Our Human Experience

Melissa and Chad decided to mix it up a little and respond to some reoccurring questions that we have gotten recently....we hope you enjoy this little Q&A session.  It was a lot of fun for us and something we plan to do on a regular basis!  Thank you to everyone who submitted questions...if you have a question you would like to submit please do so right through instagram, DM us @our_human_experience_

Melissa and Chad break down the difference between making uncomfortable decisions versus irresponsible decisions, what exactly is the difference.  What sort of decisions are we presented with day to day and throughout our lives, some are big life changing choices and others are small daily choices...both will shape your life and the world around you.

After a chat one day Melissa and Chad realized that we were hosting a podcast called "Our Human Experience" and we hadn't even shared our own human experiences...obviously these are and will forever be "under construction" but please join us in listening to who Chad Curtis is and what experiences have shaped him and brought him to where he is today.

After a chat one day Melissa and Chad realized that we were hosting a podcast called "Our Human Experience" and we hadn't even shared our own human experiences...obviously these are and will forever be "under construction" but please join us in listening to who Melissa Curtis is and what experiences have shaped her and brought her to where she is today.

Today Chad's sister Buffy joins the conversation today as we discuss how we can define and experience trauma AND how that can be manifested through our physical bodies.  Buffy shares some background about her time working with trauma, some ways that she has seen trauma show up in the physical body, how this relates to basically every single person who has lived through the last year (2020) and a really great, simple piece of advise/action that we can engage with to bring ourselves into a better awareness and presence with our body.  

"Trauma is a normal reaction to abnormal events." 

The Body Keeps a Score - Bessel A. van der Kolk

Opposite Activation (DBT) - we discuss specifically the use of this skill when we find ourselves mindlessly escaping via social media, food, alcohol, Netflix, etc.  Instead choose the opposite, choose to engage in something that requires your full attention, preferably something that involves a tactile skill (i.e. needlework, bread making, painting, etc)

Melissa and Chad jam with our good friend Kayla Hartz about her transition from a full time, successful professional into the role of a full time parent.  What led her to the decision?  What are some of the lessons she has learned as a result?  How can someone considering making this shift approach the decision making process AND once having made the shift how can they make the most of it.

This was a great chat with a brilliant young women that chose the incredibly important and purposeful role of mother over pursuing her professional career.  We were really lucky to have sat down with Kayla for this thoughtful conversation...after you listen let us know what you think.

Resources:

Pro/Con of Montessori Schools (article)

Webster Montessori

Home Schooling

- NPR Interview about pros and cons

- What is Classical Education?

- What is Unschooling?

Today we chat about motivation.  Let's define it, let's understand it as a tool and as a limited resource (one which is incredibly valuable when present).  Motivation can really pour some gas on your fire, the question is what about those times you don't feel motivated?  When you are in that place where you feel you NEED motivation how can you find it?  Ultimately, can we come to a better understanding of how t use this tool when it is available to us and how to stay committed when it is on empty?

Tips:

Change the equation, instead of Motivation + Action = Results try Action + Results = Motivation (you've got to replenish this resource and seeing a reward for consistent action is a great way to do so)

Identify all of your "have to's", how many can you reshape into "get to's" or even "want to's" AND if you find that some of your "have to's" are things that you simply do not want or need in your life, can you remove them?

In Search of Motivation:

1. Hire a coach, recruit a friend, tell the world...establish some external accountability to get yourself started...this is not the end goal, if we solely rely on external motivators we will be left incapable of caring for our own needs when times are challenging and the external motivator is not available for one reason or another.  With that said having someone who is vested in your commitment and success is a great place to start if you are feeling lost.

2. Search for Awareness in your life, find a way to connect your goals to things that actually matter and are actually important to you and your life, use those as internal motivators...this is a little more challenging than hiring a coach AND a good coach will help guide you to creating this awareness and acting with intention in a way that aligns with what matters most to you.

3. Change your story...the narratives we tell ourselves (consciously and subconsciously) shape how we show up in life. Many of us (ourselves included) have the most difficulty keeping commitments to ourselves, this often stems from a lack of self worth or self love, and/or a feeling that we don't matter as much as someone or something else.  This is a very challenging and very powerful path to walk, we strongly recommend working with a professional in order to grow this skill.  That may be a mental health provider, coach, healer, etc. you have to find who will work best for you.

Mentions and Shoutouts:

@jockowillink author of Extreme Ownership, Discipline Equals Freedom (among other great leadership books)

@mike_bledsoe

@the.infinitethread

@primal.ken

Today we sat with Dr. Mike and Dr. Sarah Penkin and jammed about owning a business with your spouse, working on expectations, communication, division of roles and more.  In addition we explore how those lessons can carry over into planning a family.  Our ability to effectively communicate and support our significant others both in our "work" together and in our roles as parents and leaders are fundamental pieces of our success in those endeavors.

Resources:

Pinnacle Hill Chiropractic

-  https://www.pinnaclehillchiropractic.com/

- @pinnacle.hill.chiropractic

- @pinnaclehillchiro.sarah

- @pinnaclehillchiro.mike

- @pinnaclehillchiro.alex

- @pinnaclehillchiro.andrea

- @pinnaclehillchiro.caitlin

- @pinnaclehillchiro.rachel

- @pinnaclehillchiro.james

DISC Assessment

Kolbe A Assessment

Myers-Briggs Assessment

The Four Tendencies

Today we have the pleasure of chatting with our spicy friend Casey "Spice Christ" Bard founder of Tacticalories.  Having known Casey for the last 9+ years we have seen him make the transition from employee to entrepreneur, all while building a beautiful family.  Today we talk about what pushed Casey to make that jump, the obstacles and challenges that he needed to consider and how we can all learn from assessing our current situation, be it professional or personal, and deciding that we want a change.

We all have the power to make choices just as Casey did, that doesn't mean they need to be brash and irrational, these shifts require courage and considerable planning in order to increase your likelihood of success.  In reality this type of leap in your career or in a relationship or anywhere else in your life can be scary, we are here to say that staying stuck in your current prison state, enduring your familiar suffering, is likely far worse.

We hope that you listen today and find some inspiration to take a leap in your own life toward what you want.

Along the way remember to consider...."What would this look like if it were easy?" - Tim Ferris

Resources:

Tacticalories 

- https://www.tacticalories.com/    

- Instagram @tacticalories

Casey - @caseynoholdsbard

"Environment is the invisible hand that shapes human behavior." - James Clear, Atomic Habits

Today Melissa and Chad define what our environment includes, how it can influence our habits/behaviors and most importantly some strategies to optimize your own environment in order to set you up for success.

We discuss 4 main strategies or frameworks to focus on when trying to optimize your environment:

1- Automate

2- Omit

3- Prime

4- Organize

This can be a really simple yet powerful way to start to enact positive changes and/or solidify positive changes in your behaviors and habits.  Give this one a listen and try some of the ideas that we have found to be valuable.  If you have something you'd like to share leave us a comment/review.

Our Human Experience Instagram

Atomic Habits - James Clear