ThriveologyPodcast – Thriveology

Like a broken record… or an endless audio loop.  Those thoughts that just keep turning in your mind.  Okay, in MY mind.  But I bet it happens to you, too. Let’s say, hypothetically of course, that I get up to 2 emails.  One is complimentary, thanking me for resources, books, podcasts… things like that.  Then […]

The gyms are emptying out.  The running shoes are no longer going out for runs.  Comfort food is replacing health food. What gives? February. Actually, it is just long enough that those resolutions made in January are starting to crumble. “I’ll start exercising, start eating better, stop ______, stop ________.”  You fill in the blanks. […]

I don’t know about you, but I don’t much enjoy feeling fear.  I’d rather it not be a part of my life. And yet, it is. Fear is part of our wiring, deep in our DNA and deep in the circuitry of our brains. It keeps us safe — sometimes super-safe.  Which is the problem. […]

“Where should I start?”, my client asked. Lots of times, we want to make changes, we want things to be different.  And sometimes, we want things to be different before we make any changes. We want a different starting point. If you’ve ever been at a park or mall, looking at the map to figure […]

Kinda like taxes, tough days are unavoidable.  You may see the tough times coming.  But sometimes, they just roll right over us.  A conversation, a text, a phone call, or an event.  Something hits and the bad time is here. Some people will say that tough times are a sign that you are “off-course,” not […]

I always find it helpful to have some “rules” to live by.  Short statements that help keep me pointed in the right direction, ready to handle the challenges of life. And let’s be honest:  challenges are an unavoidable part of life.  Those who tell you that having struggles, challenges, or illnesses is an indication that […]

Anyone who tells you that you can go through life without getting hurt and feeling pain is either lying or hiding. Life is rough-and-tumble.  Pain is unavoidable. But there is a type of pain that we can leave behind.  That is more a result of our own thinking than anything external, any injury either physical […]

The New Year.  It is upon us.  And along with the start of a new year is an opportunity for us to re-start.  To make some changes.  To find some ways to charge into the New Year, with a new approach.  Maybe even a new attitude! Many people make resolutions around this time.  And most […]

On multiple days each week, my wife and I play a game.  She points to a bruise and asks, “How’d that happen?” Fair question.  But I don’t have a specific question.  All I can say is, “Rolling at jiu jitsu.”  Yep, my 52 year old body has to tolerate my decision to take up jiu […]

Have you noticed how we all like to keep things in a narrow band of comfort?  We keep our houses not-too-warm, not-too-cool.  Most homes, all year long, stay in a very narrow band of temperature. Most of us go to the same restaurants, listen to the same music, hang out with the same friends, and […]

For me, “We’ll See” was my philosophy of survival when I was sick. The doctor gave me a diagnosis with a bad prognosis.  Lots of ways I could be sick and die.  Lots of ways my body could betray me. Oh, and this was 15 years ago.  WebMD was the “go-to” for facts on how […]

How much can any of us really know? But how often do we still choose to have an opinion on everything?  Someone asks about a topic, and we give an opinion.  Then, we have to back that opinion up. According to neuro-science, we look for evidence to support opinion we created, based on emotions.  In […]

If you are in the States, we are on the cusp of the Holiday season, kicking off with Thanksgiving in just a few days. For me, the Holidays throughout the year are moments to step into gratitude.  Not just in a little “thank you for that gift,” but in a gratitude for being alive.  For […]

Blame is rampant in today’s world.  We all quickly point the finger at someone/something else, proclaiming, “It’s not my fault!” Interestingly, I also notice how rampant it is for people to take the credit for successes. They/we claim credit for what goes right but refuse blame for anything that goes wrong. We live in a […]

What do you do when you think your life is right where you want it… and then it all falls apart? That’s what happened to Kristine Carlson.  Her husband, Richard, was traveling the world and sharing his message of Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff.  Kristine was doing some writing in the series and raising their […]

Do you feel anxious?  Have anxious moments?  Maybe even struggle with anxiety attacks? If so, I want to offer some strategies to help you deal with those feelings… the emotional storm that can hit. Anxiety isn’t a sign of weakness.  It is actually a sign of ancient survival strategies that have ramped up to the […]

You apologize.  Now what? Are you finished?  Is it now up to the person to whom you apologized? Nope.  That is only one part of the process. Understand that apologies, forgiving, reconciliation, and trust are all separate functions.  Each is tied to the other, but independent.  Forgiving does not require an apology.  An apology does […]

Have you heard of Kaizen?  It is the principle of continuous improvement. Continuous improvement is a great model for change.  It is based on constant changes toward a better outcome.  No need for sudden upheaval or change (although that is sometimes necessary).  Instead, course corrections are made along the way, nudging something toward improvement. That […]

Did you know that it is common to find a lost person with a broken compass?  No, they are not lost because their compass was broken.  They broke their compass because they didn’t believe the compass.  They believed they were somewhere other than where the compass said.  And many times, they decided that the map […]

Let’s just assume that you have decided to forgive other people.  You do it (maybe even following my 6 step process).  Things are going well.  You are getting unstuck. And then… snap!  You are pulled back, stuck.  Feeling bad. But this time, feeling bad about yourself — your actions, your words, your inactions, or silence. […]

I’ve noticed that many times, when someone is stuck, it is because they have something that keeps hanging on to them, dragging them down.  They have something they need to release… someone they need to forgive. And when I note this, I often get a knee-jerk answer of “how dare you tell me to forgive! […]

Have you noticed how we talk about time and money the same way?  You can spend time/money, waste time/money, or save time/money.  But never confuse the two. Money… we can always make more.  Time… it is passing moment by moment, day by day, not to be recaptured or held. We all have the same 24 […]

Have you ever wanted something… just knowing that if you had it, you would be… happy? And if you got it, did you find yourself happier?  Not just for a few moments or days, but long-term? Sometimes, the “buyer’s remorse” sets in right after the purchase, with you realizing that no, that shiny new object […]

My coaching client was wanting to thrive.  He told me he was constantly studying about self-growth.  But he wanted to really transform his life.  And, he told me, so much of what he was reading was, to quote him, “woo-woo stuff.”  He used that term as a reference to ideas he thought were “out there.” […]

It’s a trap.  And we all fall into it. Sadly, we set it up on ourselves, then step right into it. WHACK!  We are stuck… waiting.  And that’s the trap — the wait.  Life can’t begin until…. What’s the trap?  The “When/Then Trap.”  You know, that time when you say, “When ____ happens, then I […]