The Courageous Life

At the end of each day we do a mental scan, reviewing our experiences from that day. When people do this, they often find: The moments where they moved outside of their comfort zone The moments where they pushed themselves And the moments where they were courageous Are often the moments that they end up being most proud of. Additionally, leading courage researcher, Dr. Jim Detert asserts that when...

Today we are re-releasing one of our most popular episodes ever on the show, a powerful conversation with Dr. Marc Brackett. In this episode, we'll explore themes from his book Permission to Feel   as well as his broader work as a leader in the field of emotional intelligence. Marc, is on a mission to educate the world about the value of emotions and the skills associated with using them wise...

In the hero's journey, the hero or heroine is called to adventure.  Often in the form of a quest, a challenge, or an adversity. And often that adventure arrives unexpectedly. One of the things that’s interesting about the hero's journey is that shortly after the call a helper enters the picture. A mentor, a sage, a guide, or a coach of some sort. They help the hero to navigate the advent...

As part of a 4-part series on the Power of Compassion on The Courageous Life, yesterday we released  a beautiful conversation with Roshi Joan Halifax and Rhonda Magee.  Together they explored a variety of themes related to meeting the most pressing challenges of our time with backbone and heart.  To complement the conversations in this series I have be sharing some potent practices for opening the...

This is the finale in our 4-part series on the power of compassion, which has featured leading researchers and practitioners in illuminating conversations about how to live with a more kind, and open hearted stance toward the world. Today's conversation could not be a more fitting end as Roshi Joan Halifax and Rhonda V. Magee, two extraordinary pioneers working at the intersection of mindfuln...

In the hero's journey, the hero or heroine is called to adventure.  Often in the form of a quest, a challenge, or adversity. And often that adventure arrives unexpectedly. One of the things that’s interesting about the hero's journey is that shortly after the call a helper enters the picture. A mentor, a sage, a guide, or a coach of some sort. They help the hero to navigate the adventure...

As part of a 4-part series on the Power of Compassion yesterday we released a moving conversation with Jerry Colonna and Leah Weiss.  Together they explored the future of work: Love, Safety, and Belonging.    To complement these conversations on compassion I am sharing some of the most potent practices I’ve come across for opening the heart, and accessing more courage and compassion.  Today's...

There is a metaphor that comes out of ancient wisdom traditions of a bird. One wing of the bird represents wisdom and the other represents compassion. In order to fly the bird needs both wings. Like the bird, as people and leaders, cultivating wisdom and compassion in our lives, and in our organizations may help us to realize our potential. This metaphor serves as the centerpiece of our conversati...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Everyday Heroes and Helpers. A new series on the Courageous Life Podcast that has been a dream  since we first launched back in 2018. Part of the mission of the show has always been to share inspiring stories of everyday heroes.  Ordinary people like our neighbors, friends, colleagues, and members of our communities who find the courage to rise up and meet chall...

As part of a 4-part series on the Power of Compassion which we are re-releasing on The Courageous Life, yesterday we released  a beautiful conversation with Dr. James Doty and Dr. Jacinta Jiménez.  Together they explored a variety of themes related to cultivating greater compassion and empathy, including the possibility of fostering cultures of care within organizations.  To complement these conve...

Today we're continuing our four-part series on the power of compassion with a deep, insightful, and moving conversation between Dr. Jacinta Jiménez and Dr. James Doty.  Each episode in this series showcases a powerful duo made up of a leading researcher and practitioner who will explore themes related to compassion, courage, and living with a more open, kind, and loving stance toward the worl...

Over the next four weeks on the Courageous Life podcast we will be re releasing a 4-part series on the Power of Compassion. Yesterday we began with Part One , a powerful and moving conversation with Positive Psychology Pioneer Dr. Barbara Fredrickson and world renowned meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg. To complement these conversations over the coming weeks I will be sharing some of the most pot...

Today we’re relaunching a 4-part series on the power of compassion.  We originally released this series of conversations last season as we brought together some of the world's leading researchers and practitioners to take a deep dive into compassion, courage, and living with a more open and loving stance toward the world. Throughout this series you'll be exposed to some of the most intri...

Whether it’s presenting, facilitating, sharing in a large meeting, hosting, or some other form of being in the spotlight, Speaking in public is one of people's greatest fears which may show up in various forms: Doubt Feeling anxious or nervous Over-focusing on oneself The list goes on.  So today, we are re-releasing one of the most popular practices we've ever done, which addresses worki...

How do we find the courage to create? The courage to listen to, and follow our heart? Particularly when that means living a life that may not follow the beaten path? And how might we expand our capacity to hold more than one emotion at a time, accepting and embracing the messy experience of being human, and the inevitable ups and downs of the creative process? Today we will dive into these questio...

Yesterday we released a Courageous Life conversation with Dr. James Doty. Together we explored themes from his new book: Mind Magic The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How it Changes Everything. In both the book and our conversation Dr. Doty challenges the popular narrative around manifestation, A narrative that has narrowly emphasized outward success, materialism, and individual benefit. As an...

For decades the practice of manifestation has been widely dismissed as self-involved, materialistic pseudoscience. Today, neuroscientist and founder of the Center for Compassion at Stanford, Dr. James Doty is back on the podcast for the 3rd time. This time to discuss what he calls an antithesis to this popular narrative around manifestation, which narrowly emphasizes outward success and individual...

Yesterday we released a moving Courageous Life conversation with Juliana Tafur. Juliana is a journalist, award winning documentary filmmaker, and bridge builder. She serves as the Program Director for the Greater Good Science Center’s Bridging Differences initiative .  During our time together she shared shared some of her story, and insights from her incredible work as we explored the art and sci...

How does it feel to be seen? What is it like to be listened to in a way that you feel deeply understood? How often have you listened to others in this way? And, how often have you been listened to like this? In his book, Caring Enough to Confront , David Augsberger writes: "Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person they are almost indistinguishable." During our t...

In yesterday’s Courageous Life episode with Dr. Todd Kashdan, the author of The Art of Insubordination, w e unpacked the recipe for what he calls, principled rebellion: A courageous practice of going against the stream, Challenging conformity and questioning conventional ideas. But doing so from a place of heart . Rebelling in ways that are generative as opposed to destructive. Along these lines,...

For ideas to evolve and societies to progress, Dr. Todd Kashdan argues it's vital to cultivate principled rebels. Those who who are willing to go against the stream, to challenge conformity and question conventional ideas, But to do so from a place of heart - to practice rebellion in ways that are generative (vs. destructive). This type of authentic insubordination is fueled by  a motivation...

When I was first learning to be a coach we had a saying before stepping into a coaching conversation: Leave your assumptions at the door and embrace curiosity. In reality we often know SO little about someone’s experience, and about their story. And when we recognize that, what seems to make the most sense is to get curious . To ask questions, And to listen deeply. In yesterday's episode with...

What do you feel when you gaze up at the Milky Way, take in a beautiful sunset, stand before a mountain that seems impossibly high, or witness an extraordinary act of courage, kindness, or love? Often, it's a profound sense of awe - the overwhelming feeling we experience when we encounter something vast that transcends our understanding. In his book Awestruck ,  clinician, researcher, and mul...

On the heels of a powerful conversation with Dr. Emma Seppala we are re-releasing this Practicing Courage episode (originally #4) as it aligns intimately with the themes Emma and I explored together. Perhaps none more important than Sovereignty, which is the topic of Emma's beautiful new book: Sovereign . She defines Sovereignty as: Our innate human capacity for being resilient regardless of...

There is an internal freedom and a relationship with yourself so profoundly life-supportive and energizing that you access your fullest potential.  This is sovereignty. Our innate human capacity for being resilient regardless of the chaos that life brings and for staying true to oneself and intentional regardless of outside influences.  In her beautiful, and empowering new book: Sovereign: Reclaim...