vulnerable, honest conversation, Bill and Kristi look at what it means to receive empathy from Jesus in our failures and how beautiful the redemption is when we trust him.Resources for this Episode:Sr. Spiritual Director Dave RimoldiSr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding CoachingSoul Shepherding Leadership Coaching

We all need time to slow down and re-center in the middle of overly-full lives. When we shift our focus back to Jesus, we can rest in his peace regardless of our circumstances. Come step into the reality of the Kingdom of the Heavens with Jesus, our Good Shepherd!Join us for this episode of our Best of Soul Talks series where Sue Wood, Administrative Lead for the Soul Shepherding Institute and Spiritual Direction Certificate Program, shares her favorite episode: Psalm 23 Meditation to Renew Your Soul. Take a moment to allow Holy Spirit to minister to you in this time of quiet meditation on the powerful Psalm 23, led by Kristi. A spa for your soul!Resources for this Episode:Journey: Visual Devotion Cards in Psalm 23Walk with Good Shepherd in Psalm 23Psalm 23 Outline of Your JourneyA Little Bag for a Big Psalm

Many of us have been taught that if we can only change our thinking, we’ll change our lives. Yet, this often leaves us with a disconnection between our head knowledge and our emotions. Jesus invites us to spiritual authenticity through experiencing both our emotions and our thoughts resulting in lasting life-change.Join us for this episode of our Best of Soul Talks series, where Sr. Spiritual Director and Ministry Relations Advisor Amy Dalke shares the Soul Talk that showed her the power of integrating emotions and thoughts: Episode 79 —When You’re Stuck in Your Head. Like some ministry leaders today, Nicodemus was stuck in his head and emotionally reluctant. As you listen, you’ll be blessed by this insightful look at John 3:1-17, and the way that Jesus engages the heart of Nicodemus and engages your heart as well.Resources for this Episode:Sr. Spiritual Director and Ministry Relations Advisor Amy Dalke Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding InstituteSpiritual Direction Training