Facing Financial Strain — How Prioritizing Wellness Can Build Stability and Hope

More and more American families are feeling the squeeze. A recent survey by National Debt Relief, working with Talker Research, found that six in 10 U.S. parents (children ages 0-18) have gone into debt just to cover basic needs for their children—medical care, school supplies, everyday essentials. (National Debt Relief) Meanwhile, another survey from Achieve shows 58% of Americans saying their finances are in crisis. (PR Newswire)

These numbers aren’t abstractions—they mirror sleepless nights, relational stress, shrinking joy. Yet, even in this pressure, we still have tools to claim stability, dignity, and hope.

The Stressors Are Real

• Debt, soaring costs, inflation, healthcare, housing—these aren’t distant concerns for many. They are daily realities.

• Financial stress seeps into mental health: anxiety, shame, despair, even guilt about feeling you’re failing your family.

Faith, Hope, and Financial Perspective

• Faith can offer a perspective beyond scarcity: that your value, your purpose, your loved-ones’ worth are not tied to bank balances.

• Many traditions teach generosity even in lack, trusting that provision can come in unexpected ways.

• Trust doesn’t mean passivity—faith is not denial. It means pressing in with trust that action plus belief matters.

Mindset Shift: From Fear to Stewardship

• What is under your control: budgeting, trimming nonessentials, seeking help, asking questions.

• Resist comparison culture: what your neighbor or social media friend has may hide struggle; comparison robs peace.

• See giving—even small—as reclaiming power, reminding ourselves belief in abundance (even in tight times).

Wellness Investments That Pay Dividends

• Emotional wellness: talk openly about finances with safe people; therapy or faith counseling if needed.

• Physical wellness: nutrition, rest, exercise—not always expensive, but essential. Your body handles stress better when it’s well cared for.

• Spiritual wellness: Sabbath or rest rhythms; maybe periods of silence; reading, praying, reflecting.

Practical Steps & Power in Community

• A financial wellness plan: track income, expenses, set small goals (pay off one debt, save a little).

• Use community resources: free financial counseling; local charities; support from faith community.

• Shared meals, carpooling, swapping resources—community living can ease burdens.

Takeaway

Financial strain doesn’t have to steal your peace or erode your faith. Even amid economic uncertainty you can find space to breathe, to act, to trust. Wellness and mindset are not optional extras—they are the foundation that helps you navigate pressure with dignity and hope.

If your finances are weighing heavy on your heart, you don’t have to face it alone.
Download The New Beginnings Mindset Journal to reframe what’s possible even in lack.
Download Faith over Fear Journal to hold fast to hope and prayer when worry whispers.

Take one small step today toward peace.

References

• National Debt Relief & Talker Research, “The Price of Parenting 2025 Survey.” National Debt Relief+1

• “Soaring living costs push majority of parents into debt.” Talker Research. Talker Research

• Achieve survey: “58% of Americans say their finances are in crisis.” PR Newswire

• Newsweek: “Most Parents Are Going Into Debt to Provide for Their Kids.” Newsweek

When Division Escalates: How Faith and Mindset Can Anchor Us in Turbulent Times

In recent days, America has been shaken by the news of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist who was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University. (AP News) Experts warn his death is part of a growing pattern of political violence that threatens to tip us into deeper division. (Reuters)

It’s easy, when the headlines grow darker, to feel powerless. We may wonder: What can I do? Where do I place my heart when fear feels louder than hope?

I believe there are three things that remind us: faith, mindset, and wellness. They don’t erase our reality, but they anchor us, they empower us to respond rather than react.

Recognizing the Internal Storm

• When violence enters public life — whether through news, social media, or conversations — we carry a ripple effect inside: anxiety, anger, grief.

• These emotions are valid. It’s okay to acknowledge feeling unsafe or overwhelmed. Too often, in wanting to be strong, we silence the storm instead of letting it speak.

Faith as Grounding

• Faith can remind us of truths that outlast headlines: love, compassion, reconciling, hope beyond fear.

• Whether through prayer, scripture, meditation, or communal worship, these practices are not passive—they shape how we move through fear.

• When Psalm 46 says “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble,” that means there is a shelter, even amid chaos.

Renewing Mindset: Choosing What to Feed

• Consider what you consume. Media that amplifies fear, rage, victim vs. villain stories—these can be spiritual toxins. It’s okay to step back.

• Reframe what feels threatening: sometimes what looks like chaos is an invitation to see what matters more clearly.

• Cultivate gratitude—not as a denial of pain, but as a counterbalance. Even one moment of peace, one person showing kindness, one breath of stillness—these count.

Prioritizing Wellness as Resistance

• Physical wellness: sleep, movement, proper nourishment. These are not indulgences—they give your body and mind strength.

• Emotional wellness: setting boundaries (with social media, conversations, news consumption), allowing yourself rest.

• Spiritual wellness: rituals, quiet time, listening for stillness.

Small Actions That Restore Power

• Speak peace in your circles. Sometimes refusing to belittle someone for their views, choosing compassion over winning, creates ripples.

• Acts of kindness, generosity, hospitality—even small—remind us of our agency.

• Community involvement: volunteering, supporting groups that promote unity or reconciliation.

• Shared prayer or meditation for peace, whether publicly or privately.

Takeaway

We are living in a time when the external world feels broken in many places. But our internal world—shaped by faith, choice, and self-care—is not helpless. In fact, it’s the launching pad for change.

When we anchor ourselves in faith, renew our mindset, and actively care for our wellness, we reclaim power: the power to love, the power to hope, the power to act with integrity and courage.

If you feel burdened by fear, overwhelmed by the noise, I invite you to lean into tools that help you reclaim peace.
Download The New Beginnings Mindset Journal to begin shifting what fills your thoughts.
Download Faith over Fear Journal to strengthen faith in action when fear whispers loudly.

You don’t have to wait for perfect circumstances to start. Choose one step today.

References

• “The Latest: Conservative activist Charlie Kirk is shot and killed while speaking at a Utah college.” AP News. https://apnews.com/article/5e36353d08fdcc5e8edce6e5ec92bc61?utm_source=chatgpt.com

• “‘Rough road ahead’: Charlie Kirk’s assassination highlights the rise in US political violence.” PolitiFact. https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/sep/11/Charlie-Kirk-Trump-political-violence-guns/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

• “Addressing political violence to protect American democracy.” Brookings.

  https://www.brookings.edu/articles/political-violence-in-the-us/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

• “Are political assassinations on the rise? A criminologist weighs in on the shooting death of Charlie Kirk.” Northeastern University. https://news.northeastern.edu/2025/09/11/charlie-kirk-political-violence-rise/?utm_source=chatgpt.com