Better Mind, Better Life!

I want you to take a little trip down memory lane with me, back to those golden years between elementary and high school. My “golden years” were iconic in more ways than one. Recently I was thinking about some of the things that defined those years for me, and I realized that—believe it or not—one of the most iconic arcade games of all time actually makes a perfect analogy for how life and our brains work! Skeptical? Well, as all the cool kids used to say back in the day, take a “chill pill,” hit that play button, and then afterwards, let me know if I made the trip worthwhile! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

Chances are, either you yourself, someone you know, or at the very least, someone you've read or listened to, has used the phrase “your truth” or “my truth.” And the first time you heard someone use one (or both), you probably found yourself a little confused. But over the past few years, those phrases have become so common that it's hard to imagine they haven't always been part of everyday English language and conversation. So, what's the story behind them, and—more importantly—are they a new powerful tool that you should add to your self-development arsenal? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

I recently heard an Instagram influencer (meaning he has 2.6m followers) who said, “You were MADE for greatness! You were BORN for greatness. You weren't made for average or ordinary.” So, what exactly does it mean to be GREAT … a great man, a great woman, a great parent, a great friend, a great leader, a great student, a great artist, doctor, teacher, salesman, musician, athlete, speaker …? If you've ever struggled with the thought or even pressure of “GREATNESS” and whether or not you could achieve such lofty ideals, then this episode may be just the information and inspiration you've been waiting/searching for. Here's why: I believe you were made for MORE than greatness … MUCH more. SO much more. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

There's a new, uber-powerful buzzword in town, and its name is “Gaslighting.” In fact, it's hard to jump on the internet or turn on the TV or radio without someone mentioning either being gaslit or complaining about this or that person gaslighting others. But as is often the case with buzzwords, the true meaning can get lost amidst the noise of abundant usage. So in this episode, I dig into some expert opinions on what gaslighting is and why I think it's so important for us all to understand it and be aware of it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

Apparently, this is a debate that has raged for some time in the psychological community. I think it's an interesting topic. (I think what's even MORE interesting is what this particular topic has to do with Easter! I'll also touch on that in this episode.) It certainly is a topic that has become widespread throughout modern American culture. It's hard to imagine how any self-help guru on the planet could stay in business if this were bad advice. So much of what is being taught is founded on at least some version of this pithy mantra. It was even one of the core concepts behind one of my all-time favorite animated movies from the 90s, Aladdin. (Can you hear Robin Williams as the Genie/Bee saying to Aladdin, “Just beeeeeeee yourself!”) This episode won't end the debate, but, hopefully, it will give you a unique perspective to think about! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

What is it that really sets good leaders apart from everyone else? Now, I'll admit that I'm no expert on the matter, but I've got a few … uh, decades, of learning and observation under my belt. And while it may very well be true that there are “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership,” (H/T to J-Max) it seems to me that there are at least two SIMPLE, but critical components that MUCH of those laws (and others) are built on: do ‘THIS', but not ‘THAT'. You might even say that these two are part of the basic DNA of good leadership in any situation or context. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Want the full transcript to this (or another) episode? You can sign up for FREE at ericwilbanks.com and I'll send you the full transcript every time I release a new episode! I don't spam, and I will certainly never share or sell your email address. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

According to the site Quote Investigator, an anonymous filler item in a Plainfield, New Jersey newspaper in September 1936 included the following quote: They say hard work never killed anyone but some of us are just naturally apprehensive and timid and don't like to take chances. It's funny because it's so true! None of us are born wanting to work hard. In the words of Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey, most of us would just rather "Take it Easy" if we had the choice. How easy? Well, Lionel Richie says "Easy Like Sunday Morning" (which I guess is true for everyone except pastors and parents of toddlers trying to make it to worship service before it ends). But easy won't get you where you want to go. You're gonna have to get there the hard way, just like most everybody else. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Want the full transcript to this (or another) episode? You can sign up for FREE at ericwilbanks.com and I'll send you the full transcript every time I release a new episode! I don't spam, and I will certainly never share or sell your email address. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

This is the fourth and final installment of a mini-series exploring the continuum of loneliness and belonging. In part 1, I talked about loneliness, how disturbingly common it is, and how it can wreak havoc in our lives. In part 2, I went over Self-determination theory and how it might relate to belonging and community. In part 3, I looked at the three-pronged "structure" for making and maintaining friendships! In this episode, I want to share some tips that both experts and the Bible say can help in achieving that three-pronged connection with others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Want the full transcript to this (or another) episode? You can sign up for FREE at ericwilbanks.com and I'll send you the full transcript every time I release a new episode! I don't spam, and I will certainly never share or sell your email address. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

This is part 3 of a mini-series exploring the continuum of loneliness and belonging. In part 1, I talked about loneliness, how disturbingly common it is, and how it can wreak havoc in our lives. In part 2, I went over Self-determination theory and how it might relate to belonging and community. IN this episode, I want to tackle to million-dollar question: "How do we move from loneliness to that true sense of belonging?" The answer is in learning the three-pronged "structure" for making and maintaining friendships! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

This is part 2 of a mini-series exploring the continuum of loneliness and belonging. In part 1, I shared why psychologists say loneliness is an “awful, noxious psychological state” that—if left unchecked—can wreak havoc in our lives. (What's more, it is a disturbingly common problem.) In this episode, I want to explore how this need to connect (or belong) drives our behavior and how that can enhance or diminish our sense of belonging in any group or community. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

Everyone—you, me, your friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, and even celebrities—gets lonely. It's a nearly universal experience. It's also nearly universal to not be super clear on why we feel lonely, how serious that can be, and how to move out of loneliness, especially if we feel ‘stuck' there because of extenuating circumstances. In this mini-series, I invite you to join me as I explore the continuum of loneliness and belonging, what the latest psychological research has to say, and also how that compares and contrasts to what the Word of God has to say. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

One of the most fundamental questions that can be asked about human behavior is “why”? Why do we do what we do, in the exact time and way we do it? And why do we stop?!? These are typically questions of need and motivation. We all have needs, but what exactly are those needs? Better yet, how should we even begin defining and understanding what a need is? And then, what is it that causes needs to initiate and drive our behaviors … or bring them to a temporary end? Psychologists agree that answers to these questions are fundamental to understanding human behavior and learning. But they also agree that the answers are complicated. In fact, the answers are even more complicated when you realize that most psychologists never stop to consider the spiritual nature of anything, present topic included. In this episode, I want to introduce you to the tale of two Abrahams, both of whom addressed this important topic of human needs and motivation. I believe this is one of the very best places to start if we want to tackle this important question for ourselves and those we lead and care for. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

Why do you do the things you do … in the specific ways and manners in which you do them? Why do you like the things you like? Why do certain things always capture your attention while others get ignored? Setting spiritual issues and influences aside (for the moment), the basic answer to these types of questions lies in the arena of personality. Dr. Mels Carbonell, author of “How to Solve the People Puzzle,” once said, “Most of our problems stem from personality clashes. Most of our hurts come from personality conflicts.” But how do we define and/or measure personality? There are a myriad of tools available, but perhaps few in the world are more reliable, more researched, more scrutinized, and more accessible to non-academics than the DISC. In this episode, I want to give you a brief overview of the DISC theory. And when you're done listening, hop on over to ericwilbanks.com/dischabits to take your free, 7-minute assessment!

In a podcast that claims to focus on exploring the very best insights of psychology THROUGH the lense of Scripture, it was inevitable that I would eventually want to explore something called the Enneagram. This is part two of the two-part mini-series. In the previous episode, I explored the origins and history of the tool, and reviewed it from a strictly psychological perspective. In this episode, I review the enneagram from a theological perspective. If you are interested in looking into some of the resources mentioned in this episode, check out the work of Dr. Gary Gilley here and the research of Daniel J. Castellano here. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

In a podcast that claims to focus on exploring the very best insights of psychology THROUGH the lense of Scripture, it was inevitable that I would eventually want to explore something called the Enneagram. This is a two-part mini-series. This first episode looks at the history of the tool and gives a brief overview from a psychological perspective. If you are interested in looking into some of the resources mentioned in this episode, check out the work of Dr. Gary Gilley here and the research of Daniel J. Castellano here. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

I've had a lot of time to think about this episode. It is a massive departure not only from a typical episode of this podcast, but a massive departure from my personal style. I am very introverted, and thus a very private person. I rarely (if ever) bare my soul in public. But I am making this exception because I feel like it is necessary and important. The basic idea behind this manifesto is simple: I refuse to accept that the version of me TODAY is the best, most Christ-like version of me possible. I refuse to believe that God is no longer working on me—molding me and shaping me into the likeness of Christ. I believe that I am slowly being transformed by the continual renewing of my mind. I hope that somehow this both encourages and inspires you to do the same, to just keep loving God and running the race with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

When you're feeling stressed, anxious, or down, what do you do—what do you turn to—to feel better? There's an 80s song by the band Fleetwood Mac that describes what many of us do … probably far too often. As Jim Beviglia says, writing for American Songwriter, the song's narrator “decides to suspend disbelief, reveling in the untruth when the actual truth hurts,” as she sings wistfully, “Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies!” According to scientific research, the brain, it turns out, is especially susceptible to “sweet little lies” when we are “feeling bad.” And that's especially bad because how we respond to stress makes a tremendous difference in our quality of life. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

When Top Gun: Maverick hit the theaters, it was a MUST see for my wife (who loved the 80s version). And after I saw the extended trailer showing some of what they went through to film actual plane footage, I was definitely intrigued. Now having seen it, I have to say that it was incredible. The air-to-air combat (dog-fights)—both real and training versions—were some of my favorite scenes in both movies. I was easily reminded of the so-called “two minds” inside our brains. What it takes for those Top Gun pilots to win in battle is the same for you and I when we are battling our short-term, impulsive mind: It really comes down to how good our targeting systems are. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

There's a fairly well-known TV trope—especially in cartoons—that pops up when someone is wrestling with temptation; two miniature versions of the character's self, an Angel and a Devil, sit on each shoulder and try to pull the character in different directions. Psychologists often say it this way: we have ONE brain with TWO minds, and they rarely (IF EVER!!) agree with one another. That matters, because the constant battle between the two can wreak havoc in your life. In this episode, I take you on a tour of the neurobiology, how it impacts you on a recurring basis, and even a secret weapon you can use in the fight! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

Years ago, Michael Jackson sang, “You Wanna Be Startin' Something!” I still have no idea what the song itself actually means, but I do know this: Starting something new can be both exhilarating and terrifying. It's exhilarating because it's an opportunity to blaze new trails, even if they are only new to you. But it's also terrifying … and not just because of the “fear of the unknown” factor. You may have heard the old saying that it's easy to spot a pioneer because they're the ones with all the arrows in their back. Being a founder, a pioneer, a trailblazer is never easy. On this episode, I look at the simple but brilliant start-up strategy of history's single most successful founder and trailblazer and how that strategy can help you today! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

In the previous episode of this podcast, I suggested that instead of thinking of regret as a “universal negative emotion,” it could be far more helpful to think of it as a psychological earworm—the brain continuously reminding us that there is an unfinished task or unresolved issue or goal. On this episode, I want to dig a little into the actual scientific research that has been going on since the 1990s, and it is all remarkably consistent in reiterating one big idea: Opportunity Breeds Regret. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

There's a book out, maybe you've read it or at least heard of it. It's by superstar author Daniel Pink and it's called the Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. The ideas in it are interesting and could be helpful for some, but—as is often the case with ideas from the world of psychology—I don't think it tells the whole story. In fact, I think what it doesn't include is really the most critical lesson concerning regret. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

My daughter—like her brothers before her—is turning into a great thinker and communicator. At age 16 she earned her first chance to compete in a regional speech and debate tournament. So, being a communications professional myself, I did what professionals sometimes do best: I “borrowed” one of the speeches she developed and used it in this episode. Could I have developed this on my own? Sure … but why would I when she did it better? My only real contribution is the ridiculous riddle at the beginning. Enjoy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

The opening paragraph from Dickens' from A Tale of Two Cities reads, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness ….” I've never read the book, but I am familiar with the classic rock song it “sort of” inspired. Dennis DeYoung, former lead singer of the band, Styx, said the song “The Best of Times was “… me stealing from Dickens.” I say “sort of” because there's no indication that DeYoung ever read the book either. So if DeYoung can do it, then so can I. Here's my take on times that are both best and worst. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

Generally speaking, the term “framework” means a structure or system of rules, guidelines, and boundaries that are used to govern a process, decision, or specific goal. Businesses use frameworks to help ensure that the products or services they deliver are consistent and aligned with the company mission, vision, and values. I'm what some would call a “frameworks thinker”—someone who is good at bringing clarity and guidelines to complicated situations. So more than 20 years ago I developed a framework for my life and for raising my children. That framework is the heart and soul of who I am, and that means it is also the heart and soul of this podcast. I'd like to share that framework with you in this episode. Maybe it will change your life the way it has mine! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

In this episode of Better Mind, Better Life, I share what psychologists say are four common thinking traps (a.k.a., cognitive distortions) that we all struggle with—two that are people focused and two that are situation-focused—and how we can clear up our thinking and break free from those distorted traps. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

The strength and ability to improve any area of your life isn't in your circumstances: it's in your mind! When we improve the way we think, we can improve our lives. Better mind, better life! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

Authors and professors Karen Reivich and Andrew Shatté say the very heart and soul—the foundation of resilience—is “the simple realization that our emotions and behaviors are created not by events themselves but how we interpret those events.” So they recommend “Learning Your ABCs” as the first skill for addressing those situations in which we seem to consistently lack resilience. In this episode I'll give you a brief overview of the ABCs skill and share some of the tips the authors give to help you put that skill to work right away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

Here's the hard news: More than 50 years of scientific research has demonstrated that where you and I fall on the resilience curve—our natural reserves of resilience—affects practically everything. But here's the good news: With practice, anyone can grow resilience. And if you increase your resilience, you can overcome pretty much anything life throws at you. Generally speaking, there are FOUR “ways” we NEED and USE resilience. To make them a little easier to remember, I'm calling these four ways G.R.I.T. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram

“Baseball is 90% mental, and the other half is physical.” Even if you aren't a baseball fan, you've at least heard the name of the ‘comedian' who said it: Yogi Berra. Yogi was entertaining, both on the field as one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, and off the field because of his Yogi-isms—the unique and witty observations he became famous for. And, let's be honest, we love to be entertained! Part of the joy of entertainment is that we can benefit from the fruits of someone else's labor without having to do the work ourselves! I can enjoy baseball without having to practice and sweat every day. I can enjoy a world class guitar player without having to spend 8 hours a day making my fingers bleed. I can enjoy a martial arts competitions without getting punched or kicked or thrown around. But … there is a dark side to all this entertainment. In many ways, we've come to believe that world-class athletes, performers, etc. simply HAVE talent, and we forget the blood, sweat, and tears it took to develop their excellence. And when it comes to developing our resilience in life, that mindset really matters. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into a short-form (5-10 minutes) motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com Twitter Facebook Instagram

You may not realize it, but there is a very sophisticated factory in your brain, and it has the ability to help build your resilience … or even destroy it. I'm going to attempt to explain, in the fastest, simplest terms possible, how that works and why it matters for us both today and for the future. Of course, I am NOT a neuroscientist … although I DO play one on TV. Just kidding. I only accept acting roles that allow me to dramatize the life and times of the Bee Gees. Also kidding. I never act. I was, however, an original member of the Bee Gees, just behind little brother Andy Gibb's guest appearances. I was the 5th Bee Gee—not to be confused with the 5th Beatle, a distinction belonging entirely to Clarence Walker. Jokes aside, I've created a simple visual of this brain process—as I understand it—that you can view here. If you can think of a way that I can make the visual more clear or more in line with Dr. Barrett's research, let me know! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into a short-form (5-10 minutes) motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com Twitter Facebook Instagram

Despite the fantastical title, this is NOT an episode about an upcoming Harry Potter or other fantasy-related book. This episode is about resilience, plain and simple. But it is also a peek inside the overlapping space between fantasy and reality, and it starts LONG ago, in ancient times and ancient lands. Be forewarned, though: It takes a minute to wade through the history and separate out the fantasy from reality, but if you'll stick with me for a few minutes, I think it'll all make sense. And, in the words of one of my favorite 70s childhood cartoons: "If you're not careful, you may learn something before it's done." So let's talk about the alchemy of resilience! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into a short-form (5-10 minutes) motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com Twitter Facebook Instagram

I have a story you NEED to hear. But I also need to warn you: You aren't going to believe that it's true. You will feel compelled to research it yourself, to try and “fact-check” it because you'll say, “No way this really happened. Not a chance.” So feel free to fact check. Because here's the bottom line. Life has a way of giving us all a beat-down from time-to-time. And sometimes, life even kicks us AFTER we're down. And that's when we have a serious choice to ponder: What should we do next? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into a short-form (5-10 minutes) motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com Twitter Facebook Instagram

For the past 3 1/2 years, friends have been telling me that I *REALLY* should watch the new Cobra Kai series, so I finally decided to give it a go. Yeah, the 80s music is awesome, as are the 80s flashbacks, but what REALLY stood out to me are the characters and the important—even critical—life lesson that I was reminded of when watching. To really explore it, I had to dig out another 80s classic, a book that you also likely read years ago! Here's my 10-minute take on the big life lesson from the characters in Cobra Kai. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into a short-form (5-10 minutes) motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com Twitter Facebook Instagram

Question: Is our ability to change, grow, and improve governed by any specific, recognizable laws or principles? More specifically, are there BIOLOGICAL principles of growth that can at least hint at or even point us to some principles for NON-biological (emotional, mental, spiritual, etc) growth? I think the answer is "YES!" ... x5, and this episode looks at those five principles! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into a short-form (5-10 minutes) motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com Twitter Facebook Instagram

Happy New Year! Are you ready for the FUTURE? No, not the future that requires 1.21 gigawatts of power and a DeLorean time machine running 88mph. I'm talking about the future you RESOLVE to embrace! But—and here's the really good part—you can forget about coming up with New Year's resolutions or even a “word for the year,” because I found a guy even smarter than Doc Brown who has written a few resolutions for everyone and they are 100% supported by science. So synchronize your clocks and let's head to the future! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into a short-form (5-10 minutes) motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will literally change your life. Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more! You can also connect with me via ericwilbanks.com Twitter Facebook Instagram

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing the moment you first learned about: The 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001? Hurricane Katrina in 2005? The deaths of Osama bin Laden and Steve Jobs in 2011? Brexit (or Trump) in 2016? The Global COVID Shutdown of 2020? History is full of iconic, life-altering moments ... and there is one which stands head and shoulders above the rest! That's what this short episode is all about, wrapping up our third and final message in this miniseries on the three "Christmas Angels" mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!

We're in the midst of a three-part miniseries titled “Close Encounters of the Angelic Kind.” In the previous episode we looked at the first of three angelic encounters mentioned by the Gospel of Luke—all of which are connected to Christmas and the birth of Christ and each with a message that matters just as much today as it did then. In that first encounter, the priest, Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, had a life-changing experience while inside the Temple of Herod. In this episode, I want to look at the second angelic encounter. But to really understand the message of that angel, we're first going to have to travel back to the beginning of history, to a time that looked very different from today. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!

In the late 1970's Steven Spielberg introduced the world to a cinematic portrayal of one man's obsession with UFOs. In Close Encounters of the Third Kind, electrician Roy Neary (played by Richard Dreyfuss) is prepared to give up his life to pursue the truth about what he saw. The movie is considered a classic in the sci-fi genre and for decades has struck a nerve with those who've encountered things that seem to defy logical explanation. One such encounter happened 2,000 years ago to a priest named Zechariah, and the encounter would not just change his life, but all of history. In fact, in the Gospel according to Luke, the good doctor mentions three separate encounters with angelic beings that are all critically tied to Christmas and the birth of Christ. And each encounter came with a message that matters just as much today as it did then. In part one of this three-part miniseries, I explore both the incredible encounter with and the powerful message of that special Christmas Angel. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!

Santa Claus is surely one of the most beloved figures of modern times. But did you know that he was perhaps even more beloved long before he acquired a fur-trimmed red suit, a big round belly, and nine flying reindeer to pull his sleigh? Believe it or not, the jolly Old St. Nick we know and love today actually took more than 1,600 years to develop! For many years, one of our family's Christmas traditions has been a retelling of the history behind the colors and symbols of Christmas. Each year we start with the color green and the symbol of the Christmas tree, then we move on to the color red and Santa Claus. Santa really is a fascinating historical tale, one that starts small and then builds and builds and builds! I hope you enjoy learning the story as much as we enjoy rehearsing it each year! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here are some additional resources for you that can enrich the history of Santa Claus: Patara, birthplace of Nicholas (via Google Maps) St. Nicholas Center: The Story of the Three Daughters Voice of the Martyrs: The Persecution of St. Nicholas BeliefNet: St. Nicholas Resurrects Pickled Boys! The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore NPR: Why Does Santa Live In The North Pole? Coca-Cola History: Five Things You Never Knew About Santa Claus and Coca-Cola CBC Radio-Canada: The Real Story Behind Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Youtube: “Here Comes Santa Claus” by Gene Autry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!

It's difficult to imagine Christmas without decorated trees. But do they have any “redeeming” value for Christians? And how did the idea get started in the first place? I think the answer to the first question is a resounding YES! The answer to the second question is a LITTLE bit longer. Believe it or not, the Christmas tree as we know it today actually took more than 700 years to make! For many years, one of our family's Christmas traditions has been a retelling of the history behind the colors and symbols of Christmas. Each year we start with the color green and the symbol of the Christmas tree. It really is an amazing story, one that seems to make the most sense when we think of it as happening in three main acts. I hope you enjoy learning the story as much as we enjoy rehearsing it each year! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you'd like to read it to your own family, here's the written version of this podcast. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!

In the previous episodes I talked about #gratitude and #Thanksgiving as the gateway to peace. I looked at the fascinating science behind gratitude as well as what the Bible has to say on the subject. I specifically referenced Philippians 4:4-7 which says "In every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." So I talked about both thanksgiving and peace, but there's still a critical element implied by the Apostle Paul: This all happens through PRAYER! But instead of just giving you a bunch of Bible verses about prayer, I thought I'd share with you just a snippet of some of the amazing scientific facts about prayer, specifically what happens in our brains when we pray. Enjoy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Join the "Let's Say Thanks!" campaign on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LetsSayThanks And here's my 3-hour Thanksgiving playlist (the Spotify version)! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/24iMm65L3wtQNU3w2fwnqs?si=94c8f0566dde443f ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!

For several years, many of my Facebook friends have participated in the activity of making a daily post to identify their thankfulness for something or someone. That's fantastic! A number of years ago, I started the “Let's Say Thanks” campaign on Facebook and each year try to get a few more people to participate. Also fantastic. And in episode 39 I shared a boatload of research from the past 30 years about the power of gratitude. But even with all this, I believe an important element is still missing. Honestly, it's because when it comes to having a Better Mind that leads to a Better Life, I believe the Bible—the Word of God—is the very best place to start. So a few years ago I started wondering, what does the Bible have to say about thankfulness? I did a thorough study of every passage in Scripture that touches the topic of thankfulness and found that the Bible really does have a LOT to add to this conversation. And then I summarized my findings into twelve uniquely Biblical reasons to give thanks. That's what this episode is all about! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Join the "Let's Say Thanks!" campaign on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LetsSayThanks And here's my 3-hour Thanksgiving playlist (the Spotify version)! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/24iMm65L3wtQNU3w2fwnqs?si=94c8f0566dde443f ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!

In the previous episode, season 1, episode 39, I did my best to give you a brief (and, hopefully, fascinating) look at 30 years of psychological research on the subject of gratitude, a virtue which psychologists say may very well be the most important virtue a human can have. In this episode, I want to continue exploring gratitude, but I want to go back much further in history and take a look from a slightly different angle by diving into some ancient wisdom on the subject—especially as it might apply to the “Holiday Season” in the United States. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Put Gratitude to work! Join the "Let's Say Thanks!" campaign on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LetsSayThanks And here's my 3-hour Thanksgiving playlist (the Spotify version)! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/24iMm65L3wtQNU3w2fwnqs?si=94c8f0566dde443f ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!

I know this probably sounds like a bunch of marketing, clickbait hype, but it isn't at all. After 30 years of research and countless numbers of peer-reviewed studies, psychologists are finally agreeing with writers throughout the ages who argue that gratitude may very well be the most important virtue a human can have. Now, I can't give you a thorough account of all that research in just 10 minutes, but I can give you a peek at some of the powerful benefits of gratitude as determined by these studies, many of which were spearheaded by psychologist, author, and UC-Davis Professor Robert Emmons, considered to be the world's leading authority on the subject of gratitude. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you want to dive into Dr. Emmons' research for yourself, grab a copy of his book THANKS or the follow-up Gratitude Works! from Amazon. Join the "Let's Say Thanks!" campaign on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LetsSayThanks And here's my 3-hour Thanksgiving playlist (the Spotify version)! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/24iMm65L3wtQNU3w2fwnqs?si=94c8f0566dde443f ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!

Are you a "one-dimensional leader"? More importantly, how would you know if you were (or weren't)? This is the fourth and final installment in a series of episodes talking specifically about leadership. In this episode, I want to make one simple argument about leadership, taken from the world of psychology—specifically DISC personality styles—and that argument is this: ALL leaders need to be able to stretch BEYOND their primary leadership styles. The truth is, a one-dimensional leader, no matter how good he or she is at that one thing, can't provide the kind of leadership that is often required for the "next level" in his or her development. You're going to need to stretch, and that's the idea behind The 8 Dimensions of Leadership, a concept created by DISC CEO Dr. Jeffrey Sugerman and and Director of Research for DISC, Mark Scullard. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To grab your copy of The 8 Dimensions of Leadership, just click here: https://www.amazon.com/Dimensions-Leadership-Strategies-Becoming-Business/dp/1605099554 To learn more about the DISC model, visit my website: https://ericwilbanks.com/discernible/

Beginning in the 80s, Dr. J. Robert Clinton and his students began a massive study of leaders: historic, biblical, and contemporary. At the time of the original publication of Clinton's book, The Making of a Leader, in 1988, they had researched 500 case studies. Over the next 15 years, they researched another 3,000 case studies. As they have compared findings from those studies, they've gained insights that they believe are transferable to other leaders' lives, including your own. First and foremost, Clinton believes those insights can help leaders in all kinds of situations to identify and become more sensitive to God's working in their own lives as he forms them into the leaders HE wants them to be. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!

I'm in the middle of a series of episodes talking about leadership. My goal is to offer you some ways of thinking about the subject that both encourage and challenge you with a unique (or, at least less familiar) perspective. In a previous episode I mentioned that life can be complicated and confusing at times. But it's in those times when you have to remind yourself that you aren't lost, and that your situation may be HARD, but it is most definitely not impossible or hopeless. I want to continue on that theme based on some research from leadership studies pioneer, Warren Bennis, in which he talks about what he and his researchers discovered as the one thing that seems to matter most in the making of a leader. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!

For this and the next few episodes of Better Mind, Better Life, I want to tackle the subject of leadership, and, HOPEFULLY, offer you some ways of thinking about the subject that both encourage and challenge you with a unique (or, at least less familiar) perspective. For starters, it's possible that most of what people hold up as examples of leadership, aren't leadership at all. And the explanation might be in your hand right now! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!

Life can often feel very much like a maze. It feels like each day is filled with difficult choices—left or right—in which the consequences of those choices seem complex beyond comprehension. Will this help or hurt? Will it cause me to win or lose? Will I sink or swim? And some choices, once we've fully committed ourselves to them, seem in retrospect like tremendous dead-ends. But that's the wrong way to think. When life starts to feel like a maze, that's when you need to change your mindset! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!

If I had to pick one thing that I knew for SURE you and I both had in common—along with every other person we know—I'd probably say this: We're all losers. I don't mean that in a harsh way. I mean that we've all experienced what it feels like to lose. Repeatedly. Even the people we think of as “winners” have most likely lost far more often than they've won. And losing can be tough. But what matters most isn't whether or not we will win or lose in any given context, because losses will definitely come. It's what we do WHEN we lose that really matters. So stop trying to prove you're a winner. There's a better way to live. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for listening to Better Mind, Better Life! I genuinely hope this content helps you improve your life in some way. Now it's your turn to help someone else. Here's how you can do that. Think of the one person you know who would most benefit from listening to this episode today. Now simply share it with them, and consider including an encouraging note explaining why you sent this episode to them specifically. You never know how that one simple act can help someone else have a better life! And please SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW and leave a review. That helps you never miss an episode and it helps me get noticed by others who are searching for new podcasts!