The Best of You
Join therapist and author Dr. Alison Cook as she guides you through tough challenges with wisdom, kindness, and grace. Together with friends and experts, the podcast unpacks the best of psychology from a faith-based perspective. You'll discover how to break free from painful patterns, mend your past, and find what brings out the best in you.
Episodes
When Submission Has Been Used to Silence You
Today's Scripture: Ephesians 5:21–33**Today's devotional is in response to listener requests.**In this episode, Dr. Alison Cook reflects on the often misunderstood language of submission. She explores the heart of Paul’s teaching through the lens of Jesus: mutual reverence, self-giving love, and power expressed through care—not control. We explore:*What submission is not *Why Ephesians 5 begins wi
212. Why You Feel Everything So Deeply (and Other People Don’t): Childhood, Sensitivity & the Nervous System
Why do certain situations overwhelm you while someone you love seems completely unaffected?
In this episode, Dr. Alison explores one of the most important questions we ask about ourselves: Why am I the way I am?
Using the image of a seed planted in soil, she explains how your God-given wiring, childhood environment, sensitivity, and nervous system all work together to shape the person you are t
Finding Secure Attachment in God When Productivity, Approval, or People Can’t Sustain You
Today's Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5–8
In this episode, Dr. Alison Cook reflects on the powerful image of a tree planted by water. She explores what happens when we ask approval, productivity, perfectionism, control, or another person’s response to carry the full weight of our security. We explore:
*Why needing people is not the problem—but making one person your source can drain your soul
*How app
How to Break a Bad Habit Without Hating Yourself
Today's Scripture: Mark 9:43–47**Today's devotional is in response to listener requests.**What do you do when you keep returning to the same behavior—the one that offers relief in the moment but leaves you feeling ashamed, disconnected, or farther from love? In this episode, Dr. Alison Cook reflects on Jesus’ intense words in Mark 9:43–47 and reframes them not as an invitation to self-hatred, but
When You Feel Stuck in a Pit & Help Seems Far Away
Today's Scripture: Psalm 40:1–3
What do you do when you’ve prayed, waited, done the work, and still feel stuck in the middle of a pit? In this episode, Dr. Alison Cook reflects on Psalm 40:1–3 and the kind of patience that isn’t passive, polished, or emotionally detached—but deeply honest before God.
This episode is for anyone who feels worn down by waiting and needs a reminder that God hears,
How to Be Honest When You’re Angry Without Being Harmful
Today's Scripture: Ephesians 4:26–27
**Today's devotional is in response to listener requests.**
Anger can be confusing—especially if you were taught it was bad, dangerous, or unspiritual. But Scripture gives us a more nuanced path: anger itself is not automatically sin, but it does need care.Today’s episode looks at Ephesians 4 and the difference between anger as a signal and anger as a force t
211. Is Productivity Ruining Our Mental Health? Why We Need More Play (Piera Gelardi)
When did being a responsible adult become synonymous with being serious all the time?
Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that curiosity, playfulness, imagination, and wonder were things we needed to leave behind in order to grow up. But what if those qualities aren't distractions from a meaningful life?
What if they're essential to it?
In this episode, Dr. Alison Cook sits down with en
When You’re Carrying Too Much Responsibility by Yourself
Today's Scripture: Numbers 11:10–17There is a kind of exhaustion that comes from feeling responsible for too many people, emotions, needs, and outcomes. Today’s episode looks at Moses’ honest breaking point in Numbers 11 and the mercy of God’s response. God does not shame Moses for being overwhelmed. He gives him support.
*The hidden exhaustion of over-responsibility*Why capable people often stru
Over-Functioning, the Pressure to Meet Every Need, and What We Can Learn from Jesus
Today's Scripture: Mark 1:35–39
When everyone needs something from you, it can feel loving—even responsible—to respond immediately. But there is a difference between compassion and being controlled by demand. Today’s episode looks at Mark 1 and the surprising way Jesus responds when everyone is looking for him. He withdraws to pray, stays rooted in God, and moves from clarity instead of urgency.
When You’re Trying to Control What You Can’t Control
Today's Scripture: Psalm 46:1–7
When life feels unsteady, our bodies often know before our minds do. We tighten, scan, spiral, and reach for control—trying to make uncertainty disappear before we let ourselves rest. Today’s episode walks through Psalm 46 and the promise that God is not our escape from trouble, but our ever-present help in trouble. In this episode, we explore:
*The difference be
How to Get Dressed on the Inside
Today's Scripture: Colossians 3:12–15
Every morning, we get dressed before stepping into the world—but what are we wearing on the inside? In today’s episode, we reflect on Colossians 3. This isn’t about performing spiritual maturity or pretending hard feelings aren’t there. It’s about receiving the qualities of Christ deep within your own soul, so they can begin to shape how you show up for yours
210: From Emotionally Immature Parents to Emotionally Mature Parenting with Dr. Lindsay Gibson
What does it actually mean to raise an emotionally mature child?
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Alison Cook sits down with renowned psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Lindsay C. Gibson, whose groundbreaking book "Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents" helped millions name what they didn’t receive growing up.
Now, Dr. Gibson turns toward a new question: How do we become the kind
Learning to Recognize the Voice of God
Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1–10
Have you ever wondered if God was speaking, but you weren’t sure? In today’s episode, we look at the story of Samuel learning to recognize God’s voice. His story reminds us that discernment is not always instant clarity. Sometimes it begins with practice, humility, repetition, and the help of wise guides. We explore:
*Why discernment often takes practice
*How
What to Do When You Have No More Capacity (But Life Asks You to Keep Showing Up Anyway)
Today's Scripture: John 2:1–11
What do you do when you’ve run out of energy, patience, joy, or capacity? In today’s episode, we look at Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana, where the wine runs out and Jesus quietly meets a hidden need. This passage offers a tender picture of a God who does not shame our lack, but meets us with dignity and generosity. We explore:
*Why running out does not
The Relief of Feeling Small Under a Big Sky
Today's Scripture: Psalm 8:1-9
Have you ever looked up at the sky and felt both small and strangely held? In this episode, Dr. Alison explores Psalm 8 and the healing power of wonder. We’ll look at how awe quiets the anxious ego, helps the nervous system soften, and reminds us that being small does not mean being insignificant. We explore:
*Why awe helps interrupt anxiety and overcontrol
*The d
What If Church Hurt Makes Gathering Feel Unsafe?
Today's Scripture: Hebrews 10:24–25
**Today's devotional is in response to listener requests.** If you’ve ever heard “do not give up meeting together” and felt guilt rise in your body, this episode is for you. In today’s reflection on Hebrews 10:24–25, Dr. Alison offers a compassionate look at church hurt, spiritual community, and why this passage was never meant to be used as a weapon. We explo
209. Triggered in Marriage, Parenting, or Friendship? How to Respond Without Overreacting OR Shutting Down
What if getting “triggered” isn’t the problem… but a signal?
We all have moments where our body reacts fast—your heart races, your defenses go up, and suddenly you’re not responding from your wisest self.
In this episode, Dr. Alison sits down with Dr. Kelly Flanagan to explore what’s really happening in those moments—and how to respond with more clarity, connection, and intention.
Together, the
Attachment, Loyalty, and the Courage to Stay
Today's Scripture: Ruth 1:16–18
What’s the difference between love that strengthens your soul and loyalty that slowly erases you? In today’s reflection on Ruth 1, Dr. Alison Cook explores Ruth’s freely chosen commitment to Naomi—and why healthy love never uses guilt, pressure, or control to make someone stay. This episode offers a nuanced look at staying, leaving, agency, and the kind of attachme
When a Bible Verse Feels Unsafe
Today's Scripture: Matthew 5:29–30
**Today's devotional is in response to listener requests.** Some Bible passages don’t just make us think—they make our bodies brace. In today’s reflection on Matthew 5:29–30, Dr. Alison Cook offers a compassionate way to read one of Jesus’ hardest teachings without fear, shame, or self-condemnation. This episode explores:
*How fear-based religion can shape the
When Your Nervous System Is Scanning for Safety
Today's Scripture: Psalm 121:1–8
When life feels uncertain, your nervous system may start scanning for safety—looking for reassurance, protection, or some solid place to land. In today’s reflection on Psalm 121, Dr. Alison Cook explores how God meets us in that vulnerable place as the One who watches over our coming and going. We explore:
*Why your nervous system scans for safety
*How hypervigi
How to Stop Needing Approval
Today's Scripture: Galatians 1:10
Have you ever said yes when something inside you wanted to say no?
In today’s episode, we look at Galatians 1:10 and the hidden cost of living for approval. In this episode, you’ll learn:
*How approval-seeking disconnects you from your own voice
*How early family roles shape your need for approval
*Why the helper, peacekeeper, or responsible one within may s
208. Spiritual Dryness, Burnout, and the Desert Seasons of Faith with Tish Harrison Warren
What if the dry, weary place you’re in isn’t something to escape—but a place where God is working?
So many of us know that quiet middle space: you’re not in crisis, but you’re not exactly flourishing either. You’re tired, spiritually dry, disconnected, or simply going through the motions. It’s not dramatic enough to call a breakdown, but something in you knows you’re weary.
In this episode, Dr.
The Ache of Feeling Unseen or Overlooked
Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1–7
Have you ever felt overlooked— not chosen, not noticed, not even considered?
In today’s episode, we look at the story of Samuel anointing David and what it reveals about how easily we evaluate ourselves and others by what is visible. We explore:
*How the halo effect shapes who gets noticed, chosen, or valued
*Why external validation is a shaky foundation fo
When You Feel Judged
Today's Scripture: Luke 7:37–39
Have you ever wanted to bring something real into the light—but felt afraid of being judged?
In today’s episode, we look at the woman in Luke 7 who walks into a room full of people who already think they know her story and brings her whole self to the feet of Jesus. This passage shows us the difference between shame that keeps us hiding and the kind of love that
The Neuroscience of Guilt and Confession
Today's Scripture: Psalm 32:3–7
Have you ever carried something so long that it started to feel normal?
In today’s episode, we look at Psalm 32 and what happens when hidden guilt, shame, or regret stays buried inside the body and soul. I’ll walk you through the difference between true guilt and shame, why suppression can take such a physical toll, and how honest confession can become a doorway
Why You Feel Powerless (and How to Find Your Voice)
Today's Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7There’s a kind of exhaustion that comes from feeling like nothing you do makes a difference. In today’s episode, Dr. Alison Cook explores 2 Timothy 1:7 and the psychology of feeling powerless. Drawing on the concept of learned helplessness and nervous system overwhelm, she unpacks why you may feel stuck, shut down, or unable to act—and how to begin reclaiming your v
207. Why You Can’t Stop Overthinking—and How to Break the Spiral
Have you ever replayed a conversation over and over in your mind?
Maybe it was something your partner said. A text that felt off. A moment at work. A look on someone’s face. Suddenly your mind is looping, analyzing, judging, and trying to solve something that never seems to resolve.
Today’s conversation with science writer Donna Jackson Nakazawa is about rumination—what many of us experience as
Why You Resist the Very Thing That Could Help You
Today's Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1–14Why do we resist the very things that could actually help us heal? In today’s episode, Dr. Alison Cook explores the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 and the deeply human tendency to reject simple, meaningful steps toward healing. With insight from psychology and identity formation, she unpacks why small, ordinary actions can feel threatening—especially when your sense
When Everything Feels Out of Control
Today's Scripture: Mark 4:35–41What happens when fear takes over your body—and you can’t think clearly? In today’s episode, Dr. Alison Cook explores the story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4, alongside the psychology of panic, fear, and the nervous system. She explains why your body goes into fight-or-flight mode, why you feel the urge to fix or control everything, and how to gently return to
Why You Feel Indecisive (and What to Do About It)
Today's Scripture: James 1:5–8Struggling to make a decision or stuck in overthinking? In this episode, Dr. Alison explores the real reason behind indecision and how learning to work with the different parts of you can help you find clarity and move forward.
We explore:*Indecision and overthinking*Inner conflict and parts work*Decision fatigue and self-doubt*Finding clarity without forcing answer
206. Getting Unstuck: When Parts of You Are in Conflict (And How to Find Relief)
What if the reason you feel stuck… isn’t because something is wrong with you, but because different parts of you are pulling in different directions?
We all know that feeling: one part of you wants to follow through, while another part resists. And often, one side takes over… leaving you with regret or confusion afterward.
In this episode, Dr. Alison is joined by IFS therapist and best-selling a
When You Can’t Rush the Season You’re In
Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1–11If you feel stuck in a season that won’t change, this episode offers a grounded, compassionate way to navigate uncertainty without forcing what isn’t ready.
We explore:*Emotional stuckness and waiting*Anxiety about the future*Control vs. surrender*Finding peace in the uncertaintyEmail us at info@dralisoncook.com with topics or passages you'd like us to cover
When Life Feels Unfair (and Why Comparison Keeps You Stuck)
Today's Scripture: Matthew 20:1–16Ever notice how quickly comparison can steal your peace—even when life is going well? In this episode, Dr. Alison explores the psychology of social comparison and how it shapes your sense of worth, helping you move from insecurity to grounded confidence .
We explore:*Social comparison and insecurity*Why comparison feels like a threat*Letting go of keeping score*F
The Truth About Overfunctioning and Burnout
Today's Scripture: Psalm 127:1–2If you feel constantly exhausted, it may not be about doing too much—but about carrying what was never yours to carry. In this episode, Dr. Alison explores Psalm 127 and the concept of “anxious toil,” integrating attachment theory and nervous system insight to help you release over-responsibility and rediscover rest.
We explore:*Overfunctioning and burnout*Hypervi
You Are Not Meant to Do This Alone
Today’s Scripture is: 1 Thessalonians 5:9–11
In a culture that prizes independence, this episode offers a countercultural truth: healing happens in connection. Drawing on both Scripture and research on community and mental health, Dr. Alison explores how small, consistent relationships can restore your sense of belonging.
In this episode:
*Why community is essential for emotional health
*Resea
205. It’s Not Just Physical: The Emotional Trauma of a Medical Diagnosis
When a diagnosis, chronic illness, or unexpected health challenge enters your life, it can divide your story into a before and after. And often, we don’t have language for what’s happening beneath the surface.
In this episode, Dr. Alison and Dr. James C. Jackson explore the concept of medical trauma—and how it impacts not just your body, but your identity, your relationships, and your sense of me
Not All Intensity Is Love—The Problem With Love Bombing
Today’s Scripture is: Proverbs 27:6
**Today's devotional is in response to listener requests.**
When a relationship feels powerful, fast, and deeply affirming, it can be hard to slow down and discern what’s real. This episode unpacks the difference between emotional intensity and genuine love—helping you recognize red flags, trust your intuition, and move toward steady, grounded connection.
In
Let Your No Be No (And Stop Overexplaining!)
Today’s Scripture is: Matthew 5:33-37
Why is it so hard to say what we really mean? This episode explores the emotional and psychological roots of people-pleasing, over-explaining, and softening our truth. With insight from Scripture and psychology, you’ll learn how to move toward clarity, integrity, and more honest connection.
In this episode:
*The hidden cost of people-pleasing and overfuncti
God Draws Near to the Lonely
Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 68:4-10
If you’ve felt the ache of loneliness, this episode offers a deeply grounding reminder: your longing for connection is not a weakness, it’s part of how you were created. Blending Scripture with attachment psychology, Dr. Alison explores how God meets us within loneliness, not just after it’s resolved.
In this episode:
*The difference between loneliness and di
The Neuroscience of Resentment and Forgiveness
Today’s Scripture is: Romans 12:9–18
**Today's devotional is in response to listener requests.**
"Hate what is evil" and "bless those who persecute you" can feel like an impossible tension — until you understand what Paul is actually asking for. This episode unpacks one of scripture's most demanding passages and makes the case that clarity and love are not opposites. We explore:
We'll explore:
204. Procrastination Isn’t Laziness: What’s Really Holding You Back with Jon Acuff
What if procrastination isn’t about laziness… but a disconnect between who you want to be and what you actually do?
So many of us carry goals we care deeply about: habits we want to build, changes we long to make, ways we want to grow. And yet, we find ourselves stuck in the same patterns, circling the same resistance, wondering why it’s so hard to follow through.
In this episode, Dr. Alison Coo
You Can't Pour From an Empty Nervous System
Today’s Scripture is: Proverbs 4:20-23
Many of us have been taught that setting limits is selfish — that real love means giving without reserve. This episode makes the case, from both scripture and science, that boundaries are not walls against love but what protect love's integrity.
We'll explore:
-The research on compassion fatigue and what happens neurologically when we chronically override
Deny Yourself Does Not Mean Erase Yourself
Today’s Scripture is: Mark 8:34–36
**Today's devotional is in response to listener requests.**
This episode tackles one of the most misused phrases in all of scripture — and one that has caused real harm for a lot of people. We look at what Jesus was actually calling us toward, through the lens of psychology and the concept of the true and false self.
We explore:
-The difference between denyi
Attachment Wounds and Divine Holding
Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 27:10-14
This episode explores the psychology of attachment wounds through the lens of Psalm 27—one of scripture's most honest cries about being left behind.
We explore:
-what neuroscience tells us about how early attachment experiences literally shape brain architecture
-why our nervous systems stay on alert long after the original wound,
-how the psalmist's decl
Why You Go Back to Old Patterns
Even after moments of clarity or growth, many of us find ourselves returning to familiar patterns. Back to what we know. Back to what once felt safe.
In John 21, the disciples go back to fishing—returning to something familiar after everything they’ve just experienced. And it’s there, in the middle of that return, that Jesus meets them again.
In this episode, Dr. Alison reflects on why we go bac
203. Staying Close When Connection Feels Hard: The Relationship Skills No One Has Taught You (with Relationship Expert Dr. James Cordova)
What if the health of your relationship is shaping more of your life than you realize?
We spend so much time focusing on our individual growth—our healing, our self-awareness, our inner work. But at some point, that work has to find its way into our closest relationships.
And that’s where things often get complicated.
In this episode, Dr. Alison is joined by Dr. James Cordova to explore what it
Limiting Beliefs and Expectations
Sometimes the hardest limits we face are not external—they’re the expectations we’ve quietly learned to live within.
In Acts 3, we meet a man who has spent years sitting at the temple gate, asking for what he believes is possible. When Peter and John encounter him, they offer something entirely different—something he wasn’t even expecting to receive.
In this episode, Dr. Alison reflects on how l
When You’re Stuck in Your Head
There are moments when we find ourselves looping—replaying conversations, trying to make sense of what happened, analyzing every detail.
We stay in our heads, searching for clarity
This episode explores what it means to get stuck in our thoughts—and how, often, what we most need is not more analysis, but a return to presence, to relationship, and to the love already with us.
Today’s Scripture i
Relearning Joy After Survival
Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 118
There are seasons in life when we are simply trying to get through.
Holding it together.
Managing what’s hard.
Surviving.
And then there comes a moment when something begins to shift.
In this episode, Dr. Alison reflects on what it means to relearn joy after survival—and how joy can return, gently and gradually, as we begin to feel safe again.
Go Deeper:
Epi
EASTER: Love That Finds you Again
He is risen!
After walking through this Holy Week together—from safety, to betrayal, to suffering, to loss—we arrive at the moment that changes everything.
Resurrection.
New Life.
In this short Easter bonus episode, Dr. Alison reflects on John 20 and the deeply personal nature of resurrection—how Love meets us, finds us, and calls us by name.
This is the hope that allows us to face the hard p
GOOD FRIDAY: Loss, Grief, and When Nothing Makes Sense
This week, we’ve been walking through a special Easter devotional journey—following the story of Jesus as it unfolds from safety, to rupture, to suffering.
Today, we arrive at Good Friday.
This is the day everything seems to fall apart.
The day marked by loss, grief, and deep disorientation.
In John 19, we witness the final moments of Jesus’ life—where hope appears to give way to death, and no
Love Offered But Not Yet Understood
What if love doesn’t wait until you’re ready… but meets you right in the middle of the mess?
This week, as part of the Holy Week series on The Best of You Every Day, Dr. Alison offers a deeper dive into one of the most intimate and unsettling moments in the story of Jesus—the night before everything changes.
At the table, surrounded by people who will betray, deny, and abandon him, Jesus doesn’t
Resilience in Suffering
It’s the week leading up to Easter, and each day we’re walking through the story of Jesus—moving from safety, to rupture, to suffering, and ultimately, to love.
Today, we enter into a quiet, but deeply powerful part of that journey: what it means to remain steady in the midst of suffering.
In this passage, we’re given a picture of resilience—as a grounded, daily returning to what sustains us. A
When a Friend Betrays You
It’s the week leading up to Easter, and each day we’re walking through the story of Jesus—moving from safety, to rupture, to suffering, and ultimately, to love.
Today, we step into one of the most vulnerable and human moments in that story: betrayal.
This episode explores what it means to face relational hurt without losing yourself—how to acknowledge the pain of betrayal while staying connected
Whom Shall I Fear? Safety in God
It’s the week leading up to Easter, and so every reading this week is designed to guide us through the story of Jesus—moving from safety, to rupture, to suffering, and ultimately, to Love.
Today, we begin with a grounding question:Where do I find safety?
In this episode, we reflect on Psalm 27 and the invitation to locate our sense of safety not in circumstances, but in the steady presence of Go
The Unseen Work of the Inner Life
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: 2 Corinthians 4:16–18
When life feels like it’s wearing you down on the outside, something deeper is often growing within you.
This episode is for anyone walking through a difficult season—when life feels heavy, uncertain, or slowly wearing you down. In 2 Corinthians 4:16–18, we explore the truth that even when outward circumstances
"This Must Be My Fault" — Why We Take Rejection So Personally (Ep 201)
What if heartbreak isn’t just about what happened to you—but what it reveals about what you believe about yourself?
At its core, heartbreak isn’t just about loss. It’s about the meaning your mind and body begin to make of that loss—especially when it touches something older. Rejection, betrayal, and disappointment have a way of surfacing deeper questions about who we are… and whether we are still
Not Taking the Bait: How to Stop Reacting
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Proverbs 19:11
When someone pushes your buttons and you feel that instant urge to react, Scripture offers a different kind of strength—the strength to pause, steady yourself, and choose your response.
This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt triggered, reactive, or pulled into conflict they didn’t want. In Proverbs 19:11, we explor
What Jesus Says to the Weary
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Matthew 11:28–30
Feeling weary, burdened, or burned out? Jesus offers rest that meets you right in the middle of the overwhelm.
This episode is for anyone feeling exhausted, overloaded, or stretched too thin by the pressure to keep going. Jesus speaks directly to the weary and burdened, reminding us that rest is not something we earn
When Life Feels Heavy & Unfair
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 13
This episode is for anyone feeling overwhelmed, burdened, or emotionally exhausted—especially when the pain feels too heavy and the answers don’t come. Together, we explore what it means to wrestle honestly with God, even in seasons when you feel forgotten, and how faith can make room for both deep questions and quiet trust.
G
How Healthy Conflict Works
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Ephesians 4:25–32
Topics covered:
Why avoiding conflict can quietly damage relationships more than disagreement itself.
The surprising tension between honesty, anger, and compassion in Ephesians 4.
A different way to approach hard conversations, repair, and emotional reactions.
To go deeper:
Episode 86: Embracing Conflict—W
200. Trauma, Safety, and Healing —3 Types of Trauma + 4 Ways to Restore Trust
What if trauma isn’t just about what happened to you—but what your body learned about safety in relationships?
If you’ve ever wondered why it’s hard to feel safe in relationships… this episode will help you understand why—and where healing begins.
You’ll learn:
The 3 ways trauma reshapes your sense of safety
The deeper story behind patterns of anxiety, shutdown, or people-pleasing
The
When You Walk Through the Fire
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Isaiah 43:1–3
Topics covered:
How Isaiah 43 offers comfort during anxiety, grief, and overwhelming seasons.
Why hardship is not a failure of faith—and what God actually promises in suffering.
A powerful way to find spiritual resilience
Email us at info@dralisoncook.com with scriptures or topics you'd like us to feature on th
Why Jesus Calls the Broken Blessed
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Matthew 5:3-10
Topics covered:
A fresh look at the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) and what Jesus meant by “blessed.”
Why grief, humility, and spiritual need are not failures—but sacred openings.
How Jesus’ teaching reshapes the way we understand emotional and spiritual strength.
To go deeper:
Episode 99: Exploring a Broken Spirit a
Know My Anxious Thoughts
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 139:23–24
Topics covered:
How to notice what’s really happening inside you—anxiety, stress, and hidden emotions.
A gentle approach to self-awareness and emotional healing
How to stop avoiding your inner world and let God meet you with insight, peace, and direction instead of shame.
Get a free map of your soul here.
True Guilt vs. Distorted Guilt
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: 2 Corinthians 7:9–10
Topics covered:
The kind of guilt that heals
The kind that traps you
How to tell the difference
Go Deeper:
Episode 140: If You Struggle with Guilt and Second-Guessing Yourself, This Will Set You Free – How to Stop Blaming Yourself for Things That Aren’t Your Fault
Read the first 3 chapters of I Should
199. What the Body Teaches Our Soul with Justin Whitmel Earley
What happens when your body starts telling a story your mind cannot ignore?
In this episode, Dr. Alison sits down with author Justin Whitmel Earley to explore the connection between spiritual formation and the everyday rhythms of our bodies.
From the outside, Justin’s life looked stable and successful. But anxiety and panic began surfacing in ways he could no longer explain away. What followed w
Family Fractures, Family Secrets, & the Roles We Learn to Play
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Genesis 37:2-24
Topics covered:
The family wound nobody names
Different family roles & how they wound
Signs of a healthy family
Go Deeper:
Episode 85: The Goal of a Healthy Family & 6 Roles We Take On In Dysfunction
Episode 161: Healing from Dysfunctional Family Patterns with Jerry Wise
Connect with Dr. Alison on Insta
How to Be A Sheep Among Wolves
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Matthew 10:16
Topics covered:
What “wise as serpents, innocent as doves” looks like in real relationships
How to stay anchored in love while facing what’s real—without naivety or hypervigilance
Go Deeper:
Read Should I Turn The Other Cheek? on my blog
For more on healthy boundary setting check out the first 3 chapters of The
Anger Without Spiraling
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 4:4–8
Topics covered:
How to acknowledge anger without letting it hijack your nervous system
A simple practice for calming anger and choosing groundedness without denial
Go Deeper:
Episode 44: Why Anger is a Surprising Friend, What Happens When You Avoid It, and How to Create Space for Healthy Expression of Anger in You
When Comparison Creeps In
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: 1 Corinthians 3:3–7
Topics covered:
Why comparison isn’t just a “social media issue"
The deeper ache underneath envy & comparison
A grounding reframe to use when you're tempted to compare
Go Deeper:
Episode 183: The Real Reason You Compare Yourself & How to Heal It
Get my free PDF book "She's Better Than Me" here
Follow D
198: Breaking Painful Generational Patterns—One Woman’s Story of Healing Childhood Wounds with Melanie Shankle
What do you do when the person who was supposed to nurture you becomes the source of your deepest wounds?
In this episode, Dr. Alison sits down with writer, speaker, and host of the Big Boo Cast, Melanie Shankle to explore the complicated terrain of mother wounds, emotional enmeshment, and the long road toward healing.
From the outside, it can look like “normal family tension.”
But in the body,
Fear Isn’t Failure
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Isaiah 41:10
Topics covered:
There's no shame in fear
What God promises
Strength that doesn’t come from striving
Go Deeper:
Episode 41: Boundaries with Fear & Anxiety
Episode 156: Why Fear Shows Up When You’re About to Grow & How to Break Free from Self-Sabotage with Mary Marantz
Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralison
Forgiveness Does Not Equal Access
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Luke 17:1-5
Topics covered:
Why Jesus starts with the reality of harm
How to forgive without minimizing
The relationship between forgiveness & boundaries
Go Deeper:
Episode 79: Surviving Trauma & A Path to Forgiveness with Esau McCaullay
Episode 78: The Mental Health Benefits of Forgiveness & Thoughts on Grace with Max Luc
Healing Shame
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 25:1-7
Topics covered:
Why shame makes you want to hide
A prayer to steady you through shame
How to return to connection & trust
Go Deeper:
See The Soul of Shame, by Curt Thompson
Episode 74: The Neurobiology of Hope and How to Find Hope in Hard Times with Dr. Curt Thompson
Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram:
Confident Humility
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Phillipians 2:1-11
Topics covered:
Humility that isn’t self-erasure
How to cultivate true inner strength
A daily reset for uncovering confident humility
Go Deeper:
Episode 18: Selfhood vs. Selfishness
Episode 56: Am I Really Supposed to Die to Myself? Misconstrued Messages and How to Disentangle From Them
Be sure to share
197: Am I Under Attack—or Just Overwhelmed? Spiritual Warfare and Personal Responsibility with Joel Muddamalle
Have you ever wondered if there’s something spiritual happening beneath what you’re carrying?
You’re doing the work.You’re praying.You’re going to therapy.You’re trying to take responsibility.
And still… something feels off.
In this episode, Dr. Alison sits down with Theologian Joel Muddamalle to explore spiritual warfare — not through fear or sensationalism, but through clarity and discernment
The First Blame Shift
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Genesis 3:12–13
Go Deeper:
Episode 178: How to Recognize Toxic Tactics & Stop Taking the Bait
Episode 149: 5 Toxic Behaviors & How to Protect Your Soul
Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
Sign up for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this
Grace Runs Toward You
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Luke 15:11–32
Go Deeper:
Episode 78: Thoughts on Grace with Max Lucado
Episode 136: Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting in Divine Love with Michael John Cusick
Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
Sign up for Dr. Alison’s free weekly email for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the
The Exhale Your Soul Needs
Welcome to The Best of You Every Day.
Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 23
Go Deeper:
Episode 176: Intimacy with God in a Noisy World
Episode 191: The 5 Most Important Things I've Learned About Faith, Attachment, & The Inner Life
Find rest for your soul through a guided audio reflection here or check out my book with Kimberly Miller, Boundaries For Your Soul.
Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram: @drali
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