#127: Healing Trauma and Finding Hope with Joy Smalley

The Commons with Karla · 2023-11-14

In this episode of the podcast, I'm joined in conversation by Joy Smalley, a devoted wife and mother of four teenagers aged 13-17. She's deeply involved in her children's lives, homeschooling them and sharing their passions for activities like volleyball, jiu-jitsu, art, and anime. Joy is also a writer and proudly identifies as an introvert.

Today's discussion delves into community and coping with past traumas. Joy opens up about her personal experiences with trauma and its enduring effects on her faith, family, and the people around her. She offers a profound insight into her journey, chronicled in her memoir, "Abraham’s Daughter: Healing Trauma from a Childhood in Missions."

We explore the process of both writing and healing, emphasizing the importance of self-discovery and maintaining a connection with one's spirituality, even in the face of life's hardships. I hope this episode encourages you to find healing and hope.

Episode Highlights:

● Getting to know Joy

● Raising teens & homeschooling

● Living as a missionary in Mongolia during childhood & the trauma that came with it

● Survival as a child

● Signs of unresolved trauma

● Self-harm

● Receiving therapy

● Joy’s Book - Abraham’s Daughter

● Monica’s episodes What Defines You? and Struggling Does Not Make You a Failure

Find more on Guest:

● Joy’s website JoySmalley.com

● Joy’s recent read The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis

● Instagram @joysmalley6

Find More on The Commons with Karla:

● On IG @karla_osorno

Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate and review The Commons with Karla Podcast on Apple or Spotify. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. For show notes, go to karlaosorno.com/podcast.

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

The Commons with Karla

Are you worn and exhausted from living a life of aimlessly going through the motions? There are many things that this world utilizes in an attempt to make us feel isolated and alone, but the truth is regardless of our backgrounds, there’s still so much we have in common. We all have the deep desire to connect, step into our true calling, and live lives of meaning and purpose. When we are going through the motions and living at surface level, it’s easy to feel that our days lack meaning. Welcome to The Commons, where you will find weekly inspiration to dig deeper and prioritize relationships, strengthen your families, and live a life of true, abounding freedom. Through the stories of our guests, our hope is that you will be encouraged to dive deeper into the relationships around you. When we lack connection, it’s easy to think we think we need more relationships, but oftentimes what we need is to go deeper with those already around us. Dear friend, so much of what you’re hoping for is already right in front of you. Join us as we learn, grow and connect week after week to creates lives and homes where every day, moment, and relationship is overflowing with purpose and intention. We hope that you will join us at The Commons and walk away feeling equipped to step into the richness of all that’s around you.

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