Shifts and Giggles: Mindset Tools for Real Life Growth

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In this heartfelt episode of Shifts and Giggles, Rafer sits down with his mom, Natalie Owens, to unpack the power of real prayer—not the polished, performance kind, but the honest conversations that happen when life hurts and you don’t know what to say.

Together, they talk about:

• How prayer becomes your lifeline when everything falls apart.
• Why reading your Bible teaches you how to pray.
• Th...

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This episode is the heartbeat of Season 2. We’ve spent weeks talking about love — what it is, how it flows, and where it breaks down — and today we’re landing the plane. This is a full-season recap for believers who know Jesus is real but aren’t living in the fullness He died to give them.

If you’ve felt stuck, spiritually dry, emotionally drained, or like you’re missing something in your wa...

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What if setting boundaries isn’t selfish at all—but the holiest way to love God, love yourself, and love others well?

In this episode of Shifts and Giggles, Rafer breaks down why constantly saying “yes” keeps us stuck, tired, and disconnected from God’s best. Through the lens of emotional and spiritual growth, he explains how boundaries protect relationships, promote honesty, and invite the ...

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What if the conversations you’re avoiding are the very ones the Holy Spirit wants to use to change your life? In this episode of Shifts and Giggles, Rafer breaks down the difference between speaking for clarity and speaking for control. You’ll learn how emotional intelligence, honesty, and love work together to create real connection in relationships—with God, yourself, and others. From lea...

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We all want love, joy, peace, and patience—but what if those things only come through the slow, messy process we keep trying to skip?

In this episode of Shifts and Giggles, Rafer breaks down why the fruit of the Spirit isn’t a checklist of Christian behavior—it’s evidence of spiritual growth. From the apple tree that takes seven years to bear fruit, to the real-life moments when patience run...

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What if you took “rest” as seriously as “thou shalt not kill”?

In this episode, Rafer breaks down one of the most misunderstood commandments — rest. We talk about the cultural obsession with busyness, how Christians confuse doing for God with being with God, and why rest is not a luxury — it’s a command and a gift.

You’ll hear practical stories from Rafer’s own Sabbath rhythm (including Mario...

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What if the greatest limit on your life isn’t your circumstances—but your mindset?
In this episode, Rafer breaks down how Jesus didn’t just come to save you—He came to grow you. A fixed mindset says, “This is just who I am.” But a growth mindset says, “With the Holy Spirit, I can change.”

Rafer unpacks why a fixed mindset is actually anti-Jesus, how growth is tied to sanctifica...

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What if Jesus didn’t just carry your sin—but your stress, anxiety, and emotional triggers too? In this episode of Shifts and Giggles, Rafer Owens Jr. unpacks how emotional intelligence is not just a psychological concept—it’s a spiritual discipline. Learn how your emotions affect your relationship with God, yourself, and others, and how the Holy Spirit wants to redeem the way you feel, reac...

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What if the freedom you’ve been praying for is waiting on the other side of the trash you refuse to pull into the light? In this episode of Shifts and Giggles, Rafer dives deep into the difference between denial and suppression and how honesty with yourself opens the door to real transformation with God. Learn how the Holy Spirit reveals to redeem, why pretending everything’s “fine” keeps y...

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What does it really mean to deny yourself? In this episode of Shifts and Giggles, Rafer Owens Jr. breaks down Mark 8:34 and challenges the common belief that denying yourself equals suppressing your struggles. Suppression keeps us stuck in shame and guilt, but true denial—done with the Holy Spirit—leads to transformation.

Discover how to partner with the Holy Spirit to face your emotions, im...

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Love God. Love people. Sounds simple, right? But if it’s that simple, why do so many of us still miss the mark? In this episode of Shifts and Giggles, Rafer breaks down the Greatest Commandment from Mark 12 and shows how it’s not just a rule—it’s a flow. God’s love to us. Our love back to Him. Then love for ourselves. Then love for others.

If you’ve ever struggled with self-love, criticism, ...

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Many Christians have been told, “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9), leaving them afraid to trust what they sense inside. In this episode of Shifts and Giggles, Rafer Owens Jr. takes a fresh look at this misunderstood scripture, digging into the next verse where God Himself says, “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind.”

Rafer shares stories from the Heaven Come ...

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What if the most Christ-like version of you is still trapped under unredeemed feelings, passions, and impulses? In this episode of Shifts and Giggles, Rafer Owens Jr. unpacks what it really means when we say “Jesus came to redeem our hearts and renew our minds.”

Too often, Christians accept salvation but stop short of sanctification. Rafer breaks down the biblical meaning of the heart (our d...

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If you’ve been following Jesus but still feel like something’s missing—this one is for you. In this episode, Rafer takes us back to the foundation: God the Father. Through the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15, Rafer shows us that the Father is not distant, cold, or harsh—He’s present, compassionate, and deeply personal.

You’ll learn how reframing your view of God changes everything: ho...

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Season 1 Finale: The Start of a Movement

We made it, y’all! Season 1 of Shifts and Giggles is officially a wrap—and what a journey it’s been. In this emotional, energizing, and reflective episode, I share the heart behind the show, recap everything we've covered—from emotional intelligence to growth mindset to the full Simple Shift Method—and tell a real-life story of someone who made a...

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In this conversation, Rafer Owens discusses the significance of finding the right tools for personal growth and emotional intelligence. He shares his journey of understanding emotions through intrapersonal communication and emphasizes the importance of using effective tools to navigate relationships and personal challenges. The discussion covers various types of tools, including mindset too...

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What if the story you've been telling yourself is the only thing holding you back?

In this episode of Shifts and Giggles, Rafer shares how he went from hating running to training for a half marathon—and how that unexpected journey revealed a deep truth about mindset. This episode dives into the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, how to recognize which one you'...

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Why do we fear failure so much—and how is that fear keeping us stuck?

In this powerful episode of Shifts and Giggles, Rafer shares a heartfelt story about watching his son struggle (and succeed) through the hardest level of a video game—and uses it to unpack why failure isn’t the enemy. In fact, it’s the path.

You’ll learn how to reframe failure from being something final to something formati...

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In this powerful follow-up to last week's emotional intelligence episode, Rafer unpacks how to build emotional intelligence—not just why it's important. Emotional intelligence isn’t a personality trait—it’s a skill. Rafer shares raw and relatable stories, including a vulnerable moment with his son and a hilarious but deep lesson involving a coffee cup. You'll walk away with f...