Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2614:

Adina Soclof shares practical strategies to get kids outside and engaged this summer, offering simple ideas like backyard picnics, rock painting, and sprinkler fun. She also highlights free, enriching activities from parks to museums, helping families foster creativity, connection, and mindfulness without relying on screens or spending a fortune.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://parentingsimply.com/5-simple-ways-to-get-your-kids-outside-this-summer/ & https://parentingsimply.com/free-summer-activities-for-kids/

Quotes to ponder:

"Children are typically fascinated with nature. They love animals, and enjoy doing anything outdoors, like inspecting insects, digging for worms, camping, fishing, and playing sports."

"There is no child who does not love blowing bubbles."

"Sometimes it’s the simplest things that are the most fun!"

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2613:

Rachel Jones shares how embracing minimalism in children's birthday celebrations can create more meaningful and joyful experiences. By setting boundaries on party attendance, simplifying festivities, and focusing on traditions over extravagance, parents can reduce stress and make birthdays truly special for their kids.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nourishingminimalism.com/simple-childrens-birthday-parties/

Quotes to ponder:

"Limiting the attendance of parties freed up our schedule."

"Minimalism helps us keep balance in our celebrations as well."

"In the end, it’s the time you took that makes the memories special."

Episode references:

Dave Ramsey: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2612:

Dr. Jana Rosewarne delves into the complex interplay between anxious and avoidant attachment styles, using Frozen’s Anna and Elsa as a vivid metaphor. She unpacks how mismatched attachment dynamics can escalate relational stress and even impact physical health, offering practical strategies to foster security and resilience in partnerships.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.luvze.com/anxious-avoidant-duos-walking-on-thin-ice-in-relationships-a/

Quotes to ponder:

"Anxious individuals fear rejection and abandonment, yet their cravings for closeness may inadvertently drive others away."

"People high in avoidance also tend to underestimate others’ care and support for them."

"Simply knowing your own attachment orientation can help you to understand your strengths and vulnerabilities in relationships."

Episode references:

Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller: https://www.amazon.com/Attached-Science-Adult-Attachment-YouFind/dp/1585429139

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2611:

Laura Heck explores how pivotal decisions in marriage hinge on three foundational practices: knowing your partner deeply, meeting them in the moment rather than the middle, and aligning on shared dreams. Through a deeply personal story, she shows how mastering the art of compromise can transform life-altering decisions into powerful bonding experiences that move a couple closer together, not apart.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.gottman.com/blog/3-factors-will-make-break-relationship/

Quotes to ponder:

"Compromise goes really well when you remember three key things."

"Even if your shared dream is just to 'stay married,' that can help reframe your 'non-negotiables.'"

"I needed to wake up each day, driven and full of purpose to accomplish 'our dream.'"

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2610:

Shana Olmstead explores the subtle but crucial difference between offering support from love versus fear, urging us to reflect on whether we're truly encouraging others, or trying to control them. Her compassionate insights help us understand how fear-driven advice can undermine the very people we’re trying to uplift, and how shifting from coach to cheerleader can create more empowering, trusting relationships.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://shanaolmstead.com/2019/09/23/are-you-a-coach-or-a-cheerleader/

Quotes to ponder:

"You can’t fix someone’s life, and if you try, you’re just controlling it from your own fear."

"Cheerleaders do not actually give advice. They cheer on the sidelines, offering support, encouragement, and praise no matter how the player is doing."

"If you project your fear and worry onto them by trying to help too much, you are actually handicapping their growth and evolution."

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2609:

Keith Wilson offers a powerful metaphor for understanding relationships by comparing them to tenants in an apartment building, your life. He challenges listeners to bring clarity, fairness, and intentionality into their partnerships by establishing clear terms and expectations, much like signing a lease, to prevent future confusion and resentment.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://keithwilsoncounseling.com/2015/02/20/relationships-part-69-a-new-lease-on-your-relationship/

Quotes to ponder:

"You own an apartment building with an almost infinite number of apartments, but, once someone moves in, you can never evict them, and they can never leave."

"Far too many people drift into relationships without ever making the momentous decision to be together."

"That’s a little like signing a lease without reading it first, or like a landlord downloading a template of a lease without considering what’s in it."

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2608:

Nia Shanks explores how the labels we internalize, like "lazy," "emotional eater," or "all-or-nothing thinker, "can silently shape our behaviors and identity. She offers a compassionate yet practical guide to challenging these limiting narratives and creating space for change by focusing on actions, not self-judgments.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://niashanks.com/labels/

Quotes to ponder:

"Labels can influence our behaviors and how we view ourselves, and not in a good way."

"Challenge the negative labels you’ve attached to yourself by changing your actions."

"You’re not ‘lazy’, you’re someone who has been struggling with motivation or direction."

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2607:

New Life Outlook shares a deeply personal account of how untreated depression strained a long-term relationship, nearly ending it. Through a combination of diagnosis, medication, and the unwavering support of a compassionate partner, the author illustrates the healing power of empathy, open communication, and shared resilience.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.bezzydepression.com/discover/dep-relationships/health-how-depression-almost-broke-my-relationship/

Quotes to ponder:

“You’d treat a broken arm, wouldn’t you? This is no different.”

“I was always fatigued, argumentative, hostile, and inattentive.”

“I knew that if I wanted my relationship with B to get better, I had to get better first.”

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2606:

Julie Morgenstern offers smart, compassionate guidance for working parents navigating the long stretch of summer with kids at home. By blending structure with spontaneity, she shows how to create meaningful family routines, avoid burnout, and make space for connection, fun, and memory-making all season long.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.juliemorgenstern.com/tips-tools-blog/2019/6/19/summer-quality-time-with-your-kids  &  https://www.juliemorgenstern.com/tips-tools-blog/2018/6/5/finding-your-summer-routine

Quotes to ponder:

"I’m happy to see you, and I’m happy to be here."

"Summer can have a slower, lazier feel, but it shouldn’t be routine-free."

"There are five common touch points that exist, whether school is in session or not: waking up, getting out the door, afternoon, dinner and bedtime."

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2605:

Crystal Karges offers a heartfelt reminder to mothers who feel overwhelmed by the pressure to “do it all.” With compassion and wisdom, she reframes the concept of raising “healthy kids,” emphasizing connection, presence, and unconditional love over perfection, rigid routines, or nutritional checklists.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.crystalkarges.com/blog/to-the-mama-who-just-wants-to-raise-healthy-kids

Quotes to ponder:

"Healthy doesn’t have to mean perfect, and raising healthy kids doesn’t have to mean you’re doing everything right all the time."

"Your child doesn’t need a perfect mom - they just need you."

"Being present is more powerful than being perfect."

Episode references:

The Body Keeps the Score: https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748

Hold On to Your Kids: https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Your-Kids-Parents-Matter/dp/0375760288

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices