Podcasts about listening skills

I received a touching email the other day that got me thinking about how I want to be remembered when my time on earth comes to an end. The email is a brief and beautiful story from one of my favorite authors that I share in today's show. My guess is that after you hear it, you will want to reflect on how you want to be remembered too. But before we get into today's episode, here's what this podcast is all about. Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, you've come to the right place. Here you'll discover practical principles you can use to experience the life-giving relationships you were made for. I'm your host, John Certalic, award-winning author and relationship coach, here to help you find more joy in the relationships God designed for you. To access all past and future episodes, go to the bottom of this page to the yellow "Subscribe" button, then enter your name and email address in the fields above it. The episodes are organized chronologically and are also searchable by topics, categories, and keywords. The author of one of my all-time favorite books One of the top five books I've ever read is Quiet - The Power of Introverts in A World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. I've mentioned the book in previous episodes, and I think at some point I should do a deeper dive review of it. She has a new book that came out late last year in 2022 that is also worthy of a review, Bittersweet - How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole. I'll have links to both books in the show notes. With two books under her belt, and online courses she developed, Susan Cain also started a weekly email newsletter, which I signed up for. Sign up for my own weekly email newsletter As a side note here, many of the listeners to this podcast also get my weekly email which gives a brief description of that week's episode. If you're not getting this yourself every Wednesday, and would like to, go to johncertalic.com, scroll a few inches down the page, and under “Actionable relationship insights delivered weekly to your inbox,” enter your name and email address. Okay. Back to Susan Cain and the story she tells in the recent email she wrote. Here's what she said: On my way to tennis a few weeks ago, I realized I forgot my water bottle at home. I pulled into a gas station and asked if they sold water. "We have no store," said the attendant. Then he looked at me, went to his office, and came back with two bottles of Poland Spring. I pulled out my wallet. “No, no,” he said, waving off my dollars with a wistful smile. “You have the face of my mother.” The man wasn't young; he wore a turban and spoke with a heavy accent; he was far from his childhood home. I imagine it's been many years since he last saw his mother. I drove away with tears in my eyes. The gift he gave me that day was precious as water itself. This is why we're alive – for moments like this… What a beautiful line, This is why we're alive – for moments like this… I'll come back to it in a little bit Her encounter with the gas station attendant reminded me of a similar event I experienced last summer. A similar encounter My wife Janet and I wanted to get together with our three local grandkids, so we offered to take them out to dinner one evening. They wanted to go to Mod Pizza. It's one of those chain restaurants where you go through a line and they make a personal pizza for each person. It looks like an assembly line where they add any of the ingredients you want onto your pizza, and then they stick it in a blazing stone oven. You go sit down at a table and they call you when your individual pizza is done and out of the oven. So there we were in line, Janet, our three adult-size grandkids all taller than her, and me at the end of the line. As we waited, we joked around with each other until it was our turn to order. One by one each person in our party told the pizza preparer the ingredients they each wanted on their pizza. The person behind the counter making our pizzas was a friendly sort in her mid-20s; working a part-time job was my guess. I was last in line and when it came to my turn to order, she looked up at me from the last pizza she had just finished, smiled, and said in a surprised and cheerful tone. “Oh, you look just like my father.” I smiled back at her and quickly bantered with her saying, “I bet he is a very handsome man." She paused briefly, and then smiled again and said wistfully, “Yeah, he was. He died 6 months ago. You remind me of him.” A reflective moment I don't remember what I said next. Did I say “Oh, I'm sorry for your loss?” I don't remember. I was so taken by her smile and the nostalgic expression on her face that spoke volumes about her relationship with her father. Here is a young woman who loved her father, who felt loved by him, and who was so very grateful for this loving relationship they shared. It was all over her face. I enjoy being with our grandkids every time we're together. But all I could of the rest of this evening was this 20-something pizza preparer. Her smile told me her father must have been a good man, a good father. It was a bittersweet moment to be thought of  like him. I felt honored. It made me wonder how I'll be remembered by my wife and kids, and grandkids when I'm gone. What will they think of me 6 months after the funeral? Will they smile fondly as the pizza preparer did to me? “This is why we're alive - for moments like this.” Earlier I mentioned that I was taken by the line from Susan Cain's email that I quoted, “This is why we're alive - for moments like this.” We all leave something of ourselves behind, intentionally or not. Something of ourselves that blesses people and invokes gratitude, or sadly, sometimes just the opposite. We're connected with each other more than we realize. I would like to be remembered for how I related to people. Was I kind to others? Did I bring out the best in people? Was I humble? Above all, did I reflect well the character of God, which is why I was brought into the world in the first place? It's why you and Susan Cain were brought into the world, as well. It's the best way to be remembered after we've left this life. Sometimes that's all we need to know about who we are and how we are to live. This is why we're alive - for moments like this. Another connection point Getting back to Susan Cain's email and her story about the gas station attendant, she said If you've had an experience like this (or a distant cousin to this), I would love to hear about it. (I read every single one of your e-mails, and do my best to reply to some of them.) So I wrote back to her and summarized the story I just told you about the pizza preparer who said I reminded her of her father who died six months earlier. A week later I received an email from a person by the name of Renee, who indicated she was Susan Cain's chief of Staff. Her email said, Dear John --  Susan read and loved your letter. It gave her goosebumps!  She asked me to tell you she was so happy you wrote to her and that you're part of our community. We wish you the very best!  — R My best, Renee Here's another connection. My mother's name was Renee. She died 10 years ago. So what does all this mean for YOU? How can you use what you've heard today to help you find more joy in the relationships in your life? I think God used the 20-something pizza preparer to cause me to reflect on how I want to be remembered. I thought her father is someone I'd like to be like. Where 6 months after my funeral, the family will be out for pizza and they'll see someone that reminds them of me. And it will bring a smile to everyone's face. I can't control what their response will be after I'm gone. What I can control now is my behavior, attitude, and values which gives me the best chance of being remembered well. The same is true for you, too. How do you want to be remembered? It's not too late to start being the person you want to be. And if you're about 80% there, rejoice and be glad in the progress you've made. Trust God to help you with the other 20% as you get closer to the finish line. If you forget everything else from today's episode, here's the one thing I hope you remember It's wise to think now about how you will be remembered. You still have time to become the best version of yourself that will make people smile after you're gone. Closing Before we wrap up today's show, if you'd like some input regarding a relationship question or issue you're dealing with, I'd love to hear from you. Just go to JohnCertalic.com/question to leave me a voicemail. If you'd rather put your question in writing, enter it in the Comment box at the bottom of the show notes. I'll do my best to answer your question in a future episode. In closing, I'd also love to hear any thoughts you have about today's episode. I hope your thinking was stimulated by today's show, to think about how you want to be remembered, and what you might need to do to make that happen. For when you think and reflect upon things like this, it will help you experience the joy of relationships God desires for you. Because after all, You Were Made for This. Well, that's it for today. If there's someone in your life you think might like to hear what you just heard, please forward this episode on to them. Scroll down to the bottom of the show notes and click on one of the options in the yellow “Share This” bar. And don't forget to spread a little relational sunshine around the people you meet this week. Spark some joy for them. Remind them of someone good in their life. And I'll see you again next time. Goodbye for now. Other episodes or resources related to today's shows 130: Be Thankful We Can Make Memories for People 021: The Most Important Relationship of All Susan Cain's books Bittersweet - How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole Quiet - The Power of Introverts in A World That Can't Stop Talking Last week's episode 195: Words Matter All past and future episodes:   JohnCertalic.com Our Sponsor You Were Made for This is sponsored by Caring for Others, a missionary care ministry. The generosity of people like you supports our ministry. It enables us to continue this weekly podcast and other services we provide to missionaries around the world.

“One of life's little jokes: When you resist someone, they tend to end up in bed with you at night.” Ariel and Shya Kane Ever find yourself rehashing your day rather than getting to sleep? Tune in to Being Here and make room in bed for partners you prefer.

There are a multitude of factors that go into achieving success. But when it comes down to it, how you get there is less important than how you treat and interact with the people you meet along the way. This week Adrian Rodriguez discusses the importance of respecting your leadership and understanding how your behavior impacts others.   How do we exhibit self-discipline to our team? Here's what you'll learn in this episode: How to make the next best right decision The importance of respecting your people How to handle conflicts with your leadership Why you should communicate with everything in writing   Adrian Rodriguez is an accomplished healthcare professional with over 20 years of experience in pharmacy and quality management.   He began his career in healthcare at Baptist Medical Center (VBMC) in south Texas, where he first worked three years as a pharmacy technician in the central in-patient pharmacy filling unit-dose prescriptions and preparing Total Parental Nutrition bags for ICU patients.   By 2003, Mr. Rodriguez had completed both his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with a concentration in Microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin.   Between 2003 and 2009, Mr. Rodriguez worked in management roles for retail pharmacies such as Walgreens and Target, followed by a transition into an instructor at a local technical vocational college, where he taught anatomy and physiology, as well as prepared pharmacy technicians for their certification exam.   Mr. Rodriguez used this opportunity as an instructor to simultaneously enroll as a student himself at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he would earn his MBA in Finance and Strategic Management in 2009.   In 2021, Mr. Rodriguez accepted a position with Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company working as the head of Quality and Safety where in his words: "I have finally found a company whose strong leadership   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR    Other episodes you'll enjoy: C-Suite Goal Setting: How To Create A Roadmap For Your Career Success - http://bit.ly/3XwI55n Natalya Berdikyan: Investing in Yourself to Serve Others on Apple Podcasts -http://bit.ly/3ZMx8yw Questions to Guarantee You Accomplish Your Goals - http://bit.ly/3QASvymSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get ready for a special treat! In this episode, I talk with Cara Leopold, an English Teacher known as the Listening Expert. We covered a lot of topics, so this will be the first of two episodes with our conversation. The main theme of our conversation was building great listening skills in another language. In this first episode, we talk about the importance of listening when learning another language, including pronunciation, and what to do when you don't understand your colleagues in meetings.  Here are some gems from this episode:“People might think, “I spend most of my time speaking.” But listening is actually the skill that dominates. So by that logic, the foundation for also learning future languages should be listening.”“So what's really helped me to get fluent in French is observing what people say, understanding them, and then copying them.”“Notice the expressions that people keep using and then use them. You will sound more authentic because you'll be using what the people around you actually say, as opposed to what you read in a book or what you got out of a list of 100 idioms.”Tune in to get more valuable insights from Cara, so you'll understand more of what people say around you! The second part of our conversation will be released in the next episode. Read the transcript here. Join the Express to Impress community on LinkedIn.Please take a minute to rate and review the podcast.Original theme music by Lucas Knutter 

Dave A. from Antigua came into the rooms of AA with the motivation of impressing an ex-girlfriend that he had lost. He quickly realized that he needed recovery for himself and then found the rooms of CODA also. Dave actively works both AA and CODA and has found that he must do both to survive. He will be sharing on the Balancing Action that Listening has become for him in his recovery.Reco12 is an organization with the mission of learning and sharing the similarities of addiction of all kinds and gaining and sharing tools and hope from others who are walking a similar path. We come together from all places, faiths and backgrounds to gain tools and hope from others who are walking a similar path. Speakers from our past meetings have represented many fellowships and identify with addictions with such variety as alcoholism, drugs, food, sex, gambling, theft, co-dependency, and the anon groups, just to name a few.  Reco12 is a self-supporting service and we appreciate your help in keeping us working our Step 12 in this manner. We gratefully accept contributions and effective today, we started a new subscription program called Reco12 Spearheads. Here is a little about the ideas behind the Reco12 Spearhead program: Reco12 also has some future plans to create other podcasts and services to assist the addict of any variety who still suffers or who is supporting those who still suffer.  Some of these ideas include:Recorded sponsoring resources on how to work with others.An on-demand, share-only open meeting.A paragraph-by-paragraph Big Book Roundtable podcast. If you would like to become a Reco12 Spearhead and help ... spearhead these or any other missions that you think would fit in the Reco12 family of resources, please subscribe.To learn more, go to https://www.buzzsprout.com/1117700/support and join us on this Road of Happy Destiny. Or you can click the link to PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/reco12)  in the chat of the live meeting or in the show notes of the podcast.  This is meeting number 148.Resources from this meeting:  Co-Dependency books by Melody BeattieCrossroads Treatment Center - AntiguaAlcoholics AnonymousCODACODA Meetings Wednesday and Sunday at 7:00 pm EST (Zoom Meeting)To join our private Facebook group or our WhatsApp group and even to subscribe on YouTube, the links are below:  WhatsApp – Send email to get added to reco12@gmail.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/291099645261990 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNHToLwCJhBB1Qqs10OntzgOutro music is “Standing Still” by Cory Ellsworth and Randy Kartchner, performed byShop consciously, Get rewarded Scan, Discover, and Get rewarded for buying products better aligned to your unique valuesSupport the showPrivate Facebook GroupInstagram PageBecome a Reco12 Spearhead (Monthly Supporter)PayPalYouTube ChannelReco12 WebsiteEmail: reco12pod@gmail.com to join WhatsApp Group

Self-discipline is a learned skill that can be used in numerous aspects of life. On this episode Deborah shares the importance holding yourself accountable to the actions you desire. Self-discipline allows you to overcome obstacles on your route to obtaining your goals. She also discusses why leaders must re-prioritize personal relationships and passions in order to lead their teams authentically.   How do we exhibit self-discipline to our team? Here's what you'll learn in this episode: How to embody self-discipline in leadership Why you should prioritize your passion and relationships How to align your goals with actions How to hold yourself accountable to what you really want   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR    Other episodes you'll enjoy: C-Suite Goal Setting: How To Create A Roadmap For Your Career Success - http://bit.ly/3XwI55n Natalya Berdikyan: Investing in Yourself to Serve Others on Apple Podcasts -http://bit.ly/3ZMx8yw Questions to Guarantee You Accomplish Your Goals - http://bit.ly/3QASvymSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's program, I'm going to share three listener responses to recent episodes. I'm doing so because your words matter to me, and to our other listeners, as well. Keep listening, and you'll pick up an idea or two to try with your relationships. Be sure to stick around to the end to hear a story of how a listener applied what she heard in one of our recent shows that made a difference in her life. But before we get into today's episode, here's what this podcast is all about. Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, you've come to the right place. Here you'll discover practical principles you can use to experience the life-giving relationships you were made for. I'm your host, John Certalic, award-winning author and relationship coach, here to help you find more joy in the relationships God designed for you. A listener responds to “The Underachievers Bible Reading Plan for 2023.” The first listener response I'm sharing is in reference to episode 193, “ The Underachievers Bible Reading Plan for 2023.” It comes from Randy, a listener from Pittsburgh. He writes: “Good morning John, I listened this morning to this week's You Were Made for This. I appreciated how you described an approach to engaging with scripture. It reminded me of what I've been doing for the last year, since bringing Tiana into our family. (Tiana is their new family dog) As I am reading passages, I place a mark when I've completed a section. I also have my stack of prayer cards I use as my bookmark. “ Thanks for your feedback, Randy. I should add that in the show notes for that week's episode, I included a photo of me reading the Bible, with our new cat, Father Patrick O'Malley, sitting on my lap. So I think that may have reminded Randy of doing the same thing with their dog. And good luck with your new pal, Randy! Words matter in the Bible - Listen, rather than read them Another listener, Darlene, also offered her take on the same episode about Bible reading. She offered a different approach that I will have to try. Darlene writes, “This is the second year I've been doing the Daily Audio Bible (DAB) with Brian, Jill, and their daughter, China Hardin.  Last year I decided to listen to the chronological reading with Jill and China. That was my first chronological experience. Very interesting. We didn't get to the New Testament until October. “This year I am doing the read-through with Brian Hardin who reads portions of the OT, NT, PS, and PROV each day.  He is excellent with his brief overviews after each daily reading. What I also like is that every week he reads from a different translation. “I think I've read through the Bible once. It is a challenge not to get behind. The audio is great as I can play it each morning while getting ready.” Thank you, Darlene, for your comments about reading the 66 books of the Bible in chronological order, and also for the idea of listening to an audio version of the Bible. I'll have a link to the Daily Audio Bible near the end of the show notes. It includes a free app for your mobile device and a web player for your computer. How words matter to this listener The last listener feedback I'm sharing with you today comes from Rosy Scott in response to episode 192, “Word of the Year for 2023 - Read” As I read her comments, you'll see how words matter a great deal to her. Listen to the impact they had on her recently. Rosy writes, “John, “I really like the simplicity of your word of the year. In past years I've chosen a motivating word, but within months could not even remember what I had picked. “I listened to this episode twice in the past two days and have landed on my own simple word for 2023. This year I am choosing ‘words' for my own word of the year. “Words are a renewable resource that cost me so little to share. When I am generous with them, they often brighten my own soul as much as the recipient. “It is surprising how often taking a chance and offering the gift of words brings a positive result far greater than the painless effort. “Words have the power to give life and cause pain. I have experienced both this year and can testify that when I share words of kindness, there is no better medicine for my own wounds or loneliness. Words matter with strangers “Just this morning as I began a morning jog down a familiar street, an unexpected stranger waved. Then she called out to me with a smile ‘enjoy your run!' “Those simple but generous words fueled me to stop two blocks later to talk for just a minute with another person I've occasionally seen walking her 3-legged dog for the last many months. “Thanks to words, both of us parted with smiles in our hearts as those easy sixty seconds, combined with some previously shared words, pointed us toward potential friendship. “Thanks to your words John, I am going to be more intentional about using words to connect with both strangers and friends. “And thanks to lessons I learned the hard way in 2022, treat words with the healthy fear and respect they deserve. “Perhaps 2023 will become my year to use words for healing and repair, instead of destruction which comes so much easier than I am often willing to admit. Until the damage has already been done. “Thank you for your generosity with words via your podcast and weekly email! Blessings to you in the coming year…” And thank you, Rosy, for your beautifully written words. I love the examples you give of their power to bless people. May you, and the rest of us, hear kind, empowering, and compassionate WORDS spoken to us this year. And may we speak these same kinds of words ourselves to others who need to hear them. Here's the main takeaway I hope you remember from today's episode Words matter. Our words to others and their words to us. They have the power to bless or destroy. Be careful what we speak, hear, and read. Use them wisely and with care to bless others and ourselves. Treasure the truth we find in them. Closing Before we wrap up today's show, if you'd like some input regarding a relationship question or issue you're dealing with, I'd love to hear from you. Just go to the contact page on our website, johncertalic.com to let me know what's on your mind. I'll do my best to answer your question in a future episode. In closing, I'd also love to hear any thoughts you have about today's episode. Just scroll down to the bottom of the show notes and enter them in the Leave a Comment box. I hope your thinking was stimulated by today's show, to treasure the truth we find in the words we speak, and those we hear. Because words matter. When you do this, it will help you experience the joy of relationships God designed for you. You Were Made for This, as you know by now. Well, that's it for today. If there's someone in your life you think might like to hear what you just heard, please forward this episode on to them. Scroll down to the bottom of the show notes and click on one of the options in the yellow “Share This” bar. And don't forget to spread a little relational sunshine around the people you meet this week. Spark some joy for them. And I'll see you again next time. Goodbye for now. Other episodes or resources related to today's shows Daily Audio Bible - https://dailyaudiobible.com/ Episode 139: Why Should I Listen to This Podcast? Episode 021: The Most Important Relationship of All Last week's show 194: Martin Luther King, jr. - The Silence of Our Friends All past and future episodes: JohnCertalic.com/podcast Our Sponsor You Were Made for This is sponsored by Caring for Others, a missionary care ministry. The generosity of people like you supports our ministry. It enables us to continue this weekly podcast and other services we provide to missionaries around the world.

Hearing what someone has to say doesn't hurt. Join the Kanes in Being Here and strengthen your ability to listen, regardless of the circumstances.

Leadership is a journey of personal growth and development. It requires us to think differently, act differently and impact others in ways we may not have thought possible before. On this episode Giovanna Arias shares how her organization implements strategies for sustainable change.   So how do we make leadership look easy? Here's what you'll learn in this episode: How to lead visionary change in your organization Why you should never take no for an answer How to maximize your transferrable skills How to be in alignment with your values and beliefs (and those of the organization)   Giovanna is a Strategy and Operations leader who has successfully spearheaded many impactful implementation projects throughout her career. She's brought visionary change to organizations in different sectors from Fortune 500 companies, to private sectors, and the U.S. Federal Government. She attributes her drive and success to her upbringing and desire for positive change. Throughout the years she's learned that to be the most effective leader and change contributor she's needed to be graceful under the most trying times (not always an easy task), focus less on communicating and more on listening and most importantly, surround herself with people who are inspired by challenges.   Giovanna has been invited to be the keynote speaker at leadership conferences and Finance Summits across the globe. Her candor and humor make her relatable and her ideas easy to implement.   You can connect with Giovanna in the following ways: Website: www.jujin.nyc Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/giovanna-arias   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR    Other episodes you'll enjoy: C-Suite Goal Setting: How To Create A Roadmap For Your Career Success - http://bit.ly/3XwI55n Natalya Berdikyan: Investing in Yourself to Serve Others on Apple Podcasts -http://bit.ly/3ZMx8yw Questions to Guarantee You Accomplish Your Goals - http://bit.ly/3QASvymSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The successful C-Suite leaders we look up to are always dreaming big. In order to become the best leader you truly can be, you need to start dreaming big. In this episode Deborah shares how to set yourself up for success in 2023 by expanding upon your current goals and daring to dream bigger. She also shares tips and strategies that help overing a mindset of self-doubt.   In this episode, you will learn the following:1. How to have a vision for your life and your business.2. How to set priorities and stick to them.3. Why first quarter goals are the easiest achieve and how to use it to your advantage.   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR    Other episodes you'll enjoy: C-Suite Goal Setting: How To Create A Roadmap For Your Career Success - http://bit.ly/3XwI55n Natalya Berdikyan: Investing in Yourself to Serve Others on Apple Podcasts - http://bit.ly/3ZMx8yw Questions to Guarantee You Accomplish Your Goals - http://bit.ly/3QASvymSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life can be frisky, flirty, and fun. Join Ariel and Shya in Being Here and let the moment light your fire!

Here in the US, the third Monday of January is a national holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, jr., the civil rights leader. I recently came across one of his quotes where he said “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. ” I've seen the truth of his comment played out several times in my life. It's what I talk about in today's episode because it speaks to a relational skill we would do well to master. But first, Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, you've come to the right place. Here you'll discover practical principles you can use to experience the life-giving relationships you were made for. I'm your host, John Certalic, award-winning author and relationship coach, here to help you find more joy in the relationships God designed for you. To access all past and future episodes, go to the bottom of this page, enter your name and email address, then click on the follow or subscribe button. The episodes are organized chronologically and are also searchable by topics, categories, and keywords. The day our pastor yelled at me When I first read the quote from Martin Luther King an incident popped up into my mind, like a jack-in-the-box that just sprung loose. It was the time the silence of my friends drowned out the words of my “enemy.” It happened the night the pastor of the church yelled at me. A deacon board meeting at church (we had no elder board at the time) A concern we talked about that evening was people leaving the church The 8 of us sat at several tables arranged in a horseshoe. I suggested we contact those leaving and ask why. Do exit interviews The pastor got angry, and while pounding his fist on a table said to me, “We don't need to do that. I know why people are leaving. It's families where the wife wears the pants in the family. Those are the people who are leaving the church!” His take on the problem was completely inaccurate. His anger caught me and everyone else off guard. I never considered him my “enemy.” But what struck me most about that evening and what I remember to this day was the “silence of my friends” sitting at that board meeting with me. Without regard to the pastor's analysis of the issue, which in my view was woefully inaccurate, no one said anything in the meeting. Notjhing about his yelling at me and pounding his fist on the table. Even if you agreed with the pastor's view, it was inappropriate to respond as he did. The silence of our friends No one said a word to him, or to me, and I felt like I was hanging in the wind because no one called the pastor out for his outburst Who are these people I thought? Are they that weak? Days latter an older man on the board, my father's age, did tell me privately that the pastor's reaction to my suggestion was totally inappropriate. But he said nothing at the meeting As I think about that night, I think about the times I've been weak myself in failing to speak the truth when someone needed defending. I can think of two occasions where I failed to stand up strongly enough for two different youth pastors in two different churches. Both of these guys were great youth pastors. In one case, the board was legalistic and intolerant of new ways of doing youth ministry, and in the other, the senior pastor was intimidated by how gifted his youth pastor was in relating to people, and in his preaching, which was superior to his own. Others who spoke for me when I couldn't speak for myself These examples of “the silence of our friends” reminds me of several times when people actually did stand up for me. When they spoke for me. As a high school student, an English teacher recognized that I was capable of higher-level academic work and advocated for me to be placed on a more advanced track. In my book, THEM, I write about a guidance counselor who was able to get financial aid for me to attend college 250 miles from home when I had no hope of ever getting any help. It's no exaggeration to say that what she did changed the course of my life. For the better. There are times in life when we could all use an advocate. And there are times when God presents us with opportunities to be an advocate for others. To speak on their behalf when they can't speak for themselves. Ending my silence to speak for those who couldn't A number of years ago I was at an annual meeting of the church we were attending. These are normally pretty dull affairs, at least for me. But in this particular meeting, there was a discussion about a missionary couple the church had been supporting for many years. The plan at this meeting was to stop supporting this couple because they were “retiring” and moving back to the US. People seemed in favor of this idea. But I knew this coupleI knew that their definition of “retiring” was to return back to the US and continue the Bible translation work they had been doing for people groups in Asia for several decades. They didn't need to be in Asia to do their work, but they still planned to travel back there on occasion. They were going to be working just as hard in the US as they were in Asia. I'm not one to speak up in meetings like this, but I did this time. I couldn't sit in silence while decisions were made about them. Fortunately, that original proposal was dropped, and their support continued. Speaking up for teenagers I was a teacher back in the ‘70s at a high school in a semi-rural area in S.E. Wisconsin Kids, mostly boys complained about the poor condition of the student parking lot behind the school. Lots of potholes. Suspension systems being ruined. It was a mess. The students voiced their complaints, but nothing was done to correct the problem My solution: check with the police and see if there is anything prohibiting parking along the highway in front of the school. If it's legal to park there, start doing that and see what happens. So that's what they did. It caught the attention of everyone. Within a couple of months, the city passed a “no parking” ordinance and put up signs along the highway in front of the school. Eventually, the parking lot was repaired. It brought me joy seeing these kids getting their voices heard. Their actions broke the silence of the school administration in ways their words could not. It's been decades since this happened and several years ago I happened to be driving past this old high school where I taught and saw that the “No Parking” signs are still there. So what does all this mean for YOU? It's just a couple of days past the Martin Luther King holiday here in the US, and it makes me wonder how the quote of his I mentioned in the beginning has been part of your experience. Where you remember not so much the words of your enemies as you do the silence of your friends. It also makes me wonder if you are anything like me, where your silence, is like mine. And it has kept you from speaking up for someone who can't speak for themself. Is there anyone you think God may want you to advocate for? We certainly are not to speak up about everything. And many times the wisest thing to do is to sit in our silence and watch what happens. It takes Godly wisdom to know when to speak, and when to remain silent. Here's the main of the episode I hope you take away with you Here in the week where we honor Martin Luther King, jr. let's take his words to heart and not become one of those he mentions in his statement, “We remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Let's pray for wisdom to know when, and how, to speak up and give voice to those who can't speak for themself. Closing Before we wrap up today's show, if you'd like some input regarding a relationship question or issue you're dealing with, I'd love to hear from you. Just go to JohnCertalic.com/question to leave me a voicemail. If you'd rather put your question in writing, just enter it in the "Leave a Comment" box at the bottom of the show notes. I'll do my best to answer your question in a future episode. In closing, I'd also love to hear any thoughts you have about today's episode. I hope your thinking was stimulated by today's show, enough to put into practice what you've just heard about speaking up for others who need you. For when you do, it will help you experience the joy of relationships God desires for you. Because after all, You Were Made for This. Well, that's it for today. If there's someone in your life you think might like to hear what you just heard, please forward this episode on to them. Scroll down to the bottom of the show notes. Then click on one of the options in the yellow “Share This” bar. And don't forget to spread a little relational sunshine around the people you meet this week. Spark some joy for them. And I'll see you again next time. Goodbye for now. Other episodes or resources related to today's shows 139: Why Should I Listen to This Podcast? 021: The Most Important Relationship of All THEM - The Richer Life Found in Caring for Others The place to access all past and future episode:  JohnCertalic.com Last week's episode 193: The Underachievers Bible Reading Plan for 2023 Our Sponsor You Were Made for This is sponsored by Caring for Others, a missionary care ministry. The generosity of people like you supports our ministry. It enables us to continue this weekly podcast and other services we provide to missionaries around the world.

Are you striving for success and happiness in your business? Natalya Berdikyan is here to share how Energy Management Transformation can help you achieve the fulfillment and contentment you desire.   In this episode, you will learn the following:1. What is the power of the networking, and how can it help us achieve our goals?2. Why is it critical for leaders to understand and manage their energy?3. How can we create a sense of fulfillment and joy regardless of external circumstances, and what are the steps we need to take to get there?   Natalya Berdikyan is a successful serial entrepreneur, avid traveler and CEO of Life By Design. Through her work, she helps individuals and organizations grow beyond borders and boundaries, increasing their energy, well-being and leadership ability. Natalia's journey has taken her to 6 different countries, 25 times in 25 years, and has enabled her to discover her true self by questioning the status quo and embracing change. Through her work, she helps people navigate through challenging situations in life and business, and encourages them to start with the who, the why, the what and the how to find the energy and fulfillment that comes with self-discovery. She helps her clients understand that they can take control of their lives and make a positive impact on the world.   You can connect with Natalya in the following ways: Website: www.lifebydesign-academy.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalyaberdikyan   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR    Other episodes you'll enjoy: C-Suite Goal Setting: How To Create A Roadmap For Your Career Success - http://bit.ly/3XwI55n Steven Blue: Silent Business Killers that Cause CEO Burnout - http://bit.ly/3WZWvuN Three Questions to Guarantee You Accomplish Your Goals - http://bit.ly/3QASvymSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Deborah shares the framework you need to create milestones on your journey to success. Listen in as Deborah reveals the common issues with goal-setting that can distract you from progress, how to find a clear path toward your next milestone, and how she's simplifying her own goals in the new year.   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week's episode, number 192, was about my pick for word for the year: Read. If you're not much of a reader and can only tackle one book this year, I suggest read the Bible. Some people follow a Bible Reading plan that gets them through the entire book in one year. But if you're an underachiever like me, I've got a more manageable, guilt-free way to read the Bible. Keep listening to learn what it is and how it could work for you. But before we get into all this, here's what this podcast is all about. Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, you've come to the right place. Here you'll discover practical principles you can use to experience the life-giving relationships you were made for. I'm your host, John Certalic, award-winning author and relationship coach, here to help you find more joy in the relationships God designed for you. To access all past and future episodes, go to the bottom of this page, enter your name and email address, then click on the follow or subscribe button. The episodes are organized chronologically and are also searchable by topics, categories, and keywords. Intimidated by Pat Boone I recently read a Wall Street Journal article about Pat Boone entitled “Last of the Hollywood Squares.” It was about how this actor, whom I'm guessing is about 420 years old by now, has capitalized on his squeaky-clean image throughout his career. He stands in stark contrast to the typical Hollywood actor that comes to mind these days. The article talked about Pat Boone's faith and that he has read through the entire Bible for each of the past 40 years. 40 Years! Yikes! Read through the Bible in a year People like this intimidate me. I've read through the entire Bible I think 3 times. But I'm clearly an underachiever when compared to Pat Boone. I followed a Bible reading plan that each day of the year included chapters from the old testament, the new testament, and the book of psalms. I would read the selected passages for the day, and then put a checkmark in the box next to that day's reading. I'm glad I did this. I saw themes and issues that repeated themselves that gave me insight as to what is important to God, which in turn showed me how I should then live. If you like feeling a sense of accomplishment, this type of plan works well. The downside to this reading plan for underachievers like me is that some days I'm just reading to be able to check off the box that I completed the task. Some days I was reading just to read, and not to draw closer to God and understand him better. That's the underachiever in me. Another downside, if this is the first time you're considering reading through the Bible in a year, is that we're already 11 days into the new year as of the date of this episode. It puts you 11 days behind most Bible reading plans. Another option But I have an alternative I'd like you to consider. Last summer I came across an idea from a Bible teacher I heard at a Christian family camp we've been going to for years. As an aside to whatever he was talking about that day, he said in passing, “If you want to get to know Jesus better, read just 3 chapters a day from the Gospels, and you'll finish all four of them in a month.” I started doing that on September 1, but by the middle of the month I got behind, and then on some days couldn't figure out where I ended the day before so I could start the next day's reading. As an underabhvier, this was not surprising. So I came up with a slightly different Bible reading plan. This one could work for you, too. My Underachievers Bible reading plan for 2023 is to still stick with just reading a portion of the four gospels every day this year. It will mean going over the four Gospels several times during the course of 2023. The difference between this plan and the one from the Bible teacher I heard last summer, is that sometimes I'll read 3 chapters in a day, sometimes 2, and maybe even 4 chapters. Plus, it's easier to keep track of. Here's how it works. Here's how it works Open your Bible and start reading the first complete chapter that begins on the page on your left. Continue reading onto the page on the right side. Start any new chapter that starts on the right-hand page, and don't stop until you've completed reading the chapter. This will usually mean turning the page, and finishing up that chapter on the next page on your left. You stop here for the day. Tomorrow, you pick up where you left off with a new complete chapter on the page on your left. It's rinse and repeat every day. For example, today I opened my Bible to the page where I placed the burgundy bookmark ribbon yesterday after finishing that day's reading. I'm in the Gospel of John at the moment. The left page continues the text from the end of John 12 from yesterday's reading. I started today's reading with the first complete chapter on the left-hand page, chapter 13. It continues onto the right page and ends there. Chapter 14 starts here, and then I turn the page to get to the rest of chapter 14, which ends in the middle of the page and where I stop for the day. I place my bookmark here, which tells me where I start the next day. So you start each day with a new complete chapter, and you end each day finishing a chapter. Using a bookmark eliminates the need to check off a box for a pre-determined reading for a particular day. If you're a box checker-offer, type, this approach may not work for you. But for underachievers like me, this bible reading plan works well for getting to know Jesus better. Here's what I've noticed I've been doing this for four months now, just reading through the four gospels multiple times as I've described. Here are a few things I've noticed in my reading. The story never gets old. It's like looking at a painting several times over a period of time and seeing something new each time you see it again. I've seen how much Jesus spoke against the religious leaders of the day and their hypocrisy. How they misled people and were out to hold onto the power they had over people How much Jesus loved people The lengths to which Jesus used simple stories to illustrate profound truths How a relationship with Jesus is not as hard as we make it. In John 6:28-29 a crowd of people who weren't quite sure what they thought of Jesus say to him. “…we want to perform God's work, too. What should we do? Jesus replies, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” Let that sink in for a minute. Religion at times makes it harder to get to know Jesus. I don't remember where in the gospels I read it, but there's a scene where the disciple are walking with Jesus around town and pointing out buildings to him. I find this humorous and wonder if the gospel writer saw it too, this guided tour telling Jesus what he was already well aware of. It made me chuckle. So what does all this mean for YOU? I've said it many times before that this podcast is all about finding joy in the relationships God designed for us. The most important relationship is our relationship with Jesus. Following a bible reading plan, any plan, helps nurture that relationship. You will find more joy in life the more you read about Jesus and what he tells you. He will be the most impactful person you can read about this year. Take time to discover more about Him this year, a little each day, following a bible reading plan. Here's the main idea I hope you take away from today's episode Reading through the whole Bible this year is one of the most enriching things you can do for yourself. But if this seems too daunting a task right now, give reading 2 or 3 chapters a day from the Gospels a try. Cut yourself some slack, and it's okay if you miss a day here and there. Closing Before we wrap up today's show, if you'd like some input regarding a relationship question or issue you're dealing with, I'd love to hear from you. Just go to JohnCertalic.com/question to leave me a voicemail. If you'd rather put your question in writing, just enter it in the Leave a Comment box at the bottom of the show notes. I'll do my best to answer your question in a future show. In closing, I'd also love to hear any thoughts you have about today's episode. I hope your thinking was stimulated by today's show, enough to put into practice a Bible reading plan to get to know Jesus better. Well, that's it for today. If there's someone in your life you think might like to hear what you just heard, please forward this episode on to them. Scroll down to the bottom of the show notes and click on one of the options in the yellow “Share This” bar. And don't forget to spread a little relational sunshine around the people you meet this week. Spark some joy for them. Ask people what they're reading these days. Tell them what you're reading. And I'll see you again next time. Goodbye for now. Other episodes or resources related to today's shows 139: Why Should I Listen to This Podcast? 021: The Most Important Relationship of All Last week's episode 192: Word of the Year for 2023 - Read The place to access all past and future episodes JohnCertalic.com Our Sponsor You Were Made for This is sponsored by Caring for Others, a missionary care ministry. The generosity of people like you supports our ministry. It enables us to continue this weekly podcast and other services we provide to missionaries around the world.

“You are not your thoughts. You are the one who listens.” Ariel & Shya Kane Have you ever noticed that when you engage in self-deprecating thoughts, you shrink? Tune into Being Here and bypass those tall tales of make believe.

Listening is more important than talking. Here are three proven ways to become a better listener and strengthen your relationships.Do you have questions or comments?Please contact me: rtosguthorpe@gmail.comWant more info about my books and talks?Go to my website: https://www.russelltosguthorpe.com/Want to order a book? Just go to Amazon and type in Russell T. Osguthorpe Want to access my YouTube channel:https://youtube.com/@russellt.osguthorpe497Want to boost your mood and make someone's day?Go to the App store on your iPhone, and download the app—Boonto.Want a good introduction to my book? Morgan Jones Pearson interviewed me on the All-In Podcast, and it was one of the top 10 episodes of 2022. Here's the link:https://www.ldsliving.com/2022-in-review-top-10-all-in-podcast-episodes-from-the-last-year/s/11190

This week business transformation expert Steven Blue shares how he helps individuals empower their teams and create sustainable solutions in times of change. Listen in as Deborah and Steven discuss being a creative problem solver, identifying the qualifications you need to become part of the C-Suite, how to find opportunities in the jobs no one else wants, and why you need to be comfortable with failure to be successful. Steven also shares the biggest silent business killers that wreak havoc on the C-Suite and the biggest difference between being a CEO and any other executive leader.   Steven Blue is President & CEO of Miller Ingenuity, an international manufacturer of high technology products that save lives and preserves the environment.   Steven has published five books that teach senior leaders and CEOs how to increase profit, take market share, and destroy competition. His third book was co-authored by Jack Canfield and was an immediate best-seller. His most recent book, Metamorphosis: From Rust-Belt to High-Technology in a 21st Century World, details exactly how any low technology company can enter the world of high technology and high-profit products. He created and authored the League of Extraordinary CEO series, a monthly CEO advice column in the American City Business Journals.   He is a highly-acclaimed keynote speaker. He has addressed audiences at Harvard Business School, The United Nations, Carnegie Hall, The Safe America Foundation, Industry Week, The World Safe Summit, CEO Clubs International and Medtronic Corporation. His leadership insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, Fox Business Channel, CNN, CNBC, Forbes, Fortune, CEO World, Business Week and Success Magazines.   Steven serves as CEO-in-Residence at Winona State University. He holds a B.S. Degree from the State University of New York and an MBA from Regis University.   You can connect with Steven in the following ways: Website: https://www.stevenlblue.com Company: https://www.milleringenuity.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevenlblue Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StevenLBlue Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenblue    Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're kicking off the new year with a goal setting conversation you need to hear if you have big dreams on the horizon of 2023. Listen in as Deborah shares the three key areas you need to focus on in order to create a strategy that guarantees success. Deborah also shares how to create a theme around your goals and how she plans to simplify in the upcoming months ahead.   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if being kind to yourself is key to productivity, well being and… dare we say… success and satisfaction? Join Ariel and Shya in Being Here as we roll into 2023 and let kindness lead the way.

I received an email recently from a fellow podcaster. He mentioned how he picks a word at the beginning of January to help him stay focused for the year. His 2022 word of the year was “celebrate.” For 2023 he chose “authentic.” Apparently lots of people are choosing a word of the year for themselves. I googled the phrase “Word of the Year for 2023” and found 1,060,000,000 entries. Keep listening to hear my pick for word of the year for 2023 and what it could mean for you. Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, you've come to the right place. Here you'll discover practical principles you can use to experience the life-giving relationships you were made for. I'm your host, John Certalic, award-winning author and relationship coach, here to help you find more joy in the relationships God designed for you. To access all past and future episodes, go to the bottom of this page, enter your name and email address, then click on the follow or subscribe button. The episodes are organized chronologically and are also searchable by topics, categories, and keywords. Word of the Year for 2023 Some people like to pick a word for the year at the end of the year to summarize what life has been like for them over the past 12 months. The dictionary people at Merriam-Webster, for example, chose “gaslighting” as their word of the year for 2022. They say it has come to mean “the act or practice of grossly misleading someone, especially for a personal advantage.” The word has an interesting origin and a more robust definition, but we'll have to save that for another episode. Like my podcaster friend, though, I would rather come up with a word of the year at the beginning of the year, not at the end. So my pick for word of the year for 2023 is “Read.” Why “Read”? Here's why I picked this word, rather than any number of other worthwhile words. It starts with a quote I recently came across that I've found to be so insightful. It comes from William Nicholson, the playwright most famous for his play, Shadowlands, the story of C.S. Lewis and his relationship with Joy Gresham whom he eventually marries. Again that's a subject for another podcast. Be that as it may, Nicholson says “We read to know we are not alone.” I find this rather profound. It speaks to the issue of loneliness which plagues many of us, me included, and offers a remedy. We read to know we are not alone. A text I read recently Here is an example of something I read recently about someone's experience that resonated with me, and reminded me I'm not alone. It's a text I received that I've altered slightly to protect the privacy of a listener who wrote it. I'll call her Emily. She writes Well, I just listened to your Podcast 187, “Angels We Have Heard On High.” You asked if anyone wanted to share a Christmas Memory. You did have a deadline, and I missed it. However, I wanted to share with you what I discovered when I asked my husband James if he had a joyful Christmas memory that stood out in his mind. He thought and thought and couldn't come up with one. So now I understand why he has never been excited about Christmas in our 52 years of marriage. Has never done any Christmas shopping…didn't participate in any decorating…I cannot remember getting a gift that he shopped for…and at work, he was known as the “grinch.” It caused more stress in our relationship which ultimately caused me to stop Christmas shopping, and I do very little decorating. So, thanks to you, John, I at least now understand “why.” Greater appreciation of people comes from reading their story I so identify with both people in this little story. Like, James. I can't think of a joyful Christmas memory from my childhood. I have many as an adult, but none as a kid. But I also got the sense that James has no adult joyful memories of Christmas either. I feel fortunate that I've been able to not let the dysfunctional part of my past interfere with the joy of the present. On the one hand, I felt encouraged by what I read in Emily's text. I so easily could have been like her husband James, and her text reminded me of how blessed I am that God saved me from being stuck in my past. I wish the same would be true for James. And at the same time, I feel sad for Emily because her husband hampers her Christmas experience, and sadness for the stress it has caused her. I admire people like Emily who choose to honor her marriage vows despite the conflicts and pain that arise from time to time. How many marriages do you know that have lasted 52 years? The Word of the Year for me in 2023, “Read,” gives me a greater appreciation for the values and character of the people like Emily who cross my path. And it only happened because of something I read, namely her text. A joyful email I read Another podcast listener, Marilyn from Minnesota, has written to me before. This time she wrote to share a joyful Christmas memory, even though it came in after the Christmas deadline. But I'm going to share it anyway. I loved reading it, and I think you'll love hearing it. It's a story her mother told her. Marilyn writes, My grandfather was born and raised in England where he was apprenticed as a "shipwright," a finish carpenter on large ships. When he immigrated to the US at age 21, he settled in a place far from big ships. He became a "finish carpenter" in homes in northern Indiana. The Great Depression hit his business hard as people decided to save the money they had for necessities. There was a lake near grandpa's home and he took a job in the winter cutting huge blocks of ice from the lake for use in refrigeration. During this most difficult financial year, there was no money to buy a real Christmas tree (the only option at that time). On Christmas Eve, he was walking home after cutting ice on Cedar Lake. There it was, lying in a heap, a discarded Christmas tree, complete with tinsel. Apparently, a family was heading to relatives elsewhere and didn't want to come home to a dried-up Christmas tree in their house. Grandpa took the tree home, set it up, and surprised his family the next morning with everything needed for a joyous celebration! God is at work in the stories we read Marilyn doesn't mention “God” at all in her grandfather's story, but can't you see God's hand in providing an unexpected Christmas tree at the last minute for this poor family? I would love to have been in the house on Christmas morning when everyone woke up to see that tinsel-laden Christmas tree. Imagine the joy that would have filled the room. There are so many reasons why “read” is my vote for Word of The Year for 2023. One is that when we read stories of the lives of others, like the one Marilyn shared about her grandfather, we often see God at work. And when we see examples of God at work in the lives of others, it gives us hope that he is at work in our life as well. Reading her story about the Christmas tree reminds me of the verse in the Bible, John 5:17, where Jesus tells the Pharisees, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” So what does what you've heard today mean for YOU? If my Word of the Year for 2023 (read) doesn't resonate with you, what word does? You have a lot to choose from. If you see possibilities in read for 2023, what are you going to read? Today I only talked about the benefits of reading someone's text, and another person's email. We haven't gotten into the rewards that come from reading books, newspapers, blogs, magazines, or other forms of the written word. I'll share more about this in next week's episode. But for now, what are you going to read so that you know you are not alone? Here's the main takeaway I hope you remember from today's episode “Read” is a good choice for Word of The Year for 2023. Reading what others experience connects us with people. Reading reminds us that we're not alone in the struggles we face and that God is at work in them for our good. Do you have a relationship question? Would you like some input regarding a relationship issue? If so, go to JohnCertalic.com/question to record your question using your phone or computer. If you'd rather put your question in writing, just enter it in the Leave a Comment box at the bottom of the show notes. I'll do my best to answer your question in a future episode. Closing In closing, I'd love to hear any thoughts you have about today's episode. Feel free to send me an email, or enter your thoughts in the “Leave a Comment” box at the end of the show notes. I hope your thinking was stimulated by today's show to set aside time to read. Go to a library and check out a book or two. Visit a bookstore. If you make “Read” your Word of the Year for 2023 it will help you experience the joy of relationships God desires for you. Because after all, You Were Made for This. Well, that's it for today. If there's someone in your life you think might like to hear what you just heard, please forward this episode on to them. Scroll down to the bottom of the show notes and click on one of the options in the yellow “Share This” bar. And don't forget to spread a little relational sunshine around the people you meet this week. Spark some joy for them. Tell a few people about what you're reading. And I'll see you again next time. Goodbye for now. Other episodes or resources related to today's shows 139: Why Should I Listen to This Podcast? 021: The Most Important Relationship of All Last week's episode 191: Wanting the Joy of Christmas to Linger Awhile? The place to access all past and future episodes JohnCertalic.com Our Sponsor You Were Made for This is sponsored by Caring for Others, a missionary care ministry. The generosity of people like you supports our ministry. It enables us to continue this weekly podcast and other services we provide to missionaries around the world.

This week Grant Anderson shares how his experience working in aeronautics helped him learn the foundations of innovative leadership. Listen in as Deborah and Grant discuss how college impacted his leadership skills inside and outside the classroom, why having a mentor is necessary for individual growth, and simple strategies you can implement today to increase open communication with your team.   Mr. Anderson co-founded Paragon in 1993. From the time of the company's inception until fall 2014, he was the VP of Engineering and Chief Engineer. He was responsible for the design and implementation of not only many of Paragon's technical achievements, but also its processes of engineering innovation in a stepped approach of requirements, design, build, test and delivery. This process has been cited by many customers as unique, disciplined and highly productive. As his background includes not only technical but financial and managerial training as well, he has held diverse positions at Paragon including Treasurer/Secretary, CFO, Sr. VP of Operations, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Manufacturing.A sought-after speaker, he is recognized as a leader in the life support in extreme environments field, Mr. Anderson has led the systems and conceptual design of multiple spacecraft under contract to Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Space X, NASA, Inspiration Mars Foundation and others. Prior to launching Paragon, Mr. Anderson was the design lead at Lockheed Martin for the International Space Station Solar Array Panels.Mr. Anderson holds two degrees from Stanford University in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.) and Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (M.S.) and is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of California.   You can connect with Grant in the following ways: Website: www.paragonsdc.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paragonsdc/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParagonSDCYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQEzDQyp66cf2vaMTZvzzDA   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Deborah shares her end of year reflections and encourages you to focus on the three metrics that matter most when creating a plan for the year ahead. Listen in as she discusses how to adapt your goals throughout the year, how to let go of goals that no longer serve you, and the importance of focusing on True North when looking at results.   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're out there, I know you are. I can see you. You're not quite ready to say goodbye to Christmas this year. You want the joy of Christmas to linger just a little while longer. I get it. I've got your back in today's show. Keep listening, this one's for you. Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, you've come to the right place. Here you'll discover practical principles you can use to experience the life-giving relationships you were made for. I'm your host, John Certalic, award-winning author and relationship coach, here to help you find more joy in the relationships God designed for you. To access all past and future episodes, go to the bottom of this page, enter your name and email address, then click on the follow or subscribe button. The episodes are organized chronologically and are also searchable by topics, categories, and keywords. Christmas memories To keep the joy of Christmas rolling, I'll start by reading a joyful Christmas memory shared by one of our listeners. Chris wrote: A Christmas memory that stands out for me is going to a Christmas tree farm near Cross Plains, Wisconsin where we lived with dad and my siblings. I remember walking quite a bit to choose just the right tree, cutting it with our own saw, dragging it to the car and taking it home to decorate. Then Kim, another listener, shared this joyful Christmas memory of hers: My memory is going to my grandma's house at Christmas and seeing her tree. She had a special ornament on her tree for every family member.. when we would get to her house we would always look for our ornament. Our name was written on the ornament. When my husband came into my life and when each of my children were born she designated an ornament for each of them. When she left her home she gave each family their ornaments. I now treasure those ornaments on my tree. Lastly, Chris shared another Christmas memory when he wrote: My grandparents had a beautiful old Swiss chalet on five acres in Madison Highlands with large rooms and high ceilings. The tree needed to be so large to fill the space that Papa would select a huge tree and cut off the top for our use.This worked out nicely for him because it served to also reopen the view of Lake Mendota in the distance from his property. The places Chris refers to are in and around Madison, Wisconsin in the US. Thanks for the memories So Chris and Mary, thanks for sharing those Christmas memories. The theme I see in all of them is the joy of relationships. Chris with his dad and siblings, Kim with her grandmother, and Chris again with his grandparents. Previous episodes about the joy of Christmas Now for those of you who aren't quite ready to say to put Christmas 2022 in the rearview mirror, I went back into our archives of past episodes and pulled out 13 of them that specifically deal with Christmas. I've posted their titles and the links to them in the show notes, and I'll say a little about each one to help you decide if you want to listen to one or more of them. If you're driving to the store to return Christmas presents and aren't prepared to write the links down, I've made it easy for you. Each of these episodes can be accessed by going to JohnCertalic.com/ followed by the 3-digit episode number I'll give you. I'll start with the oldest episodes first and end with the most recent Christmas shows. And of course, this will all be in the show notes of this episode for you to look up. The Gift of Even Though, JohnCertalic.com/004 I'll start with the episode entitled “The Gift of Even Though” found at JohnCertalic.com/004. And that's spelled John with an “h”, and Certalic, C-e-r-t-a-l-i-c. JohnCertalic.com/004. It was the first of 3 related to Christmas gifts a few years ago. This particular episode is about a phone conversation I had with our 93-year-old friend Lorraine. We first met when Janet and I were freshmen in college. She and her husband Vern wanted to have children but weren't able to, and we were like the children - now adults - she never had. In a phone conversation with Lorraine, she talked about how grateful she was for the rich life she had lived, even though…she was not able to have what she truly wanted. I shared the 5 values Janet and I learned from this childless couple a generation older than us. Values we learned from watching how they lived. They were a great gift to us by showing how to live even though the desires of one's heart are never met. It's one of my favorite episodes. JohnCertalic.com/004. The Gift of Joy - Part 1, JohnCertalic.com/005 The second Christmas episode on my list is “The Gift of Joy - Part 1,” found at JohnCertalic.com/005. It's an answer to the question, “What do I do when I need more joy in my life?” The answer is to share in the joy others experience, even when it has nothing to do with you. I tell two stories that show how to do this. One of which brought tears to my eyes. It's one of my favorite episodes. JohnCertalic.com/005. End the Year with Christmas Joy, JohnCertalic.com/006 Next on my list of the joy of Christmas episodes is “End the Year with Christmas Joy, found at JohnCertalic.com/006. In this show, I talk about how joy is more like a cat than a dog. Let that sink in for a minute. Listen to this one to learn how joy is more like a cat than a dog. This leads to a story about the joy of Christmas found in a flash mob that appeared out of nowhere at a shopping mall food court a few weeks before Christmas. A choir dressed like all the other shoppers springs out from amongst the crowd to sing a rousing rendition of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel's Messiah. I share a newspaper article about the event and what a moving experience it was for many who were there, and the joy of Christmas it brought into people's lives. I include a link to the YouTube video of the flash mob scene near the bottom of the show notes for episode 006. If you're feeling down for whatever reason, do yourself a favor and watch the video clip. It's one of my favorites. Again, go to JohnCertalic.com/006 for all the details. Seven Relationship Lessons from the Greatest Christmas Movie Ever Made, JohnCertalic.com/045 On to the next one on the list. For me, the joy of Christmas would not be complete without watching the greatest Christmas movie ever made, It's a Wonderful Life! In episode 045 I summarize the plot of the film, and then explain the relationship lessons that are rich gems below the surface of the storyline, namely: Before is often better than now People need our prayers Good leaders are good with relationships Keenly observing people enables us to help them That which bothers us most often reveals the idols in our life Relationships have the power to calm our hearts in the midst of stress and turmoil When we pray for a solution to a problem, God often provides one we never could have imagined This really is one of my favorite episodes. I could do a weekend workshop just on these seven relationship lessons from the movie. JohnCertalic.com/045. Where Joy to the World is Found, JohnCertalic.com/046 Moving on, Episode 046 is “Where Joy to the World is Found.” Here's a line from that show that summarizes what it's all about: look for joy in the ordinary, in the simple, that's hiding in plain sight right in front of us all year round. It's in the ordinary where the joy of Christmas is found. Go to JohnCertalic.com/046 to listen in and see how. It's one of my favorites. What Mary Treasured on Christmas Day, JohnCertalic.com/047 Then we have “What Mary Treasured on Christmas Day” in episode 047. It's where I comment on the Christmas Story found in Luke 2:1-20 in the Bible. Relationships are what Mary treasured most, and it's these relationships that make the joy of Christmas like no other event in human history. The implications of these relationships are what Mary pondered and treasured in her heart, and thought about them often. It's one my all-time favorites. A Christmas Gift of Silence, JohnCertalic.com/080 Moving on, episode 080, “A Christmas Gift of Silence,“ focuses on an early player in the joy of Christmas story - Zechariah. I talk about why he was silenced, and what we learn from Zechariah's mistake. The main point of this show is trust God and what he says, even when it defies logic, human wisdom, and experience. Silence can be a real gift as you'll hear in episode 080. This is one of my favorite episodes. A Christmas Gift of Deep Personal Connection, JohnCertalic.com/081 Next is “A Christmas Gift of Deep Personal Connection,” in episode 081. Here I discuss the personal connection between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, and the gift of having people in our life who ”get us.” This gift certainly adds to the joy of Christmas. Elizabeth and Mary connect with each other even though there's a large age gap between the two of them. The close relationship they each have with God makes this possible. There's is a triangulated relationship in the best sense of the word. Relationships like this are a great gift we can give each other. Check it out at JohnCertalic.com/081. Be sure to check this one out; it's one of my favorites. A Christmas Gift of Anticipation, JohnCertalic.com/082 Following episode 081 is “ A Christmas Gift of Anticipation, “ in episode 082. It's about anticipating the joy of Christmas. The beginning of the Christmas story found in Luke's Gospel account is just dripping with anticipation, and the joy that comes with it. I make the point that the deeper we know Jesus and what he's already done for us, the more joy there is in anticipating what he will do in the future. It's a great Christmas gift. I really like this one, and I think you will, too. The Best Christmas - Be with People in Community, JohnCertalic.com/083 Moving on, episode 083 is the only joy of Christmas show where I interview someone. In “The Best Christmas - Be with People in Community” I interview Josephine, a single missionary serving in Eastern Europe. She talks about being in her apartment alone in her pajamas at Christmas, some 5,000 miles from home. But then, a group of her local musician friends invite her out to play Christmas music. They did it to honor her. She talks at length about the personal meaning of Emmanuel - “God with us.” She sees it in the shepherds on that first Christmas night and their need for community. I really enjoyed this. It's one of my favorites. A Better Kind of Christmas Joy, JohnCertalic.com/134 Next is episode 134, “ A Better Kind of Christmas Joy.” It's about the characters at the beginning of the Christmas story, Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary. How they interact with God and each other is another way we too can experience the joy of Christmas. I enjoyed digging beneath the surface of the storyline to see how each of these characters develop. I'm pretty sure you're going to like this one. It's one of my favorite episodes. Christmas with a Good Man Brings Joy, JohnCertalic.com/135 Next up is “Christmas with a Good Man Brings Joy,” episode 135. It's about Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. I call him the Marcel Marceau of the New Testament because there's no record of him saying anything. Yet this behind-the-scenes kind of guy makes a significant contribution to the joy of Christmas by the example he sets. His actions speak volumes about what good men do in their relationships. I really love this episode, and I think you will too. JohnCertalic.com/135. Make it a Mary Christmas this Year, JohnCertalic.com/136 Finally, “Make it a Mary Christmas this Year,” you will find at JohnCertalic.com/136. And that's Mary, spelled M-a-r-y. It's about the Virgin Mary's perspective of that first Christmas, and how she applied the ORA principle of deepening relationships we've talked about. The episode is about what she Observed, Reflected, and Acted upon. All things that apply to us today. Like all the others, this is one of my favorite shows. So what does all this mean for YOU? If you want the joy of Christmas to linger just a little while longer, listen to the episodes I described. They will help carry you through the days ahead. They'll show you principles of healthy relationships you can put into practice every day of the year. Here's the main takeaway I hope you remember from today's episode The joy of Christmas is the joy of Jesus coming to us so one day we can go to be with him, fully transformed into the person we were meant to be. You were made for this. Closing In closing, I'd love to hear any thoughts you have about today's episode. Especially if there's a particular past episode you found especially meaningful. You can send me an email, or share your thoughts in the “Leave a Comment” box at the bottom of the show notes of this episode. Well, that's it for today. If there's someone in your life you think might like to hear what you just heard, please forward this episode on to them. Scroll down to the bottom of the show notes and click on one of the options in the yellow “Share This” bar. I'll close with a sign I saw yesterday at my eye doctor's office. Next to the receptionist's desk were two small blocks, one on top of the other, that read “Spread Kindness.” I've been thinking about that since, and it's something I'm trying to act on. I hope you do the same. Spread kindness. And I'll see you again next year on January 4th, for the first episode of 2023. Goodbye for now. The place to access all past and future episodes JohnCertalic.com Our Sponsor You Were Made for This is sponsored by Caring for Others, a missionary care ministry. The generosity of people like you supports our ministry. It enables us to continue this weekly podcast and other services we provide to missionaries around the world. Links to the Christmas episodes mentioned The Gift of Even Though JohnCertalic.com/004 The Gift of Joy - Part 1 JohnCertalic.com/005 The Gift of Joy - Part 2 JohnCertalic.com/006 Seven Relationship Lessons from the Greatest Christmas Movie Ever Made JohnCertalic.com/045 Where Joy to the World is Found JohnCertalic.com/046 What Mary Treasured on Christmas Day JohnCertalic.com/047 A Christmas Gift of Silence JohnCertalic.com/080 A Christmas Gift of Deep Personal Connection JohnCertalic.com/081 A Christmas Gift of Anticipation JohnCertalic.com/082 The Best Christmas - Be with People in Community JohnCertalic.com/083 A Better Kind of Christmas Joy JohnCertalic.com/134 Christmas with a Good Man Brings Joy JohnCertalic.com/135 Make it a Merry Christmas this Year JohnCertalic.com/136 End the Year with Christmas Joy JohnCertalic.com/138  

It's so easy to become upset. Join Ariel and Shya in Being Here and watch those upsets dissolve.

This is the most listened-to episode of 2022!  Y'all, humans are seriously the worst listeners. I think that so much conflict and hurt feelings could be avoided if we had better listening skills. So on today's episode, I'm giving you some practical things that you can start doing today to develop your listening skills!  www.amberleagray.com  www.amberleagray.social  

On today's episode Hersh Rephun shares the importance of focusing on empathy, humor, and truth when creating a memorable message. Listen in as Deborah and Hersh discuss how improvisational humor relates to branding, finding your core message, and how Hersh helped Bear Paw create an accessible message that scaled customer relationships and revenue in the billions.   With dual chops in comedy and advertising, Hersh Rephun has enjoyed an eclectic career spanning two decades as a writer / brand storyteller, and as a standup comedian playing gigs across the country.Hersh often uses humor to humanize brands. Empathy and accessibility are the hallmarks of his work. Above all, as a brand storyteller, Hersh operates on one simple principle: sell the truth.His clients include changemakers, market leaders, agencies, institutions, production companies, and Oscar-winning filmmakers.Host of the YES, BRAND and Truth Tastes Funny podcasts, Hersh has toured the country performing in venues such as The Comedy Store, StandUp NY, Comic Strip Live, Funny Bone, and The Ice House.He's guided clients and colleagues in a host of social action campaigns. In 2021, he and Isack Fadlon formally launched KOSHER, a streetwear brand committed to goodwill, inclusion, and equity.   You can connect with Hersh in the following ways: Website: www.getmessagetherapy.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hershrephun/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hersh4all/   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

: On today's episode Gary Kooper shares the importance of empowering employees to embrace their passion and create more leaders within organizations. Listen in as Deborah and Gary discuss strategies for motivating your team, the importance of family support, and how three decades in the leadership experience inspired him to create an academy for future leaders.   Gary Kooper is a proven and skilled Leader, Trainer, Coach, Mentor, Speaker, and Author. He has spent his professional career in the Industrial and Consumer packaging industry leading multiple world class business functions and teams for one of the largest packaging companies in the world. Throughout his tenure Gary and his teams were able to bring about world class operational improvements as well as meet the needs of the most demanding consumer and industrial packaging organizations in the world.   His determination to achieve business results through process discipline and the pursuit of excellence would earn him Director roles leading some of the most talented manufacturing leaders in the industry. Gary's various roles provided him the opportunity to travel the globe spending time in 180 factories, training, developing, and building his teams. Through this experience Gary has learned that leaders who engage, inspire, and build trust have the biggest impact on the most important individuals of any organization…. The Front Line.   Gary has utilized his leadership experience, operational experience, mentoring experience, and coaching experience, to help shape and influence many individuals and teams professionally and outside his organization. Gary led his team to historic performance during the pandemic despite extreme supply chain challenges, including labor and material shortages. Did it by creating a culture of creative problem solving, agility, and most of all teamwork, utilizing everyone's talents.   The foundation of his message is “It's Up To Me I Can Make a Difference” and it's through his company, Kooper Leadership Academy, and its mission – “To engage the hearts and minds of individuals, empowering them to consider the value they bring to themselves and others on a daily basis” that he is creating and developing more leaders to help individuals, communities, and organizations become the best they can be. Gary has been married for 29 years, has 4 children, 1 granddaughter, and his life's philosophy is “Every day is a great day some are just better than others”   You can connect with Gary in the following ways: Instagram:  @kooper_leadership_academy Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-kooper-689b3733/   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favorite church experience is singing “O Holy Night” at a Christmas Eve service. Many churches will turn off the lights and pass out candles that are lit as the song begins. It's quite moving. Today's episode is about the interesting and surprising history of “O Holy Night.” But first this: Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, you've come to the right place. Here you'll discover practical principles you can use to experience the life-giving relationships you were made for. I'm your host, John Certalic, award-winning author and relationship coach, here to help you find more joy in the relationships God designed for you. To access all past and future episodes, go to the bottom of this page, enter your name and email address, then click on the follow or subscribe button. The episodes are organized chronologically and are also searchable by topics, categories, and keywords. "O Holy Night" The words to “ O Holy Night” were written in 1843 by Placide Cappeau, a French wine merchant and poet. Although he was never particularly religious, Cappeau was asked by a local parish priest to write a Christmas poem to celebrate the recent renovation of the church organ in his hometown. The poem was entitled “Midnight, Christians.” Four years later in 1847 his friend, Adolphe Adam, wrote music to accompany the lyrics creating the song initially titled, “Cantique de Noel,” or “Christmas Carol” in English. Adam was a French composer and music critic who wrote mostly operas and ballets. Alongside the opera Giselle (1841), “O Holy Night” is one of his best-known works. “Cantique de Noel” (i.e., “Christmas Carol”) became popular in France and was sung in many Christmas services. But when Placide Cappeau left the church to join a socialist movement, and it was discovered that Adolphe Adams was a Jew, the French Catholic church leaders decided “Cantique de Noel” was “unfit for church services because of its lack of musical taste and total absence of the spirit of religion.” But even though the church no longer allowed the song in their services, the French people continued to sing it. An American perspective on “O Holy Night” Then in 1855, an American minister and writer, John Sullivan Dwight, saw something in the song that moved him beyond the story of the birth of Christ. An abolitionist, Dwight strongly identified with the lines of the third verse of the song “Truly he taught us to love one another; his law is love, and his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother, and in his name all oppression shall cease.” He published his English translation of “O Holy Night” in his magazine, and the song quickly found favor in America, especially in the North during the Civil War. Back in France, the song continued to be banned by the church for almost two decades, while the people still sang “Cantique de Noel” at home. Legend has it that on Christmas Eve 1871, in the midst of fierce fighting between the armies of Germany and France, during the Franco-Prussian War, a French soldier suddenly jumped out of his muddy trench and began singing “Cantique de Noel.” Then a German soldier stepped into the open and answered the Frenchman's song with Martin Luther's “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come.” The story goes that the fighting stopped for the next twenty-four hours while the men on both sides observed a temporary peace in honor of Christmas day. There is no proof that this ever happened, but that's why it's a legend and a good story, never the less. One thing I couldn't find is how or when the title of this Christmas carol became “O Holy Night.” "O Holy Night" is a first Years later on Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Fessenden–a 33-year-old university professor and former chief chemist for Thomas Edison–did something long thought impossible. Using a new type of generator, Fessenden spoke into a microphone and, for the first time in history, a man's voice was broadcast over the airwaves. And what did he say? He recited the beginning of the Christmas story found in chapter 2 of Luke's gospel, “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed… After finishing his recitation of the birth of Christ, Fessenden picked up his violin and played “O Holy Night,” the first song ever sent through the air via radio waves. Starting as a poem requested by a local parish priest in 1843, which morphed into a song 4 years later, “O Holy Night” has a most interesting history. Written by a poet who later left the church, then given soaring melodies by a Jewish composer, and then brought to America and used in the anti-slavery movement, this beloved Christmas carol is sung by millions around the world today. Lyrics to “O Holy Night” O holy night, the stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth; Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn; Chorus
 Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices! 
O night divine! Oh night when Christ was born. O night, O holy night, O night divine. Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming; With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand: So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here come the wise men from Orient land, The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger, In all our trials born to be our friend; Chorus
 He knows our need, To our weakness no stranger! Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend! Behold your King! your King! before him bend! Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is Love and His gospel is Peace; Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother, And in his name all oppression shall cease, Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we; Let all within us praise his Holy name! Chorus Christ is the Lord, then ever! ever praise we! His pow'r and glory, evermore proclaim! His pow'r and glory, evermore proclaim! Sources https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/occasions/christmas/o-holy-night-original-lyrics-composer-recordings/ (Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas”  Zondervan) https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-is-the-meaning-and-story-behind-o-holy-night.html What does all this mean for you? “O Holy Night" reminds us of God's relentless creativity in pursuing all of us. Using a man who left his faith in God to write the lyrics, and a Jew who rejects Jesus, God uses this song, over 200 years old, for the purpose of drawing us to himself. "O Holy Night" isn't just about one night, Christmas night. It's about all the nights and days that follow. Nights where you are offered reconciliation and forgiveness for your sins. Nights of faith made possible by the birth of Jesus who knows your needs and weaknesses, and who teaches us to love one another. It's about nights of hope for the future because Christ entered our world to save us from ourselves. It's about nights of worship for all that the Lord has done for us. Here's the main takeaway I hope you remember from today's episode “O Holy Night" shows God's passion for making himself known. He uses music written by people who don't believe in him to comfort people who do. Closing Well, that's it for today. If there's someone in your life you think might like to hear what you just heard, please forward this episode on to them. Scroll down to the bottom of the show notes and click on one of the options in the yellow “Share This” bar. Merry Christmas everyone! Other episodes or resources related to today's shows 082: A Christmas Gift of Anticipation 136: Make it a Merry Christmas this Year 021: The Most Important Relationship of All Last week's episode 188: Joy to the World - The Unintended Christmas Carol The place to access all past and future episodes JohnCertalic.com Our Sponsor You Were Made for This is sponsored by Caring for Others, a missionary care ministry. The generosity of people like you supports our ministry. It enables us to continue this weekly podcast and other services we provide to missionaries around the world.

Tis the season to celebrate and yet most of us are weighed down by our ideas of how we should be and what we should do in order to do things “right”. Tune into Being Here and celebrate being YOU.

On today's episode Michael Bourque shares how his passion for technology and engineering created an opportunity to teach others while facilitating his passion for leadership and building successful projects. Listen in as Deborah and Michael discuss how to identify an opportunity, asking the right questions, and influencing leadership to listen to your ideas. Michael also shares his best advice for creating a community within a team, and working toward a unified goal.   About Michael Bourque:   Michael is an inventor from Boston with more than 36 years of manufacturing experience on a mission to bring bold ideas to market. He has a vast background from industrial design through manufacturing and automation. Michael has a keen eye for quality, design, and user experience by being engaged at every stage in the process. No matter if its hardware, software, or both, he can help exceed expectations and advance the state of art.   You can connect with Michael via Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbourque/   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode Deborah breaks down the key questions you should ask yourself when assessing your needs and finding the right people to accomplish your goals. Listen in as Deborah discusses understanding the roles you need, the skills needed to lead a team, and how to find the confidence to embrace leadership. Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever find yourself rushing to get things done only to make mistakes that take you much longer? Smooth out with the Kanes in this relaxing episode of Being Here. You just might discover that slowing down is the key to getting things done.

Are You Saying What You Want To Be Heard A simple way to ensure that what you say is what you mean We've all done it, I know have, said something that came out all wrong and mumbled over it, and ignored it by simply carrying on - Have you? Why do we do that? What a waste of words and the good sense that you have. What do you think of others when they do that? Yet we still do it. Well, there is such a simple way, and yes you know it In Simplicity There Is Genius, and I'll share it with you in around 5 minutes - WHAT! You heard it because it's the 5-Minute Quickie Podcast episode, slipped in between the weekly longer and deeper diving episodes. Please share what you listen to and learn, here's a link for those without an app: https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/fmq-379-are-you-saying-what-you-want-to-be-heard Shine brightly Paul Please remember you can leave a comment or email me with questions, requests and feedback. If you have enjoyed this or any other episode please share and subscribe. Just email me feedback@personaldevelopmentunplugged.com If you want to subscribe to the podcast (I know you do) click here to learn more Or simply click here to go straight to Apple Music / iTunes to subscribe OR leave a review Remember for my specially designed programs for developing Supreme Inner Confidence, Free Your Life of Anxiety and specialize Hypnosis tracks go to PaulCloughOnline.com If you want to access my FREE HYPNOSIS tracks go to paulcloughonline.com/podcast Follow and inter-react on twitter @pcloughie Why not look for me and the podcast on > SPOTIFY AND the app Castbox I'm also in iHeart radio YouTube - copy n paste UC3BlpN4voq8aAN7ePsIMt2Q into search bar The Libsyn podcast page http://personaldevelomentunplugged.libsyn.com Stitcher, tunein, learnoutloud, Google Play Music Here is your show on RadioPublic: Listen to Personal Development Unplugged on RadioPublic I'm a therapist but not your therapist The information with this website or online work, techniques and exercises provided within these free and paid products are for educational purposes only. Do not use the techniques or exercises contained within some of these free or paid products whilst driving or operating machinery, or if you suffer from epilepsy, clinical depression or any other nervous or psychiatric conditions. The information provided is not a substitute for proper medical advice. If in doubt, please consult your doctor or licensed medical practitioner. Any decision you make having received any of Paul Clough's free or paid products are your own and you remain wholly responsible for any decisions and actions you take. Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, >, Music by freegroove pixabay seduction-jazz-112149 from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal Pixaby ventura-117073 from Pixabay,

In episode 187 last week I talked about the back story behind “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Today I pull the curtain back to look at the history behind another well-known Christmas carol, this one going back to 1719. It never started out to be a song, but before we get into all this, here's a word from another Christmas Carol, one of my favorites, my boss, Carol Steward. Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, you've come to the right place. Here you'll discover practical principles you can use to experience the life-giving relationships you were made for. I'm your host, John Certalic, award-winning author and relationship coach, here to help you find more joy in the relationships God designed for you. To access all past and future episodes, go to the bottom of this page, enter your name and email address, then click on the follow or subscribe button. The episodes are organized chronologically and are also searchable by topics, categories, and keywords. Isaac Watts I'll start by talking about how “Joy to the World, one of the most famous Christmas Carols of all time,” came to be. It starts with the lyrics written in 1719 by hymn writer Isaac Watts. While he is appreciated today in church music circles, during his lifetime Watts was considered by many to be a disturbance of the status quo and even possibly a heretic for the lyrics he wrote. While he wasn't a heretic, he was a revolutionary. Watts grew up in a world where the music in every worship service consisted only of psalms or sections of Scripture put to music. Watts found the practice monotonous. To him, there was a lack of joy and emotion among the people in the pew as they sang. He described it like this, “To see the dull indifference, the negligent and thoughtless air that sits upon the faces of a whole assembly, while the psalm is upon their lips, might even tempt a charitable observer to suspect the fervency of their inward religion.” Yikes, this sounds like me many times. A Christmas carol from a poem I was surprised to learn that the lyrics for “Joy to the World” actually came out of a book of poetry Isaac Watts wrote, where each poem was based on a different psalm from the Bible. Rather than just translating the original Old Testament texts word for word, he adapted them to refer more explicitly to the work of Jesus as it had been revealed in the New Testament. The poetry book was never a best-seller, and the only remnants of it anyone can find is the second part of Psalm 98, which became the basis for “Joy to the World.” While meditating on Psalm 98, verse 4 gripped Watts: “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!” Watts had no intention of creating a hymn when he composed the verse for Psalm 98 as part of his book of poetry. But then in 1836 a man by the name of Lowell Mason composed a riveting melody for Watts' lyrics, which eventually became quite popular in the church. The lyrics Joy to the world, the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King! 
Let every heart prepare him room And heaven and nature sing! 
And heaven and nature sing . . . and heaven . . . and heaven . . . and nature sing.   Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ 
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, 
Repeat the sounding joy . .  repeat the sounding joy! 
Repeat . . . repeat . . . the sounding joy!   No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow 
Far as the curse is found . . fFar as the curse is found . . . Far as . . . far as . . . the curse is found!   He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness And wonders of his love . . . and wonders of his love! And wonders . . . wonders . . . of his love! Hope for better days ahead The intent of Psalm 98 is to bring joy to people. “Joy to the World” inspires us to look forward to the future when sin and sorrow no longer play a part in our lives. Where no thorn infests the ground, and where we are caught up in the grace, glory, and love of God. So what does “Joy to the World” mean for you today It's been 300 years since the carol was written, but it still speaks to us today. It speaks to creating room in our hearts for Jesus, as the third line of the song declares, “Let every heart prepare him room.” No easy task these days with all the distractions we have keeping us from considering our relationship with God and how we should live in light of that relationship. The song speaks to the joy that is yours when you consider that God is in control, that he has defeated sin, and is making his blessings flow. One other thing that “Joy to the World” means is that we can experience joy no matter our circumstances. Yesterday morning I received a text from a missionary who has been serving in South America for many years. She wrote to tell me she just listened again to episode 155, “How to Find Joy No Matter What,” and that it blessed her again in the midst of the stresses of missionary life and relationships in general. To listen to it yourself, just go to JohnCertalic.com/155. Here's the main takeaway I hope you remember from today's episode What better time than this Christmas season to reflect upon how God delivered joy to the world by sending us His son, Jesus. Our relationship with Him is the source of lasting joy worth singing about. Relationship question of the month If you have a relationship question you'd like me to answer in an upcoming episode, please go to JohnCertalic.com/question to record your question using your phone or computer. With your question, please include your name and where you're from. It's that simple. If you'd rather submit a written question, just enter it in the Leave a Comment box at the bottom of the show notes. Closing In closing, I'd love to hear any thoughts you have about today's episode. I hope your thinking was stimulated by today's show to reflect upon the meaning of “Joy to the World.” For when you do, it will help you experience the joy of relationships God desires for you. Because after all, You Were Made for This. Well, that's it for today. If there's someone in your life you think might like to hear what you just heard, please forward this episode on to them. Scroll down to the bottom of the show notes and click on one of the options in the yellow “Share This” bar. And don't forget to spread a little relational sunshine around the people you meet this week. Inject a measure of Christmas joy into the lives of others. And I'll see you again next time. Goodbye for now. Other episodes or resources related to today's show 155: How to Find Joy No Matter What 134: A Better Kind of Christmas Joy 021: The Most Important Relationship of All https://www.crossway.org/articles/a-brief-history-of-joy-to-the-world/ https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/learn-the-story-behind-joy-to-the-world The Gospdel Coalition. "Joy to the World: A Christmas Hymn Reconsidered" Last week's episode 187: This Christmas Carol Invites You The place to access all past and future episodes JohnCertalic.com Our Sponsor You Were Made for This is sponsored by Caring for Others, a missionary care ministry. The generosity of people like you supports our ministry. It enables us to continue this weekly podcast and other services we provide to missionaries around the world.

On today's episode David Wood shares the impact of difficult conversations on leaders and simple strategies we can utilize to create a greater impact. Listen in as Deborah and David discuss why we're conditioned to hide information, the benefits (and downsides) of having no filter, and how to navigate a conversation with the outcome in mind.   About David Wood: After life as a consulting actuary to Fortune 100 Companies, David built the world's largest coaching business, becoming #1 on Google for “life coaching”.He believes the tough conversations we avoid are our doorways to confidence, success and even love - in both work and life. David coaches high performing entrepreneurs, executives and teams - and even prison inmates - to amazing results AND connection. One conversation at a time.   You can connect with David in the following ways: Website: https://mouseintheroom.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/focus-ceoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ExtraordinaryFocuswithDavidWoodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_focusceo/Twitter: https://twitter.com/_focusceoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/extraordinaryfocus   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you wholeheartedly engage in a task, life becomes simple and energizing.  Tune in to this enlightening conversation and charge your “battery” with the Kanes and their guests.

It's hard to go anywhere this time of the year without hearing Christmas music. They really help set the mood for the holidays, which I love. The melodies of many of the traditional Christmas carols are fixed in our minds because we've heard them for years and years. But often the words are not. Who can remember the 3rd verse of “Silent Night,” for example? The lyrics of the really good Christmas carols have a relationship component to them worth considering this time of year. I'm going to talk about one of these carols in today's episode. But before we get into all this, here's a word from my favorite Christmas Carol, our executive producer, Carol Steward. Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, you've come to the right place. Here you'll discover practical principles you can use to experience the life-giving relationships you were made for. Your host, John Certalic, is an award-winning author and relationship coach, here to help you find more joy in the relationships God designed for you. To access all past and future episodes, go to the bottom of this page, enter your name and email address, then click on the follow or subscribe button. The episodes are organized chronologically and are also searchable by topics, categories, and keywords. Angels We Have Heard on High I have been hearing “Angels We Have Heard on High” as a Christmas Carol ever since I was a kid. I bet the same is true for you, too. It is an easily recognizable tune, mainly because of its chorus, “Gloria In Excelsis Deo” which is Latin for Glory to God in the Highest. Because the melody is so familiar and catchy, the lyrics, except for the first few lines, are something I've never thought much about. Until just recently. This “Angels We Have Heard on High” Christmas Carol has an interesting history, going back to the second century, and an even more interesting meaning for celebrating the Christmas season here in 2022. I'll get into all this in just a moment, but first I'll play the melody and recite the lyrics. Try to focus on the words and their meaning. [Play the melody of “Angels We Have Heard on High”] Lyrics to “Angels We Have Heard on High” [Verse 1] Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o'er the plains And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains [Chorus] Gloria In Excelsis Deo Gloria In Excelsis Deo [Verse 2] Shepherds why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? Say what may the tidings be Which inspire your heavenly song? [Chorus] Gloria In Excelsis Deo Gloria In Excelsis Deo [Verse 3] Come to Bethlehem and see Him Whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King [Chorus] Gloria In Excelsis Deo Gloria In Excelsis Deo [Verse 4] See within in a manger laid Jesus Lord of heav'n and earth Mary, Joseph lend your aid With us sing our Savior's birth The back story to this Christmas Carol “Angels We Have Heard On High,” is a traditional French Christmas carol, previously known as “The Angels in Our Countryside.” It tells the story of angels announcing to local shepherds the good news of the birth of Jesus. Though the source of the song is unknown, it is believed to have originated in 18th-century France. The song was first translated into English in 1860 by James Chadwick, a Roman Catholic bishop. Just as the origin of the words to this French song is unknown, so also is the melody. Since it was common for lyrics to be written for existing tunes, it is possible that the melody is even older than the words. Gloria in Excelsis Deo The refrain in this Christmas carol, “Gloria in Excelsis Deo,” (Latin for "Glory to God in the Highest”) has an interesting background. The phrase is first found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verse 14, when a vast host of angels suddenly appear to the shepherds, praising God. Centuries ago in the hills of southern France, tradition has it that shepherds had a Christmas Eve custom of calling to one another, each from their own hillside, singing “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.” Verses 1 and 2 in Angels We Have Heard on High” reference this when they speak of the “mountains” (i.e., the shepherds on the mountains) replying to the angels in joyous heavenly song. The phrase “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.” played an important part in worship at church masses dating back to 130 A.D. During this time period, one of the early Roman Catholic popes, Pope Telesphorus, issued a decree that on Christmas Day all churches should have special evening services. He also ordered that at these masses, after the reading of certain Scripture or the conclusion of specific prayers, the congregation should always sing the words “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.” Historical church documents reveal that monks carried this executive order throughout the land and that by the third century it was a practice used by most churches at Christmas services. Sources https://genius.com/Christmas-songs-angels-we-have-heard-on-high-lyrics https://www.celebratingholidays.com/?page_id=10563 https://faithgateway.com/blogs/christian-books/angels-we-have-heard-on-high So, what does “Angels We Have Heard of High” mean for you? This Christmas carol stands in sharp contrast to all the things we add to the original meaning of Christmas. The presents, the activities, the gathering of families together. All these are fine, but they have nothing to do with Jesus is the reason for the season. “Angels We Have Heard on High” is largely a song to celebrate the invitation God extends to all of us, you and me included, to come and see who Jesus is. It's to celebrate the generous love of God to give us this greatest gift ever. It's also an encouragement to accept this wonderful invitation. As the angels said to the shepherds, just come and see. Come and see. And that's what “Angels We Have Heard on High” means for us this Christmas season in 2022 and every year. Here's the main takeaway I hope you remember from today's episode A Christmas carol like “Angels We Have Heard on High” invites you and me into a relationship with Jesus, just as it did for the shepherds in the song. It's an invitation for us to either accept or reject. Relationship question of the month for December What joyful memory of Christmas do you have? What is a tradition or event stands out for you when you think about this holiday? Just go to JohnCertalic.com/question to record your answer using your phone or computer. With your answer, please include your name and where you're from. It's that simple. If you'd rather give a written answer, just enter it in the Leave a Comment box at the bottom of the show notes. I'll need your response by 5 pm Central time on December 12, 2022. Again, head over to JohnCertalic.com/question and leave a message. I'll pick several responses to air on our episode before Christmas. Closing In closing, I encourage you can take a few minutes to look past the distractions that seep into the Christmas season. I hope you take to reflect on its real meaning so that you can give glory to God in the highest as the shepherds on those French hillsides did so many years ago. I so often close each episode by encouraging you to spread a little relational sunshine around the people you meet and to spark some joy for them. But for this month, I want to encourage you to be on the lookout for the sunshine God is shining into your life. Expect true Christmas joy to show up on your relational doorstep to surprise you by filling your heart. And I'll end with one last round of “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Merry Christmas and God bless us everyone! Other episodes or resources related to today's show 133: Relationships - The Back Story to the Christmas Story 021: The Most Important Relationship of All Last week's episode 186: Thankful for Life After Death https://www.johncertalic.com/podcast/thankful-for-life-after-death/ The place to access all past and future episodes JohnCertalic.com Our Sponsor You Were Made for This is sponsored by Caring for Others, a missionary care ministry. The generosity of people like you supports our ministry. It enables us to continue this weekly podcast and other services we provide to missionaries around the world.