The Miracle Mindset: When Faith, Action & Nature Collide in Midlife

This episode dives into a powerful quote by Saint Augustine:

 “Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.”

Juli opens up about her first week working with a coach who's pushing her beyond her comfort zone—triggering questions like:
 "Is all this effort really going to create the life I dream about?"
"Is it too late for me?"

If you're a woman over 40 wondering if transformation is still possible, this episode invites you to believe in both the science of change and the supernatural possibilities of faith. Discover how miracles may be unfolding in your life—whether through nature, neuroscience, or God’s divine touch.

We explore:

• The role of faith in personal growth
• How science (like neuroplasticity) supports your transformation
• Why some miracles require your action, and others require surrender
• Encouragement for when the results aren't showing yet
• A guided affirmation + journal prompt to connect your heart, mind, and spirit

 If this episode sparked something in you, screenshot it, tag @defaulttoyes on Instagram, and share your biggest takeaway. You never know who’s waiting to hear the same message.

Transcript

0:59

Welcome back to Default To Yes, the podcast where we explore how to live, love, imagine, and inspire the life that you're created for. I hope This week is off to an extraordinary start for you. I'm your host, Julie Reynolds, nurse, coach, and founder of Yes Society. Today we're sitting with a quote that has both stretched and settled me this week, and it's from St. Augustine. and here it is. Miracles are not. Contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature, let that linger a little bit. Miracles aren't unnatural. They're just bigger than what we currently understand. This past week I started with a coach who is really pushing me. It's a program with a coach and a community all around the habits that I was already working on and just now putting them all together. It's just really stretching my beliefs and calling out the parts of me that still wonder, can this really happen for me? Is all of this extraordinary action going to actually lead to the life I dream about? I've been in that tension where faith and effort really collide, where my belief is stretched and I really have to ask myself like, what is that? How? About esteem, not self-esteem in that we're pumping ourselves up, but that esteem, what is it? What are those perceptions that I hold that are there all the time that maybe limit my belief that something can really happen? I've been in that tension, faith, and effort how Elrod works a whole framework around. Unwavering faith and extraordinary effort those two things colliding where the actions feel bold, but the outcomes still feel way out of reach. And that's really probably the definition of faith and why unwavering faith becomes essential. And that's also where St. Augustine's words met me because growth. Real transformation often feels unnatural, not because it is, but because it's stretching past the boundaries of what we think is possible, and that's what makes it miraculous. I. Augustine wasn't saying that we should stop praying for supernatural intervention. He's reminding us that miracles happen all around us and that we're, when we're willing to participate, to surrender to believe before we see we live in this both and world. Yes, some miracles are gradual, brain-based, biology backed and beautiful, but. At the same time, we can't forget that some miracles are just straight from God, unexplainable, divine, utterly supernatural. God doesn't need our biology to be on board. He can interrupt timelines, override diagnosis, and break chains in an instant. And sometimes he does, but more often than not, he invites us into the miracle. He asks us to show up to take the step to believe beyond what we've experienced. The miracle of neuroplasticity is stunning. Your brain literally updates its map when you take new aligned action. But the same brain can also witness something it has no explanation for and still expand. So whether you're building a miracle, step by step, or praying for a miracle that could only be explained by God's hand, you're not wrong. You're right where you're supposed to be. So I'm gonna invite you just to take a deep breath with me right now. Just breathe in and out. Inhale, hope and exhale hesitation. And as you take a few more deep breaths, say this with me. I am willing to believe that my effort is not wasted. My growth is not invisible, and my God is not limited. If you're in the middle of a stretch where you are doing the work, but you're not seeing the results, please hear me. First of all, I get you. I see you. I'm right there with you, but your labor is not in vain. We've gotta keep going. That unwavering faith is what is that part of that extraordinary effort and that we need to take hold of? I think I've mentioned it before, my GPSA lot of times when I arrive somewhere, because I have it set on the headspace voice, it will say you've arrived at your destination and wasn't the journey really what it was all about? And that it may not be true completely when you're in the car driving somewhere.'cause really the point is getting to the destination. But in life. I think we can make a pretty good argument for. It's really about the journey and much because we don't always have control over our arrival at the destination. So regardless, we keep going. We know that the labor isn't in vain, and maybe you're in the part of where nature is catching up with your new narrative, or maybe you're standing on the edge of a breakthrough that only God can deliver. Both those places are sacred ground. So today, don't shrink back. Don't silence your dream because it doesn't look possible. God's work is in the natural and the supernatural. So in our it's in our effort and in his unexpected grace. So here's your journaling prompt. Here's your thing to think about today. What miracle are you being invited in to believe in today, whether through nature or by God's hand alone? Let yourself hope. Let yourself act. Let yourself be surprised. Miracles are not gone. They're unfolding in the ways that we understand and in the ways that we don't. wanna say that again in case you need to hear it again, because you need to know that miracles are unfolding in ways that we understand and in ways that we don't. That's so powerful. You never know what's around the corner, that's why we have to keep going. Let's see what's possible. What are we capable of? What will we do with this one precious life that we have this time on the planet where we can explore and we can experience miracles. I wanna thank you for tuning into the default to Yes podcast. It means a lot to me that you're here. I'd love it if you shared this episode, so if this stirred something in you, share it with a friend who's waiting for a miracle Building one or praying for both And get on the list so that we can connect that way too. I share more of my frameworks and more content, and we can have the conversation there. So click the link below and maybe you wanna join the Yes Society. I'd love to chat with you about it and see if it's a good fit. You're not behind, you're not too much and you're not forgotten. Miracles can be mysterious, but they're not ever accidental. Until next time. Remember that miracles aren't contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature. There is so much that we can learn here. We're not crazy. We're not alone. We're not too late. We are waking up to a life that has been possible all along. Miracles included As you go out every day and default to yes, your extraordinary self.