Encore Living

Have you ever been in an argument or debate with someone who seems to have a strong opinion but lacks the knowledge to back it up? It can be frustrating to have a conversation with someone who doesn't seem to know what they're talking about. In this episode I explore the power of asking the question, "What do you know?" as a way to challenge someone's opinion and get them...

You know when you go the beach, and you stand at the edge of the waves, and they come in and wash over your feet. If you stand there long enough, you’ll begin to sink in. The sand will wash over your feet, enveloping them. Over time, enough waves come and go. And soon, you’re stuck. (METAPHOR ALERT!!) In today's episode, I consider if sometimes life can get a little too comfortable, and like...

Remember 11th grade chemistry and all the cool experiments you did? As adults, I don't think we experiment enough. I think Ralph Waldo Emerson might have agreed with me on this. In a quote from his essay "Circles," Emerson says, "I unsettle all things. No facts to me are sacred; none are profane. I simply experiment, an endless seeker with no Past at my back." In this epis...

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you're moving from one activity to another and struggling to shift gears? Maybe you just got home from a long day at work, and you're feeling tired, stressed, and frustrated, but you know you need to show up as the best version of yourself for your family.  How can you transition from one situation to another more effectively? In this epi...

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the constant barrage of news? Do you find yourself checking the headlines multiple times a day?  In this episode I talk about the benefits of going on a 24-hour news detox, including reduced stress, improved focus and productivity, and increased mindfulness and self-awareness. Going on a news detox can reduce stress and anxiety by giving yourself a chance to step bac...

Welcome to Episode 100 of "Every Day A New Thought." Woo hoo! Starting January 1, I have now published 100 consecutive daily episodes of the show, both here on the podcast, and also on my YouTube channel. In this episode, a share a few of my insights on the first 100 episodes, including my thoughts on pushing through doubt and uncertainty. I also share a brief essay I wrote in my ministe...

You've heard of the benefits of meditation and stillness, right? But have you ever wondered what meditation does, and why it's so valuable? In this episode, I explore the first law of Deepak Chopra's best-selling book, "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success," which he calls the law of pure potentiality.  By the end of the episode, you will learn three ways to access this law...

How open minded are you to learning new ideas? Especially ideas that an give you more impact and influence? In today's episode, I share more magic words from Phil M. Jones's book "Exactly What To Say: The Magic Words for Impact and Influence." Today's magic phrase is "How open-minded are you?" All episodes in the series #091 - "I'm not sure if it's...

What does signing autographs have to do with creating a vision for your future? In this episode, I look at how physical sensations can make your vision feel real. Baseball pitcher Tug McGraw famously said, "Kids should practice autographing baseballs. This is a skill that's overlooked in Little League." From a metaphysical point of view, he's 100% right. By engaging all your se...

Do you find yourself constantly complaining about the same thing but feel helpless to make a change? In this episode, I present a four-step process to transform complaining into action. Key points: Step 1: Identify what you complain about the most Step 2: Determine why you think you can't change it Step 3: Brainstorm ways you can change it Step 4: Decide which steps you will take and take act...

Do you struggle with procrastination? Are you tired of putting off important tasks and feeling unproductive? In this episode, I explore the reasons behind procrastination and offer a simple solution to overcome it in just five seconds. Drawing from Mel Robbins' bestselling book The Five Second Rule , I explains how to use a countdown to motivate yourself to take action. ' I also share a...

Have you ever thought about the interesting history or culture of where you live? In this episode, I encourag you to explore the unique aspects of your hometown and share them with others. • I share his own experience of discovering the surprising history of his neighborhood, including an old airport and a movie filmed in the area. • I highlight the benefits of learning about your city, including...

In today's episode, I explore the idea of "ready fire aim" and why maybe it's better to take action and make adjustments along the way. Too often, people spend all their time "aiming" and thinking about doing something, rather than taking action. In his book, "The Successf Principles," Jack Canfield offers an example of firing at a target practice range and...

Have you ever wondered what the meaning of life is? What if we have been looking at it from the wrong perspective? What if the meaning of life is not something outside of us, but rather inside us waiting to be discovered?  In this episode, I consider Viktor Frankl's perspective on the meaning of life, as detailed in his international bestseller, "Man's Search for Meaning". Vikt...

I'm not sure if this episode is for you, but have you ever struggled to pitch something to someone without coming off as pushy or salesy? Today, I share a powerful eight-word phrase that can deliver huge results in business and life.  (And by the way, I just used the phrase in the very first sentence!) This insight comes from the Phil M. Jones' book, "Exactly What To Say: The Magic...

Want to know one way to get over procrastination? Make it easier to start things. David Allen, in his book "Getting Things Done," discusses the idea of 'Getting Back to Neutral.' Meaning, at the END of a work session, return your work space back to neutral. Clean things up. Put things away. Make it easier to start the next time you want to work on this project. In today's...

Have you heard the football term, "end zone efficency?" It measures a team's success in actually finishing drives with a touchdown. We can think of our own finishing success rate this way. How much do you actually finish. In today's episode, I talk about finishing what you start. This isn't always easy. Sometimes there are good reasons why we don't complete something,...

How can you discover and protect your most creative space? In this episode, I talk about the importance of discovering where and when you are most creative, and how to protect that space. Creativity is not limited to creating art, but can involve anything that involves making something new. Think about when and where you tend to get new ideas. Once you have a general sense of that, you can "p...

Have you ever taken the time to make a list of your favorite things? In this episode, I encourage you to be more deliberate about your choices and make a list of things they actually like. Knowing yourself and what you like makes it easier to make choices based on your desires. I suggest taking 10-15 minutes of quiet time and ask yourself, "What do I like doing?" This would make a great...

What is the missing ingredient to gratitude and how can we express it more deeply? In today's episode, I talk about the power of asking one simple question: Why? In yesterday's episode, I talked about the idea of being grateful wherever you happen to be. You can make a simple list of everything you are grateful for, no matter the size or value. Today, I talk about why it's important...

What's the missing ingredient in gratitude? Everything! As in, focus on every-little-thing, not just the big things we usually think about. In this episode, I talk about the importance of expressing gratitude for the little things in life, as well as the benefits of creating a gratitude list. I suggest taking a few moments to look around your current environment and make a list of at least fi...

When you write a mission statement and go after what you want, things always work out, right? Just like in the movies. Well... In today's episode, I look at the movie "Jerry Maguire," where the main character, Jerry Maguire, writes a bold vision for what he wants his life to be about. In yesterday's episode -- #083: -- I looked at the beginning of the movie, where Jerry crafted...

"Show me the money!!" -- that's probably the most famous line from the 1996 movie, "Jerry Maguire," starring Tom Cruise, Renee Zelweger and Cuba Gooding, Jr. But there are three other lines I quote in today's episode, as I talk about how to craft a meaningful mission statement. In the story, Jerry has a life epiphany that causes him to write his life's mission st...

If you received $1,000 today, $2,000 tomorrow, and an ever-increasing amount every day for the next 30 days, what would you spend it on? In this episode, Part 2 in my 2-part series, I share my experience playing The Prosperity Game. Yes, over the next 30 days, I'm going to imaginarily spend $465,000. Yesterday, in Part 1 , I spoke about the mechanics of how to play this game, including: What...

If you received $1,000 today, $2,000 tomorrow, and an ever-increasing amount every day for the next 30 days, what would you spend it on? In this episode, Part 1 of 2, I share my experience playing The Prosperity Game. Yes, over the next 30 days, I'm going to imaginarily spend $465,000. In this show, I talk about: What you need to know to begin How to track your spending What types of things y...