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Think New Thoughts Podcast

Think New Thoughts Podcast

A circular design with a stylized floral pattern in the center, surrounded by the words 'THINK NEW THOUGHTS' repeated in a ring.

A Podcast for Christian Moms

Who Are Emotionally Tired and Ready for a Kinder Way to Live

Short, honest episodes to help you interrupt negative spirals, speak to yourself with grace, and return to peace. One thought at a time.

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 53: When Things Don't Go the Way You Hoped They Would

Disappointment is part of every life—a job you didn’t get, a relationship that ended, a dream that fell through. In this episode, I’ll show you how to allow the grief without adding extra layers of suffering, how to let gratitude soften the past, and how to choose hope for the future. If your heart feels heavy because things didn’t go the way you hoped they would, this conversation is for you.

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 52: The Villain In Your Story

Every great story has a villain—but what happens when you unknowingly cast one in your own life? Whether it’s your teenager, your boss, your body, or your past, seeing something as the “bad guy” can turn you into the victim, and leave you feeling powerless...even though you're actually not.  In this episode, I’ll show you how to rewrite that story so there are no villains—only teachers. If you've been feeling stuck, this epsiode will help you find the freedom to grow, learn, and move forward.

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 51: Stop Turning Off the Lights

We all have moments when emotions feel too heavy, so we reach for something—our phones, food, shopping, Netflix—to take the edge off. It works for a minute, but those “buffers” don’t solve the mess, they just hide it. In this episode, I’ll help you start to notice some of your buffers, and start to understand how they might actually be limiting you more than helping you.  I'll share how you can keep the lights on--which may feel super uncomfortable in the moment--but it’s the path to real freedom.

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 50: The Real Reasons You’re Feeling Anxious, Lonely, or Powerless

Have you ever tried to run someone else’s life… and ended up running yourself into the ground? 🙋‍♀️ Been there. In this week’s episode, I talk about the sneaky way we step out of our own business (with the best intentions!) and why it leaves us anxious, lonely, and powerless. Plus, how to step back into the one place you actually do have power—and find so much more peace there.

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 49: Try Flipping the Lens

Feeling nervous before a big moment? Or powerless when someone’s choices are driving you crazy? This week, I’ll show you one quick shift that can change your emotions almost instantly.  This is an epsiode you won't want to miss. 

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 48: When It Feels Hard to Decide

Have you ever felt totally stuck in a decision—like you're standing at a fork in the road, but both paths look uncomfortable? This week’s episode is all about decision debt—what it is, why we create it, and how to stop spinning in "I don't know."  If your brain’s been feeling cluttered lately, this one’s for you.

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 47: Processing Emotions--The Sweet Spot Between Two Extremes

Most of us were never really taught how to feel our feelings—we either shove them down and smile through it or scramble to do something to try to fix them right away. In this episode, I’m introducing a gentler, wiser way: processing. I’ll walk you through how to hold space for your emotions without letting them pile up or run the show.

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 46: Just Jump In! (It's Only Freezing For a Minute)

If you’re like most people, you probably spend a lot of energy trying not to feel certain emotions—but what if the fear and resistance are actually worse than the feeling itself? This week, I’m sharing a mindset shift (and a cold plunge moment from girls' camp) that could change the way you think about discomfort. 

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 45: When You Feel Depleted

Sometimes the hardest part of feeling tired is the way we pile guilt and self-judgment on top of it. This week, I’m sharing a mindset shift (and a super helpful printer analogy!) that helped me see my own depletion in a whole new light. If you’ve been running low, this is your gentle reminder that it’s okay—and that you’re probably doing an amazing job.

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 44: The Mote and the Beam

Do you ever find yourself super annoyed by someone else’s faults? Like, if they would just stop doing that one thing, your life would be so much easier? In this episode, I'm sharing a simple coaching tool to help you live Jesus’s teaching—to not fixate on the "mote" in your neighbor's eye, but to gently remove the "beam" from your own. If you're willing to try it, you'll be amazed at how much lighter and freer you can feel! 

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 43: How Thoughts Are Like Paint

What do your thoughts have in common with wall paint? Turns out... a lot. We’ve been preparing to have our main floor repainted this summer (and wow, it’s been a process), but it got me thinking about how much thought work is like picking paint colors. In this episode, I’m sharing three ways your thoughts shape the emotional vibe of your life—and how to start telling your mental painter what colors you actually want on your walls! 

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 42: Two Thoughts to Lift You On the Hard Days

Sometimes life feels just plain hard. During particularly difficult seasons, our brains love to offer thoughts like “this is awful” or “I can’t do this.”  In this week’s episode, I’m sharing two simple, soul-centering thoughts that will give you a little boost if you've been feeling tired or discouraged. 

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 41: Three Words That Make A Lovely Gift

What if you could give yourself a gift—right in the middle of the mess, the waiting, or the in-between? In this episode, I’m sharing three simple words that have helped me feel more centered (read less impatient!) during life’s longer journeys. If you're adjusting to something new and it's taking more time than you expected, these words might be just what your heart needs. They’re gentle, grounding, and a lovely little gift you give to yourself...or someone else.  Come find out what they are. 

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 40: Monkey See, Monkey...Choose

Have you ever been annoyed that someone else is annoyed at you? Or gotten mad that someone else is mad?  That’s “monkey see, monkey do” at work—and most of us fall into this way more often than we realize. Tune in to discover what's really going on, and find out how you can stop merely copying other people’s energy and start choosing your own.  This simple shift can make your life a lot less exhausting...and a lot more fun!  

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 39: The Selfishness Trap

Trying not to be selfish can feel like reaching for cheese in a mousetrap—innocent at first, but suddenly you’re stuck, spinning in shame and self-doubt. In this episode, I show you how the fear of selfishness can backfire and keep you focused on yourself in ways you never intended.  You'll learn how to spot the trap and disarm it by choosing love over fear.  It’s a powerful mindset shift you won’t want to miss!

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 38: It's Supposed to Look How it Actually Looks

Have you ever felt discouraged that your  life doesn’t seem to match the “picture on the box”? In this episode, I’m offering a totally different way to think about your messy, beautiful, imperfect reality. What if it’s not a problem that things don’t look how you imagined—what if that’s exactly how they’re supposed to look? Tune in to hear why aiming for joyful IMperfection might be the most freeing goal you’ve ever set.

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 37: 3 Beliefs That Will Boost Your Confidence

Confidence isn’t something you’re either born with or not—it’s something you believe your way into. In this episode, I’m sharing three specific thoughts you can click on and "buy" inside of your mind and feel the shift almost instantly. If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by fear, self-doubt, or decision drama, these beliefs will help you feel steady, brave, and full of grace for yourself. We’ll talk about what confidence really is—and what it definitely isn’t.

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 36: Your Brain Can Build New Roads

Your brain is incredible. It can actually rewire itself to believe new things, form new habits, and create totally new outcomes in your life.  Believing something new can feel like bushwhacking through the jungle at first, but if you stick with it, the new road will get easier and easier to drive on.  Whether you're stuck in self-doubt, trying to parent differently, or just craving change, you already have what it takes to build a new road. Let's talk about how to start paving it.

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 35: What If Nothing Has Gone Wrong?

Sometimes life stings — literally and figuratively. Whether it's a wasp on your finger, an illness, or the kind of loss that leaves your world in ashes, it's natural to feel like something has gone terribly wrong.

But what if it hasn’t?

In today’s episode, I’ll show you why “nothing has gone wrong” isn’t a dismissive thought, but rather a deeply compassionate way to meet life’s hardest moments. If you're feeling overwhelmed by something unexpected, unwanted, or unfair… this one is for you.

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Emily Ricks Emily Ricks

Episode 34: It's Just a Thought

Did you know that most of what we feel isn’t caused by what’s happening—but by what we think about what’s happening?

In this episode, we’re talking about the powerful shift that happens when you realize: It’s just a thought. You'll hear real-life coaching examples, learn how to separate facts from your story, and discover how this simple skill can change everything from your emotions to your relationships. If your thoughts have been weighing you down lately, this episode is your reminder that you can think something new.

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