Plenty For Everyone

Have you ever felt happy and sad at the same time?  Have you ever felt fullness combined with a sense of loss?

Inspired by the recent departure of our kids to college, in this week's episode, we discuss the incredible capacity we have to feel a full spectrum of emotions at once. 

When we feel sad or lonely or anxious, it's tempting to try to talk ourselves out of those feelings or replace them with something more positive. But what if sadness, loneliness, and anxiousness are, in their own way, positive? We're made to feel feelings for a reason.  Feelings come and go, but we often limit ourselves to thinking that some emotions are better than others or that we need to feel this or that. 

As powerful as they are, we are not our feelings. Our feelings give us the experience of being alive. We're designed to feel a full range of emotions (energy in motion) daily. Can you imagine how bland your life would be if you could only laugh and not cry? Or cry and not laugh?  

In this episode of Plenty For Everyone: The Podcast For Conscious Leaders, we explore this idea as we undergo the transition of one phase to another. Some highlights include:

• Exploring the ability to feel contradictory emotions simultaneously – and how to find your own sense of emotional balance.

• The difference between conscious leadership and positive psychology in handling emotions – and how conscious leadership can usher you to a new sense of being.

•Embracing positive and negative emotions as an essential practice of the human growth school – and how to let go of the need to control our emotional state.

It's another juicy conversation! And a timely one for us – and we hope you as well.

As back-to-school approaches and summer comes to a close, we're reflecting on how many things in our lives are shifting in mysterious ways. Kids are growing, schedules are changing, and roles are shifting. We find ourselves once again in the territory of uncertainty – unable to clearly see what is about to emerge.

Living in uncertainty can seem very unsettling, but it doesn’t have to be. What if we could trust that whatever is to come will be exactly what we need when we need it most? What if uncertainty was a blank canvas waiting to be painted upon?

In this week's episode of our podcast, Plenty For Everyone, we dive into the art of navigating uncertainty, how to tap into innate intuition, and how to embrace the unknown with patience and openness.

Here are a few of the key takeaways from our conversation:

• Uncertainty is an opportunity for growth and transformation.  While grappling with uncertainty can be challenging, it is also an opportunity for us to evolve into our most actualized selves. By learning to be comfortable with uncertainty, we can tap into the creative expression that wants to come out while we unlock new opportunities to be more of ourselves.

• How to create open space to sit with uncertainty. Just as you wouldn't shake your fist in a murky pond to see the bottom more clearly, it's essential to allow space for uncertainty to settle. This can involve meditation, spending time in nature, or setting aside time for quiet contemplation.

• Break free from biases. Our perception of uncertainty is often shaped by unconscious biases. For example, many people assume uncertainty is always unfavorable. By breaking free from these self-induced biases, we can open ourselves to a world of opportunities and innovation.

• Recognize the moment of your own knowing. Intuition is the most powerful tool to guide us through uncertain times. By recognizing the cues our bodies send us – a surge of energy or a sense of calm – we can be guided along our paths and more confidently choose what experiences, relationships, and opportunities align with our true selves.

• Cultivating the practice of patience, stillness, and openness can help us navigate uncertainty with confidence. By embracing the unknown, we manifest our most extraordinary lives.

Listen to the latest episode and leave inspired to navigate uncertainty in the most empowering way!

Self-care is trendy. It's hard to open your social feed, check your phone, look at your watch, or turn on the television without hearing dozens of messages about the importance of self-care. We're bombarded with it!

But most of the self-care "solutions" feel more like stress hacks than true paths to mindful living. It's great to log your meditation minutes and fantastic that your watch can remind you to breathe, but there's a risk that those kinds of tools actually just become one more thing to do. Self-care isn't a quick fix or a slang shortcut. 

In today's episode, we're fresh from coming off of an extended, restful summer break. Summer vacation has always been a special time to rest, play, and soak up the sun with those we love – a time to get the space, replenishment, and healing we need. But this year, we also used summer break as a mirror to see how busy our non-vacation lives can be. 

It all seemed like the perfect time to contemplate what self-care looks like and why it seems so damn hard to prioritize sometimes. The episode is a fun journey into what works, what doesn't, and how we can each take steps to create space and calm each and every day. 

Among the topics we consider: 

Why self-care is more than a hot bath, a quick trip to the yoga studio, or a nice glass of wine – although we love all three of those things!

Why bringing your goals to life is the ultimate self-care.

Why asking yourself, "Does this serve me?" is actually the path to productivity, not a sign of selfishness – and how in the urge to be selfless rather than selfish, you can undermine yourself. 

How practicing "not doing" is as important as practicing "doing."

And finally, how the simple question "What is getting in the way of my self-care?" can be the key to unlocking the awareness you need to truly replenish yourself. 

This episode is for you if you've ever found peace, calm, and happiness on your summer vacation, only to lament it all vaporizing away the minute you go back to work! 

 

We hope you listen and share – and we hope you choose to put yourself first this week.

On today's episode of Plenty For Everyone, we dive further into the topic of alignment for conscious leaders. Earlier this week, we wrote about alignment and why it matters in creating conscious culture. In this episode, we go deeper to share our personal experiences with creating alignment and the challenges we've encountered when striving to align ourselves with our values and the essence of our businesses.

One of the main themes you'll hear is the idea that maintaining alignment is a continuous practice. Like everything on the journey of conscious leadership, alignment requires ongoing intention and self-reflection. It would be great if alignment were a permanent state of being that, once achieved, never lapsed. But alas, we aren't wired to work that way! Part of the joy of work and life is that we get to continue to define who and how we want to be. That isn't always easy – but the rewards can be tremendous.

Despite its importance, alignment is often neglected in today's business world. We like to think of it as a river. When we are in sync, flowing with the current, alignment comes naturally. But when we get out of the flow, whether through an ill-advised decision or something unexpected that knocks us off, we might need to make a conscious effort to realign ourselves.

As we've written before, for leaders of organizations, creating safe spaces where team members can express their authentic thoughts and ideas is crucial. True alignment is not synonymous with agreement but rather with finding common ground and committing to a higher purpose.

In the same way, it's important to note that alignment isn't the same as compromise. In a compromise, everyone feels like they have sacrificed something. Instead, true alignment often results in everyone feeling that they have created something greater than the sum of the parts. 

Alignment conversations can be challenging, especially if open and honest discussion hasn't been a regular practice in an organization. Active listening, open sharing, and collaborative co-creation are essential. Vulnerability plays a key role, too – and as leaders, modeling a safe and supportive environment is the first step towards creating one. Incorporating activities that encourage presence – like taking breaks from technology and going for walks during team meetings – can encourage contemplation, provide perspective, and foster the trust you need to align around what matters.

We hope you'll tune in to take part in this lively exchange about the transformative power of alignment in leadership and its positive impact on individuals, teams, and organizations.

All month long, we're preparing for the upcoming summer solstice. On today's episode of Plenty For Everyone, we explore the significance of the solstice and how it can serve as a catalyst for reflection, growth, and most of all, alignment in your life and your leadership.

For thousands of years, civilizations have celebrated the solstice. Many of the most impressive ancient structures were built to align – literally, to line up – with the position of the sun on this day. For our ancestors, the solstice was a time to celebrate hard work, give thanks for the gifts of life, and get in right relationship with family and neighbors.

In our modern world, you can check the position of the sun with any iPhone app. But aligning your soul with gratitude isn't always as easy! In our fast-paced world, the solstice is an invitation to pause and reflect to set things right. It encourages us to notice and celebrate what's important to us – and calls us to take the next step to bring forth what wants to come forth within us.

The solstice also offers a wonderful blend of ancient wisdom and fascinating science. During the episode, we consider both – and reflect on creating an alignment between nature and technology that is all-to-often missing in our lives.

Join us for a conversation about what alignment means to conscious leaders, how the solstice can encourage you forward, and how you can make this summer your best yet!

Are you ready to become a more conscious leader and positively impact the world? We are thrilled to share with you our latest podcast episode, featuring a replay of our keynote from Virtuous’ Responsive Nonprofit Summit titled “Changing The World Starts With Changing Yourself.”

Join Plenty Consulting principals, Jennifer Mulholland and Jeff Shuck, as they take you on a journey to explore why the world calls us to lead consciously – and how conscious leadership can empower you to become a more responsive, confident, and calm leader.

In this engaging episode, you will gain insights and uncover the power of conscious leadership and how to harness it to create meaning and growth in your life, your organization, and the world.

Tune in and discover practical tips to apply immediately at work or in life. Learn how to find your grounding as you lead yourself and others through change by focusing on cultivating awareness, alignment, and intention.

Don't miss out on this inspiring and thought-provoking episode! Listen now and be ready to change the world by being more of yourself.

Where does insight come from? Can we tap into it on command? In this episode, we talk about the wisdom around and within us as we explore how to use the five senses to navigate the external and internal world. IN-sight is always available to us — sometimes, we simply need to clean the lens through which we see the world. Tune in as we discuss the surprising sources of insight!

We talk to leaders all the time who are looking for a way to upgrade their skill and unlock a new level of performance. But how does that kind of transformation actually happen?

 

In 2016, Dr. Wayne Combs was in transition. At the crossroads of his career, he knew he was ready for something more – but what? What exactly was he looking for?

 

That summer, Wayne attended Plenty's inaugural Lantern Leadership Retreat in Park City, Utah. Through the experience, he found a new sense of self taking a fresh look at his purpose – one he still use to this day as the Associate VP of Operations & Administrative Services for CHOC Children's Foundation and  professor at USC's Rossier School of Education.

 

In today's episode, we talk with Wayne and ask him reflect on the breakthroughs he experienced, how he aligned his soul's calling with his professional work, and how he continues his pursuits as a lifelong learner. 

 

We were touched by this conversation and Wayne's incredible depth of passion. We hope it sets you out on your own transformative journey!

"May we give you a bit of feedback?"

 

There's perhaps no phrase that can tighten up the chest of even the most self-aware leader than hearing someone say, "Um, can I offer you some feedback?"

 

At our Lantern Leadership Retreat we teach that feedback is a gift, but sometimes feedback sure feels like the scratchy lime green wool socks you got from your great aunt at the holidays – the gift you didn't want and can't give away!

 

But the truth is, we're surrounded every day by feedback from our loved ones, coworkers, our bodies, and nature. When we can get our heads and hearts aligned, opening ourselves up to feedback really opens us up to the world – all of its beauty, wonder, and perspectives. And it doesn't have to make you cringe! 

 

Tune in as we explore the courage to be vulnerable, the benefit of shared intention, the role of choice in feedback, and how to take ownership of your own needs for affirmation and control.

Well, we intended our first episode of the new year to hit the airwaves in January. We also intended it to cover a completely different topic. But in classic Jen and Jeff fashion, we're strolling into 2023 fashionably late with a conversation about the power of intention in all its forms. We couldn't have intended it any better! 

Join us for a discussion about the magic – and utility – of intention and how to harness it for your year, your workplace, and your day.