TRLP 063: The difference between trending (up and to the) right, and right trending

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In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, we dig into the difference between trending right (short-term hype, emotional highs, quick wins) and right trending —the slow, often unsexy work of real growth that actually changes your life.

We even talk football.
Yes, the Carolina Panthers lost—but somehow the future feels brighter. Why? Because improvement changes perspective. And the same is true for us.

When we’re getting stronger—physically, emotionally, spiritually—it reshapes how we see setbacks, disappointments, and even losses. Progress breeds hope.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why progress matters more than perfection
• How getting physically stronger can shift your mental and emotional outlook
• The danger of confusing emotional spikes with true spiritual formation
• Why fragmentation keeps us stuck—and integration sets us free
• How spiritual and emotional health grow best when they grow together
• What Scripture has to say about endurance, growth, and becoming whole

This episode is for leaders, pastors, and everyday followers of Jesus who want more than a quick fix. It’s for those who are willing to play the long game—the Jesus way.

Because the best lives aren’t lived when everything goes right…
They’re lived when we’re right trending.

Key Scripture:

• Romans 5:3–5
• 1 Timothy 4:8
• Philippians 1:6

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If this episode encouraged you:

• 👍 Like the episode
• 🔔 Subscribe to the podcast
• 📤 Share it with someone who needs hope rooted in progress

And as always—
Keep giving God your best, and He’ll do the rest.

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

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