Encouraging Being with Jay Close

Have you noticed that your thoughts come and go all day? Each of us has our own  internal running monolgue. Sometimes thoughts seem to chase and torment us. Other thoughts delight us. Either way, we can spend too much time on some of them. We may even "entertain them." Do you want to spend energy "entertaining" your thoughts? Or maybe it would be better to choose which thoughts you want to give time and energy!Send us a textSupport the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

If you don't have the skill of interrupting you need it! Your life and contentment depends on it. Consider why and how to interrupt in your inner life so you can "take your thoughts captive" and not be captive to your thoughts!Send us a textSupport the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

Good sleep requires preparation, and some mental discipline at times. First, put away all screens 30 minutes or more before lying down. Do exercise earlier as well. See your doctor if your lack of sleep is causing physical symptoms.  This episode gives a method that has worked for Jay. And it relates to being more in the moment. It might just do the trick for you!Send us a textSupport the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

Just for fun, here is an episode on spiders! Experiences with them and lessons from them. Don't underestimate small things, especially in nature. See what you think!Support the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

When the world around you seems to be going crazy, what can you do, where do you go to come back to center? Your want to feel safe and grounded. Your nervous system is seeking balance. And we will do almost anything to get balance, often unconsciously.  But how we get there includes some unique techniques. First you must: 1. Identify that you are upset and what upset you, 2. Consider whether its in your control to change, 3. Change it or learn to live with it.    Support the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

You're riding along and someone says, “brace yourself.” What do you do? You tense up. Tensing up is common these days for all kinds of reasons. But it's helpful to notice when you do it, and learn ways to manage it. The reflex actions like tensing that we do often leads to more harm than good. Consider what else you can do in this episode. Support the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

Here's a great summary of how we often live life: wishing it could be different. We often miss the reality of life because while actual events are happening we are full of thoughts of how it ought to be instead. Like a childish tantrum we say, "I don't like this! I want something else!" This causes us to miss out on real time experience, the imperfect relationship, the less than perfect day, the imperfect you. We're not present because of we reject what is happening. What if you accepted some of the bad? You might experience the great along the way. Support the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

When life is on automatic pilot, lots of blind spots keep you from seeing, even seeing yourself clearly. Look! Notice what is there, in yourself, and around you. Support the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

We live in an unsettled time. Many different things, from personal to global can make us wary, tense or upset. We go on living but with an unsettled background running all the time. What can you do? Can't control nature or politicians. But we can do some things ourselves to move away from a constant state of vigilance. Support the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

The very word "distraction" indicates being taken away from something and led into something less important. When life distracts us, we lose focus on what we thought we wanted to be doing. We are captured by some seductive idea or passtime that sucks up time and attention. That's normal, but not a good thing. This episode explores distraction and what you should do about it!Support the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

Is there anything worse than blending into the woodwork, not being noticed, not being understood?  It's painful when it happens to you, right? But we can do that same disservice to others. What if we didn't go through our days on autopilot, too busy, or too preoccupied to see the real people all around us? Support the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

Elections are about who gets the power. How much power do you want? Does life leave you feeling powerless? Do you want to have power to control things? How much do you already have?  Maybe there is another way to look at power.Support the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

Under the surface of every living person is a set of Agendas. They are powerful, and if you don't know they are there, they can be dangerous. Do you want to know what is driving you and hurting others around you? You can be more aware, and possibly let go of unrealistic expectations that make life harder. Support the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

When life gets complicated, we wish it was simple. And it's complicated a lot! Listen in for some ideas to manage life's complexity, and struggles. Maybe the answer is kind of simple. Support the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

Choose your own life as the place where you live instead of the stories about other people's lives. From your own life and in your own body you can have life that is wide awake, not distracted and mindless. Here's a challenge to fight back against all the noise of marketing, intriguing stories, and problems that are not yours. Support the Show.Be Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

Do you trust easily or do you find it hard to trust people? Either way, trust is important in your life; it's important in everyone's life!It's like a superpower when you've got it, it's like kryptonite when it is missing. If you just don't want to trust, you are setting yourself up for hard times. But of course trust has to be handled carefully. Support the Show.Be Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

It seems there are a lot of voices saying, “be afraid, be very afraid.” There are scary things happening in the world and in our lives. What is the way to respond to fear? We can give in to fear, then it seems to grow larger. We can ignore fear and maybe get ourselves hurt. Check out this episode for tips on managing what you find scary!Support the Show.Be Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

All of life is holding on to some things and letting go of others. What do you hold onto that  makes too much demand on you? What should be experienced and then let go?Consider the philosophy of a cat. They own everything, and nothing. And it works out pretty well for them. Support the Show.Be Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

It is so easy to criticize others. It seems some people just ask for it by doing stupid things! And yet, if we spend enough time criticizing it kind of wears on you. All that negativity thrown on other people splashes back on us. It's a common problem. Listen in to this episode on moving to a different attitude. Support the Show.Be Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

Can you get to a  calm place when things are swirling around you? Or when life gets tough, are you tossed about like the wind into despair?  Your brain can react to the slightest thing, or it can be trained to react appropriately to real threats. Here's how to set yourself up for success when you need resilience. You can't make life's problems go away but you can ride the waves.Support the Show.Be Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

Are you involved with someone who can't seem to manage without you? Do you use a lot of energy to solve other's problems?  Consider what you can do. You can love another person but let them manage themself. You can let go of telling   yourself that you know better (even if you do sometimes).This is setting a boundary; a strong place that is both separate and connected to others. This kind of connection is between individuals who know (as best they can) who they are and who they believe the other to be.  Check out this episode to rethink rescuing or carrying another person. Support the Show.Be Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

Rested. The opposite of tired. Remember rested? Do you know anyone who says, “I'm just so well rested all the time!” Probably not! You're tired, I'm tired. We are tired a lot of the time. Joint and muscle aches signal fatigue.  Explore together ways toward a rhythm that includes rest!Support the Show.Be Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

Life takes a lot out of us. So like the bank, we have to have deposits we have earlier put in so we can withdraw them when we need to. I'm talking about the ability to stay calm when things are irritating or taxing. The "calm bank" can be built up so withdrawals don't leave you bankrupt, or stressed out or chewing somebody else out! Support the Show.Be Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

This meditation is to get in touch with the part of yourself that struggles to find joy when bad things have happened. Support the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, quick encouragement.

Can you really know anything in this age of "fake news?" Can you know yourself or anyone else? An ancient verse says we can know when we get still. Listen in to learn more...An archive podcast from the first season of Encouraging Being. Support the show

You want things that are wrong fixed. Everybody does, to some extent or another. Let's talk about it. What do we do with our natural desire for problems to get solved when so often they don't get fixed, or they take longer than we want them to take.Here are 5 reasons why, and a meditation to experience.Support the show

You can notice the small and the large,; you can focus on whatever you choose. It may seem that your mind takes you away or the world decides what you will pay attention to at any given moment. But exercise your ability to choose. It will settle your mind, create some calm. Just notice. Don't worry about doing it perfectly because you won't. But you can see, you can know what is right here now in your experience. And it will be good to see it!This is a revisit to an earlier episode.Support the show

What about keeping things, or letting them go? Which should we do? Everybody needs to hold on sometimes, but other times let go. Letting go might need a bigger place in life, and this episode explores why and how. Support the show

Catch yourself when you get distracted! Notice when you "are all over the place." Everybody seems to do it but there is a better way. Getting this right can reduce anxiety, lower anger, and build up a sense of peaceful confidence. Humans are marvelously complex. But we can only handle so much. Learn a simple means to be a better person, and get some relief from the tide that seems to want to wash you away. This episode from the archives is a powerful summary of key concepts in being more focused and balanced in life.Support the show

How do you know? How do you know anything? We take in information through our eyes, ears and other senses. We accept it or not. Or we might get a "gut feeling" and "know" something that way. This episode explores knowing and challenges you to know deeply. From the archives, this episode originally aired in 2022.Support the show

Sometimes the world looks beautiful to us, sometimes it seems horribly broken. The same friend who loves you hurts you. The same dog who consoles you bites. We can complain but it doesn't change anything. And having feelings is real and honest. But the negative feelings or facts don't have to take over. They can be just part of the story. Listen to this episode for a way to see the beauty when the ugly has shown up. Find the sacred in the ordinary. This archive episode is from 2022. Support the show

From the ArchivesHow can you Be okay, when so many bad things are happening?  This episode encourages you to live in the moment even when the present moment kind of stinks!The news has been horrible, with loss and grief, painful violent situations that keep hurting people, like shootings and covered up sexual abuse, and war. These stories run in our minds as we work, sleep, eat, and interact with family. Hopefully where you are right now is safe and pleasant enough. Being more aware of yourself now can be calming, and help you sort out what is most important for you. At any moment terrible things are happening: So, this is the sad state of the world, but…At any moment on the earth, good is happening. How do we live with the good and the bad?Support the show

From the Archives, enjoy this episode on Being Still as an emotional and a spiritual exercise. Listen in for practical tips on living life as something other than "busy person." Go deeper and practice being still for a short time. Meditate a few moments on the scripture that tells us to "be still..."Being still, if only for a short time, makes you calmer. And if you are calmer, you will handle the world differently!Originally published 2/1/22Support the show

If you are struggling you need refuge. It may be from fear, confusion, or feeling alone. In times like that we may look for sanctuary. This episode has tips for finding and getting access to sanctuary in your life. Support the show

If you see things different than me you are wrong of course. And you probably think the same about me. If I work with you, go to school with you, am married to you, I just need to get away from you because your different worldview is harming me. Sounds extreme doesn't it? But this is how many people operate. Maybe there is another way, through humility and grace. Support the show

It may not feel like it, but we have lots of choices when it comes to how we live our lives. There are invitations to good and bad things all the time. First we must recognize they are invitations we can choose or refuse! Then we can make choices instead of allowing life events to push us around. Listen in to see if you got your invitations. And then decide if you will accept.Support the show

Home is a powerful, dear word that represents something we all need. Explore in this episode what home is for you. Discover some deeper senses of home in your life, that you already have and that you can nurture.Having a clear understanding of what you have and want in "home" can help you get there. Support the show

Catching a beautiful sunrise, or any moment is noticing something that can never be repeated. Often, we are in a fog of thoughts and plans and miss the beauty right now. And the bad times across the world often keep us from this present beautiful moment. Check out this podcast for some inspiration to live your life to the fullest!Support the show

Something is in the air, and it's not good. There is a level of overwhelm people are feeling that has side effects. We become defensive; we pull away. Inspiring anyone to do more right now is a losing proposition. Feeling motivated ourselves to do more is, well difficult. Let's explore this together. Is there anything we can do to manage the unmanageable? Listen in!Support the show

Are you better at holding on or letting go? We really need to be able to accept and give to life life well. Breathing is a good image of the rhythm we need: Pull in, push out. Receive, give. Hold on, let go. This episode encourages you to Let Go and Let God. But also to receive what you need, like oxygen.  Support the show

Humans can be negative. Our culture is negative much of the time. This can result in being against things, maybe a long list of things. Some have described this time as one of outrage. People find things to be outraged about. But instead of just being against things, consider this:  What do you to stand for?Support the show

Is it just children who do things to get attention? Or do adults need attention to live happy, healthy lives? Do people around you freely get your attention? This episode is about giving attention to neighbors with a wave, and encourages you to think about your need, and other's needs for attention. Support the show

Being aware of your life includes everything. Like a toddler noticing a butterfly, adults can enjoy and related to nature too. It's all around you. Is nature the enemy (think mosquito control, traps for rodent pests and so on)? Or can we humans learn a thing or two, be enriched by wild nature and maybe help it survive?Support the show

Innocent children have a wonderful way of looking at the world. And they are in the present moment far more than adults. We can learn a thing or two from them!Support the show

Dogs have a great way of looking at the world. And they live in the moment. We can learn from them, and experience from them some great qualities. Support the show

Thoughts are always with us. We can't stop them. Or can we? First it helps to realize, as some people say, their "mind is always buzzing." The thoughts fly at them and energize, stress, and confuse. It is exciting to have your mind spin like that, and it can cause anxiety. What if you could do something different in your life than just be a victim of your thoughts?This episode can help you begin to take control of your thoughts. Support the show

This episode could be called the Parable of the Creek Drain. From the story of doing the wrong thing with a drain into a creek we learn being in this moment is sometimes correcting past mistakes. When you see that you screwed up there is no better time to fix it. The past can't be changed but sometimes you can act today to change direction. What do you need to change? Wallowing in regret or guilt won't change it. take some action, then lean into today and what the future has for you.Support the show

Most of us like to hold ourselves together emotionally; we don't want to break down. Support the show

Waiting. No one likes it.But we all have to wait sometimes, lots of times during life. Rushing on in our minds just makes us unhappy, dissatisfied, grumpy. How can we wait well?Find out in this episode!Support the show

Do you find sudden change easy or hard? Are you headed, in some aspect of your life, in a way you just need to repent of and turn around? Or have there been times that you went along, and you should not have? You gave in to another's will but should have spoken up.  Are you on a path that will make you resentful and unhappy if you don't change? Maybe it is time to claim your right to an opinion and desires for direction over your life. Check out this episode for some inspiration to make wise choices about your life. Support the show

To be in the moment can make you especially honest; you have to face what is actually here, right now, instead of what you want to be happening. If you tell someone else what you experience and it crashes into their desired experience, you risk offending them. This episode explores how we let others control us sometimes, to avoid offending anyone. Listen in for what we can do instead.