Courage to Connect

Most of our day is filled with communication. Not conversation. 

Communication is about events.

Conversations are about people. 

 Communication provides instructions.

Conversations provokes vision.

Communication creates buzzing notifications.

Conversations create compassion and reflection.

Communication adds to your TODO list.

Conversations make you forget about your TODO lists.

Enjoy this episode where Mark discusses the Power of Conversations.

Let me introduce you to Susan Wilkie, better known as Mrs.Wilkie.  There’s nobody quite like her. She has been a kindergarten teacher for over 35 years! 

According to my rough calculations: 
She’s taught over 700 students
Engaged with over 1,400 parents & grandparents
Dealt with thousands of teary eyed situations 
Celebrated hundreds of students losing the infamous 'first tooth' 
Ventured to over 105 field trips 
And breathed life into so many children for over 6,300 days! 

This was her final year of teaching and this podcast is a tribute to her. 

May this remind you of your most favorite teacher and the wisdom and insight that you've gained from them.

Do you have something in your life that are you are hoping will bloom? Or maybe you are in a season where you need to stir up the soil and plant some new seeds. Whatever season this finds you in, may you be reminded that hope is the sunlight to our desires. Growth takes time and often includes moments of pain & doubt. Just keep moving forward with an expectant heart!

"Social wellbeing is just as important as food and water!" - U.S. Surgeon General Dr.Vivek Murthy.

In this episode, Mark talks about the importance of SocialConnection with Jeffrey Mosher today on the Michigan Business Network (MBN). He unpacks the recent charge by U.S. Surgeon General Dr.Vivek Murthy on the loneliness epidemic and what companies & communities can do to help foster social wellbeing in the workplace.

He'll share ways to practice modeling The BELL Method as a great place to start fostering social wellbeing in your daily life. #Belonging #Empathy #Listening #Love.

Kristine was was diagnosed with an incurable lung and heart disease in 2020 and she thought her dreams and life were over. However, she took the diagnosis and rock bottom odds to grow, persevere and help others. May her story encourage you to stay focused on the odds you find yourself up against.

This holiday break my family and I watched a ton of movies, including ‘A Dog’s Purpose’. At the end of the movie, Bailey, the main dog shared the following 5 life lessons: 

1. Have fun when possible.
2. Find someone to save and save them.
3. Lick the ones you love.
4. Don’t get all sad faced about what happened or upset of what could have happened.
5. Just be here now.

This movie and these lessons got me thinking about the life lessons I’ve learned from our dog, Jones, who unfortunately passed away over the holiday break. Enjoy these lessons and a little reflection question for you after each one.

Most people use their alarm clock as their phone. This creates the immediate reaction to begin doom scrolling before you’ve even gotten out of bed. Finding space for 10 mins of analog time before you start your digital day can impact your intent, modify your mood, and transform your trajectory for the day. 

It’s pretty straightforward: You reflect what you receive. That’s it. The things you think about, talk about, and tend to obsess about, are the things you reflect. And the people you come into contact with each day receive those things. Like a sponge ringing out water, your life rings out the water that you've previously soaked up. When we soak up thoughts from the fountain of our future fears, we clamp a stronghold on the water that is intended to fuel our present state of life.  Unfortunately, the more we focus on the things we don't want, the more fuel we give them leading to those things pouring out of us and onto people around us.  This can hinder our ability to relate to one another, differences in all. If you want to change the way you relate to your family, co-workers, neighbors, or friends, the imitation principle may be a concept worth exploring more.

Mark Ostach helps people find the courage to connect. A globally recognized speaker on Digital Wellness and frequently featured in the USA Today, Mark has done two TED talks, written 2 books, and spoken to thousands of people encouraging them to embrace a spirit of courage through vulnerability. Mark has degrees in psychology, technology, and an interest in behavioral neuroscience. His mission is to remind the world that human connection is the most powerful connection we have. So please check your phones one last time and get ready to be inspired by Mark Ostach!