The Joy Prescription Podcast

Welcome to the very first episode of the Joy Prescription Podcast! Explore the Spiritual Significance of Caring for the Body and Meet Your Hosts Cynthia Libert, M.D., Integrative Physician & Brooke Jack, Pastor.Have you ever wondered why tending to your physical health matters? What if beginning a journey of healthy lifestyle transformation isn’t as complicated as you think?Join me, Cynthia Libert, M.D., and Brooke Jack as we share spiritual insights around the concept of caring for your body, and equip you with action steps to begin transforming your life to achieve the vibrant and whole health you desire!We cover several key topics, including:The spiritual significance of caring for your bodyThe current disease epidemicGifts we can unwrap to transcend barriers to health and wholeness2 vital questions to ask yourself to drive lifestyle changeAn introduction to Dr. Libert’s Joy Prescription Toolbox  ResourcesLooking for a weekly dose of encouragement delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive free weekly devotionals from Dr. Libert!  Take your learning further with us and learn step-by-step how to write your very own Joy Prescription through membership at thejoyprescription.com Connect with Dr. Libert thejoyprescription.cominstagram.com/drcynthialibertfacebook.com/createyourownjoyprescriptionhttps://www.youtube.com/c/CynthiaLibert

Have you ever found yourself on the edge of burnout? Do you ever feel desperate just to catch your breath? You’re not alone (and you’re in good company). My story of near burnout working as a rural family physician is how my healthy lifestyle blueprint, what I call my Joy Prescription, was born and became the framework for my own personal healing.In this episode, my co-host and I unpack the “J’ in my Joy Prescription Toolbox. We explore the connection between breath, mind, and body from a scientific standpoint, including the direct link between emotions and breath. We also examine Psalm 46 for wisdom on how to manage the unrest we often battle within our souls and find hope!We highlight these key concepts:The heart posture that leads to peaceHow emotions and breath are interrelated The extraordinary health benefits of an adequate oxygen supply One of the most accessible and transformative wellness practices that you can begin implementing right now (even while you’re listening to this podcast!) Resources mentioned in this episode:Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor Looking for a weekly dose of encouragement delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive free weekly devotionals from Dr. Libert! Take your learning further with us and learn step-by-step how to write your very own Joy Prescription through membership at thejoyprescription.com Connect with Dr. Libert thejoyprescription.cominstagram.com/drcynthialibertfacebook.com/createyourownjoyprescriptionhttps://www.youtube.com/c/CynthiaLibert

On this episode of The Joy Prescription Podcast, my co-host and I continue to explore the first step to creating vibrant health in my Joy Prescription Toolbox - just be still and breathe. Specifically, we discuss the spiritual concept of surrender, and the positive impact of faith on physical, mental and emotional health. You may be surprised to learn just how instrumental religion and spirituality are to experiencing whole-body health.Our discussion centers around these main ideas:Surrender as an act of faithWhat scientific literature has to say about the relationship between religion and healthMental health benefits of religious involvementLooking for a weekly dose of encouragement delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive free weekly devotionals from Dr. Libert! Take your learning further with us and learn step-by-step how to write your very own Joy Prescription through membership at thejoyprescription.com Connect with Dr. Libert thejoyprescription.cominstagram.com/drcynthialibertfacebook.com/createyourownjoyprescriptionhttps://www.youtube.com/c/CynthiaLibert

Abiding in Christ & Building Stress ResilienceOn this episode of The Joy Prescription Podcast, my co-host, Brooke Jack, and I continue to explore the first step to creating vibrant health in my Joy Prescription Toolbox - just be still and breathe. Specifically, we examine the power of abiding in Christ and building stress resilience. You may be surprised to learn just how many ways we can positively influence our health through biblical wisdom and lifestyle medicine. Our discussion centers around these main ideas:Abiding in ChristHow chronic stress impacts our Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axisThe importance of physical, mental, emotional & spiritual rest in our healthPractical action items for building stress resilienceLooking for a weekly dose of encouragement delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive free weekly devotionals from Dr. Libert! Take your learning further with us and learn step-by-step how to write your very own Joy Prescription through membership at thejoyprescription.com.Connect with Dr. Libert thejoyprescription.cominstagram.com/drcynthialibertfacebook.com/createyourownjoyprescriptionhttps://www.youtube.com/c/CynthiaLibert

Hello, Dear One, Dr. Cynthia Libert here with your weekly Joy Prescription.  Today, I’ll be reading 1 Peter 2:9 as paraphrased in the Message. “But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.” Looking for a weekly dose of encouragement delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive free weekly devotionals from Dr. Libert!Take your learning further with us and learn step-by-step how to write your very own Joy Prescription through membership at thejoyprescription.com.Connect with Dr. Libert thejoyprescription.cominstagram.com/drcynthialibertfacebook.com/createyourownjoyprescriptionhttps://www.youtube.com/c/CynthiaLibert

Hello, Dear One, Dr. Cynthia Libert here with your weekly Joy Prescription.  Today, I’ll be reading Jeremiah 29:11: "'For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."  How are you? Is your mind wrestling with fearful, defeating thoughts? It’s easy to look around at the world and our circumstances and be discouraged. This has always been the case in human history. In fact, when the prophet Jeremiah received these words of encouragement to Israel, they were in captivity. On the outside, their future looked bleak and hopeless, and the promises of God on pause. They may have questioned God’s goodness when they looked around at their undesirable circumstances. God had an answer. He quieted their fears by reminding them that He only had GOOD plans, GOOD thoughts, and GOOD intentions toward them.  Friend, the same is true for YOU today!  God is full of GOOD thoughts about you and your future. Take His thoughts to heart and be of good courage!May the Peace of Christ be with you. May you be buoyed up with hope in His supernatural power, trusting that He can and will transform your circumstances into good, for your good and for His glory.  I invite you to tune in next week for another Joy Prescription devotional and also on the second Tuesday of each month when my co-host, Brooke Jack and I, take a deeper dive to explore topics at the intersection of Brain Health, Lifestyle Medicine & Christian Spirituality. We’d love to hear from you! You can ask us questions about anything health and/or spirituality related, and we’ll do our best to answer you on the podcast.  Send your questions via email to thejoyprescription@gmail.com or by calling our question line at 828-412-0599.  In the meantime, we invite you to take your learning further with us at thejoyprescription.com. Go out and do that one new thing that brings you joy today!  Bye for now. Connect with Dr. Libert thejoyprescription.cominstagram.com/drcynthialibertfacebook.com/createyourownjoyprescriptionhttps://www.youtube.com/c/CynthiaLibert

The Joy Prescription Podcast - Psalm 73:28 - A Good ThingJoin Dr. Libert on The Joy Prescription Podcast - A weekly podcast about transforming your health with lifestyle medicine and biblical wisdom. This week she shares some wisdom from Psalm 73:28. We’d love to hear from you! You can ask us questions about anything health and/or spirituality related, and we’ll do our best to answer you on the podcast. Send your questions to us via email to thejoyprescription@gmail.com or by calling our question line at 828-412-0599.  In the meantime, we invite you to take your learning further with us at thejoyprescription.com. The Joy Prescription is an on-line membership community with a three-fold purpose: holistic health education, soul care and spiritual formation. The ultimate goal is to deepen our walk with God and awaken to our true identity and purpose in Christ.   A Good ThingHello, Dear One, Dr. Cynthia Libert here with your weekly Joy Prescription. Psalm 73:28 from the NLT says “But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.” The beginning words of this verse remind me of the prophet Joshua's famous declaration, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". In this passage of scripture, Joshua was asking the Israelites to make a conscious choice of whom they would serve - God or the idols of their forefathers. In his wisdom and devotion to God, Joshua set the example by stating that he and his family would stay true (or near) to God no matter what.Not everyone may agree with your decision to serve God and live a life of faith. But like the psalmist, and like Joshua, the choice is yours to make! If you have personally yielded to the love and leadership of Jesus Christ, then you, my friend, have found a very good thing! May the Peace of Christ be with you. I invite you to tune in next week for another Joy Prescription devotional and also on the second Tuesday of each month when my co-host, Brooke Jack and I, take a deeper dive to explore topics at the intersection of Brain Health, Lifestyle Medicine & Christian Spirituality. Now go out and do one thing that brings you joy today! Connect with Dr. Libert thejoyprescription.cominstagram.com/drcynthialibertfacebook.com/createyourownjoyprescriptionhttps://www.youtube.com/c/CynthiaLibert

Dr. Libert answers your questions about perimenopause.If you are a woman in your 30-50s, you may be dealing with at least a few of the following symptoms of the perimenopausal transition: Feeling "blah"Lack of motivation to do routine tasks like grocery shopping and houseworkDesire to stay home, rather than going out to socializeEmotional instability, anxiety, depressionBone lossHeart palpitation or high blood pressureWeight gain despite exerciseInsomniaNight sweats, hot flashesIncreased wrinkles of the face "crow’s feet" or furrowed browUnpredictable periodsBrain fog, forgetfulness, self-doubt, trouble making decisionsDecreased interest in sexIncreased interest in wine and chocolate!If you raised your hand to one or more of the above symptoms, know that you are not alone and there is help! Dr. Libert answers the following questions about perimenopause in this episode: 00:06:13 Elizabeth: “I’m getting to that age. I would love to know how to navigate changes in my body without prescriptions and without prolonging the process. I would also like to know what to look for to know when it is happening.”00:17:00 Linda: “Options for dryness and pain/pelvic floor pressure?”00:27:22 Shawna: “I’m getting more hair on my face. Is there something natural I could take that could help?”00:37:12 Shannon: “Definitely me! Experiencing weight gain, increased emotions, hot flashes and brain fog. What natural supplements are helpful?”00:51:15 Keri: “I have hot flashes and horrible night sweats cannot get a full night's rest. I do not take any prescriptions or over the counter medicines but am interested in a holistic approach that might help.”00:57:53 Ashley: “Not quite there yet but both my mom and her mom began at a fairly early age. I’d love to hear the podcast!”01:00:56 Janice: “Loss of sexual drive is sad. What about that?”We’d love to hear from you! You can ask us questions about anything health and/or spirituality related, and we’ll do our best to answer you on the podcast. Send your questions to us via email to thejoyprescription@gmail.com or by calling our question line at 828-412-0599.  In the meantime, we invite you to take your learning further with us at thejoyprescription.com. Now go out and do one thing that brings you joy today! Connect with Dr. Libert thejoyprescription.cominstagram.com/drcynthialibertfacebook.com/createyourownjoyprescriptionhttps://www.youtube.com/c/CynthiaLibert