Rest, Renewal, and Receiving | Faith, Mindset and Intentional Living

89 | From Striving to Thriving: Mindset, Self-Worth & Purposeful Leadership with Dr. Betsy Mejias

Are you a leader, business owner, or woman who is exhausted from striving — pouring out endlessly while quietly wondering if you are even enough? In this deeply honest and spirit-led conversation, host Rachael Arnold sits down with Dr. Betsy Mejias, host of The Abiding CEO Podcast, to explore the connection between self-worth, faith, and purposeful living. Dr. Betsy brings together clinical insight and biblical truth to help you understand why leaders are uniquely vulnerable to emotional exhaustion, avoidant attachment, and habit-driven decisions that no longer reflect values. Together, Rachael and Dr. Betsy unpack what it truly means to lead from wholeness — and how your identity in God is the foundation for everything else. Whether you lead a team, a household, a congregation, or a business, this conversation will meet you right where you are. John 15:5  "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit. For without me, you can do nothing." Listen and Save Dr. Betsy's Podcast to your Library ~ click the Link Below: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-abiding-ceo-kingdom-identity-business-growth-work/id1829799873 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-abiding-ceo-kingdom-identity-business-growth-work/id1829799873] Rachael D. Arnold, M.Ed., Certified Incite Life Coach 970.279.1818 https://ggtlife.com/

88 | Tired, Depleted and Searching for Root Cause? My Holistic Health Journey With CLL and IV Vitamin C

Welcome back to Midlife Transformation! This episode is coming to you very real, very raw, but sometimes the most meaningful conversations happen when we stop trying to make everything perfect and simply share from the heart. Today I want to talk about something that has been part of my own healing journey with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, also known as CLL… and that is high-dose intravenous vitamin C and immune health. Now before we dive in, I want to say this clearly: this episode is not medical advice. I am not telling anyone what they should or should not do. I am simply sharing my personal experience, what I've researched, what I've discussed with my physicians, and what has become part of my own integrative, holistic health journey. If you've followed me for any length of time, you know I believe deeply in the intersection of faith, mindset, lifestyle, and whole-body wellness — and that healing is never just one-dimensional. SECTION 1 — WHY VITAMIN C MATTERS Most people think of vitamin C as something you take when you have a cold, but vitamin C plays a much deeper role in the body than many of us were ever taught. It supports immune function, collagen production, tissue repair, antioxidant activity, and helps protect the body from oxidative stress. It is foundational to holistic health — not a fringe supplement. One of the most important things I learned on my healing journey is that intravenous vitamin C is profoundly different from oral vitamin C. When given intravenously, dramatically higher concentrations can be achieved in the bloodstream — concentrations that simply cannot be reached through supplements alone. The National Cancer Institute has actually researched and documented this distinction, noting how IV administration allows for therapeutic blood concentrations that oral vitamin C cannot replicate. SECTION 2 — MY PERSONAL HEALING JOURNEY This became deeply personal for me after my CLL diagnosis in January of 2019. As many of you know, when I received that diagnosis, I made a decision. I was not going to be a passive participant in my own health. I was going to show up — mind, body, and spirit. That meant lifestyle changes. Reducing sugar. Prioritizing nutrition. Committing to movement. Investing in stress reduction. Protecting my rest. Leaning into prayer and trust in God even when I didn't understand what was happening in my body. It meant exploring functional and integrative medicine alongside my conventional medical care. Part of that integrative approach included high-dose IV vitamin C, glutathione, and other supportive therapies — all under physician supervision. Something I appreciate deeply about functional medicine is its willingness to look at the whole person — inflammation, nutrient status, immune support, stress, lifestyle, emotional health, and root causes. That kind of wholeness-focused approach resonated with everything I already believed about healing. SECTION 3 — THE RESEARCH There has been growing research exploring high-dose intravenous vitamin C in integrative cancer care and immune support. The National Cancer Institute has a dedicated summary on vitamin C, noting that IV vitamin C has been studied for improving quality of life, reducing fatigue, managing inflammation, and providing supportive care in cancer patients. Some studies involving patients with pancreatic cancer explored combining high-dose IV vitamin C with conventional treatments and showed encouraging findings — particularly regarding quality of life and, in some cases, survival outcomes. More research is still needed, but the momentum is real. A significant portion of the modern IV vitamin C research is connected to the Riordan Clinic and collaborators from the University of Kansas Medical Center — researchers who have been pioneering the exploration of high-dose IV vitamin C in cancer support and adjunctive therapies. My own physician follows protocols influenced by this body of work and incorporates intravenous therapies as part of an integrative, whole-person approach to care." SECTION 4 — BALANCE, WISDOM & INFORMED DECISIONS This is not about fear. It is not about rejecting conventional medicine. And it is absolutely not about telling anyone what they should do. For me personally, this has been about mindset — choosing to be an informed, active participant in my own healing. It has been about lifestyle — making intentional decisions every single day about how I nourish, move, rest, and protect my body. And it has been about trust in God — knowing that wisdom, medicine, and faith are not in competition with each other. I want to encourage you to ask questions. Do your research. Work with qualified healthcare professionals who respect your voice and your values. Your healing journey is uniquely yours, and you deserve to walk it with both wisdom and hope. One thing I've learned throughout this journey is that healing is never only physical. Our thoughts matter. Our stress levels matter. Our spirit matters. There is a reason Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." I really believe there is ancient wisdom in that. Mindset matters. Peace matters. Joy matters. Rest matters. Wholeness — whole-person health — has always been God's design for us. If you are listening today and walking through a difficult diagnosis, chronic illness, exhaustion, or uncertainty… I just want you to know... You are allowed to advocate for yourself. You are allowed to learn. You are allowed to ask deeper questions. You are allowed to hold onto hope. Healing is not just physical. It is emotional. Spiritual. Mental. It is mindset. It is lifestyle. It is wholeness. And it is trust in God — even when you do not understand the process. Sometimes healing begins by simply believing your life still has purpose in the middle of uncertainty. Romans 15:13  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Thank you for spending this time with me today. And remember… Do you own your morning, or does your morning own you? Until next time, keep showing up for your healing, your growth, and your transformation." Rachael D. Arnold, M.Ed., Certified Incite Life Coach 970.279.1818 https://ggtlife.com/

87 | Do Those Tiny Needles Really Work? Acupuncture, Bloodwork, Hormones and Intentional Wellness

Acupuncture, integrative healthcare, grounding, and the importance of understanding what our bloodwork can reveal about our health, because sometimes healing isn’t about silencing symptoms… it’s about listening more closely. What if some of the symptoms we normalize… are actually signals from the body asking for support? Hello my dear friend! Welcome back to Midlife Transformation! Grab your coffee and water. Today we’re talking about what a Functional Medicine doctor actually does and why acupuncture — yes, those tiny needles — can play a huge role in restoring balance, reducing stress & helping your body heal. “You can’t heal a system you don’t understand — and Functional Medicine starts by understanding you.” 1. Our Bodies Speak Before They Scream *  Symptoms are communication  *  Fatigue, inflammation, painful cycles, sleep disruption, hot flashes, anxiety, headaches  *  We often normalize dysfunction  *  Importance of slowing down and paying attention  “Our bodies whisper before they scream.” 2. The Importance of Bloodwork *  Vitamin D  *  Iron/Ferritin  *  B12  *  Thyroid panels  *  Hormone markers  *  Inflammation markers  *  Blood sugar/insulin patterns   Blood tests help reveal underlying imbalances instead of simply masking symptoms. “Bloodwork gives us information. Information gives us awareness. Awareness gives us the ability to make informed decisions.” 3. What Acupuncture Actually Does *  Stimulates specific points in the body  *  Supports nervous system regulation  *  Encourages circulation and energy flow  *  May help with stress response, pain management, hormonal balance, inflammation, sleep, digestion  “Acupuncture isn’t magic — but many people experience real relief and support through it.” 4. Acupuncture for Different Seasons of Life *  Menstrual pain  *  Hormonal regulation  *  Menopause symptoms  *  Stress and anxiety  *  Migraines  *  Fertility support  *  Sleep support  *  Chronic pain  I love that acupuncture can support people at many different ages and stages of life. 5. Grounding & Nervous System Regulation Discuss: *  Walking barefoot outside  *  Sunlight  *  Slowing down  *  Parasympathetic nervous system activation  *  Breathwork  “Sometimes the body needs less noise and more connection.” 6. Integrative Healthcare and You = Partnership There is an important balance,. There is a place for traditional medicine and integrative care. Integrative healthcare doesn’t have to be either/or. Sometimes it’s both/and. Wisdom is knowing when support is needed from different directions. * Psalm 139:14 — “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”  * 3 John 1:2 — “I pray that you may enjoy good health…”  * Ecclesiastes 3:1 — Different seasons  * Mark 5 — Healing and faith  * Proverbs 4:20-22 — “They are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”  Outro My Friend, your body is not working against you. So often, it’s communicating with you, whether through fatigue, pain, hormonal shifts, stress, or inflammation… our bodies deserve attention, nourishment and support. There is room for wisdom in traditional medicine. There is room for wisdom in integrative care. There is beauty in learning how to care for the body God entrusted to us. Thank you for spending this time with me today. If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who may need this reminder too. Until next time… own your morning before your morning owns you. Rachael D. Arnold, M.Ed., Certified Incite Life Coach 970.279.1818 https://ggtlife.com/

Autopilot to Alignment | Mid-May Reset Faith, Habits, and Awareness

https://ggtlife.com/ [https://ggtlife.com/] Hey friend… welcome back to Sunday Solace! Oh my stars… it has been a full couple of days over here. Life has been moving fast, emotions have been high, graduations are happening, transitions are happening, and honestly… I think so many of us are sitting in this strange space between exhaustion and transformation, and maybe that’s exactly why today’s conversation matters. We are right in the middle of May, Not the beginning of the year anymore, Not quite summer ~ It's Just… the middle. Sometimes the middle is where we lose ourselves a little. We start running on autopilot. We start reacting instead of aligning. We start surviving instead of intentionally living. I just wanted to pause for a few moments today and ask: Have you looked at our values lately? Not our goals, Not the pressure, Not everybody else’s expectations. Your values are what anchor us when life gets loud! This season right now… graduation season… transition season… it naturally causes reflection. We’re watching kids move into new chapters. We’re watching doors close and new ones open. For many midlife women especially… it quietly stirs something inside of us too. We begin asking: Who am I becoming? What matters now? What do I want the second half of my life to feel like? Maybe more importantly... Am I making decisions based on my values or based on exhaustion, because there is a difference. Exhaustion says: “Just get through the day.” Values say:  “How do I want to show up today?” Exhaustion reacts. Values respond. Exhaustion disconnects us from ourselves. Values realign us with who God created us to be. And listen… sometimes living aligned is not dramatic. Sometimes it looks like:  Getting outside for ten minutes  Drinking the water  Praying before reacting  Turning the phone off earlier  Saying no without guilt  Resting without apologizing  Finally admitting that something needs to change Small aligned choices still matter. So here’s your gentle mid-May reset today. We still have a couple weeks left in this month. That means there is still time to:  Finish strong  Refocus  Reconnect  Realign You do not need a brand new year to begin again. Maybe today is simply about asking yourself: What are three values I want leading my life right now? Peace?  Faith?  Health?  Presence?  Integrity?  Connection?  Growth? And then asking: What is one small action this week that supports those values?Not perfection. Just alignment. Transformation rarely happens all at once. It happens through repeated small choices that honor who we are becoming. Faith Connection I truly believe God meets us in these moments of reflection. Not just in the mountaintop moments when we reach the summit. It happens in the middle. The middle of the mess.  The middle of transition.  The middle of uncertainty.  The middle of rebuilding. And maybe someone listening today simply needs the reminder that you are allowed to pause long enough to ask yourself if the life you’re building actually aligns with the life you want to live. Friends… thank you for spending a few moments with me today. As we move through the rest of May, my encouragement to you is this: Own your morning… so your morning does not own you. Come back to your values. Come back to your faith. Come back to yourself. Small intentional choices still create powerful transformation. Until next time…  this is your Sunday Solace reminder to breathe deeply, walk intentionally, and keep choosing alignment over autopilot. Rachael D. Arnold, M.Ed., Certified Incite Life Coach 970.279.1818 https://ggtlife.com/

Hormones out of Whack? | Health, Hormones and Intentional Wellness

Today is May 13, a midpoint in the month, and maybe a midpoint In midlife…  our hormones begin to shift… our skin begins to change… and our bodies… OH MY STARS ~  start speaking in new ways.  The question is... are we listening? ometimes what we see on the outside is simply a reflection of what’s happening within: stress, depletion, and the need for deeper nourishment. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?”  — 1 Corinthians 6:19 Our skin, in particular, can often reflect what is happening internally—stress, inflammation, depletion, hormonal changes, and the need for deeper nourishment and rest. Instead of only asking what product we should use externally, this episode invites a deeper question:  What are we feeding our bodies internally? Are we supporting ourselves with hydration, nourishment, movement, rest, and quality supplementation? Not all products are created equal—and midlife is a season where quality, consistency, and intentional care truly matter. One thing I have learned on my own healing journey is the importance of supporting the body from the inside out. I personally use high-dose IV vitamin C as part of my wellness routine, along with intentional lifestyle changes focused on reducing inflammation and supporting overall health. I also incorporate acupuncture as a way to support my body through hormonal shifts. I began with weekly sessions, then moved to every other week, and now I go once every three weeks. I am grateful to share that I no longer experience hot flashes, even though my bloodwork confirms I am in the middle of menopause. This is not shared as medical advice, but as encouragement that when we begin listening to our bodies and supporting them intentionally, change is possible. As we move through this midpoint of May, this episode also invites a deeper reflection—not just physically, but personally and spiritually. Have you looked at your values recently?  Have you revisited your value words for this season of your life? Sometimes the words we choose at the beginning of a year no longer align with who we are becoming. I recently revisited my own values and changed one of my words after realizing I had grown into a new season of clarity and alignment. My word for the year remains abundance—not just financial abundance, but abundance in peace, health, purpose, faith, energy, and joy. Midlife is not the beginning of decline.  It is an invitation to pay attention.An invitation to realign.  To reset.  To nourish ourselves differently.  To live with greater intention—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. If you have never done a values exercise before, I encourage you to consider it. I currently offer one-to-one coaching sessions where we identify your core values and then create a plan to implement them into your daily life. For a limited time, in honor of the season of Mother’s Day, I am offering a special:  Buy one coaching session, receive one free. The first session focuses on identifying your values. The second session focuses on integrating them into your life in a practical, meaningful way. Because when we live out of alignment with our values, life feels heavy, but when we live in alignment… everything begins to shift. Your body is not betraying you. Your season is not over. You are not behind. Perhaps your body, your skin, and your emotions are simply inviting you to listen more closely. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?” — 1 Corinthians 6:19 Thank you for joining me today on Midlife Transformation.  Small intentional shifts create lasting transformation. Until next time… choose grace, choose growth, and keep transforming from the inside out. Rachael D. Arnold, M.Ed., Certified Incite Life Coach 970.279.1818 https://ggtlife.com/