Show notes

In episode 115, Josh speaks about the emotional labor involved in therapies like healing trauma and grieving. He emphasizes the need to intentionally confront the suffering by stepping into solitude and silence. This process, while challenging, leads to exponential growth and maturity. Solitude is a catalyst for transformation, revealing God's word in the individual's heart during times of trial. The material concludes by urging the listener to prioritize daily periods of silence and solitude in order to live wisely.

00:00 Introduction to Emotional Labor of Silence

00:06 The Importance of Therapy and Emotional Work

00:31 The Role of Silence in Emotional Healing

00:49 Facing Thoughts and Emotions in Silence

01:26 The Power of Solitude and Transformation

01:44 God's Word in Silence

02:04 Questions to Ponder

02:22 Invitation into Silence

02:26 Conclusion: Prioritizing Silence and Solitude

About Josh Kalsbeek, LMFT

• As a Psychoherapist I help people overcome their greatest struggles.

•Founder and CEO of Great Oaks Collective, and it's flagship program Overcome, a 10-Week virtual Intensive Outpatient Program for Christian couples experiencing sexual betrayal and addiction. www.greatoakscollective.com. 

• Sign up to receive my weekly email newsletter, Words of Wisdom. ​

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Links

Recovery​ is exhausting, yet a necessary suffering.

Becoming mature

Saying ​yes to difficulty​

Henri Nouwen, ​The Way of the Heart​

The classic AA book of meditations: ​Twenty Four Hours a Day​

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Support the podcast

Words of wisdom one 15 on the emotional labor of silence.

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We call therapy, doing your

work because it is a kind of

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emotional and psychological labor

that takes a toll on your body.

4

Doing your work develops

fortitude in a very unique way.

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Grieving healing from trauma,

early recovery are all exhausting

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yet necessary suffering.

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When we get still and silent, unprocessed

suffering rises to the surface.

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Until you learn to sit in silence and

experience the necessary suffering

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of your life, you'll experience

exponential additional suffering.

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If you want to become mature,

you must be willing to face your

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thoughts and emotions in silence.

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This best occurs with a combination

of intentional solitude and deep

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connection, such as doing therapy.

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Develop fortitude and peace of

mind by saying yes to difficulty.

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Sometimes the most difficult

thing is to simply sit in silence.

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Simply step into silence, pay

attention, and pray by listening quotes.

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Solitude is the furnace of

transformation by Henry Nowan in

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his book The Way of the Heart.

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In silence comes God's

meaning to the heart.

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I cannot judge when it enters the heart.

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I can only judge by results.

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God's word is spoken to the secret

places of my heart, and in some hour

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of temptation, I find that word and

realize its value for the first time

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when I need it, I find it there.

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Thy father who seeth in secret

shall reward thee openly.

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In the book 24 hours a day questions,

which do you need to grow more in

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physical acts of courage or emotional?

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What do you hear when you get silent?

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End note.

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God is inviting you into silence.

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Do whatever it takes to prioritize

daily silence and solitude in your life.

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Live wisely, Josh.