Studies show that most of your thoughts are negative. Can you believe it? 

The better question may be how much can you trust any study. 

But I'm sure you know how often your mind generates thoughts that aren't helpful and those that are outright toxic! It's time to "STOP IT!".

(This is a random recording that came out of a microphone test.)

My guest this week is Cam F Awesome.

Cam has won more boxing matches than anyone in the history of the sport.

He’s the most decorated boxer in history.

Now he’s a public speaker, traveling the country sharing the lessons he learned through boxing: mental toughness and a mindset for confidence.

When I first met Cam, he told me that he figured out early on that boxing is more about mindset than it is strength. He was able to win because he had the mental game figured out.

And, yes, his legal name is Cam F Awesome. And I think his story will inspire you to have the same kind of confidence in yourself.

As far as we know, we humans are the only creatures on this planet with the ability to think about and imagine the future.

This gives us the ability to plan & set goals.

It also gives us the ability to procrastinate.

It’s also what makes us feel like the turning of a new year is a fresh start.

For a majority of people, the start of a new year is the only time they think that they might be able to change their life.

Most people settle into a routine and it becomes a rut.

There are some people in the world who would refer to running 600 miles over multiple days as "fun." And there are some who would do it again if a friend convinced them that getting an FKT (Fastest Known Time) record was possible.

Leah Atherton ran the Southwest Coast Trail, England's longest footpath, with the goal to set an FKT. An injury kept her from finishing, but she hasn't let that stop her. When she runs, she runs for fun.

Leah is a poet as well as a runner. And she enjoys combining her love of writing with the love of running. She often selects a spot during a run to stop for a while and spend time writing. 

In this episode, we also talk about fast-packing and fell running. And now I finally have a better understanding of what fell running is all about.

When you “manage” something, it suggests that you have some amount of influence over it.

When you manage other people - they are supposed to listen and do what you ask them to do.

You don’t have complete control, but you make decisions that affect what they do.

So how much influence do you have over time?
Can you tell it to slow down or speed up?
Can you get it to wait for you?

“Time and tides wait for no one.”

No, you can’t “manage” time.

Finishing the Leadville 100 is a challenge. Not only is there the physical effort of getting up and down the mountain trails, but the air is also thin above 10,000 feet. 

Johnathan Prosser lives in the relatively low elevation of Kansas. And his first attempt at a mountain trail race ended with a DNF. He had a goal to run the Leadville 100 and he decided he needed a better strategy if he was going to be successful. 

He found a coach and followed a solid training plan. He also allowed some days before the race to get into the mountains and adapt to the altitude. 

And his coach gave him a great strategy to follow during his race. "Don't think about time. Focus on managing your energy."

Most of us look at skydiving and bungee jumping as dangerous. Wouldn’t think of it!

Stats show you are just as likely to die at a dance party as you are skydiving.

You are 50x more likely to die in a canoe than bungee jumping.

You are 35x more likely to die in a car than riding a bicycle.

But most of us will still feel safer driving a car than skydiving.

If you’re happy with your life the way it is, then you don’t need to think about any of this.

As long as you stay in your comfort zone, you’ll be fine.

But if you want to have more than an average life, then you need to know how to deal with your Lizard Brain.

When a rouge wave threw Vinny Crispino from his surfboard and crushed him against a rock, it took him a few seconds to realize he could no longer feel his leg. He made it to shore, but he discovered he had broken his back.

He still had use of his legs, but the doctors said the only option was to fuse his spine and that he'd never surf or run again. They told him his only other option was to be confined to a wheelchair.

Vinny decided to look for other options that didn't end with him being immobile for life. He went for years and tried all kinds of alternative treatments. He was able to walk, but  walking was always painful. 

Then he met a man who was a bodyworker. After the first session, Vinny realized it was the first time in years he'd been able to move without pain.  He continued learning how to move his body and made a full recovery.

Now Vinny is training for a fifty-mile ultramarathon trail race. And he started the Pain Academy, teaching others how to relieve pain through natural movements.

How are you doing with your work/life balance?

51% of workers say they have missed important life events because of work commitments.

40% of employees say they use their personal devices for work purposes after business hours. 

70% of employees will read their emails while watching television at home.

60% of Americans say they have poor work-life balance mostly due to a lack of boundaries between work and home life.

On average, employees take 26% of their work back home to complete during their personal time.

Small business owners - work almost twice as much as employees.

Work/life balance sounds like a big deal. Most need to do better.

But I’m here to say that work/life balance is a myth!

There is no such thing as work/life balance!

There is a power in nature to heal us and restore our souls. Holly Worton has a life-long love of nature and its wild beauty and flow. Holly is an avid trail runner and hiker. She has skills in woodcraft and bushcraft. She has taken numerous long-distance hiking adventures.

Her podcast, "Into the Woods" reflects her passion for nature and adventure. She interviews fellow adventurers about their travels and experiences in nature.

Holly is also a blogger and a prolific author, and her books cover a wide range of topics including walking, mindset, and lifestyle.