How To Be Awesome At Everything

It is so easy to get into a funk… And I think most of the time it's because we're not being hyper aware about our mindset and working to adjust things when they feel off. Prioritizing that above other things.

It might mean canceling plans or hibernating for a little bit so you can re-calibrate and come back into the world feeling good and strong - with a clear and happy mind.

Over the last few weeks, I have spent so much time in the hospital with Craig in the areas of the hospital where many of the patients are in bad shape. And then I come home and I am working to help my kids deal with their emotions and state of mind in the healthiest way we know how.

And the way I've been able to do this… Through all the ups and downs, and uncertainty… Is by knowing that the state of mine, that I am in… Is literally everything.

The night before he went in for the most recent big surgery… before we were going to bed… I had all of the kids sleeping in my bed, and Craig was in the hospital… And sweet little Parker who I think has taken all of this, the hardest this go round… Was asking me questions like… If someone goes to heaven, can you text them there?

Things that just tear at your insides… Because I know in reality the surgeries are so risky and every time we have an episode he has more scar tissue and at 51 years old we are really dealing with what is usually 80-year-old problems. It's all very heavy and there is a lot of stress and worry.

But when I find myself thinking… If the worst case happened… How would I even get off the floor… And I picture myself crying on the floor… And then I tell myself…

We're actually going to control our thoughts and we're not going to allow THAT.

I'm a big believer and you have to feel all the feelings and not suppressed things. So it's a fine balance, of course. But it's a matter of not allowing yourself to give effort towards something that you can't change. And I think a lot of us to do this in little ways all the time

Maybe you feel like a coworker has it out for you and you think they think this is this about you but in reality you'll never really know. And also… Their opinion of you just doesn't matter. In the long game… It's a relevant. So it's a matter of controlling your mindset and not giving energy to things that you can't change by worrying about it.

The other side of this… Is recognizing how you feel and figuring out what you need to get back to happy.

If you are super annoyed or irritated, or in a negative mood… rather than still living through all the things you need to do that day… I think it is so much more beneficial to pull back and figure out what you need to get your mind right again.

It would be much better to not get the grocery shopping done that day, then to go to a crowded grocery store. Will likely get more irritated because you walked in there super irritated.

And you will just have overall better interactions with everyone in your life.

Often times when we have arguments or disputes with people it's not actually about something that happened with them… it's about the state of mind that we were in when we entered the encounter.

So let's talk about actual action items we can do when we know we need a mind reset.

One of the things that I think works the very best is to pick a song or create a playlist. I have a playlist on my Spotify called Unstoppable and it's about 10 of my favorite songs that get me in a good mindset. Some of them apply more to different emotions, but in general for me, it's about getting the emotions out… Thinking through it working through it and then getting back to a happy and STRONG Place.

First one on the playlist is girl on fire by Alicia Keys.

It was the first song I put on when I was driving to the hospital to pick up Craig on the day he was able to come home from Cedars in LA… And it was the first time I had a really good cry about all of it… And it lasted three minutes.

Not because I didn't have any more emotions but because that was enough. That was what I needed to feel the emotions and then move on from this song and get back to my happy and STRONG headspace.

I love love love music as a tool for this.

Another great way to do it is journaling. Write down all the things… All the feelings and emotions and get it all out.

And then after you do that… I think you should get outside or do a work out… A physical change is the best way to get a mental change. So maybe it's journal or listen to a song or cry or whatever it is and then go move your body. To change up the situation. There's literally a 0% chance you won't feel at least a little bit better after doing the metal work and then the physical work.

The key to all of this is to understanding that this is your top priority every day. To manage your headspace means you manage your life. And you keep a continuous pulse on how you're feeling… So you don't wake up one day in this massive funk or depression, because every day, you are hyper aware of how you feel and when you're off work to fix it.

I hope this episode made you really stop and think about the importance of your state of mind and how you can actively attend to it every day for an overall happier life.

Thank you so much for listening!

Let's catch up!

I feel like I've learned lots of life lessons lately that I think will be interesting and valuable… some tips and take-aways and things to think about.

I don't do storytime podcasts often because I always try to bring up topics that I think will bring the most value and it's much less about me and much more about YOU!

But for this period of life, a catch-up episode seems like the jam. So let's go!

If you are obsessed with productivity and making the most out of your time, this episode is for you!

I'm outlining my very clear strategy for getting a full days worth of work done in exactly 3 hours.

It's taken me so many years of trial and error and reading so many books about high performers and habits and morning routines and efficiency… and from all of that, I've started doing this routine with ONE app that I will tell you about.

Now I designed this for my work life but it honestly works so well in all parts of life. It's about setting yourself up in an environment where you can be laser focused, super efficient, complete one thing before you go on to the next and avoid all distractions.

Today I'm giving you a complete blueprint for doing a full days worth of work in 3 hours. Once you do it once and see how much you can get done, you'll be obsessed! And - even better- feel the freedom of going out and enjoying the day after because you were just crazy productive.

A few key points from this podcast:

-Use app: Brain FM and set-up a 90 minute session.

-Make it impossible to be distracted

-Know ahead of time what you will work on during each session.

-Stay laser focused - know you are on a time limit.

-Do ONE THING at a time, and don't go on to something new until that one thing is done.

-Stick to the plan, do the hardest thing first.

-Get in a great environment - then don't get up for anything. Keep a little water next to you- go to the restroom first etc. This is 90 minutes of SOLID work.

-This works for ANYTHING you want to get done in your life too! Not just work! Plan a vacation, plan a kids party, organize your finances, whatever it is!

-Plan it out the night before, the morning of, or during your in between times- waiting for appointments, chill time at night, waiting in carpool, etc.

-One 90 minute session then break for 30 mins to eat and do what you need to do, then back on for another 90 minutes.

It's like a mid-way reward, and then another reward at the end.

Why this works so well!

-It's impossible to do intense work all day - which is why people lag and space it out.

-By being ULTRA productive for 3 hours- then you feel SO accomplished and the work doesn't drag out.

-It takes us SO long to get back in the rhythm after getting distracted.

-You do a BETTER job in less time because you are fully focused on it. You aren't stopping to eat or for texts etc.

Because getting your stuff done in the most efficient way and then going out and living your life is the MOST AWESOME!!

We all have days where we just feel just feel like shit. Maybe you are a little sick or under the weather or you're straight bummed out or in a bad headspace or just low on energy… how do you handle it?

I think there are so many ways to handle times when you feel crappy, and turn it into a win.

In this episode, I'm sharing lots of ideas of how to turn a wasted day in to a winning day. So many options - lean into whatever feels best to get you

Some days we have 100% energy and effort and happy headspace - and other days we have like 1% for whatever reason. Rather than label those days as "bad days" and going down a spiral and making it worse- let's be strategic about it and figure out… what's my best approach here?

What's the best way to handle this- because we know the other way to the other side is to get through it. Listen to this today and then again when you're having one of those days… together, we will turn it around. Let's go!

Lindsay talks about these ways to handle it:

-Call it a day on the issue and don't overthink it

-Do the best you can with the cards you're dealt

-Hibernate and have some alone time!

-Get outside and change your headspace

-Don't label the day as good or bad… you find what you're looking for!

David Goggins style -

-Embrace discomfort - when you're having a tough day, it's easy to want to escape and numb or avoid the pain. David Goggins style is to lean into the discomfort and push through. Maybe it's a hard workout or a tough challenge at work or face a tough conversation head on.

-Use positive self talk - reframe your mind - rest

-Embrace the suck- tough times make you stronger and more resilient in life

Brene Brown style-

-Practice self-compassion- talk to yourself like you would a good friend

-Have empathy - try to put yourself in other peoples shoes - if that's mainly what's bumming you out

-Get support- from people who love you

-Practice gratitude - focus on things you are grateful for and realize it could be worse

-Fund meaning in the struggle - the hardest times of our lives and bring the most growth and transformation. When you're having one of those days, try to find meaning in the struggle and see it as opportunity for growth and learning. The hardest times can help us become strong and more resilient and more compassionate.

CHEERS to turning SHITTY days into WINNING days!!

This is not about not taking your life or goals seriously - it's the opposite… it's allowing yourself the freedom to make mistakes, try new things, laugh at yourself… so that your worries and stresses don't consume you and prevent you from fully enjoying life.

In this podcast episode, we're talking about all the ways we can stay super focused on our priorities and being very intentional with our time, but at the same time, realizing the importance of not taking yourself too seriously.

And here's why… it's mental freedom. Freedom from replaying past conversations or situations… freedom from overthinking… freedom from being indecisive or taking things personally that you could let go.

And the best part.. by doing this and thinking this way… you'll have more FUN! And what's better than that!

Here are some of the tips that Lindsay goes through in this episode:

-Be able to laugh at yourself

We all make mistakes and wish we would have done certain things differently.

By not beating yourself up and being able to move on - we save ourselves so much mental agony.

Also, it takes work but being able to relax and take a joke- not take things too seriously - and not be offended!

-Embrace mistakes - use them for learning and growth and move on.

-Be present in the moment - it's so easy to focus on yesterday and tomorrow instead.

-Keep good perspective - and remember - this moment will not last forever - good or bad.

Will this matter in a month or in a year?

-Try new things - don't get stuck in our ways. Or telling ourselves we "aren't good" at something or "can't" do it for some reason. These are usually mental hurdles that we put up ourselves.

-Be around people who share this same thinking!

When you make a mistake, or have something to decide on… we need people who are straightforward and honest but also, so supportive and forward thinking.

-Be aware of your self-talk

The words you say to yourself create the conversation that you have in your head all day.

Stop yourself from being overly critical or negative.

Break the pattern.

-Embrace your imperfections

We all have flaws, own them, call yourself out, don't hide. Embrace them as part of what makes you unique.

-Look for humor!!

Go to a comedy show, tell jokes, if you have kids - do jokes with them!

Follow someone funny on social media… make a point to laugh daily.

-Take time to recenter - medication or stretching or calm

-Have more FUN!

The more you are doing things you love, the more fun you'll have and honestly- the less uptight you will be!

CHEERS to not taking ourselves too seriously and realizing that most of it doesn't matter anyway!

BEST TIP HERE! Just because someone asked you a question… Doesn't mean you have to answer it. Follow me here… This whole concept is game changing. We are sort of conditioned to answer a question when someone asks us one. But often times… Answering the question makes us feel crappy or we regret it later… Or we get into a conflict that we would rather avoid. Let me give you a few examples. You're 12 weeks pregnant and someone says… Wow your huge are you having twins? Are you due soon?? Now, likely, this person isn't intentionally being rude, but naturally, you're probably not gonna feel great about the questions you were just asked. So rather than feeling even more shitty and answering their questions… How about just don't. Especially if it's a stranger. My favorite way to not answer questions that I don't want to is to just smile and sort of life. It shows this like deep confidence and I'm actively choosing what I want to respond to and not. We are diving into SO MANY situations where people might ask you questions that are in intentionally rude or maybe just inconsiderate and they don't realize it… but either way, it doesn't matter. Just because someone asked you a question… Doesn't mean you have to answer it. You must listen to this entire podcast… I promise you it will serve you in ways that you don't even realize yet. FILE THIS UNDER- how did I not learn this sooner? Here are some of the things Lindsay talks about: Examples of questions! 1. Do you think your best friend is really loyal? 2. Political anything! 3. Why did you get a divorce? 4. Why aren't you nicer to your kids? 5. Why don't you have children yet? 6. Why do you spend so much time playing video games? 7. Why are you so sensitive? 8. How did you lose so much money? 9. Are you single because you're too picky? 10. Are you depressed because you had to close your business? -Instead of getting fired up or sad or offended think - NOPE! Not today! Not getting in!! -This is alllll a mental game of protecting our head space. By engaging, we let it continue. -We can't control what people say but we can control how we respond to it and the meaning we give to it. -Here are some alternate ways to respond! -Smile and laugh -Say something funny like… Oh wow I didn't know we were asking too personal and possibly offensive questions today -Oh that's yesterdays news- I'm onwards and upwards! -Oh my goodness- that's bold. I think I'll take a pass on that one! -You will feel SO GOOD!! -You're setting personal boundaries and being strong and confident. -Avoid arguments, avoid feeling crappy about something, don't allow someones judgment of you to actually affect how you think about yourself. -We are sidestepping questions to avoid all things negative! -You are left with a feeling of control and self protection! It's empowering! Too often we walk away from interactions with other people feeling deflated or uncomfortable or just down about ourselves. Can we avoid so much of this by not answering questions we dont want to! CHEERS to protecting your headspace and never answering questions that you dont want to!

You might know that one of my favorite things is throwing kids parties and I thought it'd be fun to do a Q and A episode with all of the questions I've gotten lately about throwing awesome kids parties.

My goal is always to set-up an experience that is special and in a way magical for everyone that comes to the party.

It's a moment in time to celebrate your little birthday boy or girl in a way that is perfect for age and what they are into right now… and something for them to look forward to and help plan… and then feel so special and loved at the party.

I think my love for kids parties extends from how cool it is to see things through kids eyes. To see them get so excited and have so much fun, is just the best.

In today's episode, we're focusing on enjoying the process of party planning, maximizing your budget and spending less than you probably think… and building an event that runs smoothly and everyone has a great time.

Here are some of the questions that Lindsay answers:

-How do you plan out the timing of it?

-What went well, what went wrong? What did you learn from this party?

-What food do you serve?

-How much does the party cost?

-How do you know shirts sizes for kids?

-How far ahead of time do you start planning?

-How do you create the space for parties? Tent, fabric, etc.

-When does it make sense to rent a venue?

-How do you get helpers to help out?

-Prep things in the weeks leading up to it - little by little

-Spread out buying things - little by little

-What to buy and what to rent?

-How do you build dessert backdrops?

-I am finishing an online course about ALL OF THIS!!

Check out HowToBeAwesomeAtEverything.com for Lindsay's kids party course coming soon! And for lots of other free podcasts on this topic and planning downloads.

Thanks for listening! Have an awesome day!!

You want to hear something crazy… I've helped dozens of people start a podcast in the last year and most of them are making real money within the first few months.

And the best part is - they all look so different. Some of them have do not have a big following or an established business or so many of the other things you might think they would.

The real secret here is that there are so many ways to make money from having a podcast, you just need to LEAN into which way works best for you.

I love this topic so much because nobody is talking about it!

Sure, people talk about about having podcasts sponsors for each episode, the traditional stuff.. but I haven't found anybody is who is having a FULL picture conversation about all the ways that a podcast can make you money.

Podcasting is the way to communicate and educate and entertain these days.. and it's the very best way to create an audience for yourself and a community.

In this episode I am going to walk you through all the ways you can profit from your podcast if you have one already…. and if you don't… there's no better time than now. You're not late to the game I promise. And once you hear how much money you can make, you'll agree with me.

-A podcast can make you money in ways that you don't even know now or have a plan for.

-A podcast can help you build a brand or help you create a lifestyle brand.

-I decided to create an online course to teach people how to start podcasts because, in my opinion, it is the single best decision you can make that is low cost and a low time commitment that creates an audience for yourself.

-And we know that those who have attention, have horsepower.

-And the bonus is, it's crazy fulfilling. If you haven't listened to the first podcast on this, go back and listen to # 239.

-Lindsay's podcast group starts soon (if you're listening real time)

Check out more info here:

https://howtobeawesomeateverything.com/pages/business-strategy-mentoring

And her online course all about how to start and MAKE MONEY is available always here:

https://howtobeawesomeateverything.com/pages/the-courses

And of course, visit HowToBeAweseomeAtEverything.com for all things awesome!!

I have two very special guests with me today..

Presley and Parker!

Which means… this is a kids edition!

So round up your kids - this is an episode to listen to with them!

It is a topic that is great for kids of all ages- and adults too- it's about own to maintain your self standards… even when other people don't!

It's not always easy… but we have a great plan for how to do it.

-What do we mean by self standards?

What you hold yourself to. The type of person you are. How you make people feel.

-So first we must figure out… what type of person do you want to be?

-Now for the kids listening, please do the same thing. Let's say out loud your answer to this question - what type of person you want to be?

Here are some ideas just to get you thinking…

Considerate, kind, loving, funny, fun, supportive, determined, hard working, loyal, positive talker and enthusiastic

-You can even write it down and keep it in your bedroom or bathroom.

-Now, in life, none of us are perfect and sometimes we make decisions that don't match who we want to be.

-When you are in a situation and someone else is unkind to you, it's easy to react in the same way that they treated you. But the problem is, this isn't who we have promised ourselves we would be.

-This podcast episode is all about staying true to the type of person that we have decided we are going to be.

-EVEN WHEN people don't treat you how you want to be treated.

-They are lowering their standards for themselves, but we don't want to do the same.

-So that's what we want to work through today… WHAT type of person are you going to be? And then, everyday we want to work to keep ourselves making decisions that support the type of person we want to be.

-Sounds pretty easy right? It's easy when we are thinking about it- but sometimes when real life throws curve balls our way… it will test us!

-So we need to decide the type of person we want to be then really work on sticking to it each day.

-Let's talk about a few examples.

-What if you're on the playground someone says- are your shoes new? You say yes, and they say, well they are ugly.

Your reaction might be to say something mean back like… well yours are old and dirty.

-So what happened here is they lowered their standard of themselves.. and then you did too.

-You might feel like you defended yourself so you might feel good for a second like you got them back… but then you don't feel so good.

Why? Because that's not the person you want to be. You don't want to be mean because they were mean.

-But you can't let people walk on you either. So it gets tricky to uphold your standards for yourself but also be able to be strong and stand up for yourself when you need to.

We hope this episode helped you decide who you are going to be and then make decisions each day to support that!

Thank you for listening! Have an awesome day!

Love, Lindsay, Presley and Parker

A lot of the podcast episode topics I choose are things that I am personally trying to become more awesome at.

Things I haven't mastered and it's a work in progress and I want to learn more and do better and share what I've learned

Every now and then there's a podcast topic, that I can humbly and confidently say I've got it. This is one of those.

How to be awesome at not being easily offended.

It is so hard to actually offend me. It's kind of crazy to think about.

Today we are diving into what it actually takes to not be offended by things that people say to you or situations that are outside your control. Often times we are assuming or projecting or making something small into something big.

By not being easily offended, you free up so much mental bandwidth and you save yourself so much stress and agony.

A big part of this is believing people when they show you who they are. And then adjust your relationship if you need to. If you are close to someone who is constantly offending you… do you need to do some inner work so you aren't taking things offensively OR do you need to put a little distance between you and them?

I think not being offended is a superpower because you have the confidence to know that when things go sideways, you can brush it off and move on because that leaves you feeling awesome instead of shitty! no brainer right?

-Question for you - if you see a party that you weren't invited to- but some of your friends were- are you offended?

Or do you look at all sides of it?

-Also- put space between you and people who make you feel offended!

A big part of this is believing people when they show you who they are. And then adjust your relationship if you need to. If you are close to someone who is constantly offending you… do you need to do some inner work so you aren't taking things offensively OR do you need to put a little distance between you and them?

-Here's the thing- I know that I wake up everyday and do my best to be a kind and considerate human and just do the best I can with everything I do. I make mistakes and miss the mark sometimes but I know that I'm an awesome person at my core.

-2 ways we often feel offended….

1. --Someone is directly rude or hurtful --Something happens and we create a story about it that may or may not be true. -It's rarely about you! Almost nothing is actually personal. -When someone is someone being critical of you or is hurtful or talks down to you… It is often about them! -They could be feeling vulnerable or insecure or unhappy or jealous…. When people are struggling they often try to boost themselves up by putting you down. They are taking their stuff out on you. -You've probably heard the saying… Only hurt people, hurt people. -When we feel good about ourselves, we don't go around trying to belittle others or be mean. It's usually when people are hurting themselves. -Be able to ask yourself… is there any truth to this? Take a second and ask yourself if you did something that came across in that way? Be mature and not defensive… even if their delivery sucked. Maybe you'll be like ok… I could have handled that a bit better- I see how it could have been taken like that. Or not, and then you let it go. -The KEY to mastering this… is knowing yourself. Be self aware! I know myself well and this isn't aligned. Final on how not to be offended:

   1. Practice empathy! Put yourself in the other person's shoes and try to understand their perspective.

   2. Laugh it off! Being able to laugh at yourself and the world around you can help you see the lighter side of things and not take things so seriously.

   3. Let it go! Holding onto grudges and resentments can be exhausting and can make it easier for you to feel offended. Try to let go of negative emotions and focus on the positive aspects of your life.

   4. Communicate! In an open and honest way! If something someone says or does bothers you, it's important to communicate your feelings in a constructive way. By expressing yourself in a respectful and honest manner, you can help prevent misunderstandings and build stronger relationships.

Be super self-aware! This can help you recognize when you are feeling offended and why. What truth is here? What do I need to let go of? It's a serious superpower and leads to happier days, weeks and months! CHEERS TO FEELING LIGHTER & HAPPIER BY NOT GETTING EASILY OFFENDED!