Decide Your Legacy

Today we’re diving into some surprising truths about self care. I share my personal journey of overcoming a major sleep issue and anxiety, and how I realized that my self-focused mindset was holding me back. Inspired by a powerful sermon from Craig Groeschel, I discuss the importance of thinking less about yourself, thinking more about others, and shifting your perspective for better mental and ph...

In this episode of the Decide Your Legacy podcast, we delve into practical strategies for confronting and overcoming your biggest fears. Drawing from my personal experiences, like tackling my fear of flying and challenging myself in a paddleboard yoga class, I outline three essential steps: counting the cost of avoidance, recognizing the opportunities and growth in facing fears, and leveraging you...

In today’s episode, we discuss the importance of facing fears, based on my own experiences including a risky cab ride in Montreal. Throughout the episode, I explore seven unexpected benefits of confronting fears: reduced anxiety, a smaller ego, increased creativity, improved relationships, access to new opportunities, better health, and enhanced confidence. I challenge you to take noteworthy actio...

In today’s episode, we dive deep into the pervasive issue of distraction and its impact on our lives. I start by sharing my own struggles with distraction and how I often fall victim to addictive algorithms. I discuss the importance of taking ownership of our attention and share advice from strangers on minimizing distractions. We explore the three pillars of focus: managing emotions, creating pro...

Today we are going to spend some intentional time on the critical topic of owning your attention amidst a world full of distractions. I share my personal struggle with getting sucked into my phone and how it can derail an entire day. Today, we outline three key strategies to reclaim focus: starting your day right, ending your day right, and stopping the spiral of distraction by facing underlying f...

In this episode of the Decide Your Legacy podcast, we delve into the crucial topic of avoiding the negative impact of toxic people in your life. I discuss three essential truths that you need to understand: recognizing your own toxic behaviors, identifying toxicity in others, and owning your attention as your property. Drawing from my 25 years of experience as a mental health professional, I'll gu...

Welcome to episode 120 of the Decide Your Legacy podcast! Today, we're diving deep into the topics of facing fear and asking for what you want. Joined by my special guest and father, Eric Gragg, we'll explore how addiction and fear can act as major roadblocks in life. We'll break down the fear of rejection and offer three powerful tools to help you ask for what you want: cultivating courage, maint...

Today we delve into the common issue of clients avoiding confrontation with their past traumas due to the fear of being labeled as 'playing the victim'. We discuss the importance of facing and acknowledging past hurts like trauma, abuse, or betrayal to avoid being perpetually victimized by them. I outline four crucial steps: admitting the impact of past events, recognizing their effects, discussin...

Today we delve into the struggles and pressures of constantly seeking validation from others. I share my personal experiences and highlight the detrimental effects of comparison and people-pleasing on mental health. In this episode, I present four practical tools to help break the cycle of trying to impress others: sharing your vulnerabilities, being true to yourself, measuring progress against yo...

In today's episode, we dive deep into my personal struggles with negativity over the past several years and share how I've learned to tackle these challenges head-on. We'll discuss the ease of falling into negative thought patterns and how common this struggle is for many of us. I'll share three actionable strategies to help you stop being negative: eating healthy with your mind, recognizing and r...

Welcome to episode 116 of the 'Decide Your Legacy' podcast. Today we're diving deep into how you can recognize when someone is struggling and what you can do to support them. I'll be walking you through practical methods to encourage, build trust, and connect emotionally with others. With personal anecdotes and research-backed strategies, this episode is designed to help you transform stress into...

In this episode of the Decide Your Legacy podcast, we dive deep into the transformative world of coaching, comparing and contrasting it with counseling. Reflecting on my personal journey, I share how the evolution from a controlled, teaching-centric approach to a more liberating, coaching-oriented mindset has brought immense joy and fulfillment into my life and the lives of those I work with. We a...

Today we will delve into the profound importance and transformative potential of having unforgettable conversations. Drawing from a personal experience of reconnection with old friends, I illustrate how engaging, meaningful dialogue can strengthen relationships and foster deep connections after years of distance. We will detail three essential strategies to make every interaction memorable: lettin...

Today, I want to share my conviction that life balance is key to success and happiness. This episode revolves around understanding the life wheel for consistent self-assessment across seven crucial life areas. I unpack three critical secrets to living a balanced life: redefining life balance with healthy, realistic expectations, the importance of getting organized to avoid distraction, and the pow...

Today we are going delve into the often misunderstood concept of life balance. We are going to challenge the common belief that life balance is unattainable, proposing instead a realistic approach to achieving it. We will discuss the seven essential areas of life: spiritual, family, health and self-care, intellectual, social and fun, career and business, and financial. By sharing personal stories...

Today on the Decide Your Legacy podcast we are going to dive into the topic of building trust. Drawing from my experiences working with fatherless kids and men in prison, I reflect on the stark reality of fatherlessness among the incarcerated and its impact on trust. We will discuss the seven pivotal keys to nurturing trust: nurturing self-trust, mitigating overthinking, championing consistency, e...

I'm thrilled to take you through a journey of understanding the critical role of accountability in personal growth and self-improvement. From the release of my new course, Shatterproof Yourself, to overcoming personal challenges with nicotine addiction, I share firsthand the transformative power of having accountable relationships in our lives. I'll share four compelling reasons why accountability...

Today, we're unpacking a question close to my heart and crucial for our mental health—how do we relax? Inspired by a client's struggle with finding calm in the chaos, we delve deep into the art of relaxation. Together, we explore the significance of engaging with others, the transformative power of letting go, and the pivotal role of choosing productive distractions. Furthermore, I demystify mindf...

In this episode we will dive into the profound impact of mentoring. Special guest David Riffel, executive director of Mentoring Warriors, joins me to share his inspiring story from facing a life-threatening health scare to founding a non-profit focused on mentoring young men. David unfolds the significance of 'father wounds', the necessity of being a safe and trustworthy mentor, and the mutual gro...

On this episode, host Adam Gragg discusses the importance of dealing with past trauma. He highlights how individuals achieve life-changing transformations by confronting their past and working on self improvement. Through these transformations, he observes clearer vision and direction in life, improved mental and physical health, and the ability to express love to oneself and others more freely. A...

On this milestone 100th original episode of the Decide Your Legacy Podcast, we are going to talk about the three main reasons that I struggle with change: pursuing comfort, giving in to fear, and holding onto a flawed identity. We’ll cover my personal experience and perspective, touching on my journey as a therapist and content creator. Today I’m going to challenge you to recognize and confront yo...

In this episode, we are going to discuss seven profound self-care secrets inspired by my client's decision to make a 'life list' of things that make him happy and things he wanted to improve. We’ll talk about asking for help, avoiding hypocrisy, self-retreats, creating a self-care plan, managing finances, creating a happy list, and being rigid in prioritization. Self-care plays a critical role in...

This year is the one to build in more positive experiences to your life.  We discuss how nostalgic moments led me to realize the importance of creating positive experiences in life. Practical advice includes creating an experience-oriented mindset, learning to prioritize experiences over material possessions, and seeing the potential for great memories in every moment. On this episode we emphasize...

As we close out the year and look ahead, we discuss seven decisions listeners can make to ensure a fruitful 2024. These decisions range from focusing on dreams, choosing an outward perspective, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and learning to cope with discomfort, among others. Adopting such choices will contribute to one's overall mental health, personal relationships, and overall sense of happin...

In this episode we are going to discuss the importance of overcoming fear to build better connections with others. We reveal three key attitudes for making new friendships and enhancing existing ones: viewing people as fascinating, finding ways to assist them, and seeing conflict as an opportunity to grow. I’ll also share personal experiences, give insights on managing internal conflicts, and offe...