The Second Steps; How to get unstuck and achieve your goals!

It is easy to get caught up in the business of life and become less considerate. The second step discussed in this episode is about slowing down, and being intentional about being kind to others.

So often people leave relationships or jobs and quickly jump into new ones without any self-examination. In order to make good choices it is important to reflect on your values and what kind of person you want to be. Taking stalk of your fears and worries may enable you to make more sound choices.

Rachel's trip to Africa led to family connections that confirmed her faith. Despite the hardships Rachel saw she found the faith of the African's inspiring.

When Rachel was in Africa she was struck by how much the kids valued education and were eager to learn. Education was viewed as a life changing gift. A second step is to recognize the privilege of being able to get a good education, and remembering not everyone has the same opportunities.  You can email us at secondstepspodcast@gmail.com

Rachel`s trip to South Africa highlighted that the support that is available through faith, and finding meaning beyond material goods.

With some creativity and a spirit of fun celebrating New Years doesn`t have to be complicated. Once you find a fun activity it can be made into a tradition.

Rachel tells a story of how people showed up for her in a crisis.  This story involves several second steps. 1. Reaching out for help 2. Showing up for people and 3.  Spreading love in the holiday season and the rest of the year.

Avoidance can increase fearful thoughts as the imagination runs wild. The Second step is to approach the conversation with an open heart.

In this episode we talk about how too much stuff can create conflict; When kids have less toys they have to use their imagination to play games. When we focus on what we value we can find creative solutions that emphasize connections. You are welcome to email us at secondstepspodcast@gmail.com

We discuss several second steps in this episode which involves the story of how Rachel`s grandchild takes a step, looses balance, calls out for help, receives encouraging support and then keeps going. 

This podcast is the story of one of our listener`s growing from being a part-time artist to making it her full-time gig. She describes how she was intentional about this choice, and set some larger goals that she broke into small manageable steps. She has been able to transform rejection into seeing it as feedback as she created a community for herself.

The second step often involves taking a risk. We may have to face a fear of hurting ourselves physically or feeling vulnerable. It helps to know that the sweet spot of life is often at the other side of the risk. Please email us with your story at secondstepspodcast@gmail.com

Our society and families often have very set ideas about how children should behave, what are the best types of jobs and education. Unfortunately these expectations can interfere with recognizing and celebrating the unique gifts that children and adults have. Sometimes the second step is to look beyond cultural norms and let people be themselves and pursue what lights them up. 

Sometimes in life we do get do-overs and it is important to make use of this opportunity. We all have moments when we do not show up with people in the way we want. The second step is to go back and try again. It is crucial in relationships to mend and repair when we have the chance.

There are so many demands on us these days. Trying to be the best partner, spouse, parent, employee can feel really overwhelming. It is important to remember that you are one person and have limitations. The second step in big questions is; How doe these choices align with my values and what is most important to me?

Sometimes we get busy and loose connection with others. Rachel discussed the importance of checking in with people and using the green, yellow and red traffic light exercise as a short-cut to identifying where people are at. It can open conversations or let people know to proceed with caution.

We all have fearful thoughts that can create anxiety. The second step may be to remember how faith, love, hope and gratitude cast out fear.

A wish becomes a reality when we take small steps forward. It may begin with an idea, then contemplating the idea, speaking it out loud, getting ready, and stepping out the door.

It is easy to get stuck in our own head, and start to isolate from others. Seldom do things get better when we ruminate on problems. A great second step is to reach out and you may discover that their is support when we connect with other people.

This episode discusses the choice to be kind to others. There are so many reasons to be upset with others, but when we choose to be kind instead of angry everyone benefits.

It is easy to see other people as having superior skills and traits than yourself. This podcast is about remembering to value yourself rather than seeing yourself as inferior to others. 

Life does have it`s inevitable ups and downs with unexpected obstacles. Sometimes these obstacles are relatively small and sometimes they are big. Being able to be flexible with change and unexpected circumstances makes adapting a bit easier.

Our society values accomplishment and being busy. Accomplishing is very important, but often takes precedence over quality time to connect with family and bask in the miracle of life. If you are feeling too busy or overwhelmed remember to take time to connect. We welcome your feedback at secondstepspodcast@gmail.com

In this episode we discuss how we can sometimes have a scarcity mindset or feel burdened, when another way of looking at things is possible. A different perspective may be seen when we recognize we live in a abundant world.

The loud, aggressive, and disturbing voices often get more space in the media. It is so easy to loose sight of the fact that there are more calm, peaceful people in the world than loud aggressive ones. We can assist each other in remembering that there are more peaceful and honest people in the world than hateful, disturbing ones. You are welcome to email us at secondstepspodcast@gmail.com.