Will Bowen Audio

There is a sad truth about dogs.

Back when scientific experiments were often quite cruel, in one study dogs were placed into cages that were randomly electrified painfully shocking the dogs.

(I told you it was cruel.)

The researchers found that when the dogs were released from their shocking cages and then put under stress, the dogs would return to the pain of their cage rather than seek safety elsewhere.

Some of us can relate to that “Well, it hurts so it must be home” analogy and it’s sad how often we, like dogs, stay in painful situations rather than making new choices.

Consider today how you might be staying with pain rather than growing beyond it and consider how you might find healthier, happier ways of being.

Hedonic adaptation explains why our first bite of pizza always tastes better than your last. If it didn’t, we might continue eating nonstop.

Hedonic adaptation also helps us put life’s pain and struggles into perspective because over time even the most painful wound can sting a lot less.

Consider how time gives you perspective and how perspective gives you peace.

More importantly, think about the things that happened in the past that you continue to exhume and relive keeping the pain fresh and alive.

Discover the power of time to bring you ease and comfort in letting go the pain of the past.

Mark Twain humorously observed that there are 2 types of people, those who divide people into types and those who do not.

I’ve always thought this was super funny given all the ways we attempt to slice ourselves into categories.

Personally, I HAVE noticed a split in people between those who are security driving and those who are opportunity driven.

People who are security driven tend to be focussed on a return to the “way things were — back when they were good” whereas, people who are opportunity driven want “what’s new, next, and possible."

Understanding our own drives and those of people can help us shape our relationships and our vision for what’s possible.

Today, let’s explore this idea of types more deeply.

There’s a great scene in of the first seasons of Saturday Night Live wherein the restaurant serving, “cheeseburgers, cheeseburgers, cheeseburgers” burns to the ground.

And, John Belushi’s character who loses everything in the fire, is asked, “What do we do now?”

Belushi steps out from behind the charred counter and says with great pride and resolve, “What else? We’re Greeks — we dance!” And, he begins to dance.

Throughout history and around the world, PEOPLE DANCE!

To celebrate, to commiserate, to feel joy, to express pain — all cultures dance and perhaps there’s something for us to learn from that.

Maybe should dance more often!

Consider doing a little jig today and see how you feel!

A few decades ago something happened to me that test the power of my belief system to the limits and in that test I learned something.

Want to hear an AMAZING story of faith?

Then, check out this video.

Faith is like a super power but it only kicks in when we have absolute belief.

You get to decide what you believe. Begin now to exercise your faith and reap the rewards you deserve.

Rarely are we ready to let go of things we need to release.

And, until we release them, we can’t make way for something new -- something better.

The pain of loss if often filled with renewed hope and optimism -- but, it takes time.

Consider the things you’ve let go -- either voluntarily or when you had no choice, and how your life has changed as a result.

If we wait until we’re ready, we’d never release the things that no longer serve us.

Learn to let go, and move forward in grace.

I just finished reading “Steve Jobs“ by Walter Isaacson.

We all know of Jobs’ huge successes and how he has impacted our lives.

However, it was in his catastrophic failures and how he then turned them back into successes that Jobs’ genius really shines.

For example, Job’s childish insistence that MacBooks have a slot for CDs rather than a CD tray created a huge problem for Apple and that miscalculation ultimately lead to iTunes.

As the saying goes, it’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do with it.

Learn to do more with the messes you create!

We all know the saying “Play the cards you’re dealt.”

Unfortunately, as the Buddha said, “To know and not to do is not yet to know.“

Nobody is dealt a perfect hand — ever.

Most people sit and complain about their cards and never play!

It’s as simple as drawing and discarding.

Are you playing strategically to win or did you fold a long time ago?

Your cards are still sitting there — it’s never too late to get back in the game.

Is your desire to have a relationship that’s:

Loving Passionate HappyGrowing Monogamous Stimulating Co-EqualStorybook perfect in every way?

Great!

Welcome to the experiment.

The Disney-fied ideal of romance that such has been the norm is a myth perpetuated upon children by the very people who know it’s a lie.

Nonetheless, a great relationship is a worthy goal for so many reasons (maybe even world peace—?)

Yep.

Stats show that happily coupled men are less violent and men still dominate the world’s power structure — you do the math.

Today, let’s get real about relationships.

Today’s message could well be titled, “Why do good people have bad parents?”

Having great parents puts you ahead in life – – there’s no denying that.

But why do some parents fall short?

And, if your parents fell short what can you do about it?

Today we explore answers to both of those questions so that you can live your happiest life possible.