Does the holiday season often leave you feeling overwhelmed and disconnected? Despite being told to simply keep busy and distracted, you still find yourself longing for a deeper sense of joy and connection. The constant hustle and bustle only leave you feeling exhausted and unfulfilled, longing for more meaningful experiences. It's time to explore a new approach that will bring you the peace and connection you've been craving.

My special guest is Leslie Leyland Fields

Leslie Leyland Fields is an internationally renowned teacher, speaker, and award-winning author of 14 books, including "Your Story Matters," "The Wonder Years," and "Crossing the Waters," which earned a Christianity Today Book award in Christian Living. With three graduate degrees in English, journalism, and an MFA in creative nonfiction, Leslie has extensive experience as a founding faculty member of Seattle Pacific University's MFA program. Her books have been translated into nine languages, and her essays have appeared in various publications, earning her several evangelical press awards. Leslie's latest work, "Radiant Birth: Advent Readings for a Bright Season," offers an engaging and unique perspective on the Advent season, making her a valuable guest for today's episode.

We make a difference better together. So let's create meaningful holiday traditions that increase joy and connection during the advent season. - Leslie Leyland Fields

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Explore the profound insights of "Radiant Birth" for a deeper understanding of Christmas.
• Embrace the power of stillness to find inner peace and presence during the Advent season.
• Discover the significance of sharing personal stories for deeper connections and understanding.
• Spread love and kindness beyond your family circle for a more inclusive and compassionate holiday season.
• Find hope and resilience by seeking out light even in the most challenging times.

The significance of sharing extends beyond mere giving and receiving during the holiday season. As evidenced by Leslie's vision for her grandchildren's generation, sharing should be about expressing love, not just within family units, but extended to the larger communities. Sharing our stories, experiences, and acts of love can act as a beacon of light in a world needing hope and unity.

Exploring profound insights is a powerful way to understand the enigma of Advent. This can involve delving into the historical, personal, and global impacts of Jesus' birth, as Leslie Leyland Fields discusses in her book, Radiant Birth. Reading such works in the quiet of the dark winter months can bring a brighter perspective and provide refreshing light to our spirits.

Embracing the power of stillness allows each of us to discover and authentically experience the transformative Advent season. As Leslie suggests, even few moments of quietness each day, reading a thought-provoking book or poem, can create a space for connection with God and oneself, combating holiday overwhelm. Cultivating such moments of stillness can nourish our minds and hearts and help us establish meaningful holiday traditions with our families.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Visit Leslie Leyland Fields' website at www.leslieleylandfields.com to explore her books, writings, and other resources related to writing and storytelling.
• Join the Difference Maker community on Patreon at www.patreon.com/aworldofdifference to access exclusive episodes, including one with Leslie, and vote on upcoming topics for the podcast. Join for as little as $5/month (cancel any time.)
• Purchase Leslie Leyland Fields' book Radiant Birth: Advent Readings for a Bright Season to experience the collection of literary readings, poems, and stories that bring light and radiance to the Advent season.
• Consider signing up for Leslie Leyland Fields' writing course or coaching services to receive guidance and support in telling your own story and bringing it to life through writing.
• Follow Leslie on Instagram.
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The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:02 - Navigating Difficult Emotions during the Holidays

00:04:34 - Writing Process and Book Selection

00:08:22 - Embracing the Mystery of Advent

00:11:39 - Impact of the Advent Book

00:17:23 - Embracing the Radiance of God's Love

00:17:53 - Overcoming Burnout in Church Culture

00:21:20 - Importance of Stillness and Self-Care

00:23:26 - Empowering People to Tell Their Stories

00:29:22 - Getting Started with Writing

00:31:13 - Meaningful Christmas Traditions

00:34:23 - Reflecting on Family Traditions and Love

00:35:44 - Intentional Tradition-Making

00:37:13 - Love Spreading Beyond Families

00:38:24 - Connecting with Leslie

Join international teacher and author Leslie Leyland Fields as she ignites a new tradition of finding light and love beyond our families this holiday season, inspiring us to create meaningful connections and joy amid darkness and challenges.

Timestamped summary of this episode:

00:00:02 - Navigating Difficult Emotions during the Holidays

Lori acknowledges that the holidays can be a difficult time for those who have experienced loss, trauma, or abuse. She shares her personal experience of loss on December 26 and encourages listeners to seek help if needed.

00:04:34 - Writing Process and Book Selection

Leslie discusses the process of selecting literary readings, including poems and stories, for the advent book. The book is divided into three sections - Jesus Born in Bethlehem, Jesus Born in Us, and Jesus in Us for the World.

00:08:22 - Embracing the Mystery of Advent

Leslie explains that the book is not a traditional devotional, but rather a collection of readings that invite readers to experience their own profound moments and encounters with the birth of Jesus. She emphasizes the mystery and beauty of God taking on human flesh.

00:11:39 - Impact of the Advent Book

Leslie shares her hope that readers will engage with the book daily, immersing themselves in the radiance and wonder of the season. She encourages readers to use the book as a tool for reflection and meditation, allowing the radiance of Advent to become a part of them beyond the immediate season.

00:17:23 - Embracing the Radiance of God's Love

Leslie expresses her desire for the radiance of God's love to transcend the Advent season and become a part of readers' daily lives. She emphasizes the beauty of God's love and presence in all things

00:17:53 - Overcoming Burnout in Church Culture

Leslie Leyland Fields discusses the challenges of burnout culture in churches and the importance of finding stillness and quiet in the midst of busyness. She emphasizes the need for individuals to take quiet moments for themselves, especially during the Advent season.

00:21:20 - Importance of Stillness and Self-Care

The conversation shifts to the topic of self-care and finding stillness amidst the busyness of life. Leslie Leyland Fields shares her own experiences as a mother and highlights the significance of taking quiet moments to connect with God's love for us.

00:23:26 - Empowering People to Tell Their Stories

Leslie Leyland Fields discusses her philosophy of writing and her approach to coaching authors. She emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals to see the remarkable stories within them and to silence the voices of self-doubt and fear.

00:29:22 - Getting Started with Writing

Leslie Leyland Fields encourages aspiring writers to start by exploring their inner stories. She recommends her book "Your Story Matters" as a simple and profound guide to help individuals begin the writing process and tap into their unique perspectives.

00:31:13 - Meaningful Christmas Traditions

Leslie Leyland Fields shares her favorite Christmas tradition of having a special Christmas Eve dinner with her family. She describes the unique and intentional meals they share, emphasizing the importance of simple and meaningful traditions that bring families together.

00:34:23 - Reflecting on Family Traditions and Love

Leslie shares her childhood experience of not celebrating Christmas, leading her to intentionally create traditions with her family. She highlights the importance of love for one another and spreading it beyond the family unit.

00:35:44 - Intentional Tradition-Making

Leslie emphasizes the significance of intentional tradition-making, sharing her journey from a non-celebratory childhood to anchoring her family with meaningful traditions. Her vision and hope for the future generation are rooted in the four-letter word, love.

00:37:13 - Love Spreading Beyond Families

Leslie expresses her belief that love is not meant to be insular, but rather to bind families together and then propel them to spread love outward into the world. She finds joy in witnessing her children and grandchildren embody this love within their own families.

00:38:24 - Connecting with Leslie

Leslie invites listeners to visit her website, where they can find her writing and coaching services. She shares her experiences as a commercial fisherman in Alaska and encourages people to connect and say hello.

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