The Power Of Vulnerability
The more you can embrace and express your unique truth the better your relationships will become, the more compelling your content will be, and the more engaging you will be as a speaker.
This isn’t always easy and for some people it doesn’t come naturally, but it is certainly worth the effort.
The more you can embrace and express your unique truth the better your relationships will become, the more compelling your content will be, and the more engaging you will be as a speaker.
This isn’t always easy and for some people it doesn’t come naturally, but it is certainly worth the effort.
Take Action:
Speak your honest vulnerable truth. This can be big or small, in person or online. Either way, lean into it!
Books Covered:
Give Them Goosebumps - Miroslav Petrovic
Are You A Highly Sensitive Person?
If you identify as introverted, anxious, empathic, neurotic, or easily overstimulated, you may be a ‘highly sensitive person’ - a term taken from the book by the same name.
It promotes self-awareness and acceptance, as well as the reframing of those traits as a positive and necessary component of a healthy society. We need decisive people of action as well as a sensitive class of advisors to guide them. That way, the right stuff gets done…
If you identify as introverted, anxious, empathic, neurotic, or easily overstimulated, you may be a ‘highly sensitive person’ - a term taken from the book by the same name.
It promotes self-awareness and acceptance, as well as the reframing of those traits as a positive and necessary component of a healthy society. We need decisive people of action as well as a sensitive class of advisors to guide them. That way, the right stuff gets done.
It also provides guidance on how to navigate the world as a highly sensitive person, and how to talk with those high in that trait. Reflective listening is offered as a way to validate the strong emotions of those around us, without falling into the trap of irrationally changing things only because of the impact of those emotions on our mental state.
Take Action:
For the next five minutes, think on replacing the your internal label of ‘anxiety’ with ‘sensitivity’, then ask, ‘what does the world need right now?’
Books Covered:
The Highly Sensitive Person - Elaine Aron
Give Yourself Effective Self-Care
Effective self-care is more than just eating cake. Ideally it should make you feel good over the long term: diet, exercise, meditation, relaxation, medication, study, and practice.
Of course, if you need to do something to survive, do it. But also consider what will help you NOT to have to do those short term fixes again.
Morning rituals can help you, as well as a list of ‘go to’ activities that work for you in different contexts (calm breathing, breaks, books, music).
Self improvement + Relaxation = Effective Self-Care
Effective self-care is more than just eating cake. Ideally it should make you feel good over the long term: diet, exercise, meditation, relaxation, medication, study, and practice.
Of course, if you need to do something to survive, do it. But also consider what will help you NOT to have to do those short term fixes again.
Morning rituals can help you, as well as a list of ‘go to’ activities that work for you in different contexts (calm breathing, breaks, books, music).
Self improvement + Relaxation = Effective Self-Care
Take Action:
Write a list of five things that could be used as positive forms of self-care. Try them and if they work, keep them on a list on you. If not, cross it off and add something new to the list and repeat!
Books Covered:
The Dialectic Behavioural Skills Workbook - Matthew McKay
How To Give & Receive Good Feedback
Well delivered and received feedback can make good projects truly great.
Learning how to navigate the ego and deliver appropriate critiques with tact, timing is a skill that can be learnt.
It can also be taught. If you are an artist, writer, entrepreneur or creative, it is vital you know how to get those around to give you feedback that you can use.
Well delivered and received feedback can make good projects truly great.
Learning how to navigate the ego and deliver appropriate critiques with tact, timing is a skill that can be learnt.
It can also be taught. If you are an artist, writer, entrepreneur or creative, it is vital you know how to get those around to give you feedback that you can use.
Self awareness is key:
Do you need critique or cheerleading? What about when the project is complete?
Do you want advice or general ‘feelings’ reported back?
Do you want a discussion or summary?
Timing is key:
It is important to nurture creative projects until they are able to hold their own. Too soon, and the critique could kill, too late and the project may be to solidified.
Take Action:
Take a moment to introspect on your creative process, do you need more cheerleading or critiquing?
Books Covered:
Shadows Beneath - Writing Excuses Anthology
KINK, Volume 1, erotic fiction & poetry - Zachary Phillips
Gut Health, Food Choices & Yes, How To Poop Correctly
Good gut health is vital for optimal performance.
Our physical and mental health can be detrimentally impacted if our gut biome falls out of balance.
Fortunately, we can take action to ensure that we are as healthy as possible…
Good gut health is vital for optimal performance.
Our physical and mental health can be detrimentally impacted if our gut biome falls out of balance.
Fortunately, we can take action to ensure that we are as healthy as possible:
1) Eat food that promote good gut bacteria (pre-biotics) as well as take pro-biotic supplements. This will reduce illness durations and increase our immunity levels.
2) Poop with the correct posture (legs up/squatting and relaxed). Gross, but considering how often we poop, we need to be doing it right.
3) Eat with calm. Don’t rush food, or make it a stress as doing so reduces digestive efficiency.
4) Determine what kinds of foods you struggle to digest and start gently removing them from your diets (eg: gluten, dairy etc).
Take Action:
The next time you eat, do so mindfully. Feel your body before, during and after the meal. How do you feel? Do you like the feeling?
Books Covered:
Gut - Giulia Enders
Aim For The Top Like Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger has achieved amazing amounts of success in many diverse areas; business, body building, acting and politics.
His autobiography teaches us to:
1: Aim for the top because there is space there (most people settle for the middle, thus it’s full).
2: Approach life like a happy puppy (focus on what can go right, deal with problems when they arise).
3: Visualise success (picture your future success so vividly that it feels inevitable).
Arnold Schwarzenegger has achieved amazing amounts of success in many diverse areas; business, body building, acting and politics.
His autobiography teaches us to:
1: Aim for the top because there is space there (most people settle for the middle, thus it’s full).
2: Approach life like a happy puppy (focus on what can go right, deal with problems when they arise).
3: Visualise success (picture your future success so vividly that it feels inevitable).
Take Action:
Choose a passion and think about what the absolute top looks like. Visualise yourself there. Consider what it would take to reach the top, and what the first step would be.
Books Covered:
Total Recall - Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Power Of Breath - Calm Birth
What is considered ‘normal’ may not be right for you.
Take a moment to consider the underlying and unspoken rules that dictate your decision making around relationships, work and family. You may find that there are some changes that can be made that more align with your values and desires.
If you control the breath you control the mind.
Calm Birth is a system designed to provide the best birthing experience possible through meditation, information and visualisations.
The lessons learnt here can be applied across all aspects of our lives.
Take Action:
Five minutes of slow breathing, 4 seconds in, 6 seconds out.
Books Covered:
Calm Birth - Suzy Ashworth
Breaking Societal Norms - Embracing Unique Approaches To Work, Romance & Parenting
What is considered ‘normal’ may not be right for you.
Take a moment to consider the underlying and unspoken rules that dictate your decision making around relationships, work and family. You may find that there are some changes that can be made that more align with your values and desires.
What is considered ‘normal’ may not be right for you.
Take a moment to consider the underlying and unspoken rules that dictate your decision making around relationships, work and family. You may find that there are some changes that can be made that more align with your values and desires.
Take Action:
Consider your relationships, hobbies, work, or parenting style and ask if you are living the life I want to be living? Explore potential alternative options with an open mind.
Books Covered:
Sex At Dawn - Cacilda Jethá & Christopher Ryan
The Ethical Slut - Dossie Easton & Janet Hardy
Fix Your Phobias - Lean Into Your Fears... Just Make Sure To Do It Gradually
All fear is learnt: something happens in our environment and our brain creates or strengthens your ‘phobic’ neural pathways. This cycle repeats itself every time the fear causes a change of behaviour.
Fortunately, fear can be unlearnt.
So if you are struggling with driving, spiders, heights or other fears, this episode is for you.
All fear is learnt: something happens in our environment and our brain creates or strengthens your ‘phobic’ neural pathways. This cycle repeats itself every time the fear causes a change of behaviour.
Fortunately, fear can be unlearnt.
So if you are struggling with driving, spiders, heights or other fears, this episode is for you.
Take Action:
Imagine a safe situation that involves your phobia (that you can sit with/end on success).
Books Covered:
Fix Your Phobia In 90 Minutes - Anthony Gunn
Bird By Bird – Approaching Challenges One Step At A Time
If we approach a task step by step, we are far more likely to be able to accomplish it; without the associated anxiety and overwhelm we typically face.
If you have a project or a dream that you are struggling to begin, this is the episode for you.
If we approach a task step by step, we are far more likely to be able to accomplish it; without the associated anxiety and overwhelm we typically face.
If you have a project or a dream that you are struggling to begin, this is the episode for you.
Take Action:
Set a goal and take the very first/smallest step towards that goal, then be grateful for doing so.
Books Covered:
Bird By Bird - Anne Lamott
Links Mentioned:
The Motherland Podcast
Take Extreme Ownership - It Is On You To Heal, Grow & Succeed
Everything is on you. If something happens in your life, it is your responsibility to address it. Extreme ownership is a recipe for self-efficacy and agency. It is time to take control of your life in all aspects. The buck stops with you – and that’s a good thing, because you’re going to fix it.
Everything is on you. If something happens in your life, it is your responsibility to address it. Extreme ownership is a recipe for self-efficacy and agency. It is time to take control of your life in all aspects. The buck stops with you – and that’s a good thing, because you’re going to fix it.
Take Action:
The next time you go to blame someone else, ask the question ‘What can I do to fix this?
Books Covered:
Extreme Ownership - Jocko Willink
Links Mentioned:
The Hardest Truth Of Childhood Trauma - Blog
Attack The Lead Domino - Take The Smallest Action To Produce The Largest Result
There is potentially an endless list of tasks that must be done. How do you choose which one to prioritise?
In this episode we discuss the concept of attacking the lead domino - determining the task that will have the largest positive impact possible.
There is potentially an endless list of tasks that must be done. How do you choose which one to prioritise?
In this episode we discuss the concept of attacking the lead domino - determining the task that will have the largest positive impact possible.
Take Action:
Choose an area of your life and review where your time is spent, determine which actions get the largest results.
Books Covered:
The 4-Hour Work Week - Tim Ferris
Image: Stas Knop on Pexels
Destroy Resistance - Don't Let Anything Stop You From Taking Action
There is always a reason not to take action, yet in order to be successful we must push through resistance in all its forms.
In this episode we break down how fear of failure, life pressure, family commitments, self doubt and even prior successes can cause us to stop.
There is always a reason not to take action, yet in order to be successful we must push through resistance in all its forms.
In this episode we break down how fear of failure, life pressure, family commitments, self doubt and even prior successes can cause us to stop.
Take Action:
Work on your craft for 5 minutes
Books Covered:
The War Of Art - Steven Pressfield
Links Mentioned:
Mojito the Bandito - Poem
The Writer's Prayer - Poem
Image: Gerd on Pexels