I want you to take a little trip down memory lane with me, back to those golden years between elementary and high school. My “golden years” were iconic in more ways than one. Recently I was thinking about some of the things that defined those years for me, and I realized that—believe it or not—one of the most iconic arcade games of all time actually makes a perfect analogy for how life and our brains work!

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Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life.

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Chances are, either you yourself, someone you know, or at the very least, someone you’ve read or listened to, has used the phrase “your truth” or “my truth.” And the first time you heard someone use one (or both), you probably found yourself a little confused.

But over the past few years, those phrases have become so common that it’s hard to imagine they haven’t always been part of everyday English language and conversation.

So, what’s the story behind them, and—more importantly—are they a new powerful tool that you should add to your self-development arsenal?

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Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast!

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Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life.

Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more!

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I recently heard an Instagram influencer (meaning he has 2.6m followers) who said, “You were MADE for greatness! You were BORN for greatness. You weren’t made for average or ordinary.”

So, what exactly does it mean to be GREAT … a great man, a great woman, a great parent, a great friend, a great leader, a great student, a great artist, doctor, teacher, salesman, musician, athlete, speaker …?

If you’ve ever struggled with the thought or even pressure of “GREATNESS” and whether or not you could achieve such lofty ideals, then this episode may be just the information and inspiration you’ve been waiting/searching for. Here’s why: I believe you were made for MORE than greatness … MUCH more. SO much more.

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Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life.

Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more!

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There’s a new, uber-powerful buzzword in town, and its name is “Gaslighting.” In fact, it’s hard to jump on the internet or turn on the TV or radio without someone mentioning either being gaslit or complaining about this or that person gaslighting others. But as is often the case with buzzwords, the true meaning can get lost amidst the noise of abundant usage. So in this episode, I dig into some expert opinions on what gaslighting is and why I think it’s so important for us all to understand it and be aware of it.

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Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life.

Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more!

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Apparently, this is a debate that has raged for some time in the psychological community. I think it’s an interesting topic. (I think what’s even MORE interesting is what this particular topic has to do with Easter! I’ll also touch on that in this episode.) It certainly is a topic that has become widespread throughout modern American culture. It’s hard to imagine how any self-help guru on the planet could stay in business if this were bad advice. So much of what is being taught is founded on at least some version of this pithy mantra. It was even one of the core concepts behind one of my all-time favorite animated movies from the 90s, Aladdin. (Can you hear Robin Williams as the Genie/Bee saying to Aladdin, “Just beeeeeeee yourself!”) This episode won’t end the debate, but, hopefully, it will give you a unique perspective to think about!

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Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life.

Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more!

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What is it that really sets good leaders apart from everyone else? Now, I’ll admit that I’m no expert on the matter, but I’ve got a few … uh, decades, of learning and observation under my belt. And while it may very well be true that there are “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership,” (H/T to J-Max) it seems to me that there are at least two SIMPLE, but critical components that MUCH of those laws (and others) are built on: do ‘THIS’, but not ‘THAT’. You might even say that these two are part of the basic DNA of good leadership in any situation or context.

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Want the full transcript to this (or another) episode? You can sign up for FREE at ericwilbanks.com and I’ll send you the full transcript every time I release a new episode! I don’t spam, and I will certainly never share or sell your email address.

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Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life.

Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more!

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According to the site Quote Investigator, an anonymous filler item in a Plainfield, New Jersey newspaper in September 1936 included the following quote:

They say hard work never killed anyone but some of us are just naturally apprehensive and timid and don’t like to take chances.

It's funny because it's so true! None of us are born wanting to work hard. In the words of Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey, most of us would just rather "Take it Easy" if we had the choice. How easy? Well, Lionel Richie says "Easy Like Sunday Morning" (which I guess is true for everyone except pastors and parents of toddlers trying to make it to worship service before it ends).

But easy won't get you where you want to go. You're gonna have to get there the hard way, just like most everybody else.

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Want the full transcript to this (or another) episode? You can sign up for FREE at ericwilbanks.com and I’ll send you the full transcript every time I release a new episode! I don’t spam, and I will certainly never share or sell your email address.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life.

Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more!

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This is the fourth and final installment of a mini-series exploring the continuum of loneliness and belonging. In part 1, I talked about loneliness, how disturbingly common it is, and how it can wreak havoc in our lives. In part 2, I went over Self-determination theory and how it might relate to belonging and community. In part 3, I looked at the three-pronged "structure" for making and maintaining friendships! In this episode, I want to share some tips that both experts and the Bible say can help in achieving that three-pronged connection with others.

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Want the full transcript to this (or another) episode? You can sign up for FREE at ericwilbanks.com and I’ll send you the full transcript every time I release a new episode! I don’t spam, and I will certainly never share or sell your email address.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life.

Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more!

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This is part 3 of a mini-series exploring the continuum of loneliness and belonging. In part 1, I talked about loneliness, how disturbingly common it is, and how it can wreak havoc in our lives. In part 2, I went over Self-determination theory and how it might relate to belonging and community. In this episode, I tackle the million-dollar question: "How do we move from loneliness to that true sense of belonging?" The answer, according to research, is in learning the three-pronged "structure" for making and maintaining friendships!

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Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life.

Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more!

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This is part 2 of a mini-series exploring the continuum of loneliness and belonging. In part 1, I shared why psychologists say loneliness is an “awful, noxious psychological state” that—if left unchecked—can wreak havoc in our lives. (What’s more, it is a disturbingly common problem.) In this episode, I want to explore how this need to connect (or belong) drives our behavior and how that can enhance or diminish our sense of belonging in any group or community.

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Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life.

Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more!

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