In a culture that trains children to perform their lives instead of live them, Sharon Hodde Miller returns to explore why so many young people feel fragile, insecure, and exhausted and why the solution isn’t more confidence, but a bigger purpose. Drawing from Free of Me and her new devotional Gazing at God, Sharon explains the overlooked root of modern insecurity: we’ve taught kids to evaluate their worth through constant self-focus, endless mirrors, and the metrics of the attention economy. Together, Sharon and Ginny uncover how shrinking our children’s purpose down to “finding themselves” has left them anxious, isolated, and unsure of who they are apart from an audience.

This conversation offers a hopeful, deeply practical way forward. Sharon shares how hiddenness, beauty, and turning our gaze toward God free us from the heaviness of self-preoccupation and how parents can help kids grow up rooted in something far larger than likes, identity quests, or online performance. From navigating rejection to reimagining purpose, this episode invites families to step out of the spotlight, rediscover joy, and remember that the healthiest life isn’t the one constantly seen…but the one securely grounded in love, calling, and connection.

Please support our advertising partners who help keep the show going!

• ⁠Wayfair⁠: Get organized, refreshed, and back to routine for way less. Head to ⁠Wayfair.com⁠ right now to shop all things home.
• ⁠SelectQuote⁠: Get the RIGHT life insurance for YOUR FAMILY, for LESS, at ⁠selectquote.com/1000hours⁠
• BetterHelp: Our listeners get 10% off their first month at ⁠BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS.⁠
• Quince: Go to ⁠Quince.com/outside⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.
• NIV Application Bible: Find out more at ⁠NIVapplicationbible.com⁠.
• Omaha Steaks: Visit ⁠OmahaSteaks.com ⁠for 50% off sitewide during their Sizzle All the Way Sale. And for an extra $35 off, usepromo code FUN at checkout.
• Mercy Ships: Please donate today at⁠ MercyShips.org/podcast⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices