Linking Arms

On Humility (Part 2): From Shadow Mission to Freedom

In Part 1 of this conversation, Jenni Balda introduced us to the shadow mission: the hidden, subconscious drive to prove, perform, or protect ourselves that quietly hijacks our God-given calling. If that episode cracked something open in you, this one is where the healing begins. In Part 2, Nadine and Jenni get practical. Awareness is only the first step, so Jenni walks us through exactly what comes next. It starts with curiosity. Not condemnation, not a complete overhaul of everything; rather, a willingness to slow down and ask: where am I feeling pressure right now? From there, Jenni lays out a clear, grace-filled path forward: name the shadow, bring it into the light, and refuse to let it hide behind excuses or old stories. She makes an important distinction here: it is worth going back to find where you first took on the shadow mission, where the wound was, where the lie began. But visiting that island is not the same as making it your permanent address. The conversation moves into one of the most tender parts of the episode: asking God what was actually being offered to us in that moment we chose the shadow instead of truth. Inviting Him to replace the lie with what He says is real. Receiving—truly receiving—the identity that was always already ours in Christ. And when the shadow mission creeps back? Because it will. Jenni reminds us that returning to a familiar struggle doesn't mean we haven't grown. As one wise counselor put it: it might be the same rock, but you are at a higher elevation. You are not the same woman who fought this battle the last time. Jenni closes with her verse for the year, Psalm 131 — a peaceful, beautiful picture of what it looks like to live from the other side of the shadow mission. Humbled. Quieted. Resting. Content in Him. That is the goal. And sister, it is worth every bit of the work. Guest Bio Jenni Balda serves as the Spiritual Growth and Development Coordinator at Purposeful Living, Inc., where she supports the ministry's spiritual depth and leadership development as part of the executive leadership team. Jenni brings a Scripture-rooted, compassionate approach to helping women identify what's driving them beneath the surface — and find their way back to the freedom and rest that is already theirs in Christ. She is also a trained coach at Purposeful Living and available to walk through this topic one-on-one. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES * 2 Corinthians 10:1, 4–5 — Referenced from Part 1; the divine weapons we have to demolish the arguments and strongholds of the shadow mission. * Philippians 2:3 — "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others more significant than yourselves." Christ's humility as our model — free to serve, free to lead, free to surrender. * Psalm 131:2 — "I am humbled and quieted in your presence, Lord. I am your resting child and my soul is content in you." Jenni's verse for the year and the portrait of a life free from the shadow mission.

On Humility: Understanding Your Shadow Mission with Jenni Balda

In this episode of Linking Arms, host Nadine sits down with Jenni Balda, Purposeful Living's Spiritual Growth & Development Coordinator. Jenni introduces the concept of the shadow mission — a term that describes what happens when our God-given calling gets hijacked by a hidden need to prove, perform, or protect something about ourselves. Jenni opens by affirming that God has given each one of us a unique mission — one that can show up in our leadership, our careers, our homes, and our relationships. But tucked right alongside that calling, often running quietly in the background, is a shadow mission fueled not by faith, but by insecurity, fear, and unmet relational needs. And the telltale sign? Weariness. That bone-deep exhaustion that just won't quit, no matter how hard you work or how much you give. The conversation takes a surprising and deeply freeing turn when Jenni reframes humility entirely. Rather than something quiet and shrinking, true humility — the kind rooted in Christ — is bold. It's confident. It's the freedom to fully show up as who God made you to be, without the weight of needing to prove it to anyone. The shadow mission, she explains, keeps us performing for an identity we already have in Him. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 10 and Philippians 2, Jenni walks through how selfish ambition and vain conceit — the very things Paul warns against — are the shadow mission at work. And until we can name what's running beneath the surface, we can't demolish it. Whether you feel crystal clear about your calling or you're still in the beautiful, unfolding process of discovering it, this episode will meet you exactly where you are. Because as Jenni reminds us: we all have a shadow mission. The question isn't if — it's what are you going to do about it? Stay tuned for Part 2, where Jenni walks through practical, step-by-step tools [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iHcrou1XxIJX73O68hmVDK2iBBmgVYKY/view?usp=sharing] to help you recognize your shadow mission, bring it into the light, and begin walking in the true freedom and identity you already have in Christ.Guest Bio Jenni Balda serves as the Spiritual Growth & Development Coordinator at Purposeful Living, Inc., where she is part of the executive leadership team supporting the ministry's spiritual depth and leadership development. Jenni brings a thoughtful, Scripture-rooted approach to helping women understand their identity in Christ and lead from a place of security rather than striving. Scripture References * 2 Corinthians 10:1, 4–5 — "The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds...we demolish arguments and every pretense that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." * Philippians 2:3 — "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others more significant than yourselves."

Getting Unstuck (Part 2): Nurturing Your Mindset

Welcome back, sister. If you caught Part 1 of this conversation with Lauren Alcorn, you already know that getting unstuck starts with nourishing your body and anchoring in your beliefs. Today, Lauren and Nadine pick right back up — and they save the best for last. In this episode, Lauren unpacks the third and most powerful pillar of her framework: nurturing your mindset. Using a blueprint analogy that will stick with you long after you finish listening, Lauren explains why every cell in your body is literally listening to what you think and feel — and why living at a chronic 80% stress state is not just exhausting, it's keeping you from healing. Together, they talk through what it really looks like to build a mindset toolbox: how to identify a symptom without claiming it as your identity, how to surrender the illusion of control, how to filter what you let into your mind the same way you filter what you put into your body, and how to ask the question that changes everything — what is mine to own, and what is mine to release? This is the kind of conversation that is disheartening and empowering all at once. Because the truth is, you are incredibly powerful over your internal world. And that changes everything. Key Takeaways: * Your mindset is your most powerful healing tool. Every cell in your body is responding to what you think and feel — not just in acute moments of fear, but all day long at a chronic, low-grade level. * Most women are living at 80%. That means running at a near-constant state of stress, worry, and hypervigilance — and our bodies are paying the price. Healing requires getting that number down. * Stress is only stress if we think it's stress. We can't control the chaos of the world, but we can change how we interpret and respond to it. It starts with reminding yourself: this is just a shadow. * Build your mindset toolbox. When a symptom surfaces, work through these steps: (1) Vocalize what you're feeling without claiming it as your identity. (2) Check your four basics — sleep, hydration, food, movement. (3) Ask what you can let go of. (4) Reach out and connect with someone who will speak truth over you. * What's mine to own, and what's mine to release? This is the question that sets you free. We cannot control everything — but we can steward our own internal world. * Filter what goes into your mind. Just as you're intentional about what goes into your body, be mindful of what you allow into your mind. News, social media, fear — if it isn't yours to carry, let it go. * Your body heals itself when you let it. Lauren's reminder is so simple and so profound: when we stop irritating the wound and give our body what it needs, it knows exactly what to do. * Working on yourself changes more than just you. When we manage our own mindset and model peace for our children, Lauren believes — and so do we — that it can genuinely change the world. Scripture References: * Jeremiah 17:7-8 (Deeply Rooted — trusting God, not self-sufficiency) * Philippians 4:6-7 (Do not be anxious; bring your needs to God) * Romans 12:2 (Be transformed by the renewing of your mind) * 2 Corinthians 10:5 (Take every thought captive)

Getting Unstuck: From Surviving to Thriving with Lauren Alcorn

Sister, have you ever felt like you're running on empty—stuck in the same cycles, the same patterns, the same overwhelm—and wondering if this is just... your life? In this episode, Nadine sits down with Lauren Alcorn, a psychiatric nurse practitioner with 20 years of experience, who has built a practice around integrative, Biblically-grounded healing for women and families. Lauren shares her own story of normalizing pain in her early years and how that journey led her to a powerful framework for getting unstuck at the root—not just managing symptoms. Together, they unpack what it actually means to be stuck, why so many women mistake exhaustion for rest, and the danger of letting a symptom become your identity. Lauren introduces the first two pillars of her three-part framework for getting unstuck: nourishing your body with your basic biological needs and anchoring in your beliefs, purpose, and connection. This is warm, practical, Spirit-led conversation that will meet you right where you are.

Healing at the Root (Part 2): Practical Steps for Gut Health, Stress & Hormones

In Part 2, Nadine and Michelle roll up their sleeves and get into the real, everyday steps you can start taking today to heal from the inside out. This isn't a lecture — it's more like sitting across the table from a brilliant, faith-filled friend who just happens to know exactly what your body needs. They dig into what whole-food eating actually looks like (spoiler: shop the perimeter), what mindful eating really means (hint: it has nothing to do with Oreos in the pantry), and why stress might be the single biggest thing sabotaging all your healthy habits — even when you don't feel stressed. Michelle introduces the concept of high-functioning anxiety, a quiet driver for many type-A women who never see it coming. The conversation also touches on hormones — and why liver health, healthy fats, and cortisol control are the trio every woman over 40 needs to understand. Nadine gets refreshingly real about her own patterns, and Michelle meets her with grace, wisdom, and zero judgment. Practical takeaways you can carry into your week: deep breathing practices, breath prayers rooted in scripture, a 2-3 times daily alarm reset, mindful task-switching, presence over productivity, and a go-to afternoon snack that actually keeps you full. Michelle closes with an invitation to go deeper through her upcoming course — a resource worth watching for. This one is a keeper. Listen, take notes, and then share it with the woman in your life who needs it most. Guest Bio Michelle Landrum is a Certified Natural Health Professional who has been helping families — especially moms — get to the root of their health issues for over 10 years. As a mom of five, she knows firsthand the challenges of keeping a family healthy in today's world. What makes her approach unique is integrating physical, emotional, and spiritual healing from a Christian perspective — because true wellness happens when we address the whole person, not just symptoms. She's passionate about helping families live naturally healthy lives so they can thrive. * Instagram & Facebook: @loves7grace [https://www.instagram.com/loves7grace] * Website: loves7grace.com [https://loves7grace.com] * Program: Heal Your Gut, Thrive in Grace — Michelle's signature class walking families through her holistic approach to gut health * Coming Soon: Michelle's new in-depth course covering all the pillars discussed in this episode Scripture References * Philippians 4:13 — "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." * Philippians 4:11 — "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."