The Overcoming Odds Podcast

What are the pillars that make resilience? What is long-term resilience? How can you improve your flexibility and adaptability? Tune in, as Oleg and Adam, dive deep into strategies for developing resilience, things resilient people do, whether resilience is inherited or learned, qualities to develop as a leader to become resilient, and other related topics.

How can you get all that you want in life? What do you do when life gets tough? Tune in, as Oleg and Les, discuss the importance of going all in, challenging old beliefs, understanding which stories are no longer serving you, and other related topics.

What can one learn about life from a fighter pilot? What inspires people to become fighter pilots? What is a fighter pilot mindset? Tune in, as Oleg and Kim, dive deep into the most important thing to be a fighter pilot, hardest part of being a fighter pilot, the importance of keeping calm and carrying on, and other related topics.

It is the beginning to a brand new year. The perfect time to start making changes in your life. Some view such time filled with optimism and hope. Others view it filled with fear. What is the difference? Why do some see it one way and others see it differently? How can one find a new path when feel lost or uncertain? Tune in, as Mark and Oleg, dive deep into the importance of trying new things, asking for feedback from those closest to you, journaling, setting intentional goals, and other related topics.

How do you make a story captivating? What makes a story attractive or captivating? What are the characteristics of a memorable story? Tune in, as Oleg and Majeed Mogharreban dive deep into ways to develop a clear central message, tools for embracing conflict, frameworks for storytelling, importance of mining your personal experiences and other related topics.

Why is it important to evaluate your own thoughts? Do we control our thoughts? How do you catch your thoughts? Tune in, as Oleg and Colin Wright explore ways to stop listening to your thoughts, tools for controlling negative or unnecessary thoughts thoughts, techniques for mastering your mind and other related topics.

What does it mean to be "satisfied" with your life? Is satisfaction the same as fulfilment or happiness? What daily habits contribute toward achieve such state of being? Tune in, as Oleg and Matthew Lesser, explore ways to increase satisfaction in life, importance of exercise, sleep, nutrition, gratitude, tools for recognizing dissatisfaction, and other related topics.

Are you aware of your attitude toward things? Many have argued that to be successful in any area in life you need to have the right attitude to approach any task or job. But, how does one develop it? Where does it start? Tune in, as Oleg and Harry Cohen, dive deep into ways your attitude determines your direction in life, how to change your behavior, tools for changing your environment or friends at work or your goals, and other related topics.

How do you create a sense of safety for yourself? How do you honor and appreciate your authentic self? What does it mean to create a safe space? Tune in, as Oleg and Deborah explore ways to create internal safety, recognize behavioral patterns, ways to create a safe space for vulnerability, and other related topics.

What is the root cause of jealousy? Why is it important to understand jealousy? How do you cure jealousy? Tune in, as Kelly and Oleg, dive deep into exploring the different levels of jealousy, ways to let go of jealousy and insecurity, how to fix jealousy in a relationship, and other related topics.

What are the toughest decisions in life? Why do you struggle making some decisions and not others? How do you make a big decision if you can't decide? Tune in, as Oleg and Anna dive deep into decision-making, ways to deal with decision anxiety, how to make a decision and not regret it, and other related topics.

How does food and mood relate to mental health? How does good food affect your brain? Can lack of food affect mood? Tune in, as Mark and Oleg dive deep into the connection between food and mood, the foods that negatively affect your mood, ways to improve memory, the most powerful brain food and other related topics.

Do you notice your surroundings? Do you focus on one thing at a time? Are you grateful for what you have? Do you practice mindfulness? Tune in, as Oleg and Emilio, dive deep into the importance of spending time with people who make you feel happy, ways to be in the moment, tools for mindfulness, and other related topics.

Andrew is an advocate for embracing failure in order to live a fuller life. He believes that by doing so, one has the opportunity to learn and grow from their mistakes. He has had personal experience with this idea and uses it to guide his life choices. Tune in, as we discuss: 1) The importance of embracing failure, 2) How to tell if you're becoming the person you don't want to be, 3) The difficulty of being authentic, 4) The benefits of trying and failing.

Decisions. We make thousands of them every single day. How do we know which one to make? How do we know where each decision might lead? Is it a shot in the dark? Or is there a process/methodology behind it? Tune in, as Oleg and Jeff, dive deep into the psychology of decision-making, “right” vs “wrong”, how decisions impact our story or life narrative, ways to make decisions about one's past, and other related topics.

How we pick the parts we hide? Why do we hide them? Tune in, as Ruth and Oleg, dive deep into the reasons why we keep certain parts of our identity hidden, how to gain true acceptance of one's self, and other related topics.

How can you control the way you react? Can you train yourself not to react? Tune in, as Sigalle and Oleg, dive deep into understanding your emotions, importance of taking time outs, writing down your thoughts, practicing relaxation techniques, avoiding judgement, and other related topics.

How do you utilize your time and energy? Time is something you can never get more of. Energy also has its own bandwidth. How do you know what to say, "YES," to in life? Tune in, as Oleg and Shauna dive deep into simplifying your daily activities, productivity tools to help you manage your time and energy, importance of prioritization, and other related topics.

Why is endurance important in life? Business? How is endurance used in everyday life? Tune in, as Katie and Oleg, dive deep into the impact of endurance sports on everyday life, ways to train and shift your mind, and other related topics.

How often do you take the time to recognize how you are feeling? Are you able to forgive yourself? Can you say, "No" to others? Tune in, as Amy and Oleg, discuss the importance of nourishing yourself, starting a gratitude journal, showering yourself in feel-good vibes, and other related topics.

What does it mean to accept your past? How can you accept your past and move forward? Tune in, as Matthew and Oleg, explore how to create positive mantra to counter the painful thoughts, importance of doing your own inner work, practicing mindfulness, allowing the negative emotions to flow, and other related topics.

How do you find your own identity? Is it important to have your own identity? How does knowing your identity influence you and those around you? Tune in, as Brian and Oleg, dive deep into ways to define values, importance of making your own choices, the value of spending time alone, and how to achieve your goals.

Fame. Music. Purpose. What do the three have in common? What is the relationship between becoming famous and staying true to yourself? Can fame change a person? Can fame change one's purpose? Tune in, as Zuby and Oleg explore all of the above, as well as other related topics.

What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid? Is it becoming a famous musician? Professional hockey player? Making the game winning shot to win the NBA championship? Could you still achieve that childhood dream? Or is that dream unattainable? Tune in, as Oleg and Travis explore the importance of shifting one's perspective when it comes to achieving one's dreams, ways to look at life through glass half full vs half empty, and other related topics.

You must have lots of friends. You must always be active on social media. You must always be busy doing something productive. You must be in a relationship. Regardless of who you are, there are norms or societal expectations surrounding you. Why do we have them? Do we need them? Some have argued that human beings need norms in order to guide and direct their behavior, to provide order. Others have made the case that norms restrict the individual from being becoming who they truly are. Tune in, as Joshua and Oleg, dive deep into exploring where societal norms originate from, why we have norms, and other related topics.

A man goes to bed at three in the morning after aimlessly scrolling on his phone. A woman walks past a McDonald's and smells the intoxicating scent of burgers and fries. She walks in and gets a large of everything. A teenager goes to a party and learns that drinking alcohol is a quick way to make friends. They continue to drink every weekend so that they can be popular. People find various vices and cling to them as if they are the only way to happiness. The rush one feels when they experience a high from whatever is their drug of choice is like no other. People are aware of the negative consequences of their choices, but seeing past the haze of short term delights can be tricky. Going to the gym. Eating healthy foods. Going to sleep at a reasonable hour. These are standard healthy habits that is common knowledge. The drive to start on a healthier path has to come from within. Take a moment to consider what healthy habits you have picked up over the years. What have been the challenges of maintaining a healthy lifestyle? Do you have other habits that detract from your health? No one is perfect, but everyone has some strategy or drive that keeps them on track.

What does vulnerability mean to you? How can you become more vulnerable with yourself? How well do you know yourself? How much of your inner truth do you share with yourself and the rest of the world? Tune in, as Christopher Kies and Oleg, dive deep into the challenges of being vulnerable with one self, ways to share one's inner truth with the rest of the world and other related topics.

People are resilient. Most, if not all, can endure unimaginable hardships over the course of a lifetime. Not every challenge is the same. Some are much harder to overcome than others. For some losing a loved one or the fear of it happening, takes precedence over even the individual's life. The question is, “Why?” What makes some value the lives of others so much? At times, even more than their own. What is it about the other beings, especially those who we love, one cherishes? Tune in, as Anne and Oleg, dive deep into the meaning one places on others, factors that contribute toward unconditional love, and other related topics.

A child grows up in a suburban town with nice neighbors and good friends. They have a backyard where they play fetch with their dog. The school is only a five minute bike ride away. There are challenges with bullies and some passionless teacher, but overall, life is good. That is until the child's father earns a promotion at his job. They will have to move to the big city and leave everything behind. The child doesn't want to give up their friends or house or school. They do not want to leave. The child fears that they will not be able to make friends. They fear that their old friends will forget them. They fear that change will be more detrimental than positive. The child will learn with time that change is inevitable and how they react to it will make all the difference. Most people have to experience change in their lives at one point or another. That fact does not prevent the fear associated with this transition. The unknown is scary and creates a discomfort that is hard to manage. However, given the right tools and outlook, it may be possible to embrace change rather than fear it. Take a moment to consider the changes in your life. Were you excited at the prospect of something new? Were you hesitant to shift from one experience to the next? Do you still fear change? Join Oleg and Dave as they discuss their own fears of change and how they've managed to overcome them.

A runner trains for months for his upcoming race. His coach pushes him and explains how he can achieve his full potential. The days of training, sweating, and pain, all accumulate to one moment: The day of the race. At the starting line he can hear the shouts of the crowd. He can hear the shuffling of feet from the other competitors. He can hear the pounding of his own heart. His anxiety starts to flare as the man at the starting line raises the gun. Will he be able to live up to all of the expectations he placed on himself? Will he realize his full potential? The gun explodes and the race starts. Not everyone is a professional athlete. Not everyone is a tycoon of industry. However, every person has the potential to be the best at whatever they set their hearts on. This can create a fear where failure is possible. It can also create a fear that if success is not met, then there has been a monumental waste of potential. Just like training for a race, life has its moments of easy days and hard days. There are days where it feels like everything is going great and days where it feels like the whole world is crashing down. Life itself is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time to build up potential and truly understand who you are in relation to the world. Over the course of your life, have you found yourself living to your potential? Do you believe that it is out of your reach? Do you fear that you will never achieve it? Join Oleg and Luke as they discuss the potential of everyone and the fears we harbor along the way.

A knight in shining armor charges down the field, arrows exploding upon his chest plate. Other swordsmen exchange blows, but the knight is not deterred. After all, his protection keeps him alive and fighting. He knows if it were not for his armor, he would have perished long ago. The knight is someone we can identify with, even if we do not possess the same fancy vestments. A knight fights for what they believe is right while protecting their vital core. The armor of knight is the wall that keeps danger at bay. Without armor, the knight may be fearsome and strong, but vulnerable to attacks from all sides. The knight cannot afford to enter battle without it. People today may not walk around in armor as knights of medieval times did back then, but they still wear armor nonetheless. The armor of today is the one that shields us from emotional and personal attacks. By keeping on this armor, no one can get to you on the inside. However, the armor also may keep out positive interactions and connections. There is a fear of letting one's armor down. By doing so, you can be hurt in ways that are hard to recover from. Some may be willing to risk the pain of an exposed psyche in order to be with the ones they love in full trust and respect. Yet, it may not be that simple for others. Are you able to let down your armor? Join Oleg and Patrick as they discuss what it means to be vulnerable and accept the fear of letting your armor down.

What is a victim mentality? What causes a victim mindset? How do you break the victim mentality? Tune in, as David Neal and Oleg, discuss ways to overcome victim mentality, dangerous of living in victimhood, and other related topics.

What are the things you're responsible for today? Why these things and not others? How do you choose the things that take the front seat? What are the things that get put on the back burner? Tune in, as Brian and Oleg, explore the importance of prioritization in life, how to identify the critical steps to accomplish each day and other related topics.

Why do we help others? Is one born with the intention of helping others or is it a learned behavior? Some have argued that helping others feels good, it creates a sense of belonging, it gives one a sense of purpose, along with hundreds of other benefits. At what point does helping others backfire? What is the downside of constantly wanting to help another being? What is a personality type that is most likely to help others? Tune in, as Michael and Oleg, dive deep into all of the above, as well as a variety of other topics.

A boy loves learning. He loves reading. He loves discovering new information in any way he can. School provides him with some of his education, but he spends most of his time at the local library absorbing every piece of literature in his sights. He is happiest when he is learning. Unfortunately, the other kids at school don't seem to share his unique appreciation for literature and sciences. They make fun of him. They tell him he will amount to nothing same as the rest of them. The boy is quite lonely because no one wants to spend time with him. Through his loneliness he finds the solace in the books he loves. Although a pariah in his small town, he grows up to be a hero in the scientific world. Not only has he met people who share his passion, he is rewarded for his insights. There are a number of reasons why one would be ostracized from their communities. Some are for legitimate grievances, while others can be simply due to a lack of understanding or empathy for differences. Most people at some point experience a disconnect from others. It may not be severe, but it can be a jarring experience. Have you ever felt misunderstood by your peers? Join Scott Mason and Oleg, as they explore the ultimate question, "Can living your story make you an outcast?"

Do you view the glass half full or half empty? Do you become frustrated when it rains on a day you were planning on enjoying the outdoors? Do you find that complaining about life brings you happiness? Generally speaking, having a negative outlook can put yourself in a position where you find yourself less happy and create a less than enjoyable environment for those around you. You may find that there is little to be positive about, but some circumstances may be less bleak than you perceive. To feel negative emotions is normal when life throws obstacles in the path. There can be catharsis in letting the veneer of positivity down. However, have you found a balance between positivity and negativity that allows you to live a life that's satisfying? Oleg has had his fair share of negativity over the years. He knows he is not alone in respect to hard times. He is curious to see how negativity may be used for the good if possible. The question is: Is there #value in #negativity? Join Casey Berman, LaChelle Adkins, Caleb Pearson and Oleg, as they discuss the impact of negativity, the role "negativity" has in allowing us to understand "positivity", and other related topics. *** Also, join us at, “Survive to Thrive: Face Your Fears”, 3-day life changing event in Austin, TX, September 23 - 25, where you will take a deep dive into the origins of your fears, and then transform them into strengths.

What is the purpose of the hardships we encounter in our lives? Is there a deeper meaning to it all? Or is it only the meaning we choose to assign it? Do you believe you have a choice in how you view each hardship in your life? Tune in, as Ron and Oleg, discuss why hardships exist, the meaning hardships carry within our lives, and other related topics.

A girl desperately wants to be a professional soccer player when she grows up. Even at a young age, she puts in hours and hours of practice in her backyard. She is the first to start practice and the last to leave. Nothing will prevent her from achieving her goals. As she grows, she joins more prestigious teams and plays a game almost every weekend. She continues to train hard and maintain her other obligations, as she finishes high school. Unfortunately, she experiences an injury that puts her in the hospital. She can't play soccer anymore. However, that is not an option. She goes to physical therapy and continues to heal. She will play again. Years down the line, she is playing for a national team. Her dream came true. She hopes to inspire other little girls who have the same dream. The fact that she had the internal determination was the first step of achieving her goals. However, what were the external factors that got her to where she wanted to be? Her parents would wake up a half hour earlier than her in order to get her ready for early morning practices. They helped pay for the medical bills when she was injured. They dealt with whatever obstacle their daughter may not have seen in order to give her the best chance at success. When reviewing your personal story of growth and success, what were the factors that helped you achieve your goals? Were you as equally determined as a young girl with a dream? Are you aware of the external influences that impact your story? Tune in as Casey Berman, LaChelle Adkins, Caleb Pearson and Oleg Lougheed explore ways to identify external influences that impact your story other related topics. *** Join Casey Berman, Steve Gamlin, Nancy John, Scott Mason and many others at, “Survive to Thrive: Face Your Fears”, 3-day life changing event in Austin, TX, September 23 - 25, where you will take a deep dive into your fears and origins. https://www.overcomingodds.today/survive-to-thrive-live-face-your-fears

The "C" word. More than 1.6 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year in US, and nearly 600,000 of them die from it, making it the second leading cause of death. The question that remains unanswered is, "Can an individual beat cancer? If so, how?" Thousands of approaches have been shared to date. In this episode, we will be focusing on, "attitude". What role does attitude have in defeating cancer? Can one fight cancer with positivity? Tune in, as Oleg and Martha explore whether or not one can train him or herself to see the glass half-full despite a life-changing cancer diagnosis.

How do you manifest peace and happiness? Some people set very clear intentions, find ways to let go of perfectionism, create time for stillness, let go of what doesn't serve them. How do you do it? What brings you peace? What makes you happy? Join Rebecca and Oleg, as they explore the impact of acts of kindness, ways to identify things that make you happy, and other related topics.

Fight or flight. This is the core of the sympathetic nervous system. It is so ingrained in human physiology and psychology that it can be traced to ancient humans. If a saber tooth tiger was stalking an early man, they had to know how to use their fear to either sprint as fast as they could or overcome the threat with the tools they had at their disposal. Most humans now do not have the same stresses that our ancestors had. However, the same response to threats and fears is still very much a part of our being. The challenge is that this response activates when threats are equally as minor or major. It takes the wisdom and intellect of an individual to understand what is happening in their body when a perceived threat is presented. The question then becomes, do you know when you need to face a fear or avoid it? The dilemma: Run away from fear or run to it? Join Nancy John, Casey Berman and Oleg Lougheed as they express how to successfully navigate #fear and #uncertainty.

The day has come. The day you have dreaded for weeks. You cannot imagine a fate worse than this. Today, is your friend's birthday party. They have chosen the most unholy and horror provoking event to celebrate their new year. They have decided to take all of their friends to an amusement park. For most people, this may sound like the most fun any person could have for a few hours. To you, it is the gut dropping, mind numbing, personal hell that has been hoisted upon you. You have had a fear of roller coasters ever since you saw a movie with people falling from the ride. You cannot get the image out of your head. Your friends encourage you to try the largest and fasted ride with them. You protest and explain that you would rather stay behind. They insist that you muster the courage and join them on this momentous occasion. Eventually you acquiesce. You sit in the little train. You are buckled up. The seat protector is secure. Moments later, the train starts its ascent. You feel your heart sink into your stomach. You are not ready for this. You want to get off. But, it is too late. As the train starts to twist and turn and you scream with your friends, you feel a release you had not expected. By the time the ride is over, you feel exhilarated. In fact, you want to go again. You have mastered your fear. In this vignette, an individual fears an amusement park ride and eventually learns to love it. Not everyone has this exact experience, but there are times when fears turn into joys and something once avoided is now sought after. Are there hidden benefits to doing something you once feared? Are the things we fear the most, the things we want the most? Join Oleg & Steve Gamlin as they discuss how their fears turned into their greatest desires.

Imagine the origin story of your favorite superhero. For most of them, they did not start with superhuman strength, intellect, or courage. They started as many average humans start life with the same opportunities and challenges that plague us all. The difference between our superhero to be and the average person has to do with what the hero had to overcome. Let's take Batman for example. He not only dealt with the loss of his parents from an early age, but overcame his fear of bats to become a symbol of justice and overcoming fear. Is Batman a real person? No. Does the fictional story behind Batman help people in real life find the courage they lack? Yes. Not everyone has to have such severe circumstances and overwhelming fears in order to become successful. Simply acknowledging what you fear and coming up with strategies may be enough to find the success you have always dreamed of. And who knows? Maybe you will be the Batman in the story that you choose to tell. Maybe you will ask the question: When is fear healthy and even necessary for success? Join Oleg & Casey as they discuss how to use fear as fuel for success.

Do you remember the story of the three little pigs? Once upon a time there were three little pigs. The first pig built his house from straw. The second pig built his house from wood. The third pig built his house from brick. Each felt that they were safe because of the shelter they had built. A wolf looking for a meal tested their domiciles by attempting to blow each down. The straw and wood houses toppled without any resistance. However, the brick house remained steadfast. The moral of this children's tale is about having both a sturdy foundation and sound material when building anything from the physical to the metaphysical. Most of the stories you read as a child had a moral. They were written with cute little animals or fantastical kingdoms in order to keep your attention. However, behind the gloss and wonder was a lesson for you to absorb. They probably helped you develop useful skills even into your adulthood. The stories you read now are probably more complex. The characters are nuanced and the situations fraught with ambiguity. At times there may not even be an easy lesson to glean. Does that mean, perhaps that some stories are hollow and lacking a moral? Do all stories have a lesson? Join us, Casey Berman, Summer Watson, LaChelle Adkins, Caleb Pearson, as we explore whether or not all stories have a lesson, ways to extract lessons from stories, and other related topics.

Do you like coloring your hair the full spectrum of the rainbow? Do you enjoy speaking about topics that others find uncomfortable? Do you simply wish to live your life without judgement or persecution? There are over six billion people on this planet with cultural, national, political, and social differences. There may be differences that are objectively amoral, but for the most part, one could say there are different flavors to live a life. If you like chocolate and somebody likes vanilla, it would be an absurd argument to have with them over which flavor is best. Likewise, if you like to skip down the street singing show tunes and another person likes peace, quiet and solitude, there is no need to try to belittle each other for different life choices. However, people can find ways to make differences worth fighting over. They can make the other feel insignificant and small. When you go about living your personal story, have you come across dissenters? Are there #stigmas associated with living your #story? Join us, DeeJae DuRante, Caleb Pearson, Oleg Loughed, as we explore the impact of stigmas, ways to reduce stigmas, and other related topics.

Your heart is beating fast. Your chest seizes slightly. You burst into a cold sweat. Your deadline is fast approaching and you feel physically ill from the pressure. You close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and continue your project in stride. Anxiety can come in many forms and be triggered by all sorts of situations. Perhaps meeting new people or traveling or pressure from work. Whatever the reason may be, anxiety is usually perceived as a negative attribute. After all, people seek medical intervention in order to decrease anxiety. But what if anxiety had its purpose? What if there were ways to harness its power? According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, there may be an optimal level of stress or anxiety one can experience in order to have the best possible performative outcome. It would be appear then that anxiety may be beneficial in the right amounts. If one suffers from anxiety, how can one be able to rewrite their narrative for the good? How can one reframe anxiety into a superpower?

Your love for your father is strong, but he has disappointed you time and time again. He promised you that last week's drink was going to be the last one. There have been many “last ones.” Your best friend has slowly drifted down a rabbit hole of drug abuse and self harm. Despite your pleas for him to stop, he continues down this dark path. Your child has become hopelessly attached to their phone. They cannot for a waking moment put it down or interact in any other way. Their eyes are always reflecting back that dull blue light. It is a sad truth that many people may become addicted to a substance or item or know someone with an addiction. Interventions and acts of love may be used in speaking to one with an addiction, but the results may vary. Perhaps the only way to help, you believe, is to cut them off entirely. No contact until they change their ways. Perhaps, instead you feel that you must be there all the time and restrict their use through force or manipulation. Addiction is a complex issue with many facets that contribute to the addiction itself. There are also many tools that can help those that suffer from addictions. Join Carson Lee Alexander-White and Oleg, as they dive deep into personal addictions throughout their lives, ways they've been able to recover from them, and other related topics.

What are your needs in life? How do you meet your needs? What happens when you don't meet your needs? Join Najwa Zebian and Oleg, as they explore the above questions, as well as other related topics.

How often do you take the time to think about the person who cooked your food at your favorite restaurant. How about the person who delivered you the food when you didn't feel like going to the restaurant yourself? How often do you think about the janitor who takes care of your office? Do you consider the messes of today that are cleaned by the time you come back to your office the next day? How often do you think about the homeless person on the street. The one with the sign that says hungry, U.S. Vet, anything will help. Do you walk by and ignore them or do you take the time to see them? Finally, how often do you think about the people across the globe who make the products for you in your country? The people who make your clothes, grow your food, mine your jewelry? Do you think about what it takes to live the life you are currently living? There are a number of invisible people that you come across in your daily life as well as those that are way behind the scenes. It is easy to dismiss and even ignore the people that help make everything easier for you, but these individuals are still people with the same humanity that you possess. What would it take to really “see” these individuals. To let them know that they are seen and valued. How do you make the invisible become visible? As Oleg travels through Ghana, he is seeing people that he has not been able to see before. He is seeing a culture that the West may not see normally. How often do you consider cultures of people that you have no connection with?

When you read a book, what type of story draws you in? Do you prefer adventures that take you to the sea where the waves crash against the ships and the salt air fills your nose? Do you prefer expeditions through the densest jungles with discovered ruins that have not been witnessed for millennia? How about weaving in and out of the busy streets of a bustling metropolis? Whatever your preferences may be, they may point in the direction of the stories and journeys you desire to take one day. Your journey could be literal in nature where you travel the world seeking novelty and adventure. Your journey could be integral where you wish to discover yourself and who you really are. If you think about who you were in the past and how far you've come to this point, do you #appreciate the journey you are currently on? Do you wish to #change the journey for the unknown? What kind of #journey do you want? Join Oleg and LaChelle Adkins, as they discuss their current journeys and the adventures they have yet to take.

What makes you believe in the story you're telling yourself? You are reading a book. From the very beginning you have been enamored by the setting, characters, and plot. You are moved by the figurative language and feel like you are transported to another world. However, in the middle of the book something happens that doesn't make much sense. There is an inconsistency between what you expect and what is given. You are not able to suspend disbelief. You feel cheated because something you were actively engaged with made presumptions that you would just ignore the glaring plot holes and cheap literary devices. Rather than finishing the book, you put it away never to be seen again. For most people, a bad book can be off putting, but not necessarily something that ruins your day. The story you were given was not the story you expected, but you don't have to read it anymore. However, what if the story you are reading is the one you create everyday? You have a story that is constantly evolving. You can choose the setting, add the characters, and change the plot at will. You can be as creative as you want, but still can fall into the same traps that authors find themselves in: You can create a story that in the end makes little sense. How do you avoid developing a #story with inconsistencies? Are you happy with the direction of the story you have told so far? What makes you #believe in the story that you are telling yourself? Join Oleg, Casey Berman and Caleb Pearson, December 11th at 4:15 PM EST, as they discuss their stories, what makes a good story, and other related topics. Feel free to tell us whether you believe in your story in the comments below.