I’m back from our trip and a nice break...and have some stories to share.  In this episode we talk about the importance of “going with the flow,” especially when things are stressful, challenging, and uncertain - as they are for many of us right now.  Going with the flow is about acceptance, which is not passive or weak, although it can be challenging.  In fact, it’s incredibly powerful and effective when we have the courage to truly go with the flow.

Resources:

We’re All in This Together (new book), by Mike Robbins

Mike Robbins Website

Mike Robbins Blog

Mike Robbins Podcast

Mike Robbins on Facebook

Mike Robbins on Twitter

Mike Robbins on Instagram

Mike Robbins on YouTube

We’re All in This Together - virtual program

Take a Break (episode #200)

Loosen Your Grip (episode #198)

Shareables:

“Going with the flow is about acceptance and trust.” — @MikeDRobbins

“Acceptance is not passive or weak, it is a courageous and conscious choice to embrace what is.” — @MikeDRobbins

“Instead of wasting so much energy swimming up stream, it is often much more effective to just go with the flow.” — @MikeDRobbins

Today is episode number 200 of the podcast!  In celebration of this milestone I both reflect on the past four years of the show and also plan to take a break for a few weeks.  And, on this episode, we discuss the importance and the challenge of taking breaks, especially right now.  Whether we’re talking about vacations, days off, or simple breaks throughout the day - these are both more important and more difficult than ever to make happen these days.

Resources:

We’re All in This Together (new book), by Mike Robbins

Mike Robbins Website

Mike Robbins Blog

Mike Robbins Podcast

Mike Robbins on Facebook

Mike Robbins on Twitter

Mike Robbins on Instagram

Mike Robbins on YouTube

We’re All in This Together - virtual program

The Whole Self is Everything with Chip Conley (EP 1 - 7/16/16)

Vulnerability and Power with Dr. Dacher Kelter (EP 2 - 7/16/16)

Why Taking Breaks is So Important (podcast episode, 7/23/19)

The Whole Self Is Everything with Chip Conley

Shareables:

“We are human beings not human doings...we need breaks.” — @MikeDRobbins

“Taking a break is both more challenging and more important than ever right now.” — @MikeDRobbins

“Taking regular breaks is essential to our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.” — @MikeDRobbins

Things continue to be crazy in our country and our world these days in just about every aspect of our lives and society.  Staying grounded and mindful is both more important and more challenging than ever right now.  On today’s show, I talk to an expert in mindfulness, Holly Duckworth.  Holly is the author of four books, including Everyday Mindfulness: From Chaos to Calm in a Crazy World.  In this interview, we discuss a number of different challenges facing us right now and ways to practice mindfulness in the face of the difficulty and uncertainty we’re dealing with these days.

Resources:

We’re All in This Together (new book), by Mike Robbins

Mike Robbins Website

Mike Robbins Blog

Mike Robbins Podcast

Mike Robbins on Facebook

Mike Robbins on Twitter

Mike Robbins on Instagram

Mike Robbins on YouTube

We’re All in This Together - virtual program

Holly Duckworth

Everyday Mindfulness Show (interview with Mike Robbins)

Everyday Mindfulness (book), by Holly Duckworth

Shareables:

“Mindfulness is about being present in the midst of the uncertainty of life.” — @hduckworth

“Feel the feeling, drop the story.” — @MikeDRobbins

“All we can truly focus on is this present moment.” — @hduckworth

I have a tendency to hold onto things tightly, often to my own detriment.  Unless it’s an actual emergency, gripping things tightly almost always limits our joy, perspective, and effectiveness.  These past few months, a lot of us have been holding on both personally and professionally pretty intensely, which is completely understandable, yet often problematic.  In this episode I talk about this dynamic and how important it is for us to loosen our grip, especially right now.  Doing this allows us to be more creative, responsive, and open, and it’s also a much more fun and successful approach to work and life.

Resources:

We’re All in This Together (new book), by Mike Robbins

Mike Robbins Website

Mike Robbins Blog

Mike Robbins Podcast

Mike Robbins on Facebook

Mike Robbins on Twitter

Mike Robbins on Instagram

Mike Robbins on YouTube

We’re All in This Together - virtual program

Flying Coach podcast

Shareables:

“When we loosen our grip it allows us to relax, respond, and engage more authentically and effectively in the most important aspects of our lives.” — @MikeDRobbins

“Unless it’s an actual emergency, holding on tightly almost always limits our joy, perspective, and effectiveness.” — @MikeDRobbins

“Live your life as though you’re going to die (because you are).” — @MikeDRobbins

Our friend Glennon Doyle, best-selling author of Untamed, often offers a great reminder to us all that “we can do hard things.”  I woke up this morning thinking about this quote and idea.  Things in our country and our world seem pretty hard and bleak these days, and many of us are struggling in significant ways - physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, politically, organizationally, relationally, and more.  And, as hard as things may be, it’s important for us to remember how strong and resilient we are - individually and collectively.  Not only can we do hard things, we have done lots of hard things, over the course of our lives and careers, and just in the past few weeks and months in the midst of all of this.  On this episode, we talk about how to remember this and tap into our individual and collective strength.

Resources:

Bring Your Whole Self To Work (Kindle) by Mike Robbins

Bring Your Whole Self To Work (Nook) by Mike Robbins

Bring Your Whole Self To Work (Apple Books) by Mike Robbins

We’re All in This Together (new book), by Mike Robbins

Mike Robbins Website

Mike Robbins Blog

Mike Robbins Podcast

Mike Robbins on Facebook

Mike Robbins on Twitter

Mike Robbins on Instagram

Mike Robbins on YouTube

We’re All in This Together - virtual program

Untamed, by Glennon Doyle

Shareables:

“When things are hard, it’s important to remember that we can do hard things.” — @MikeDRobbins

“Gratitude is a practice that shifts our perspective in a powerful and important way.” — @MikeDRobbins

“You have more than this requires.” — @MikeDRobbins

The first six months of 2020 have been unprecedented in so many ways.  Things have been painful, challenging, and uncertain for most of us in just about every important aspect of our lives.  And, as we now move into the second half of this year, what if we did something similar to what we do at the end of the year and the start of the new year?  On this episode, I talk through a process we can follow to bring closure/completion to the first half of the year, hit the reset button, and create the second half of this crazy year in a new, and more positive way.

Resources:

We’re All in This Together (new book), by Mike Robbins

Mike Robbins Website

Mike Robbins Blog

Mike Robbins Podcast

Mike Robbins on Facebook

Mike Robbins on Twitter

Mike Robbins on Instagram

Mike Robbins on YouTube

We’re All in This Together - virtual program

Shareables:

“We have the power to hit the reset button at any time.” — @MikeDRobbins

“Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” — @MikeDRobbins

“Today is always a good day to start again.” — @MikeDRobbins

There is a weariness that a lot of us are experiencing these days with everything going on in our country and our world the past few weeks and months.  On today’s episode, I share five specific things we can think about and focus on to navigate these challenging times and hang in there:

1. Pace Ourselves

2. Check in with Others

3. Stay in the Present Moment

4. Remember...This, Too, Shall Pass

5. Don’t Waste This Crisis

Resources:

We’re All in This Together - eBook special ($1.99 through June 28)

Mike Robbins Website

Mike Robbins Blog

Mike Robbins Podcast

Mike Robbins on Facebook

Mike Robbins on Twitter

Mike Robbins on Instagram

Mike Robbins on YouTube

We’re All in This Together - virtual program

We’re All in This Together (new book), by Mike Robbins

Black Lives Matter

Anti-Racism Resources

75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice

How to Be an Antiracist (book), by Ibram X. Kendi

White Fragility (book) by Robin DiAngelo

Shareables:

“Hang in there.” — @MikeDRobbins

“Remember...this, too, shall pass.” — @MikeDRobbins

“It’s important to remember that just about everyone, including you, is doing the best they can with what they have right now.” — @MikeDRobbins

Things continue to be incredibly intense in our country and our world these days.  And, if we want to make a difference, have impact, and create real change, we have to get in the “game.”  In other words, we need to put ourselves out there, take action, and actually do things that align with our values and our desires for change, growth, and success.  Doing this takes courage and a willingness to fail.  Simultaneously, we can’t be in the game all the time or we will burn ourselves out.  We have to take time to rest, re-charge, and rejuvenate, which is something I’ve been struggling with recently, but is so important.  We talk about these important dynamics on this episode.

Resources:

Black Lives Matter

Anti-Racism Resources

75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice

How to Be an Antiracist (book), by Ibram X. Kendi

White Fragility (book) by Robin DiAngelo

We’re All in This Together (new book), by Mike Robbins

Mike Robbins Website

Mike Robbins Blog

Mike Robbins Podcast

Mike Robbins on Facebook

Mike Robbins on Twitter

Mike Robbins on Instagram

Mike Robbins on YouTube

We’re All in This Together - virtual program

Shareables:

“Life happens in the game, not in the stands.” — @MikeDRobbins

“Jump and find your wings on the way down.” — @MikeDRobbins

“Taking time to rest and rejuvenate is essential for us to do if we want to be of service in the most effective way we can.” — @MikeDRobbins

In the midst of all that has been happening in our country in the past few weeks, I’ve been hearing a lot of people ask the question, “What can I do?”  I think the answer to this question does depend a bit on who we are, where we are, our level of privilege and power, our background and identity, our experience, and more.  And, even with all of these variables and the intensity of this moment, on this episode I share some thoughts and ideas about how we can be a positive force for change in our country and our world right now - by listening/learning, speaking up, supporting people and organizations doing important work, and being willing to make mistakes.

Resources:

Black Lives Matter

Campaign Zero

#8CantWait

Together Rising

Anti-Racism Resources

75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice

How to Be an Antiracist (book), by Ibram X. Kendi

White Fragility (book) by Robin DiAngelo

We’re All in This Together (new book), by Mike Robbins

Mike Robbins Website

Mike Robbins Blog

Mike Robbins Podcast

Mike Robbins on Facebook

Mike Robbins on Twitter

Mike Robbins on Instagram

Mike Robbins on YouTube

We’re All in This Together - virtual program

Shareables:

“It’s time for many of us to do and say things we have never done and said before.” — @MikeDRobbins

“It’s time for courageous action and real change.” — @MikeDRobbins

“Be willing to say or do the wrong thing, in service of showing up, supporting others, and having a positive impact” — @MikeDRobbins

In response to the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests that have erupted throughout our country, I have noticed my own tendency to want to blame others or simply check out and go numb.  While these are understandable reactions, they are not helpful or healthy.  On today’s show I talk about how we can avoid these traps, and explore some ways we can stay open, curious, and engaged - even if we feel scared, angry, confused, or overwhelmed by all that is happening.  This is a time for us to wake up, step up, lean in, and for us to be willing to learn, grow, and change - individually and collectively.  We’re all in this together.

Resources:Killer Mike speaking on May 29

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on May 29

Black Lives Matter

75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice

GoFundMe Campaign for George Floyd’s Family

Anti-Racism Resources

How to Be an Antiracist (book), by Ibram X. Kendi

White Fragility (book) by Robin DiAngelo

We’re All in This Together (new book), by Mike Robbins

Mike Robbins Website

Mike Robbins Blog

Mike Robbins Podcast

Mike Robbins on Facebook

Mike Robbins on Twitter

Mike Robbins on Instagram

Mike Robbins on YouTube

We’re All in This Together - virtual program

Shareables:

“Blaming others or numbing out right now are not going to move us in the direction of healing, accountability, change, and justice that is necessary.” — @MikeDRobbins

“It’s time for many of us to do and say things we have never done and said before.” — @MikeDRobbins

“We can and we must do better.” — @MikeDRobbins