Chapter 2: A Peek Into Kathy's Thought Closet

Interview with Kathy Troccoli

I love to be around my friend Kathy Troccoli! She’s Italian, got a thick New York accent and is a gifted singer/songwriter who communicates warmth and depth as she speaks, sings and writes books.  She’s learned a lot about how feelings can influence us and how truth can influence our feelings. 

Jennifer: Do you ever think with your feelings?

Kathy: I think too much with my feelings.  I remember a counselor telling me that if I could only learn to get into the rational/spiritual more, then I’d have more balance to how I handle circumstances. 

Jennifer: Have you done that…I mean, learned to be in the spiritual/rational more?

Kathy:  Yeah… One of the greatest pieces of advice I got was this…you know, when you’re at the beach and in the water and all the sudden a wave comes out of no where. It hits you; you go under and come up disoriented.  That’s how I lived a lot of my life—tossed around by my feelings.  What happens with the Lord and the truth and keeping your mind on truth is that you are equipped to see the wave rolling in so it doesn’t hit and disorient you.  Rather, you’re able to ride the wave with the truth.  It doesn’t take you under, you go over it.

Jennifer: You seem to live with that stability now.  Were there times of real emotional instability?

Kathy: Oh yes! (She laughs.)  When I was bulimic for ten years I’d feel “you’ll never get well” or “you’ll never be able to get out of this.”  But God says “I am a Healer” and “in Me you are more than a conqueror.”  Oh, I could quote 50 million verses on being an over comer - okay, slightly less. 

So many women deal with self esteem issues: “I’m not good enough.” or, “I don’t think God really forgives me of this.”  What happens is you rely on those lies and they bring you down but there’s wisdom in the truth of God-- wisdom in His promises.  And I have found that as I have confronted my issues and feelings with truth, I have become a wiser woman. 

I’m now able to take what I have learned from not being pushed by feelings but instead hold onto truth.  And it’s made me stronger and I hear it coming out of my mouth where I’m able to give wisdom in ways I couldn’t have before when I was drowning beneath big waves of emotion. 

Jennifer: Kathy, that’s good stuff!  You are a woman with wisdom and I’m thankful I know you.