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Finding Space to Breathe in a World of Overload
Manage episode 492208876 series 2941242
What if the secret to finding joy, purpose, and strength for life's hardest challenges isn't doing more, but creating space to breathe? Tommy Thompson, author of "Space to Breathe Again," shares his remarkable journey from driven entrepreneur to advocate for intentional margin in our lives.
Tommy's naturally extreme personality once led him to play 120 holes of golf in a single day. That same tendency toward excess eventually caught up with him when, while juggling multiple businesses, church leadership, and family responsibilities, he experienced what felt like a complete breakdown. Lying in bed one night with his world spinning, Tommy realized something had to change—though he wasn't doing anything "wrong," he was living without margin.
The discovery of the concept of Sabbath transformed Tommy and his wife's approach to life. Beginning with the seemingly impossible practice of taking an entire day off each week, they gradually built rhythms of rest into their daily lives. Little did they know these practices would become their lifeline through their daughter's six-and-a-half-year battle with stage four kidney cancer, which ultimately led to her passing in 2016.
Throughout our conversation, Tommy shares profound insights about faith tested by adversity. He and his wife learned to "rehearse the goodness of God" even when they couldn't see evidence of that goodness in their immediate circumstances. This practice of creating space for reflection, prayer, and rest became not just a survival mechanism but the foundation for deeper purpose.
Tommy believes our culture's epidemic of anxiety stems from lives "choked out" by constant noise, busyness, and distraction. The antidote isn't found in more effort but in intentional pauses that allow us to reconnect with what matters most. His podcast "Space for Life" continues this important conversation with guests who have discovered the transformative power of margin.
Ready to breathe again? Visit TommyThompsonorg to access Tommy's podcast, weekly reflections, and practical tools for creating life-giving space in your overloaded world.
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Chapters
1. Meet Tommy Thompson (00:00:00)
2. From Seminary to Business Owner (00:03:51)
3. Finding Space to Breathe Again (00:12:23)
4. The Sabbath: Learning to Rest (00:18:28)
5. Navigating Faith Through Adversity (00:26:46)
6. Creating Space to Overcome Anxiety (00:32:56)
7. Space for Life Podcast and Closing (00:35:22)
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