LifeLift

Oola is about finding balance— and growth— in the seven key areas of life (Fitness, Finance, Family, Faith, Field, Friends, & Fun), while living with less stress…

… so that we can live our purpose.

The digital framework uniquely bends to you— and then pushes you forward by providing you with curated videos and suggestions specifically for you.

The daily tracker— on an app— marks your progress, checks daily streaks, and provides built-in accountability (and celebration) for your progress…

🚌

In this video I talk you through the product itself…

👉 we discuss the 70 questions you answer— as you build out your “Oola wheel”

👉 we talk about the Design My Life Blueprint you create— that location of where you want to be

👉 we chat about My Breakthrough Experience, the initial 90 days that move you through the blockers, beyond the setback mindsets, and right into the accelerators

👉 we chart My Personalized Path…

👉 we outline the daily tracker— and talk about how it navigates you from your current location to your best case scenario…

(You can watch the product demo at www.Jenkins.tv/demo.)

🚌🚌🚌

After all of that, I take a quick turn and bend this talk into a Bible study…

That is, we talk about SIN.

Specifically, I highlight Romans 3:23— “all have sinned.”

Here’s my take—

One of the biggest issues with sin is that it distorts the image of glory we’ve been designed to carry.

(This is one of the life lessons I’ve learned the hard way, BTW— school of hard knocks.)

The greater issue is this: sin creates a distortion of our unique form, of the greatness we were given from the very beginning. Sin keeps us from seeing who we really are. Sin hinders wholeness, completion.

It holds us back from out destiny.

The word hamartia (the Greek word for "sin") actually means "without form."

✅ ha = the Greek prefix which means “without”

✅ martia = the word derived from “meros,” meaning FORM or DESIGN.

That is, the word sin doesn't just mean "failure."

Rather, it actually means that we've walked away from our true identity, the blueprint we were given from the beginning of time.

That’s a lot different than you typically hear it preached at church services, isn’t it?

🔥🔥🔥

Here’s a BIG IDEA— >>

If you get your identity right-- if you walk in your true design-- the morality takes care of itself. In fact, all of the other issues do, too.

So, when he writes about sin, Paul calls us to something greater than a do/don't mentality… he beckons us to elevate ourselves above the rules of right vs. wrong and walk in the beauty of who we were designed to be (Romans 15:15).

In ancient literature, the word meros ("form," the root of martia) is often used of blueprints— that is, designs for buildings. If the design isn’t solid, the final product is distorted from what was intended by the architect.

Paul reminds us that we have a perfect design. Sin isn’t just a moral issue, then; sin is a decision to walk away from our eternal design.

In fact, the second HALF of that Romans 3:23 tells us precisely the FORM we’ve missed…

“All have sinned and fallen short of glory…”

That is, our original intention— and the thing which Jesus redeemed— is a restoration of that glory, that value, that “weight.”

🔥🔥🔥

I love how, rather than appealing to a legalistic “do vs. don’t” mentality, Paul calls us to something greater... to shine as the people we really are.

That’s the subject of this week’s talk…

And this Oola framework is a tool to help you walk in that design…

+++++++++++++

How much does it cost?

The first month costs $77. Each additional month is $47.

Oola carries a 30-day money back guarantee, and you can cancel at anytime.

If you want to do “the business side” there’s an annual fee of $50, which provides a website, business app, and the opportunity to earn an income.

Ambassadors (business builders) receive their product free if they have 3 members, meaning you could pay for the first month ($77) and your annual fee ($50) and never have to pay again.

So, either—-

👉 $77 + tax to be a Member.

Or,

👉 $77 + $50 = $127 + tax to do the business.

Link here for both options: www.MyOola.OolaLife.com/AndrewEJenkins 

+++++++++++++

Ready to enroll, do your own Design My Life Blueprint, and begin your personal transformation ?

👉 https://myoola.oolalife.com/andrewejenkins/enrollment/memberconfiguration 

Want to watch the short video?

👉 www.Jenkins.tv/demo 

Want to watch Dave’s demonstration?

👉 www.Jenkins.tv/app 

Want to take the 21 day email challenge?

👉 www.Jenkins.tv/21 

Want to join the #Hilltop Hangout, our Oola-driven Facebook group?

👉 www.Facebook.com/groups/AndrewEJenkins 

Let me introduce you to Bryan Clay…

You’ve probably already SEEN him, but you may not know him.

Long before I met Bryan I saw a photo of him circulating the Internet— one where he was draped in the American flag, fresh off winning the Decathlon. That feat officially dubbed him, for that four year Olympic period, “World’s Greatest Athlete.”

But he’d already won— on some level— even before he had the title. Prior to the Olympics, Clay was tested by SPARQ to establish his SPARQ Rating across a number of different sports. The test is meant to measure sport-specific athleticism. In the football test Bryan hit 130.40, the highest ever recorded up to that point. By comparison, Reggie Bush— a noted running back from USC— scored a 93.38.

Anyway…

🥈 Bryan won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics (Athens), where he posted his best score…

🥇 He returned and collected the gold in 2008 (Beijing).His victory margin of 240 points in the 2008 Beijing Olympics was the largest since 1972. And, he performed personal bests in SEVERAL of the events…

🔥

Then there’s this…

I’ve gotten to see Bryan on a personal level. And, as great of an athlete as he is, he’s a MUCH better person.

A husband, a father, a coach, and business entrepreneur, Bryan has his hand in a lot of things— and has moved on from athletics to, well… the next chapter of life.

In this talk, we chat about several things, life lessons picked up from the track…

Like…

👇

Lesson 1: Control what you can control, and trust Providence for the rest.

We get this one backwards— a lot. We blame factors we can’t do anything about (i.e., the weather, what other people do, etc.), yet we fail to take extreme ownership fo the stuff we CAN control…

Like our mindset…

… and our schedule….

… and doing the necessary work to show up, full strength.

👇👇

Lesson 2: Don’t overlook the small stuff.

Every big goal can be broken down into dozens (and often more) small things.

You know the saying, “You eat an elephant one bite at a time…”

And, “You run a marathon one step at a time.”

Or, “You achieve any dream one small action at a time…”

The problem with the small stuff is two-fold:

✅ Sometimes it’s tedious. There’s not a lot of glory in it. So we push on to something more “visible” and “important.”

✅ The small stuff is often SO small that we undervalue its significance.

👇👇👇

Lesson 3: You aren’t what you do.

Bryan talks of waking up the first day as a non-official athlete. Before that time, his routine had become so regimented that it literally involved every waking hour…

… if he wasn’t DOING something athletic, he was THINKING something athletic.

But what do you do when that’s gone?

Or, to make it relevant to us…

What do you do when your job changes?

Or your role?

Or a relationship?

You’ve got to resolve your identity— and it’s NOT what you do. So, find out WHO you are, and then let the good stuff overflow from there, regardless of what you choose to do with your time…

👇👇👇👇

Lesson 4: Everything is (literally) figure-out-able.

You’re probably not going to stumble into something that’s not ever been done. And even then, the success of others always leaves clues behind.

(Tip: watch the video + read the post “Success is recipe” at www.Jenkins.tv/blog/AP02 )

If you’re trying to build a business, reach out to friends who’ve done it before— and get them to show you how. If you want to do anything, for that matter, find an expert….

… in the same way athletes use coaches, don’t neglect the power of a “coach” (paid or otherwise) to help you figure your next steps out.

Take the lessons the past and move forward in your next chapter. Bryan talks of taking his grit and determination with him from the track to the board room table.

👇👇👇👇👇

Lesson 5: Your sweet spot is at the intersection of your skills and your passions.

(Now, I love this because it connects well with the video I posted here: www.Jenkins.tv/blog/AP11. There, I talk about the importance of your skills, your passions, and your financial opportunities.)

Applying this lesson took Bryan into his Eat the Frog fitness opportunity, a franchise-able gym he co-owns. And, true to form, he figured it out… with the help of a trusted friend.

I asked him about the name, which led to the final lesson here…

👇👇👇👇👇👇

Lesson 6: Eat the frog first 🐸

That is, do the hardest thing first— and let everything else fall in place.

Yes, sometimes there are moments when you need a quick win (Ok, sure, make the bed first thing in the morning— it takes 2-3 minutes and sets the tone). But when you have a list of things that NEED to be done, take the biggest first…

This mindset creates a ripple effect that infuses all of life…

🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌

In the end, Bryan and I discuss a way you can connect with him and continue interacting with him— via our Oola #1B7 team…

Oola is about finding balance— and growth— in the seven key areas of life (Fitness, Finance, Family, Faith, Field, Friends, & Fun), while living with less stress…

… so that we can live our purpose.

The digital framework uniquely bends to you— and then pushes you forward by providing you with curated videos and suggestions specifically for you.

The daily tracker— on an app— marks your progress, checks daily streaks, and provides built-in accountability (and celebration) for your progress.

++++++++++

Links for this talk

Brian’s linktree = www.Linktr.ee/bryanclay 

To join Bryan’s team as an Oola Ambassador and work with Bryan + me + our team, join here: https://myoola.oolalife.com/teamclay/enrollment/ambassadorconfiguration (Ambassadors use the platform, receive coaching, and can earn an income)

To be coached by Bryan and the team and join as a member, go here: https://myoola.oolalife.com/teamclay/enrollment/memberconfiguration 

Bryan’s gym: https://www.eatthefrogfitness.com/ 

In this talk I continue where I left off last week (see www.Jenkins.tv/blog/170), talking about the Oola story. My piece in it, anyway…

Right now, Oola is in the middle of a global launch. In fact, it’s HAPPENING the day this podcast airs— 7/7/2021.

The goal is to positively impact 1 BILLION (yes, with a “B”) over the next 7 years…

And, even though Beth + I have bought Into the vision (and invite you to join us), that’s not where it began for me…

🚌

About seven years ago I met Dave + Troy, the Oola guys…

Seeing someone else do some of the things I wanted to do stretched me into some of what I do today…

👉 Writing books

👉 Learning about email funnels

👉 Understanding how websites + webpages work

👉 Social media

The first book I pushed out to a larger audience was about natural health + essential oils.

Here’s the connection to Oola—

👉 Hearing Dave + Troy speak the first time awakened me to the idea that I could write that book— and push it out into the public space

👉 The guys actually wrote the foreword to the first edition

Here’s where it gets even more interesting (for me, anyway):

Travis, now the CEO / C0-founder of Oola Global was the COO at Young Living Essential Oils at the time I wrote that book…

He became by de-facto “fact checker” about the history of the company, as well as some of the data I provided about current operations. Then, in a real sense, he opened a few doors for me to help share that book with others.

Over the past seven years I’ve gotten to know all three of these men in various forms…

Here’s a pic of me interviewing Travis onstage at an event back in 2015.

Sometimes, people ask if the CEOs, CFOs, or other leaders are who they appear to be on the stage…

… Travis, onstage and off, walks with a humble-swagger, a gentle confidence that is genuinely FOR other people, consistently calling for the best in them.

In fact, during a tough chapter of my life, well after he’d moved from his C-level position at Young Living to help lead Isagenix (two companies he helped grow to $1 billion + in annual revenue), he reached out via text… just to check in, as he knew I was in the midst of one of the most difficult fights of my life…

When I first learned of the Oola Global opportunity I was “sold.” All in— as they say.

About halfway through the discussion I learned Travis was involved— and it gave me even MORE confidence that this was an incredible opportunity.

🚌

Anyway, back to the Oola guys—

I’ve seen them up-close-and-personal a few times, as well. In fact, we hosted two different events in Birmingham at which they spoke— one that was a “normal” event and another that was on the Oola Dream Bus tour…

The guys decided to collect one million dreams— on stickers— all over the VW bus. I watched, that night, as people approached the bus, many with tears in their eyes, placing the dream out there…

… the thing they wanted desperately to see change.

👉 rebuild the marriage

👉 find a group of friends, so they didn’t feel alone

👉 reignite their faith

👉 climb out of debt

👉 navigate towards a career that fulfilled their purpose rather than just providing a paycheck

👉 cling to their kids in new ways

We held the bus stop at Avondale Brewery, so the guys drove into the backyard, where concerts and events are held. Then, they spoke to a crowd in the open air environment…

Music blasting.

Beer + food trucks + more…

It was, well, an experience…

Here’s a pic during the talk.

During the rocky estrangement-separation-divorce chapter I lived years ago, Dave also reached out. If you know his story, you remember that back in 2008, just as the economy collapsed, his life fell apart, too…

“You OK?” he asked. Then— “You might not feel like you are, but you will be… I promise.”

In a real sense, he spoke to me— multiple times— in ways that couldn’t be quite communicated with bumper-stickerisms and cliche Bible verses that others wanted to toss at me…

I get it. I believe the Bible.

But sometimes, even though the verses ARE TRUE, you need something MORE than just a few words…

“If you need me, reach out,” Dave told me— more than once. “Most of the time my day is packed. But if you message me early in the morning, I’ll find a window for you and connect that day.”

And he did…

Eventually I found myself in a better chapter… just like he and others promised would happen. One May, Beth + I headed to the beach, to 30A.

“Get a picture of that bus,” I told her. “I’m going to send it to Dave. It’s a blank canvas…”

In a real way, I felt like it was a blank canvas for me…

This pic is a real life boomerang…

… a reminder that “The Lord is patient… wanting all to experience true life” (2 Peter 3:9, my translation).

Remember, I had at one time lost everything.

And by everything, I mean everything…

💔 Marriage = gone (ever had the one you were in covenant with just, overnight, freeze you out?)

💔 Finances = obliterated (been to less than $100 in your checking account?)

💔 Faith = big gasp— what was God doing— and was this God or was this me?

💔 Career = 💣

But God is patient. That’s what 2 Peter 3:9 says…

And, it’s KINDNESS— His kindness— that leads us to Him (Romans 2:4).

He doesn’t wipe us away, erasing us from His life like others might… that’s what He does to the memory of our sins + mistakes— not what He does to US (Psalm 103:12).

I grabbed the pic, but then forgot to send it to Dave…

But…

In the patience of the Lord…

3 days later, after I forgot to hit send, Dave reached out to me…

“Man, I was just thinking about you over the weekend…”

“Well, I was thinking about you, too,” he said. “Do you want to become a certified life coach with Oola? If yo do, I’ll train you and certify you myself…”

That eventually led to where we are today…

Because the first people to learn about the Oola Global launch were the coaches…

… and I wouldn’t have learned about it if I wasn’t a coach.

… and I wouldn’t be a coach if I didn’t go through a bunch of poo that led me to lose the life I thought I was building.

… and I wouldn’t have connected with those guys during that season in a new way if that season didn’t exist.

… and I wouldn’t have connected with them then if I didn’t meet them during a “better” time before.

Every time I go to 30A, I grab a pic with that bus, usually when I’m riding my bike from one end of the stretch of road to the other…

See, here’s one…

I don’t know about you, but you *may need a reboot, a re-crank…

I did. And got one.

Things. Have. Never. Looked. Better.

(Hard road to get there, but all things work together for the good, right?)

Here’s the deal…

Where you are isn’t who you are.

It’s just the location of where you happen to be.

But…

… and this is important….

Where you are IS where you must begin.

Hop on— we’ve got room for you. Let’s enjoy the ride.

Ready to enroll, do your own Design My Life Blueprint, and begin your personal transformation ?

👉 https://myoola.oolalife.com/andrewejenkins/enrollment/memberconfiguration 

Want to watch the short video?

👉 www.Jenkins.tv/app 

Want to watch Dave’s demonstration?

👉 www.Jenkins.tv/app 

Want to take the 21 day email challenge?

👉 www.Jenkins.tv/21 

Want to join the #Hilltop Hangout, our Oola-driven Facebook group?

👉 www.Facebook.com/groups/AndrewEJenkins 

Last week— the week I recorded this podcast episode— I started the #75Hard Challenge. It’s been all over the Internet + social media for the past year or so. If you haven’t heard about it, I guarantee you will again in the near future.

It works like this—

✅ Follow a meal plan of your choice

✅ No cheat days

✅ No alcohol

✅ Two 45-minute workouts each day— one of which must be outside

✅ Take a progress picture each day

✅ Read 10 pages per day (audiobooks don’t count)

✅ Drink 1 gallon of water

That’s it— and it’s supposed to be more of a #MentalChallenge than a #PhysicalChallenge…

You do it, as you might suppose, for 75 days…

I almost didn’t do the challenge

… because we’re in the middle of summer…

… because we’re in the middle of launching the new #1B7 project and I’m working crazy hours

… because we’re about to go the lake with friends and the diet will be hard

… because we have MORE friends coming over tonight and I’ll probably want to open up the TWO new bottles of bourbon a friend sent…

… because…

… because…

You get it. There are always reasons why it’s NOT A GOOD TIME.

But, sometimes those are the very reasons we SHOULD jump right in… especially when it comes to self- improvement.

Face it, you’re one of the best investments you’ll ever make.

We intuitively know this.

If you asked ANYONE, “What’s more important, people are things?”

They’d answer you quickly— and easily— “People.”

If we made it personal and asked, “What’s more important, YOU or your possessions…?”

“Me, of course…”

It’s a no-brainer.

Yet we spend years and even decades training to acquire money so that we can acquire stuff…

… stuff that we’ll eventually store and never look at again, sell for a penance of what we bought it for, or just giveaway.

Someone said it well, “You spend the first half of your life acquiring things, and then the second half of your life realizing that the most important things aren’t things at all… it’s the people your didn’t prioritize in the pursuit of those possessions…”

Since we know that…

And since we’ve OWNED that reality…

Why not just change it up NOW, instead of waiting until later?

Why not—

👉 prioritize people (including you) over possessions?

👉 invest in yourself rather than commodities and clutter that will fade away…?

I digress…

A few years ago, I met the Oola Guys, Dave and Troy. I met them in Hawaii on an award trip with Young Living Essential Oils.

Sometimes you just connect with people and you just, well… you know… that you’re on the same page…

At the time, I was the heaviest I had ever been. I’d slowly (and steadily) let my health deteriorate… while I chased projects and goals.

(Or, to say it another way, I invested heavily in other things during that season, but not in myself— including the time it took to manage my health and steward my body.)

I’d just turned 40, as well, and had all of those LIES we believe about age rolling through my noggin’. I assumed it couldn't be done. I was certain that your body "falls apart" after you reach that arbitrary milestone. It was a mental block I'd created.

Then I met a few guys who had similar stories.

Then I heard Troy and Dave talk…

Both of them are in great shape. But, turns out, Troy had lost 50 pounds- and he was a few years older than me.

"If he can do it, I can do it," I reasoned.

I've applied the same logic to writing books, creating websites, and even working our home based business. When I see someone- particularly someone I know- that has done it, it shows me that it's possible.

In effect, such relationships enhance our capacity for dream achieving. They show us what’s possible that we might not have seen before.

You might have been told something like, “Comparison is thief of joy.”

It doesn’t have to be, though. Comparison can actually show you what’s possible— what’s doable and achievable.

Here’s ANOTHER example…

The 4-minute mile…

👟 1950s- people thought it was scientifically impossible for a man to break 4-minutes in the mile run.

👟 May 6, 1954- Roger Bannister ran the first 4-minute mile in Oxford, England. His time: 3:59.4!

👟 The next month, two more people broke the 4-minute mark.

👟 The next year… 300 did it!

It can happen anywhere…

But, particularly when we’re closer to people we can see something in them that empowers us to be more… or, perhaps they call it out of us…

Anyway, in this talk I begin discussing Oola…

The word Oola comes from the French word “oolala,” which means everything in life exists in harmony— that life is in the sweet spot.

The guys wrote 3 best-sellers and teach there are SEVEN key areas of life—

⭐️ Fitness

⭐️ Finance

⭐️ Family

⭐️ Field (Career)

⭐️ Faith

⭐️ Friends

⭐️ Fun

Like spokes on a wheel, they're each essential to keeping forward momentum.

If one spoke goes down for a while, you're fine. But lose a spoke completely-- or lose a few-- and you stop forward progress in every area. Momentum grinds to a halt.

Think about it...

👉 If family isn't working, then your field (work) suffers

👉 If you're finances are jacked, life isn't very fun

👉 If you're not fun, your friend-quotient probably goes low

👉 If your faith tanks, you might feel hopeless in all the other areas

You get the idea. These areas all matter.

Here's the purpose of this talk—

Oola recently created a digital platform to empower people to live… well, in Oola— to find their purpose while living a life of balance and growth.

This means it works anywhere, at anytime…

… there are no shipping delays, and it never goes out of stock.

Best of yet, you can access it now and begin your Oola journey….

All the info is below.

________

Ready to enroll, do your own Design My Life Blueprint, and begin your personal transformation ?

👉 https://myoola.oolalife.com/andrewejenkins/enrollment/memberconfiguration 

Want to watch the short video?

👉 www.Jenkins.tv/app 

Want to watch Dave’s demonstration?

👉 www.Jenkins.tv/app 

Want to take the 21 day email challenge?

👉 www.Jenkins.tv/21 

Want to join the #Hilltop Hangout, our Oola-driven Facebook group?

👉 www.Facebook.com/groups/AndrewEJenkins 

My friend Randy Pardue is back on the podcast, and here’s why…

… as I decided to talk to a “family coach,” I knew I wanted to host someone who’s successfully navigated a blended family (that’s coming soon), as well as someone who is STILL married— decades later (and happily so)— to the first person with whom they fell in love…

Randy + Tammy have been married 42 years, and still date each other like most engaged couples. They truly adore each other, and would rather be with one another than anyone else in the world.

And then there’s this…

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

As they were facing the “empty nest” years, Tammy discovered she was pregnant. This gave them the perfect opportunity to simultaneously…

👉 Decide what their “almost grown” kid needed to know before he was launched

👉 Think long-term about what the next kid needed.

The result was the Directional Parenting Blueprint, a framework Randy explains in his book Diapers to Dorms.

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

Here’s what the framework includes…

👉 0 - 5 = kids need disciple and self-control

👉 6-13 = kids need training— they need to learn basic, everyday skills (i.e., how to do specific tasks)

👉 14- 18 = kids need coaching— they need to make decisions and learn how to course correct, reflect, and make better choices going forward (i.e., skills they’ll need when they’re not with you).

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

Randy says the best way to “teach” all of this is in everyday life— to recapture moments when you’re already together…

👉 Bed-time (be the last thing they hear at night, and frame their subconscious)

👉 Breakfast (send them into their day, your voice cheering them)

👉 Carpool (capture drive time with intentional questions)

👉 Meal times (do your best on these)

👉 Fire-pit time (after hearing this, you’ll want one)

In other words, be intentional…

And, if you’re schedule doesn’t work perfectly like the one outlined above, do your best with what you have, capturing the moments that matter as you can.

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

Sometimes, Randy called family meetings.

And, he let them kids call them, too…

To re-orient and move back in alignment together…

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

Listen in. Wherever you are in the parenting journey, this convo has a bit of 🔥🔥🔥🔥 you can apply immediately and see instant results.

And, he’ll tell you what to do if you find yourself overwhelmed…

++++

For more info…

👉 Find Randy’s website at www.BeRefreshed.org 

And…

👉 Download by free book, Redemption, about radical faith, at www.Jenkins.tv/R 

👉 Find balance and grow in each area of your life at www.Jenkins.tv/21 

👉 Join the #HilltopHangout Facebook group at www.Facebook.com/groups/AndrewEJenkins 

I invited friend Lance over to the #Hilltop to record a talk about faith and we got to chatting so quick I forgot to take notes…

(You can listen at www.Jenkins.tv/blog/168 or on your fav podcast provider.)

in this discussion, we move into the realm of faith-- and talk about Lance's story. Part of it anyway.

That leads us to a encounter from his childhood when he stole a handful of Jolly Ranchers, felt he’d gotten “left behind” in the rapture because of his disobedience, and then met grace…

… something that’s always scandalous— even to the religious and upright.

📚

In this episode, Lance and I talk about the fact that, as Hebrews 12:2 says, Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith. That is, He is writing our story.

And, as Paul suggested in Ephesians 2:8-10, He’s completing a story He fore-ordained centuries— even millennia— ago. That means He’s not simply “doing the best He can” with what’s left on the scrap pile after you’ve made a mess of things. He’s literally working things together for your growth— and for your good.

Furthermore, as odd as it sounds, you can’t out-strip the grip of grace NOR out-flank His ability to do something powerful in your life.

📚

This episode is for the down-trodden, the beaten-up, the smacked-around, the ones who might feel disqualified… and un-blessable. We promise, that qualifies you above all else.

Listen in…

… the party’s just getting started.

+
+
+

📻 www.Jenkins.tv/blog/168 or your fav podcast provider.

+++++++++++

For more info…

👉 Find balance and grow in each area of your life at www.Jenkins.tv/21 

👉 Join the #HilltopHangout Facebook group at www.Facebook.com/groups/AndrewEJenkins 

Talks mentioned in this chat with Lance include:

📻 Three talks on the Holy Spirit—

Power from above = 

… to reveal Jesus = 

Powerful intimacy = 

📻 The talk about the prodigal son = 

And…

📺 The #SoulWholeness book + video course— www.Jenkins.tv/SW 

The first thing my friend Ingrid showed me as we began talking was her Bible— the one she had when she was 21. Inside, she wrote an inscription, something she believed God told her…

“I love you and I want you to be free.”

⭐️

Ingrid was around alcohol her entire life. Casually.

She tried it when she was 12— and immediately spit it out.

“That’s important,” she says, “because we learn that it’s an acquired taste. We don’t naturally like things which are harmful to our bodies.”

(The good news is that if it’s a learned behavior, you can unlearn it or replace it.)

Eventually, she acquired the taste and began drinking more…

Especially as she got older (it became more of a crutch, as if often does).

And as she got remarried (into a fabulous family of extroverts who never meet strangers, always invite everyone Into the home, and constantly pull out more chairs for more people).

“It was just the perfect storm,” she says.

She found a path forward and quit.

And, her husband, who had been her “drinking buddy,” quit with her.

⭐️

Today, Ingrid coaches clients on how to be free of alcohol. And, she does so from a position of grace and empowerment, by helping people change their mindset and their beliefs about alcohol.

She helps people explore questions like…

👉 Does this really relax me?

(No, alcohol messes up your sleep, jacks up your cortisol, messes with your adrenalin, and creates anxiety… then, you drink more to take the edge off… but, you create a bigger problem by drinking more. Before long, you’re just feeding the beast.)

👉 Does this really serve me?

(Most of the time, the honest answer… is no.
It doesn’t reduce anxiety, it doesn’t create mental clarity, it doesn’t make you feel better.)

In other words, she doesn’t lead with “will-power” or deprivation— two things which don’t, long-term, work.

👉 Does this really numb out the bad stuff?

(Sure, but you can’t selectively “numb.” If you’re hiding yourself from the bad, you’re also hiding from the good. You need to be able to experience both, so you can navigate life wholly.)

⭐️

On the other side of her freedom march in this area, Ingrid found more confidence in her decision-making ability. And she discovered she could be happy without being propped up by any external thing.

Most people find the same…

She leads structured groups for 3 months and meets with clients 1:1.

She finds that groups allow people to support and lean on each other— and see that they’re not alone in the journey.

She also provides—

👉 a video each day

👉 written prompts

👉 journaling exercises

⭐️

This reminded me of 1 John 1:7, where we’re told that if we walk in the light we find true connection with each other— and cleaning.

And of James 5:16, where we’re told to confess… to each other… so that we can experience healing.

And of Galatians 5:1— it is for FREEDOM you’ve been set free…

++++

Links…

Need better habits in your life? Check out the new app at www.Jenkins.tv/app — we’ve partnered with Oola to bring you an incredible resource that helps you define your purpose, live with less stress, and accomplish more.

Soul Wholeness is the latest book + video course on the site. The soul is uniquely different than the spirit— and is the place where habits and emotions and feelings dwell. Learn more about the project at www.Jenkins.tv/SW 

My friend Barbara has always been an event planner. Even when she was a kid, she planned parties and hosted everyone— gifting them with an experience that just made things “better.”

In college, in fact, she studied event management and even took a specialized (read: adapted for her) course plan towards earning her Master’s.

That led her overseas where she planned and hosted events at one of the best venues in the city…

But, of course, life happens.

And things aren’t always as rosy as they seem.

Late in her 20s, Barbara began doing some soul searching. Now at home staring a family, she found herself excited (new blessings) and depleted (new revelations) all at once.

(Such is life, right? As we often say: Life is beautiful, and life is also hard.)

In a short time frame, Barbara:

* Lost her 2.5 year old niece (and walked with her sister through that journey)
* Lost two family members to suicide
* Lost her closest guy friend
* Saw her own marriage end

In other words, life imploded.

⭐️

By the way, Barbara has a certification in the “Science of Happiness” from Berkley. She coaches individuals— and corporations.

(Happier employees are more productive employees— and that increases the bottom line and helps everyone.)

In time, Barbara boomeranged back to her original passion— events. But this time she did so with a healthier perspective, one informed by past experience and one shared from her position of health rather than a position of unbridled hustle.

Then Covid hit— and all of the events were placed on standby. And then they were postponed…

⭐️

During 2020 Barbara had an idea— what if she used the same knowledge (and science) she used to create great events to deliver the “event” in a box?

Happy Event Co morphed into the Happy Box Co.

The “boxes” feature items from local vendors (who were also struggling with the pivot during the pandemic), and have become an ongoing feature Barbara continues to create.

And, of course, it was all built on the science of happiness.

They feature products designed to:

👉 boost dopamine (a “goal” chemical)

👉 lean into your body’s desire for serotonin (calms you down when you’re stressed— and can be achieved in healthy ways rather than over-induling on chocolate or other sweets that lead to “crashes”)

👉 works with the colors that bring fun (i.e., yellow and pink are fun, red is aggressive!)

👉 acknowledges that oxytocin (in a good way) illicit trust— and benefits the giver and the receiver of a gift.

👉 understands who mirror neurons work…

⭐️

Barbara said she just knew this was something she was supposed to do…

… yet, she wasn’t so sure where the idea came from (Was it God? Was it her? She was hesitant to say…)

I took her to 1 Corinthians 2:16— which says, “You have the mind of Christ” in most modern versions of the Bible.

A better translation is, “You have the IMAGINATION of Christ.”

That is, the supernatural deposits ideas in each of us… some of us, with a science-backed (and supernatural empowered) destiny to bring the fun…

⭐️

I asked Barbara for a few things, practically speaking, everyone can do each day to elevate the fun…

✅ Your music matters. In the same way sound sets the environment at a party or a play or any other place, it can set the mood for your day.

✅ Dance. Even if you don’t know how to. It’s impossible to be miserable while you dance.

✅ Small things. Notice them. And do them. Like the cup of coffee you like. Or the sunset. Or the walk. We often think that happiness comes in one big bulk gain. It doesn’t. It comes in small does, added up, over time. Keep your tank full.

✅ Go outside. Sit in the shade and enjoy the breeze. Go to the park. We need vitamin D AND nature…

✅ Colors. Don’t do drab every day. Break the monotony (plus, when you look better, you feel better).

✅ Smile at people. And even talk to strangers. It’s almost impossible for them to NOT smile back.

✅ Create a small “reward” to look forward to. And then enjoy it (i.e., something you’ll do at the end of the day, when work is done, etc.)

Notice, nothing above costs money….

_________________

Links for this show

Barbara’s website: www.HappyEventCo.com  

For more: Read Shawn Achor’s book, 
The Happiness Advantage: https://amzn.to/3aowCi0  

Take the free 21 day challenge— www.Jenkins.tv/21 

Freedom is found when you no longer need to self-protect…

🎭

In this talk we discuss the third— and final— soul wound(s) of the Soul Wholeness series, guilt and shame.

It’s a nasty tag-team duo that works like this…

🧐

We’re born with a moral compass— an internal rudder of right and wrong. When we violate our personal conscience, soul wounds can occur. Moral Injury, a soul wound akin to PTSD, is often the result. Rather than eliciting a fight or flight response, MI creates feelings of guilt and shame.

Here are the main ideas to listen for—

👉 “Moral Injury” occurs when we violate our code of morality, that is, of right and wrong. The result... is guilt & shame.

👉 The uncommon cure for Moral Injury— for guilt & shame— is mature love.

Now, pause right here…

… the ODDEST part of this reality is that so often we inflict the people closest to us with the most “immature” versions of love.

Those are the people we seek to berate, belittle, and bash…

And that leads to the final observation—

👉 In relationships you can choose intimacy or control, as well as transparency or hiding... but not both.

True love expels fear with great intensity, creating space where people own who they are and move forward to who they’re designed to be.

The all-too-uncommon cure for guilt & shame is receiving forgiveness— unconditional love— from someone the wounded person believes has the moral authority to grant that forgiveness.

💙💙💙💙

Listen in…

Putting this into practice has the potential to revolutionize… well… everything.

To change the fruit, (first) take care of the root—

🌳🌳🌳🌳

In this talk we continue the Soul Wholeness series…

… and discuss the topic of soul ties.

Here’s why: Issues arise when we attach our hearts, for any reason, to the wrong place. When we do, bad fruit always emerges. When we connect our hearts in the right way to the right things, beauty emerges.

💙💙💙

Here are the main ideas of this convo:

👉 The “fruit” we see in our lives is a result of the unseen “roots.” To grow better fruit you must nurture better roots.

👉 Addiction happens when we attach our hearts—

❌ To the wrong things, or

❌ To the right things for wrong reasons

And, note: we can find ourselves “addicted” to many things. In fact, over 2/3 of the people who seek addiction help do not have a chemical dependency.

👉 The cure for bad “roots” = knowing and walking in your true identity. When we get this healthy, good fruit emerges.

💙💙💙

Dealing with soul ties isn’t about legalism; it’s about walking in freedom— so that nothing hinders us from embracing who we’re designed to be.

++++

Again…

To change the fruit, (first) take care of the root—