We have all heard the saying “everything happens for a reason,” and although it may be very difficult to see a positive outcome in a very hard situation, everything that occurs in our life is meant to shape us into the person we are meant to be. Observing our life through the lens of a creator allows us to get out of the rut of living on autopilot and start to appreciate everything in our lives, good or bad. Being grateful for challenging times allows us to more fully enjoy the good times and live an abundant life. In this episode, Alison’s guest Jeff Brekken urges us all to see the positive in all situations.

Jeff Brekken learned the value of hard work early on as a child, and combining his passion for helping others with his drive to do more and always do better, Jeff founded Blue Sky Benefit Solutions. Jeff's passion for helping others combined with his drive to do more and always be better led him into the world of HR. He founded Iconic, which provides professional staff at affordable rates so businesses can focus on what they do best.

In this episode, Jeff and Alison discuss how people can live a more fulfilled life, even after encountering challenging situations. Most of us are walking around on autopilot and not being present in the moment. Part of the problem is being attached to our phones and living in a constant state of worry. All fear is future based, so if we ground ourselves in the present moment, we have nothing to fear. Jeff and Alison talk about the importance of self-reflection and how we can all live a more positive and fulfilled life. Tune in for more!

Key highlights:

• Learn from life lessons so you can get up faster and better
• Making a conscious effort to rid our life of negative people
• 95% of our thoughts are automated- how do we get out of automation?
• This world is powered by energy and you can be on the negative side or positive side
• Self-reflection is necessary
• See everything as a learning experience
• The biggest gift you can give yourself and others is to be present
• The antidote for fear or concern is being present
• We’re meant to create and value hard times
• Pain is a gift
• If we don't value the dark times, how do we appreciate the good times?
• You have to have faith in yourself and not care about haters
• Change is the most constant thing on earth
• How Jeff’s business helps small businesses

Quote from the episode:

• “Get something good out of everything that happens, whether good or bad, and your life will be abundant.” - Jeff Brekken

Connect with Jeff Brekken: 

Podcast: atwpodcast.com

Iconic HR website: vipiconichr.com

Instagram: @jbrekken35 | @myiconicHR

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac