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The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
1KHO 694: The Anxiety Reset | Levi Lusko, Don't Worry, Warrior!
00:59:59
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- [00:00]
Levi Lusko
Oh.
- [00:02]
Podcast Intro/Outro Voice
It'S a beautiful world Ain't nothing on screen that's ever gonna be this view oh, it's a beautiful world and I just want to share with I just want to share with you this beautiful world Such a beautiful.
- [00:34]
Podcast Host (Jenny Ertz)
Hey friends, thanks for pressing play.
- [00:36]
Sponsor/Ad Voice (Jenny Ertz)
I'm so glad you're here.
- [00:37]
Podcast Host (Jenny Ertz)
My guest today is Levi Lusko, and this conversation is for parents raising kids in a world that's producing anxiety earlier and more intensely than ever. We talk about why one in three kids now struggles with anxiety and why that number is growing. You'll learn why simple practices like breathing, walking, art, and being outside actually work, and how faith speaks to emotional regulation in a very embodied way. Levi also shares why courage is built through action, not comfort, and what that means for kids growing up right now. If you've ever wondered how, do not worry becomes something you can actually practice, especially with kids. This episode gives language and tools that make sense before we jump in, some quick support that truly helps. Hit Follow on the show so new episodes land in your feed automatically on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Go to the show page and tap follow.
- [01:23]
Jenny Ertz
That's it.
- [01:23]
Podcast Host (Jenny Ertz)
And if you never left a review, I'd be so grateful. If you did, your review helps other people decide to press play if you and one more thing. Our 1000 hours outside app is on sale and it ends in just two days on January 31st. If you want a simple tool that helps you close your phone and actually go live your life, tracking time outside, building momentum, celebrating milestones, earning badges, keeping a journal, the app is it. If that's not for you, our free tracker sheets are always here and available at 1000hours outside.comTrackers. all right, let's get into it. Here's my conversation with Levi Lesko.
- [01:55]
Sponsor/Ad Voice (Jenny Ertz)
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- [03:14]
Jenny Ertz
Okay. Welcome to the 1000 Hours Outside podcast. My name is Jenny Ertz. I'm the founder of 1000 Hours Outside, and Levi Lusko has written a book for teens and tweens called Don't Worry Warrior. It's already out now about battling anxiety. We were supposed to talk about this a bit ago, but what I heard is that you got.
- [03:32]
Levi Lusko
Okay. Can I talk to you about it? Yeah.
- [03:34]
Jenny Ertz
I heard that you were on an adventure.
- [03:36]
Levi Lusko
Well, I thought if there's any. There's. Okay, there's. Let me say this. There's no justification for blowing someone off. Ginny. No.
- [03:43]
Jenny Ertz
Do you know, I was like, oh, I totally get it. I was like, that's. Then you're from. You're on an adventure.
- [03:47]
Levi Lusko
But if you have to. To be lost in the woods.
- [03:52]
Jenny Ertz
Yep.
- [03:53]
Levi Lusko
Is on brand for a thousand hours.
- [03:55]
Jenny Ertz
It was. And that's exactly what I thought.
- [03:57]
Levi Lusko
So at least. At least I was outside. Imagine if I was like, in a movie or a mall. I'm like, sorry, Jenny. I was in a moot. But to say, like, hey, Hey. I lost track of time hiking with my friend from England who I was trying to show Montana. And we went on this walk and we got so lost in nature, living deliberately, like Thoreau said. So when I found out, I got back to my phone. I was like, I had the call. Like, hey, it's in an hour. Hey, it's in 30. Hey, are you coming? Hey, where are you? We're going to reschedule with. And I was like, oh, I feel so terrible. And I was like, but I can't wait for the open of the podcast to be like, hey, at least I was taking your advice. When I blew you off.
- [04:32]
Jenny Ertz
I loved it. I actually thought it was really cool. I was like, that's so Great. Like out on some hike, you lose track of time. That's the pinnacle of life, really.
- [04:40]
Levi Lusko
I think we're doing it right.
- [04:41]
Jenny Ertz
I think so. I really love that. So you just got off of Passion. My niece was there, just absolutely had such a wonderful time.
- [04:50]
Levi Lusko
What was her favorite moment? Did she tell you her favorite part of it?
- [04:52]
Jenny Ertz
Oh, she posted a ton about Sadie.
- [04:55]
Levi Lusko
Sadie was great.
- [04:56]
Jenny Ertz
I've been sick for the last, like, five or six days, but she. I just saw all her posts and she just. She posted about you. She posted about Louie. I mean, she posted about all the worship.
- [05:05]
Levi Lusko
Oh, Louie's talk. Okay, first of all, Sadie. Did you know we locked Sadie in for movement conference?
- [05:10]
Jenny Ertz
Oh, that's incredible.
- [05:11]
Levi Lusko
She's coming. Sadie Roberson Huff's coming to movement. We're so excited.
- [05:14]
Jenny Ertz
Tell everybody who's listening what movement is. This is, like, for youth, and it's in the summer.
- [05:18]
Levi Lusko
Okay. Yes. Sorry. Thank you. It's our youth conference annually for Fresh Life Church. We have churches from around the country come, though. We opened it up. We used to do our church, but then we opened it up and sort of threw rocket fuel on it. And it's this big youth outdoor. It's unique because it's the only youth conference I know of where every bit of it's outdoors. So the teachings outside. The worship's outside. The baptisms, of course, are outside. And it's all in nature with the mountains and the setting sun, and sometimes we get rained on. And we encourage groups to camp, but you don't have to. But most of the groups do end up camping outside right next to the place where we gather. It's just exciting. We got Strings and Heart coming. We got Josiah Queen coming. We have Brooke Lichardwood coming, of course, Sadie, like I said, then Jenny and myself. And then Fresh Life Worship, our team. And then we have still more. We haven't announced yet. So it's a great lineup. And this is our fifth year putting it on, and we're just so excited about it.
- [06:13]
Jenny Ertz
Wow. Yeah. She had posted. You know, she's always looked up to Sadie, and Sadie has so many great devotionals. We've used those in our home for our kids, so. And also the. The cool thing that I noticed that she posted a ton about was just group that she came with. And I think that those are such. I remember that as a kid going to. I mean, youth conferences have been around for a long time. Or just going like. I would go to, like, Michael W. Smith concert. Toby, you know, it wasn't Toby Mack Back then it was DC Talk, I guess. You know, you go to all these concerts as like a youth group and you really form these deep bonds. And in fact, we just, we don't, like we're such a small operation here, Levi, but we just hired part time, like a youth group friend of mine, she's helping with my podcast scheduling. So it's like a friend of mine that I had since I was a teenager and we went to all these things together and I loved seeing that, like people come to movement, they go to Passion, they leave obviously with a stronger faith, but they also leave with a stronger community.
- [07:08]
Levi Lusko
Oh yeah, the drive to and fro, the laughter, the memories, the small group. I, I think those big moments in God's presence are so important for revelation. And then what happens is you get all excited and if you don't have an infrastructure of the relationships, that can't lead to transformation because your life can't change in an hour, but the hour can make you want to change your life. You just need the blocking and tackling of the day to day people and choices to actually take what you were opened up to in the big moment and then carry it out in the small moment. Now they're both important. Some people will be like, try and pit them against each other. Is it discipleship or is it the presence of God, the atmosphere, the big spectacle, all that? I think it's both. And I think you had the day of Pentecost, but then you have the day to day house to house. The church was built. So I think, I love that your niece got to come to Passion. I mean, it was 47,000 college students from every 50 states and 70 countries coming together in MLB Stadium to make much of the name of Jesus. What's wrong with that? And I, I've been a part of Passion intimately, a part of the team behind Passion for the last 11 years, and there's nothing like it. And what we're trying to do is basically our joke is if Passion was put on by Kevin Costner, that's what we're trying to do at Movement Conference.
- [08:34]
Jenny Ertz
I love it. I love these opportunities because the young people need it. I mean, this is a really different day and age to grow up in. I actually talked to a woman earlier today who like, she talks about sharing, basically, or like kid influencers. And we were just talking about how much the world has changed, even the last, you know, five, 10 years. And then with AI that this is unprecedented. It is unprecedented. What we face as parents and what young people face, adding into the adult world. And so there's just a lot to consider. And God's word still rings true. It's still applicable, it still gives us our guidance. And so you're pointing people to that, especially in these days where they might feel a little more hopeless heading into adult world. Because what will my job future be like? Or will I be able to afford a home? And there's also a lot of anxiety. And so this is your first book. If I'm not. Yeah, wrong. For. For the teen. Pre. Teen. Teen.
- [09:29]
Levi Lusko
This is my first book for a preteen. And you know, to your point, Jenny. Jenny. The touching grass is all the more important. The more AI makes us feel like we can't trust what we see, the more important it is to get out there and touch a tree. And I know I'm preaching to the choir talking about it, but look at the COVID It's Luca on the mountain. That's Luca, by the way. It's also my first fiction book I wrote about these two characters, Luca and Coral, and they're both preteens. Figuring it out. Instead of me preaching to these readers, young readers, I wanted to show their problems they're facing in the lives of someone else. Because sometimes it's easier to see what you should do when you look at it in someone else's life.
- [10:11]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah.
- [10:12]
Levi Lusko
And so Luca and Carol, Luca and Coral are facing their problems, navigating difficulties, the normal stuff and pressures of life. Bullying, getting glasses, moving across the country, fear about loved ones. And we play these principles out in their lives. And then I come in and go, hey, well, here's what we learned because of that. But you know, we wanted there to be Luca on the COVID climbing a mountain. Because all throughout it we talk about how you can ground yourself when you're anxious. Doing art, taking a walk, getting outside, hearing the crunch of leaves or snow under your feet. You know, I mean, all the data backs it up. That creativity, generosity, empathy and lower rates of anxiety boost when you are just a few times a week outside. But it actually accelerates if every year or so you do multiple days back to back outside. So a case to be made for camping. A case to be made made. Four adventures that are multi day stacking. The effect in the human body seems to be cumulative. Almost like there's a nature fix when you're putting the phone and the video game console down and getting out where God intended us to live a lot of our lives.
- [11:25]
Jenny Ertz
Okay, so you did a whole series of this at your church. Yes, called, I think it was just called touch grass. Right?
- [11:31]
Levi Lusko
It's called touch grass. We went through first, John.
- [11:34]
Jenny Ertz
Okay, talk to us about the spiritual side of it because we talk about that some. I think it's a big deal because, you know, the Bible talks about not worrying, but you know, it's like, well, how do you not worry? And the solution bird.
- [11:47]
Levi Lusko
You look at the lilies, right? Is that, is that where you were going?
- [11:50]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, that, that for a Christian parent and any parent. But you know that the faith side of getting outdoors matters. And you can't look, I always say you can't look at the lilies of the field if you're playing Minecraft. So you don't hear this that much.
- [12:06]
Sponsor/Ad Voice (Jenny Ertz)
In the church though.
- [12:08]
Levi Lusko
Well, that's stupid. The church needs to tell that. You do hear. I think you don't you. I think we're getting, we're becoming more and more aware of it.
- [12:15]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, I agree.
- [12:16]
Levi Lusko
But yeah, I feel there's a real importance though holistically in looking at the human as not just soul, but soul, body, mind. Right. We're all, all of us. So I mean, look at, look at, look at. First John, he says that which we have seen, we have handled, we touched concerning the word of life. Those are all very physical, sensual things. It happened. I saw him, I heard him, I touched him. You know, there was this gnostic heresy sweeping the church and you have John basically going, hey, Jesus wasn't a phantom, he was body. We touched him. He touched the ground when he walked, he touched grass. And so I think there's a lot of levels we can play that out. But of course it shows there is an importance to our bodies. We are going to live embodied. Embodied. And God cares about our bodies, he cares about what we do in them. And a big part of I think soul and spirit health is physically. And Jesus didn't have to say go to the gym or go hike a mountain because his whole life was that when it says Jesus went down from Jerusalem, he physically went down. He walked everywhere he went. So he was getting day to day cardio outdoors time that we have to now prioritize.
- [13:29]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, arm swinging, which is that cross body movement which helps your brain. I mean there's so many things there. It is really miraculous. Right? Like everything is a miracle. The way that God made it and made it to help us to feel better and made it to help kids with their development and made it to help us that you just know, you know that there's a creator, helps you with your faith, your day to day.
- [13:52]
Levi Lusko
Faith Look, I've watched some things on TV that I regretted seeing, that I wish I could unsee. I have never watched a sunset and felt that, yeah, it's always, aw, I'm small. God's big. It magnifies him. It minimizes my problems, my place in it. When David was dressed, Psalm 8, he walked outside and said, I look at the stars, the sun, the moon, you know, you made them.
- [14:13]
Jenny Ertz
So, yeah, Job is the same. You know, in all of his distress, a lot of looking at the animals or considering the animals. There's a pastor out our way, Brian Tome, who has a church called Crossroads, and they do a ton of outdoor stuff, like a ton of camping things. And I, I just think it's a, a thrill and a. And a wonderful thing to see pastors across the country and the world addressing screen time and getting out into creation. So you talk about in this book and sort of in a preface to this book, which is called Don't Worry a Warrior, that one in three adolescents in this country struggles with anxiety. That's a lot.
- [14:52]
Levi Lusko
And it's growing.
- [14:53]
Jenny Ertz
Is that something that you've noticed as being a pastor for a couple decades? Like, have you seen the changes?
- [14:58]
Levi Lusko
Yes, and not just that, but also in my own family, you know, I have seen that growing. I've seen that. You know, I think it, the compression of age has been a factor. Kids are growing up quicker, exposed to more, sooner. Even the sexualization of children, you know, girls going into puberty, their bodies are being impacted and they're losing that innocence sooner. It's a tragedy. And so I think compounding with that comes the anxieties. You look at adult things, you're going to start feeling adult problems. And I think we're seeing kids having their eyes opened to good and evil in a way sooner than they were intended to. And coming with that is the, you know, the Bible says you sow to the wind and you reap the whirlwind. And so I think kids aren't getting outside, probably aren't eating the healthy food, often hydration, you know, all those things. And then you have the, you know, we weren't meant to rank our lives based on what someone else's vacation looked like and just the discontentment and the bullying that can break out and the comparing and how do I stack up? That keeps you from being the carefree child Christ calls us to be. And so I think that's, that's a big part of what we're seeing with this generation. And, and I'm so encouraged by there's also bright signs too. I mean, all the data is pointing to Gen Z leading the charge for, you know, revival and church attendance and Bible reading. And so, you know, it is easy to, to pile on, but I want to. No one asked to be born with TikTok. No one asked to be born with an iPhone in their hand or an AirPod in their ear. We get to be born in the time we're born in. And so to, to say, hey, that's why I say in the intro, you know, I've been here too. I, I was anxious, I felt that and I've seen that in my own home. And I want to help give you techniques that have been really helpful to me in emotional regulation, in changing and disrupting patterns, and in finding your way through anxiousness and panic and worry and fear. And, you know, it's not a battle. You can ever say it's going to be gone, but you can be victorious.
- [17:09]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, I love that you're talking about it because, you know, I grew up in church and, and loved it. We had such an amazing pastor. He like told phenomenal stories and I grew so much. But, you know, I probably never heard the phrase emotional regulation in my years growing up in church. But the world has changed and I think it's really a fantastic and much needed thing when pastors are addressing cultural change through a biblical lens and hitting the point of where kids actually are, you know, one in three and it's growing, feel anxious. It's like, well, what does the Bible say about it and what are the solutions?
- [17:42]
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- [21:25]
Jenny Ertz
Quince.com outside I think sometimes because anxiety feels so heavy. Like, you know, I've read your story and we talked on this podcast about your story. I just interviewed Justin Whitmill early, who is an he's a lawyer, he's a father, he's Christian father. You know, he like hit this period of time where he was having panic attacks, just kind of like almost came out of the blue. And when you have this heavy anxiety and sometimes it's tipping over into panic attacks or sometimes it's, there's depression there too. And sometimes there's a hopelessness of the future. Like if it feels so huge, it is huge and maybe even feels insurmountable. And yet so many of the answers counterintuitively are kind of small. Touching grass, I think it's easy to discount touching grass. You know, breathing differently, doing art. And you would think there's no way that that small thing of touching grass can ever touch these huge feelings that I'm having. And yet God made it that way. They do. So can you give hope to the listener and sometimes people listening with their kids who is feeling overwhelmed with anxiety that there could be and they can learn about them in your book. Don't worry Warrior about these strategies to battle anxiety are not, they're not huge. You know, they're not, they're not unattainable.
- [22:51]
Levi Lusko
No. No. And you know, a lot of times we feel like the tools aren't going to work because they're so deceptively simple. But the easy things to do are also the easy things not to do. We all know intuitively if I drink nothing but Diet Coke or sweet tea, the lack of hydration is going to get me. But then you see a glass of water, you're like, well, what's, what's. What difference could that make? Well, it's going to make all the difference in the world, you know, to get up and choose to journal and read your Bible and take a walk versus grab your phone, check the news, check your social media, check your email. It's a tiny tweak that can lead to a profound difference in the quality of peace you're experiencing. In my worst experience with panic attacks and anxiety and emotional, you know, swings. And that's why I do talk about art specifically. You know, you get into a bad mood and it feels so disempowering, like there's nothing I can do about this mood. And you almost sort of give into it, like it's a foregone conclusion that you just have to just stay there, just having a bad day. We say, right, as though this whole day is just written off and we have to wait for tomorrow. But what I found almost by accident was an hour of painting with watercolors. I would walk away from that with music and art, and I would feel completely different. I walked into it and I was, you know, stewing and depressed and why. Why don't they notice? And I can't believe the troubles I've seen. And then I would do the art for an hour and I would walk away and I'd be like, I'm calm, I'm myself. I feel centered because I was drawing a sunflower. You know what I mean? And how silly it's like to realize you have. It's like if you were in. Have you ever been in a house where, like, the fire alarm or the smoke alarm's going off and everyone's like, ah, what do we do? We open doors. You know, whatever. It's like if you had the code to put in bump, bump, bump, bump, bump, and it would just. It would stop versus plugging your ears or, you know, everyone going berserk, right? Your body, when it is having an anxious response, it's. It's a good thing God gave it to you, that response, because it keeps you alive when a car is coming or when someone's about to jump you or. Or a grizzly bear is going to attack you. You need fight or flight. You need your nervous system to be responding. You need the adrenalized response and the fear. That's a good thing. It's just it's out of whack. If there's not a real fire, a fire alarm's a problem. Your body's panic response is there to save you, but when it's inappropriately acting up, then we don't know what to do sometimes because everywhere, with all the energy coursing and all the fear and our face flushed and our, you know, all of that, and you go, do I do? Well, the. The reality is, if you sit down and I give. Luca and Coral find this out in the book bought, the simplicity of box breathing. If you just draw a box and you have 4, 4, 4, 4. And if the kid's younger, you can do twos, or if they're. If you're older, you can get up to six or sevens. And you just breathe for four, hold for four, breathe out for four, hold for four, and trace the box with your finger. And it's unbelievable how your autonomic nervous system basically can reset. And if you do that for five or six minutes, and you're always going to think, this won't work, this won't work, this won't. So stupid. I need something else. I need deliverance. I need a prayer. I need a, you know, a drug. I need a doc, you know, and I'm not saying there's not a time for therapy, prayer, all that, but drugs. But God has given us how much is. Is there about breath in the Bible? How do we see man start breathing? Pneuma. God breathed in Adam. He became alive. You have the mighty rushing wind of the Holy Spirit. Jesus breathed on the disciples. And how much in there in the Bible about breathing? And so does the simplicity of sitting, being still, knowing he's God, feeling your breath, feeling yourself back in your body. You know, with Clover, my daughter, we would always do this thing. What do you. What are you. Three things you can touch on. I feel my clothing touching me. I feel my feet on the carpet. I feel your hand on my hand. Okay, tell me two things. You smell, right? Tell me something you can taste. So you're bringing yourself back in your body. You're not fighting it, you're accepting what you're feeling. It's a good thing that's happening. But the stimulation or the expectation or whatever has caused there to be now this adrenalized response. Let's calm it down, let's find ourselves and let's not make a decision while dysregulated, while the fire alarm's going off, right? Let's take the time to, to calm it down. Ask the question what brought this on? What do I want to do? Not just what do I feel like doing? And it's life changing stuff.
- [27:26]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, yeah. But so small in comparison to how big it feels. Sissy Goff and David Thomas talk about box breathing. And I was like trying to find in my notes, my old notes, like, could I find the actual numbers? But it was something like if you did six rounds of box breathing, which is maybe like a minute and a half or something, it was like so small your heart rate drops. I was like shocked actually at how quickly it can change things. And so in this book, which is called Don't Worry warrior, there are 10 strategies in here. And you could do this as a family. You could. The illustrations are fantastic. You could just give it to your child if they, if they're a reader and they want to read it on their own. But there are 10 strategies to battle anxiety. And this one that we're talking about is that you can take charge of your mood. And I think that is counterintuitive and especially for a younger child who is so encompassed by these large feelings to know that they could take charge of their mood with box breathing or with art. So you give your own story. You talk about evil Levi, when evil Levi is in charge and you say the date, you think the day is spoiled. I'm going to have to try again tomorrow. This day is no good. How many times do we think that? But it's not what the Bible says. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. It's a choice. So when you talk about art, classic you talked about earlier, but there is this tactical training. I love this. And you start to make these decisions about, when do I feel happy, when I'm in a bad mood, I can do these things. These usually, these things usually make me feel better when I'm anxious or worried, blank can calm me down. So these are strategies that we're starting to teach to our kids. And you talk about how these are things you've used in your own family and things that you use with yourself. So I love the practicality of the book and that you, you know, One of the 10 strategies is that you have the capacity to take charge of your mood. You write, part of growing up is discovering the activities, habits and places that make us feel better. All the more reason to touch grass. All the more reason to, as a family, make sure that your life is not consumed by screen time, because this is a time of discovery. What are the activities and Habits and practices that make you feel better. You have to put some time to it.
- [29:38]
Levi Lusko
It's been so funny. Hear reviews and hear people tell me, I bought this book for my kid, but I didn't realize how much I needed it myself. And I do think that's really helpful. And whenever I've had to take a child and say, hey, let's look, there's a lot of emotion. There's a lot of big feelings. Let's stop right now and let's just breathe. But I got this bad grade, and I have to redo it, and the window's over, and I'm not gonna, you know, I'm not gonna go to college. You start, like, you know, spiraling, and the whole dominoes start falling, and that's real. Excuse me. We all do that, but let's just. Let's just take a second and breathe. I. I don't need to breathe. I need to think about this class. I need to redo the test. I need to ask my teacher if I can read you the quiz. No, no, no, no. We. We're not going to be any good in this mood. Well, let's get out of it, because I got into the wrong Uber one time, Ginny. I was at the airport and in Houston, and I got out of the airport, and there's a car up front, and I. It was the same car my Uber apps had to get into. So I jumped in the backseat, and I surprised this girl. And I was like. The photo was a guy. It's like Alejandro, and it's like some girl. And I was like, you're not my Uber. She goes, I'm not an Uber at all. She was picking up a friend. But I didn't stay in the wrong car. I got in the wrong car. Realized I got out of the wrong car. A lot of times we feel like we have no choice. Our mood is what it is. We even say that. Well, it is what it is. There's always tomorrow. There's always next week. Almost like we're doomed to remain here. Now. It's a lot easier to get into the wrong mood than it is to get out. But if you realize you're in the wrong one. What I'm trying to give these children is the power to know you have, in these simple practices, the armor. And that's where we kind of begin, like, having the armor to deal with what it's going to take to be the best version of yourself that you want to be and to attack the challenges that are going to come. Because it's not a silver bullet. Right. There's not. It's not like anxiety's gone. It's that we're going to have to know what we need to do when we feel this way.
- [31:34]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, I mean, we. The culture has changed. There is a book coming out in March by Dr. Arthur Brooks. I'm really excited about it. The premise is about how we need to live more in the right side of our brain, and we're so in the left side of our brain that it's just this imbalance, and so people feel awful. And the solution is to honor that God gave us both hemispheres and we need to touch grass. So you wrote it might be riding your bike or spending time with your granddad. Maybe those things make you feel peaceful and calm. Maybe you like reading books, playing with your dog, or listening to music. I don't think anyone's going to say playing Fortnite makes me feel calm. Like, you might enjoy it, but it doesn't make you feel calm. You wrote, the things you love and enjoy are as unique to you as your fingerprints. Because God made you unlike anything he has ever made. My story with Box Breathing. I should have done it on that. On that Moab thing that we did with Hummer. Yeah, it's, like, stressed out. But my story with Box Breathing is that we were. I don't know if you guys have ever been to Michigan, but Michigan is gorgeous. Like, a gorgeous place to adventure. And we have an upper peninsula. So in the Upper Peninsula, it's like Lake Superior is to the north. It's real cold, but in the summer, it's real fun to go adventure there. And there's this place called Black Rocks where you can jump off of these really high rocks into the water. And it's just, like, a total thrill. And we took a group there. We did a 1000 hours outside trip. We took a group there, and everyone was jumping off the kids. You know, it's like the water's just like that Caribbean kind of color. It's such an adventure. But I didn't do it because I was, like, freaked out. But I was all, like, encouraging everybody. I was like, go. Yeah, you're doing great. Then they were like, your turn. I was like. Like, I don't know. I'm like, this is really high. I don't think I want to do it. Well, we had led the group, so then there was a lot of pressure, Levi, like, people were, like, cheering my name. I was like, this is awesome.
- [33:21]
Levi Lusko
You got to practice what you preach. You gotta you gotta leave the charge.
- [33:24]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, exactly. But my legs would not go. And when I say they would not go, they would not go. I mean, like, I'm like, my legs aren't gonna do it. They're not propelling forward. They're not jumping. I can't get it to happen. And I box breathed and then just took off. And it. It like got me out of that frozen state. And it's just a lot of power there in those things.
- [33:44]
Levi Lusko
It's like when your computer locks up, it's like knowing the right keystrokes to reset it. Yeah, it's like having that. It's how I feel like, oh, I have it. And for me, one of the things these days, and it's been that way the last couple years, is when I go for a jog, I never come back from that jog, like, feeling the way I left. Because there's something about the rhythm. And it could be a walk, like I said in the book. It could be a bike ride. It could be, you know, something as simple as going to a park. Because not everyone lives, you know, in. In the beauty of Michigan or Montana. But I mean, even if, you know, you live. You could live in. I was in New York City a while back, and man, to go run in a park, they have this big parks there. And to go run laps in the park, it changes you, I think, to be around God's creation, to be away from the stresses of life and then to do something that gets your heart rate up a little bit. There is something to that. You're going to live longer, of course. You're taking better care of yourself. To feel out of breath is good, to get yourself panted, get your heart rate up a little bit. And then I also would throw in there sweating. You can find a way to sweat for us. We get in the sauna, just something to feel like you're sweating. It's like a detoxing. It's. It's really wonder when we get in there with our kids, you know, Lennox was in there with us last night and there's. And you're not on your phones, you know, so stuff. Stuff like that gathering around a fire pit.
- [35:06]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, your phone won't work. It'll overheat.
- [35:08]
Levi Lusko
It will turn off. Yep.
- [35:10]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah. It's all practical and it all works and it's all needed because our world has really changed. And you talk about the life of Jesus. Well, he was probably hardly inside, you know, inside to sleep, maybe. I mean, people were not inside that much. And really, even up till about 100 years ago, I think that people were not inside as much as they are today. So there is these 10 strategies to help with anxiety, to help battle anxiety in this day and age. And they're helpful for parents, but they're also helpful for your teens and tweens.
- [35:38]
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- [36:47]
Jenny Ertz
I wanted to talk about the one about bravery. Because of cultural changes, there is the capacity, the opportunity, maybe I should say, to never be brave. Okay. I want to say one other thing. I do notice though, when you go to these big. This is like going back to the other one. When you go to these big conferences like Passion or Movement, I like you're out running with all the other people. Oh, yeah, I see that. You really do set a good example.
- [37:12]
Levi Lusko
Well, you're too kind. I just. We started a passion run club with some of the artists and speakers. And so every time we, we show up, I always text and be like, hey, let's run, let's go do something and let's sit in the sauna together. And what's neat is that it's brought kind of a new camaraderie, you know, because when you're gathered around an activity like that. Even throwing a Frisbee, I always travel. Just as for any parents listening, I always travel with a deck of Uno cards in my bag, a little Yahtzee set, and either a little football or a little Frisbee. Because even a flight delay and you're sitting around the airport can now be fun, because you're not just sitting all on your devices. It's like, let's go find an empty space nearport and throw this football back and forth. Hey, come on, let's do a round of Uno. And what does that cost? A deck of uno cards is $4 at Walgreens. A bouncy ball, which even is literally like one you get out of the gumball machine, a bouncy ball.
- [38:02]
Jenny Ertz
Those are the most fun.
- [38:03]
Levi Lusko
If you all sit in a circle and you bounce it to each other back and forth, or a tiny little Frisbee, or a Walmart football, that's like $4 little foam football. Now all of a sudden, like, you're throwing the football around. And so it's just like these little things you can do to turn what could have been this bummer into a time of joy. So those are some of my strategies that I've learned because it's a lot funner to sit and play Yahtzee with the dice. What does it take? Dice in this little pad of paper and four pencils versus we're all just gonna go binge Netflix for the next two hours while we wait for the slight.
- [38:37]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, I feel horrible. You feel horrible at the end of it.
- [38:40]
Levi Lusko
Zombie.
- [38:41]
Jenny Ertz
So you got the Passion Run club. Didn't you do a running thing to promote this book, too? The launch of this book.
- [38:45]
Levi Lusko
Oh, Blessed are the Spiraling.
- [38:46]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah.
- [38:47]
Levi Lusko
So when Blessed are the Spiraling came out, we did a seven city run club because I wanted to run with readers. That was the fun thing. I. I've signed a lot of books around the country at events and world, but I've never done anything with readers that was like, come with me. Let's do something that actually helps. So because for me, a big part of my working my way through my midlife crisis and difficult seasons and low moments has been physical fitness, friends and faith. I wanted to bring those three things together when the book came out, because, as you know, Ginny, when you release a book, it's, like, kind of anticlimactic. You work all this time and it's out. It's like, okay, well, it's out. I guess we'll go do something else or mow the lawn or whatever. But I was like, man, I want to do something. And my publisher said, hey, what if we did a signing tour where you go to these independent bookshops and sign copies? I said, that's fine, but man, someone on our team had the idea and I loved it. It was, what if we invited readers to come to the signings, they can get a signed copy, then throw it in their car or whatever, or leave it in a bag behind the desk of the bookshelf, which some, some places we did that. And we would always have someone, you know, kind of stay back and guard it all. Then let's just go run together. So we did three mile fun runs at every city and it was a real slow pace and some people would walk and they would walk out and then we'd run back and they would walk back. But we started in Dallas, ended in New York City, and we had a lot of people come out and run with us. And I would always give a little talk versus like, hey, faith, fitness and friendship brought me through hard moments. And guess what, look around, there's friends here. You're not the only one struggling. We're all struggling. Let's go move our bodies and sweat and run or walk and then let's look to God. So we would have a prayer and then we'd go on this run. And the fun thing was, I remember specifically in Houston, these two people met and they told us at the end, like, we're both in the same jobs, we're both left handed, we both play tennis, but don't have partners to play tennis with. We just met and now we're like, I'm like, you are now like best friends now from the run club. And we had little stories like that that would happen and it was, it was really cool.
- [40:46]
Jenny Ertz
Wow. I don't think I've ever heard of that. But you, you, you took what was already there and created a way for people to build their own community and also for that experience of getting a book signed, which is already memorable. I mean, it's a memorable thing to meet an author that you admire, but to actually have an experience with them just takes that to a whole different level.
- [41:05]
Levi Lusko
And I've never run with readers. I would start when the, when we was to go, we'd run out and I would always, there would be eventually a pretty, a pack would like, there'll be the walkers, the runners, the faster runners, and I'd always start at the front. And then I would slow my pace down so I could run backwards and I would try and run next to as many of the people as I could who had came. And so it was sweet for me. Hey, where are you from? How'd you find out about our books? You know, how did you start tracking with our ministry? And I just loved. Hey. And they would tell me, I loved this book. And you don't always get the chance to tell someone, you know, a part of a book he loved or whatever. And so that was. It was a high highlight for me.
- [41:41]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, I can see that. That's really unique and really special. Do you feel like. So from my perspective in the churches sometimes, like, well, the pastor is the one that stands up and preaches, and I. All churches do it different, but, like, to me, a pastor's a shepherd. And that is really what I've noticed about you from the very beginning. Like, I met you on an adventure, you're on an adventure with your kid. You had this intention that when you go and travel for work or, you know, go and travel to speak, that you're going to take a kid, make sure that they get some special time. I was like, that's something to follow after. You know, you go speak at Passion, which is like, there's 47,000 college age, you know, youth there. That's a lot of pressure. It's also a big responsibility. And you're spending part of your time making sure that you're physically active, you're outdoors, you're running, you know, you're going to do something different. For this book launch, do you feel a lot of pressure? Like, pastors used to be, like, very geographically bound, right? Like, so before the Internet, you know, my pastor growing up, his name's Pastor Roland, he was geographically bound to Wayne, Michigan, and I'm sure that he knew other pastors in the area and there was connection, but, like, that was it. Today it feels almost like there's some that are, like, almost like America's pastors beyond your own fresh life church. So, like, people are really watching that kind of stuff. They're watching you out running with Sadie Robertson's husband or, you know, getting in the cold water thing and, you know, and prioritizing that stuff. Do you feel pressured by that at all? No, it's a gift.
- [43:13]
Levi Lusko
It's a gift and an honor. And I'll tell you what you're describing. The Bible would describe that as an apostolic gift where you have oftentimes a pastoral calling to a locale, which I'm the honor of my life is that for 19 years this week, week we've been pastoring a Local church. So to see kids baptized as children and see their, them grow up and then see them have kids and have their kids get dedicated, you know, like we have people on our staff who, I remember when they were four years old in our, in our kids ministry. You know what I mean? Like, so that's the day to day. That's the joy. So people see my life and it seems all, you know, big and that's great. Whatever God does is amazing. I believe everyone listening. If you just trust God, you'll, you'll never believe where he'll take you. But I ran a snowblower today, right, Because I need, the walk needs to be clear. And so there's the. I, I gathered with our team for a, a prayer and worship half hour first Thursday of the, of the new year. So like there's the, there's the day to day I'm going to, you know, be aware of and a part of the difficult staff choices, you know, we're, we got to figure out our insurance for the new year because insurance rates rise, right? So, so there's the day to day and that keeps, keeps me grounded, you know. And I, I love that people always ask like, well, as you go do whatever, how do you stay grounded? Because I'm, I'm a part of a local church. I'm a part of, you know, there's, there's a small community of people this is day in and day out. But some people do also have what's an apostolic calling. You know, you see like Paul the Apostle. So yes, he's going to be, he does plant local churches. But you also see there's, there's a gift on his life and a calling on his life that, that, that lots of different churches need and want access to and a part of. And I would say like someone like a Louie Giglio. He's the pastor of local church. He's going to show up for funerals. He's going to be there, you know, at. He's going to, he's going to see people married and buried. He's. He's there building a local church. But you know what? The world also needs and wants part of the calling on his life and a part of his calling that he's going to have to manage that comes with good and hard is the world needs to hear. Louie, the prophetic, apostolic, I would say voice on his life supersedes just one local church. And we've had, you know, and God chooses who gives what to. You don't get to pick that you don't seek that out. I think if you do, you're going to make a mistake because you're not going to have the strength to navigate the difficulties and complexities that comes with it, the criticism that comes with it. But like a Max Lucado, for example, who pastors a local church in San Antonio as he has for a long time, but also, you know what? The world needs Max. And so Max is going to show up and speak at Madison Square Garden. Now he's not going to walk out of there like, yeah, I'm like Kanye west now. You know what I mean? Because he's not going to, that's. He's going to go back to his day to day job and grind of preaching week in a week out at his local church. But there's an undeniable apostolic calling on his life. So I think that's kind of what you're describing, right?
- [45:59]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, yeah. It's like, it's like you're America's pastor and there's a handful. It's not like just one, but people are watching what you do and not everything. I, obviously it's, you know, but I think that when they're watching what you do and when you show like for your average person that lives in the average street of America and they go running in the morning, that's great. You know, people see them out running, but when you have, you know, the eyes of a bunch of youth on you who are coming to passion and they see you out running, I think it's, it's just really powerful to be living. I, I guess I just read this book the other day that was talking about how like when you're in a leadership position, it was actually kind of convicting. To me it was like all the more reason that you have to really strive for a balanced life because people are watching you. And I think that it can become really easy, especially as a pastor because obviously there's a thousand things going on and a lot of people, a lot of souls that are in, involved with what you're doing to really become imbalanced. And as a, as a father, you know, you hear a lot about pastor's kids. So, you know, I just, I admire that. I just want to say, and I appreciate that I same with this Brian Tome who's here in Cincinnati. I'm like, I like to see that they're doing these campouts and that they're.
- [47:12]
Levi Lusko
I think his is like man, camp doesn't need to take. Yeah, man makes him go drag like a lumber pylon. Up a hill or something like that.
- [47:20]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah. I mean, he had bear grills there. So I was like, that is. That's a really impactful thing for people. And I think that they've expanded and now maybe they. I don't know if they do families, but they for sure do marriage. So people are looking at that and.
- [47:34]
Levi Lusko
Well, for a long time, all the pastors that were expected to do is golf. You know what I mean? And then.
- [47:39]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah.
- [47:40]
Levi Lusko
Eat prime rib. But when they came over to your house, you know, for a meal or whatever, it's like. So I do like. I never have liked golf. No. No shade on people who golf. I'm a little bit more with my Mark Twain who said golf is a good walk spoiled. Right. So if I want to, if I want to go walk the distance, it would take the golf. I'm going to go just. I'm going to go run up a mountain or something. But. But I do like the freedom to have hobbies and leisure. And I find too, the more your work involves your mind, the more it's good to have hobbies that involve your hands. Right.
- [48:09]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah.
- [48:10]
Levi Lusko
So I'm working with words, concepts, ideas, strategy, vision. So like yesterday to. To get up early before the sun came up and go snowboard up the mountain and then come down, you put skins under your snowboard to go up and then you come down like that. That to me, it set me up for success in the day, you know?
- [48:29]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah. And it sets other people up for success who see it because it gives them permission to set aside the rat race and to prioritize some of that. Right, right. Brain life and, and the off screen life and prioritizing time with family. So I guess that's kind of a side point. But I, but I see it and it's impactful for me as a person and I know it's impactful for so many others. Okay, we only talked about one. There's 10 strategies in this book. 10 strategies and don't worry Warrior to battle anxiety using practical tools from God's word. So we talked about that. You can take charge of your mood. I wanted to talk about brave bravery. So the sentence is greatness always starts with the first try, which is such a big sentence like, you're not going to be great unless you try. You talk about what you're doing today matters. And there is a situation here where Luca is around kids who are looking at inappropriate things on their phone. So this is very practical for today's day and age. Like you talked about bullying. You Know, getting glasses. These are things that have always been around. Right. You got to move because your dad lost his job. But then you also have things like, well, what do you do?
- [49:34]
Levi Lusko
What's getting a divorce? Like Auntie Tia in the book.
- [49:37]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, yeah, yeah. What do you do? And in this day and age, when people do have phones, young, and they might be looking at something inappropriate, do you stand up? Do you walk away? Like, what do you do? These are very practical situations. So you talk about choosing to be brave, and I think this is an important one because I, like I was saying earlier, you don't really have to be. You know, you could choose not to be. There's an opportunity to always choose the safe route. So can you talk about how? Because it's counterintuitive, Levi. Like, if you're like, I'm anxious, well, then I want to do everything that's safe. I don't want to do anything that makes me feel nervous. But you're. You're saying that this is a strategy to combat anxiety.
- [50:17]
Levi Lusko
That's great. Yeah. When you think about moving through anxiousness, you're trying to de. Escalate. When we choose to do something that's. That would. We'll call. Call for bravery, it's the opposite. We're escalating because we're choosing to invite difficulty and the emotional state. But you're going to feel better when you've done what's right, even though it's scary. And I do delineate in the book the difference between being brave and feeling brave. You're seldom going to feel brave, but those are instances when you're going to have to choose to do the opposite of what you feel. And the feelings follow oftentimes as a result. So in the introduction to the whole book, I lay the foundation with this famous quote that says, and it's a Clint Eastwood quote, you know, bravery isn't about, you know, not feeling fear. It's feeling what you feel, but then getting on the horse and mounting up anyway, saddling up anyway. And so my hope and prayer for the young warriors and for all of us would be that we would, even when we don't feel like it, be able to choose to act on the course of action. That's right. And know that we don't have to feel brave to be brave. So think about Esther. She didn't feel like risking her life walking into the king's palace to save her whole nation, but she chose to do it because it was the right thing to do, because it was God's calling on her life and choosing to do what was right, regardless of her feelings and knowing consequences could come because Luca knew he could get made fun of for not being cooled by the boys when he chose to not look at what was on the screen. Screen. And that was really a deliberate thing for us to put into this book because I wanted to provoke. Because if you read that with your parent, how easy and natural is it for afterwards to be like, hey, has anyone ever showed you anything on a screen that you feel uncomfortable about? As opposed to you just having to bring that up out of the blue? And then your kid's like, wait, why? Why are you talking about? It's like, well, Luca did that with that. And it's like, oh, yeah, that does happen. And then it also, in my instance, in having this kind of a conversation come up with kids, gave me the chance to lead first and go, hey. When I was in sixth grade, my next door neighbor took me into his garage and showed me a box full of magazines his dad had stacked up. And I didn't know what they were. And every time we opened one up, the people were naked in the magazine. And I didn't know what to do with that. And I felt wrong. But I also was weirdly excited about it. And it was like, oh, that happened. Yeah. And, you know, it might happen to you, but not with a magazine. It might happen. Happen with. With a Nintendo Switch or with a, you know, a laptop or an iPad. And I think it gives the chance for moms and dads or grandparents, you know, to have some of these hard conversations that are important with their children. And when that happens, it might feel, like, scary to say no or walk away or to come tell me. But I want to let you know what, when you do that, I'm going to. I'm going to listen. I'm going to hear you. I'm not. There's not going to be. You're going to get in trouble that they showed this to you. In fact, it's the opposite. I'm going to celebrate that you're coming forward. And you feel the relief when Luca comes forward and tells his. His dad and grandpa, like, there's such a sense of, like, oh, thanks for telling me. And he felt scary, but then he did it. And like, in Esther's case, all the blessing came when she was willing to do the scary, brave thing. And so I think that's true for all of us.
- [53:34]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah. And there can be more anxiety if you don't do it and you just kind of drag Your feet, like when you know what you're supposed to do, but you've just, just, you know, you're like too scared so you don't say yes. And that causes additional anxiety. You wrote, bravery is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. What you're doing now matters. These are such great messages for, for tweens and teens and me.
- [53:54]
Levi Lusko
You're preaching to me as you tell me that again.
- [53:56]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, yeah, for all of us. Your choices today will build on your choices from yesterday. And every day will present new opportunities for you to practice making better choices, standing up for what's right, and being, being at your best self. So that's another one of the 10 strategies to battle anxiety. Choosing to be brave. It's told in story format. Let's hit one more. The trusting God in Hard Times. You know, I really like that you said every family has problems. This was a part of this chapter, just like an important thing to say. And as a pastor you would know that because you've talked with lots of families.
- [54:30]
Levi Lusko
Yeah, yeah. And you know, we want, we wrote into the story and we, we were careful about it and we took, we didn't want to, you know, but we know kids are dealing with hard stuff like divorce. And so we have that, the element of the aunt that comes to live with them because she's going through a divorce and you know, she's emotionally devastated. You know, it's hard to understand. And so. But we wanted to be able to create space for other kids who feel so alone in their brokenness to go, I'm not the only one. Other people are dealing with us too. And, and to have that be right there, kind of like a safe place. And you know, I think kids books sometimes are kind of known for just being kind of saccharine and kind of hallmarky. But when we did War Like a Lion, we wanted it to be a gift you could give a kid who faced death, maybe someone in their family or a friend. And it's going to come up, right? And so that's the same thing with this book. We want there to be that space and safety. I remember how it felt when my parents got divorced and I remember how it felt for years when their marriage was breaking up. But I didn't feel like I talked to anybody about it. And so, I mean, if I could have put this into my, my hands or my siblings hands when we were going through that, that really difficult season, I think it would just encourage me to know this. This makes you feel really big. And those are big feelings to be facing. And you can. Here's how you can kind of move and process through them.
- [55:49]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah, I read this book recently by Hera Estraff Morano, and it's called the Nation of Wimps. I wanna read it. I'm gonna read this to you. I didn't read it during the episode. Cause I was like, it's kind of shocking and it's not like a judgmental thing. But I'm like, I. I think that these are things that I guess as a pastor and obviously sometimes people are in really rough situations. So it's like, I don't think God expects you to stay in those. But this. The book the lady wrote is called A Nation of Wimps. She's the editor for Psychology Today, and she's talking about basically the mental health decline of young people. And at that point, it was called. She wrote this book in 2008. So at that point it was, like, really focused on college, but it's trickled down. And she said that because, you know, like, we're all in this safety culture. Like, don't let your kid climb the tree. Like, you know, we're all kind of worried and we overprotect. And she said if parents were serious about attacking risks as opposing to projecting their own fears and uncertainties, they mo. They might focus on the important events that go on every day in America's household that are a far more immediate harm to children than the possibility of kidnapping. Based on the report of abduction in Colorado, if we are serious about protecting the kids from risk, we would attend to larger and more present dangers. Adults might fight harder to repair unsatisfying marriages.
- [57:08]
Levi Lusko
Yeah. Wow, that's great.
- [57:11]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah. I, I, for me, I'm always like, those are important things for me to read. Because, you know, obviously there's times when it's, you know, it's gone beyond what's. What. What's a biblically appropriate. But other times it's like, well, if it's just unsatisfying, then, you know, you've made a commitment to your family and to your kids. So those things are always good for me to read. I don't know.
- [57:30]
Levi Lusko
No, it's true. And I think it's one of the things that our kids hate is whenever they say we're bored, we always say, good, I'm bored. Good, be bored. That'll create, you know, because what they want to say is. What they want us to say is, well, then just watch the show. Well, the boredom is not bad. Boredom is actually A superpower. Out of boredom can come creativity and necessity of event, the mother of invention. And all the things so good when you're bored, lean into that. Find something to do that's not just anesthesia, you know what I mean? Because we want something that will just dull our senses and erode our ability to. To imagine and create. And so just like boredom, which feels bad but is good, so we need to seek out hard. Hard's not bad, right? This. This helicopter culture of. Of. Of rescuing our kids from every distress. It's like they need to be able to navigate hardship. We're creating soft people who can't face hard things. And hard. Just because something's hard doesn't mean it's bad. We need to lean into that, foster that, look for ways, like you said, to not to not wimpify ourselves or our children because they do need to. And to your point, facing down the difficulties in your marriage, which your kids, let me promise you are aware of and see, is a hard but good thing that you can do to help yourself not be a wimp and to embrace the difficulty and discomfort that's going to lead to the growth that you want to model.
- [58:53]
Jenny Ertz
Yeah. And so it's helpful to read something like, every family has problems, so stick it out. You know, if it's a situation that's stickoutable, stick it out for the sake of your kids. And I don't know if that's advice that you would give.
- [59:05]
Levi Lusko
Yeah, well, I'm not. I would say I would never tell someone in abuse or in danger you're, you know, get help if that's the case. But yeah, if it's just like a disagreement thing and, you know, just work through it, figure this out. Model you're going to run across the street, like I always say, like with. With divorce, painting with the room here. Because I don't hear every situation, you know, into infidelity or abuse or abandonment or something. That's a different story. But if I have a bad day with Jenny and go, oh, you know what? I'm gonna get a new marriage, you know what I mean? That'd be like running, taking all my money out of a bank because I don't like the interest I'm getting and opening up a new account and just starting over again, you know what I mean? You're gonna have the same problem show up after the goosebumps and the butterflies leave, which is like six months to three years for the honeymoon to kind of fade, and then it's going to be the reality of the difficulty. Are you going to make this? Most marriages, if they're bad today, can get better with work. That is almost empirically true. And so, you know, yes, for your kids, but also for yourself and, and for your financial future. Do you know, you realize how expensive divorce is, watching people go through it?
- [60:07]
Jenny Ertz
I mean, there is a lot of expense. And you know, to your point, it's like if there's infidelity, abuse, addiction, you know, the abandonment, there are these certain situations. But I read a book called A Boy Crisis and it really opened my eyes about the effect of divorce.
- [60:20]
Levi Lusko
John Gray. John Gray wrote.
- [60:24]
Jenny Ertz
You'Re so smart and probably I.
- [60:26]
Levi Lusko
Everyone called the Boy Crisis by John Gray was great. It was a great read.
- [60:30]
Jenny Ertz
This is by Warren Farrell, but. Oh, and John Gray. We were both right. Okay, there we go. Because John Gray's written a bunch of other things and so is Warren Farrell. It was, it was, it really put that into perspective. And then I read this book by Hera and she was talking about divorce and it just, I think, like I said to the point of your using, every family has problems. It just kind of normalizes it. It's like no one's family is perfect. And then you say this, we can wrap it up here. Problems are easier to manage when God is on your side. God will help you to battle anxiety. Like this is about trusting God in the hard times and that problems are easier to manage when God is on your side. So if you are battling anxiety, there are 10 strateg here for you. First book ever written for teens and tweens. Written in fiction format. It's fantastic. Don't worry. Warrior Levi Lasco, thanks for being here.
- [61:20]
Levi Lusko
Oh, you're too kind. Jenny. I'm so grateful to get a talk.
- [61:22]
Podcast Host (Jenny Ertz)
With you as we come to the end of today's episode. Thank you for spending this time with me. If you want a zero cost way to support the show, here are three quick things. First, share this episode. If Levi's words gave you language, comfort, courage, or a deep exhale, send it to someone who needs that today. Tap share and text it now to a friend. Second, make sure you're following the podcast so you don't miss what's coming on Apple podcasts or Spotify. Go to the show page and hit follow. It takes just two seconds and it helps a lot. February is locked in and the episodes are excellent. Third, if you never left a review, would you do it today? You can keep it short. I read them. They encourage me more than you know and they help the right people find the show. And one last reminder, the 1000 hours outside app sale ends in two days. It's available on iOS and Android.
- [62:04]
Jenny Ertz
Android.
- [62:05]
Podcast Host (Jenny Ertz)
If you've been thinking about it, now's the window. And if it's not for you, truly no pressure. Grab the free trackers instead and keep your life balanced between the virtual and the real. You'll find everything you need in the show. Notes I'm really glad you're here. Until next time. May you find extraordinary moments on ordinary paths.
- [62:22]
Podcast Intro/Outro Voice
Get outside, open your eyes Feel that sunshine kissing your skin Throw your worries out to the wind Climb some trees Skin your knees Feel that grass on your feet again get out there and.
- [62:40]
Levi Lusko
Take it in oh.
- [62:46]
Podcast Intro/Outro Voice
It'S a beautiful world Ain't nothing on the screen that's ever going to beat this view.
- [62:56]
Levi Lusko
Oh.
- [62:58]
Podcast Intro/Outro Voice
It'S a beautiful world and I just wanna share with I just wanna share with you this beautiful world Such a beautiful world.
- [63:13]
Sponsor/Ad Voice
This episode is brought to you by Greenlight. Get this Adults with financial literacy skills have 82% more wealth than those who don't. From swimming lessons to piano classes, us parents invest in so many things to enrich our kids lives. But are we investing in their future financial success? With Greenlight you can teach your kids financial literacy skills like earning, saving and investing. And this investment costs less than that. After school treat start prioritizing their financial education and future today with a risk free trial@greenlight.com Spotify greenlight.com Spotify.