School Your Soul || Personal growth | Inspiration | Be your best self | Happiness

Harville Hendrix Ph.D. and Helen LaKelly Hunt Ph.D. are internationally-respected couple's therapists, educators, speakers, and New York Times bestselling authors. Together, they have written over 10 books with more than 4 million copies sold, including the timeless classic, Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples. In addition Harville has appeared on Oprah 17 times! Anyone who knows me knows I'm obsessed with Oprah so I'm extremely envious of this.

Harville and Helen co-created Imago Relationship Therapy which is a form of relationship and couples therapy that focuses on relational counseling to transform any conflict between couples into opportunities for healing and growth.

They are the co-founders of Imago Relationships International, which is a non-profit organization that has trained over 2,000 therapists and educators in 51 countries around the world.

So these guys know their stuff.

However, marriage—even for marriage experts—isn't always easy. Just like any other couple, Harville and Helen experienced a power struggle where they attempted to change, coerce, and threaten each other to be "more like me." Sound familiar to anybody?

20 years ago, after a decade of marriage, they found themselves teetering on the brink of divorce. Ironically, it was their own teachings that made the biggest difference in turning their relationship around. And they now enjoy a true partnership that has lasted over 30 years and are happier than ever.

So in today's episode they share not only their expertise through working with other couples but also from their own personal journey.

In today's episode we discuss:

• Why we choose our partners (this one is fascinating!)
• How our childhood effects our relationship
• The one thing they did that completely transformed their own relationship
• Why we're such bad listeners
• How to re-romanticize your relationship
• And much much more.

To learn more about the work Helen and Harville are doing visit https://harvilleandhelen.com

BOOK: Getting The Love You Want

www.schoolyoursoupodcast.com

Judson BrewerMD PhD, is a thought leader in the field of habit change and the "science of self-mastery," combining over 20 years of personal experience with mindfulness training with his scientific research.

Dr. Brewer is the Director of Research and Innovation at the Center for Mindfulness at UMASS and associate professor in psychiatry at the School of Medicine at Brown University, as well as a research affiliate at MIT. So this guy has no shortage of credentials.

His TED talk "A simple way to break a bad habit"has been viewed over 10 million times.

And his book, "The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love — Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits,"explores how habits form, why they're so hard to overcome, and the research that gives us hope they can be changed.

In your life – what types of behaviors do you reinforce?

It's likely that the majority of us do not reinforce habits that lead awayfrom stress. Once we learn how to use our stress compass – which we'll talk about later in the show – we may realize that we are actually looking for happiness in all the wrong places. Dr. Brewer helps steer us back in the right direction.

In today's episode we explore:

• How we develop habits – including addictions to our phones, social media, thinking and even love!
• How we can reprogram our habits
• The importance of mindfulness in this process
• And much much more..

Jud is the real deal. He was so present and kind during the interview and I'm so excited to share this episode with you!

RESOURCES FROM THE SHOW

BOOK: The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love — Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habitsby Judson Brewer

TED talk "A simple way to break a bad habit"

Jud has developed and tested novel mindfulness programs for habit change, including both in-person and app-based treatments for smoking, emotional eating, and anxiety (Eat Right Now, Unwinding Anxiety and Craving to Quit).

www.judsonbrewer.com

On today's show our guest is Tony Schwartz. Tony is considered one of the world's thought leaders around sustainable high performance and building more human workplaces. He is the founder of The Energy Project, a consulting firm committed to creating work cultures that are more human, more energized and higher performing.

He began his career as a journalist and has been a reporter for the New York Times, a writer for Newsweek and a contributor to publications such as Esquire, Vanity Fair, and the Harvard Business Review.

At the height of his career as a journalist, Tony hit an unexpected wall. He started questioning.. Why did success suddenly feel so empty? How could he add richer meaning to his everyday life?

For five years he explored these questions and wrote What Really Matters: Searching For Wisdom in America I really enjoyed this book, you should check it out.

He is also a New York Times Bestselling author of several other books, including The Power of Full Engagement and The Way We're Working Isn't Working.

In today's episode we cover a lot of ground, including:

• His journey of self-discovery and how he's become truer to his purpose over time
• He explains how we have multiple selves and how we have the ability to choose which one we act from
• And for a first on the podcast we talk POLITICS! .. but don't worry, not for long and it's not what you think (but it is fascinating).. Tony explains how Donald Trump inadvertently helped him move closer to his purpose in life

You guys are going to love Tony. Hope you enjoy the show.

NOTE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Social media accounts are now under "School Your Soul." Same content different name. (except for Facebook) Info on the podcast will be included on all of these accounts.

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

LINKS:

The Energy Project https://theenergyproject.com/

BOOK: What Really Matters by Tony Schwartz

BOOK: The Way We're Working Isn't Working by Tony Schwartz

BOOK: The Power of Full Engagement by Tony Schwartz

For more visit: www.thedailycordial.com

Do you suffer from stress or anxiety? Do you ever feel out of control of your life? Then this could be a good episode for you.

Today our guest is coming all the way from Sydney Australia! He is the founder of The Stillness Project and his name is Tom Cronin.

Tom believes the portal to reduce stress and access stillness and calm in our lives is meditation. As a meditation teacher for many years he has inspired thousands of people all over the world to unlock their brilliance and calm. But Tom's journey to find Stillness has not always been easy.

At just 19, Tom started his career as a financial broker. If you guys have seen "The Wolf of Wallstreet" Tom says this is a pretty accurate portrayal of what his life was like back then.

He was living the work hard, play hard lifestyle… long, high stress hours at the office, followed by late, drug and alcohol induced nights entertaining clients. After a decade of this lifestyle Tom was suffering from various addictions, anxiety and depression, which eventually led to a nervous breakdown. (We talk all about this in the episode)

Doctors advised him to take medication but Tom didn't believe that was the answer for him.

He found meditation and that is what finally helped him to bring balance and wellness back into his life.

Then in 2012, after 26 years in the finance industry and at the height of his career, Tom decided to walk away from his very lucrative job to fulfill what he believed to be his mission of spreading calm and stillness across the globe.

Determined to share the transformative power of meditation with others Tom started The Stillness Project.

The Stillness Project is a movement of change.

Using multiple streams - from films and online courses, to retreats, blogs, books, and personal mentoring,

his goal and the hope of The Stillness Project is to inspire 1 billion people to sit in Stillness daily to connect with their inner Being and transcend the barriers of separation. The hope is to encourage a movement of awakening on our planet.

And boy does our world need more humans who are connected to spread some love! So, thank you Tom!

In today's episode we discuss:

-Tom's personal transformation

-Why it took a nervous breakdown to finally change his life

-The dangers of stress

-How stress changes your physiology and biochemistry and effects our ability to LOVE

-Understanding the difference between the soul and the ego

-How stillness relieves anxiety and stress

-How we can replenish our mind, body and spirit

-The benefits of meditation

And much much more

One of my favorite parts about meditation is that it's a way to help us remember who we really are, a way to reconnect with our truth- our authentic self - amidst the chaos and stress of the modern world. It gives our mind a moment to rest and it turns up the volume to the voice of our soul.

Often times we look outside for answers or validation only to be left feeling empty, confused and alone. What if all of the answers are within? What if all that you need is within? What if all that you are so desperately longing for the world to give you is within? When we look inward and find stillness we are reminded of our infinite power and connectivity with all that is.

To come from a place of authenticity is where we are our most powerful in life. What if our only mission in life was to be ourselves? To be our TRUE selves and to peel away all the false layers and barriers that prevent us from being ourselves. What would that look like? How would your priorities change? What would you do differently?

If meditation is a way to bring us closer to our authentic self, then I think it's worth making time for! Don't you?

RESOURCES FROM EPISODE:

The Stillness Project https://stillnessproject.com/

Tom's Website www.tomcronin.com

Thom Knoles – Tom's meditation teacher http://thomknoles.com

BOOK: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

BOOK: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

BOOK: Quantum Healing by Deepak Chopra

Today we have mindfulness teacher, trainer and writer Christopher Dines with us. He is the author of six books and blogs for The Huff Post UK. I was absolutely fascinated by the topic of his most recent book called "The Kindness Habit" where he and his coauthor talk about how to transform our relationship to addictive behaviors. And we're not just talking about substance addiction here. In fact, Christopher says we all have addictive behaviors in some way -maybe its with our phone, the internet, shopping, social media, food, emotional behaviors, love, sex, or addiction in our relationships. Christopher calls these things "false friends" or a false refuge - a place we go to get temporary relief from discomfort and to avoid what we're feeling. So how do we transform our relationship with these self-abusive habits, connect to ourselves and find lasting inner strength? In the book he says: "An important first step in this process is to recognize that your 'thing' has served a useful purpose. It has been part of how you protect yourself, what you do to soothe, and quieten some inner turmoil. A place to go to find some peace, without which you would not function well on a day-to-day basis. Like a friend. Your 'thing' has become like a friend. A place of refuge." -The Kindness Habit For show notes visit and more resources from this episode visit - http://thedailycordial.com/christopher-dines/

Erwin Valencia is a friend whom I met through my husband, Rory. Erwin, or E, as some people call him, is a fascinating guy whose skill set and knowledge span across multiple industries. He's the world-renowned physical therapist with the New York Knicks, an athletic trainer, strength and conditioning specialist, and healer of the body. He is also a life coach, speaker, social entrepreneur, and mindfulness coach----and this is the abridged version of the list! Erwin is passionate about living life with purpose, being of service to others, and has truly blazed his own path.

Raised and educated in the Philippines, Erwin is the first Filipino to be on the medical staff for both the NBA and MLB. Prior to joining the Knicks, he was the rehab director for the Pittsburgh Pirates for 8 seasons. He runs a global educational social enterprise called Kinetiq, and is the founder of the Philippine-based charity, the Beyond Medyo Foundation, which promotes a mindful movement lifestyle. You're probably wondering like I am--How in the world does he do it ALL? We are determined to find out! In light of the many roles I play, I'm very curious about how others balance multiple endeavors, and Erwin offers great insights on the matter of balance and prioritizing life. Erwin carries a zest for life and an eagerness that is contagious. I think you guys are going to LOVE him!

You can read the full show notes at www.thedailycordial.com.

Hey guys - Welcome to Episode 20 of The Daily Cordial! Today we are talking to, the ultimate champion of the underdog, Reverend Greg Boyle. Father Boyle is a pastor, activist & renowned speaker. He is also the founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, which is the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. His list of accolades goes on and on but to name a few…He is the author of the New York Times-bestselling book - Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, which was named one of the Best Books of 2010 by Publishers Weekly. He was the subject of Academy Award winner Freida Lee Mock's documentary, G-Dog. He received the California Peace Prize and was inducted into the California Hall of Fame. In 2014, the White House named Father Boyle a Champion of Change and in 2016 he received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the James Beard Foundation, and this is just to name a few! I was first exposed to Father Boyle through my friends Andrew & Lydia… who highly recommended his book "Tattoos on the Heart" which is a series of parables from his two decades working with gang members in LA. I read it and knew immediately I needed to find a way to talk to this guy… his message, his journey and his stories were SO inspirational and talking to him was no different.. But before we get to our talk… first a little background on how "Homeboy Industries" came to be… In 1986 Father Boyle was appointed pastor of Dolores Mission Church in LA, which at the time was the poorest Catholic parish in the city located between two large public housing projects with the highest concentration of gang activity in Los Angeles. After having buried an ever growing number of young people killed in gang violence, Father Boyle wanted to address the unmet needs of gang-involved youth by developing positive opportunities for them. In 1992 Father Boyle launched Homeboy Bakery, and ever since, former enemy gang members have worked side by side, learning both business and baking skills together. The success of Homeboy Bakery created the groundwork for a variety of other similar social enterprises under Homeboy Industries. Each year over 10,000 former gang members from across Los Angeles come through Homeboy Industries' doors in an effort to make a positive change. Homeboy Industries offers education, therapy, tattoo removal, substance abuse treatment, legal assistance, and job placement services. Father Boyle is a man who has dedicated his life to helping those in need and more than that he seeks to help people whom most of society has given up on. In a recent open letter he wrote - "Homeboy Industries seeks to be what the world is ultimately invited to become: a community of kinship, exquisite mutuality, and tenderness. We stand against forgetting that we belong to each other." And I think THIS is a message we all need to be reminded of right now. We belong to each other. In today's episode we talk about the power of unconditional love, compassion and kinship. And his belief that every human is inherently good. He tells us:

• what he believes we are all longing for
• what's more powerful than death
• advice for those grieving
• what he believes to be the meaning of life
• and much much more…

If you're a parent or you're in a service profession where you're trying to help others I think this will be a really valuable episode for you. Actually I think if you're a human being than this episode applies to you. :) Enjoy the show! LINKS: Book: Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion http://www.homeboyindustries.org Documentary on Father Boyle and Homeboy Industries: G-Dog DONATE TO HOMEBODY INDUSTRIES!! https://support.homeboyindustries.org/checkout/donation?eid=39383

Throughout Alexia's career she has gotten to conspire with some of the greatest minds of our time. She worked closely with Richard Branson for over a decade in her 13 year career at Virgin.Then in 2009 she branched out on her own and founded Alexia & Suns, which is a high-level events company that delivers unique, unimaginable experiences. For example she did the weddings for two of Richard Branson's children. No big deal. And then, my favorite, she collaborated with a group called "The Elders." ~ (So a side note here: The Elders are an Independent group of global leaders working together for peace and human rights, brought together in 2007 by Nelson Mandela, Richard Branson and Peter Gabriel. Members have included President Carter and Desmond Tutu amongst others. And I hadn't heard about The Elders before and I think at this particular moment in history this type of collaboration is not only incredible but VITAL… so I just wanted to bring awareness to it.) ~ So anway… Back to Alexia …Then at the beginning of 2015 Alexia decided to take a break from work to just "be." I. love. this. ~ She felt a change brewing and wanted to re-evaluate the direction she wanted her life to go. Alexia embarked on a regimen of healthy eating, meditating and exercising, she surrounded herself with people that inspired her and took more time to do the things she loves. ~ From this space of stillness and clarity her latest venture -SPACE- was born. SPACE is an unbelievable retreat, designed to help you reconnect with the best version of yourself. So, basically my dream vacation. ~ In today's episode we discuss: -The greatest lesson she learned working with Richard Branson -Why she asked Virgin to let her go during a recession -How she deals with Fear -The importance of surrender -How we can create more space in our life -And much much more…. ~ Alexia is an amazing example of someone who follows her heart and calling.. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this conversation and I know you guys will too! Namaste! Resources from Episode: SPACE Alexia & Suns BOOK: The Power of Now BOOK: A New Earth Follow Alexia & Suns: Facebook Twitter Follow Alexia on Instagram

Zhena is an award-winning, purpose-driven social entrepreneur, teacher, author, public speaker, and the publisher of Enliven Books, a new Mind-Body-Spirit imprint. In her critically acclaimed book, Life by the Cup, Zhena chronicles her journey from - being a single mom with $6 to her name - to building a multimillion-dollar fair trade tea company. It's such an inspirational story. Mark Wahlberg's production company has actually optioned her book to create a TV series out of it. Something I love about Zhena is not only that she built this amazing company out of nothing but that she believes that business is the most powerful force for good on the planet. And that all executives should adopt a stronger triple bottom line commitment of PEOPLE, PLANET, & PROFIT. Yessss. Zhena was a pioneer of the fair trade movement. Her company, Zhena's Gypsy Tea, which she is no longer the CEO of, was built from this holistic perspective - dedicated to building equitable trading partnerships that create opportunities to alleviate poverty. This includes providing fair wages and added benefits such as better housing, healthcare, education and a sustainable environment. Zhena's mission is to inspire others to achieve their most audacious dreams and live in ways that heal themselves and our world. Join us!

Hey guys! Welcome to Episode 17 of The Daily Cordial Today I'm talking to an inspirational friend of mine.. Matt Coulter. Matt is the co-founder and executive director of The Young and Brave Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping today's youth beat cancer. What an incredible intention, right? It's an incredible foundation designed to support those, 40 and under, who are battling cancer. I also love that if you donate to a specific warrior 100% of the money goes to the family… it's amazing. One of the things that inspires me most about Matt is his journey to find meaning in his life. He started his career in a high paying job, completely driven by money and status. I think most of us can relate to the idea of chasing the wrong things… whether it's Money, Fame, status, (the list goes on and on) and thinking these things are going to bring us that deep fulfillment that we are longing for… "When I have this, or when this happens THEN I will be happy. " But these things are usually ego driven and insatiable.. so no matter how much money, fame or status we get, it will never be enough. And if you peel back yet another layer, I think ultimately we are just trying to prove to ourselves and others 1. that we're enough 2. that we matter 3. that we're special. All of which is actually an inside job and will never be satiated from the external world. So either way we're set up for failure chasing these things that our society places so much value on.. And this is not to say you can't want these things but understand, that they will probably not fulfill you in the way that you think they will. Some people go a lifetime unknowingly chasing these things only to reach their goal mystified as to why they don't feel fulfilled.…and quite the opposite are greeted with empty dissatisfaction. What's cool about Matt is that he made this discovery about himself early on. In his early 30's, feeling dissatisfied and unfulfilled he quit his high paying job and shifted his purpose to giving back to others - starting "The Young and Brave Foundation" with his best friend, professional surfer Nathanial Curran. And his life has been different ever since. In today's episode, Matt and I had a really fun and playful conversation and we cover a wide range of topics.. from …discovering your purpose and the value of living in service to others… to sensory deprivation tanks, journaling, sleep & creativity. We also discuss:

• The moment he realized he wasn't happy and the changes he made to discover a life with meaning
• His shift from serving SELF to serving OTHERS.. and how that's changed his life
• The link between doing what you love and authenticity
• How we can all make a difference
• And much much more..

Matt is a super smart and creative guy and he's using his skills to help the greater good, which is what it's all about. Hope you guys enjoy the show. SHOW NOTES: Connect with Matt: Young and Brave https://www.theyoungandbrave.com Donate to a Warrior Nominate a Warrior Follow The Young and Brave on Instagram Follow Matt on Instagram Matt's Most Transformational Books: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell Open by Andre Agassi Iron War by Matt Fitzgerald Other resources mentioned in Episode: Pharrell's Podcast OTHERtone Sensory Deprivation Tank Sarah went to- Float Lab LA Times article on Sensory Deprivation Tanks Book: Mindset by Carol Dweck Book: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron