Joyful Living

April is turning into SUCH a powerful month of episodes of the Joyful Living Podcast! All of this month’s episodes, starting with Episode 39, have been building on each other to give you some powerful strategies and insights to support creating a life you truly LOVE. In last week’s episode, we discussed how to take our BIG + BEAUTIFUL plans/schedules and harmonize them with creating in flow, rather than force. Taking these principles even deeper, today’s episode of Joyful Living dives into the art of receiving, as well as getting totally authentic about resisting our temptation for “done-ness”  or “arrival” mentality (which is really another form of perfectionism).

During meditation before April began, I felt inspired to apply these principles and practices to my life in an even bigger way. In the meditation I was inspired to set “April Showers (that lead to May Flowers) as my intention for April.

What does “April Showers” refer to? At it’s heart, April Showers is all about RECEIVING.

It can be so easy for us to stay in “get ‘er done” mode that it can be very uncomfortable to shift into receiving. However, if we desire to life joyfully and whole-heartedly, we get to learn how to receive gracefully and in deep gratitude.

With our big dreams and goals we think we really want what we want, but are we really prepared to receive what we desire? If someone came and gave us exactly what we’re hoping and praying for, would we feel 100% peaceful about accepting the gift? Most of us would resist the gift. We’d feel embarrassed, inadequate, overwhelmed, or even slighted for receiving the gift right now. In fact, so many of us are actually trying to “earn” the gifts in life, proving ourselves worthy of them, that we’re denying ourselves the opportunity to actually receive the gift. Isn’t that fascinating human psychology?

We all have an inner thermostat set for receiving only what we are comfortable to receive. If we start receiving more than that, we get uncomfortable. However, our dreams and goals are outside our comfort zone, so if we really desire to shift things in our life, we get to adjust our thermostat and experience greater joy in receiving.

Listen in to this powerful episode of the Joyful Living Podcast to better understand how to receive the desires of your heart. Also, enjoy some poignant insights on how to let go of chasing the mirage of “arriving” or being “done” (perfectionism that leads to some painful comparison and conflict, especially within sisterhood).

Also, if you haven’t yet listened to Episode 39 and snagged your 4-Step Path to Create a Life You Love Workbook, be sure to do so right away!

p.s. Stay inspired to live in greater JOY everyday by subscribing to the Joyful Living Podcast in iTunes or Stitcher. Excited to cheer you on in living a life you love! Already subscribed and love the show? Be sure to leave a review in iTunes and feel of my deep gratitude!

After the last episode of the Joyful Living Podcast, you are most likely feeling so excited about implementing your plans and schedule to create a life you love! But with all plans, LIFE HAPPENS. Sometimes that can feel REALLY discouraging and we can get derailed from creating what we desire as a result. In today’s episode we’re going to dive in to how to work with the plans and schedules while also shifting into creating in greater flow.

What’s the alternative to creating in flow? CREATING IN FORCE. This leads to exhaustion, overwhelm and often a feeling that you’ll never “get there.” However, creating in force has become the norm in our society. If you’re not busy and exhausted, people may get suspicious that you’re not pulling your weight in life and may even think you’re being lazy. But this type of working and “living” rarely creates the results we’re desiring (or if it does, those results come at an extremely high and painful cost, many times in our relationships, health and other key things that matter most to us). But the good news is: force doesn’t have to be your reality.

Listen in to get a feel for what “flow” actually looks and feels like when creating massively and intentionally. Discover ways to have your schedule harmonize with the desires of your heart and what you’re creating.

This episode is a perfect complement to Episode 39, so be sure to listen to both to really get a solid feel for these concepts, along with downloading the free 4-Step Path to Create a Life You Love Workbook from Episode 39.

p.s. Stay inspired to live in greater JOY everyday by subscribing to the Joyful Living Podcast in iTunes or Stitcher. Excited to cheer you on in living a life you love! Already subscribed and love the show? Be sure to leave a review in iTunes and feel of my deep gratitude!

Are you ready for some POWERFUL clarity to support you creating and LIVING a life you love? I’m so excited to share this special episode of the Joyful Living Podcast with you today!

Over the past 6+ years I’ve used a powerful 4-Step path to navigate creating the success and joy I now enjoy. Step by step, week by week, this process has kept me on track with my goals and dreams. Today I am sharing my secret weapon with you. Using this process is what makes some people look at me and scratch their head wondering, “how does she get ALL that done?”

This past school-year this process has been even more important than usual. I felt inspired to homeschool my children and knew it was exactly what we needed most right now. However, I also knew that I had our residual income business to continue to grow and manage, a podcast to produce and I was also recovering from adrenal fatigue (from a few years of overworking and not doing things in balance).

How would it be possible to recover my health and manage all of these effectively?

Welcome to the 4-Step process I’ve been refining over the years!

This year I perfected it even more and put it more fully to the test and we’ve been reaping the rewards! Has it always been smooth sailing? Absolutely not. However, my children are thriving and it’s been a very successful homeschool year, my health is thriving and our business is thriving as well. AND, I’M NOT CRAZY. All of these feel like big wins (especially the “not crazy” part).

So many powerful insights in this special episode of the Joyful Living Podcast! Author, Misti Stevenson, joins us for an in-depth discussion on finding joy, even in the midst of anxiety, depression and family struggles.

Misti is a mother of 5 who brought so many lovely insights into this discussion. One of my favorites was her mantra: “LOVE PEOPLE + LET THEM BE FREE.”

She also discussed the need for presence, being truthful about what we’re feeling and setting healthy boundaries (even when it’s uncomfortable). I hope you enjoy this thoughtful and love-filled episode!

About Misti Stevenson:

Misti Stevenson’s Facebook Fan Page

I experienced OCD, anxiety, depression, and family control issues for over 23 years but after a lot of hard work, patience, persistence, and faith in the Savior I have been completely set free of those chains! I love sharing hope with others that they can to! I’m the author of “He Delivered Even Me, He Will Deliver Even You” available at Deseret Book and Amazon.

I speak on emotional/mental sicknesses, family dysfunction/control issues, as well as creating healthy boundaries with those we love. The awesome product of that is your love for others as well as yourself actually increases when we set those boundaries!

p.s. Stay inspired to live in greater JOY everyday by subscribing to the Joyful Living Podcast in iTunes or Stitcher. Excited to cheer you on in living a life you love! Already subscribed and love the show? Be sure to leave a review in iTunes and feel of my deep gratitude!

 

If you want to experience greater success in life, time to put your joy as a priority NOW. It can be so easy to put off joy for “someday” or “when I lose those pounds/make all that money/etc.” that we are missing one of the greatest secrets to creating what we desire: LIVING IN JOY NOW. Special guest Tiffany Peterson joins us for a powerful conversation about how to claim and receive more joy now. There are SO many golden nuggets in this episode of Joyful Living!

Tiffany starts the conversation by sharing what “joyful living” means to her:

* Joy in being alive

* Great, thriving relationships with self, God, and others

Then we dove deeply into what this looks like and how to let more joy in to our lives. During our conversation, Tiffany shared this favorite quote of hers:

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one and precious life?” – Mary Oliver

One of the major reasons I was excited to have Tiffany on the show is that she is such a champion for the need for self-care. You’ll love how she expounds on this concept and shares how self-care is not selfishness. There are powerful keys for unlocking your joy here.

About Tiffany Peterson

Tiffany Peterson is a seasoned speaker and international coach guiding individuals, teams, and audiences in creating thriving lives and business results.

Before founding her own company, The Lighthouse Principles, Tiffany worked with and for many popular brands: Franklin Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the world famous Rich Dad, Poor Dad series, and Jack Canfield, creator of The Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Tiffany has been responsible for achieving sales budgets that range upwards of $40 million in annual revenue. She loves sharing her sales secrets and strategies with others to help them create a sustainable income living their business dreams.

For more information about creating your ideal life and results, visit her website at www.TiffanySpeaks.com

p.s. Stay inspired to live in greater JOY everyday by subscribing to the Joyful Living Podcast in iTunes or Stitcher. Excited to cheer you on in living a life you love! Already subscribed and love the show? Be sure to leave a review in iTunes and feel of my deep gratitude!

Are you ready to feel joy even more deeply? Are you ready to experience it more frequently in your life? Are you simply ready to feel more alive? This powerful episode of the Joyful Living Podcast offers some very simple, yet transformational insights and practices on how to experience joy more deeply than ever before.

Feeling joy DEEPLY is more simple than you think. Listen in to hear the crucial key to making this possible. You are SOOOO worth it, my dear!

p.s. Stay inspired to live in greater JOY everyday by subscribing to the Joyful Living Podcast in iTunes or Stitcher. Excited to cheer you on in living a life you love! Already subscribed and love the show? Be sure to leave a review in iTunes and feel of my deep gratitude!

Most of us have heard the quote most often attributed to Steve Jobs that says: “the ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do” (full quote in this awesome video from Apple). But today it’s time to look deeper. How many of us are really avoiding stepping fully into our genius, following our hearts, and living our dreams because… well.. it might be/seem/look/feel/etc. kind of CRAZY to everyone around us? Having done this off and on for years, I’ve now deepened my commitment to forever raise the white flag of peace: I will not fight my heart anymore.

Why does this matter? Because we need to find our hearts and live from them to be truly free and joy-filled, but we can’t do this if we continue to hold back because of how it might rock the boat for everyone around us. The collective insanity encourages us to play small, be grateful for what we have, and don’t rock the boat.

 

It’s become cliche to “like” or “pin” quotes like: “follow your dreams” and “believe in yourself.” However, is the message sinking in? Are we as a people really doing more of this? Are we really believing in ourselves more and following our dreams? In my experience, as a collective we’re all too often not. We’re living mediocre lives and waiting for things to change or for someone to save us from our life situations. We sit and we wait. We don’t live. We survive and we just get by.

But YOU are what you’re really waiting for. Do you believe this? Do you believe it in every cell of your body? Do you really believe your dreams are sacred and that you are worth it? Do you really believe your life matters?

Listen in to this powerful episode of the Joyful Living Podcast to kindle the fire burning within you, to find your heart and commit to following it.

Oh… and you might want to listen to “Fight Song” afterwards.

It’s never what we’re doing that makes a meaningful life; it’s how/why we do it that matters. All of us go through the motions of the same basic things in our lives: we eat, sleep, work, receive new life and experience loss/death. But the major difference in how we experience these things is what’s going on within. Our inner myth/story guides whether or not we experience our lives positively or negatively. Are we a victim of our life’s circumstance or are we the hero or our life story?

In what is likely my most candid and raw episode of the Joyful Living Podcast, we dive deep into the call to hear and answer the call of your own heart and soul.  This certainly is no easy task. In fact, this is the work of a meaningful life and, as such, requires immense courage and trust. Powerful insights are shared that will support you in this great and most important work.

The powerful affirmation I shared during this episode (from You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay):

“I relax into the flow of life and let life provide all that I need easily and comfortably. Life is for me.”

The invitation of this episode is to COME ALIVE by letting go of fear and living more from your essence. This is the adventure of a lifetime. It’s why you’re here. AND it’s what your soul is craving. Nothing else can fill that hole, my love. YOU fill the hole and in so doing become WHOLE.

For this journey to be a success, you must find your inner spark and stoke the flame. You need your inner hearth burning strong and bright to give you the strength to embody your essence. Lean into this season of Imbolc (Celtic festival of fire and Saint Brighid), rekindle your inner flame and then… let the light SHINE.

 

p.s. Stay inspired to live in greater JOY everyday by subscribing to the Joyful Living Podcast in iTunes or Stitcher. Excited to cheer you on in living a life you love! Already subscribed and love the show? Be sure to leave a review in iTunes and feel of my deep gratitude!

I’m deeply honored and thrilled to share this special episode of the Joyful Living Podcast with you. My special guest, Jeff Olsen, is an incredible friend of mine whom I am inspired by daily. Jeff’s remarkable story of losing his wife and baby son tragically in a car accident in 1997 and the life-transforming experiences and growth that have come from this are sure to inspire and strengthen you as you listen. The most powerful insights he shares are about courageously choosing joy every single day, as well as honoring and sharing our stories.

Jeff shares how there are only 2 forces in the universe: love and fear. He invites all of us to lean more into love and let go of fear. He also shares of his personal experiences with the Divine and how this transformed how he lives his everyday life and relates with others. It’s truly a deeply inspiring and empowering episode.

About Jeff Olsen:

Website: AtOneNow.com

Jeff Olsen is a best selling author and inspires audiences internationally with his intriguing personal story of perseverance and inner strength. Jeff has appeared on many national radio and television programs sharing his insights and gifts and serves on several local boards and committees.

In 1997, Jeff experienced a horrific automobile accident which inflicted multiple life threatening injuries, including crushing both his legs. His left leg was amputated above the knee. The most devastating outcome of the accident was the loss of his wife and youngest son, both killed instantly. At that time, Jeff had profound spiritual experiences, which gave him insights and gifts not common in today’s world. After almost six months in the hospital and eighteen surgeries, Jeff found the courage to carry on, heal, care for his living son and eventually thrive in his career and community contributions.

Professionally Olsen is a conceptual thinker, a proven team leader, and a die-hard brand enthusiast. He is currently Executive Director of a national consumer engagement agency, involved on marketing campaigns for Fortune 500 companies across the country. Jeff brings vision and passion to everything he does. With accolades from the New York One Show, the Clio Awards and Communication Arts, Jeff takes his place among the lynch pins of his industry. Couple his creative recognition with appearances in Forbes Magazine, the Inc. 500 and an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist Award and you have a winning combination of talent and tenacity.

Jeff has remarried since his automobile accident and adopted two more boys. He enjoys being in the great outdoors and contributing to the greater good of his community. His greatest joy however comes from simply being a husband, father and friend.

His best selling books are: “I Knew Their Hearts” and “Beyond Mile Marker 80”

p.s. Stay inspired to live in greater JOY everyday by subscribing to the Joyful Living Podcast in iTunes or Stitcher. Excited to cheer you on in living a life you love! Already subscribed and love the show? Be sure to leave a review in iTunes and feel of my deep gratitude!

We frequently discuss all the yummy and beautiful emotions we typically think of as related to joy. As a culture we crave the highs and fear the lows. But, what if the highs and lows are both sides of the same coin? Today on Joyful Living we’re flipping the coin to look at what to do when those big, nasty emotions surface. Our typical response can be to judge ourselves/others, fear the emotion (and then bury it), or distract ourselves from it (can also look like putting on a happy face and moving on).

The invitation into greater joy requires us to experience and grow from both the highs AND the lows (and this doesn’t necessarily mean learning what not to do from the lows).

As heroes of our life stories, it doesn’t serve us to judge ourselves (or others) when painful or difficult emotions come up. Each emotion offers an invitation to go deeper, to seek understanding and to bring light and love to the process.

In this episode of Joyful Living I share my recent experiences with being sick and the MAJOR EMOTIONS and skeletons that were unleashed out of my closet, as well as my reaction to them. It wasn’t all that pretty and it isn’t something I share proudly, however, I offer it for you to have greater courage to dance with your own skeletons and not run away from your dark emotions. All arise in our systems as great teachers and supports in our hero journey.

In this winter season, embrace the call to let go and let die so you can be reborn from the ashes. Learn the lessons, receive the gifts as you experience the pain and suffering that can occur as things come forward in your psyche ready to die. YOU’RE READY FOR THIS, BRILLIANT ONE.

p.s. Stay inspired to live in greater JOY everyday by subscribing to the Joyful Living Podcast in iTunes or Stitcher. Excited to cheer you on in living a life you love! Already subscribed and love the show? Be sure to leave a review in iTunes and feel of my deep gratitude!