The Distillery Podcast - You, Refined

Well here we are. The final week in our Summer With A Purpose, SWAP 15, challenge. You've written your own personal purpose statement now. What are you going to do with it moving forward? After you've taken time to reflect, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please send your feedback to the distillery podcast *at* gmail dot com. You can also leave a comment here or send me an email by going to the Contact tab and submitting the contact form there. Let me know, what was helpful? What can be improved? How did engaging in the SWAP 15 impact your summer? I would be honored for you to share your purpose statement with me as well. Some things have changed for me since planning and launching the SWAP 15 summer series. I wont be continuing on with new episodes at this time as I'd originally planned. I'm unexpectedly in a space where I see the need to shift additional time, effort and attention to my family which is what I'm choosing to do. I may continue with additional episodes at some point in the future, but until then I hope you've found value in the challenges and information I've shared here. Thank you for listening!

We're already here, can you believe it? The second to last week of our 14 week series where you've been challenged to swap just 15 minutes a week to focus on clarifying your unique purpose. And now it's time, this is the week for you to dig in and write your own purpose statement. This episode, like all the SWAP 15 episodes, corresponds directly to a section of the SWAP 15 workbook which you can download for free from the homepage. I highly encourage you to download and utilize the workbook so you can get the most value out of this series. A purpose statement isn’t long or all inclusive of everything you might do with your life. A purpose statement is a simple sentence or two that describes how you feel called and shaped to be in the world. If seeing examples is helpful for you spend a couple minutes googling “personal purpose statements” and you’ll be able to find some clear examples. Do you have questions? Feedback? Something to share? Leave a comment here or send me an email. The end is in sight, finish strong!

Hello friends. Wow! We're 12 weeks in, that's almost 3 full months. It's time to take a bit of a breather; to pause and reflect on all of your work thus far as you prepare to use that work in crafting your very own purpose statement. Don't be intimidated! You've put in the work and you're ready to keep going. This episode, like all the SWAP 15 episodes, corresponds directly to a section of the SWAP 15 workbook which you can download for free from the homepage. I highly encourage you to download and utilize the workbook so you can get the most value out of this series. Do you have questions? Feedback? Something to share? Leave a comment here. Or head over to The Distillery Podcast Facebook Page and let me know if you've downloaded the SWAP 15 workbook and would like to be invited to the private Facebook group. This summer is nearly over. Yet if you've just been listening to these episodes and staying on the periphery it's definitely not too late! There's no time like the present to jump in and really engage the episodes and corresponding workbook exercises. You'll never feel that you easily have time; you must prioritize yourself and make the time to grow. You can do it!

Welcome back, you've come to far! This episode on values covers the final component that makes up who you are. Soon you'll be reflecting on all of your work thus far and crafting your very own purpose statement. Whether you've been engaging these episodes during the summer, or at a later time, I hope you're finding value and recognizing growth within yourself as you engage these episodes and the corresponding workbook. 15 minutes is such a small amount of time, yet there's such great potential payoff for taking that time to be intentional about discerning who you are and who you're called to be. As a reminder this episode, like all the SWAP 15 episodes, corresponds directly to a section of the SWAP 15 workbook which you can download for free from the homepage. I highly encourage you to download and utilize the workbook so you can get the most value out of this summer series. Do you have questions? Feedback? Something to share? Leave a comment here. Or head over to The Distillery Podcast Facebook Page and let me know if you've downloaded the SWAP 15 workbook and would like to be invited to the private Facebook group. If you haven't already, you can check out a deeper discussion surrounding values, and the other components of who you are and how they relate to purpose in the earlier podcast episodes Purpose Why and Purpose How Part 1. You're doing great work and the home stretch is almost visible on the horizon!

Hello friends, August is already here! Wow, that really snuck up on me this summer. Whenever you're engaging this series I hope you're finding great value as you dig into yourself and who you're called to be in the world with intention. As a reminder this episode, like all the SWAP 15 episodes, corresponds directly to a section of the SWAP 15 workbook which you can download for free from the homepage. I highly encourage you to download and utilize the workbook so you can get the most value out of this summer series. Do you have questions? Feedback? Something to share? Leave a comment here. Or head over to The Distillery Podcast Facebook Page and let me know if you've downloaded the SWAP 15 workbook and would like to be invited to the private Facebook group. We're continuing our several week span looking at the different components that make up who you are. If you haven't already, you can check out a deeper discussion surrounding these things and how they relate to purpose in the earlier podcast episodes Purpose Why and Purpose How Part 1. Future you will thank current you for making the time to engage in this work. You can do it, keep going!

Hello friends! Wow, we are already over halfway done with our Summer With A Purpose. Whether you've been engaging these episodes during the summer, or at a later time, it's never too late to jump in and SWAP out 15 minutes each week to clarify your purpose and discern what it means for you to live a life you’re proud of. 15 minutes is such a small amount of time, yet there's such great potential payoff for taking that time to be intentional about discerning who you are and who you're called to be. As a reminder this episode, like all the SWAP 15 episodes, corresponds directly to a section of the SWAP 15 workbook which you can download for free from the homepage. I highly encourage you to download and utilize the workbook so you can get the most value out of this summer series. Do you have questions? Feedback? Something to share? Leave a comment here. Or head over to The Distillery Podcast Facebook Page and let me know if you've downloaded the SWAP 15 workbook and would like to be invited to the private Facebook group. We're continuing our several week span looking at the different components that make up who you are. If you haven't already, you can check out a deeper discussion surrounding these things and how they relate to purpose in the earlier podcast episodes Purpose Why and Purpose How Part 1. Thank you for being here. You're doing such great work, keep going!

Hello friends! Welcome back to a Summer With A Purpose. SWAP out 15 minutes each week to clarify your purpose and discern what it means for you to live a life you’re proud of. Whether you're seeing this during the summer or another time of year, there's no time like the present to jump in and be intentional about discerning who you are and who you're called to be. As a reminder this episode, like all the SWAP 15 episodes, corresponds directly to a section of the SWAP 15 workbook which you can download for free from the homepage. I highly encourage you to download and utilize the workbook so you can get the most value out of this summer series. Do you have questions? Feedback? Something to share? Get in touch with me through the Contact form here on the website. This is the second week of several weeks looking at the different components that make up who you are. If you want to check out a deeper discussion surrounding these things and how they relate to purpose check out the earlier podcast episodes Purpose Why and Purpose How Part 1. This work can be hard and it is so worth it! So keep going!

Hello friends! Welcome back to a Summer With A Purpose. SWAP out 15 minutes each week to clarify your purpose and discern what it means for you to live a life you’re proud of. Whether you're seeing this during the summer or another time of year, there's no time like the present to jump in and be intentional about discerning who you are and who you're called to be. As a reminder this episode, like all the SWAP 15 episodes, corresponds directly to a section of the SWAP 15 workbook which you can download for free from the homepage. I highly encourage you to download and utilize the workbook so you can get the most value out of this summer series. Do you have questions? Feedback? Something to share? Leave a comment here. Or head over to The Distillery Podcast Facebook Page and let me know if you've downloaded the SWAP 15 workbook and would like to be invited to the private Facebook group. The next several weeks look at the different components that make up who you are. If you want to check out a deeper discussion surrounding these things and how they relate to purpose check out the earlier podcast episodes Purpose Why and Purpose How Part 1.

Hello friends! Welcome back to a Summer With A Purpose. SWAP out 15 minutes each week to clarify your purpose and discern what it means for you to live a life you’re proud of. Summer is in full swing - Happy Fourth of July! Don't let that stop you from jumping in and beginning the challenge today, or at any time. As a reminder this episode, like all the SWAP 15 episodes, corresponds directly to a section of the SWAP 15 workbook which you can download for free from the homepage. I highly encourage you to download and utilize the workbook so you can get the most value out of this summer series. Do you have questions? Feedback? Something to share? Leave a comment here. Or head over to The Distillery Podcast Facebook Page and let me know if you've downloaded the SWAP 15 workbook and would like to be invited to the private Facebook group. This week you'll wrap up your work with the lifeline exercise as you reflect on the big picture. This is hard work, and so worth it, so get started and keep going!

Hello friends! Welcome back to a Summer With A Purpose. SWAP out 15 minutes each week to clarify your purpose and discern what it means for you to live a life you’re proud of. Summer is certainly here, yet you can jump in and begin the challenge at any time. As a reminder this episode, like all the SWAP 15 episodes, corresponds directly to a section of the SWAP 15 workbook which you can download for free from the homepage. I highly encourage you to download and utilize the workbook so you can get the most value out of this summer series. Do you have questions? Feedback? Something to share? Leave a comment here. Or head over to The Distillery Podcast Facebook Page and let me know if you've downloaded the SWAP 15 workbook and would like to be invited to the private Facebook group. This week you'll continue to engage the lifeline exercise as you consider how your life up until now has shaped who you are. This is hard work, and so worth it, so get started and keep going!

Hello friends! Welcome back to a Summer With A Purpose. SWAP out 15 minutes each week to clarify your purpose and discern what it means for you to live a life you’re proud of. It's not too late to jump in and join the challenge! The show notes for the summer episodes will be a little different as each podcast will correspond to a section of the SWAP 15 workbook which you can download for free from the homepage. I highly encourage you to download and utilize the workbook so you can get the most value out of this summer series. You have several options for engaging in intentional conversation around this episode and getting started in your Summer With A Purpose. Leave a comment here. Or head over to The Distillery Podcast Facebook Page and let me know if you've downloaded the SWAP 15 workbook and would like to be invited to the private Facebook group. It's not too late to engage a Summer With A Purpose. What will you do with your summer?

Hello friends! Welcome back to a Summer With A Purpose. SWAP out 15 minutes each week to clarify your purpose and discern what it means for you to live a life you’re proud of. It's not too late to jump in and join the challenge! The show notes for the summer episodes will be a little different as each podcast will correspond to a section of the SWAP 15 workbook which you can download for free from the homepage. I highly encourage you to download and utilize the workbook so you can get the most value out of this summer series. You have several options for engaging in intentional conversation around this episode and getting started in your Summer With A Purpose. Leave a comment here. Or head over to The Distillery Podcast Facebook Page and let me know if you've downloaded the SWAP 15 workbook and would like to be invited to the private Facebook group. We're still at the beginning of the Summer With A Purpose. Are you ready to jump in?

Hello friends! Welcome back to a Summer With A Purpose. SWAP out 15 minutes each week to clarify your purpose and discern what it means for you to live a life you’re proud of. It's not too late to jump in and join the challenge! The show notes for the summer episodes will be a little different as each podcast will correspond to a section of the SWAP 15 workbook which you can download for free from the homepage. I highly encourage you to download and utilize the workbook so you can get the most value out of this summer series. You have several options for engaging in intentional conversation around this episode and getting started in your Summer With A Purpose. Leave a comment here. Head over to AMAfeed where I'm hosting an AMA (ask me anything) and interact with the community there. Or like The Distillery Podcast Facebook Page and let me know if you've downloaded the SWAP 15 workbook and would like to be invited to the private Facebook group. The Summer With A Purpose has just begun. What do you stand to gain if you SWAP out just 15 minutes a week for this challenge? What do you stand to lose if you continue to go about business as usual and don't attempt to join in and clarify your purpose?

Hello friends! Welcome to a Summer With A Purpose. SWAP out 15 minutes each week to clarify your purpose and discern what it means for you to live a life you’re proud of. The show notes for the summer episodes will be a little different as each podcast will correspond to a section of the SWAP 15 workbook which you can download for free from the homepage. I highly encourage you to download and utilize the workbook so you can get the most value out of this summer series. You have several options for engaging in intentional conversation around this episode and getting started in your Summer With A Purpose. Leave a comment here. Head over to AMAfeed where I'm hosting an AMA (ask me anything) and interact with the community there. Or like The Distillery Podcast Facebook Page and let me know if you've downloaded the SWAP 15 workbook and would like to be invited to the private Facebook group. The Summer With A Purpose starts now. Will you join me?

You want to live a life you’re proud of. But perhaps you’re not completely confident about what that looks like, or what exactly that means for you. If that’s you - if you feel there may be a gap between your desire to live a life you’re proud of and the life you’re actually living - you’re invited to join me for SWAP 15. SWAP out your normal summer for a Summer With A Purpose. Here’s the challenge: SWAP out just 15 active minutes a week of whatever you’d normally spend your time on and spend that 15 minutes engaging work that will guide you to clarify your purpose. Committing to 15 active minutes each week will provide you space to look at your life with intention and walk away with increased confidence about what it means for you to live a life you’re proud of. That’s why I’m calling it SWAP 15; it’s a Summer With A Purpose accomplished in just 15 active minutes a week. There’s 14 weeks between memorial day and labor day. By committing to that 15 minute SWAP for those 14 weeks by the end of the summer you’ll clarify your purpose and grow your confidence that you know what it means to live a life you’re proud of. You may remember the first few episodes of the distillery focused on purpose and I created a corresponding purpose journal that is freely available on the website www.thedistillery.group The original purpose journal will remain freely available on the website, no email address needed. This journal has been updated and retooled as the SWAP 15 workbook which will be available on the website free of charge once you provide your email address. I’m not going to start bombarding you with lots of emails! I want you to give me your email for this one so I can encourage you to stick with me throughout the summer and really use the workbook to clarify your purpose. The workbook is structured for you to listen to the podcast episode prior to working on the corresponding journal section each week. The podcast episode will introduce the questions/topics you’ll engage that week giving your mind time to think and reflect so you can jump in and complete the work more quickly. The summer podcasts will be short, likely 10 minutes or less. Podcast listening time is considered passive work; you can listen and then reflect on the work to be done while driving, running, cleaning, etc. You can even listen multiple times if you’re someone who needs to think and reflect more before writing or responding. With the preparatory reflection space you should be able to hop in and complete the corresponding section of the purpose journal in just 15 minutes each week. If you’re happy where you’re at and completely satisfied with your life, that’s fantastic. You could probably still benefit from the SWAP 15 but you may not be too motivated to jump in. But if you’re like most of us and you’ve got some tension, frustration, uncertainty you’d like to address… If you’re not completely confident that you know your purpose or that you know what it means for you to live a life you’re proud of, what are you waiting for? The Summer With A Purpose episodes start next week! The SWAP 15 workbook will be posted on the website when next week’s podcast episode goes live and we’ll jump right in together. Will you join me? Think through the kind of summer you’re going to have. Will you have the same kind of summer you normally have and meet the fall in the same busy rhythm you usually repeat? Or will you carve out a little time to give yourself a real gift this summer? To clarify your purpose. To clarify what it really means for you to live a life you’re proud of. What will you choose to do with your time this summer ? End of episode coaching question: I’m assuming anyone listening to this podcast has a desire to live a life you’re proud of. How confident are you that you know what that means in your own life? How could you benefit from clarifying for yourself what it means for you to live a life you’re proud of?

Welcome back friends! Thank you for joining me here on The Distillery Podcast. At the beginning of last episode which was focused on coaching I asked if you’ve been in a situation of talking with a friend and receiving advice or empathy, and ultimately feeling frustrated knowing your friend meant well yet wasn’t very helpful… Today we’re focusing on a piece of the overall focus last week, the power of questions. Questions are one of the most potent tools in a coach’s toolbox. And to begin looking at how powerful questions can be we’re going to look at that same scenario and flip it around. We’ve all experienced someone trying, and failing, to be helpful AND we’ve probably all been that friend as well; trying to be helpful, offering advice or just being sympathetic within a conversation and failing to give the other person what they really need. Truthfully, it’s what most of us are taught and know how to do! Sometimes some advice or a listening ear is exactly what the other person was looking for, yet, there are also times when something different is needed. Listening, giving some advice, sharing a story, being empathetic, those are the most common tools most of us have in our toolbox. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Questions, again, are one of the most potent tools in a coach’s toolbox. You can benefit from the idea, philosophy, of coaching even if you’re not in a spot to engage a coach right now by focusing on the power of questions and learning to ask questions of yourself and other people. This will certainly open up to you some of the benefits you’d expect to receive from working with a coach. Coaching is wonderful, I made that pretty clear last episode. And coaching is only one type of relationship and not everyone will be in a place to engage in a coaching relationship. While that would be wonderful, that’s ok! You can still benefit from the concept of coaching, as I mentioned last episode, simply by leaning into the power of questions. Being asked questions that perhaps no one else is asking you is one of the key things that can help you discover new insights, help you understand more deeply what’s going on within yourself or gain a different perspective on a situation so you can address it in a new way and move forward. What do I mean when I say lean into the power of questions? Learn to ask yourself and others probing questions. Don’t settle for the quick answer from yourself or another person, dig deeper into what’s going on behind the words. Learning to ask powerful, probing, questions, to ask and really listen to the answer as a coach will do, is a wonderful skill that will help you be a better listener, help you show up more effectively within all the roles you live into whether that’s a manager, friend, parent, spouse, etc. When talking about the power of questions it’s important to mention a possible counter point. We’ve all probably had the experience where someone asked a question but was really making a statement or trying to prove a point. I’ve done it, you’ve done it, and clearly that’s not the kind of questions I’m talking about here. Good, powerful questions probe deeper, they seek more knowledge. They come out of an openness to learn or discover new insights. They doin’t need to be long or complicated. They simply need to inquire deeper and ask for responses beyond “yes” “no” or other single word answers. When I’m talking about coaching, consulting, asking questions, I like to talk about this concept of trying to listen “between the lines.” Which means listening to what’s being said, how it’s being said, what’s not being said, etc. and then asking questions to get deeper into those unexplored, unarticulated places. Questions become powerful when they elicit thoughtfulness and reflection. That’s what happens when you’re asked a question that really makes you think. That you can’t answer off the top of your head. And that’s when learning happens and new insights are found.

Have you ever vented or processed a problem with a friend only to be met with suggestions or “you know what you should do…” kind of statements? And found yourself walking away from that conversation knowing your friend was well intentioned yet feeling it hadn’t been helpful? If that sounds familiar at all, stick around, because we’re going to be talking all about coaching and how coaching provides a very different, life-giving type of processing space. I imagine everyone has experience the type of situation described just now. A time when you’ve reached out to a friend or family member or even mentor for help processing through something and ended up feeling like it wasn’t at all the help you were looking for or needed; perhaps without even know how to articulate what would actually have been helpful. Or maybe you’ve vented or processed a difficult situation or decision with someone who listened and was very empathetic yet ultimately not that helpful either. It’s great to be listened to and understood yet if that’s where it ends how has that helped you make a decision or move forward in a helpful way? This is where coaching comes in and is extremely beneficial. Because all of us here, we’re living our lives, and trying to do the best we can. We all have a variety of relationships and roles to fulfill in our own lives; friend, family member, boss, employee, co-worker, spouse, etc. And each of these different roles come with their own set of expectations; ways that we need to show up, interact and be present. Which is a good thing! We all have a variety of needs that will best be filled by a variety of people through many different types of relationships. Yet in general none of these relationships are shaped to show up in your life the way a coach is trained and prepared to show up within a person’s life. The term “coach” or “coaching” has been thrown around increasingly over the last number of years and people can definitely mean different things when they talk about coaching. As coaching was taught to me, how I now teach it and firmly believe in it, a coach doesn’t need to be an expert with special knowledge in whatever area you’re trying to move forward in. Because a coach listens deeply and non-judgmentally, asks powerful questions to help you dig deeper and articulate what you know and what you may need to find out more about. A coach will ask you questions to guide you through setting goals that are important to you and then continue to walk with you asking questions and giving you space to process so you’re able to find the clarity and courage to move forward towards your goals. That sounds pretty awesome, right? In actuality it’s a very rare experience for any of us to feel completely listened to and heard. It’s rare to have a completely safe space to process out loud difficult situations or to set goals and process through how to start working towards them. It’s rare to have true, regular accountability with someone asking you how you’re doing on commitments you’ve made to yourself. The rarity of these kinds of relationships, coupled with how life-giving and beneficial it sounded, is what initially drew me to coaching in the first place. I was first introduced to the idea of coaching close to 15 years ago towards the end of my time in seminary. And I loved the concept of a safe place to set goals and process how to move forward. Several years later I was finally in a place where I could receive some coaching and be trained as a coach as well; I’ve been involved with coaching ever since then both receiving coaching and coaching others. And engaging in additional training as a coach and more recently I’ve transitioned into providing some coach training alongside the person who initially trained me… Coaching has allowed me to be more intentional in my job, my professional decisions and career, and in my personal life. Coaching has helped me wade through my own thoughts and expectations,

Welcome back to the distillery podcast! Last episode we focused on common sense and why it’s important to know and understand the difference between common sense, common knowledge and common nature. In this minisode we’ll explore common nature further as I think it can add helpful nuance to one of the most frustrating realities I think everyone experiences at some point; the fact that as people we often get in our own way. What do I mean by that? Last episode’s coaching question centered around identifying an area to focus on regularly asking yourself, “Am I about to do what’s easiest, or what’s best?” That question is really just one way of highlighting how you may be getting in your own way at times. It’s shining a light on how your action (or inaction) may actually be working against your own goals or the things you say you care about. But kind of “sleepwalking” through life - living out of that common nature without thinking about it, paying attention to it or questioning it - is just one way we can get in our own way. Do you have an inner dialogue in your head? If fact, we all do! Sometimes that inner dialogue is critical, judgmental, shaming… When your inner dialogue gets out of whack you may convince yourself you can’t do something when really it’s just hard or scary. Or you may convince yourself you have no other options but the crummy one you see in front of your face when in fact there are always myriad of possibilities that can be hard to see if you’re stuck in your own tunnel vision. Sometimes that inner dialogue gets in the way of living into what’s actually most important to you. At times you may have competing goals, or even just too many goals, that you’re trying to work towards simultaneous without realizing the real strain, push and pull you’re putting on yourself in the process. You’re getting in your own way because you don’t even realize the impossible struggle you’ve caused. I think you probably get the point by now. Sometimes as humans we’re all going to be our own worst enemy. Sometimes you’re biggest problem or struggle really will be that you’re getting in your own way. What’s the point of this discussion? To make you feel bad about how you might be the cause of your own frustration? Definitely not! These things often go on unconsciously, meaning you’re not aware of how your thoughts or actions might actually be in your way. But - and here’s the important part - once you’re aware of these dynamics, once you accept that you may be getting in your own way, at times being your own worst enemy, then you can actually pay attention, notice and do something about it! This is one of those places where the saying “knowledge is power” is definitely true. End of Episode Coaching Questions: Where have you possibly been getting in your own way lately? Now that you named that reality, what are you going to do about it?

Today we’re talking about common sense, which is actually a very important topic. Here’s the important truth: Common sense isn’t common knowledge or common nature. Ok, what does that mean? Why is it important? I’m so glad you asked! There’s a lot of common sense wisdom floating around that’s really great information. The kind of thing that, when you hear it, just makes sense. You know what I’m talking about: “If you want to save money spend less than you earn.” “If you’re lonely pick up the phone and call a friend.” “If you want to learn something new spend time doing that thing every day.” You get my drift… These examples all represent some common sense wisdom. You hear it, read it, and it just makes sense. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize common sense. Yet just because something makes sense doesn’t mean its information we’re aware of or living into on a daily basis. Common sense is so simple it can be easy to dismiss or ignore when we hear it. It takes humility and courage to acknowledge there may be simple, easy to understand truths you’re completely unaware of or have been ignoring. Ah, but here’s where it gets trickier. Because once we know something consciously most of us assume we’ll easily, naturally align our actions with this knowledge. Yet even as you hear that statement you probably realized that this often doesn’t happen! Why is this? Common nature often leads us to save energy in the moment, even when it costs us more in the long run. Common sense usually requires more energy in the moment in order to save energy in the long run. This dynamic is where the break down occurs. If we’re not paying attention most of us will behave in a way that saves our effort or energy in the moment because that’s literally what will “feel” and “seem” best. Paying attention allows us to see the bigger picture and reminds us that a little more effort right now will result in a significant savings later, sometimes in as little as five minutes! It’s hard to gain that self awareness on your own without accountability or outside perspective. Coaching and/or counseling are really helpful for developing greater self awareness. But if you want to take a small step towards living a life you’re proud of now you can begin by regularly asking yourself this question, “Am I about to do what’s easiest, or what’s best?” The answer wont always seem clear. Sometimes you’ll forget to ask. But the more you use this question the more you’ll remember to ask it. And the more you ask it the better you’ll get at knowing your answer with confidence. You can do it. End of Episode Coaching Questions: What is a specific area of your life where committing to asking yourself, “am I about to do what’s easiest, or what’s best?” will be beneficial for you? What will help you remember to ask yourself this question? “Am I about to do what’s easiest, or what’s best?”

Last episode we talked about being too busy and I walked you through some questions encouraging you to name one thing or one area that busyness comes from and choose one small action you can commit to that will address that busyness. I hope that you followed through and got value from that episode. If you didn’t follow through, or struggled coming up with one small action item, I’d encourage you to go back and listen again, probe your mind as you listen and commit to something that will help move you forward towards living a life you’re proud of… Today’s minisode touches on that busyness feeling from a slightly different angle - perspective. There’s definitely value in what we did last week, digging in deeper to that busyness feeling and where it comes from. There can also be value in choosing to shift your perspective and look at something other than what’s bothering you or dragging you down. It can be easy to trick ourselves into thinking we don’t have a choice about our perspective, what we choose to look at or focus on. As soon as I say that you know it’s not true, right? Physically, visually, if you’re staring straight ahead you can move your head to the side and look right or turn around and look behind you, etc. Emotionally you can do that as well. Sometimes when life feels overwhelming or too much, too busy as we talked about last week, or too lonely, too empty, too… you fill in the blank. Sometimes when life feels that way there can be immense value in choosing to shift your perspective, choosing to look at your life differently or through a different lens. There are many lenses, today I want to highlight just two: celebration and gratitude. Look at your life - what do you have to celebrate? Now, don’t start listing off in your head the things you DON’T have to celebrate or the big things you’re hoping to celebrate soon. What do you have to celebrate right now? It doesn’t have to be big, in fact learning to take time to recognize the small wins, the small things to celebrate in life, is a really valuable skill. Just by asking yourself what you have to celebrate you’ve turned your head a little to one side emotionally, you’re suddenly focused on finding what’s good. It’s a similar dynamic with gratitude. Simply ask yourself, what do I have to be grateful for? And really make yourself answer the question. EVERYONE who is listening to this podcast has numerous things they can name to be grateful for in life. This is an area the Bible has some perfectly articulated wisdom to share. At the end of a letter to a group of believers they’re reminded, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.”* Think about such things. That truly is timely and timeless advice. Sometimes when things feel off, or overwhelming, not good in some way, this really is the advice that we need. Think about such things. Turn your heart just a little to the side, look at what you can celebrate, or what you can be grateful for. Allow these things to play into your internal narrative of how you understand your own life. End of Episode Coaching Questions: What’s something you can celebrate in your life right now? What are you grateful for? Take some time and name at least seven things you’re grateful for; go ahead, I know you can do it! Think back through your answers - the thing you can celebrate, the things you’re grateful for - what can you learn from your answers to these questions? *From Philippians 4:8 NIV