Gratitude Cup with Bethany Wallace
By Bethany Wallace
It was one of the best things I ever did. My perception permanently changed. I started the blog gratitudecup.com. A few years later, I started writing my first devotional book and gratitude journal, Mama Meditations.
Stay tuned for upcoming segments full of stories, life lessons, experiences, and encouraging words by yours truly... author, mom, and communications expert Bethany Wallace.
Gratitude Cup with Bethany WallaceOct 28, 2021
Getting rooted
Ever noticed trees uprooted?
This usually happens because the tree faced bad weather or storms.
But trees don't fall because of one incident, in most cases... they fall because they aren't healthy. Their roots are not strong. Pests have infested their leaves or bark. They haven't had enough water or nutrition from the soil. Someone built a home right next to the tree, and the building process damaged the root system.
See the connection spiritually???
That's what this episode is all about... so start listening!
Follow me at gratitudecup.com for more.
What's distracting you spiritually?
What's distracting you spiritually today?
If you're pursuing God, there will likely be some obstacles in your path. Some of those obstacles are distractions.
In this episode, I share a little about my current spiritual journey and how God has been equipping me to surrender to Him and to grow closer to Him through removing distractions.
If you're struggling with following God wholeheartedly or with discerning His will, this episode is for you!
Be sure to follow me at GratitudeCup.com.
How is God meeting your needs today?
Needs. Wants.
What's the difference? Can God meet all my needs--really? Has He? Can I trust Him?
Contemplating these things today. Contemplate with me. And follow me at gratitudecup.com.
The Wabi sabi decade: Living now to look back later
In this podcast episode, I look back at the past decade of my life (and my daughter's life). Reflecting helps me review how I've spent my time. The moments which stand out are most likely moments when I was fully present. If I'm fully present, I look back with gratitude, joy, and love rather than regret.
I hope this episode helps you live a more wabi sabi life :).
Follow me at gratitudecup.com for more.
Reducing the whine: 2 Ways to complain less
Have a whining problem? Or know someone who does?
I used to whine often... in my own head. I rarely let it come out of my mouth, but I marinated in whining thoughts and negativity. When I started practicing gratitude, I recognized this and wanted to change.
I share two ways I became less whiny... and if you're a parent, I think you might need this one.
Be sure to follow gratitudecup.com for great content around gratitude.
Creating your ideal spiritual landscape
When a landowner wants to create the right landscape, conducive to growing strong trees or beautiful flora and fauna, what steps does he take? How does he create the right habitat to attract the right species? What must he do to clean up invasive species?
Think about this in terms of your spiritual landscape. How can you make your soul a better place to reside?
Spend 10 minutes reflecting on this with me.
For more, visit gratitudecup.com.
2 Big benefits of face-to-face time
From an introvert who works remotely, I have to confess there ARE benefits to face-to-face interactions with others, whether in the workplace, at your place of worship, or in Twelve-Step recovery. Today's podcast episode is all about that.
Would love to hear how F2F time benefits you. Connect with me at gratitudecup.com and complete a contact form to share your own insights on this topic, or follow GratitudeCup on Facebook.
Chicken or egg: Being where my hands are & finding purpose
Recently, a conversation with my therapist had me contemplating... which comes first? A sense of purpose, or my ability to be fully present in the moment? Does one cause the other?
I mull this over in this podcast episode and offer one surefire way to produce both of these positive feelings/outcomes.
Be sure to check out my blog, books, and more at gratitudecup.com.
Snapping out of the worry rut
Do you ever worry-think? Do you even know what that is?
Here's my guess: 100% of you worry-think.
Find out what it is and how to STOP doing it in this episode.
For more on gratitude, visit my blog.
Mistakes were made: Self-acceptance & forgiveness
Prone to beating yourself up, dwelling on past mistakes, or struggling with forgiving yourself?
This one's for you.
For more on gratitude, spirituality, and recovery, check out my blog at gratitudecup.com.
Overcoming perfectionism: Poetry, mentors, & publications
One of my poems from my Hindsight 2020 collection recently earned Honorable Mention in the Soul-Making Keats contest. This felt significant to me for a number of reasons, and that's what I share in this episode... along with a reading of the poem which earned the award.
You can pick up a copy of my collection on Amazon for more.
Be sure to follow GratitudeCup.com, too.
Look back before you move forward
We're seven days into 2022. How did you reflect on the previous year before moving headfirst into this one?
I'll tell you one piece of my own reflective work and how it's benefiting me (there's the gratitude bit!). Maybe it will motivate you to find your own way to assess, evaluate, and reflect now or in the future.
For more on gratitude, follow gratitudecup.com.
2021 gift list: Listening & watching
This episode continues my 2021 gift list, a reflection on what gifts God has given me in 2021.
I started creating this list about 10 years ago. It helps me reflect on what I've learned, the blessings I've been given, and my favorite moments before launching into a new year.
In this episode, I'll share about how God taught me more explicitly to listen, hear, and heed His voice and then to wait and watch for the outcome.
I'd love to hear your answer to the question, "What gifts has God given you in 2021?" Connect through my blog at gratitudecup.com.
2021 reflection: Gratitude for gifts from God
Each year on my personal blog, I reflect on the past year before moving ahead into thinking about New Year's resolutions, selecting a focus word for the year, etc. By taking time to reflect on the gifts I've received over 12 months, I'm gaining awareness of God's movement in my life, refusing to take blessings for granted, and allowing my mind to perceive hard lessons learned and tough situations as potential gifts and blessings, too.
I'm going to share a series on this topic during December, and I'll write a blog post eventually... hopefully... but today I'm sharing ONE lesson learned in 2021 which is a huge gift.
Enjoy, and for more on gratitude, God, and encouragement, check out gratitudecup.com.
Breeding gratitude
Have you noticed benefits of extending gratitude and appreciation? I have. Lots. In today's episode, I'm talking about how practicing gratitude breeds more gratitude.
For gratitude blog posts and more, visit my site at gratitudecup.com.
Reflections on reactions to trauma: For survivors
If you're a survivor of sexual assault or similar traumatic experience(s), you'll benefit from this podcast episode. I share about my own experience as a survivor and discuss some recent reflections on reactions to trauma. I specifically touch on my struggle, as a survivor, to trust God. I share with you some of the keys to my healing process and recovery.
Always grateful for the opportunity to allow God to use what's happened to me to heal others. For more on this topic, you can visit my blog at https://gratitudecup.com.
The value of encouragement
Who encourages you regularly? Offers support and rarely criticizes?
Today's podcast is about one of those very people in my life, Dr. Teresa Burns Murphy, an acclaimed author who also happens to be my former award-winning professor.
I share with you some of the reasons Dr. Murphy is so valuable to me. I'd encourage you to extend gratitude to the encouragers in your life today, too.
You can find Dr. Murphy's writing on my gratitude blog and on Dr. Murphy's website.
Letting children go (and grow): From Mama Meditations, Vol II
In this episode, I read a chapter from my devotional book & gratitude journal, Mama Meditations: Vol II.
For more of this goodness, grab a copy of the Mama Meditations Collection on Amazon.
Guest Pari Smart weighs in on positive psychology & gratitude
Here's a special treat for all listeners: guest Pari Smart, a Certified Positive Psychology Practitioner (owner of Smart Possibilities, LLC) visited with me about mindfulness, gratitude, and applying positive psychology principles to help us flourish in the workplace and beyond. You won't want to miss these practical tips for improving your daily life.
To reach Pari, visit smartpossibilities.net. For more on gratitude, follow my blog at gratitudecup.com.
Friendship & flexibility: Finding gratitude for evolving relationships
Ever find your expectations for friendships don't match reality? In this episode of Gratitude Cup the Podcast, I share my own experiences on evolving friendships, gratitude for finding the beauty in unexpected newfound friendships, and a story about observing my daughter's growth in one of those unexpected friendships.
For more stories about gratitude, positive growth, and encouragement, visit my blog at gratitudecup.com.
Easy summer listening: Two poems from my collection, Hindsight 2020
Summer really is a little slower and easier in my world. I hope it is in yours, too.
Here are two summery poems from my collection, Hindsight 2020: A New and Selected Poems by Bethany Wallace.
Enjoy this episode and please enjoy the rest of your summer before it blows right by!
For encouragement, positive posts, and gratitude tips, visit me at gratitudecup.com.
Getting unstuck with gratitude
Sometimes when working the Steps in recovery, it can be difficult to move into acceptance and out of self-pity. We want to know WHY? Why me? Why does it have to be this way? Why can't things be fair?
We get stuck in this place. How do we get unstuck?
In this episode, I share a few ways I get unstuck. I hope you'll find this episode helpful if you find yourself stuck. Please share the podcast with others, too!
For more on gratitude and spiritual encouragement, visit gratitudecup.com.
How am I filling my God Love Space?
We all have it.
A God Love Space. It can only be totally, properly filled with God's love. And we all attempt to fill it with something else.
In this episode, I yammer about what else we fill it with and how we can solve this problem that's almost as old as time.
For more on gratitude and God things, visit my blog at gratitudecup.com.
Intrinsic motivation: Unlocking joy, spiritual connection, & gratitude
Maybe you stink at practicing gratitude. Or it just does not come naturally to you AT ALL.
Is there anything you can do about that? YES. Become more intrinsically motivated.
In this podcast episode, I explain what intrinsic motivation is, how to increase your level of it, and how it can unlock your ability to experience joy, spiritual connection, & practice gratitude.
EnJOY :).
For more on gratitude, follow me at gratitudecup.com.
For fun & for free: Gratitude gifts from Mama Meditations, Vol II
In this episode, I read an excerpt from Mama Meditations: Devotional Book & Gratitude Journal for Moms, Volume II. I also discuss the concepts of giving for fun and for free and paying gratitude forward.
And oh! I share about an opportunity to snag a FREE copy of the first volume of Mama Meditations.
For more on gratitude or any of my books, visit gratitudecup.com.
My next book: Writing thoughts
This one's for my blog followers and readers!
I just published book #3, Mama Meditations: Devotional Book & Gratitude Journal for Moms, Volume II.
So now what? My mind can't stop! In this episode, I share my path to finding the direction for book #4. Enjoy and follow my journey on my personal blogs, gratitudecup.com and justwheat.com.
Finding gratitude in miserable circumstances
Recently, I had emergent gallbladder surgery. Needless to say, this was unplanned and wrecked my spirits! But after reflection (plenty of time for that in the hospital), I discovered ways to refocus my energy on more positive things. That & more in this episode.
For more on gratitude, visit my blog, gratitudecup.com.
Worrying as meditation? Excerpt from Mama Meditations, Vol I
In this episode, I read an excerpt from a chapter in one of my devotional books, Mama Meditations: Devotional Book & Gratitude Journal for Moms, Volume I. The chapter relates to worrying and its tendency to pull us away from enjoying the present moment. I elaborate on this (and more thoughts on worrying, faith, fear, and trust) in this segment.
I hope it encourages you. Share with someone you love.
For more positive, enlightening, and inspirational content, visit my blog at gratitudecup.com.
"Irises" by Bethany Wallace
Today I'm sharing a poem from my original poetry collection I published in June 2020. I wrote this poem in late March about seven years ago. I share the back story and read the poem in this episode--I hope you'll listen and share.
You can pick up a copy of the collection, Hindsight 2020, on Amazon. $1 of each paperback copy supports The Asservo Project to fight child sexual exploitation and trafficking.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B73YWTC
Below my means: Why I'm grateful for spending less
Welfare, China, and bankruptcy--this podcast segment is all about living below my means... how I got to this point and why I'm so grateful to be here. I hope you'll listen, share, and benefit.
For more on my journey through recovery and gratitude, visit gratitudecup.com.
Paying gratitude forward: Why extending kindness never hurts
In this episode, I share a recent experience with a technology snafu during a podcast recording. I was the guest, and the host begged for forgiveness. Should I grant it? Should I guard my time (it's precious, yes)? I tell you how I responded and why, and I also share a story about my mom and something she did when I was a child and how it affected my view of paying gratitude forward. I hope you'll glean something great from this episode.
For more on gratitude and how to practice it, visit gratitudecup.com.
Creating a detailed gratitude list might change your life
In my new book, Mama Meditations: Devotional Book & Gratitude Journal for Moms, Volume I, I deliberately prompt readers to create a detailed gratitude list at the end of each entry. Why?
Because creating a detailed, unique gratitude list each day for over 1,000 days in a row changed my life. That's what this podcast segment is all about. Hope you'll listen in and find out more. Maybe practicing gratitude will transform you, too.
Follow my blog at gratitudecup.com!
2021: It's a mood... And why I talk about recovery in Mama Meditations
Let's not start getting down on 2021 already, you guys. It's January! And regardless of what the year brings, I explain why focusing on problems and negative circumstances is absolutely not the solution.
Then onto other things: why I yak about recovery in my book. Why am I talking about Twelve Steps in a book for moms? I explain all that in this episode of my podcast, Gratitude Cup by Bethany Wallace.
For more on all things related to gratitude, visit my blog at gratitudecup.com.