The Positive Persistence Podcast with Ian Bowen

What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't your circumstances, your past, or your abilities, but the way you think about yourself?

In this episode, Ian Bowen sits down with Daniel Fielding, Special Forces veteran, author, and founder of The Asset Mindset, to explore how changing your thoughts can change the direction of your life. Drawing from his military experience and years of helping others overcome adversity, Daniel shares why the most powerful asset you have isn't your skills, resources, or connections. It's you.

Daniel explains how the principles he learned in Special Forces can apply to everyday challenges, from overcoming fear and breaking free from negative thought patterns to rebuilding confidence and taking responsibility for your future. He challenges the idea that people need extraordinary experiences to develop resilience, reminding listeners that everyone has already overcome something difficult in their lives.

One of the episode's most memorable moments comes when Daniel shares the story of a 92-year-old woman who read his book, decided to return to work, and rediscovered her sense of purpose. Her experience reinforces a powerful message: it's never too late to change your life.

In this episode, you’ll discover:
1. Why The Asset Mindset applies to everyone, not just Special Forces veterans.
2. How to move beyond a victim mentality without ignoring past pain.
3. Why giving yourself grace and practicing gratitude can help you move forward.
4. How to turn fear into an opportunity for courage and growth.
5. Why your environment and the people around you influence your mindset.
6. How small wins and backwards planning help you achieve bigger goals.
7. Why it's never too late to change your life and rediscover your purpose.

Key Takeaways:
1. You Are Your Greatest Asset: Your mindset and decisions can influence how you respond to life's challenges.
2. Keep Moving Forward: Even a wrong decision can teach you something; staying stuck prevents growth.
3. Give Yourself Grace: Healing takes time. Acknowledge your struggles without letting them define your future.
4. Reframe Fear: Fear can be an opportunity to practice courage, learn, and grow.
5. Choose Your Environment: Surround yourself with people and experiences that support positive change.
6. Build Momentum Through Small Wins: Consistent actions and clear planning make bigger goals more achievable.
7. It's Never Too Late: You can rediscover purpose and make meaningful changes at any stage of life.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Meet Daniel Fielding and The Asset Mindset
02:27 – Why mindset is the key to overcoming adversity
04:24 – Moving beyond a victim mentality
05:14 – Why making no decision keeps you stuck
08:19 – Giving yourself grace and practicing gratitude
12:13 – Turning fear into an opportunity for growth
15:37 – Stop comparing yourself to others
16:52 – How your environment shapes your mindset
21:17 – Changing your thoughts, beliefs, and identity
27:57 – Using backwards planning to achieve your goals
31:37 – The 92-year-old woman who found a new purpose
38:30 – Daniel's message about owning your thoughts and power

Connect with Daniel Fielding:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-fielding-the-asset-mindset/
Website: https://www.theassetmindset.com
Asset Mindset Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Asset-Mindset/Daniel-Fielding/9781668035979 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theassetmindsetpodcast

CONNECT WITH IAN BOWEN:

Website: https://watchmemindset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowen

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when the way your brain works doesn't fit the way the world expects you to learn, work, or live?

Mike Merkur spent years being told, directly and indirectly, that he didn't fit. He was thrown out of class, quit chemical engineering in tears at 17, struggled to find his place, and eventually spent years couch surfing.

In this episode, Mike opens up about discovering his ADHD and autism, why traditional learning never worked for him, and how learning with his hands and visually changed the way he understood the world.

He also shares the moment he realized he couldn't keep looking backward. From being pushed down by society to finding his own path as a toy inventor and puzzle maker, Mike's story is about finding your unique gifts, accepting that your path may look different, and continuing forward when the conventional path doesn't work for you.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. Why Mike struggled to fit into traditional classrooms and workplaces.

2. How ADHD and autism affected the way he learned and interacted with the world.

3. Why traditional, text-based learning doesn't work for everyone.

4. How kinesthetic and hands-on learning can help people with different learning styles.

5. What five years of couch surfing taught Mike about himself and other people.

6. Why some people with big ideas never take the first step.

7. How overcoming obstacles can create the courage to move forward.

8. Why you shouldn't look back when you're trying to build a different future.

Key Takeaways:

1. Not Everyone Fits the Traditional Mold. Mike's experiences in school and work showed him that conventional systems don't work equally well for everyone.

2. Different Brains Can Need Different Ways to Learn. Mike describes himself as someone who needs to learn visually and with his hands.

3. Your Path Doesn't Have to Look Normal. Mike spent years couch surfing and exploring instead of following a conventional career path.

4. Obstacles Can Change How You Move Forward. Mike talks about people becoming fearless enough to act after being pushed down or overcoming major obstacles.

5. Stop Looking Back. Mike uses the story of Lot and his wife to explain why constantly looking backward can keep you frozen in place.

6. Find Your Unique Gifts. Mike encourages people to identify the abilities that make their way of thinking different.

7. Keep Going After the Knock. As Mike puts it, “Every knock's a boost.”

8. Go, Be, Do. Sometimes the first step is simply deciding to move forward rather than waiting for everything to be perfect.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction 

00:12 – Mike's unconventional path: school, engineering, and couch surfing

01:32 – Why Mike struggled in school

03:40 – ADHD, autism, and learning differently

04:27 – The experience of not fitting in

15:13 – Losing his father and close friend

16:19 – Being labeled “unemployable”

17:34 – Seeing the abilities behind different ways of thinking

18:57 – “How do you fit into society?”

22:14 – The Mike of today vs. 10 years ago

22:48 – Five years of couch surfing

26:19 – Mike's advice for people who don't fit the mold

36:10 – Why people with ideas don't always start

37:24 – “Let's just do it and never look back”

38:28 – How far you can go when you stop looking back

38:44 – “Every knock's a boost”

Connect with Mike Merkur:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemerkur/

Website: https://mikemerkur.com/

World Mini Music: https://www.worldminimusic.com/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Mikemerkur

CONNECT WITH IAN BOWEN:

Website: https://watchmemindset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowen

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the proof that you can handle what's coming next is already written in your past?

In this solo cast, Ian Bowen shares a powerful conversation he had with a client facing a life-changing challenge. He breaks down why fear is really just "False Evidence Appearing Real," and why the actual evidence of your life; every struggle you've survived, every obstacle you've overcome, is the blueprint for your next breakthrough.

He also explains why most people do affirmations wrong, why you can't manifest something your body doesn't believe, and how to use your real track record to build unshakeable resilience before you need it. Essential listening for anyone in the middle of a hard season.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. Why fear is "False Evidence Appearing Real" and how it hijacks your decision-making.

2. How to look at the actual evidence of your life instead of the false evidence in your head.

3. Why every challenge you've overcome is preparing you for the next one.

4. The difference between false evidence and real evidence, and why it matters.

5. Why you can't affirm or manifest something that isn't true for you yet.

6. How to affirm strength using real evidence from your past.

7. Why you must build a resilient mindset before you need it.

8. How to dust off your "blueprint for success" that you've already created.

Key Takeaways:

1. Fear Is False Evidence. Fear screams loudest when you're facing the unknown. It feels real, but it isn't proof of anything.

2. Look at the Real Evidence. Your track record of surviving hard things is the most reliable proof that you can survive this one.

3. Every Struggle Prepares You. All the adversity you've already handled has been building the resilience you need right now.

4. You Can't Affirm a Lie. Saying "I am a millionaire" when you're not doesn't work. Your body won't resonate with something untrue.

5. Affirm What You've Proven. "I am strong" works when you can point to the times you were. That's evidence your body believes.

6. Build Resilience Before You Need It. Don't wait for the crisis. Start stacking evidence now so you're ready when the storm hits.

7. You Already Have the Blueprint. You've overcome before. The steps you took then are the steps you need now, just dust them off.

8. Make Life Happen for You. Don't let life happen to you. Remember the steps you took to become a victor, and use them again.

Timestamps:

00:11 – A conversation with a client facing a life-changing challenge

01:02 – The questions we all ask: "How am I going to deal with this?"

01:56 – Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real

03:02 – Look at the actual evidence, not the false evidence

03:29 – Every struggle you've overcome is preparing you for this

04:37 – It's easier to read the label from outside the jar

05:00 – Why most people do affirmations wrong

06:52 – Affirm what you've already proven: "I am strong because I've overcome"

07:41 – Using your past as evidence for your future

07:57 – Build a resilient mindset before you need it

08:19 – Remember the steps you took to become a victor

08:52 – You already have the blueprint for your success

09:16 – Closing: stay positive, stay persistent

CONNECT WITH IAN BOWEN:

Website: https://watchmemindset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowen

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the story you've told yourself your whole life about why you weren't wanted was never the truth?

Ian Bowen sits down with Mark Steiner, CEO of GigSalad, who was adopted at birth and spent decades believing he was rejected, abandoned, and not enough. He opens up about the imaginative story he built as a child, the insecurity that bled into every relationship, and the moment a single word from an AI chatbot reframed his entire identity: he wasn't rejected—he was redirected.

Diagnosed with ADHD at 57, Mark also speaks candidly about his lifelong struggle with bulimia, body dysmorphia, and the "program" of perfectionism he ran for decades—and how he finally un-programmed it. Essential for anyone carrying a story about themselves that was never theirs to begin with.
 

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. How being adopted at birth shaped Mark's identity and self-worth for decades.

2. The moment he found his biological mother at 25 and heard a completely different story.

3. Why he was diagnosed with ADHD at 57 and how it explained his entire life.

4. The "switch" he flipped in 2004 and why he never looked back.

5. His candid story of living with bulimia and body dysmorphia as a man.

6. Why secrets and "stuffing things down" kept him stuck for years.

7. The moment he publicly shared his eating disorder and what happened next.

8. How he built GigSalad and what "finding your gig" really means.

Key Takeaways:

1. You Were Redirected, Not Rejected. The story you tell yourself about why something happened is often not the truth. Reframing it can change everything.

2. Secrets Aren't Good. Stuffing things down is like an iceberg—you only see the tip until you finally look beneath the surface.

3. Love Yourself First. You cannot truly love others until you love yourself. That overflow is what makes real connection possible.

4. Accept Your Humanity. You don't have to be perfect, immortal, or angelic. Accepting you're human is the most freeing thing you can do.

5. Comparison Is the Thief. On the best days, Mark doesn't compare himself to others. Removing comparison and criticalness is crucial.

6. Learn Something Every Day. At 60, Mark still wakes up excited about what he'll learn. That white-belt mentality keeps life thrilling.

7. There's Always a Way. Spiritual, physical, emotional, mental—whatever holds you back, there is a way out, through, over, or around.

8. Choose the Highs. If you know both the highs and lows, choose to stick with the highs. Even if it looks manic, it beats the alternative.

Timestamps:

00:11 – Introducing Mark Steiner, CEO of GigSalad

01:25 – Adopted at birth and the story he built about being "given up"

06:13 – The destructive "program" he ran on himself for decades

07:43 – Feeling invincible: "I'm gonna do something exceptional"

08:26 – The AI prompt that changed everything: "You weren't rejected, you were redirected"

12:38 – Diagnosed with ADHD at 57 and how it explained his life

18:25 – Un-programming the perfectionism at 40

22:48 – Finding contentment and confidence at 60

30:30 – Sharing his bulimia publicly for the first time

36:29 – His message: there's a way out, through, over, or around

38:10 – What GigSalad is and how it works

42:48 – Where to find Mark and GigSalad

Connect with Mark Steiner:

Website: https://thinkupon.com/

GigSalad: https://www.gigsalad.com/

CONNECT WITH IAN BOWEN:

Website: https://watchmemindset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowen

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the key to creating lasting change isn't just changing your mindset, but learning to work with your body, your nervous system, and your sense of purpose?

In this episode of Positive Persistence, Ian Bowen sits down with Virginia Scheuer, founder of the Lightness Method and the Soulpreneurs Association, to explore the connection between manifestation, nervous system science, self-love, and personal transformation.

Virginia shares her journey from acting and teaching to entrepreneurship and coaching, including the health challenges that forced her to slow down and rethink how she was living.

She explains how her experience with stress led her to discover the importance of alignment; bringing your head, heart, and actions in the same direction.

The conversation explores what self-love really means, especially for people who spend their lives caring for others. Virginia explains why taking responsibility for your own capacity, honoring your basic needs, and discovering your purpose beyond your family are essential parts of self-care.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, coach, parent, or someone trying to step into the next version of yourself, this episode offers a different perspective on self-love, purpose, and the work required to create a life that feels lighter and more aligned.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. What self-love looks like beyond affirmations and traditional self-care.

2. Why caregivers can lose touch with their own identity, needs, and purpose.

3. The difference between codependency and healthy co-regulation.

4. How “blisscipline” and “loveigation” can shape the way you care for yourself and others.

5. What the Wicked Wall is and how worry, conflict, fear, and deflection can keep you stuck.

6. Why resistance may signal that you are approaching your next level.

7. The four steps of the Lightness Method: feel, find, focus, and flow.

8. How naming your emotions helps you understand and move through them.

9. Why nervous system regulation and a sense of safety are essential for lasting change.

10. How neuroplasticity helps you create new habits, identities, and responses.

11. Why affirmations are more powerful when your mind and body are in alignment.

Key Takeaways:

1. Perseverance needs a reason. When your purpose is bigger than yourself, challenges become easier to continue moving through.

2. Struggle doesn't have to define you. Jaclyn believes the challenges we experience can become the source of the gifts we develop.

3. Self-mastery comes first. Before attempting to change other people or systems, learn to lead yourself.

4. Purpose isn't always something outside of you. Jaclyn argues that purpose can be found in how you "be" and what you bring into the world.

5. Learn to let go. Releasing the need to control everything can create room for a different experience of life.

6. Lead from power, not force. Jaclyn's transformation involved learning to recognize whether her leadership was coming from love or fear.

7. Create an emotionally compelling vision. A goal isn't enough if it doesn't mean something deeply personal to you.

8. Your community matters. The right people can remind you of what's possible when you're struggling to see it yourself.

9. Be willing to change your perception. The lens through which you experience reality influences how you respond to your circumstances.

10. Stay open to what you don't know. Jaclyn's unexpected lesson from years of perseverance was discovering how much more becomes possible when you remain open-minded.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introducing Virginia Scheuer

03:04 – The health scare that changed Virginia’s direction

06:15 – Understanding alignment and self-love

09:16 – What self-love really means

11:13 – Codependency versus healthy co-regulation

14:48 – What is the Wicked Wall?

16:07 – The six obstacles that keep us stuck

18:03 – Why resistance may signal your next level

20:32 – The four steps: Feel, Find, Focus, Flow

22:35 – How neuroplasticity helps create new patterns

26:46 – Flow, surrender, and taking action

29:12 – Why manifestation starts with the body

30:16 – The importance of safety and nervous system regulation

31:07 – Using affirmations your body can believe

45:20 – Finding simpler and more easeful ways to live

Connect with Virginia Scheuer:

Website: https://virginia.vision/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginiascheuer/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginia.vision

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soulpreneurs

CONNECT WITH IAN BOWEN:

Website: https://watchmemindset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowen

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when you walk into the hospital for routine surgery and leave paralyzed from the waist down?

Ian Bowen sits down with Diana Ashworth, a certified transformation and empowerment coach who experienced a massive spinal stroke during brain surgery that left her unable to walk. Diana opens up about the moment she woke up and couldn't feel her legs, the devastating diagnosis that she would never walk again, and the long, grueling journey of relearning how to do everything, from dressing herself to maneuvering a wheelchair.

Now a coach who mentors incarcerated women and men and helps women put the pieces of their soul back together after trauma, Diana shares how faith, family, and fierce self-advocacy carried her through. Essential for anyone facing a life-altering setback or struggling to find hope after trauma.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. What a spinal stroke is and how it happened during routine brain surgery.

2. The moment Diana woke up and was told she would never walk again.

3. Why she had to relearn basic tasks like dressing and using a wheelchair.

4. How her faith and her grandmother's words carried her through the darkest days.

5. What it means to "put the pieces of your soul back together" after trauma.

6. The challenges and rewards of coaching incarcerated women and men.

7. How losing 95 pounds and managing autoimmune conditions transformed her health.

8. Why self-advocacy with doctors was a turning point in her recovery.

Key Takeaways:

1. You Can't Do It Alone. Whether it's faith, family, or a community, having people who believe in you is essential to surviving the impossible.

2. The Work Starts Within. No personal development book or coach can help you until you decide to do the work on yourself.

3. Self-Advocacy Is Non-Negotiable. Don't let doctors or anyone else label you. Go into appointments with questions and demands. You know you better than they do.

4. Relearn Everything. When life strips away basic abilities, resilience is found in the willingness to relearn how to do everything a different way.

5. Trauma Comes in Many Forms. Abuse, fear of the future, and childhood wounds can shatter a soul just as much as a physical injury.

6. Faith as Fuel. If you have something greater than yourself to lean on, use it. It will carry you when you have nothing left.

7. Look Deep Inside. If you're constantly angry or overwhelmed, the root may not be your current situation, it may be unresolved pain you've never dealt with.

8. Take Action Today. If you need help, don't wait a week or a month. Call that therapist or coach today. Putting it off keeps you stuck.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introducing Diana Ashworth and her incredible journey

03:00 – The devastating diagnosis: "You're not gonna be able to walk again"

05:34 – Walking into surgery and leaving half of yourself behind

06:22 – The overwhelming question: "Do I want to live or die?"

08:56 – Relearning basic tasks: dressing, wheelchair maneuvers, daily life

11:03 – Faith and her grandmother's words: "If God'll bring you to it, he'll bring you through it"

12:33 – What it means to "put the pieces of your soul back together" after trauma

15:15 – Coaching incarcerated women and men and rebuilding trust

17:36 – The chronic illness pivot: losing 95 pounds and managing autoimmune conditions

20:19 – Becoming a fierce self-advocate in the medical system

23:37 – Dealing with depression and unresolved trauma

26:52 – Practical strategies for difficult days: prayer, worship, and perspective

29:54 – Where to find Diana and Life After Impact

Connect with Diana Ashworth:

Website: https://dianaashworthcreateslife.com/

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-ashworth-ccp-b-a-cps-mh-93918b2a/

CONNECT WITH IAN BOWEN:

Website: https://watchmemindset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowen

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What keeps you going when the road gets harder than you ever expected? For Jaclyn Orent, perseverance wasn't about simply pushing through. It became about discovering a purpose bigger than herself and learning how to transform the person doing the persevering.

In this episode of Positive Persistence, Jaclyn shares the extraordinary journey that took her from corporate America through a profound period of self-discovery, including a 36-day water fast that she describes as a pivotal turning point in her life. She explains how that experience reshaped her values, direction, and understanding of purpose.

Jaclyn also explores her work with the Cultural Catalyst Network and the idea of becoming a "warrior of light" moving from struggle and force toward perseverance, honor, and a higher calling. She explains why she believes self-mastery is the foundation of meaningful leadership and why changing your perception can change the way you experience your circumstances.

The conversation goes deeper into letting go, surrender, finding an emotionally compelling vision, surrounding yourself with people who believe in what you're becoming, and why lasting cultural change starts with changing ourselves. Jaclyn also shares how EFT/tapping became part of her personal transformation and her mission to make these tools more accessible.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. Why perseverance requires something greater than yourself.

2. How Jaclyn's 36-day water fast became a pivotal moment in her life.

3. What Jaclyn means by discovering your "higher purpose."

4. The Gene Keys and her identity as a "warrior of light."

5. How struggle can become the source of perseverance.

6. Why honoring your struggle can change your relationship with adversity.

7. Why Jaclyn believes self-mastery is the first skill of a cultural catalyst.

8. The difference between leading from power versus force.

9. Why your purpose may be closer than you think and may exist in how you show up.

10. How letting go of control can create profound personal change.

11. Why the people around you can determine whether you sustain meaningful change.

12. How open-mindedness can unlock possibilities you can't currently see.

Key Takeaways:

1. Perseverance needs a reason. When your purpose is bigger than yourself, challenges become easier to continue moving through.

2. Struggle doesn't have to define you. Jaclyn believes the challenges we experience can become the source of the gifts we develop.

3. Self-mastery comes first. Before attempting to change other people or systems, learn to lead yourself.

4. Purpose isn't always something outside of you. Jaclyn argues that purpose can be found in how you "be" and what you bring into the world.

5. Learn to let go. Releasing the need to control everything can create room for a different experience of life.

6. Lead from power, not force. Jaclyn's transformation involved learning to recognize whether her leadership was coming from love or fear.

7. Create an emotionally compelling vision. A goal isn't enough if it doesn't mean something deeply personal to you.

8. Your community matters. The right people can remind you of what's possible when you're struggling to see it yourself.

9. Be willing to change your perception. The lens through which you experience reality influences how you respond to your circumstances.

10. Stay open to what you don't know. Jaclyn's unexpected lesson from years of perseverance was discovering how much more becomes possible when you remain open-minded.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introducing Jaclyn Orent and her journey

02:10 – Why perseverance requires a greater purpose

03:13 – Jaclyn’s 36-day water fast

04:11 – How the fast changed her direction and values

06:05 – Self-mastery and the Gene Keys

07:35 – Becoming a “warrior of light”

08:09 – Turning struggle into perseverance

10:55 – Finding purpose during difficult times

11:32 – Using EFT and tapping for emotional healing

12:42 – Why self-mastery comes before cultural change

14:20 – Leading from power instead of force

16:04 – How perception shapes your experience

18:43 – Why meaningful change requires community

19:37 – Connecting with your future self

24:57 – Letting go of control

25:52 – Surrender, attachment, and meaning

28:03 – Self-mastery and cultural leadership

30:37 – How tapping helps process difficult emotions

32:07 – Finding a reason powerful enough to keep going

33:21 – Jaclyn’s biggest lesson about perseverance

34:34 – The power of imagination and open-mindedness

35:31 – Reflecting on the lessons of the past

Website: https://www.culturalcatalysts.net

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaclynorent/

CONNECT WITH IAN BOWEN:

Website: https://watchmemindset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowen

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when you realize you've lost sight of who you are, and that rebuilding your life is no longer optional?

In this episode, Ian Bowen sits down with Daniel Bradley, host of the Braving the Bright Side podcast, to unpack a remarkable journey from grief and addiction to incarceration, sobriety, leadership, and purpose. Daniel shares how losing his mother at 17 sent him down a path of avoiding pain, eventually leading to years of alcoholism, multiple DUIs, prison time, and a marriage that was barely holding together.

Daniel opens up about the accident that became a turning point in his life: falling three stories from his apartment and waking up in the hospital with a completely different perspective on who he was and what his life stood for. During five days in the hospital, he began asking himself a question he couldn't answer: Who is Dan Bradley, and what does he stand for?

Throughout the episode, Daniel and Ian discuss why community matters during difficult seasons, how to turn past struggles into sources of strength, why scars can become superpowers, and how helping others can become part of your own recovery. Daniel also shares practical habits that keep him grounded, including exercise, reflection, and listing things he's grateful for each morning.

The episode closes with Daniel's powerful message about choosing to be a point of light even when the world feels dark. Sometimes resilience isn't about making a giant transformation, it's about taking a breath, taking one step forward, and refusing to give up.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. How losing a parent at a young age can shape the way we process pain and grief.

2. Why addiction can become a way of avoiding emotions and difficult self-reflection.

3. How a life-changing accident forced Daniel to question who he was and what he stood for.

4. Why sobriety is only the beginning of the deeper work of personal transformation.

5. How rebuilding trust, identity, and purpose takes time and consistent effort.

6. What "sonder" means and how recognizing everyone has their own story can create greater empathy.

7. Why community and connection can be crucial when you're struggling.

8. How to reframe painful experiences as sources of strength instead of shame.

9. Why your scars and past struggles can become tools for helping other people.

10. How gratitude, exercise, reflection, and self-awareness can support a resilient mindset.

11. Why doubt isn't always a bad thing—and how it can signal that you're entering unfamiliar territory.

12. How choosing empathy and positivity can become an act of rebellion against darkness.

Key Takeaways:

1. Rebuilding Starts With Identity: Sometimes moving forward begins with asking who you are, what you stand for, and what kind of impact you want to have.

2. Sobriety Is More Than Not Drinking: Daniel describes sobriety as only the beginning. The deeper work involves understanding why you were living the way you were and actively becoming a better version of yourself.

3. Community Helps You Keep Moving: When you can't see your own progress, the right community can remind you how far you've come and help you keep going.

4. Everyone Has a Story: Practicing sonder means remembering that every person you meet is carrying experiences, struggles, hopes, and history you may never see.

5. Your Scars Can Become Superpowers: What you've survived doesn't have to remain a source of shame. Your experiences can become something you use to understand and help others.

6. Look Back, But Don't Stay There: It's empowering to recognize how far you've come, but staying focused on the past can prevent you from moving forward.

7. Gratitude Creates Momentum: Taking time each morning to recognize what you're grateful for can shift your attention toward what is working and remind you how far you've come.

8. Doubt Can Build Character: Doubt doesn't necessarily mean you should stop. It can mean you're about to attempt something unfamiliar or put yourself out there.

9. Resilience Means Not Standing Still: Across Daniel's experiences as a chef, while incarcerated, in the grocery industry, and as a podcaster, resilience repeatedly meant refusing to give up and continuing to move forward.

10. Be the Point of Light: When the world feels dark, choosing empathy, positivity, and forward movement can be an act of bravery.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Daniel Bradley and his journey from addiction to leadership

01:26 – Losing his mother at 17 and the beginning of his struggle

04:14 – The chef lifestyle, drinking, and normalizing addiction

07:18 – DUIs, incarceration, and reaching a breaking point

08:30 – The three-story fall that changed everything

13:27 – Asking, “Who is Dan Bradley?”

15:29 – Rebuilding his life and rediscovering joy

20:26 – Understanding “sonder” and recognizing everyone's story

21:08 – From chef to Trader Joe's and finding perspective through people

23:47 – The importance of community during difficult seasons

28:43 – Daily practices that keep Daniel grounded

36:37 – Finding hope when the world feels dark

37:04 – Being a point of light in a room of shadows

38:31 – Choosing empathy, positivity, and courage

39:10 – Braving the Bright Side and Daniel's upcoming projects

41:21 – Creating connection and reminding people they're not alone

42:06 – Final thoughts: stay positive, stay persistent

Connect with Daniel Bradley:

Website: https://bravingthebrightside.org/

Podcast: Braving the Bright Side — available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-bradley-53242739a/

CONNECT WITH IAN BOWEN:

Website: https://watchmemindset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowen

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if joy isn't something you find after life's hardest moments... but something you can choose to create along the way?

In this episode, Ian Bowen sits down with Alexi, a cancer survivor, motivational speaker, and advocate for resilience through joy and mindset. After overcoming cancer and later facing financial hardship and homelessness, Alexi continued to find ways to bring laughter, kindness, and positivity into the lives of others.

Alexi shares how her experience with cancer shaped her approach to resilience, why she believes daily action matters alongside mindset, and how laughter became an important part of her purpose. She also explains how small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect, even when you never know how far that impact travels.

The conversation explores practical ways to build emotional resilience, including gratitude, positive self-talk, self-love, and intentionally looking for what's good even when life feels overwhelming. Alexi also shares why treating yourself like your best friend and leading with love can change the way you navigate setbacks and relationships.

Throughout the episode, you'll hear a powerful reminder that difficult circumstances don't have to define your outlook. Sometimes, finding the positive doesn't mean ignoring what's wrong. It means choosing to look for the lesson, the opportunity, or the small moment of joy that can help you keep moving forward.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. How Alexi's cancer diagnosis became a turning point in her life.

2. Why resilience requires both a positive mindset and daily action.

3. How laughter and kindness can create a ripple effect of joy.

4. Simple ways to practice gratitude when life feels overwhelming.

5. Why positive self-talk and self-love can support persistence through setbacks.

6. How small acts of kindness can make someone feel seen and valued.

7. Why focusing on the positive doesn't mean ignoring life's negative moments.

8. How to protect your mindset from negativity and keep moving forward.

Key Takeaways:

1. Resilience Is Built Through Action: A positive mindset becomes more powerful when paired with consistent daily steps.

2. Joy Can Be a Purpose: Bringing happiness to others can give difficult seasons greater meaning.

3. Small Acts Matter: A smile, compliment, joke, or kind word can create an impact you may never see.

4. Gratitude Changes Your Outlook: Looking for what went right can shift your focus away from everything that went wrong.

5. Talk to Yourself Like a Friend: Positive self-talk and self-compassion can help you keep going when you're down.

6. Look for the Positive: Even in difficult circumstances, there may be a lesson, opportunity, or silver lining worth finding.

7. Lead With Love: Supporting people with encouragement rather than criticism can change how they experience setbacks.

8. Negativity Is a Habit: Becoming intentional about what you focus on can help you build a more positive pattern.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Alexi and her journey of resilience and joy

01:05 – Alexi's cancer diagnosis and choosing to persevere

03:41 – The mindset and actions behind her recovery

05:20 – Building a positive mindset through adversity

07:48 – Discovering the power of laughter and joy

09:22 – Facing financial hardship and homelessness with joy

10:24 – Finding gratitude in everyday life

11:29 – How small acts can create a ripple effect

13:11 – Practical habits for building emotional resilience

15:13 – Gratitude, self-hugs, and ending the day positively

18:22 – Finding the positive in life's challenges

20:21 – Turning negativity into something positive

22:08 – Leading with love and emotional intelligence

25:48 – Self-love and positive self-talk

28:07 – Protecting yourself from negativity

Connect with Alexi Bracey:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexibracey/

CONNECT WITH IAN BOWEN:

Website: https://watchmemindset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowen

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if feeling stuck isn't a sign that you need to work harder... but a signal that something is out of alignment?

In this episode, Ian Bowen sits down with Desi Bolin, serial entrepreneur, business strategist, and catalyst for personal growth. Through her work with Virtually Sourced, Catalyst Collective, and Catalyst Conversations, Desi helps people navigate change, build businesses that support their lives, and take bold action rooted in who they truly are.

Desi shares the story of leaving corporate leadership after realizing she didn't want to spend more than half of her children's childhood away from them, and how that decision led her into entrepreneurship. She and Ian explore the mindset shifts that helped her build self-trust, embrace authenticity, and create a life around purpose rather than societal expectations.

Throughout the conversation, Desi explains why people often don't need another strategy, they need a different way of thinking. From replacing "but" with "and," shifting from "have to" to "get to," and operating with intention while detaching from the outcome, Desi offers practical ways to reframe adversity and move forward with greater clarity.

The conversation also dives into the importance of staying present, embracing incremental growth, giving yourself permission to fail, practicing self-compassion, and recognizing when an old identity, relationship, or habit no longer serves you.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. Why feeling stuck may be a sign of misalignment rather than a lack of effort.

2. How self-trust and self-love influence the way you show up in every area of life.

3. Why operating with intention while detaching from the outcome can create greater freedom.

4. How small language shifts like "and" instead of "but" can change the way you think.

5. Why authenticity builds trust and helps attract the right people into your life.

6. How inner work can help rewrite old stories and expand your sense of what's possible.

7. Why consistency, presence, and discipline are essential for long-term growth.

8. How to recognize when an old identity, relationship, or habit no longer serves you.

9. Why failure can become one of the fastest ways to learn and grow.

10. How giving yourself grace can help you continue moving forward through adversity.

Key Takeaways:

1. Alignment Creates Momentum: Progress becomes more sustainable when your actions are rooted in your values, strengths, purpose, and the person you want to become.

2. Self-Trust Changes Everything: Building trust in yourself allows you to take courageous steps even before you feel completely confident.

3. Your Internal World Gets Amplified: What you carry internally can influence how you show up in your business, relationships, and life.

4. Choose "Get To" Over "Have To": Reframing obligations as choices can shift your perspective and restore a sense of agency.

5. Authenticity Builds Trust: Showing up as your true self creates deeper connections and attracts people who genuinely align with you.

6. Growth Requires Discomfort: Stepping outside your familiar patterns and homeostasis is often where meaningful growth begins.

7. Consistency Requires Presence: Repeating the right actions matters, but staying present allows you to recognize bottlenecks and make adjustments along the way.

8. Failure Is Part of the Process: Mistakes can reveal what doesn't work and provide lessons that move you forward.

8. Give Yourself Grace: Progress doesn't have to happen overnight. Self-compassion makes it easier to keep going through setbacks and difficult seasons.

10. Make It Simple: When facing adversity, stop overthinking and focus on the simple, aligned action you can take right now.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Desi Bolin and her journey into entrepreneurship

03:23 – Leaving corporate leadership to build a life around family

05:20 – Self-trust, self-love, and the impact of your internal world

07:18 – Shifting from “have to” to “get to”

09:23 – How to recognize when you're out of alignment

11:44 – The inner work behind changing your life

16:03 – Building a life around authenticity and purpose

20:10 – The long-term work of personal growth

23:37 – Reclaiming your potential and owning your power

27:10 – Why consistency and patience create lasting growth

34:24 – Consistency vs. insanity: knowing when to change course

40:37 – Desi’s mindset shift: make everything simple and live with intention

Connect with Desi Bolin:

Website: https://talkwithdesi.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desibolin/

CONNECT WITH IAN BOWEN:

Website: https://watchmemindset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowen

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.