Encouragement Minus The Sermon

About Encouragement Minus The Sermon

Welcome to Encouragement Minus The Sermon! This channel is your go-to space for personal growth, mental well-being, and building stronger connections with yourself and others. We tackle the big stuff—stress, anxiety, loneliness, and more—with practical insights and uplifting advice, no preaching or judgment here. Whether you're a parent, professional, dreamer, or just navigating life's challenges, this content is designed to inspire you to keep going, try new things, and see your struggles from a fresh perspective. From self-improvement tips to strategies for thriving in relationships and work, this podcast is here to remind you: You've got this! Subscribe for weekly encouragement to grow, heal, and live your best life—without the sermon.

Publisher

Mike Hauser

Category

health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Feb 2026

Latest episode

25 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

5 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Mar 2026

   Your Team Isn't Broken — Their Blind Spots Are Aimed at Each Other

   Your team is talented. The meetings are still draining. The decisions still take forever. And someone quietly left last year — "for a better opportunity," they said. But you were in those meetings too. What if the problem isn't effort, attitude, or even culture? What if it's blind spots — perfectly aimed at each other? In this video, I break down how personality types show up in team dynamics and why most leadership tools fail to fix recurring tension — because they describe behavior without explaining what's underneath it. You'll learn: → Why talented teams still feel slow, draining, or stuck → How the Enneagram goes deeper than personality descriptions → The 9 types and the specific blind spot each one brings to a team → What "accidental diminishing" looks like (and how to catch yourself doing it) → How to move from taking things personally to responding with empathy This isn't about fixing your team. It's about finally *seeing* them. #leadership #teamwork #enneagram #executivecoaching #teamdynamics #workplacecommunication #selfawareness #leadershipdevelopment

2. 

   26 Feb 2026

   High-Functioning Anxiety Is Lying to You About What's Wrong – Anxiety Series 2/3

   If you live with "high-functioning anxiety," it can feel like everything in your life is a five-alarm fire — every email, every decision, every conversation. But what if a lot of what you're calling "anxiety" is actually something else? In this episode, we'll talk about why so many exhausted helpers and high-achievers feel like they're always on the edge of panic… even when nothing objectively "big" is happening. You'll learn: • The 2 big mistakes that quietly turn normal human problems into full-body panic • Why mislabeling everything as "anxiety" actually makes your nervous system more overloaded • 13 common life problems that often get misdiagnosed as anxiety • How shame and self-judgment pour gasoline on everyday stress • A calmer, kinder way to work with your body instead of fighting it If you've ever thought, "Why am I like this? Why does everything feel like an emergency?" — this conversation is for you. #highfunctioninganxiety #anxiety #overthinking #mentalhealth #peoplepleaser #youarenotbroken -------------------------------------------------------------- ACCESS DR. ROSMARIN'S WARNING SIGNS That You May Need Immediate Medical Attention For Your Anxiety https://5c5ea0a1-621f-4eb9-ab9f-9906a153b05b.usrfiles.com/ugd/5c5ea0_1693a309be794f979cde6455afacab2e.pdf ⚠️ Quick safety note: This video is for education and encouragement. It's not therapy and it's not a crisis resource. If your anxiety feels unmanageable, you're thinking about harming yourself, or your functioning is really impaired, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional or crisis service in your area. -------------------------------------------------------------- DOWNLOAD THE PDF TO THE COMMON WAYS WE MISLABEL ANXIETY https://5c5ea0a1-621f-4eb9-ab9f-9906a153b05b.usrfiles.com/ugd/5c5ea0_88965ed14e6445e5bd40525c70bf08ee.pdf -------------------------------------------------------------- 🌱 FREE RESOURCE – 23-Page Relationship Clarity Guide Understand why you react the way you do, what you expect of yourself, and what you actually need to feel safe and connected. Download the free guide here:https://www.encouragementminusthesermon.com/get-the-guide 💑 Enneagram Couples Report (iEQ9) If anxiety is spilling into your relationship, this in-depth report helps you see: * How you and your partner are wired * Where you misread each other * How to communicate with more honesty and less defensiveness Learn more here: https://www.encouragementminusthesermon.com/choose-your-pricing-region DISCUSSION QUESTIONS HEAD 1) What's one thing I've been calling "anxiety" lately that might actually belong in a more specific bucket? 2) Where am I pouring gasoline on manageable stress by making it vague, permanent, or personal? HEART 1) When my stress response shows up, what do I feel underneath the surface emotion? 2) What's the flavour of shame I'm most prone to when I'm struggling? HANDS 1) What's one "rope" I can handle this week with a simple plan instead of a spiral? 2) What's one way I can change the soundtrack from shame to curiosity in real time? ------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Encouragement Minus the Sermon — a safe, honest space to grow in your relationship with yourself, others, and God without sermons, shame, or judgment. I'm Mike Hauser — former pastor, coach, and certified iEQ9 Enneagram practitioner helping spiritually curious people grow with clarity, compassion, and practical tools. 📘 Free Enneagram Guide: https://www.encouragementminusthesermon.com/get-the-guide 🎯 Work With Mike (Enneagram Coaching, Relationships, Personal Growth) Individual & Couple Coaching: https://www.encouragementminusthesermon.com/enneagram Team Training & Workshops: https://www.encouragementminusthesermon.com/ieq9-enneagram-team-training 📱 Follow me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/encouragementminusthesermon/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@encouragementmts Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EncouragementMinusTheSermon Website: https://encouragementminusthesermon.com #encouragementminusthesermon #enneagram #personalgrowth Disclaimer: This channel offers general encouragement and personal growth insights and is not a substitute for professional mental health or medical care.

3. 

   19 Feb 2026

   Tired of Being 'So Responsible'? This Might Be Why – Anxiety Series 1/3

   Everyone thinks you're "so responsible" and "so put together." Inside, you're tired, tense, and wondering why you can't just relax. This video is for the high-functioning, exhausted helpers who keep asking, "Is this just how I'm wired… or is this actually anxiety?" In this episode, we'll walk through 7 signs of high-functioning anxiety that often get mislabeled as being: * "Just responsible" * "Driven" * "Picky" * "Too sensitive" * "High-maintenance" By the end, you'll be able to: * Recognize how anxiety can hide behind competence and control * See why you've been misreading your anxiety as character flaws * Reduce some of the shame and self-judgment you've been carrying * Take a few gentle, realistic next steps (without a giant life overhaul) This is Part 1 of a 3-part series on anxiety: * Part 1: 7 signs you're not "just responsible" — you're anxious * Part 2: Why anxiety gets mislabeled (and how that keeps you stuck) * Part 3: Practical ways to work with your anxiety instead of against yourself REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS HEAD 1. What patterns in your thinking might actually be anxiety in disguise? 2. Where might you be confusing high performance with emotional health? HEART 1. Where do you feel anxiety most in your body right now? 2. What emotion sits underneath your anxiety — fear, shame, loneliness, pressure? HANDS 1. What is one small conversation you could initiate this week about something you've been carrying alone? 2. What is one area where you could choose curiosity instead of control? ACCESS DR. ROSMARIN'S WARNING SIGNS That You May Need Immediate Medical Attention For Your Anxiety https://5c5ea0a1-621f-4eb9-ab9f-9906a153b05b.usrfiles.com/ugd/5c5ea0_1693a309be794f979cde6455afacab2e.pdf ⚠️ Quick safety note:This video is for education and encouragement. It's not therapy and it's not a crisis resource. If your anxiety feels unmanageable, you're thinking about harming yourself, or your functioning is really impaired, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional or crisis service in your area. 🌱 FREE RESOURCE – 23-Page Relationship Clarity Guide Understand why you react the way you do, what you expect of yourself, and what you actually need to feel safe and connected. Download the free guide here:https://www.encouragementminusthesermon.com/get-the-guide 💑 Enneagram Couples Report (iEQ9) If anxiety is spilling into your relationship, this in-depth report helps you see: * How you and your partner are wired * Where you misread each other * How to communicate with more honesty and less defensiveness Learn more here: https://www.encouragementminusthesermon.com/choose-your-pricing-region If this helped you feel even a little more seen or less "broken," you might like the rest of what I'm building here around: * High-functioning anxiety * People-pleasing and boundaries * Self-compassion that doesn't require a personality transplant * Relationships with yourself, others, and (if it's meaningful to you) God #highfunctioninganxiety #anxiety #anxietysymptoms #overthinking #peoplepleasing #mentalhealth #selfcompassion #emotionalhealth #enneagram #relationships 📱 Follow me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/encouragementminusthesermon/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@encouragementmts Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EncouragementMinusTheSermon Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6TQZxnZ1cvopxU4bOSp4Ap?si=OWj0MpCuQxufrOKLqgF4GQ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/encouragement-minus-the-sermon/id1830011025 Website: https://encouragementminusthesermon.com 🎯 Work With Mike (Enneagram Coaching, Relationships, Personal Growth) Individual & Couple Coaching: https://www.encouragementminusthesermon.com/enneagram Team Training & Workshops: https://www.encouragementminusthesermon.com/ieq9-enneagram-team-training #encouragementminusthesermon #enneagram #personalgrowth Disclaimer: This channel offers general encouragement and personal growth insights and is not a substitute for professional mental health or medical care.

4. 

   12 Feb 2026

   Masterclass in Growing Your Relationship With Yourself: You're Not Failing, You're Overloaded

   If you're a lifelong people‑pleaser who looks "put together" on the outside but is exhausted, anxious, or burned out on the inside… this 92‑minute masterclass is for you. In this deep dive, we unpack the hidden reason people‑pleasers are so hard on themselves — and how to begin getting free from your inner critic, self‑hatred, and quiet burnout. You'll get a gentle, practical roadmap for burnout recovery, emotional exhaustion, and building a healthier relationship with yourself, so you can finally learn how to be on your own side. Most of us were never given a healthy "GPS" for our inner world. We learned how to achieve, perform, help, and stay strong for everyone else… but not how to understand: -Why we became people‑pleasers in the first place -Why our self‑talk is so harsh and unforgiving -Why we feel responsible for everyone else's emotions -Why slowing down feels unsafe, lazy, or selfish In this masterclass, we slow down and actually map what's going on inside you so you can move from quiet performance and "I'm fine" pretending… to honest, grounded presence and real self‑compassion. You'll learn: – Why your negative self‑talk and inner critic are so loud (especially for people‑pleasers) – How imposter syndrome shows up even when you look "successful" – The link between shame, self‑forgiveness, and the stories you tell yourself – "Childhood gravity": how early experiences still pull on you today – Why you feel responsible for everyone else's emotions – How fear, control, and anxiety keep your body on high alert – The subtle ways we numb and self‑medicate (without even calling it that) – How trying to impress people actually makes you feel less safe and seen – Why overwork, hustle, and burnout can feel easier than slowing down – What you've quietly married your identity and worth to – Emotional regulation and why your body often knows the truth first – Embodiment and inner child / reparenting in normal human language – Boundaries with yourself (not just with other people) – Grief and endings: when something can be complete without being a failure – Character vs. competence: the parts of you that can't be microwaved – Intentions vs. impact: repairing without shame or self‑hatred – A brief Enneagram snapshot to make sense of your patterns as a people‑pleaser This is a safe, honest, judgment‑free space for overwhelmed humans, recovering people‑pleasers, high performers, executives, and leaders who are tired of pretending everything's fine while they're running on empty inside. You're not broken. You just never got language, tools, and a map for your inner world. This episode is designed to help you wipe some of the "smudges on your glasses" so you can see yourself, others, and God with more clarity — and move toward a life with more meaning, purpose, and genuine peace. Listen to this when you're ready to stop people‑pleasing, stop performing, and start being on your own side. #peoplepleasing #peoplepleaser #innercritic #selfcriticism #emotionalhealth #burnoutrecovery #emotionalburnout #anxiety #impostersyndrome #overcomingShame #selfworth #selfcompassion #innerhealing #emotionalregulation #boundaries #grief #innerchild #traumahealing #Enneagram #selfawareness #personalgrowth Website: https://encouragementminusthesermon.com #encouragementminusthesermon #enneagram Disclaimer: This channel offers general encouragement and personal growth insights and is not a substitute for professional mental health or medical care.

5. 

   12 Feb 2026

   The Invisible Pattern Destroying Your Relationship (And How the Enneagram Helps You Break It)

   Why do you keep having the same fights in your relationships — even when you're trying to communicate well? Most relationship problems aren't caused by what you said in the last argument… they're driven by an invisible pattern that's been running the show for years. 📘 In this episode, we'll look at the invisible patterns quietly shaping how you react in relationships — and why it can feel like you're stuck in the same arguments on repeat. Using a real (and slightly ridiculous) argument my wife and I had over a grocery receipt and some books, I'll walk you through: • Why "You're not listening!" moments keep happening — even when you repeat back what you heard • The difference between behaviour-level problems and what's really going on underneath • How fear, motivation, and wiring shape your reactions — and theirs • How this same pattern shows up for executives, athletes, creatives, parents, and students • How the Enneagram gives language to what's driving you below the surface Then we'll walk through the 9 core Enneagram patterns in relationships so you can: • Recognize the pattern that's been quietly running in the background • See why certain people or situations trigger you more than others • Respond with more clarity, compassion, and healthier boundaries — instead of reacting on autopilot If you've ever thought, "Why does this keep happening?" — or felt like you're sabotaging your own relationships without meaning to — this episode will help you understand the invisible pattern behind it, and how to begin breaking it. This is a shame-free, judgment-free space. No sermons. Just honest tools to help you have healthier relationships with yourself and the people you care about. #relationshippatterns #emotionalhealth  #Relationships #Enneagram #SelfAwareness #CommunicationSkills #PersonalGrowth Encouragement Minus the Sermon is a safe, honest, judgment-free space for people who want healthier relationships — with themselves and with others — without sermons, shame, or pressure. I'm Mike Hauser — iEQ9-certified Enneagram coach and recovering people-pleaser. For over two decades, I've helped individuals, couples, and leaders navigate identity struggles, emotional health, unhealthy patterns, and complicated relationships with empathy and zero preaching. This channel is for thoughtful people who want something more grounded and real than surface-level advice. Here you'll find conversations around: • Self — emotional clarity, identity, shame, self-awareness, and healing • Others — boundaries, communication, conflict repair, and real connection • Faith & meaning — thoughtful spiritual exploration for those who are open, without pressure or religious baggage Real stories, practical insights, Enneagram wisdom, honest reflection, and the occasional laugh ical insights, Enneagram wisdom, honest reflection, and the occasional laugh — never hype or sermons. 🎯 Work With Mike (Enneagram Coaching, Relationships, Personal Growth): https://encouragementminusthesermon.com/enneagram Disclaimer: This channel offers general encouragement and personal growth insights and is not a substitute for professional mental health or medical care.

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