July 2024 Newsletter
Courageous Girls: Image Issues
Courageous Mamas!
We are at the edge of an exciting moment in time. While the world is crying out about our current mental health crisis and anxiety on the rise, you and I are leaning in and being a part of the solution. In all of the secular and sacred research, this one fact rises to the top.
Those who have one healthy attachment figure in their life and know they are never alone, can make it through anything! That's right. No matter our stories, our writings, or what we are going through, the key is having safe and trusted relationships.
You, mama, are becoming that for your daughter, and helping her to see that even when you fail, her God won't fail her. You, mama, are doing that for other moms. And when you fail, you are practicing asking forgiveness and moving through conflict, not around it. You, mama, are practicing and modeling to your daughter that God created us with an incredible mind, body, heart and soul - and He longs to have us bring all of who we are before Him and others.
There are so many exciting things ahead for Courageous Girls! Thank you for saying yes to raising a generation of girls who know they are loved and love others well.
In this together,
Terra
Words of Love
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10
Words of insight
God designed every part of us on purpose. He chose our hair, the size of our hips, the color of our eyes, the shape of our nose, etc. How we look is not the only thing that defines us; it is a valuable part of God’s design. Therefore, we do not want to dismiss that feeling beautiful is a normal desire for all girls, moms included.
Focusing our minds on what we think is the best part of God’s design can help us to not focus so much on the things we do not like, which can change the purpose of eating, exercising, and caring for our bodies into something it was never meant to be. Our relationship with these things can directly reflect how we care for our inner world: our emotions, thought life, and spirits. Let’s tackle these struggles that affect so many women and girls, head-on!
Parenting Tips
Did you know 81% of ten-year-olds have dieted at least once? This issue is more prevalent than ever before. Be honest. Be real. Talking with our daughters about body image issues helps them normalize the struggle and be equipped differently than you might have been.
In CG, we practice mindful eating (being fully present and enjoying the food and company), listening to our taste buds and our bodies, identifying emotions and our self-talk, identifying how emotions show up in our bodies, and meeting the need for emotions in healthy ways. Paying attention to all of who we are (mind, body, heart and soul) is half the battle when it comes to a healthy body image.
Most body image issues are caused by thoughts and feelings that are not being addressed in a healthy way; instead, we use food or exercise to cope. For example, if you feel bored you might find something creative to do, or you might go to the fridge and find a snack to keep yourself entertained. Instead of responding to boredom with an inappropriate emotional activity (like binge), we want to stay in tune with how we feel, think, and what we really need. Learning how to fuel and move our bodies is a part of a healthy body image. But surprisingly, learning how to attune and care for our emotions is actually even more vital. Don’t forget to leave room for “feeling it to heal it” for you and your daughter. Your whole body will thank you!
Updates
The CG App is launching in August!
This new app will allow you to have all you need for your CG group in one place.
Everything from the Bible, curriculum, videos, podcasts, polling, scheduling, events, and chat rooms, oh my!
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CG is hosting a Financial Partner Raffle in August!
Donate HERE to enter!
Winner will be announced on 9/15/24!
Help Courageous girls reach more moms and daughters in the midst of our current global mental health crisis by becoming a financial partner and being entered into a raffle.
When you commit to donate $250 or more in 2024 during the month of August, you will be entered into a raffle to win 7 days and 6 nights FREE at a privately owned home at Brasada Ranch in sunny Central Oregon.
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PAUSE: A Prayer Retreat
September 6, 2024
Led by Terra Mattson, this one-day retreat at the Living Wholehearted Lodge & Retreat provides a guided contemplative prayer day with God on 5 acres of Old Growth and forest with a creek in the midst of the Willamette Valley. Whether you crave silence and solitude or have never tried a contemplative retreat like this one, all are welcome! Register here.
Register HERE.
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The Courageous Girls Podcast is coming this Fall!
Stay tuned…
Hosted by counselor, coach, author and executive director of Courageous Girls, Terra Mattson, this one-of-a-kind podcast will help you with every important aspect of raising your daughter in a world full of confusing messages.
Bringing other experts and CG mamas along for the ride, we will be answering your questions and equipping you to be confident and show up for your daughter. You are the right mom for the job!
DM us @mycourageousgirls to submit your questions or topics you want Terra and guests to cover!
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Do you want to help mom and daughters in the midst of a mental health crisis?
You can support all the ways we are equipping moms to walk with their daughters at every stage of their growing years in a world of confusing messages! If Courageous Girls has impacted you and your daughter, consider giving a ONE TIME gift or being one of our monthly partners.
Learn more HERE.
Another way to fund CG is to through our merch Store!
Visit the CG Shop and grab your summer gear.
Monthly Challenge
1. Self-talk: Mom, pay attention to the way you talk about your own body. Small comments like, ‘Oh, I need to lose a few pounds.” or “I am really getting old,” or “I know I shouldn’t eat this but…” can shape the way your daughter begins to view her own relationship with her body, food, and exercise. Consider monitoring the way you talk about yourself for a full week and shifting from “I should be a different way,” to “I love how God made me this way.”
2. Intentionally encourage your daughter about her outer beauty. Tell her facts about how God made her. “You have amazing eyes!” “I love how strong you are.” “Your hair is such a pretty color. God is an artist.” Words matter! And every girl wants to be seen as beautiful. Help her feel that today.
3. Consider reading You are Special by Max Lucado with your daughter. A Courageous Girl is like Lucia, who visits her creator daily to be reminded who she is so the dots (and stars) people try to give her don’t stick. When we know who we are and to whom we belong, we aren’t impacted as deeply by the harsh words or actions of others.
Our Favorite Resources
What do we know to be true about digital devices and social media? In Episode 228 of the Living Wholehearted Podcast, Jeff and Terra Mattson share from their perspectives as clinicians, executive coaches and parents as they review the research and discuss how the digital world is impacting us, our children and our teens.
Have you or your CG group read Courageous? This book is for you!
Terra Mattson’s book, Courageous; Being Daughters Rooted in Grace, takes women through a process of growing in grace and identity so that moms are better equipped to raise confident and healthy daughters who know God and are able to trust His ways throughout life's messy journey.
>>> Buy Here
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