Podcasts about embracing uncertainty

Discover practical strategies to navigate major life transitions with emotional intelligence.Are you in the middle of a big change—starting a new job, retiring, or adjusting to life's next chapter? You're not alone.Eric Pennington and Jeff East take an honest look at why transitions—both exciting and unsettling—can challenge us at every level. Drawing on personal stories, neuroscience, and emotional intelligence, the conversation explores how to navigate these in-between moments with greater resilience and self-awareness.Learn why your brain resists change, how to handle the fog of the unknown, and what it really means to give yourself a psychological “breath” during times of upheaval. The discussion goes beyond quick fixes, offering real strategies to sit with discomfort, embrace discovery, and ensure growth on the other side.Key Takeaways:Why the brain resists transitions and how to work with neural pathways, not against them 03:05The importance of self-empathy and allowing yourself to feel—instead of force—your way through change 21:49How intrinsic motivation beats outside pressure when making life decisions 24:06The essential role of slowing down to discover the real “gold” in every transition, not just chasing quick answers 28:09Emotional intelligence tools you can use in challenging periods: self-empathy, honest motivation checks, and giving yourself space to learn 21:49, 24:065 Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy are life transitions so challenging for most people? - Transitions disrupt established patterns in our brains, creating resistance and discomfort as we move into the unknown 03:05.What is “limbic friction” and how does it affect transitions? -Limbic friction refers to the resistance our limbic system creates during significant changes, making new routines initially uncomfortable 03:39.How can self-empathy help during life transitions? - Self-empathy allows you to normalize your feelings, reduce self-judgment, and give yourself the space to move through change healthily 21:49.What role does intrinsic motivation play in navigating change? - Making decisions based on your own values rather than outside expectations ensures your transitions are authentic and more sustainable 24:06.Why shouldn't transitions be rushed or shortcut? - Skipping the uncomfortable in-between robs you of growth and discovery—the true “gold” in transitions comes from being present in the journey, not just getting answers quickly 28:09.In each episode, Jeff and Eric will talk about what emotional intelligence, or understanding your emotions, can do for you in your daily and work life. For more information, contact Eric or Jeff at info@spiritofeq.com or visit their website, Spirit of EQ.You can follow The Spirit of EQ Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Android, or on your favorite podcast player.New episodes are available on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays every month!Please review our podcast Music from Uppbeathttps://uppbeat.io/t/roo-walker/deeperLicense code: PEYKDJHQNGSZXDUEhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/Spirit of EQMentioned in this episode:Thanks for listening to Spirit of EQThis podcast was created to be a tool to primarily help you to discover and grow your EQ. Science and our own lived experiences confirm that the better we are at managing our emotions, the better we're going to be at making decisions. Which leads to a better life. And that's something we all want. We're glad that you've taken the time today to listen. We hope that something you hear will lead to a breakthrough. We'd really appreciate a review on your podcast platform. Please leave some comments about what you heard today, as well as follow and subscribe to the podcast. That way, you won't miss a single episode as we continue this journey.

In this episode of Positive Philter, I am joined by Scott Stirrett, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Venture for Canada. We discuss overcoming social anxiety, the power of networking and weak ties, and why embracing uncertainty can be a valuable skill for personal and professional growth. Guest Information & Recording Location Shout Out and Plugs   Scott Stirrett Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottstirrett/ Scott Stirrett LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottstirrett/ "The Uncertainty Advantage" by Scott Stirrett https://www.scottstirrett.com/the-uncertainty-advantage "The Strength of Weak Ties" by Mark Granovetter  https://www.jstor.org/stable/2776392 Braxton Cook https://www.braxtoncook.com/music-1 Recording Credits Mason Innovation Exchange (The MIX): A collaborative space for innovation and entrepreneurship. Visit The MIX. Community & Support Jeff's Anti-Hunger Fund Dedicated to Jeff Kirsch, this fund supports the careers of future anti-hunger advocates. Please consider donating to the Jeff Kirsch Fund for Anti-Hunger Advocacy: Donate Here Pats for Patriots Members of the #MasonNation can recognize colleagues or students for their kindness via Pats for Patriots. We have received over 3,000 nominations—keep them coming! Nominate Someone Here Podcast Resources Connect & Follow Newsletter: Sign up for the Positive Philter Weekly Patreon: Support the Podcast Feedback: Complete our Audience Survey Questions: Call 571-336-6560 or use this Google Form Reviews: Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Featured Products & Music Book: "Forty Years of Advice" by Philip Wilkerson: Purchase on Amazon The Five Minute Journal: Shop Intelligent Change Tappy Card: Get Your Electronic Business Card Intro Music: DJ BIGyoks (Instagram | Soundcloud) Outro Music: Ryan Rosemond (Soundcloud) Positive Philter is honored to be among the Top 20 Positive Thinking Podcasts by FeedSpot: View the List

We explore the purpose of uncertainty, why some people are more comfortable with deep questions than others, and the process of writing. Please check out Robert's work here: https://www.youtube.com/@PursuitofWonderSupport the show

Dr Margaret Heffernan is one of the world's leading thinkers on uncertainty, leadership and creativity. A bestselling author, entrepreneur and former CEO, her latest book, Embracing Uncertainty, challenges one of the biggest assumptions in business that the future can, and should, be predicted.In this episode, Margaret explains why forecasting often fails, where great ideas really come from, and why spending more time with uncertainty can actually make us better leaders and marketers. We discuss the dangers of relying too heavily on data, the surprising habits of highly creative people, and why walking might be one of the best things you can do for your thinking.Timestamps00:00 - Trailer01:09 - Why pick uncertainty as a topic05:31 - Why some companies shouldn't forecast09:04 - Why smart people are wasting time on forecasting14:41 - The problem with having too much data19:07 - Predictability only happens at scale24:41 - Where do ideas come from?27:19 - Why the Chief Economist of the Bank of England goes on walks30:29 - Are we becoming too left brain dominant?32:32 - The problem with AI36:10 - Is AI killing our ability to think?41:17 - How to make good ideas happen44:11 - The power of surprise46:15 - The improvisers paradox49:31 - The correlation between the artists mind and the entrepreneur's mind51:57 - What human skills do we need to survive?58:43 - The best advice Margaret has ever been given ---Thank you to our sponsors System1 and HubSpotDownload System1's creator effectiveness report here:https://system1group.com/the-creator-effectiveness-playbookFind about more about HubSpot's AEO product here:https://www.hubspot.com/products/aeo

David Booth, Dimensional Fund Advisors founder and chairman, discusses the theme of his new book "Stay Calm: Learn to Embrace Uncertainty in Investing and Life," and his historic $300 Million gift to the University of Kansas. He speaks with hosts Caroline Hepker and Judy Lagrou.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What If You're Not Starting Over, But Waking Up?Midlife Reinvention, Courage & Trust with Elizabeth ElfenbeinWhat if the life you've worked so hard to build no longer feels like the life you're meant to live?For Elizabeth Elfenbein, founder of Under the Sisterhood, reinvention didn't begin with a perfectly mapped-out next chapter. It began with an unraveling.After decades of success in advertising, Elizabeth made the courageous decision to leave behind both a career and a marriage that had defined so much of her life. She describes it as jumping off the mountain without knowing where she would land.What followed wasn't simply starting over.It was an awakening.In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Elizabeth and I explore what happens when we stop looking outside ourselves for answers and begin listening to the voice within. We talk about uncertainty, courage, identity, trusting your gut, and why sometimes the things that unravel us create the space we need to discover who we are.Elizabeth also shares how her own desire to reclaim her voice became the spark for Under the Sisterhood, a global storytelling platform dedicated to ensuring that women's lived experiences are seen, heard, valued, and documented.And now that mission is expanding in an exciting new way through the Under the Sisterhood documentary, which premiered this week in New York City. I had the incredible privilege of being part of the film and celebrating its premiere alongside Elizabeth and an inspiring community of women.✨ In this episode, we explore:

In this episode, Professor AG takes us along for her birthday trip to Miami and shares the unexpected lessons that came from simply being open to the moments around her. She talks about embracing how differently everyone lives, letting go of the pressure to have everything figured out, and the reminder that sometimes the best things happen in ways we never could have planned. This episode is all about trusting the process, staying curious, and knowing that life has a funny way of working itself out.MY APP IS HERE!!Daily somatic classes to regulate your nervous system.  Start your FREE trial today.Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Announcements01:13 The Power of Surrender and Trusting the Universe02:04 Sharing a Miami Trip and Personal Insights05:37 The Magic of Unexpected Encounters08:06 Stories of Love, Loss, and Success13:55 Lessons from a Handbag Designer's Journey16:47 The Universe Creates Opportunities When You Least Expect21:50 Embracing Uncertainty and Trusting Your Path26:49 Book Recommendations and Personal Growth29:12 Everyone is Human and Fumbles Their Way to Success30:51 The Power of Letting Go and Living in the Present32:05 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement for the JourneyKeywords: personal growth, trusting the universe, life stories, manifestation, self-developmentWhat is AGU? After launching an energy work practice rooted in the Akashic Records, AG uncovered so much information that she needs the world to hear! It's her duty and personal mission to help people get in touch with their intuition and energetic gifts, and ultimately become the brightest and boldest version of themselves! This is your official acceptance letter: WELCOME TO AG UNIVERSITY! Daily somatic classes to regulate your nervous system.  Start your FREE trial today.AG's Energetic Protection CoursesAG's Book Club How To Read The Akashic Records CourseSign up for the newsletter if you are interested in doing a reading with Anna Grace, or learning more about her energy work practice. Sessions will ONLY become available here - her booking link will never be shared on any other platforms: Sign up hereIf you aren't already - you can connect with AG on Instagram and TikTok: @annagracenewell and @aguniversityapp 

A six-year-old rides his scooter to a playground a quarter mile from home. Two days later, Child Protective Services is at his family's door. His case is one of several in a recent New York Times article asking whether letting children play outside alone has effectively become a crime. Chuck Marohn talks with Lenore Skenazy, founder of the Free-Range Kids movement and president of Let Grow, and planner and pedestrian-safety advocate Angie Schmitt about “worst-first thinking,” neglect laws, and the decline of walking and biking to school. Parents are expected to raise capable, independent kids while also keeping them under constant watch, while the built environment often makes even short walks to school or the playground harder for children to navigate on their own. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES "Should Letting Children Play Alone Outside Be a Crime?" by Ian Frisch, Nytimes.com (August 2026) Chuck Marohn (LinkedIn) Lenore Skenazy (LinkedIn), Let Grow (Site) Angie Schmitt (LinkedIn), Love of Place (Substack) Downzone: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks (Site) The Wisdom of Not Knowing: Discovering a Life of Wonder by Embracing Uncertainty by Estelle Frankel (Site) A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by YSophie Elmhirst (Site) Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Thank you! Join fellow members discussing this episode in The Commons.

What if the tension, fear and disruption you're experiencing aren't signs that something has gone wrong, but signs that you're fully alive?Rob Bell has been my #1 DREAM podcast guest for years. His work, particularly Everything Is Spiritual, has profoundly shaped the way I think about creativity, spirituality, making things and living my life.And eventually, I decided it was time to stop waiting for "one day" and simply make the invitation.And here we are.In this episode of Dream Makers, Claire Byrt sits down with New York Times bestselling author, speaker, artist and creator Rob Bell for a deeply human conversation about creativity, fear, spirituality, dreams, money, uncertainty, wonder and awe, and what it actually means to create a life that feels like your own.Rob shares why new creation is inherently disruptive, why fear doesn't need to disappear before we move, and why there is always risk in both directions, including the risk of standing at a distance from your own life.Together, Claire and Rob explore the difference between dreaming and building, why you probably already have what you need to take the next step, and how putting too much pressure on a new idea can crush it before it has a chance to grow.They explore the idea that creativity isn't reserved for artists, writers or entrepreneurs. We are all creating our lives through what we give our time, money, attention and energy to.And sometimes, the thing you feel called to create doesn't need a business case, an ROI or even a rational explanation. The fact that you care about it might be reason enough to follow it.The conversation also goes somewhere deeper, into parenting, money, ambition, creativity and the impossible fantasy of eventually arriving at a frictionless life where everything is finally sorted.Maybe the tension isn't something to solve.Maybe it's a sign of life.And maybe, while you're waiting for the dream to arrive, it's worth looking around and asking:What if this is it? What if I'm already living it?This is a conversation about listening to your life, trusting what keeps tugging on your sleeve, taking the next step without knowing where it will lead, and cultivating wonder and awe for the ordinary, sacred life happening right now.An episode for anyone building something, changing something, questioning something, or standing at the edge of the unknown wondering whether they have the courage to move.Listen to it. Come back to it. And send it to someone who's building a dream of their own.Find Rob Bell: https://robbell.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/realrobbell and https://www.patreon.com/robbellGET YOUR COPY HERE. Let Your Vision Be Bigger Than Your Bullsh*t. Get brave, stop doubting, make the dream real. GET STARTED TODAY Seven days DREAM to DONE. On-demand. Self-paced. Seven days of powerful recordings and worksheets to help you lay down the fear, resistance and overthinking - and start building your dream in just 7 days.

Losing Confidence After Stroke: Why It Happens and How to Get It Back Jaemin Frazer has spent nearly two decades and around 16,000 coaching hours on a single question: what is actually going on when a capable person stops trusting themselves? He founded The Insecurity Project to work on it directly. He is not a stroke survivor – and that turns out to be the reason this conversation is useful, because he arrives without any assumptions about what stroke recovery is supposed to look like. What he does have is a precise account of what happens to a person when their ordered world collapses, which is, more or less, the definition of a stroke. “I Just Want to Be Who I Was” Almost every survivor says some version of this. Six weeks out, six years out – the sentence barely changes. Jaemin’s response is to ask what is actually being requested. His answer: not the past. Certainty. They’re looking for certainty. They’re looking for comfort. They’re looking for safety. They’re looking through rose coloured glasses in many ways, because no one’s life was perfect before anything. That last part is the uncomfortable bit. The life you want back had its own problems. What memory offers is not a better life but a known one – and the nervous system will take known over good almost every time. Certainty Is the Real Request Humans need certainty the way they need food and shelter. We don’t function in chaos. But we also can’t get certainty from the outside world, because the outside world doesn’t have any to give. It never did. The stroke didn’t remove your certainty; it removed your ability to keep believing in it. Which leaves one option. As Jaemin puts it: The most resourceful form of certainty is to embrace uncertainty and back yourself. That distinction – external certainty versus internal certainty – is the whole conversation. When your sense of safety lives outside you, you have to control your circumstances to feel all right, and after a stroke your circumstances are largely uncontrollable. When it lives inside you, circumstances can do what they like. This is the same territory covered in stroke recovery mindset (https://recoveryafterstroke.com/stroke-recovery-mindset/), approached from a completely different angle. Self-Doubt Is Useful. Insecurity Is Not. Jaemin draws a hard line between the two, and it’s worth holding onto. Self-doubt is accurate information about a skill gap. If you can’t yet climb the stairs unaided, self-doubt is what stops you attempting it alone. It says nothing about your worth. It’s wisdom. Insecurity is different. Insecurity is the belief that a failure would expose something defective about you. Jaemin argues that most people misdefine it – it isn’t fear of judgement, failure, or rejection. It’s one level deeper: No one’s actually afraid of being rejected. They’re afraid of: if I put my best foot forward and it’s not enough, and then people don’t accept me – what does that confirm about my own inadequacy? The threat isn’t out there. It’s a verdict you’ve already passed on yourself, waiting for the world to co-sign it. What Insecurity Costs Your Recovery This is where it stops being philosophy. Jaemin frames insecurity as a resource problem. Proving yourself, defending yourself, covering and compensating – all of it consumes energy. When life is going well there’s enough spare capacity that you never notice the drain. After a stroke, there is no spare capacity. A stroke puts you into survival mode, and now you’ve got no resources to survive, because all your best resources are directed elsewhere to make sure no one sees your inadequacy. Survivors already know that fatigue after stroke is not ordinary tiredness. An injured brain rewiring itself is metabolically expensive. Every unit of energy spent managing how you appear to other people is a unit unavailable for healing. Attending to the emotional side of recovery isn’t separate from the physical work – it’s what frees up the capacity to do it. That connection runs through emotional recovery after stroke (https://recoveryafterstroke.com/emotional-recovery-after-stroke-dr-bradley-nelson/) as well. Why Your Friends Push Back Many survivors have to change how they live – what they eat, what they drink, where they go, who they spend time with. And many report losing friends over it. Jaemin’s framing here is bracing. Resistance from the people around you isn’t a malfunction. In any story worth telling, the character who transforms does so by overcoming obstacles, and those obstacles almost always arrive in the form of other people. Remove the resistance and nothing in the hero is enlarged. So when someone says you’ve changed and doesn’t mean it kindly, they are – without intending to – handing you the exact thing you need to become someone who no longer requires their approval. Grief and Insecurity Are Not the Same Thing This distinction matters, and conflating them causes real harm. Losing the use of a limb is a genuine loss. Grief is the appropriate response, and it deserves acknowledgement rather than management. The damage begins when the loss becomes a statement about your worth. I can’t run, therefore I’m not a runner, therefore who am I? That is no longer grief – that’s insecurity wearing grief’s clothes, and it needs a different response entirely. Survivors working through that identity question will recognise it in craniotomy stroke recovery and identity reset (https://recoveryafterstroke.com/craniotomy-stroke-recovery-identity-reset/), and it sits close to the ground covered in anxiety after stroke (https://recoveryafterstroke.com/anxiety-after-stroke/). That’s Not the Tragedy. That’s the Setup. The line Jaemin returns to twice in the episode is this: being lost and confused doesn’t disqualify you from a meaningful life. It’s what qualifies you to begin one. Nobody reaches adulthood with an accurate picture of who they are. Everyone arrives confused. The confusion isn’t damage to be repaired before you can start – it’s the starting position. This reframes the disorientation of early recovery as the opening move rather than evidence that something has gone permanently wrong. The same reframe underpins post-traumatic growth in stroke recovery (https://recoveryafterstroke.com/post-traumatic-growth-stroke-recovery/). And Jaemin is firm that this is solvable – not managed, not coped with. Solvable. Because the inadequacy you’ve been protecting everyone from isn’t real. It’s a conclusion you drew as a child and have been gathering evidence for ever since. There is no monster under the bed. Only the idea of one. Where to Start Start by being precise. When you catch yourself saying I lost my confidence, ask what you actually mean. Confidence at what? In front of whom? What exactly are you afraid would be revealed? Abstract language hides the levers. Precise language shows you where they are. Closing Links If this episode is useful to you, Bill’s book The Unexpected Way That A Stroke Became The Best Thing That Happened covers ten tools for recovery and personal transformation – you can find it at https://recoveryafterstroke.com/book. If you would like one-on-one support with your own recovery, you can apply at https://recoveryafterstroke.com/momentum. If this show has helped you, you can support it at https://patreon.com/recoveryafterstroke. Footer Disclaimer This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your health or recovery plan. Losing Confidence After Stroke – Jaemin Frazer (Interview) You don’t need your old life back. You need to trust yourself again – and Jaemin Frazer explains exactly why that feels impossible after stroke. Highlights: 00:00 Introduction – Losing Confidence After Stroke 08:54 Embracing Uncertainty and Personal Resourcefulness 20:43 The Role of Self-Doubt and Insecurity 38:26 Transformational Journeys: Overcoming Obstacles 46:14 The Hero’s Journey and Storytelling 52:07 Understanding Bullies and Personal Growth 59:21 The Role of Parents in Identity Formation 01:11:17 The Cost of Insecurity in Recovery 01:20:55 Finding Purpose Beyond Insecurity Transcript: Introduction – Losing Confidence After Stroke Jaemin (00:00) A stroke puts you into survival mode, and now you’ve got no resources to survive because all your best resources are directed elsewhere So then it costs you everything. It costs you your future. It costs you your ability to heal, to make sense of this, to come out the other side and reinvent or do whatever you need to be present for yourself. It’s a slow descent into madness really, if all your best resources are proving and defending, covering and compensating, then you stop being human, you stop being alive, you stop being present, you become hypervigilant around what others are thinking, and your world keeps getting smaller. Bill Gasiamis (00:35) Welcome back to Recovery After Stroke. I’m Bill Gasciamas. Before anything else, thank you to everyone supporting the show on Patreon, becoming a YouTube member, and to everyone supporting it in all other ways. Sharing episodes, leaving reviews, sending them to someone who needs them, buying the book. This show has reached over a million and a half downloads because of people doing exactly that. And I don’t take it for granted. If you’ve ever caught yourself saying, I just want to be who I was, this episode is going to sit with you for a while. My guest today is Jaemin Fraser. Jaemin is a coach, the founder of the Insecurity Project, a TEDx speaker, and as of this year, a novelist. He spent nearly two decades, around 16,000 coaching hours, on one problem. What happens to a person when they stop trusting themselves and what it costs them? Jaemin has not had a stroke. I want to be upfront about that because it’s the reason this conversation goes where it does. He came to it without any assumptions about what recovery is meant to look like. And what he brought instead is a very precise account of what happens to anyone whose ordered world falls apart overnight. We get into why wanting your odd life back is really a request for certainty. The difference between self-doubt, which is useful, and insecurity, which isn’t, why insecurity draws down the exact energy your brain needs to heal. What’s really going on when friends push back on your habits and why being lost and confused isn’t the tragedy, it’s the setup. Three quick things before we start, my book, The Unexpected Way That a Stroke Became the Best Thing That Happened, covers ten tools for recovery and personal transformation. It’s available at recoveryafterstroke.com/book. If you’d like one-on-one support with your own recovery, I walk I work with a small number of stroke survivors at a time. Structure, accountability, and genuine guidance from someone who’s been through it, you can apply at recoveryafterstroke.com/momentum. And if this show has helped you and you want to help me get to a thousand episodes, you can support it either as a YouTube member or by going to patreon.com/recoveryafterstroke. I want to make sure that No strike survivor. has to ever go through what I went through when I first started my recovery, and that was not having any information about how to proceed after I got sent home from hospital. Now it’s time for the interview. Bill Gasiamis (03:14) Jaemin Fraser, welcome to the podcast. Jaemin (03:15) Thanks for having me, Bill. Bill Gasiamis (03:17) Absolute pleasure, mate. I wanted to ask, actually I want to start with the person listening. They’re anywhere from six weeks to twenty years post stroke, right? and what they say is they want to be back to their old life. In your experience, when someone says, I just want to be who I was, what are they actually asking for? Jaemin (03:39) Hmm, well, I think they’re looking for certainty. They’re looking for comfort. They’re looking for safety. Yeah, they’re looking through rose colored glasses in many ways because no one’s life was perfect before anything. So the fantasy of if I could go back to where I was, it deletes a whole bunch of stuff around the reality of where you were in the first place. But I think that the desire is it’s certainty, safety, peace, comfort. That’s what a person is driven to find some way or other. Bill Gasiamis (04:16) W what do you think it is about certainty? A and what does that even mean? Like I There was, you know, before my experience with stroke, there wasn’t anything that was certain. Is it an illusion? Is certainty an illusion? Because I definitely don’t feel certain about anything going forward either. but kind of not in a bad way. Like I don’t have a bad relationship with the lack of certainty. It’s just. It i it’s just not real. Like I feel like it might be an illusion. Jaemin (04:53) Well, I love Anthony Robbins take on this. I think his six core needs model is his finest contribution to the personal development space and his earliest versions of this, because I think if you were to do a search, Tony Robbins six core needs, what you’re going to get today is an idea that there’s a hierarchy of needs. So you could do a test to work out which needs are most important for you based on your personality type. That’s not how we first introduced them. And I am convinced it’s not actually how it works. So just a quick summary. He says, doesn’t matter what age, what sex, what culture, what stage of life, because you’re human, just as important as food, shelter, clothing is the need for certainty. Firstly, we are creatures who do not survive in chaos. We need some sense of control, order. We thrive in the familiar. We need a sense of what’s happening next. So we organize ourselves and we find certainty. We cannot survive without it. Interestingly though, we also need uncertainty. these six needs operate in paradox. Piers, are you familiar with the six core needs? Bill Gasiamis (06:07) I’m not actually. Jaemin (06:08) and variety is the first two and they operate in paradox pairs. So certainty pulls you one way, but we also need variety. If you have 100 % certainty, you’re completely bored and Bill Gasiamis (06:18) Uh-huh. Jaemin (06:19) you would ruin things. You’d mess it up so that there would be something to do. So we need uncertainty, surprise, spontaneity, adventure. But if you have 100 Bill Gasiamis (06:30) You’d mess it up i is is is messing it up because you need uncertainty, is that that sounds like like self sabotage. Jaemin (06:41) Well, it is if it’s unresourceful. is if you haven’t, I mean, the aim of the game is to find high quality internal resource, ways to meet these needs. If you don’t find that, then unconsciously, you’ll still find a way to meet these needs and it will be through sabotage, dysfunction, know. So certainty and variety are the first two. The second two are significance and love. So all humans need a sense of significance, need to know, I matter? Am I more than just a name and number? Do I have value? Is there any point to me? Now that’s a journey away from the tribe because we’re also relational beings. So we don’t survive in isolation. We need love, belonging, connection, warmth, touch. So if you have 100 % love and connection, you lose your separateness. And if you have 100 % significance, then you’re completely lonely and isolated. But we do need both. Embracing Uncertainty and Personal Resourcefulness So certainty, variety, significance, love, and then the final two are contribution and growth. So humans do feel the need to make a difference, add value, give back, leave a legacy, solve problems. So contribution is about adding value to others. And then growth is adding value to yourselves, to ourselves. Every living thing grows, you either grow or die. So this is the need that drives us to do more, to have more, to see more, to expand our experience. one way shape or another. it’s a strange thing to need certainty back to certainty. It’s a strange thing to need certainty for survival in an uncertain world because you then can’t help but cling to things that aren’t really certain and try and control them. Cling to a job you don’t like, cling to a memory that feels familiar, cling to a relationship that’s dysfunctional. cling to stuff that you know, because it makes you feel certain and makes you feel safe. There’s a predictability around it. What you’re describing is not that you’ve done away with the need for certainty. It’s that you have a certainty in your ability to handle the real world. So you don’t need to cling to things being a certain way. You don’t need to force things to be back the way they were. You’re like, that’s ridiculous. Here I am now and I’m certain. that I am a resourceful person, a creative person, a good person, a clever person, I’ll work it out. The real world will happen to me. I’ll wake up, I’ll open my eyes and I’ll handle it. That’s what I’m certain about. So the most resourceful form of certainty is to embrace uncertainty and back yourself. Bill Gasiamis (09:26) To be certain about uncertainty. Jaemin (09:28) There be certain uncertainty. That is the only certainty. It’s, you there’s you think, what is certain? well, the sun’s going to come up tomorrow. For some people, it’s not. Some people, this will be the last sunrise they ever see. No one’s expecting that, but it happens. So we’re not entitled to any more time, any more opportunity. That’s not certain. It’s not guaranteed. So yeah, the only certainty is it’s all uncertain. So then you must find certainty within, and that will require you to examine your own. your your capability, your own resourcefulness and to grow up and mature in your own sense of who you really are. Bill Gasiamis (10:06) Yeah. I have this saying that I picked up from somewhere. Some dude in the Middle East, like I think in the 40s or 50s, said this thing. I forget his name. I I always wanted to remember his name so I can give him credit, but it goes like exp expect the best, prepare for the worst. And it kind of feels like that’s how I handled my uncertainty when, you know, the doctor turns up day one. Of a bleed in the brain diagnosis and says, gives you the most vague version of the diagnosis and said to me, there’s a shadow on your brain. It could be a cancer, it could be a sea it could be a tumor that’s benign, it could be a bleed in the brain. Like, any questions? And I was like, Well. Jaemin (10:57) There’s a few. Bill Gasiamis (11:01) I don’t know, at eleven PM on a Friday night. Maybe not. Let’s talk in the morning. but it’s like And then after that came a lot of uncertainty. We didn’t know what a family life was gonna be like. We didn’t like know what my work life was gonna be like. We didn’t know whether I’d be around. We didn’t know any of the things that I kind of knew the day before, which I took for granted that I knew, which was only that w without knowing that there’s something wrong in my head and that potentially I’m unwell, I knew that. Tomorrow was going to be pretty much the same as yesterday. And there’s going to be some movement in a couple of similar directions, maybe a few odd ones and different ones. And I suppose that expect the best prepare for the worst was me embracing uncertainty, the certainty of uncertainty. Does that saying kind of capture that spirit? Jaemin (12:03) It certainly does. However, the challenge is no surprise. I’m going to talk about insecurity being a challenge because then it comes back to them. But then what do you believe about yourself? You know, do you feel like you’re actually up for the challenge? Do you have the resourcefulness? What is the story you tell around your own capacity, your capability, your intelligence, your value? Because to fear inadequacy then undermines your confidence in your own ability to handle the real world. And therefore you must then cling to external certainty and long for things to go back the way they were so that you can be safe. Because you don’t trust yourself to be up for the challenge. Bill Gasiamis (12:50) Yeah. It’s a real interesting conundrum because before I was unwell I didn’t contemplate life, me and how I interact with life or the possibility of nail life. I didn’t I didn’t contemplate that whole relationship and then you’re thrust in it and it seems like people that I’ve interviewed at least the four hundred odd stroke survivors that I’ve interviewed have not got the resources backfilled in preparation for when that day comes, and then you feel inadequate, insecure, perhaps, whatever the word is, that you can even handle this. I’ve never met anyone who said, I know, I was 100% certain that I was going to handle this diagnosis from my doctors. Can you prepare for the worst? Like that whole going back to that statement again, that saying, is there a way that we can even prepare for the worst when we don’t even know what the worst is? Is it even is it sounds like it might be might be a futile pursuit? Jaemin (14:07) Whoa. I I think you and I here today are doing that exact thing, you know, with internal resourcefulness. We don’t know what tomorrow is bringing. So in some ways we are certain in our capacity to, you know, hope for the best, prepare for the worst. So that’s not futile. I don’t consider that futile at all. And I think that is the only job is to resource yourself for the real world, is to grow up, is to become mature. The way that I think about that is self-sufficiency. You when you’re young, you’re growing through stages of development and really learning self-sufficiency. Can you feed yourself? Can you dress yourself? Can you learn yourself? Can you drive a car? Can you earn money? And they’re all the things, physical, financial, self-sufficiency, but people are… seem, you know, it’s see when it comes to emotional, intellectual, psychological self sufficiencies, like what is that? How does that even work? And so they come into their adult world, being able to earn money, being able to drive a car, out, address themselves, you know, wipe their own ass. Great. But when it comes to validating their own existence, when it comes to sourcing their own certainty, when it comes to deeply loving and accepting themselves, when it comes to being the one that approves of themselves, that sees themselves. you know, adults are typically ill prepared for that, you know, stroke Bill Gasiamis (15:38) Mm-hmm. Jaemin (15:38) or no stroke. And so, you know, you know, we’re talking about when a stroke happens, but people have all kinds of catastrophes they’re not prepared for, you know, and things are fine because their ordered world is safe and predictable. And then next day it’s not. And they look inside and they’ve never developed the resources, the internal resources of adulthood that helps them stand solid when the world is falling around apart. about them. you know, primarily that is the work of the insecurity project. It’s these conversations around existential angst, which people don’t prepare for because their world’s ordered. But when your world falls apart, then you really see how unprepared you are to handle difficulty and the worst case scenario if you have not examined your own sense of who you are. Bill Gasiamis (16:29) Mm-hmm. The world being ordered, it can be ordered in a dysfunctional way as well, right? Jaemin (16:39) Well, that’s, yes, that’s exactly what happens because we need certainty. I love thinking about these six core needs as a vacuum. In our atmosphere, a vacuum is always filled. So someone says to me, I don’t need that much certainty. You know, I’m more of a risk taker, I’m adventurous, or they might, someone else might be the opposite. I need so much certainty, I’m very risk averse. you know, someone looks at one of my clients recently looked at me and says, you’re a free spirit. You’re adventurous. It’s different. It’s different from me. You know, I’m very analytical. I’m risk averse. I’m safety conscious. But if you zoom out and have a look at both of us, I need just as much certainty as that person. Exactly. I can’t survive without certainty. I can’t survive without order. It’s just that I’ve found a high quality, internal adult way to order my world so that I have internal safety. which then frees me to go into the world and experience uncertainty and play. Whereas this other person has not found an internal way to create order. So they’re clinging to all the dysfunctional external forms of order. Hate their Bill Gasiamis (17:47) Wow. Jaemin (17:47) job, relationships falling apart, don’t like their relationship with money, know, problems here, difficulties there, but it’s familiar. So I better cling to it because I know it. There you go, there’s some certainty for you. Bill Gasiamis (18:03) I love what you said, like that internal sense of certainty Jaemin (18:06) Hmm Bill Gasiamis (18:07) seems to be the biggest l skill lacking in many, many people. If you have internal sense of certainty, then you don’t have to control the outside world. You put the dishwasher plate in the wrong direction. You know, when we loaded the dishwasher, y this might be revealing. you park the car in the wrong bay, or you know, all these little things that people kind of cling to to make their world feel right if they see it like that. If everyone just did the task the way that they needed to do it, then I wouldn’t have a problem, right? But if you have internal certainty and you can be more flexible, I think Tony Robbins talks about being having multiple ways to be to be. being more flexible, then you realize that there are infinite number of ways that things can be loaded into a dishwasher, for example, even though there are certainly some ways that won’t be able to wash the dishes effectively, perhaps, but there are many ways, and the other person’s ways not necessarily the wrong way or the odd way or or the incorrect way, right? Jaemin (19:30) Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (19:31) I think I resonate with that immediately, that internal sense of certainty. And then the external world becomes easier to navigate. Is that is that Jaemin (19:44) Well, does because then play becomes possible and you don’t need things to be anything other than they are, know, good, bad or indifferent. You have an experience that looks terrible. Well, are you sure it’s terrible? Or could there be learning? Could there be a gift? Could there be an opportunity? Might you meet someone? Might your life change in an unexpected way? Like who’s to say a bad experience is actually a bad experience if you’re free to encounter it as it is. The Role of Self-Doubt and Insecurity That’s what becomes possible if you have internal safety and that you do back yourself to handle that. And I think it’s an abstract concept for most people because they’ve never faced their fear of their deep inadequacy. And so it’s always undermined. They would love to take internal certainty, but their conviction, if they’re really honest, and it’s hard to be honest, because this stuff gets pretty well suppressed. Their honest fear is that there is a problem with them. There is an inadequacy. They are not up to the challenge. So if they rely on themselves, they will be found lacking and wanting. So therefore they must look outside themselves. That’s their only option. Bill Gasiamis (20:53) Got it. You’ve worked with high performers for hundreds and maybe thousands of hours, right? if one of them walked into you into a meeting with you and said, I had a stroke and I lost my confidence, what what’s the first thing you ask them? Jaemin (21:15) What do you mean? That would be the first thing that I asked them. I understand a little about a stroke. think I would understand enough about that part of the sentence, but I’m more curious around the second part of the sentence. I love Jordan Peterson’s thinking in so many ways. And he says, listen, be precise in your speech because things that go unnamed become monsters that consume you. So that would be where I would start. What do you mean I lost this happened and that made me do this? Are you sure? That’s how it actually worked. What do you mean? Let’s have a look. Let’s have a look. So that’s my whole world is someone comes to me with a level of abstraction. They use language that’s abstract. And when you use abstract language, you cannot see any of the levers that can be pulled. And so you end up feeling hopeless and overwhelmed. When you be precise, when you have a look, you actually begin to see the mechanics, the structures that are actually influencing your experience. And when you see them precisely, the levers become apparent, like, I could actually adjust that. I could turn this, I could change this. Therefore now I’m back in control of my own experience of my reality. So yeah, that’s where I say, what do you mean? What are you talking about exactly? Bill Gasiamis (22:37) I love that. It’s it reminds me of when I hear the word the one of the most common words I hear in my interview, stroke recovery, stroke conversations. And I I’m specifically talking about stroke because that’s my niche, right? That’s my audience, that’s the podcast. But I know this is a situation kind of that I experience also broadly outside of my stroke podcast world. my children, others that I come across is I hear the word depression and anxiety. And it’s an umbrella word that people place on so many experiences and nobody ever even really knows if if I challenge if I have the permission and and I’m in a room with the right person to challenge them and ask them, well, do you do you know what the definition of depression is? And do you know what the definition of anxiety is? Nobody can really give you that. And they’ve taken a word and they apply it to an experience that may have been completely separate from the intended definition of a word like depression and anxiety. And I I kind of feel like that’s what you’re saying. Like somebody says, I’m I’m depressed, like, okay, like, why? How? How do you know that? Jaemin (24:00) It’s exactly anxiety is a great story because I go, well, hang on. How did you, how are you anxious? And anxiety requires a backstory to survive. So I’m curious, you know, are you anxious tying your shoes? No. how do you do not anxiety? Well, I don’t know. No one cares. I can’t fail. I’ve done it a million times. there you go. That’s interesting. So the, the areas that you are not anxious about, there’s no possibility of being found inadequate. Curious. So the areas you are anxious, you’re only anxious because there’s something about the activity you’re involved in, which you feel threatened, personally threatened that someone might see your flaw. So let’s not worry about the anxiety, it’s downstream. Tell me about this perceived flaw. Tell me about this thing that you think is wrong with you. Are you sure that’s even there? The great humor of my work in the same as what you’re saying, know, insecurity. Talking about fear, my first question to people, what are you afraid of? And no one knows. People are experiencing fear. They can tell you that much. So what you’re running and hiding, but what are you running and hiding from? yeah, it’s just this, you know, I just feel so, like, okay, interesting. So you’re running and hiding. What about if we go and have a look at what it is you’re running and hiding from? You might be surprised. In fact, You will be surprised. promise you it’s not what you think it is. And you’ve just been running and hiding for so long. You’ve just become convinced that there’s a thing here that you ought to keep running and hiding from. I’m not so sure. Bill Gasiamis (25:41) Yeah. That what are you afraid of? That’s a very interesting question. Again, you know, I find myself in the hot seat here. And every time I ventured down something new, it was interesting now ’cause I’m reflecting like how often insecurity came up. You know, the first few episodes of the podcast were, my God, people are going to judge it, they’re gonna say it’s no good, you don’t know how to interview, all that kind of stuff. And the the best thing to do was just put it out there. And if somebody did say that was handle it. And if somebody didn’t say that, well then there was nothing to handle. So just do it anyway. And I remember then also with my book, I’m not an author. I did I’m not a scholar. I’ve never done any of that stuff. But I wrote my first book, The Unexpected Way That a Stroke Became the Best Thing That Happened. It’s a pretty loaded title. And I knew it was gonna ruffle some feathers. But I put it out there and the very first comment that I got from the very first post that I made was a negative one. And what I realized was that pattern was similar in that when I started the podcast, I had the exact same concern that it might happen and it did. People did give me negative feedback. But then it seems to me now now that I’ve learnt a few times, you know, what happens when you put yourself out there for the first time when you tell the world this is what I’ve created, you know, I’m sharing my creation is part of the journey has to be something that’s gonna test your insecurity. It might not be a negative comment or so but it but it might be like bad sales or it might be nobody listens or whatever. So it sounds like insecurity is necessary in some cases to kind of overcome, to tackle it, to overcome it, so that you can be better at tackling it and overcoming it and achieve more things. Do you know what I’m saying? Did I explain that correctly? Jaemin (27:54) Yeah, I think I understand. I don’t think I agree with you though. Bill Gasiamis (27:58) Okay. Jaemin (27:59) So here’s how I’d think about it. I’d separate self-doubt and insecurity into slightly different categories. Bill Gasiamis (28:07) Okay, so you picked up self doubt there. Jaemin (28:10) So, so self doubts are really important quality of wisdom. So for instance, I’ve got a mate who races super bikes, you know, say he got injured this weekend and he says, Jaemin, you know, there’s still four rounds left. Can you sub in for me and race my super bike next week? And I’m like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Now I’ve never raced a super bike before. I do have a motorbike license, but you know, if I didn’t have severe self doubt, I’d be delusional. I’d be a crazy person and I would be, you know, dangerous to myself and the world. So self doubt doesn’t, doesn’t tell me I’m a bad person. It just highlights the limit of the things I’m good at. So, so the real function of self doubt to me is more what you’re describing. It’s, it’s the limit says, you’re not actually very good at this. Now that doesn’t say anything about your essence, your value and your worth. Would you like to be good at this? And I go. Actually, no, great. Well, then don’t do it. Don’t do it because it’ll go bad. I’m like, Yeah, I’d actually like to be good at it. excellent. Well, you have a massive skill gap. So go take however long to learn the skills and fill the skills so that you can come back with genuine confidence with earn confidence so that you could compete in this arena and do well. That’s that’s a wisdom conversation. Now insecurity is this personal piece. It’s like, I’m gonna put myself out there. people are gonna judge, laugh, critique, and then they’ll see who I really am. They will see my flaws, my flaws, my inadequacies will now be exposed to the world. Now it’s personal. And so to me, the definition of insecurity is really important here because people think insecurity is somehow related to the fear of what others think about them, the fear of being judged, the fear of failing, the fear of being rejected. Bill Gasiamis (30:04) Hmm. Right. Jaemin (30:05) Really imprecise. That’s not that’s not insecure at all. It’s just one or two levels deeper than that. You know, say for instance, the fear of failure, which is a typical one. And no one’s actually afraid of failing. They’re afraid of the personal implications of failure. I if I try my best at something, and then it doesn’t work. Huh? What have I just revealed to the world about me the problem with me? Same as rejection. No one’s actually afraid of being rejected. They’re afraid of, if I put my best foot forward and it’s not enough, and then people don’t accept me, huh, what does that reveal? What does that prove? What does that confirm about my own inadequacy? So then insecure. Bill Gasiamis (30:47) about what I about what I think are my inadequacies. Because it’s not about the other Jaemin (30:50) Exactly, that’s insecurity. Insecurity is… Bill Gasiamis (30:53) person’s thinking, it’s me, what I think, and then they’re confirming my inadequacy that I’ve Jaemin (30:56) confirming it. That’s it. That’s it. Bill Gasiamis (30:58) generated and created, which is not even real. Jaemin (31:01) That’s exactly right. That’s the thing, which is hilarious. But when you see that now the levers become apparent, because if the fear is out there, then you got to control the world constantly and obsess about it. But if the fear is here and you created it, then the levers are very apparent. You could then go examine this perceived inadequacy, trace it back to when you first described it and examine it at its roots. Like you could go on a structural engineering quest back into the the substance of your own sense of you, the language you’ve used to describe yourself and check it, check it for integrity, check it for gaps, check it for misunderstandings. Like that’s the fun of what I get to do. It’s take what appears to be abstract, mysterious, messy, unknowable and treat it like a structural engineer just by examining the structure of language. Bill Gasiamis (31:57) People don’t do that much, do they? Jaemin (31:59) No, no, no. And people are insecure about being insecure. So like when I launched the insecurity project, my business coach said, that’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard. Like you’ve picked the most difficult, scary topic and put it at the front. No one’s going to be putting their hands up saying, Jay, when I’m insecure, can you help me? Like it’s existential angst. It’s the human condition. We want to be good. We’re just afraid that we’re not. So we run and we hide and we cover and compensate. So yeah, it’s a hard topic to face and yet the great joke is there’s no actual reason for it to be hard other than the confirmation bias we’ve given ourselves buying into our own bullshit, confirming our own fiction, exasperating our own misunderstanding. So there is no monster under the bed. It’s just the idea of a monster that terrifies us. Bill Gasiamis (32:55) we influenced in that way by external sources or is that a a human a human thing like that that we are kind of pre-programmed to do just because of that whole safety issue because you know safety comes in in a variety of different things. You know, you have to be safe from people entering your home, you know, back in the day and harming you and your family and taking your belongings. If you’re in a war torn area, you have to be safe from, you know, the invaders and that kind of stuff. But also this discussion that we’re having seems to me, as you keep going into those little beautiful deep places, it seems to me that Again, it’s about us creating like many barriers of safety around us and thinking that that’s the perhaps not even thinking like in just instinctively creating this kind of like multi layered safe structure that we can’t be harmed in. Jaemin (34:06) brilliant way of describing it. And that is the instinct. We are hardwired for safety. You cannot like this idea, more courage, less fear, feel the fear and do it anyway. It’s such a nonsense as though you could turn off your need for safety. Bill Gasiamis (34:20) Mm-hmm. Jaemin (34:21) It’s chemical, it’s biological, it’s psychological, it’s unconscious. And that as the child, the child starts in a very carefree, non-transactional experience of being themselves. I’m just here, not. doing the dishes and not mowing the lawn and not contributing to my ecosystem in any way, shape or form. And yet I’m being rewarded, loved, nurtured, cared for, praised, fed. Hmm, turns out it’s fine to be me. I can be relaxed and at ease being me, me as I am without performing, without achieving, without contributing is enough. Great. And then, then you, you know, you get somewhere past two, you know, somewhere around that the game breaks down. And all of a sudden you’re expected to participate, to perform, to conform, to behave. And no child’s prepared for that. No one’s ready for that. Such a surprise. And so the first time the child gets surprised, embarrassed, disappointed, upset, scolded, it’s such a confusing experience, but all the alarm, those safety warning lights are going off through their whole being. There’s a danger you didn’t know about. You. must pay attention and here’s the thing the danger is in you the danger is you’re not who you need to be to survive in this world so don’t be you ever again like be other than you be better than you be different than you do not ever show up present and unguarded ever again or it will turn to shit so yes it’s safe so then you build this safe world this safe persona these safe structures these familiar places where people think you’re good, think you’re smart, think you’re strong. Also, they never see the thing that you don’t want them to see, which would be the ultimate danger and then you die. Yeah, it’s entirely about a biological, chemical, psychological need for safety that is unavoidable. Bill Gasiamis (36:21) Hmm. It what came up in my mind while you were chatting about that is often stroke survivors need to make some radical changes in their life, the way they go about their nutrition, who they hang out with, the stuff they listen to and read, the whole the whole thing. Like, know, it’s sometimes it’s a line in the sand moment and everything changes, and you’ve got to change everything I did. And One of the challenges that stroke survivors have, well, I’ll talk about me. I had the challenge of, well, I needed to stop smoking and I needed to stop drinking. But all my extended family and friends were smokers and drinkers. And stroke survivors often comment about how they lose friends after a stroke. And we’re I and I’ve kind of tried to unravel that a few times and understand what it is that makes it difficult for people to evolve and and adapt and grow and stop the behaviors that perhaps led to a stroke, you know, so that they don’t have another one. And family and friends often do that. They kind of intervene in a way which says, Well, what do you mean we can’t have a drink when we go out? Like that’s we always go and have a drink. And then that person has has to explain themselves, perhaps, or conform again, just to be part of the group. The question is, are we also dealing with the insecurities of our family and friends when we find a way to overcome our own insecurities, perhaps, about something, and then we start to change and evolve and move forward? Are they are those people feeling like Transformational Journeys: Overcoming Obstacles They’re left behind. Th sometimes the sometimes the sentences that people hear when they try and stop smoking or drinking in a particular situation are you’ve changed. You know, like it’s a bad thing. But it’s not said in a positive way. People experience it on both sides of the coin in a negative way. The person who’s saying to their friend who’s had a stroke, who’s trying to not have another one, is saying, You’ve changed and I don’t like the way you’ve changed. And the person changing is hearing I’m changing and now people are having a bad experience because I’m changing. Like What’s all that about with that other person in our life? Jaemin (38:59) Such a great question. Can I, genuine question, can I take five minutes to answer that question? Bill Gasiamis (39:07) You can, absolutely. Jaemin (39:09) because I think this opens up a possibility for a window into a whole different experience of life if you’re willing to go down this thought experiment. Bill Gasiamis (39:23) I am. Let me switch my header off. It’s getting too hot in here. Jaemin (39:31) So I’ve just finished writing my first novel. It’s a five year project. I thought it was impossible. And then it out it wasn’t. It turns out I learned a lot about myself and the process of writing. And it’s been a thoroughly delightful experience. But great storytelling, great fiction writing typically follows some kind of hero’s journey trajectory. You’ve got a small, weak, lost, strange hero who for whatever reason says yes to a cold wood venture and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and eventually has to go do the thing that only they can do along the way they meet a wisdom character. You know, there’s a Gandalf, there’s a Yoda, there’s a Dumbledore, Mr. Miyagi, but eventually the hero’s got to go face the biggest fear and do the thing that’s impossible. And when they do, they come out the other side transformed and then they return home with that transformation and their whole world benefits. So, so it is the process of transformation. It’s the process of potential. It’s the process of destiny. It’s the process of seeing a person fulfilled in their experience of themselves. So a writer is bringing you in, in along for that journey. Now, if the writer transforms the hero magically or supernaturally, it’s a horrible story. You know, if the writer goes, you know, here’s the weak person. They went to sleep and they woke up the next day transformed. Who knows what happened. It was just, you’re like, really? What’s the point of that story? Like, that’s a horrible story. If the transformation happens in a way that’s supernatural or magic, it’s false. The transformation happens through overcoming of obstacles. The weakling becomes strong by overcoming resistance. And the resistance is almost always through the form of characters. So the writer says, stage, write the bully and to stage, write the villain, the parent, the trickster, the joker, the judge, the king, like, and so the hero doesn’t know the story is being written about them. And so experiences all these characters very personally and wishes the characters would go away. But the audience kind of sees the gift in the character, sees the opportunity. You know, when the audience sees a bully harassing a victim, what the audience is rooting for is that the victim would rise up and punch the bully in the nose. And something transformational happens if that victim ever does, you know, they actually then receive the bully’s gift. All along the bully had this gift of personal power delivered in the form of oppression. And because the victim had to find such deep strength that they didn’t even know existed to rise up and finally say this ends here, they’ll never be the victim again. And so in that way they’re transformed. So you could make a case to go, thanks, bully for being a good bully because you made my life so hard. I didn’t think it was possible to overcome you. Thank you. It’s not personal. So a writer then is not going to write an empathetic bully, you know, a very emotionally intelligent, compassionate, they’re going to write a thug. They’re going to write a dullard. They’re going to write someone who’s big and does not change. And even though the, the hero wants to bully the change. If the bully changes, if the bully goes to a spiritual retreat and comes home and change man and then apologizes and makes it up to the victim, it’s kind of nice, but the audience is going, but the victim didn’t have to become stronger in any way. So they’re still just as strong and the next bully is coming and they’re no better prepared. So all that to say, love, I love treating our own lives like this hero’s journey story. I love gamifying the experience. I love going. You know, this insecurity, a lot of people think if only I had a different experience at childhood, then I wouldn’t be so insecure now. If only there weren’t so many difficult people blocking my path, then it would be easier for me. Like, what, do you mean? Like that’s, that’s not the tragedy. That’s the setup. That’s how the game begins. Like that’s how the tensions created so that you have a gift of being able to overcome. So these people exist for you. And yes, they’re in your way. Great. Yes, they’re making it hard. Perfect. But we only play hard games. Like if you’re, you’re playing footy and it’s, you know, last year’s premieres versus the under 10s girls side and you win, you, that’s a very embarrassing experience. Like you don’t eat. That’s a horrible thing. You, know, this year’s premieres, you know, sorry, last year’s premieres versus the team that’s got undefeated this year and you win that game. You know, that’s, that’s a meaningful experience. and yeah, I love this idea that everyone comes into their twenties and thirties lost and confused. And most people are really upset about that. Wishing that their experience up till then had been different and feeling disqualified from a meaningful life because of what’s happened, because of who said this and who’s done that. But if you just zoom out and say it like a hero’s journey or a beautiful game, then then you realize, no, no, no, being lost and confused, oppressed, you know, that doesn’t disqualify you. That’s what qualifies you to go play. Now you can begin, now you can begin this journey of self-discovery to go all the way back to the beginning and see who you’ve always been all along. So it’s a very different way of thinking about life, but I’m constantly confronted with people who treat the stuff that’s happened to them as wounds. And the best you could ever hope for is that eventually you could bring healing to yourself and it become a visible scar that doesn’t really afflict you. Whereas this says, yeah, what if those things, what if life doesn’t happen to you? It happens for you. And the real gift is your own opportunity to rediscover who you’ve always been by overcoming obstacles and especially in the form of people and especially in the form of insecure people. who of course are going to make your journey difficult. Of course, you know, not everyone’s cheering you on. Eventually the heroes got to go alone. Eventually they’ve got to. If they don’t go alone, then they can’t do the thing that only they can do. The Hero’s Journey and Storytelling Bill Gasiamis (46:01) Yeah. Man, that was well well worth the f the the time that you allocated to answer it because it’s such an important part of recovery after anything. and In fact, I learnt about the Heroes Journey after my brain surgery. So we’re talking about I don’t know. I think I got out of hospital for after brain surgery in late 2014. And I think it was around 2017 I did a particular course that I was in. It was a behavioral modeling course and it was about modeling a behavior that we thought was one worth other people learning and repeating. And the The person who was running the course, awesome friend of mine and mentor and teacher, a gentleman called Marvin Oka, he spoke about the hero’s journey as part of this course to teach us about like how to tell a story. And I hadn’t grasped the concept very well. but because of that course, my first book was able to become a reality. It took four years for me to. make that happen. And I released it in twenty twenty twenty three, somewhere there. And since then I’ve done a bit of a deep dive into the hero’s journey and understanding how to take people through a story. And my next book is structured that way. There’s a moment where life is quote unquote normal and then there’s an event and then there’s everything, you know, there’s been a spanner thrown in the works and everything is not like it used to be. And now there is this post-traumatic growth experience that you can go on. And if you know you’re going on it, it’s easier to go on it. But some people are not aware that they might be going on this journey. They’re just programmed from a previous way of doing life that these things are all terrible and bad and they’re not good. And there’s no growth and there’s no learning and there’s no opportunity. But there but there is, but we just framed it. in our past way of thinking and that’s not applicable now, even though we’re still trying to apply it, apply it, apply it. And what you said about the the bully, I remember at school, if if I was a victim, bullies used to seek me out like like a mosquito knows who to go and sting, right? Jaemin (48:40) Yeah Bill Gasiamis (48:42) But then the first bully I punched in the nose was was it. That was the key to unlocking the whole how other people perceived me in those types of situations. And then none of the bullies turned up to have a go because they weren’t gonna get or or perhaps they saw that my response was going to affect their insecurities about themselves. Right. and realistically when I was going through stroke, stopping smoking, stopping drinking, stopping attending the particular venues where smoking and drinking happened so that I can avoid smoking and drinking. It meant that certain people couldn’t associate with me anymore. And It’s not that they were bullies, but when I learnt how to manage that situation once, the others that now I that I now interact with don’t require us to interact in a way that includes smoking and drinking in a particular venue. We can have just as meaningful interactions without the smoking and drinking, without being in that venue, just being in a different location. Doing a different thing. And and there’s no n and and no one feels bad about that interaction. I don’t feel about bad about it because I’m not partaking in something that the other person wants me to partake in. And the other person’s not feeling bad because they’re partaking in something that I’m not partaking in. And we’re there for the same reason. We’re there for the catch up. We’re not there for the smoking and the drinking. Jaemin (50:26) Yeah, and that’s often the way when you break through an archetypal character, a bully is a great example. It’s not uncommon that there becomes a level of respect, a mutual respect post that violence or post the standing up for yourself. And it’s not unheard of that bullies and victims become friends and respect each other. And so there Bill Gasiamis (50:50) Mm. Jaemin (50:50) must become a line in the sandwich like, whatever it costs me, If I, you know, the smoking drinking example, if you never talked to me ever again, if you cannot, then that will be okay. But I cannot go here ever again. And I won’t and you cannot make me and I won’t be made. And so there it is. Great. That your audience is watching that cheering. Yes, transformed. Never be victim again. And then on the other side of that, it’s often surprising what happens in those relationships. And it’s not uncommon for mutual respect, even though It’s not guaranteed and you have to be willing to let go of it completely. Because yeah, the hero’s got to go alone. Bill Gasiamis (51:33) we we’re talking about it like, you know, you know, we’re kinda having a a t a philosophical conversation, an intellectual conversation. We’re doing all of this stuff. And I remember being literally on the football pitch fighting with a kid, and then once we’d thrown the punches and everyone had done what they had to do in that moment, it was are we are we done? All good? And and it was. We were done. And we were all good. And it was instinctive. Like I wasn’t even ten years old or eleven years old or something. And yeah, then we got along forever. Understanding Bullies and Personal Growth Jaemin (52:08) A quicker side, but on the very same thread, if you keep thinking about characters like archetypes, do you know the hardest, but the most exciting, the most wonderful and the most, the biggest opportunity that the person in your life or the people in your life to treat as characters, not the bullies, any idea what makes the top of my list in terms of the characters with the biggest opportunity for growth. Bill Gasiamis (52:39) Just I’m kinda drawn to say family, my family, but Jaemin (52:42) family and parents make the top of the list. And I think Bill Gasiamis (52:46) Yeah, right. Jaemin (52:47) Sigmund Freud’s greatest contribution was that the nest is the hardest challenge for the human to break free from the nest is number one. And all this function ultimately comes from the nest, the familial relationships, exerting unconscious pressures from the parent of the child and the child with the parent outliving their usefulness. And so But in the same way, like no victim when they’re being bullied wants to see it like an archer, like wants to say it like a gift. They want to be rescued or they want the bully to change. It’s impossible to face a bully. Same with the parents. It’s like, don’t understand. This is my dad. You don’t understand. Like it’s just, you know, blood is thicker than water. You got to be there for family. Like it’s just how it’s Bill Gasiamis (53:30) Mm. Jaemin (53:30) always been. The way my parents make me feel like no one wants that tension. and would hope that the tension just goes away. But if you see it like a great story, it provides the greatest opportunity for your own sovereignty. You know, the bully’s gift is personal power. The parent’s gift is sovereignty. Because when you were born into their world, it’s like you’re born into a kingdom, king and queen on the throne, and it’s their arbitrary rules. In this world, this is how we do it. You don’t like it, bugger off down the street. But here, you know, do this, don’t do that. Why, dad? Don’t ask why, just do what I say. So the parental relationship, parents are right even when they’re wrong. And that’s a really important distinction for the nature of those relationships. And so you are a subject inside a kingdom, their rules, their map of the world, their right, even when they’re wrong. And it’s incredibly hard to break free from that to create your own map of the world and Bill Gasiamis (54:29) Mm. Jaemin (54:29) for you to be the king. But if you see it like a setup and a game, well then, Freud says, you must live as though your father is dead. You must depose the king. So Bill Gasiamis (54:42) Mm. Jaemin (54:42) if the king gets off the throne, if the king bows down to you, if the king goes, you your map of the world now is better than my map of the world, your way of thinking is better than my way of thinking, then there’s no challenge, there’s no resistance to overcome. So my favorite way of describing the role of the parents then is actually, It’s not to love and support and empower. They might do all that, but their central function in the hero’s journey is to confuse you about who you really are. Bill Gasiamis (55:12) Wow. Jaemin (55:13) so that the game can begin. Like everyone comes into their 20s lost and confused and the primary confuses our parents because they impose their map of the world. They have their own sense of who you are and what you ought to do. And it doesn’t suit a single person to be born into the family they’re born into. And yet here you are having to adapt and fit in to a pre-existing ecosystem with rules, values, culture, and then you’re given that name. So it’s like, You are this, this is who you are. It’s like, no, it’s just a bit of Bill Gasiamis (55:46) Wow. Jaemin (55:47) language like Jaemin Fra- I’m not Jaemin Fraser. What do you mean? Like, I was born into a family and those words were put on me. That’s not who I am. And so the confusion of growing up thinking that’s exactly who I am, this is the limit of my experience of life. And I cling to this as my whole certainty. is so wonderful because it’s the ultimate resistance to break out of, to examine the structure of that, to examine the confusion and really go back and reparent yourself and really be the one who actually knows who you’ve always been and to nurture that into the real world and then to become sovereign. And you know you’re sovereign when you become the one who’s right, even when they’re wrong. So you’ve got friends and family saying, what do you mean? It’s not. You need to be able to have a smoke. got to be able to drink. That’s what everyone does. Not in my kingdom, we don’t. In my kingdom, Bill Gasiamis (56:39) Mm. Jaemin (56:39) we don’t smoke and we don’t drink. You’re an idiot. That’s stupid. Well, I’m the king and this is my sovereignty. And if you want to come play in my world, this is how it works. And so, so many people are faced with those challenges. Then they keep pulling back from the edge because of their relational cost, hoping, wishing the world would go easier on them. But if you see it like a story in a game, it’s like, it’s a setup. It’s all a setup. So you could be the one who unconfuses yourself by having to overcome the relational resistance in your world and discover who you’ve always been. Bill Gasiamis (57:15) And we know it innately because we’ve all had that dad, mom, whomever, like I did what I had to do when I was in your house. Now this is my house. Now they this is how it applies. If you don’t Jaemin (57:26) Yeah. Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (57:27) like it, you don’t like it. Like I’ve actually thrown my dad out of my house in my twenties, when we moved out because my wife and I got married and we had kids and whatever, and they’d come over and visit to see the grandkid. You know, my dad would do the whole over helicopter grandparenting, you know. You know, the kids cold or the kids this and the kids that, you know, we lived this with this kid twenty four hours a day, seven days a week for five, six years, you know, like we knew its needs, you know, my my son’s needs. And my dad just wouldn’t have it that we what we were saying wasn’t that we were saying was correct or was okay or was fine or whatever, you know, we were it was everythi

Travel withLimb Difference You Don’t Have to Be Ready, to Be Read       Confidence Comes After the First Step What if confidence isn't what carries us toward the first step, but what waits for us on the other side of it? In this episode of the BAWarrior Podcast, I continue my series on traveling as an amputee as I prepare for my first international trip since losing my leg. Last week, I introduced the idea of creating a “passport to confidence.” Every first: our first overnight stay, flight, rental car, or unfamiliar adventure, adds another stamp to that passport and another valuable experience to our mental toolbox. This trip carries extra meaning for me because the last time I traveled internationally, I returned home with the blood clot that ultimately helped me decide to amputate my leg. Now, I'm preparing to fly overseas again, but this time as an above-knee amputee. There are things I can prepare for: wearing a compression sock, standing and moving during the ten-hour flight, researching baggage and medical-device requirements, packing my prosthetic supplies, staying hydrated, eating enough protein, and protecting my residual limb. I also know I cannot anticipate every TSA interaction, physical challenge, unexpected delay, or curveball. That is where the real lesson begins: It's okay not to be ready for everything.       Preparation is valuable, but we can't require ourselves to know exactly how every experience will unfold. Sometimes we must become comfortable with being uncomfortable. I can control how I prepare and how I respond, but I cannot control how others react or what surprises may arise along the way. Instead of entering this trip in fear, I'm choosing anticipation. I want to remain open to the beautiful places I'll see, the people I may meet, and the moments that could change my life. Becoming an amputee has already introduced me to incredible people and experiences I would never trade, even for my leg back. I'm no longer trying to recreate my old life. I'm choosing to live forward, not backward. My experiences may be altered, but altered does not mean less meaningful. Every adaptation asks me to grow, and every step beyond my comfort zone makes me stronger. Confidence rarely arrives before we do something new. It grows after we take the first step, face the unknown, and discover that we can adapt. The stamp comes after the journey begins.     What have you been avoiding because you don't feel ready? This week, take one step outside your comfort zone and earn another stamp in your passport to confidence. Then share your experience with me, and follow the BAWarrior Podcast to hear what I learn from my first international trip as an amputee. Rise up, beautiful Warriors, your journey is just beginning! And as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!!   Much love,  

How Mindful Retreats Transform Women's Lives with Hattie HawksThis time, I sit down with Hattie Hawks to talk about the power of emotional intelligence, her Mindful Retreats, storytelling, and how we can create more mindful, connected, and nurturing spaces—both at work and at home.5 Keys You'll Learn in This EpisodeThe Power of Storytelling for Healing - Hear how Hattie Hawks uses storytelling in her podcast and retreats to foster connection and help others process life's ups and downs (01:03).Breaking the Cycle of “Busy” - Discover how learning to slow down and care for your nervous system can dramatically improve your well-being—especially if you're used to putting everyone else's needs first (05:02).Why Environments Matter - Eric Pennington and Hattie Hawks explore how leaders (and all of us, really!) can create spaces that are both productive and nurturing, and why that's absolutely vital—especially for women in high-stress roles (25:20).Intentional Connection in the Tech Age - As life gets busier and technology takes over, intentional relationships become harder…and even more important. Learn simple ways to foster real connection with loved ones and coworkers (35:07).The Stories We Tell Ourselves - Both Eric Pennington and Hattie Hawks get real about how inner narratives (sometimes totally made up!) can hold us back—and how awareness can help us move forward with courage (47:29).This conversation is jam-packed with insights, plenty of laughs, and some touching realness about healing, leadership, and living with intention. Whether you're a leader, a parent, or just someone trying to keep your head above water, there's something here for you.Moments00:00 Exploring mindfulness and stress relief05:25 Creating a calming environment15:08 Balancing dreams with business reality20:09 Importance of self-care and relaxation26:11 Understanding Gender Perspectives on Safety27:20 Discussing safety and trauma impacts37:24 Strengthening intentionality with AI efficiency39:50 Importance of Meaningful Connections45:03 Hesitations about reaching out to guests50:12 Second-guessing and overthinking ideas59:09 Being a mentor and disciplinarian01:04:39 Embracing Uncertainty and Faith01:06:28 Facing challenges head-onHere are a few key takeaways for anyone looking to deepen their own EQ journey or support others:Genuine Connection Beats Busyness: Many of us are feeling more disconnected than ever, even as we scramble to keep up with packed schedules and endless demands. Making time for real conversations and meaningful connections—with family, friends, colleagues, and ourselves—can transform our quality of life and our ability to handle challenges.Psychological Safety Breeds Potential: Creating nurturing environments is not just a “nice to have”—it's essential, especially for women and anyone facing high expectations at work. When we feel safe (emotionally and psychologically), our nervous systems can rest, our creativity thrives, and we're more likely to show up authentically and compassionately.Rewrite Your Inner Narrative: The stories we tell ourselves—about what's possible, what we deserve, what's “normal”—shape our choices and our wellbeing. By being curious and intentional about these stories and having the courage to question them, we open ourselves to transformation. It may feel uncomfortable, but growth starts when we challenge old patterns.In each episode, Jeff and Eric will talk about what emotional intelligence, or understanding your emotions, can do for you in your daily and work life. For more information, contact Eric or Jeff at info@spiritofeq.com or visit their website, Spirit of EQ.You can follow The Spirit of EQ Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Android, or on your favorite podcast player.New episodes are available on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays every month!Please review our podcast Music from Uppbeathttps://uppbeat.io/t/roo-walker/deeperLicense code: PEYKDJHQNGSZXDUEhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/Spirit of EQMentioned in this episode:Thanks for listening to Spirit of EQThis podcast was created to be a tool to primarily help you to discover and grow your EQ. Science and our own lived experiences confirm that the better we are at managing our emotions, the better we're going to be at making decisions. Which leads to a better life. And that's something we all want. We're glad that you've taken the time today to listen. We hope that something you hear will lead to a breakthrough. We'd really appreciate a review on your podcast platform. Please leave some comments about what you heard today, as well as follow and subscribe to the podcast. That way, you won't miss a single episode as we continue this journey.

"Uncertainty will happen to us even when we try to avoid it. To reach our highest potential and live our noblest values, we need to be willing to step into uncertainty." —Nathan Furr and Susannah Harmon Furr, authors of The Upside of Uncertainty From knowing how the day will unfold to how our year will unfold, we cannot know until we live it. Uncertainty surrounds us, and to deny its existence by trying to live the same way each day, do what we've always done, we only limit the amazing possibilities that have the potential to be experienced and elevate the quality of our life. In a book published back in 2022, husband and wife team, Nathan Furr and Susannah Harmon Furr, share with oodles of research paired with examples from current and past entrepreneurs, philosophers, activists, and ordinary people, including their own life experience which found them moving their entire family to France and settling into the French culture, how embracing uncertainty instead of shunning it, pretending it doesn't exist is a primary approach to living a life you love. The Upside of Uncertainty includes detailed, concrete approaches, tools and supports for our mindset, to help us stay the course during the time that uncertainty inevitably arrives along our journey when we've decided to do something we've never done before. All that will be shared today is gleaned from the book, and is just a taste of what you will find when you pick it up. A resource I know I will return to repeatedly to be reminded of how to sustain my tenacity, how to incorporate supportive components, as well as how to course correct or make the most of outcomes undesired along the way. Let's begin by taking a look at the importance of choosing to embrace uncertainty.   Find the Show Notes for this episode on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast429

Uncertainty isn't going anywhere. So what if the goal wasn't to get rid of it, but to get better at holding it? In this episode, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from a feeling and dive deep into one of the most relevant topics in work and careers right now. Drawing on Margaret Heffernan's Embracing Uncertainty, Sam Conniff and Katherine Templar-Lewis's Uncertainty Toolkit, and a brilliant HBR article, they explore what it really means to develop the capacity to hold uncertainty, and what your default response to it reveals about you.

Ido Portal is a world-renowned movement coach who has developed specific practices anyone can use to greatly evolve their mental and physical health, and even gain clearer self-understanding. We discuss the effects of playful movement versus exercise, discipline versus willpower, and how approaching friction points in your practice with relaxed awareness can rewire your default reactions to stress and fear. Ido explains how to leverage transition states, such as the state between sleep and waking, to gain heightened bodily awareness and new insights. He also explains specific movement patterns. This is a highly practical conversation about integrating movement, embracing uncertainty and bringing awareness into everyday life to expand your brain-body connection and deepen your sense of self. Read the show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Rorra: https://rorra.com/huberman ROKA: https://roka.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Ido Portal (00:03:18) Waking Up, Transitional States, Sleep, Lucid Dreaming (00:10:30) Meditation, Tool: Micro-Meditation (00:13:55) Sponsors: Rorra & ROKA (00:17:05) Meditation, Anxiety (00:19:54) Mind-Body States (00:24:41) Play vs Discipline, Motivation & Will, Awe (00:37:25) Willpower vs Discipline, Developing Will; Physical Practice (00:47:20) Sponsor: AG1 (00:49:06) Power of Play, Rigidity (00:54:41) Playful Restraint, Softness (01:00:57) Subtle Ripples of Consciousness, Granularity, Bodily Resolution (01:09:36) Language, Ambiguity, Dance; Psychedelics (01:15:19) Sponsor: LMNT (01:16:51) Paying Attention to Everyday Movement, Exercise (01:24:57) Challenging the System, Life as a Practice (01:32:37) Awareness & Time; Emotional, Mental & Physical Nutrients (01:38:41) Social Media, Importance of Granularity (01:43:41) Noticing Transition, Kumbhaka Practice; Antagonism (01:53:56) Sponsor: Function (01:55:37) Cowardice, Remorse; Sensory Desensitization (02:03:53) Relationships, Dynamic Practice (02:10:59) Music, Movement (02:16:21) Art; Movement Models; Awareness Through Movement (02:27:24) Fresh Moments & Growth, Noticing Subtlety (02:35:23) Air Sense, Skateboarding, Confidence; Meta-Movement (02:49:32) Beauty of Imperfection, Embracing Uncertainty (02:57:12) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Protocols Book, Sponsors, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Financial independence isn't just about reaching a number, it's about designing a life you actually want to live. In this solo episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of what life looks like now.I share a candid life update on everything from my current workout routine and newfound hobby of gardening to navigating one of the busiest parenting seasons of the year with three kids. I also open up about the intentional trade-offs I'm making by working less, earning less, and embracing a slower pace, because the flexibility I've gained is worth more to me than maximizing income. Plus, I reflect on some exciting milestones, including Journey to Launch turning 10 years old, winning a Plutus Award, the evolution of the FIRE Calc, and what I'm still exploring as I think about the next chapter of my work and life. If you've ever wondered what financial independence actually looks like after the milestone is reached or how your priorities can shift once you have more freedom, this episode is for you In this episode, I share: How I'm currently splitting my time between personal life and work  What it means to live in the Commander stage of financial independence and why I would not trade it Honest reflections on parenting, birthday season spending, and the concept of lawnmower parenting An update on the FIRE Calc, Journey to Launch's 10-year milestone, and what's next for the platform + more What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Plutus Awards: plutusawards.com Check out the FIRE Calc Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

In this episode, Rose Skeeters explores the emotional landscape of recovering from borderline personality disorder, emphasizing hope, resilience, and actionable mental health strategies. Whether you're just starting or navigating the challenging middle phases, this talk offers practical insights and reassurance for creating a meaningful life.Andrew Huberman Physiological Sigh Clip Need individual support? Schedule a session with Rose here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thriveonlinecounseling.com/product/individual-sessions/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To schedule with Jay, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thriveonlinecounseling.com/product/22608/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gift cards now available for purchase here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thriveonlinecounseling.com/product/gift-card/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**This episode is colloquial not clinical, using personal anecdotes to support conveying information in an informal, relatable way**Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction: Navigating the pain of creating a life worth living after diagnosis00:25 - The importance of mentalization and upcoming expert episode00:45 - The emotional spiral of self-awareness and re-establishing identity01:14 - Understanding the borderline brain's craving for significance and certainty01:44 - The uncertainty involved in building a new life and redefinition of self02:01 - Reestablishing your identity amidst fear and change02:17 - Moving forward with big life decisions despite fears02:36 - Encouragement: your progress isn't regression—hope exists03:03 - The imagery of falling off a cliff and grabbing branches03:57 - Practical mindfulness: deep breathing and physiological sigh04:26 - Using DBT skills: grounding and checking the facts05:52 - Challenging catastrophizing thoughts with facts and interpretation06:45 - Identifying and reframing emotional responses07:14 - Moving out of chaos into order, acceptance of fears08:06 - Moving from black-and-white thinking to balanced perspective08:34 - Moving from uncertainty to acceptance in a new environment09:07 - Challenging judgments and allowing space for emotions10:07 - Recognizing control and agency in life choices11:25 - Managing assumptions and fear through perspective shifts12:15 - The importance of small, manageable actions to influence outcomes13:24 - Problem-solving and resilience in the face of setbacks14:17 - Visualizing positive outcomes and coping with catastrophes15:15 - Acceptance of outcomes, including setbacks or failures16:12 - Checking the appropriateness of emotional responses17:04 - Affirmation of hope and non-linear growth in recovery17:41 - Final words: you're not alone, and your worth is inherent

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Embracing Uncertainty: Giulia's Graduation Revelation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2026-06-11-22-34-01-it Story Transcript:It: Nella palestra del liceo "Galileo Galilei", la primavera sembrava aver portato nuova vita.En: In the gymnasium of the high school "Galileo Galilei", spring seemed to have brought new life.It: Bandiere colorate e ghirlande decoravano le pareti.En: Colorful flags and garlands decorated the walls.It: L'aria profumava di fiori freschi, e i raggi del sole entravano attraverso le alte finestre, inondando di luce la stanza.En: The air smelled of fresh flowers, and the sun's rays entered through the tall windows, flooding the room with light.It: Era il giorno della cerimonia di laurea, e Giulia era seduta tra i suoi compagni di classe, il cuore che batteva forte.En: It was graduation day, and Giulia was sitting among her classmates, her heart beating fast.It: Giulia era la valedictorian, la migliore della sua classe.En: Giulia was the valedictorian, the best in her class.It: Tutti si aspettavano un discorso splendido da lei.En: Everyone expected a splendid speech from her.It: Ma dentro di sé, sentirsi meno sicura che mai.En: But inside, she felt less confident than ever.It: Si guardò intorno e vide Marco, il suo amico d'infanzia.En: She looked around and saw Marco, her childhood friend.It: Marco le sorrise, pieno di entusiasmo per il futuro.En: Marco smiled at her, full of enthusiasm for the future.It: Partiva per l'università e voleva che anche Giulia fosse felice.En: He was leaving for university and wanted Giulia to be happy too.It: "Manca poco, eh?En: "Almost time, huh?"It: ", disse Marco piano.En: Marco said quietly.It: Giulia annuì, ma aveva un nodo in gola.En: Giulia nodded, but had a lump in her throat.It: Elena, sua madre, sedeva tra il pubblico con uno sguardo fiero.En: Elena, her mother, sat in the audience with a proud look.It: Lei sognava per sua figlia una carriera rispettabile, forse in medicina o legge.En: She dreamt of a respectable career for her daughter, perhaps in medicine or law.It: Giulia sapeva che doveva fare un grande discorso, ma dentro di sé, sentiva l'incertezza del futuro e il peso delle aspettative.En: Giulia knew she had to deliver a great speech, but inside, she felt the uncertainty of the future and the weight of expectations.It: Il preside la chiamò sul palco.En: The principal called her to the stage.It: Giulia si alzò mentre gli applausi riempivano la palestra.En: Giulia stood up as applause filled the gymnasium.It: Si avvicinò al podio, stringendo il foglio con il suo discorso scritto.En: She approached the podium, clutching the paper with her written speech.It: Ma quando guardò il pubblico, e vide gli occhi fiduciosi di Elena, una nuova sicurezza sorse in lei.En: But when she looked at the audience and saw Elena's trusting eyes, a new confidence rose within her.It: "Buongiorno a tutti," iniziò con voce tremante.En: "Good morning, everyone," she began with a trembling voice.It: Poi mise da parte il foglio.En: Then she set aside the paper.It: "Oggi dovrei parlare di successi e sogni futuri.En: "Today I should talk about achievements and future dreams.It: Ma preferisco essere sincera.En: But I prefer to be honest.It: Oggi, mi sento insicura e incerta.En: Today, I feel insecure and uncertain.It: Non so cosa mi aspetta nel futuro, e questo mi spaventa."En: I don't know what awaits me in the future, and that scares me."It: Un mormorio attraversò la sala, ma Giulia continuò: "Ma forse l'incertezza è una parte della vita.En: A murmur swept through the room, but Giulia continued: "But maybe uncertainty is a part of life.It: Un nuovo inizio.En: A new beginning.It: Non è facile, ma va bene così."En: It's not easy, but that's okay."It: La palestra rimase in silenzio.En: The gymnasium remained silent.It: Poi, un applauso isolato di Marco spezzò l'incanto.En: Then, a lone applause from Marco broke the spell.It: Uno dopo l'altro, gli altri unirono gli applausi.En: One by one, the others joined in applause.It: Anche Elena batté le mani, con lacrime di orgoglio negli occhi.En: Even Elena clapped, with tears of pride in her eyes.It: Dopo la cerimonia, Elena abbracciò Giulia forte.En: After the ceremony, Elena hugged Giulia tightly.It: "So di aver messo tanta pressione su di te," disse dolcemente.En: "I know I've put a lot of pressure on you," she said softly.It: "Ma sono orgogliosa di te, per come sei davvero.En: "But I'm proud of you, for who you truly are.It: E ti sosterrò, qualunque strada tu scelga."En: And I will support you, whatever path you choose."It: In quel momento, Giulia capì che non doveva avere paura del futuro.En: In that moment, Giulia realized she didn't have to fear the future.It: Poteva accettare l'incertezza e, con essa, la libertà di essere se stessa.En: She could embrace uncertainty and, with it, the freedom to be herself.It: Si sentì leggera, e pronta a iniziare questo nuovo capitolo della sua vita, con speranza e coraggio.En: She felt light and ready to begin this new chapter of her life, with hope and courage. Vocabulary Words:the gymnasium: la palestrathe garlands: le ghirlandeto flood: inondarethe heart: il cuorethe valedictorian: la valedictorianthe childhood: l'infanziaquietly: pianothe throat: la golathe audience: il pubblicorespectable: rispettabilethe expectations: le aspettativethe principal: il presideto clutch: stringerethe podium: il podiothe confidence: la sicurezzathe murmur: il mormorioto sweep: attraversarethe spell: l'incantoto embrace: accettarethe chapter: il capitolothe courage: il coraggiothe ceremony: la cerimoniato deliver: farethe paper: il fogliotrembling: tremantethe achievement: il successoto prefer: preferirethe applause: gli applausito hug: abbracciareproud: orgoglioso

Estelle Frankel is a practicing psychotherapist, author, spiritual director and seasoned teacher of Jewish mysticism and meditation. For over forty years she has been a thought leader and popular public speaker on the integration of depth psychology, Kabbalah and the world's great spiritual traditions. Estelle is the author of numerous essays and two popular books: Sacred Therapy: Jewish Spiritual Teachings on Emotional Healing & Inner Wholeness and The Wisdom of Not Knowing: Discovering a Life of Wonder by Embracing Uncertainty. Info about Estelle's teaching schedule and other offerings can be found at www.estellefrankel.com

Multi-sport training secrets, Olympic mindset shifts, and the art of balancing endurance sports—discover how to build unstoppable athletic versatility. Elevate your coaching or racing with power-packed tips from an Olympian who breaks all the rules. World-class athlete Anna Gibson joins Dirk on Endurance Unlimited to share her roller-coaster journey from track running and alpine skiing to trail, skimo, and elite gravel and mountain biking—often flipping the script on traditional training wisdom. You'll get actionable insights into how being a multi-sport athlete can supercharge your competitive edge, why chasing curiosity fuels elite performance, and how to strategically blend volume, intensity, and rest when balancing several disciplines at once. Chapters: 00:00 – Anna Gibson's Olympic Skimo Leap: The Unexpected Journey 01:46 – Building a Multi-Sport Engine: Running, Skiing, and Biking 03:54 – Life After the Olympics: Motivation, Mental Health & Reset 06:47 – From Alpine and Nordic to Trail: Early Athletic Foundations 10:30 – Closet Skimo Training and the Road to Team USA 12:26 – Saying Yes: Olympic Skimo Commitment and Qualification 15:17 – The Role of Camps and Community in Rising Fast 17:01 – Blending Training: Off-Season Recovery and Rapid Skill Development 19:44 – Confidence, Resilience, and Takeaways From Multi-Sport Racing 21:45 – Optimizing Cross-Training: Interplay Between Running, Biking & Skiing 24:18 – Future Goals: Big Mountain Events and Staying Curious 28:06 – Challenging Specialization: Lessons From Racing and Experimenting 29:55 – Leadville 100 Prep: Structure, Weaknesses, and Training Philosophy 35:39 – Sponsorships and Career Balance in a Multi-Sport Life 38:08 – Managing Workouts, Recovery, and Strength Across Disciplines 43:19 – Coaching Multi-Sport Athletes and Advice for Beginners 46:30 – Embracing Uncertainty, Staying Curious, and the Road Ahead

Most people don't fear change itself — they fear the moment before they know if they're going to be okay. And according to Dr. Jimmie Williamson, that gap between uncertainty and clarity is where organizations either hold their people together or quietly lose them. In this episode of Your Health University, Jamie sits down with Dr. Jimmie Williamson, Chief Behavioral Health Officer at Your Health, in the middle of a real organizational merger — making this conversation as timely and personal as it gets. Dr. Williamson draws on decades of clinical experience, behavioral health expertise, and his own career pivots (including leaving a 28-year career to step into healthcare) to walk us through what change actually does to the human brain and body — and what it takes to move through it well. Key topics include: Why even positive change triggers a physiological threat response — and what science says is actually happening in your brain The five stages of change people move through (shock, resistance, exploration, and beyond) and why getting stuck isn't a character flaw Dr. David Rock's SCARF model — the five psychological domains (Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, Fairness) that determine whether people feel safe or threatened during transitions What leaders most commonly get wrong when communicating change — and the one mistake that always creates a narrative vacuum Why insecurity in leadership is more dangerous than the change itself The one self-care practice you can start today if you're feeling the weight of uncertainty Change is positive. It is good. And it is inevitable. This episode will help you believe that — and act like it. www.YourHealth.Org

What if not knowing was actually part of the magic? In this episode of The Spiritual Cupcake Podcast, Candace shares her experience of entering the unfamiliar world of ball hockey after signing up her son. Instead of feeling embarrassed about not knowing the “rules” of the arenas, routines, or small-town stops along the way, she discovered something surprising: being new at something can wake us back up to life. From asking concession workers simple questions to wandering through unfamiliar towns looking for hidden gems, Candace reflects on how easy it is to move through life on autopilot once we become comfortable. But when we intentionally place ourselves in situations where we don't know everything, we become more curious, more present, and more connected to the moment. This episode is a gentle reminder that growth doesn't always come from mastery. Sometimes it comes from awkwardness, curiosity, and being willing to look uninformed while learning something new. Because maybe there's joy in not already knowing the answers. Maybe there's freedom in becoming the newbie again. And maybe life feels sweeter when we allow ourselves to be happily uninformed.

Welcome to episode #1037 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a moment when certainty has become both a cultural obsession and a commercial product, Simone Stolzoff is asking a far more uncomfortable question: what if the real skill is learning how to live without it? A journalist whose work has appeared in publications like The Atlantic and author of the bestselling book The Good Enough Job, Simo has built his work around examining the hidden psychological contracts shaping modern life… especially our increasingly tangled relationship with work, ambition and identity. His new book, How to Not Know - The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers, pushes that exploration even further, arguing that many of the anxieties defining modern life stem not from uncertainty itself… but from our declining ability to tolerate it. In this conversation, Simo explores why uncertainty has become so psychologically destabilizing in an era where information is infinite, prediction is constant and every question seems one search query away from an answer. He discusses the paradox of modern life: despite unprecedented prosperity, connectivity and opportunity, people feel increasingly fragile, overwhelmed and fearful of ambiguity. Simo explains how uncertainty once served an important evolutionary purpose, but has become maladaptive in a culture obsessed with optimization, certainty and control. The conversation moves through entrepreneurship, identity, politics, AI, climate anxiety, relationships and creativity… all connected by the tension between our desire for certainty and the reality that much of life remains fundamentally unknowable. Simo argues that uncertainty is not a flaw in the system… it is the birthplace of possibility, growth and reinvention. Along the way, we discuss Brian Eno, venture capital, the psychology of risk, the danger of false certainty in modern discourse, and why action itself is often the antidote to anxiety. What emerges is not a conversation about having the answers… but about developing the resilience, humility and imagination to move forward without them. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 57:55. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Simone Stolzoff. How To Not Know - The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers. The Good Enough Job. Subscribe to Simo's newsletter. Follow Simo on Instagram. Follow Simo on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Simone Stolzoff. (01:45) - The Intersection of Identity and Career. (03:50) - Embracing Uncertainty in Life and Work. (10:56) - Cultural Perspectives on Risk and Entrepreneurship. (15:50) - The Paradox of Comfort and Growth. (18:49) - Building Tolerance for Uncertainty. (22:33) - Macro Perspectives on Progress and Uncertainty. (27:23) - Navigating Opportunities in an Unstable Job Market. (33:07) - The Role of Geography in Relationships and Opportunities. (36:43) - Age Bias and Risk Aversion. (41:08) - Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty. (50:02) - Closing Thoughts on Rigidity and Acceptance.

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Embracing Uncertainty: A Journey of Renewal in Kamikochi Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-05-17-22-34-01-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 春の陽射しが降り注ぐ中、カミコウチのトクモリは柔らかい緑で覆われ、美しい桜が風にそよいでいました。En: Under the spring sunshine, Kamikochi's Tokumori was covered in soft greenery, and the beautiful cherry blossoms swayed in the breeze.Ja: リナ、カイト、そしてソラは、ゴールデンウィークのタイミングで家族ハイキングに出かけました。En: Rina, Kaito, and Sora embarked on a family hike during Golden Week.Ja: 「お姉ちゃん、見て見て！あっちにリスがいるよ！」ソラがカメラを構えながら叫びます。En: "Big sis, look, look! There's a squirrel over there!" Sora shouted while pointing his camera.Ja: ソラはいつも写真を撮るのが好きで、自然の美しさを捉えるのが得意です。En: Sora always enjoyed taking pictures and had a knack for capturing the beauty of nature.Ja: 年下のソラの無邪気さが、一瞬リナの心を軽くしました。En: The innocent enthusiasm of her younger brother momentarily lightened Rina's heart.Ja: リナは大学生で、将来のことを考えるといつも不安でした。En: Rina was a university student, constantly anxious about her future.Ja: このハイキングも、本当は楽しむつもりだったのに、頭の中は悩みでいっぱいです。En: Though she intended to enjoy the hike, her mind remained filled with worries.Ja: 家族と過ごすこの時間を本当に楽しめていない自分にリナはもどかしさを感じています。En: She felt frustrated at her inability to truly enjoy this time with her family.Ja: 「リナ、調子はどう？」カイトが気軽な声で聞きます。En: "How are you doing, Rina?" Kaito asked casually.Ja: リナは歩き続けながら、兄の顔をちらりと見ました。En: Rina glanced at her brother's face while continuing to walk.Ja: カイトはいつも自然を愛し、どんなことでもあまり心配しない人です。En: Kaito always loved nature and rarely worried about anything.Ja: 「うん、まぁまぁかな…」リナは一瞬ためらいましたが、正直に話すことに決めました。En: "Well, so-so..." Rina hesitated for a moment but decided to speak honestly.Ja: 「将来が不安なんだ。En: "I'm anxious about the future.Ja: 何をしたいのかわからなくなってきて。」En: I've started to feel unsure about what I want to do."Ja: 「そっか、でもそれっていいことかもしれないよ」とカイトは優しく答えました。En: "I see, but maybe that's a good thing," Kaito replied gently.Ja: 「未確定なことには無限の可能性があるからね。En: "Uncertainty holds limitless possibilities.Ja: 山登りだって、頂上に一歩ずつたどり着くように、人生も一歩ずつでいいと思うよ。」En: Just like reaching the summit one step at a time in mountain climbing, it's okay to approach life step by step."Ja: 頂上に着くころには、空は晴れ渡り、心地よい風が吹いていました。En: By the time they reached the summit, the sky was clear, and a pleasant breeze was blowing.Ja: リナはカイトの言葉を思い出し、目の前に広がる風景を見つめます。En: Recalling Kaito's words, Rina gazed at the expansive scenery before her.Ja: 飛騨山脈（ひださんみゃく）の壮大さと季節の移り変わりを肌で感じ、自分のこれからの道にも新たな視点を見出しました。En: Feeling the grandeur of the Hida Mountains and the change of seasons on her skin, she found a new perspective on her path ahead.Ja: 「ありがとう、カイト。En: "Thank you, Kaito.Ja: 今は不安定でも、この不確実さを楽しんでみるよ。」リナは微笑み、自然の広がる景色に深呼吸をしました。En: I'll try to enjoy this uncertainty, despite the instability," Rina said with a smile, taking a deep breath of the nature-filled scenery.Ja: 新しい気持ちで未来の自分を見つける、長い旅が始まったのです。En: A long journey to discover her future self had begun with renewed spirit.Ja: リナはこれからのことを考えると前向きな気持ちになり、ソラやカイトと一緒に過ごす優しい時を一層楽しむことができるようになりました。En: Thinking about what lay ahead, Rina felt more positive and could enjoy the gentle moments spent with Sora and Kaito even more.Ja: リナの心にある春の訪れは、新しい始まりを告げていたのです。En: The arrival of spring in Rina's heart heralded a new beginning. Vocabulary Words:greenery: 緑swayed: そよいでembarked: 出かけましたknack: 得意innocent: 無邪気anxious: 不安frustrated: もどかしさhesitated: ためらいましたuncertainty: 不確実possibilities: 可能性summit: 頂上expansive: 広がるgrandeur: 壮大さinstability: 不安定renewed: 新しいheralded: 告げていたtiming: タイミングcapturing: 捉えるmomentarily: 一瞬constantly: いつもrarely: あまりintended: つもりapproach: たどり着くperspective: 視点expansive: 広がるheralded: 告げていたenjoyed: 楽しむbreeze: 風discover: 見つけるjourney: 旅

And we're back! I'm excited to share that I've passed my state licensing exam and am now officially a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist! In this catch-up solo episode, I share some professional and personal updates (including some exciting news!!). I reflect on the journey toward licensure, from grad school and practicum to the associate years. I also share my real-time experience navigating OCD-related thoughts while recording this episode and what it looks like to move through doubt when it shows up. I'm leaning into embracing the unknowns and allowing this next chapter to feel new, exciting, confusing, overwhelming, relieving - all at the same time.As always, I want to express gratitude to each and every one of you for being here along the ride. I can't wait for what's to come and to share with you all :) STAY CONNECTED:INSTA: @trustandthriveTIKOK: @trustandthriveEMAIL: trustandthrive@gmail.com

One of my biggest lessons in life has been learning how to not brace for the fall when faced with uncertainty and change. As I reflect on the last decade of my life (from age 25 to 35), I'd say I did a pretty good job with trusting the next step before I felt fully confident to take it. I hope this may somehow resonate with you, or even inspire you to take the leap. cheers to the open road and question marks.This short video essay was created from a Substack article I wrote shortly after my 35th birthday.

Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: Embracing Uncertainty: A Leader's Unexpected Triumph at Balaton Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2026-05-03-22-34-01-hu Story Transcript:Hu: A modern irodaház tízedik emelén Bálint, a fiatal menedzser, az ablak mellett állt.En: On the tenth floor of a modern office building, Bálint, the young manager, stood by the window.Hu: Lenézett a városra, amint a forgalom délután öt óra körül tetőzik.En: He looked down at the city as the traffic peaked around five in the afternoon.Hu: Az irodában zajlott az élet: kollégák jöttek-mentek, telefonok csörögtek.En: Life was bustling in the office: colleagues came and went, phones rang.Hu: Bálint izgatott volt; közeledett az első nagy projektje, és az üzleti út a Balatonhoz nagy lehetőség volt számára.En: Bálint was excited; his first big project was approaching, and the business trip to Balaton was a great opportunity for him.Hu: Eszter, az iroda tapasztalt munkatársa, közelebb lépett.En: Eszter, the office's experienced employee, stepped closer.Hu: "Készen állsz a hétvégére, Bálint?" kérdezte barátságosan.En: "Are you ready for the weekend, Bálint?" she asked kindly.Hu: Bálint bólintott. "Igen, remélem minden a terv szerint alakul."En: Bálint nodded. "Yes, I hope everything goes according to plan."Hu: Gábor is csatlakozott hozzájuk, mindig vidám és izgatott.En: Gábor joined them, always cheerful and excited.Hu: "Én már alig várom a Balatont! Reméljük jó idő lesz."En: "I can hardly wait for Balaton! Let's hope the weather is good."Hu: Pénteken délután együtt utaztak le a Balatonhoz.En: On Friday afternoon, they traveled together to Balaton.Hu: Az út közben Gábor állandóan nevettetett mindenkit, miközben Eszter hasznos tanácsokat adott Bálintnak a projekt menedzseléséhez.En: During the journey, Gábor kept everyone laughing, while Eszter gave Bálint useful advice on managing the project.Hu: "Ne aggódj annyira" mondta Eszter mosolyogva.En: "Don't worry so much," Eszter said with a smile.Hu: "Néha az élet váratlan helyzeteket hoz, és ezek a legérdekesebb pillanatok."En: "Sometimes life brings unexpected situations, and those are the most interesting moments."Hu: Amikor megérkeztek, a tavaszi Balaton elvarázsolta őket.En: When they arrived, the spring Balaton enchanted them.Hu: A víz csendesen hullámzott, a virágok nyíltak a part mentén.En: The water gently rippled, and the flowers bloomed along the shore.Hu: De amint elkezdték előkészíteni a hétvégi programot, az időjárás gyorsan változni kezdett.En: But as they began to prepare the weekend program, the weather started to change quickly.Hu: Egy váratlan vihar közeledett.En: An unexpected storm was approaching.Hu: Másnap reggel Bálint szomorúan állt az ablak előtt.En: The next morning, Bálint stood sadly by the window.Hu: A prezentációhoz tervezett beltéri terem nedves lett az eső által.En: The indoor venue planned for the presentation had been made wet by the rain.Hu: "Mihez kezdünk most?" kérdezte tanácstalanul.En: "What do we do now?" he asked helplessly.Hu: Ekkor Gábor vidáman javasolta: "Tartsuk kint a nagy fa alatt! Fel fog száradni, és izgalmasabb lesz."En: Then Gábor cheerfully suggested, "Let's hold it outside under the big tree! It will dry up, and be more exciting."Hu: Bálint hezitált. Nem volt a terve része.En: Bálint hesitated. It wasn't part of his plan.Hu: De Eszter bátorítóan bólintott felé.En: But Eszter nodded encouragingly towards him.Hu: "Most megmutathatod, hogy rugalmas vagy."En: "Now you can show that you're flexible."Hu: Bálint mélyet lélegzett. "Legyen" mondta végül. "Próbáljuk meg."En: Bálint took a deep breath. "Alright," he finally said. "Let's try it."Hu: Az irodából hoztak székeket, és gyorsan megteremtették az impromptu helyszínt a nagy tölgyfa alatt.En: They brought chairs from the office and quickly set up the impromptu venue under the large oak tree.Hu: A prezentáció alatt a szél fújta a friss illatú leveleket, és mindenki mosolygott a természetes környezetben.En: During the presentation, the wind blew the freshly scented leaves, and everyone smiled in the natural setting.Hu: A nap végére a projekt nagy sikert aratott.En: By the end of the day, the project was a great success.Hu: A csapat és a vezetők is elégedettek voltak az új megközelítéssel.En: Both the team and the leaders were pleased with the new approach.Hu: Bálint megtanulta, hogy néha a spontaneitás ugyanolyan értékes, mint a gondos tervezés.En: Bálint learned that sometimes spontaneity is just as valuable as careful planning.Hu: Amint visszafelé utaztak az irodába, Bálint a buszon ült, és a Balatonra gondolt.En: As they traveled back to the office, Bálint sat on the bus, thinking of Balaton.Hu: Rájött, hogy a jövőbeli útjai során megpróbál majd mindig megtartani egyensúlyt.En: He realized that during his future journeys, he would always try to maintain a balance.Hu: Eszter bólintott mellőle, elégedetten.En: Eszter nodded beside him, content.Hu: Gábor viccelődött, a busz pedig lassan visszavitte őket a város nyüzsgő forgatagába.En: Gábor cracked jokes, and the bus slowly took them back to the city's bustling whirl. Vocabulary Words:bustling: nyüzsgőapproaching: közeledettopportunity: lehetőségexperienced: tapasztaltcheerful: vidámjourney: útunexpected: váratlanenchanted: elvarázsoltarippled: hullámzottbloomed: nyíltakshore: partstorm: viharhelplessly: tanácstalanulsuggested: javasoltahesitated: hezitáltencouragingly: bátorítóanflexible: rugalmasimpromptu: impromptuvenue: helyszínoak: tölgyscented: illatúspontaneity: spontaneitásvaluable: értékesmaintain: megtartanibalance: egyensúlytcontent: elégedettencracked: viccelődöttwhirl: forgatagmeticulously: gondostentative: tervezett

Most people hate and fear uncertainty. It causes such stress and anxiety that we often choose certain surrender over doubt, becoming passive, dependent, addicted―and more anxious than ever. Doubling down on the certainties promised by technology and micro-management only makes things worse, leaving no opportunity for innovation, adaptation or invention. Artists live with uncertainty constantly―but instead of waiting for the future, they run towards making it, with agency and freedom. What can we learn from them, about facing into a future that grows more uncertain daily? At a time when organizations of all kinds crave innovation but complain their people lack creativity and initiative, the arts have never been so essential to our future. We may not all be artists, but we can learn to think like them. In Embracing Uncertainty: How Writers, Musicians and Artists Thrive In An Unpredictable World (Policy Press, 2025) Margaret Heffernan makes a compelling argument for the vital integration of art into all aspects of our lives and for artists to guide us with their stamina, freedom and endurance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Most people hate and fear uncertainty. It causes such stress and anxiety that we often choose certain surrender over doubt, becoming passive, dependent, addicted―and more anxious than ever. Doubling down on the certainties promised by technology and micro-management only makes things worse, leaving no opportunity for innovation, adaptation or invention. Artists live with uncertainty constantly―but instead of waiting for the future, they run towards making it, with agency and freedom. What can we learn from them, about facing into a future that grows more uncertain daily? At a time when organizations of all kinds crave innovation but complain their people lack creativity and initiative, the arts have never been so essential to our future. We may not all be artists, but we can learn to think like them. In Embracing Uncertainty: How Writers, Musicians and Artists Thrive In An Unpredictable World (Policy Press, 2025) Margaret Heffernan makes a compelling argument for the vital integration of art into all aspects of our lives and for artists to guide us with their stamina, freedom and endurance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/art

Most people hate and fear uncertainty. It causes such stress and anxiety that we often choose certain surrender over doubt, becoming passive, dependent, addicted―and more anxious than ever. Doubling down on the certainties promised by technology and micro-management only makes things worse, leaving no opportunity for innovation, adaptation or invention. Artists live with uncertainty constantly―but instead of waiting for the future, they run towards making it, with agency and freedom. What can we learn from them, about facing into a future that grows more uncertain daily? At a time when organizations of all kinds crave innovation but complain their people lack creativity and initiative, the arts have never been so essential to our future. We may not all be artists, but we can learn to think like them. In Embracing Uncertainty: How Writers, Musicians and Artists Thrive In An Unpredictable World (Policy Press, 2025) Margaret Heffernan makes a compelling argument for the vital integration of art into all aspects of our lives and for artists to guide us with their stamina, freedom and endurance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people hate and fear uncertainty. It causes such stress and anxiety that we often choose certain surrender over doubt, becoming passive, dependent, addicted―and more anxious than ever. Doubling down on the certainties promised by technology and micro-management only makes things worse, leaving no opportunity for innovation, adaptation or invention. Artists live with uncertainty constantly―but instead of waiting for the future, they run towards making it, with agency and freedom. What can we learn from them, about facing into a future that grows more uncertain daily? At a time when organizations of all kinds crave innovation but complain their people lack creativity and initiative, the arts have never been so essential to our future. We may not all be artists, but we can learn to think like them. In Embracing Uncertainty: How Writers, Musicians and Artists Thrive In An Unpredictable World (Policy Press, 2025) Margaret Heffernan makes a compelling argument for the vital integration of art into all aspects of our lives and for artists to guide us with their stamina, freedom and endurance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/popular-culture

In this conversation, Eli Israel shares his journey with longevity and optimization, focusing on his experiences with Crohn's disease, cancer, and the transformative impact of surgery. The discussion delves into the psychological burdens of chronic illness, the importance of mindset, and the role of courageous conversations in relationships. Mukti Devi emphasizes the significance of embracing uncertainty and the cues from our bodies in navigating life's challenges. Together, they explore the interplay between health, sexuality, and communication, highlighting the journey towards a fulfilling life. In this conversation, Mukti Devi and Eli Israel explore the themes of pleasure positivity, the role of psychedelics in self-discovery, the importance of integration and understanding the shadow self, and the connection between science and spirituality. They discuss how embracing pleasure can lead to emotional growth, the significance of courageous conversations, and the transformative potential of psychedelics when guided properly. The dialogue emphasizes the need for self-awareness and the integration of all aspects of oneself to achieve a higher state of being.   For Audience Join the other 20,000+ high-performers getting weekly insights on biological reversal, exponential strategies, and Life Energy optimization→ https://start.gladdenlongevity.com/subscribe If you're ready to measure your 60+ biological ages and build a personalized reversal plan, apply for a discovery call here → https://start.gladdenlongevity.com/apply-now   Use code 'Podcast10' to get 10% OFF on any of our supplements at https://gladdenlongevityshop.com/!      Takeaways ·       Eli's long-term fascination with longevity began in his 20s. ·       Crohn's disease significantly impacted Eli's quality of life. ·       The psychological burden of chronic illness can be heavy. ·       Surgery led to unexpected realizations about health and energy. ·       Embracing uncertainty can be a powerful ally in healing. ·       Mindset plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of medical interventions. ·       Courageous conversations can improve relationships and communication. ·       Eli's recovery was enhanced by the use of peptides and a keto diet. ·       The importance of addressing libido and sexual health in aging. ·       Making friends with uncertainty can lead to personal growth.  It feels good to feel good and embrace pleasure. ·       Courageously asking for what we need is essential for growth. ·       The ability to express desires is more valuable than the desires themselves. ·       Integration of all aspects of ourselves is crucial for personal development. ·       Psychedelics can help reveal hidden parts of ourselves. ·       Science and spirituality are interconnected in understanding our existence. ·       The ego is a powerful but often misleading aspect of ourselves. ·       Everything that exists belongs in the multiverse. ·       Neuroplasticity allows us to train our minds towards positivity. ·       The journey of self-discovery is ongoing and transformative.     Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Longevity and Optimization 02:15 Eli's Journey with Crohn's Disease 05:27 Facing Cancer: The Psychological Burden 09:22 Surgery and Recovery: A Transformative Experience 12:00 Realizations Post-Surgery 14:00 Embracing Uncertainty and Mindset 20:05 Libido and Sexual Function: A New Chapter 24:56 Courageous Conversations in Relationships 27:00 Embracing Pleasure and Positivity 30:54 Exploring Psychedelics and Self-Discovery 34:05 Integration and the Shadow Self 41:06 The Connection Between Science and Spirituality 32:00 Understanding the Shadow: Embracing All Parts of Self 33:55 Peeling Back the Layers: The Truth Beneath the Surface 35:30 Holistic Healing: Balancing Mind and Body 36:18 Virtual Connections: Adapting to Modern Therapy 37:36 Energy Literacy: Understanding and Managing Energy 38:38 Neurological Function: The Skiing Analogy 40:55 Boosting Energy: Innovative Protocols for Vitality Reach out to us at:    Website: https://gladdenlongevity.com/     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gladdenlongevity/    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gladdenlongevity/?hl=en     LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gladdenlongevity    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5_q8nexY4K5ilgFnKm7naw    

It can be an incredibly painful philosophical pill to swallow and believe that life is actually, despite appearances, happen for and through us. But if you are able and willing to reflect a little…it is a pill of empowerment. An opportunity to find, appreciate and utilise the positives from any situation. Even if it is just to know more accurately what it is we don't prefer as apposed to what we do prefer. For every day is “Judgment Day” and never before in human history have we been so acutely aware of the scope and depth of human potential for “good and evil”. We are going through foretold apocalyptic times where everything is being revealed and nothing can be hidden for long. So it is on both a global and individual level we are being squeezed to reveal what we are truly made of. A great purge of toxicity coming to the surface to be faced and healed. A strong invitation to reflect and act upon who we truly are and what we truly love, value and trust when gentle push comes to aggressive shove. We too are facing of our own strong squeeze or invitation. Early February we were served a letter of unaffordable rent increase or 2 month ‘break-clause' to leave our home. We decided that it was our own Universal Letter, to choose a path that in all honesty we'd been discussing and toying with for a long while. A path of travel, adventure and the search for our own real home. We love much of our life. The people in it, the work we do, time with family and friends and everything we've created here over the last 20-50 years. It's not a case of ‘this is wrong' - move, but more a, something isn't quite flowing and we are being called elsewhere. We have an abundance of skills, experience, love and connections, however for some reason finances have been incredibly challenging since the pandemic and we have not quite find our true alignment and flow. Therefore, with our quest for adventure, for beauty, for diversity, we are heading off on our own adventure. In a way it is not the start of our adventure but just the next chapter of us practicing finding our joyful moment to moment momentum. Our rough dream is to take ‘Soulhub on Tour' and create ‘Restoration Hubs' around the world for those who feel overwhelmed by the world, to come and find rest and restoration with us. As yet we are unsure of where the wind will take us…but we hope that you will follow our journey and perhaps be inspired to invite a little adventure into your own lives. We'll be out of our flat from 19 May, and hope to remain near Richmond with friend/housesitting until mid-late summer. Whilst we honour our commitments here including Dance Al Fresco. In the meantime we'll be selling off our belongings, so if you can help share those, buy them then please do give them new homes. TO TRUST IN LIFE ITSELF In today's podcast conversation we start as we mean to carry on… sharing openly and honestly about what it's been like, and how we are with things right here and now. Our plan is to stay open, present and trusting what is calling us. So please we kindly ask that you dance with us between the known and the unknown. As always, we'd love to see and hear from you along the way. Hear about your Soul Places, Soul People, Soul Food. There are ways you can be involved if you'd care to be, otherwise, enjoy the observations…HOW TO GET INVOLVED:* Share our Soulhubbers Podcasts (eg. This episode)* Support us and our work via GoFundMe* Share and connect us with your ideas of things/people/places you think we'd love and are worth sharing with the world. * Come join us at our WalkIn…DanceOut Retreats (Ireland 13-16 Oct. Or Northumberland 26-29 Nov 2026) or tell others about it* Book Therapeutic Coaching sessions with us online. * Express an interest in our Restoration Hubs (Likely to be Spain in Sept, Costa Rica in Winter, and South Africa early 2027).* HOME SALE - Buy or share our homely goods from upholstered armchairs, wardrobes to mugs and soaps - Link to photos here. Please do message us if something catches your eye. We'll be updating it as a live library as we put more on, and remove the sold items. We're open to donations of all sizes to our GoFundMe for the goods. All to go before 10 May.With much love Carmen and Andrew Get full access to Sole to Soul Inspiration by Soulhub at soulhub.substack.com/subscribe

In a world that feels increasingly uncertain, making confident business decisions is hard. So we grasp for certainty. Numbers feel certain, but they often give us the false comfort of measuring the wrong things. In her book Embracing Uncertainty, Margaret Heffernan explores a different approach. Looking at artists, writers, and musicians, she asks what we can learn from people who produce extraordinary work in conditions where the future simply can't be known. In this episode, Dart and Margaret discuss the hidden costs of certainty, why systems built around prediction can undermine human agency, and how artistic ways of working offer a different relationship to risk, failure, and learning.Margaret Heffernan is an author, playwright, and former CEO who has run multiple businesses in the U.S. and U.K. Her TED Talks have been viewed more than fifteen million times.In this episode, Dart and Margaret discuss:- The pressure to be certain- Why uncertainty is treated as a problem- How prediction slides into control- Why systems reduce human agency- Why total certainty would strip away human choice- How technology trains us to comply rather than think- What artists do when the future can't be known- How power disrupts independent thinking- The courage required to let go as a leader- And other topics…As Chief Executive of InfoMation Corporation, ZineZone Corporation, and then iCast Corporation, Margaret Heffernan was named one of the “Top 25” by Streaming Media magazine and one of the “Top 100 Media Executives” by The Hollywood Reporter. Her books include A Bigger Prize, Beyond Measure, Uncharted, and Willful Blindness, which was named one of the most important business books of the decade by the Financial Times.Her TED Talks have been viewed more than fifteen million times. She is Professor of Practice at the University of Bath and, through Merryck & Co., mentors CEOs and senior executives of major global organizations. In 2023 she was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame for her lasting contribution to management thinking.Resources Mentioned:Margaret's books:Embracing Uncertainty: How Writers, Musicians, and Artists Thrive in an Unpredictable World:  https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Uncertainty-writers-musicians-unpredictable/dp/1447372670 Uncharted: How to Navigate the Future: https://www.amazon.com/Uncharted-Navigate-Future-Margaret-Heffernan/dp/198211262X Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our Peril: https://www.amazon.com/Willful-Blindness-Ignore-Obvious-Peril/dp/0802777961 Connect with Margaret Heffernan:Website: https://www.mheffernan.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-heffernan-ab5205/Work with Dart:Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what's most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.

Today we're going to chat about uncertainty, and how it can shape your vibration and what you attract.  Whether you're dealing with uncertainty in your career, relationships, finances, or health, how you respond to it plays a huge role in your ability to manifest.  Tune in to learn how to embrace uncertainty with trust and flow, instead of fear and doubt, and attract more of what you want. For all things Law of Attraction, visit Jennifer365.com.   Get my Vibe Notes for high-vibe tips between episodes.   I offer schedule-as-you-want coaching. Coaching with me is a great way to raise your vibration. Want to support the podcast?  Buy me a coffee.  ☕️ Looking for an episode about a particular topic?  Check out the LYL Index.    

Matt Kalina — Founder and CEO of TandemStrideMatt Kalina is the Founder and CEO of TandemStride, a healthcare marketplace that connects trauma survivors with peers, care partners, and providers to support long-term recovery. Inspired by his family's firsthand experience with traumatic injury, Matt is dedicated to building solutions that close the gap between emergency care and ongoing support. With his leadership, TandemStride is advancing a more connected and compassionate model of recovery.In our conversation, Matt and I explore the often-overlooked realities of life after traumatic injury, why peer support is such a powerful layer of care, how his family adapted to his brother's traumatic loss of his both his legs in 2012 and have come together through TandemStride to  building the support platform they wish had existed by meeting people in moments of real crisis, not months later. We also talk about Matt's evolution as a leadership, his Ohio go-to-market strategy, the power of incentives, the business of trauma, working with his family in the company, empathy, and coming into your life's work. Matt is an inspiring entrepreneur and this was a really special conversation – please enjoy.00:00 Introduction to Tandem Stride02:46 Introduction and Personal Connection04:42 The Journey to Tandem Stride07:15 Identifying Gaps in Injury Care09:47 Understanding Patient Needs12:21 Building the Tandem Stride Platform15:13 Engagement and Outreach Strategies17:57 Navigating Healthcare Partnerships20:30 The Business Model and Future Vision33:39 Engaging in Healthcare Innovation34:42 Defining the Vision for TandemStride37:37 Creating a New Category in Injury Care40:09 Changing Incentives in Healthcare44:07 Long-Term Policy Initiatives45:05 Personal Growth as a Leader48:59 Family Dynamics in Business51:46 Exciting Developments Ahead54:53 Embracing Uncertainty in Entrepreneurship59:21 Outro-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalinamatt/https://www.tandemstride.com/https://www.amazon.com/Cut-Through-Shortcut-That-Everything/dp/0960083766-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company's passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs. Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.Cerity PartnersCerity Partners, a full-service investment and wealth management firm serving high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and business owners, is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. The firm has local roots in Cleveland and across Ohio, and like this podcast, Cerity Partners advisors specialize in serving the interests of local entrepreneurs and business leaders. They understand how to manage the total picture of wealth, both personal and professional. Cerity Partners has a unified team of specialists who collaborate on almost every aspect of a client's financial life, including business ownership. The firm's national presence means it can offer the resources and specialized knowledge of the largest institutions with the independence and service of a neighbor. The Cerity Partners Cleveland team understands the complexity that comes with wealth, and they adhere to fiduciary standards. Discover the financial lay of your land.Learn more at ceritypartners.com/NPR or call 216-464-6266.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here: https://layoftheland.ck.page/5f0c1e28faConnect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Think journaling is just "dear diary"? Coaches Matt and Jason reveal the neuroscience that makes it a vital tool for high-performing, alcohol-free living. Learn how the physical act of pen-to-paper pulls your attention and your brain's reward circuits into the same moment, tagging your wins as "real" and important to hardwire. Discover how to use journaling to offload the "busy brain," transform a victim mentality into agency, and find the courage to embrace uncertainty in 2026. Whether it's a "breakup letter" to alcohol or a daily "G20" gratitude practice, discover how writing reveals the road ahead with clarity.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book "CLEAR" is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

The Unexpected Path to Cycling  Nathaniel's journey began on a small family farm in rural Oregon, where he faced significant challenges during his childhood. Struggling with family dynamics and a deep-seated desire for justice, he initially pursued a political career, enrolling in a prestigious liberal arts college. However, disillusionment with the political system led him to drop out and seek a new path. This pivotal moment was the catalyst for his life-changing adventure. After a transformative experience in nature with a friend, Nathaniel found himself on a one-way ticket to Europe with a bicycle, ready to embrace the unknown.Embracing Minimalism and the Vagabond Lifestyle  When Nathaniel and his friend set out on their bikes, they embraced a lifestyle of minimalism and spontaneity. With just a few changes of clothes and a commitment to living without money, they relied on the kindness of strangers. One innovative strategy they employed was the "Magic Note"—a simple piece of paper in various languages asking for food donations. This approach not only provided sustenance but also fostered deep connections with the communities they encountered.Life Lessons on the Road  Cycling through Europe, Nathaniel faced numerous challenges that tested his resilience. The duo often found themselves in unpredictable situations, relying on their instincts and the generosity of others. Nathaniel reflects on a particular mindset that guided their journey: to appreciate every moment as if it were the last while also embracing the wonder of new experiences. This perspective allowed them to engage fully with their surroundings.Wild Encounters and Unexpected Friendships Throughout their travels, Nathaniel experienced both the highs and lows of human interaction. One particularly harrowing experience involved a robbery in London, where a group of street kids took advantage of their hospitality. Despite the danger, Nathaniel managed to stand his ground, which ultimately led to an unexpected bond with another stranger—a former criminal who turned out to be one of the kindest individuals he had ever met. This contrast between danger and kindness underscored a vital life lesson: every experience is an opportunity for growth.Nathaniel Allenby's extraordinary journey is a testament to the power of adventure, resilience, and human connection. His experiences remind us that life is unpredictable, and embracing the unknown can lead to profound personal growth. The key takeaways from Nathaniel's story include the importance of living in the moment, the value of community and kindness, and the realization that every individual we meet has a unique story to tell. Whether through cycling or any other form of travel, Nathaniel's journey inspires us to seek our own adventures and embrace the beauty of life on the road.

Tamar Kasriel is a futurist and author of Could: The Smart Thinking Handbook for When Nothing Is Certain.In this conversation, Tamar traces her unconventional path, from studying history at Oxford to teaching English in rural Japan to advising some of the world's biggest brands on what's coming next. Along the way, she explains why the skills she learned studying historiography (the study of how history is written) are surprisingly useful in an age of disinformation, and why the goal of futures work isn't prediction. It's readiness.We explore why multiple truths can coexist, why pessimism has no predictive advantage, and why agency, not certainty, is what leaders actually need right now.This is Part One of two conversations. In Part Two, we'll dive deeper into the ideas in Tamar's book. Timecodes00:00 Introduction02:00 From Oxford to Japan: An unplanned path08:00 Why multiple truths can coexist13:00 Retail as "the sharp end of consumption"21:00 Selfridges: From icon to cautionary tale28:00 "It's not about being right, it's about being ready"37:00 How scenario planning saved supermarkets in COVID44:00 Herman Kahn and the origins of scenario planning47:00 Why the book is called "Could"50:00 "Pessimism has no predictive advantage"55:00 Agency comes with accountabilitySocialsLinkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamarkasriel/Website https://www.tamarkasriel.com/LinksCould: The Smart Thinking Handbook for When Nothing Is Certain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Visibility is a superpower for leaders—but building it authentically can feel challenging. On this episode, Surbhi Gupta, host of The Visibility Equation and seasoned product leader, sits down with Lexy Franklin, CEO & Founder of Sidebar, to explore how leaders can own their narrative, amplify their impact, and connect with their authentic selves.Lexy shares practical strategies on building visibility, overcoming public speaking anxiety, nurturing relationships, and navigating the leadership journey. Together, they dive into inspiring stories, actionable insights, and the realities behind professional growth at leadership levels

Start your free Solution-Focused  3-day training here: https://www.thefocusedmindset.com/leadwithhopechallenge  Your frame of mind matters and in this episode Cher talks about why that is true. Find out more about the significance of mindset in shaping our communication and personal growth. She emphasizes the importance of adopting a growth mindset, the power of neuroplasticity, and the need to adjust our mental settings to foster better communication and relationships. Through personal anecdotes and insights, Cher illustrates how our beliefs and experiences frame our mindset and how we can choose to shift our perspectives to embrace uncertainty and redefine hope. You want to have meaningful conversations, but relationships are complicated, and opportunities are missed. This is why I created the three-day conversation navigation challenge, and you can now join for free with this link.  ALSO, you will get a 50% discount code for my Conversation Navigation Bundle that will give you both audio and video training and two courses and my book 30 Days to Higher Hopes sent to you.  TEDx: How to Lead with Hope: Solution Focused Conversation Navigation https://youtu.be/Am3ZoF53BS0?si=ZaflEtnhsdjgJ2oN Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Focused Mindset 01:32 The Power of Mindset in Communication 05:53 Neuroplasticity and the Flexibility of Our Mind 08:38 Understanding the Frame of Mind 16:04 Shifting Mindsets Through Experience 26:34 Choosing a Mindset That Serves Us 31:37 Embracing Uncertainty and Hope  Related podcast episodes to learn more:  Solution Focused Possibilites: Uncertainty and hope with Fred Ehresmann  TEDx Change your mindset, change the game Alia Crum  Mel Robins Podcast simple mindset shifts that transfer your body with Alia Crum Instagram: Cher Kretz The Focused Mindset Podcast https://www.instagram.com/cherkretz_thefocusedmindset/ TikTok: @Cher Kretz The Focused Mindset https://www.tiktok.com/@cherkretz?lang=en Takeaways Mindset is crucial for effective communication. A growth mindset allows for new perspectives. Neuroplasticity enables us to change our thought patterns. Curiosity leads to better understanding and communication. Our frame of mind shapes our beliefs and experiences. We can choose to shift our mindset intentionally. Transformative experiences can change our outlook on life. It's important to adapt to change rather than resist it. What we focus on influences our motivation and actions. Redefining hope involves embracing uncertainty. Tip Jar:  Your generous support helps me create more free resources and keep this podcast going strong. Thank you. https://thefocusedmindset.ck.page/products/tips-4-cher      

Fluent Fiction - Dutch: Embracing Uncertainty: A New Year's Eve Journey on the Canals Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2025-12-30-08-38-20-nl Story Transcript:Nl: Het was een koude winteravond in de Jordaan.En: It was a cold winter evening in the Jordaan.Nl: De straten waren verlicht met twinkelende kerstlampjes en de lucht was helder.En: The streets were lit with twinkling Christmas lights and the sky was clear.Nl: Bas stond te wachten bij de Prinsengracht, warm ingepakt in zijn dikke jas.En: Bas was waiting at the Prinsengracht, warmly wrapped in his thick coat.Nl: Naast hem stonden Sanne en Lotte, zijn trouwe metgezellen.En: Beside him stood Sanne and Lotte, his faithful companions.Nl: Sanne glimlachte hoopvol terwijl Lotte een beetje wiebelde van opwinding.En: Sanne smiled hopefully while Lotte wiggled a bit with excitement.Nl: "Het is bijna Oudjaarsavond," zei Sanne vrolijk.En: "It's almost New Year's Eve," said Sanne cheerfully.Nl: "Wat een perfecte avond voor een rondvaart."En: "What a perfect evening for a boat tour."Nl: Bas knikte, maar in zijn gedachten was het een chaos.En: Bas nodded, but in his thoughts, it was chaos.Nl: Terug uit de universiteit voelde hij zich verloren.En: Back from university, he felt lost.Nl: Hij wist niet welke richting hij op moest gaan na zijn studie.En: He didn't know which direction to take after his studies.Nl: Filosofie gaf hem vele vragen, maar geen antwoorden.En: Philosophy gave him many questions, but no answers.Nl: De boot kwam aan en de drie vrienden stapten aan boord.En: The boat arrived, and the three friends boarded.Nl: Het was een prachtige oude salonboot, warm van binnen en met ramen van waaruit je de hele stad kon zien.En: It was a beautiful old salon boat, warm inside with windows from which you could see the entire city.Nl: De lichten van de straten en de weerspiegelingen op het water waren betoverend.En: The street lights and reflections on the water were enchanting.Nl: "Bas, maak je niet zo druk," zei Lotte terwijl ze zich tegen hem aan nestelde.En: "Bas, don't worry so much," said Lotte as she snuggled up to him.Nl: "Het leven is een avontuur.En: "Life is an adventure.Nl: Kijk maar naar mij!En: Just look at me!Nl: Soms weet ik ook niet wat de volgende stap is, maar dat maakt het juist spannend."En: Sometimes I also don't know what the next step is, but that's what makes it exciting."Nl: Sanne, altijd de realist, voegde toe: "Neem je tijd, Bas.En: Sanne, always the realist, added: "Take your time, Bas.Nl: Je hoeft niet altijd alles te weten.En: You don't always have to know everything.Nl: Kijk om je heen.En: Look around you.Nl: Er zijn zoveel mogelijkheden."En: There are so many possibilities."Nl: De boot gleed langs oude grachtenpanden, elk met een verhaal.En: The boat glided past old canal houses, each with a story.Nl: Bas keek naar de voorbijgaande huizen en voelde een zekere rust over zich komen.En: Bas looked at the passing houses and felt a certain peace come over him.Nl: Misschien hadden Sanne en Lotte gelijk.En: Maybe Sanne and Lotte were right.Nl: Misschien hoefde hij niet alles uit te stippelen.En: Maybe he didn't have to plan everything out.Nl: Plotseling verscheen er een lichtflits boven het kanaal.En: Suddenly, a flash of light appeared above the canal.Nl: Het was middernacht, en vuurwerk verlichtte de lucht.En: It was midnight, and fireworks lit up the sky.Nl: Kleurrijke vonken spiegelden op het donkere water.En: Colorful sparks mirrored on the dark water.Nl: Sanne en Lotte klapten in hun handen van plezier en Bas zuchtte diep.En: Sanne and Lotte clapped their hands in delight and Bas sighed deeply.Nl: "Misschien," begon hij, terwijl hij zijn blik op de lichten richtte, "misschien is het oké om niet alles te weten.En: "Maybe," he began, as he fixed his gaze on the lights, "maybe it's okay not to know everything.Nl: Misschien is het ook mooi om niet vast te zitten in één pad."En: Maybe it's also beautiful not to be stuck on one path."Nl: Lotte gaf hem een duwtje.En: Lotte gave him a nudge.Nl: "Precies!En: "Exactly!Nl: Onzekerheid is alleen eng als je het toelaat."En: Uncertainty is only scary if you let it be."Nl: De vuurwerkshow stopte en de boot maakte een laatste bocht terug naar het dok.En: The firework show stopped, and the boat made one last turn back to the dock.Nl: De stilte die volgde was tastbaar, maar het voelde bevrijdend voor Bas.En: The silence that followed was palpable, but it felt liberating for Bas.Nl: Hij keek naar zijn vrienden, wetend dat hij met hun steun een nieuwe start kon maken.En: He looked at his friends, knowing that with their support, he could make a new start.Nl: Terwijl ze uitstapten, voelde Bas zich lichter.En: As they disembarked, Bas felt lighter.Nl: Het nieuwe jaar stond voor de deur, en met frisse moed omhelsde hij de mogelijkheden die wachtten.En: The new year was just around the corner, and with renewed courage, he embraced the possibilities that awaited.Nl: De Jordaan was in volle feeststemming.En: The Jordaan was in full festive swing.Nl: Bas, Sanne en Lotte mengden zich in de vreugdevolle menigte, klaar om een nieuw begin te vieren, ieder op hun eigen unieke manier.En: Bas, Sanne, and Lotte mingled with the joyful crowd, ready to celebrate a new beginning, each in their own unique way.Nl: Wanneer de klok middernacht sloeg, voelde Bas eindelijk de rust die hij zochten had.En: When the clock struck midnight, Bas finally felt the peace he had been seeking.Nl: Niet door alles te weten, maar door de schoonheid van het niet-weten te omarmen.En: Not by knowing everything, but by embracing the beauty of not knowing. Vocabulary Words:twinkling: twinkelendewrapped: ingepaktfaithful: trouwecompanions: metgezellenchaos: chaosglided: gleedenchanting: betoverendsnuggled: nesteldepossibilities: mogelijkhedencanal: grachtpeace: rustcertainty: zekerheidunplanned: uitstippelenfireworks: vuurwerkmirrored: spiegeldendelight: pleziernudge: duwtjeuncertainty: onzekerheidpalpable: tastbaarliberating: bevrijdendmingled: mengdencrowd: menigteembracing: omarmenscary: engrenewed: frissecourage: moedawaited: wachttenfestive: feeststemmingrealist: realistzigzag: bocht

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

Does the idea that your relationship could one day end send you into a spiral of anxiety? Do you tend to ruminate over worst case scenarios - panicking, then feeling momentary relief, only to find a new thing to worry about a few days later?Do you fear being left or cheated on, and can't stop that fear from getting in the way of the happy relationship you could be experiencing right now?If so - this episode is for YOU!I'm talking all about embracing uncertainty and offering practical tips for stopping rumination and gently opening up to the unknown.Mentioned in the episode:Dealing with uncertainty / Handling 'What if...' thoughts resourceEmail me about 1:1 coaching in the New Year - rebecca@rebeccaorecoaching.com

Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? Send us a text message!This episode was originally published on Bitcoin For Millennials with Bram Kanstein on 23 May 2024:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XosjkRc2FA0Jeremy Cline is a seasoned coach with a passion for Bitcoin, who helps professionals and business owners to transform their careers and personal lives for sustainable, long-term success and well-being. As the host of the 'Change Work Life' podcast, he talks with individuals who have redefined their career trajectories and explores practical changes anyone can make to achieve a more fulfilling work-life experience.→ Follow Jeremy on https://x.com/changeworklife→ Book a FREE coaching session with Jeremy: https://changeworklife.com/bram/

In this episode, Prince EA discusses the importance of embracing uncertainty as he delves into the key to true intimacy and connection in a chaotic world. He explores what it means to be truly present, mindful, living consciously, and how daily choices shape our lives. Prince EA shares his personal experiences with depression and healing through spirituality, science, and creative expression. The conversation explores meditation, the value of not knowing, and the power of community and self-inquiry in overcoming challenges, ultimately offering hope and practical tools for living a more conscious, fulfilling life. Exciting News!!!Coming in March 2026, my new book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life is now available for pre-orders!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Key Takeaways: Mindfulness and its significance in daily life The concept of conscious living versus being on autopilot The parable of the two wolves representing fear and love The impact of habits on personal development and mental health Personal experiences with depression and the importance of self-awareness The role of spirituality and science in understanding mental health The importance of social support and community in recovery from depression Different meditation practices and their benefits The distinction between “insane” and “unsane” mindsets The value of curiosity and openness in relationships and personal growth For full show notes,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠click here⁠⁠⁠!⁠ Connect with the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheOneYouFeedPod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ By purchasing products and/or services from our sponsors, you are helping to support The One You Feed and we greatly appreciate it. Thank you! This episode is sponsored by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Uncommon Goods ⁠⁠⁠⁠has something for everyone – you'll find thousands of new gift ideas that you won't find anywhere else, and you'll be supporting artists and small, independent businesses. To get 15% off your next gift, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠UNCOMMONGOODS.com/FEED⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Post your job for free at linkedin.com/1youfeed. Terms and conditions apply. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Persona Nutrition ⁠⁠⁠⁠delivers science-backed, personalized vitamin packs that make daily wellness simple and convenient. In just minutes, you get a plan tailored to your health goals. No clutter, no guesswork. Just grab-and-go packs designed by experts. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠PersonaNutrition.com/FEED⁠⁠⁠⁠ today to take the free assessment and get your personalized daily vitamin packs for an exclusive offer — get 40% off your first order. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Therapy ⁠⁠⁠⁠– Whatever challenges you're facing, Grow Therapy is here to help. Sessions average about $21 with insurance, and some pay as little as $0, depending on their plan. (Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plans. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠growtherapy.com/feed ⁠⁠⁠⁠today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠AGZ⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Start taking your sleep seriously with AGZ. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠drinkag1.com/feed⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a FREE Welcome Kit with the flavor of your choice that includes a 30 day supply of AGZ and a FREE frother. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the fastest path to clarity isn't a plan, but a choice about who you'll be in the next moment?If you're outwardly “successful” yet feel stuck, drained by uncertainty, or trapped in the “someday I'll be happy” loop, this conversation with strategist and author Hussein Hallak reframes mastery as a living practice: a dance between being and doing, where you define success on your terms and let your thoughts, words, and actions flow from that choice.Learn a practical way to embrace uncertainty, so it fuels momentum instead of anxiety.Discover the powerful difference between decisions (data-driven) and choices (identity-driven) to end paralysis and act with integrity.Replace borrowed definitions of success with your own, aligning mindset, skill set, and tool set to create meaning now, not “someday.”Press play to learn how to make identity-aligned choices today and turn uncertainty into a catalyst for a happier, more intentional life.˚KEY POINTS AND TIMESTAMPS:01:54 - Introducing Hussein Hallak and his background03:15 - The defining moment that shaped his view of life mastery04:48 - What life mastery means and the dance between being and doing09:26 - Why life mastery is a “dark art”12:34 - Embracing uncertainty and the mindset of a realistic dreamer18:34 - Compassion, experimentation, and the power of choice22:25 - The difference between choice and decision26:08 - The “someday symptom” and redefining success29:00 - Hussein's message to his younger self and final reflections34:37 - Closing thoughts and parting message˚MEMORABLE QUOTE:"Go all out, like be more yourself than you've ever been. Everything's going to be fine."˚VALUABLE RESOURCES:Hussein's website: https://www.husseinhallak.com/˚Coaching with Agi: https://personaldevelopmentmasterypodcast.com/mentor˚

Join Dr. Alisa Whyte in a transformative episode of “Mindset Mastery Moments” as she engages in a profound conversation with Hussein Hallack, entrepreneur, global thought leader, and author of The Dark Art of Life Mastery.In this insightful episode, Hussein opens up about his personal and professional journey—building startups, navigating uncertainty, and redefining success through self-mastery. Together, he and Dr. Alisa explore the art of embracing life's unpredictability, the power of conscious choice, and how cultivating the right mindset can turn chaos into clarity.Hussein shares the lessons that shaped his philosophy on living fully in the present moment and mastering the mind as the foundation for true freedom and fulfillment. His reflections offer a rare blend of entrepreneurial wisdom, mindfulness, and life philosophy that will inspire listeners to embrace their own challenges as opportunities for transformation.This episode is an invitation to shift your perspective—to see uncertainty not as something to fear, but as a gateway to growth, courage, and purpose.Connect with Hussein Hallack

Scott Stirrett, the inspiring entrepreneur and author, graces us with his presence to unravel the wisdom behind his latest book, "The Uncertainty Advantage: Launching Your Career in an Era of Rapid Change." Scott candidly shares personal battles with anxiety, OCD, burnout, and imposter syndrome, revealing how vulnerability and storytelling can transform uncertainty into a powerful tool for growth. Through Scott's lens, we explore the idea that embracing the unknown can unlock untapped potential and drive both personal and professional success.We tackle the pressing issue of burnout, distinguishing it from typical stress and uncovering how mindfulness can be a key player in managing it. Scott and I dive into practical strategies that help identify burnout's root causes, often hidden in misalignment with personal values or toxic environments, and offer actionable advice on mitigating its effects. For those skeptical about mindfulness, we share simple practices to integrate reflection into daily life, helping build resilience and safeguard mental health amidst chaos.As the world of work evolves, the conversation shifts toward the future, where skills like collaboration and communication become indispensable. We discuss how embracing intelligent failures and risk-taking leads to success, highlighting the myth of the singular big risk and emphasizing the importance of a strong support network. Leaders will find valuable insights on fostering a culture that thrives in uncertainty, celebrating both achievements and failures, and making informed decisions with limited data. This episode is packed with enriching perspectives on navigating uncertainty with confidence and compassion.What You'll Learn- How to embrace and leverage uncertainty for personal and professional growth- Unpacking mindfulness for skeptics- Strategies for conquering burnout and maintaining well-being - Insights into mastering intelligent risk-taking- The power and practice of self-compassion- Strategies for maximizing team clarity, alignment, and trustPodcast Timestamps(00:00) – A Personal Window into the Uncertainty Advantage(08:03) – The Role of Mindfulness in Managing Burnout(14:55) – The Power of Self-Compassion in for Navigating Uncertainty(18:45) – Dealing with Impostor Syndrome(27:02) – The Upside of Stress(35:24) – Failure as a Path to Success(41:58) – How to Build Resilient and Adaptable Teams|Connect with Scott Stirrett:Website: https://www.scottstirrett.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottstirrett/Buy the Book: https://www.scottstirrett.com/the-uncertainty-advantageSubstack: https://scottstirrett.substack.com/archiveKEYWORDSPositive Leadership, Group Dynamics, Team Success, Navigating Uncertainty, Managing Burnout, Practicing Mindfulness, Increasing Resilience, Stress Management, Dealing with Imposter Syndrome, The Power of Vulnerability, Emotional Regulation, Anti-Fragility, RULER, Intelligent Failures, Self-Compassion Support, Adaptability, CEO Success

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3727: Benjamin P. Hardy explains how transformative growth doesn't come from incremental progress but from bold leaps that stretch your identity and actions far beyond your comfort zone. He shows how reframing your goals, embracing uncertainty, and acting decisively can unlock breakthroughs that radically change both your personal and professional trajectory. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/the-mission/how-to-make-quantum-leaps-personally-and-professionally-cfcae58948c1 Quotes to ponder: "Quantum leaps can happen when you stop trying to incrementally improve, and instead change your approach entirely." "Your current circumstances don't determine where you can go, they merely determine where you start." "Massive change requires massive action, but it begins with shifting your identity to match the future you want." Episode references: The Magic of Thinking Big: https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Thinking-Big-David-Schwartz/dp/0671646788 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices