This Week’s Listener Question:

I’ve been invited to a silent retreat. I’d like to attend but honestly every time I try to meditate or sit in silent prayer, my mind races and I feel restless and distracted. What’s the point of sitting still?

SOUL Group Questions:

To build connection with a friend or in your Soul Group, ask each other these questions.

1. How would you describe your comfort level with solitude and silence?

2. What comes up for you when you practice silence, meditation, or prayer?

3. What helps you drop into a quieter, slower mode? What benefits do you receive when you do?

4. Have you ever observed a “Sabbath”? What went well? What was hard? What did you learn about yourself or your faith?

5. Bonus – What’s the difference between solitude and loneliness?

Resources:

To sign up for one-on-one grief and/or faith support with Laura, visit griefandhope.org

To ask Laura to speak at your event – laurabusse.com

Have a question for us? Send it to questions@soulenchilada.com

Learn more about Laura’s ministry The 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call – HERE

Learn more about Christine Ruth, counseling practice, and future retreats – HERE

This week we interview Claire Allen, a survivor of the 2021 Marshall Fires in Colorado in hopes of supporting friends now enduring massive fires in Los Angeles. This podcast is for anyone who is walking through trauma, loss, and grief or lovingly supporting someone who is.

SOUL Group Questions:

To build connection with a friend or in your Soul Group, ask each other these questions.

1. When have you experienced a “fire storm” in your life?

2. In the early days of trauma or tragedy, how would you have described your body sensations, thinking, feelings, or responses? Did you speed up or slow down?

3. What have been your anchors during hard times? How have they helped or grounded you to stay standing in faith, health, or relationships during big storms?

4. Claire shared her unique reactions to trauma, loss, and grief after losing her home in the Marshall Fires. What are some helpful take aways or tools to support others or yourself in the most challenging seasons of life?

Resources:

Have a question for us? Send it to questions@soulenchilada.com

To sign up for one-on-one grief and/or faith support with Laura, visit griefandhope.org

To ask Laura to speak at your event – laurabusse.com

Learn more about Laura’s ministry The 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call – HERE

Learn more about Christine Ruth, counseling practice, and future retreats – HERE

This Week’s Listener Question:

I keep hearing that the new year is a perfect time to let go of the old in order to take hold of the new, but what does that really mean and how can I do it?

Would you like to be with Laura and Christine as they record their 100th Soul Enchilada episode? If so, email Laura at laura@3oclockwakeup.com to reserve your seat. The recording will be done the week of January 20, 2025. We hope you’ll be a part of this fun event!

SOUL Group Questions:

To build connection with a friend or in your Soul Group, ask each other these questions.

1. What do you need to let go of because it is no longer serving you or holding you back?

2. When you think about letting go, what emotions arise in you?

3. What rituals or actions could help you release what you need to let go of? How might this create more space for new things?

4. How can you organize your day / time to step into new things?

5. What are your 2025 intentions or highest priorities? How will you live these out?

Resources:

Laura is teaching a virtual women’s retreat on Saturday, January 11th 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. (MT). To learn more visit – 1/11/25 Women's Retreat

To sign up for one-on-one grief and/or faith support with Laura, visit griefandhope.org

To ask Laura to speak at your event – laurabusse.com

Have a question for us? Send it to questions@soulenchilada.com

Learn more about Laura’s ministry The 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call – HERE

Learn more about Christine Ruth, counseling practice, and future retreats – HERE