When "Fixing Yourself" Becomes the Problem with Dr. Alison Cooke

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Alison Cook gets honest about something many of us don't realize: we can know all the right things about God, healing, and ourselves—and still have parts of us that don't feel safe, connected, or secure. As a psychologist of religion, licensed therapist, and bestselling author, Alison has spent decades exploring the intersection of psychology, faith, and spiritual formation. But in her new book, The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn't Come Easy, she takes us beyond simply understanding our patterns and into the deeper work of tending to the parts of ourselves that learned to protect, perform, control, or disconnect in order to feel safe. In this episode, we explore the intersection of neuroscience and faith, how early experiences can shape our brains, nervous systems, self-image, and even the way we experience God. We talk about the difference between who we truly are and who we learned to become in order to feel safe, why some of the behaviors we desperately want to "fix" may actually be attempts to protect us, and what happens when our theology says "God loves me" but something inside of us still struggles to let that love land. We also bring this conversation into food and body, perfectionism, self-criticism, and the pressure so many women feel to become a better version of themselves. Alison shares what it means to "Recognize & Return," why receiving love and care can sometimes feel harder than giving it, and how healthy self-trust and trust in God can work together instead of competing with each other. This isn't about finding one more thing about yourself to fix. It's about learning how to stop abandoning the parts of yourself that need your presence—and discovering a deeper kind of security rooted in connection with yourself, with others, and ultimately with God. GUEST: Dr. Alison Cook // @dralisoncookWebsite: www.DrAlisonCook.comPodcast: The Best of You PodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofyoupodcastFREE QUIZ: Uncover the role you learned to play in your familyGet the Book: The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn't Come Easy — available now wherever books are sold HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington // @theteenagerbrain To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.