#135 Blazing A New Trail In Your Thoughts ~ Robin Blumenthal

What if... We didn't have to think what we were thinking. Every day, we have approximately 60,000 thoughts. Our minds are busy! 80% of those thoughts are negative, and 95% are repetitive. Before we feel defeated, what if there was a way to change our thoughts? The Bible talks about taking our thoughts captive, but how do we do that?  In this episode, we welcome back Robin Blumenthal, who is going to give us three steps to take to redirect our thoughts; the best part is... you can start today.

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Transcript

Transcript is auto-generated.

[00:00:00] Denisha: What if we didn't have to think everything that we're thinking [00:00:05] every day, we have approximately 60, 000 thoughts. Our minds [00:00:10] are busy. 80 percent of those thoughts are negative and [00:00:15] 95 percent are repetitive. But before we feel defeated, what if [00:00:20]there was a way to change our thoughts? The Bible talks about taking our thoughts [00:00:25] captive, but how do we do that?

This episode, we welcome back [00:00:30] Robin Blumenthal, who is going to give us three steps to take to redirect our [00:00:35] thoughts. And the best part is you can start today. As we get [00:00:40]started, this podcast is a ministry of reclaimed story. We are an [00:00:45] Arizona nonprofit ministry dedicated to helping women heal from the pain of their [00:00:50] past so their story becomes their strength.

We do this through small groups, [00:00:55] conferences, workshops, and content, including this podcast. One [00:01:00] of the ways that we can provide this ministry is through our unique, truth affirming jewelry. [00:01:05] Our affordable and quality jewelry reinforces the truth of what God has to [00:01:10] say about us and reminds us to keep focused on Him in our healing [00:01:15] journeys.

Check out our line of over 70 inspirational pieces at [00:01:20] reclaimstory. com. Now for our [00:01:25] episode with Robin Bluenthal, welcome to living the reclaimed life [00:01:30] podcast. I'm Denisha. We're glad you're here for conversations that revive hope, [00:01:35] inspire healing, and encourage you to live a vibrant life with Christ. So [00:01:40] grab a cup of coffee as we chat with today's guest.[00:01:45] [00:01:50] [00:01:55] [00:02:00] [00:02:05] [00:02:10] [00:02:15] [00:02:20]

You amaze me at all the different hats that you [00:02:25] wear in life. You are a trauma informed trainer, a parenting [00:02:30] coach, a speaker, a pastor, and a writer. And you have a [00:02:35]passion for partnering with schools and churches. Why is that? 

[00:02:39] Robin: I [00:02:40] think sometimes I look and go, what drives all those things together?

Sometimes I wonder, why do I [00:02:45] do those different things? I don't know. Part of it, they all sound fun and meaningful, but you and I [00:02:50] both talked about that. What is our, kind of that superpower, right? That we have [00:02:55] that Purpose and I think all of those kind of are part of my purpose But I love helping [00:03:00] other people find their purpose and the trauma part a lot of times derails people [00:03:05] From finding their purpose or it puts a stop to where they might be able to live out their [00:03:10] purpose So I think that's how that got connected for me but I love just [00:03:15]inspiring and helping people to be all that god created them to be and part of that sometimes is [00:03:20] naming taming and Reclaiming our trauma 

[00:03:24] Denisha: I [00:03:25] love that.

And that is exactly what we're going to talk about today too. This month series is why do we [00:03:30]do what we do? And there's so many reasons for that. So [00:03:35] before we jump into that, tell us a little bit about your family. 

[00:03:39] Robin: We [00:03:40] have four biological girls, ages 30 to 25, and one [00:03:45]grandchild. Two of our daughters are married.

One has a grandchild. He just turned five. And then we have an [00:03:50] adopted daughter. We adopted Angel out of the foster care system as a teenager, [00:03:55] and she has been a part of our family now for just about six years. They're all girls, so they're filled [00:04:00] with many, many words. 

[00:04:02] Denisha: That I can imagine. I want to [00:04:05] also talk about you wrote a book.

During COVID, which was kind of [00:04:10] amazing. And it's called, where in the zoo are you? Tell us a little bit about that as well. [00:04:15]

[00:04:15] Robin: Well, the book came about, I was working with some of our schools through my role with [00:04:20] a non profit here in Tucson and we were talking about kids coming back to school [00:04:25] and the different experiences that kids had had.

Some of the kids that maybe had a great home life, they had a [00:04:30] pool, they had Wi Fi, they had a computer, they had mom and dad lovingly at home. And other [00:04:35] kids maybe not so much. Maybe it was a one bedroom apartment and three kids were sharing a room [00:04:40] and there wasn't wi fi. So all of the things that would drive behavior when kids [00:04:45] came back.

So this idea of this book kind of started to form. My friend Rick [00:04:50] Griffin who runs Community Resilience Initiative was inspirational in a couple ways and he was [00:04:55] talking about story and suddenly this story just kind of Came to my mind, right? Not [00:05:00] only about how kids look, but what if it took place in a zoo?

And what if there had been a flood [00:05:05] and it affected all the animals differently? So throughout the story, you kind of [00:05:10] see the different animal from the possum, who kind of plays dead to ignore it all to the [00:05:15] tiger, who's very angry to the kangaroo, who had a death in the family. The mom died [00:05:20] and how the caregivers or the zookeepers rather, right.

Had to gather around so [00:05:25] that they could take care of the animals and how the community Gathered around. And really, [00:05:30] I see that not just from COVID, but in any kind of trauma or any kind of things that [00:05:35] happen, right? It's about community. It's about relationship. It's about people knowing that they're [00:05:40] not alone, that we're in this together, whether it's a parenting journey that can be hard.

You and I've [00:05:45] talked about that sometimes, right? That parenting is hard. Living this life [00:05:50] sometimes is hard. And when we know that there are other people who can relate to that, [00:05:55] sometimes that's can make all the difference. 

[00:05:57] Denisha: I think your book was brilliant to, I mean, [00:06:00] not only did we see, we saw these same things in characters play out right on [00:06:05] social media, on the news, there were the angry people, there were the, you know, all the different things that [00:06:10] you laid out in the book is exactly what our children saw too.

It is still very relevant [00:06:15] now because how are we responding to politics? It's very similar, right? [00:06:20] There's so many different things in life that is very applicable for. So where in the zoo are you? We [00:06:25] will definitely link to your website on the show notes. Well, why do we do the things that we [00:06:30] do? And as we talk about that topic, we can't help but hit the trauma [00:06:35] informed part.

Right. There's so many things that we do and one of the [00:06:40] things that I love that you share an analogy of is the Oregon Trail. [00:06:45] So should we start there? 

[00:06:46] Robin: Sure, let's start there. So it's funny [00:06:50] as a student in school, right? We learned a little bit about the Oregon Trail and I don't know what my picture of [00:06:55] that was, but one day our family was camping and as we were driving through, [00:07:00] I'm horrible with states, but some state where the Oregon Trail was, I don't know if it was Utah or [00:07:05] something, but there was a sign and it says, you know, come over here to see the ruts of the Oregon Trail.

And I'm like, [00:07:10] How can the ruts still be there? I'm thinking surely they would be washed away Well, we went [00:07:15] and I think there's a picture actually that I took in the blog And these ruts from the wagons [00:07:20] are like two feet deep in the stone And i'm thinking how in the world like how [00:07:25] many wagons had to pass over that for that to become so embedded in the stone [00:07:30]And then when I began learning about trauma informed Ways and understanding.

I [00:07:35] remember the very first time my awareness of this came to mind. An [00:07:40] instructor was talking about in a chaplain training I was in, how if you're in a, like a river [00:07:45] and there's a little trickle that goes off the river. And if you don't stop that trickle, it [00:07:50] becomes deeper and deeper. And I thought back to those ruts.

And I'm like, Okay. Okay. That's [00:07:55] really what happened, right? More and more pathways started in that same place, [00:08:00] because it was a little easier to go down there, right? If you're trying to go on your wagon trail, let's follow the [00:08:05] footsteps of the people who went behind you or the wheels that went behind you, and eventually you have this [00:08:10] well worn path, which can be both good and bad, depending on what's [00:08:15] managing the path, right?

[00:08:16] Denisha: Yeah, that's so true. And I'm amazed that it's [00:08:20] stone. I thought you were going to say like really hard dirt or something like that. [00:08:25] But stone, the fact that the wheels and Made an imprint in the stone. That really [00:08:30] fascinates me. 

[00:08:31] Robin: Yeah, think about how hard that is, right? How that would be, but [00:08:35] I think that's kind of the impetus for that idea.

When I think about the river, I [00:08:40] think about the way the paths were made. Actually, I'll share a brief story if I [00:08:45] would about my daughter. One of our daughters is a and when she was [00:08:50] in high school, unbeknownst to us, a teacher I'm [00:08:55] sure jokingly said something about, but just said it as a joke. Like, well, don't be a dumb blonde.[00:09:00]

And we didn't know he had said anything, right? This is just something happening. Well, years [00:09:05] later, she shared this and she said, ever since that time, I struggled with [00:09:10] feeling stupid and we're like, How would you feel stupid? Like she has a pretty high IQ. [00:09:15] She went to a test in high school. She got all A's in college, but that [00:09:20] trickle that happened in high school, even though it wasn't, I don't think a teacher meaning to do anything, [00:09:25] but just that one comment was the trickle in the river, right?

It was the first wagon [00:09:30] going down the trail. And then the mind kept going that way. And it [00:09:35] made it neurons that fire together, wire together and Unbeknownst, [00:09:40] those began to fire more, and she really had to do some deep therapy to [00:09:45] undo that train of thought, that trail that had been going, and we never even knew that as [00:09:50] parents.

[00:09:50] Denisha: See, why do we do what we do? Her behavior followed her [00:09:55] belief. About that thing. I'm not going to be stupid. I'm going to get straight A's in [00:10:00] college. Like that's amazing how one experience can wire us that way and begin to [00:10:05] form that path. Well, yeah. And 

[00:10:07] Robin: every time someone would say something about being stupid or, [00:10:10] you know, just things we say, Oh, don't be stupid, like joking around, but that trigger that Quick [00:10:15]flip of the switch would go down that trail and we used to be like sometimes her little [00:10:20] sister You know kids can like don't be stupid and it became such a huge issue And i'm like, why is that an [00:10:25] issue for you?

Like you're not stupid Well, it wasn't till later that she realized where that trail [00:10:30] started. Why does she do what she do? She happened to be able to track it to this [00:10:35] Sometimes we can't track it to how it actually started, but we do see You know That it is [00:10:40] an issue for us, right? That it's a maladaptive behavior now because we're like, [00:10:45] however, it started, we need to stop it.

It's not helpful anymore. That particular 

[00:10:49] Denisha: thought [00:10:50] started with someone else's. Words. Can the same pathways [00:10:55] form in our neural networks if it's our thought? 

[00:10:58] Robin: I think absolutely in the [00:11:00] Bible like Romans 12 to talks about the renewing of our mind don't conform [00:11:05] to this world But renew our mind, I guess if you think about it, right?

How many times do we hear from the world? [00:11:10] Things about us member, the people around us, like how my daughter with this teacher or the [00:11:15] news or whatever we're watching or listening to. And that begins to grab [00:11:20] a hold of us or our own selves. Like, why did I do this? I was so stupid or I should have known [00:11:25] better.

I was just doing something yesterday. I'm like, Oh, I can't believe I didn't say this or [00:11:30] do this or think about this. Like, gosh, Robin, how dumb you, you should have known. The reality [00:11:35] is we're human, right? We make mistakes. We don't think everything through, but if I don't take those [00:11:40] thoughts captive and say, Robin, did you do the best you could?

Yes. [00:11:45] Or could I have done better? Yeah, maybe I could have, but there was a lot of things, right? I wasn't just sitting there [00:11:50] thinking all about this one problem. Project I had to do because there are many things I have to do as a [00:11:55] mom and as a worker and as a wife And I think that sometimes it's about even [00:12:00] capturing those thoughts before that little trickle before the ruts get so deep [00:12:05] You know before the train goes down the track and I think that's what so much of the [00:12:10] bible talks about Right listening to what god tells us not what we tell [00:12:15]ourselves or what other people tell us 

[00:12:17] Denisha: So true.

[00:12:17] Robin: Easier 

[00:12:18] Denisha: said than done though, right? [00:12:20] Right? No kidding. No kidding. And I read just recently from the Natural Science [00:12:25] Foundation that 80 percent of our thoughts are negative and that 95 [00:12:30] percent of our thoughts are repetitive. And I thought, Oh, that is just negative [00:12:35] on repetitive. Like we're going to keep doing that until we learn to start [00:12:40]thinking about what we're thinking and beginning to form the new ruts, the new pathways [00:12:45] in our mind.

I love that when you 

[00:12:47] Robin: said thinking about what we're thinking about, right? [00:12:50] Yeah. Because that's the thing is we often aren't thinking about what we're thinking about. And that [00:12:55] trail is getting deeper when we don't even know it instead of being cognizant about what we're thinking about [00:13:00] ourselves or about others or about anything really.

[00:13:04] Denisha: Earlier you [00:13:05] mentioned name it, tame it, and reclaim it. So we find this thought, we [00:13:10] discover we're thinking a certain thing. How do we do that? What does that process look like? [00:13:15]

[00:13:15] Robin: I'll use this example that comes to mind. As a child, I had a [00:13:20] relatively small birth defect with my eyes. And so in school, right, I always felt like I had to [00:13:25] prove myself because, you know, in school, it's about the cool kids.

It's about how you look. And for [00:13:30] me, that was kind of a shunned kind of a thing. So I got into my head that I had [00:13:35] to prove myself, right? I had to prove prove myself that I was worthy to come to the table [00:13:40] or join the team or be a part of the club. And I remember in high school, I got this [00:13:45] award my senior year, like at the senior banquet in it, we were the Pacifica [00:13:50]mariners in California, Pacifica high school.

And I got most worthy mariner. And I [00:13:55] remember in that moment thinking, I have arrived, right? This is it. I will never have to worry [00:14:00] about this again. But it didn't really quite work like that, right? Because that's still a thought. [00:14:05] So I finally was able to name that thought, that it was about my worthiness, but I had to [00:14:10] tame it.

And it, that took longer, like naming it is one thing, but taming it [00:14:15] is a little different. That's me taking it and saying, what does good mean? God say about me? [00:14:20] Who does God say I am? And I have to take those thoughts captive. And I [00:14:25] guess I should be, I don't know, embarrassed to admit it, but probably in the last 10 years, I [00:14:30] think I finally have reclaimed that because I feel like now there's a piece [00:14:35] of me that says, if all of that hadn't happened in my childhood, I would not be the [00:14:40] person that I am today, and I do love who I am today.

Now, [00:14:45] in a perfect world, would I rather look different? Okay, probably I'd rather be thinner and several things we won't even [00:14:50] talk about. The reality is, I also got to the point that God can use [00:14:55] anything that we hand to him, right? He can reclaim those things. But first we [00:15:00] have to name our hurts or our hangups or our habits or the things that have happened to [00:15:05] us.

And then we have to tame those thoughts, right? And to get them into submission, to [00:15:10] get them out of the rut, so to speak. And then we can really reclaim it. I don't think it's a [00:15:15] real linear process per se. It's probably a little bit like a, uh, Up and down hills [00:15:20] with the curve going up and to the right. And there are moments where I think like, [00:15:25] even today, I'm like, are we going to be videoing this?

Because I really don't like to be on video, [00:15:30] but the reality is, I'm like, do I feel like I have something that I can add to the [00:15:35] conversation? Yes. And part of my past in history is what allows that to happen. [00:15:40] And if God can use all of it, then who am I to say there's some of it God can't use. Right. And [00:15:45] that's another training of our thought.

[00:15:47] Denisha: That's so good. When you say name it, I feel [00:15:50] like I have to prove myself and kind of figuring out where it came from. Kind of like your daughter did. [00:15:55] And then teaming it, you know, we have these responses, we have these thoughts that are [00:16:00] always in our control. So when we've named it and then we tame it, what are some ways that [00:16:05] we can tame it?

I'm fascinated by that part of it. 

[00:16:08] Robin: I think one of the things is [00:16:10] to be curious about ourselves. Like to be curious about why when [00:16:15] somebody says something it hurts or it makes our stomach feel upset like what's happening in [00:16:20] our body What's happening around us, you know, sometimes you get in a mood [00:16:25] and suddenly you're like rare, you know You don't really know what's happened to tame it I [00:16:30] first have to be curious about it.

Like what is it that changed? I was happy and going [00:16:35] along in this way 20 minutes ago or five minutes ago or two days ago. And what has [00:16:40] changed? And I think sometimes I know I can get really caught up in [00:16:45] the, Oh my gosh, I should know better. I should be more patient. We should on [00:16:50] ourself, right? And we say, do all those things.

But if I can say, Hmm, I wonder what my [00:16:55] Part heard, or what did my mind feel, or what did this tap into? And [00:17:00] is that true? Is that a story I'm telling myself that I should have [00:17:05]been able to respond differently after that phone call? Or do I [00:17:10] sometimes contain it by saying, You know, I did the best I could, but I [00:17:15] want to try to do better.

So I might grow in this way or seek therapy or something, or be able to say, I [00:17:20] did the best I could, but now that I'm seeing this, I'm going to choose differently. I'm going to choose [00:17:25] to switch the track. I heard from a conference or a training recently, Chuck [00:17:30] and Ashley Elliott, and they talk about this switch theory.

And it's about if you're [00:17:35] in a negative space or a positive space, but when you recognize it. You can switch [00:17:40] it, right? And that's the lens of hope. So that's that tainment, I think, right? There's the name [00:17:45] it, I'm in a negative or positive space. But the tainment is that we take control [00:17:50] over that thought process, which isn't just a one time thing.

Sadly, I think sometimes it's [00:17:55] raining it back in 17 times in one day, maybe, or putting notes all [00:18:00] over our mirror, you are worthy, you are worthy, you are loved, you know, or you're doing the best you [00:18:05] can, or you're a You're the worst mom ever, you [00:18:10] know, like, you know, cause you didn't hand them a new cell phone or whatever it might be.

Right. 

[00:18:14] Denisha: That's so [00:18:15] true. I'm not super curious when I'm going a hundred miles an hour in my day. [00:18:20] That is so true. I think what I think, and it is what it is. And I keep running. But when we [00:18:25] stop to start getting curious, as you said, then we can start really thinking it. When you [00:18:30] said putting notes on like you're worthy, you're loved things like that.

[00:18:35] Isn't that so true? Like in second Corinthians, where you said, you know, we take. Captive every [00:18:40] thought to make it obedient to Christ. And if we have that many negative [00:18:45]thoughts a day, and then they're on repeat, how many of those things do we begin to believe [00:18:50]about ourselves that do not line up with the word of God?

[00:18:53] Robin: Absolutely. [00:18:55] I think if Jesus, and I do believe he's with us, but if he was physically standing [00:19:00] with either of us, right, that there would be times I think when I would be like, Oh my gosh, what an [00:19:05] idiot, Robin. And he would say, Well, I would prefer to think that [00:19:10] you were just in a hurry or you happen to not be paint Like I don't see that in [00:19:15] you.

And so sometimes I think it really comes down to Like who am I to [00:19:20] say that i'm an idiot if god says I am loved I am a child of god Like I [00:19:25] sent my son. I didn't send my son to die for an idiot I sent my son to die for you because [00:19:30] you were beautiful and loved And you're human and you sometimes make mistakes.

And I love [00:19:35] all of that about you. Right. And I think sometimes that's hard to accept because it's [00:19:40] honestly sometimes easier for me to see myself as an idiot or as [00:19:45] somebody who's not worthy. And I think that's that train of thought. Nothing in the Bible [00:19:50] tells me that, right. That's just whether I say it's Satan or whether it's my own negative train of [00:19:55] thoughts.

And It's almost easier to believe that about myself that I am a [00:20:00] loved child of God. When I look in the mirror, I don't always see the love child of [00:20:05] God. I see somebody who needs to exercise more and lose weight and pay more [00:20:10] attention to their kids and read the Bible more. I see all those things. And I don't think that's [00:20:15] a voice from God.

I think God, if he could whisper anything, he would say, you [00:20:20] are loved. You are enough. I love you as you are. And those are the [00:20:25] voices that. Frankly, if we could all hear that, wouldn't it be so much better if we focused on [00:20:30] those thoughts? 

[00:20:31] Denisha: Oh, it's so true. And what would be different, not only if we saw [00:20:35]ourselves through that lens, but if we began speaking that way?

We may not have [00:20:40] had fathers or parents in our lives that spoke to us the way you just described that [00:20:45] called out the best in us, that called out the way they see us or the way God sees [00:20:50] us. But what if we even started speaking to each other that way? If you said, Denisha, you [00:20:55] look great today. First thing I'm going to say is I need to lose weight.

I need to exercise. I need to, you know, you even did that. [00:21:00] I said, how cute you look in that hat. And you're like, Oh, I didn't 

[00:21:03] Robin: have any laundry, 

[00:21:03] Denisha: right? We do it all the [00:21:05] time. 

[00:21:05] Robin: He's 

[00:21:05] Denisha: so cute. He's so cute. And when you said, Oh, you look so cute. You were [00:21:10] contrary to the thought I had is I kind of showed up like a bum today to record this [00:21:15]podcast with you.

Right. But we're friends. So we're all like, that's good. She loves me no matter what. [00:21:20]

[00:21:20] Robin: And isn't that true, how we see ourselves versus how someone else sees us. And [00:21:25] we're always comparing to either that to how what other people are labeling us or seeing us [00:21:30] or the voice inside our head. And really there's only one voice that matters, [00:21:35] right?

Only one voice. And that's the voice of God in us, you know, through Jesus, through the [00:21:40] Holy Spirit saying, Amen. Amen. This is the voice that you should hear. And how do we train ourselves to hear [00:21:45] that voice and let that become our own voice to ourself, [00:21:50] meaning that I'm hearing God's voice. And I'm not trying to counteract what he's saying, [00:21:55] because I really believe if we could hear his voice and if we could respond to his voice, [00:22:00] it changes how I respond to everyone.

Right. Christ in [00:22:05] me. And I think that's the point as we go through this Christian life, right? How do we continue [00:22:10] to hone down into that so that Christ in me reflects onto [00:22:15] you? Not just what I think or think, but what does Christ say about you? [00:22:20] And how can I be a conduit? Of that to everyone around me relationships within my [00:22:25] family or in my community So that when they hear my voice, they're hearing the voice of god to them [00:22:30] in that sense Not that i'm speaking the voice of god, but the values and the truth that are coming [00:22:35] out of me reflect god.

That's beautiful Yeah, that 

[00:22:37] Denisha: changes a lot, doesn't it? [00:22:40] This week on our blog, you wrote and talked about this [00:22:45] and I love this quote. So I'm going to quote you to you. Taking every thought [00:22:50] captive means that we don't allow ourselves to get into or stay in the old and [00:22:55] more rutted neuro pathway that isn't helping us, but instead work to form new [00:23:00] pathways based on God's truth.

And that's what we're just talking about that we can [00:23:05] see ourselves that way that we can view the world and those around us that way. I think that [00:23:10] would change a whole lot of stuff if we did that Robin consistently name it, tame it and [00:23:15] reclaim it. 

[00:23:15] Robin: And that's that reclaiming part, right? That is hard. [00:23:20] And I think it's when we hand it back to God.

Okay, God, I see that I have this. [00:23:25] Area that I struggle in I'm trying to tame it and make it submissive to [00:23:30] what you say about me And how do either both we reclaim it and how does god [00:23:35] reclaim that no matter what has happened in our life? No matter the traumas the[00:23:40] struggles the day to day hardships when we hand that back to god And say can you [00:23:45] use this and I think?

That's the hard part because think of how if I [00:23:50] really believe that god never wastes an experience It's I believe that many times [00:23:55] we waste the experience or we don't hand it to God to use But on the good days [00:24:00] where I feel like i'm really walking closer to God I feel like oh, you know, this was a horrific day [00:24:05] or event or season in my life And God I hate to think it was wasted.

So here [00:24:10] How might you use it? But many times we're like, oh, that's too bad or too ugly or [00:24:15] too broken So just use the good parts of me and god's like I want to use [00:24:20] everything not that god caused it But when we hand it back to him, then he can [00:24:25] use it for his good I think that's the part about all things work together for good I think [00:24:30] that's the peace not that everything that happens in our life is good But when we hand it [00:24:35] at the feet of jesus That's when good can come out of it [00:24:40] because of who God is, not because of who we are.

[00:24:44] Denisha: I love that you said [00:24:45] not everything that happens in our life is good. Sometimes we misinterpret that, right? [00:24:50] But that God can use it if we hand it to him and let him, allow him to do what only 

[00:24:54] Robin: [00:24:55] he can do. One way I remember, A vivid memory is I had [00:25:00] a younger brother who was hit and killed by a car coming home from school [00:25:05] And I remember in those first few days and I was out in our garage was the washing [00:25:10] machine and I had this like epiphany Because up until then I was always like, well all things work [00:25:15] together for good, you know, everything's good, right?

And it suddenly it just like, you know hit me that Oh, [00:25:20] that's not what that verse means. Yes, because this isn't good. I don't think even God thought it was good, right? [00:25:25] This isn't what God's desire was. God desires us to live whole and complete [00:25:30] lives. That's what he created us for. But human beings have choices in all of that.

And so I [00:25:35] think I was like, Oh, but you can turn this. To your glory, right? [00:25:40] You can turn this for good if I hand this to you, but it's hard in that moment, right? [00:25:45] There was so many times where you're just like I'm just angry or mad and [00:25:50] those thoughts Right and I can name it. I'm angry. I'm mad. I'm disappointed.

I don't [00:25:55] understand God's big enough to handle all that and then taming that but God is [00:26:00] still good But God or maybe not even but maybe it's and i'm angry i'm [00:26:05] mad and God is still good. I feel Frustrated or hurt [00:26:10] and God is still good And then when we can reclaim it and we hand it back to God [00:26:15] and say use this For whatever for your glory 

[00:26:18] Denisha: The word [00:26:20] reclaimed, obviously I'm very passionate about reclaiming the reclaimed [00:26:25] life.

I have a tattoo of it. I love the word. And it means to rescue from an [00:26:30] undesirable state and restore to the previous natural state. And [00:26:35] that's exactly what you're talking about. You have a negative thought and you kind of rescue it from [00:26:40] your mind. You rescue your mind from that thought. You take that thought captive and then you restore [00:26:45] your mind back to what is truth and what is good.

I like that. Yeah. Oh, [00:26:50] Robin, thank you so much for sharing. I love the Oregon trail. I will never look at the same [00:26:55] again as just something in my kid's history book. I think it's fascinating [00:27:00] that those ruts were in stone and just comparing that to how our thoughts work and how our [00:27:05] neuropathways work is just a big difference in how we look at things.

So I so [00:27:10] appreciate you sharing that. And I think you give 

[00:27:12] Robin: us more grace and mercy towards ourselves when you see it in [00:27:15] stone. If you were to say to the people who were the last wagon through, [00:27:20] right? If you're like, I can't believe you took that path. Why didn't you turn right? It was hard. Like [00:27:25] we were stuck.

I get that. And we know it's hard. This isn't an easy thing, but it [00:27:30] can be done. And how do we involve others to help us do that? Let's say you really [00:27:35] were in that wagon and you really did decide to turn left at Albuquerque or whatever, then [00:27:40] people would gather around and say, Hey, we're going to pick you up out of this rut and turn you and you're going to go that [00:27:45] path.

And I don't think someone probably could have got a wagon out of there by themselves or certainly [00:27:50] not very easily. But sometimes it's about that community and that's why I love what you do, [00:27:55] Denisha, because you are building a community of people. Like, let's do this [00:28:00]together. It's hard, but it is so worth it.

And it's worth the effort. It's worth the [00:28:05] naming, the taming, the reclaiming and capturing every thought captive. It's worth it. [00:28:10] It's hard, but it is so worth it. And that's why I love your community because we're [00:28:15] doing this together. 

[00:28:17] Denisha: Well, Robin, how can we find you? How [00:28:20] can we find where in the zoo are you?

You 

[00:28:23] Robin: can find either of those [00:28:25] things and as well as different trainings and resources I offer on my website, [00:28:30] robinblumenthal. org. I think you're going to drop a link to this, but also we have a Reclaiming Hope [00:28:35] conference coming up a week from Friday, so September 20th, and [00:28:40] it's a conference, a trauma informed conference for anyone who works with people who wants to understand [00:28:45] more of this.

Rick Griffin, who I mentioned, is going to be our keynote. There will be individuals there [00:28:50]who are training, whether you work with kids or in a school setting or a faith based community. How do we learn [00:28:55] about resilience? How do we learn about just understanding what trauma is, the importance of [00:29:00] relationships and community building?

Because I really believe it's together that [00:29:05] we can do it. Heal like right as we support each other as we pick people up from those rods [00:29:10] and remind them don't fall back in the red like it's real easy. How do we go forward together? And [00:29:15] it takes all of us in the many different organizations and individuals who are involved in a 

[00:29:19] Denisha: [00:29:20] community.

That's so true. And that conference is amazing filled with such rich [00:29:25] presenters, such great information on how to understand how do we serve people with a [00:29:30] trauma informed lens to help reclaim that hope in their life. Love it. If you were going on the [00:29:35] website and we didn't go to the show notes, how would we find the events page to register for [00:29:40] reclaiming hope?

[00:29:41] Robin: Oh, thank you. It's being hosted at Pantano Christian Church and our [00:29:45]website is pantano. church. And then you can look under events and reclaiming hope [00:29:50] is right there. 

[00:29:51] Denisha: Fantastic. All right, Tucson people, come on, let's go and [00:29:55] let's learn together how we can name it, tame it, reclaim it and learn all the things on [00:30:00] why we do what we do and how we can love others around us even better.

[00:30:05] Robin, thank you so much for your time today. I appreciate you, friend. 

[00:30:08] Robin: Oh, thank you. And thanks for what you [00:30:10] do in your community. It is an inspiration and a blessing, my friend. [00:30:15]

[00:30:15] Denisha: Thanks for listening. I pray you found hope in today's conversation and [00:30:20]maybe Even feel a little less alone in your story. Stay connected with us on [00:30:25] Facebook and Instagram at Reclaimed Story.

Wanna learn more about [00:30:30] living a reclaimed life and how you can be a part of our growing community of Reclaimers? Check [00:30:35] out our website@reclaimedstory.com. All of those links and more will [00:30:40] be in the show notes. And if you enjoyed this inspirational podcast, be sure to [00:30:45] subscribe, rate, and review. Not only will you be the first one to know when new [00:30:50]content comes out, but it is also a huge help in helping us reach more people [00:30:55] to live the reclaimed life.