If you seek to be a gamechanger, not just an outperformer in your business and life, this is for you. We cover practical strategy and tactical tips to grow yourself and your business.
Well, the last 4 years have been fun, challenging and so much more. I'm not sure how long this will last, but felt that it was time to record the last Strategy Game podcast - so listen in for a special message on where I think things are headed and how to prepare for 2025....it's unconventional (of course). For more - stay tuned at www.storywork.co or follow my personal pages on all the platforms.
This episode was so much fun to record! My long time friend John Melhorn comes on the podcast to talk about the process of growing his company, Melhorn Architecture & Construction. But more than that, we talk about the "behind the scenes" of what it takes and what you want around you as you navigate all of life's twists and turns. More on John at www.melhorn.com.
Have you ever been talking to someone and you're not fully hearing what they're saying in the moment because you heard them say a particular word or phrase and your mind started to automatically “classify” what they've said into a category? Assumptions can happen quickly, so they're tricky to keep track of unless we really assess our thoughts regularly because we can make them in a split second without even knowing it. Assumptions are often unprompted and based on a number of diverse things such as our past experiences in life, people we know like them, our political or religious beliefs, our news and social media feeds, and so much more. As we're seeing people throughout the day, whether words are used or not, we're probably making a whole bunch of assumptions about those people – everything from surface level demographics like their socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, background and upbringing, and their education level. We also might be subconsciously or consciously making assumptions about their philosophies and worldview such as their faith, political orientation, or their stance on social issues. We all have biases – whether we acknowledge them consciously or not. And we all have triggers that create associations with past wounds and hurts. Listen in as we unpack more on how to navigate assumptions + judgments. For more, head to www.storywork.co.
Listen in as we share another word on how to stay the course. For more, head to www.storywork.co.
Eighty-four percent of people surveyed said Americans are angrier today compared with a generation ago, according to the latest NPR-IBM Watson Health poll. In a related question, they were asked if they were more likely to express their anger on social media than in person. Overall, nine in ten people said that was the case. We have more time due to automation and technology, but almost to our detriment. We have more information, but almost too much for our brains to process. We have more relationships with people, in some cases all over the world, but sometimes at the cost of us feeling overwhelmed by keeping up with all of these people. Burdens pile up, world events and leaders seem to become more and more amplified, and we don't know where to go with our anger. We feel more out of control than a decade ago because of all of the information we can access and more public platforms to express it. In this episode we talk about what you can do right now to maintain peace of mind and clarity. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork
Listen in as we share another word on how to catch the aerial view. For more, head to www.storywork.co.
I LOVED having great friend and amazing leader Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well on the podcast. She is a fellow visionary, big picture thinker and also constantly committed to personal growth. Listen in as she shares how those two interact and some of the personal themes from her life story that have influenced how she got to where she is today. For more on Women Doing Well - head to https://womendoingwell.org
Bitterness, or resentment, is anger compounded over time. Bitter roots can run deep. Bitterness doesn't just happen on the first offense, it simmers slowly and with each offense, it grows. My therapist used to say that bitterness is like a cut. The first time you get a cut, it can heal pretty quickly. The second, third, fourth time you hit it in that same place, it's going to take longer to heal because the wound now runs deeper. Bitterness is the same; each time someone hurts us using the same pattern, in a similar scenario, or leaves us with the same feeling, it drives that bitterness or resentment down deeper. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork
You are going to a new place. It won't look like the places you've been before. You don't need to bring anything with you, just yourself. What you need for the new place is already in you, inscribed on the tablet of your heart, soul and mind. When you start out, it will feel unfamiliar, but as you go, you will see fragments of where you've been before and you will know that you are revisiting those places to get healed. The time is being redeemed, what has been lost is being restored. Notice the turns, stop and observe the map when you need to, cross over into new spaces and come back often to refuel. You are going to a new place. The New Place Guide
Welcoming Lauren Cotton from Cotton Crews to the podcast today! She's a long time friend, fellow entrepreneur and I've loved watching her consistently build her business. Listen in as she shares the lightbulb moment that started her business, the top 3 things that have led to her success and the generational wisdom that she has carried with her. For more on Cotton Crews - head to https://www.cottoncrews.com
The only person that unforgiveness holds captive is you. In preparation for practicing a lifestyle of seeing, knowing and hearing others, a regular rhythm of releasing others and forgiving them will set us free. Forgiveness is simply an acknowledgment that you no longer hold the offense against them; you release them. In other words, we no longer carry the burden of setting the record straight, righting their wrong, or holding them to expectations of repentance or justice. We set them free to let the offender work their own stuff out. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork
I'm going to be sharing a series of these words that have started interrupting my thoughts on a regular basis - when I hear them I run for the nearest piece of paper or note in my phone. These have encouraged me and I hope they encourage you too. This one is all about recognizing that you are not who you were - you've come through the season of blurry - and you're stepping into clarity. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork
Loved having good friend and business leader Rick Maffett on the podcast! Rick has stepped into the role of leading the family business over the last 2 years and in this episode, we recount the journey of his career, the drastic change and how he absolutely knew he needed to make this change, among many other things. If you're navigating transition, or feeling a pull to go in a new direction, this episode is for you. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork
Control can give us a false sense of security. Controlling our schedules, time, and even other people is something we attempt to do in some way every day. Control can make us feel like we're on top of things - like we've got it together. We pull things in a little tighter (mostly subconsciously) because we think doing so will give us a sense of peace or security. The problem with control, though, is that it's an illusion most of the time. We don't actually have control over much at all, other than ourselves and our own reactions. Listen in as we unpack this "weed in the way" and highlight some questions that you can ask to get free of false control. For all things StoryWork - head to: https://linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
I'm going to be sharing a series of these words that have started interrupting my thoughts on a regular basis - when I hear them I run for the nearest piece of paper or note in my phone. These have encouraged me and I hope they encourage you too. This one is all about recognizing how far you've come - you are breaking free. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork For the NEW PLACE guide: https://www.storywork.co/you-are-going-to-a-new-place --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
We're going to start to weave in a new series on LEADERS - and this first one was so much fun to record! Long time family friend Jon Sharp and I talk through the diligence of staying in your lane, speaking the truth, and really being for others. There is so much in this episode, including his story of taking over a third generation large company at age 30, and the strategy he has used for substantial business growth. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
Stubbornness is clinging to something that has long passed. It's the unyielding refusal to change your mind about a situation or person that negatively affected you. It's easy to be stubborn about many things, but the longer I live and experience hurt in this world, I'm finding that there are very few things that are actually worth being stubborn about. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
I'm going to be sharing a series of these words that have started interrupting my thoughts on a regular basis - when I hear them I run for the nearest piece of paper or note in my phone. These have encouraged me and I hope they encourage you too. This one is all about revisiting those things that maybe didn't quite work the way you wanted them to the first time - but will the second time around. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
I'm going to be sharing a series of these words that have started interrupting my thoughts on a regular basis - when I hear them I run for the nearest piece of paper or note in my phone. These have encouraged me and I hope they encourage you too. This one is all about knowing your territory, and not letting it go so that you can walk in your purpose. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
re·fine·ment /rəˈfīnmənt/ noun the process of removing impurities or unwanted elements from a substance. Refinement is like peeling an apple, sometimes the skin just doesn't want to budge. We resist hard. We fight tooth and nail not to have something happen or not to have something be the way it is or not to slow down and hear. And when it ultimately comes, we realize that surrender was the key all along. So what do we need to clear out of the way to see, know and hear others more? The weeds in the way. We'll always be a work in progress, but this is where it gets good. We're going to go places that may be difficult initially, but ultimately can give us newfound freedom, connectedness, and wholeness. And that's our goal. In order to get to this place, we've got to clear out the weeds in the way. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
I'm going to be sharing a series of these words that have started interrupting my thoughts on a regular basis - when I hear them I run for the nearest piece of paper or note in my phone. These have encouraged me and I hope they encourage you too. This one is all about the unwavering pursuit of freedom to be able to walk in your identity and in turn, life purpose. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
Hearing is translating what is spoken. hear /hir/ verb Perceive with the ear the sound made by (someone or something). I think it's interesting that again we see the word “perceive” within the definition of “hear”. A measure of translation has to happen in order for hearing to occur. Our brain has to hear the sound, take it in, translate it, and then trigger a response. The process of hearing requires translation, much like our sight. The brain translates sounds so we can produce a response. I'm reminded of being “slow to speak, and quick to listen”. The pause before responding to check if we've heard the other person correctly is invaluable. A lot of times, our knee jerk response to something can be based on previous patterns, triggers, and assumptions. Our brains naturally live in a state of survival, so our human nature looks to protect ourselves. As we hear something, we must consciously pause to examine our “lens” (how we're viewing the statements we're here through our own filters), so we can form clarifying questions that help us get curious, rather than jump to assumptions. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
I'm going to be sharing a series of these words that have started interrupting my thoughts on a regular basis - when I hear them I run for the nearest piece of paper or note in my phone. These have encouraged me and I hope they encourage you too. This one is all about recovering or restoring those dreams you've had over the years that are directly connected to your identity and in turn, life purpose. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
KNOWN. What it Means to be Known known /nōn/adjective 1. recognized, familiar, or within the scope of knowledge. Known, as we see above, means recognized, familiar, or within the scope of knowledge. When you think about the places or relationships where you're known in your life - do you feel recognized in those spaces? This is the kind of recognition that acknowledges what you're going through, sees the different parts of your character, and understands some of your deepest desires. It could include the familiar faces that in some way represent comfort to you. The kind of relationships that you are understood, without having to say anything at all. Maybe it's the people you've grown up with that have known you from the beginning of your life, or your family unit, or friends you have in this stage of life. These places and people might feel like true “home”, your safe space, earthly source of refuge and comfort.Hopelessness, depression, anxiety and so many mental health issues can stem from not feeling known. If each one of us were truly known by someone, I wonder how the world would change. For all of the words - https://www.instagram.com/storywork/ For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
I'm sharing a series of these words that have started interrupting my thoughts on a regular basis - when I hear them I run for the nearest piece of paper or note in my phone. These have encouraged me and I hope they encourage you too. This one has helped encourage me on the days that I feel like I've missed it, messed up, or am off course. For all of the words - https://www.instagram.com/storywork/ For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
Can you think of a time when you felt seen? This would be a time when someone knew your name and used it, when they looked you in the eye while you were talking, they observed what you were saying and maybe not saying. You just knew they genuinely made an effort to see you. How did it make you feel? Perhaps acknowledged, accepted, and fulfilled in the kind of way that you don't need to defend yourself in any way. Doesn't this sound great? The good news is, we can have this, and give this gift to others. For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
I'm sharing a series of these words that have started interrupting my thoughts on a regular basis - when I hear them I run for the nearest piece of paper or note in my phone. These have encouraged me and I hope they encourage you too. This one has helped encourage on the days I'm questioning everything, and I feel like I've lost my way. For all of the words - https://www.instagram.com/storywork/ For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
There are so many factors to take into account when learning how to see, know, and hear people, and this includes generational communication styles. I remember my grandparents always joking that “children should be seen and not heard” when I was little. This was the hallmark of this generation and a thought pattern for how children were to be raised. When we look at the different generations of the 1900s-2000s, there are stark differences that are important to note so we can better seek to understand each other. As I was writing this section, I felt prompted to write a word for each generation. I heard that still, small voice guiding me, so my hope is that it restores some of what has been lost for each generation. For more - head to www.storywork.co ______________________________________________ Blog: www.storywork.co/blog Podcast: anchor.fm/storywork Social Media: instagram.com/storywork/ Other Resources: linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
I'm sharing a series of these words that have started interrupting my thoughts on a regular basis - when I hear them I run for the nearest piece of paper or note in my phone. These have encouraged me and I hope they encourage you too. This one has helped me improve processes, grow businesses, and encourage others and myself - it's a tangible tool that you can always use to get a reset. For all of the words - https://www.instagram.com/storywork/ For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
Knowing ourselves can also help us tell others what we want and need from a relationship with them. And obviously, communicating to those closest to us what we desire from our relationship with them is an important part of keeping it healthy. And if we're unable to see our own selves, we'll have a hard time seeing others. When we can look in the mirror and see ourselves clearly, we can give ourselves and others the gift of understanding because we know what we've been through and can empathize because we have space to do so. Understanding and compassion bring healing, and that healing allows us to have space to see, know, and hear others. It's a chain reaction as one piece of this puzzle leads to the next. If we are able to see, know, and hear ourselves, we'll understand our strengths. And if we understand our strengths, we can use them to walk in our purpose. And when we walk in our purpose, we experience fulfillment in life. See how powerful this is? Listen in for more. For more - head to www.storywork.co Blog: www.storywork.co/blog Podcast: anchor.fm/storywork Social Media: instagram.com/storywork/ Other Resources: linktr.ee/storywork --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storywork/message
I'm going to be sharing a series of these words that have started interrupting my thoughts on a regular basis - when I hear them I run for the nearest piece of paper or note in my phone. These have encouraged me and I hope they encourage you too. This one is all about knowing that you have not gone too far - you're right where you need to be in the process of running in the lanes of your life and business. For all of the words - https://www.instagram.com/storywork/ For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork
The voices in our minds can be some of the greatest encouragement, but also some of the greatest threat to our well being. Taking an account of them is critical - in this episode, we're talking about all of the different types of voices that enter into our personal "news feeds" daily, and how to discern helpful vs. hurtful impacts. For more - head to www.storywork.co Blog: www.storywork.co/blog YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMJy... Social Media: instagram.com/storywork/ Other Resources: linktr.ee/storywork
I'm going to be sharing a series of these words that have started interrupting my thoughts on a regular basis - when I hear them I run for the nearest piece of paper or note in my phone. These have encouraged me and I hope they encourage you too. This one is all about how to stay focused on your original intent, original purpose for developing something new, but pulling in the wisdom from the path along the way. For all of the words - https://www.instagram.com/storywork/ For more things StoryWork: https://linktr.ee/storywork
If you think of the different types of friends you've had throughout your life, I would guess it looks like a myriad of different personality types, hometowns, life experiences, and more. It's a great tapestry of different types of people that have influenced you, threaded throughout your life. We spend a whole lot of time with friends over the years. There are many different types of friendships that we have. Seeing, hearing and knowing our friends brings a new level of intimacy to our relationships. It allows us to understand each other, even if we don't agree. It allows us to empathize with each other, even if we would do things differently. We can step into their shoes, and feel how they're feeling, and be there for each other. What we try to do for others, is what we usually want for ourselves. What do you try to do for others that you desire in friendships? When you first hear them, really see them for who they are without judgment, and know them - they'll be open to hearing what you desire from friendships. You have an opportunity to connect on a deeper level with friends, which brings life, and be intentional in how you show them love and appreciation. This will give them the opportunity to respond back. For more - head to www.storywork.co Blog: www.storywork.co/blog Podcast: anchor.fm/storywork Social Media: instagram.com/storywork/ Other Resources: linktr.ee/storywork
Family is hard. They can be the closest people to you, they can know you the most in some ways, and they can get under your skin the most. Triggering can happen easily when we're with each other often. Even when we're not, they can look at us a certain way, use a tone of voice, or insinuate something that can set us off so easily. Why? Because we have spent so much time with them collectively over the years. And when that happens, patterns develop (both healthy and unhealthy), and wounds can accumulate. Each time a repeated pattern or wound resurfaces, it cuts deeper. Years of hurt or struggle can be associated with family relationships. Deep ruts can form deep cuts that expose woundedness. It can feel like we might be opening up Pandora's box to see, hear and know our family. So why should we do it? To understand where we come from - what makes us us. What's the point? Freedom for us. When we are able to recognize why we are the way we are, and see and hear the situations that have come from our families, we are able to release the pain, speak or receive forgiveness, and understand ourselves. Listen in as we share more. For more - head to www.storywork.co ______________________________________________ Blog: www.storywork.co/blog Podcast: anchor.fm/storywork Social Media: instagram.com/storywork/ Other Resources: linktr.ee/storywork
In the workplace, we spend as much time, if not more time together with our teams than our family and friends. We tend to not give these relationships as much weight, but the function of them is just as important, from a standpoint of productivity but also our well being. Have you ever had a boss or a coworker that you couldn't stand? You would try to avoid them at all costs, their very presence felt toxic, and it affected you more than you'd like to admit. You built up so much animosity, dread, and anger over time, that it ruined a lot of your days. Or what about a family member, that you have previous patterns or woundedness from the past with - and now you're working with them. The point here is, we have to give weight to the relationships that take our time each day, and notice the effects of those relationships. We have the power to “flip the script” on those challenging relationships, just by starting to think about what it looks like to see, know and hear them. We might have to clear out some weeds in the way in order to do that, but when we can separate ourselves from their behavior toward us (release/forgiveness), then we can start to ask the good questions. Where did they come from? What makes them the way they are? What have they been through in their life? What do we hear them repeatedly saying that may be a source of woundedness? What do they really want? Maybe it's encouragement, validation, or respect. Regardless of our opinion of whether or not they deserve it, we can't change them, but we can, in healthy ways, change our script to indicate that we see, know and hear them. Listen in as we talk about how teams can operate in a healthy way, how you can approach those coworkers, and what it means for organizational growth. For more - head to www.storywork.co Blog: www.storywork.co/blog YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMJyxD6LETJvv2d91opWy7w Social Media: instagram.com/storywork/ Other Resources: linktr.ee/storywork
When you think of your neighbors, you might have a great feeling or a feeling of dread. But regardless of how you feel about your neighbors, they are a part of our everyday lives. We live on the same street, we see them coming and going, we know if something big happens in their lives, some gather around holidays. You see them every morning out walking the dog or watering their plants or getting their mail. You might stand outside with your coffee and talk to them in the mornings, or mow your lawns at the same time, or work on outdoor projects together. Maybe you've had lemonade stands with your kids (like us) where neighbors graciously come by and pay way more than they should for a glass of lemonade. Think about how much you “do life” alongside of your neighbors, even if you don't get together with them a lot. Neighborhoods are pockets of communities that make up our towns and cities. They are the fabric of our everyday lives. When hard things happen, we tend to lean in a bit more. Our human instinct is to pull in, and if we pull in geographically, our neighborhood is on the radar. If we widen the lens, your neighbor can be your local barista, the paper carrier, your local gym, the mail person, the Amazon delivery crew, or all of the people you see everyday and don't really notice that you see them everyday. They are a part of your life, and you are a part of theirs. They may be an acquaintance, but they may know things about you that even your close friends or family don't - like your coffee order, or your normal delivery habits, or maybe even something you've shared on a good or a bad day. Many mornings I'll walk around our neighborhood early in the morning, and I see the same few crossing guards every day. Even though we don't say more than a “good morning”, I feel their steady presence in our community, and look forward to seeing them each morning. We may not realize it, but there are probably people we count on seeing daily or weekly that we may not even have much conversation with, but just their presence gives us comfort. Life is like that. For more - head to www.storywork.co ______________________________________________ Blog: www.storywork.co/blog YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMJyxD6LETJvv2d91opWy7w Social Media: instagram.com/storywork/ Other Resources: linktr.ee/storywork
I was on a trip with my dad for a couple days, and he told a story that stuck with me - it was one that I hadn't heard before. It was an amazing example of paying attention to what your customers are asking for - and delivering on the seemingly really small things that become game changers for your word of mouth strategy. Seeing, Hearing and Knowing people first IS a strategy. Listen in to find out how. For more - head to www.storywork.co Blog: www.storywork.co/blog Social Media: instagram.com/storywork/ Other Resources: linktr.ee/storywork
We all have people in our lives. Whether they realize it or not, they want to be seen, known and heard. We can be a part of the solution. Every one of us has the opportunity every day to see, know and hear people around us. For more, head to www.storywork.co.
Who have you always been? What makes you the way you are and how can you use it to create your "one thing" or define the way you're going to lead? In The Strategy Masterclass, our ecourse, I talk about how 4 main things make up our identity (who we are): 1. Personality + Gifts - How does your personality impact how you view the world and how you operate? 2. Experiences - What triumphs and hardships have you been through in your life by phase and how has each one shaped you? 3. Lies vs. Truth - What we believe about ourselves, learning to meditate on the truth. 4. People/News Feeds/Inputs - You are the culmination of the people that you spend the most time with..what are you gaining from those relationships? What (if anything) are you giving up from those relationships?) Think about your childhood, (this is experiences) what moments stand out to you, both good and bad? Is there a particular moment where someone said something to you that stuck with you deeply? Probably - and probably there are good and bad things that stuck with you. These messages can take root in your soul, and they can have a hold on you, whether good or bad. If they're good - that's great, you can draw it on it for encouragement and recall it to mind when you need it. If they're bad - they take root in a negative way. These are the messages we can start to believe about ourselves that hurt - that can hurt us (whether we realize it or not), and those messages can discourage us from taking certain paths, or even worse, using our natural gifts and abilities. “Sometimes, the journey of discovery is more important and valuable than the journey itself.” - The question: Leigh A Bortins Let's be on the journey together. For more - head to www.storywork.co or take The Strategy Masterclass here.
Sometimes, the walls we're continuously hitting are the points of surrender that we need to address most. If you keep banging your head up against the same “wall” or relationship dynamic, it's time for a change. Our stubborn human nature doesn't want to surrender, so we do everything we can to fight it, but we're not winning. Pushing back in the same way one more time is going to do nothing. I wonder what it would look like if we identified the “wall”, how we're repeatedly responding, and asked ourselves how we could respond differently through a lens of seeing, hearing and knowing the other person? I wonder what defenses it would bring down, what breakthroughs would begin to happen over time on both sides, and even if not on the other side, breakthroughs within us. We can only control ourselves, and we're only responsible for ourselves. If we lived it and let go of the rest, we'd feel a lot freer, and we all have access to that freedom.
We've been in a place where we've experienced a lot of “undoing”, whether related to belief systems, assumptions, judgements or opinions. In the course of history, I imagine that there are cycles of this over and over again. When hard things happen - we start to question all of the things around us. Sometimes that happens subconsciously. We may not even realize it's happening. When we enter into a sort of trauma mode, or when we get “squeezed”, all of the random thoughts that have been floating around gather and come to the surface. When we get squeezed, sometimes we don't like what comes out. It's a refinement process. When we have hard things happen to us or see hard things happening around us, it's a wake up call. A reality check. It challenges us to think about why we're here, what really matters, who we are, and maybe what we want to change. I think we've been through a lot of that in the last few years as a society. This isn't the first time and it won't be the last. The point here is, not only do we have all of the “noise” happening around us in the world, in our local community and friend circles, managing our lives, but then we have this internal “noise” that bubbles to the surface sometimes more than others, and I think it's something we don't give enough credit. It impacts us more than we recognize. And when we try to ignore it, it doesn't go away. What's your internal noise? What are the questions that have been bubbling up to the surface of your mind? Oftentimes, stating them can be the hardest part. P.S - if you want to know when the book is coming out, freebies, all the good things - you can subscribe here to stay updated.
Your calling doesn't change throughout your life, but your assignment will. Craig Cooney from Daily Prophetic shares a lot of wisdom and practical tools in this episode about what it looks like to hear God. There are so many different ways to see, know and hear God and this episode was so freeing for me personally. For more on Daily Prophetic: http://dailyprophetic.com To Grab Craig's Books: https://www.amazon.com/Craig-Cooney/e/B092TQTG9S?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1669821098&sr=8-1
The more I went through the closet, the better I became at answering and knowing whether or not my answer was accurate for myself. I was learning my own voice in a different way. Turns out, I had two large trash bags full of things I didn't really like hanging around in there. It felt so good to throw them out of the closet that my enthusiasm increased as I took things out. As I continued my evaluation - something great happened - nothing became off limits. When I first started the clean out, I felt guarded, protective of certain things. But as I got into it, and realized how much freedom was coming from getting rid of these things that I didn't really like anyway, and I trusted the process more and more. So I started going back through some of the things I had brushed by in the beginning and listening, or trusting, my answer, and that's how I filled the second bag. When I was done, I felt lighter. I guess it turns out that sometimes our spaces can be related to how much noise we have in our minds. What layers of noise do you experience and what are the triggers of that noise? What can you clear out to get some more space for the things that matter most to you? What CLASSICS do you have - default patterns that you rely on that maybe need to be disrupted - UNASSUMING thoughts, relationships or systems that aren't serving you well and are hiding beneath the surface, FALSE ALARMS - things that you think you enjoy, but you don't. What are your true yes's and how can you say yes to them more? Listen in to learn more about clearing space for the things that matter most. For more - head to www.storywork.co Blog: www.storywork.co/blog Social Media: instagram.com/storywork/ Other Resources: linktr.ee/storywork
THE TENSION IS THICK FROM THE PREVIOUS SEASON. 86% of Americans say that they feel exhausted by the division in America. TOXIC POLARIZATION https://www.listenfirstproject.org/toxic-polarization-data We're living in a time where it's particularly hard to see, know and hear each other. Why? We've stopped speaking to each other, other than surface level conversation. We've given up, so there's a level of disconnect that silently exists within our relationships. The upside? We've figured out a way, in some cases, to “maintain” our relationships with boundaries. The downside? We may be allowing blindspots to exist because we're keeping our silence. In those close relationships, what does the silence represent? I think we've allowed too much to “slip under the rug” because of fear, weariness, trauma and woundedness and I'm wondering if it's time we reexamined. But how do we move forward after we've encountered so much difficult conflict? Listen in to find out. P.S - if you want to know when the book is coming out, freebies, all the good things - you can subscribe here to stay updated.
If you keep "hitting the wall" with yourself, or relationships - unsure of how to move forward when hard things come up - this episode is for you. Learn to process through emotions simply and get the change and freedom you need with yourself and others. With 25+ years of leadership and study in the field, Linda Tonnesen is one of my personal friends and I look up to her as a mentor. She's incredible, grace filled, and has this way about her that will leave you feeling refreshed, and just free after you listen to this episode. For more on her and her daughter Jessica Jeans' work (also a great friend and mentor) - head to https://www.guidedbygrace.org. P.S - if you want to know when the book is coming out, freebies, all the good things - you can subscribe here to stay updated.
I had always felt that there is a longing for “more” deep down, underneath all of us that we don't even realize. Maybe we just don't know about it. But it's a longing to really be seen, known and heard. Some of us may deflect by not sharing, some of us may overcompensate by seeing others and serving them to the point of exhaustion, some of us may think that we have the connection in our lives with lots of friends, but it's only on the surface - and I think there's more. I think there's a longing (subconsciously in many cases) to be truly seen - to have someone acknowledge us right where we are, to be heard - to listen for the things we are saying and even not saying, and known - truly known like I believe our Creator knows us. Does this scare you a little as you read it? It's ok, nobody else is here, just you, me and this book. It's not like the emperor's new clothes (remember that kids book?), you won't be put in the spotlight to share your deepest darkest secrets, most embarrassing moments or discomfort of being vulnerable. You're safe here. Maybe you find resistance rising up inside of you right now, but I want to gently nudge you to keep going to the other side. Maybe we might attribute it to a lack of time or space, but what's behind that? Peel back the layers, there's a lot more hiding in there (or might be, I won't make assumptions before I know you) but I know for me, I'm afraid. I'm afraid to ask uncomfortable questions, I'm afraid to dive into the deep, not knowing where it'll go. P.S - if you want to know when the book is coming out, freebies, all the good things - you can subscribe here to stay updated.
This episode is packed full of lightbulb moments - tune in as Graham Bodie from the Listen First Project shares with us on turning to wonder, the importance of nuance, and looking at why we believe a lot of what we believe. This conversation put to words so much of what was in my mind, but hadn't yet figured out how to say it, I'm so excited to share it with you. For more on the Listen First Project - head to https://www.listenfirstproject.org. P.S - if you want to know when the book is coming out, freebies, all the good things - you can subscribe here to stay updated.
I want you to take a minute and think about the people around you in your life - your family, friends, acquaintances, mailman, barista, assistant, coworker, and anyone else that comes to mind. These people make up a part of your daily life experience. As you think about each one of them in slideshow mode in your mind, what expression is on their face? What phrases do you hear them saying? What is the overall feeling that comes to mind when you think of each person? As you see this slideshow of photos of all of the people that make up your life, I wonder if you have any thoughts that come to mind that surprise you. Things that you have picked up on, maybe an underlying sense that there's more behind the standard greeting. I wonder if right now, you made a list, and wrote down the answers to these questions, if you also might hear a phrase for some of them that goes beyond the expression, or phrases or feeling. Maybe there's a repeated pattern, or a concern, or something that you might be hearing them say repeatedly. This is the start of how practicing seeing, knowing and hearing others can change everything - and I hope that it does for you too (in a good way). It gave me a new perspective, fresh eyes to see myself and others, that gave me freedom. My hope is that you'll feel the same as you read this too. P.S - if you want to know when the book is coming out, freebies, all the good things - you can subscribe here to stay updated.
Did you know that empathy doesn't just mean conjuring up feelings to understand someone? That actually can discourage true empathy. Empathy is strategic and can be learned! This is one of the most impactful episodes we've recorded in the series - IDEOS founder Christy Vines joins us to talk about how they're leading a grassroots movement throughout the U.S, bringing people together that are different from each other. If you've experienced division and toxic polarization, this episode is a must listen. For more on IDEOS, visit them at https://ideosinstitute.org. If you want to be a part of practicing empathic intelligence, you can! Join the upcoming national day of dialogue here AND/OR download the Empathy Mapping Guide to get started on your personal journey. P.S - if you want to know when the book is coming out, freebies, all the good things - you can subscribe here to stay updated.
I've been working on a project for a few years now....it came to me in a very distinct moment of clarity - what would it look like if we really could see, know and hear each other and how would it change the world? I'm excited to share with you that I've been writing a book all about what I'm learning, and I'm going to be highlighting that work here in this season of the podcast. I hope you'll listen in with me as we interview experts and thought leaders in the space, as well as share of my own writing before the book comes out. And share it with your friends! Anyone this series will help, please pass it on. This is about something much bigger than ourselves. - Lauren P.S - if you want to know when the book is coming out, freebies, all the good things - you can subscribe here to stay updated.
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