Welcome back to This Holistic Life, the podcast where faith, science, and holistic wisdom meet to help you thrive in every season. I’m Tracie Braylock, your host and holistic wellness guide, and today’s episode is extra special… because I’m celebrating the release of my brand new book: Radical Relaxation: Releasing the Stress You Were Never Meant to Carry.

This book has been on my heart for a long time. It was born out of years of professional experience, personal reflection, and a deep desire to help people like you finally break free from the stress that’s been weighing you down.

Why I Wrote This Book

As a former operating room nurse, I spent years standing by patients as they underwent life-altering procedures—many of which were triggered or worsened by chronic stress. I began to ask, what would happen if we caught this earlier? What if stress didn’t have to be a constant companion?

And yet, I also know that relaxing sounds easier than it is. We live in a world that glorifies hustle, overloads us with information, and leaves us feeling like we can’t afford to slow down. But stress – when left unchecked – invades every part of our lives. It affects our relationships, our ability to sleep, our immune system, our digestion, and even how we hear from God and show up in the world.”

Why Relaxation Feels So Hard

I’ve been asked why relaxation has to be radical, and my response to this is – in a world that attempts to constantly demand your time and attention, in workplaces that care more about your productivity than your peace, and in a culture that glorifies busyness and hypervigilance – relaxing is a radical act. 

Relaxing is also radical because as believers in Christ, owning the power God has given you and choosing to trust God with your life and situations versus stressing over them, can feel radical. Yet, our relationship and reliance on God make relaxation possible. 

In healthcare a radical procedure, means that you’re uprooting a diseased area of the body and anything surrounding it that could also be damaged. So, I wanted to encourage you to uproot your stress and heal those previously hurting spaces with relaxation.

Now, let’s be honest – relaxation seems hard for many people. Maybe it feels like there’s no time for it. Maybe you’ve been conditioned to believe that rest is laziness. Or maybe, deep down, you’ve forgotten what it feels like to be at peace.

Which leads me to the other question I’ve been asked a lot lately, which is how do I expect people to relax when the world is in such chaos. My response has been, we are not of this world. We’re simply passing through. We observe what’s taking place but we don’t have to participate in it. As believers, we’re striving to resemble Christ more and more each day. But that’s hard to do when we are actively practicing stress everyday, and carry the same anxieties as the rest of the world.

The world and our culture helped shape the perspective that stress is good and necessary and inevitable, but I challenge those narratives. Stress causes the same cascade of events to occur within you no matter what type of stress you’re experiencing, and it all has the same detrimental impact. On the other hand, relaxing causes healing to occur, improves the way your body functions and brings peace to your mind, body, and spirit. 

So, I wrote Radical Relaxation because I believe we’re not just dealing with everyday stress – we’re carrying spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental burdens that were never ours to carry. And if we don’t learn how to lay them down, they will wear us down.

Relaxation isn’t a luxury – it’s a lifeline. It’s part of your design. God never meant for you to live in a state of constant overwhelm. That’s why this book blends faith, science, and simple practices to help you release what was never meant for you and embrace the peace that has always been available to you.

What You’ll Find in Radical Relaxation

Inside this book, you’ll find:

• Practical tools for reducing stress and creating calm
• Healing strategies for mind, body, and spirit
• Scientific insights into how stress affects your body—and how to reverse the damage
• A holistic approach to self-care, rooted in grace, not guilt
• Spirit-led reflections and encouragement for real-life peace
• And practical guidance from my many years as a nurse and care provider.

Whether you’re facing burnout, dealing with chronic stress, or just longing for a different pace of life, this book is a guide to help you breathe again, live again, and heal.

A Word of Encouragement for the Weary Heart

If stress has taken over your life, I want you to know: you are not alone. You are not weak. And you are not broken. And what we’re not going to do is stress about our stress. 

You are carrying too much – and that’s not a failure on your part. It’s a signal. A sacred invitation to slow down, listen in, and let go.

Radical Relaxation isn’t about bubble baths and spa days – although those do have their place. It’s about learning how to live from a place of rest, trust, and alignment with who you really are and who God is in your life.

And you can start that journey today.

Final Thoughts

I’m so honored to share this book with you. If Radical Relaxation speaks to your heart – or if you know someone who’s been stuck in survival mode – please grab a copy, leave a review, and share it with those who need it.

You can find the book at traciebraylock.com or wherever books are sold. And the audiobook is also available if you’d like to listen. And as always, come connect with me on Instagram @traciebraylock for more encouragement and holistic support.

Until next time—take a deep breath, release the weight, and remember: you were never meant to carry it all. Let’s live relaxed, on purpose, and in peace.

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