Keith and Laura explore how resilience shapes their personal and professional lives.
Many of us struggle with the fear of the unknown, but there is value in embracing uncertainty. Stepping out of our comfort zones can lead to tremendous growth.
Unexpected obstacles often force us to reassess our goals and strategies. Keith posits that “grace” is key to bouncing back when facing challenges. Laura’s self-care practice helps her overcome stressors. We both incorporate tools to maintain a positive outlook while adapting to change.
While it’s essential to pursue our goals with determination, it’s equally important to recognize our limits and take time for rest and rejuvenation. We explore the balance between ambition and self-care. It’s crucial for maintaining long-term resilience and avoiding burnout.
The concept of “micro-resilience”–the everyday acts of perseverance that build our overall resilience–reveals itself. Acquire various tools to support a more resilient mindset, and acknowledge challenging experiences, can transform setbacks into opportunities.
Minimizing our struggles is not the point. And, we are often more capable than we know. Resilience is not about avoiding difficulties. It’s about developing the strength and flexibility to overcome them. By nurturing our resilience with grace and compassion, we can lead more fulfilling lives and achieve our goals, even in the face of adversity.
Building resilience is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the challenges, learn from your experiences, and keep moving forward.
*In Residence with Keith and Laura* **Finding Resilience** – Episode 048
Keith and Laura dive into the complex relationship between worry, regret, and personal growth.
After last week’s recording, Laura mentioned the idea of “spending less time worrying and more time going after what we want.” This idea stuck with Keith, and drawing inspiration from Daniel H. Pink’s book “The Power of Regret,” they explore how worry and regret can be leveraged for positive growth and change.
We focus on adopting a “journey mindset,” reframing regrets as opportunities, and recognizing that growth is an ongoing process rather than a destination. Instead of letting past mistakes hold us back, we can use them as stepping stones to better decision-making and personal development.
Both Laura and Keith harness the powerful tool of journaling for processing thoughts and emotions. Keith shares his unique journaling framework, focusing on four key areas: shadow, environment, light, and focus (SELF). This structured approach helps provide clarity and direction when journaling, or facing challenges and uncertainty. When Laura journals, she asks herself, “what does my soul need to hear today?” and her pen flows.
We also touch on the power of normalizing difficult emotions by recognizing that others face similar challenges. Pink’s emphasis on self-disclosure through writing or speaking with others was Keith’s biggest takeaway from “The Power of Regret.” Laura highlights the crucial role of support networks in personal and professional growth. Whether it’s mentors, colleagues, or friends, having people to turn to for advice and perspective can make a significant difference in navigating difficult situations and overcoming self-doubt.
Everyone is on their own journey. By embracing our regrets, seeking support, and maintaining a growth mindset, we can turn our most challenging experiences into opportunities to keep leaning in like the leaders we are, on the journey we want.
In this episode, we dive into the delicate balance between productivity and life’s simple joys.
Keith and Laura discover a key theme emerging in their lives: the importance of incorporating simple pleasures into everyday life. Rather than postponing joy for some idealized future, we acknowledge the power of choosing to bring elements of our envisioned future into the present. It’s always a good time to reflect on long-term goals, and if possible, do something now to move one step closer.
Laura shares her recent experience participating in a tennis tournament with Child 1, reflecting on the challenges and rewards of revisiting a long-dormant hobby. Keith explores the pressure to always be doing something useful. Both Laura and Keith had been feeling under the weather (yes, again), which leads to a discussion on the importance of self-care and the guilt often associated with taking time away from work to rest.
Finding time to play and relax sparks a broader conversation about rediscovering past interests and finding new meaning in them as adults. Keith and Laura examine their own habits around sports, video games, puzzles, and social media use, not to mention the potential pitfalls of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Our lives can often feel hectic, which is why practicing self-compassion, finding moments of relaxation, and embracing simple joys are essential for overall well-being and productivity.
● How do you shift your mindset to embrace leisure without guilt?
● What simple joys or past hobbies have you neglected in pursuit of productivity, and how might reintroducing them improve your overall well-being?
● If you could live one day exactly as your idealized future self would, what activities or habits would you incorporate, and what’s stopping you from implementing some of those now?
Thanks for Joining Us.
Embrace Simple Joys Without Guilt – Episode 46
Keith and Laura discuss Simple Joys and Self-Care.
Keith and Laura dive into the age-old saying “what grows together, goes together,” applying this gardening wisdom to the realm of relationships.
Our shared passion for learning and personal growth has been a cornerstone of our partnership. However, we must acknowledging the challenges that come with evolving together and the delicate balance of growing as individuals within a relationship. We cannot emphasize enough, the importance of communication, self-awareness, and a willingness to change and adapt.
We share personal strategies for dealing with uncomfortable growth, such as reflection, reframing, and clearly identifying goals. Laura introduces the idea of growing apart and the role of proximity in relationships. Keith notes that while physical closeness is important, modern technology has reshaped long-distance connections, opening up new possibilities for maintaining relationships across distances.
Laura’s approach to having difficult conversations, framing them as giving a “gift” of honesty and clarity to the other person is powerful for any relationship. Whether you’re in a romantic partnership, a close friendship, or simply on a journey of self-improvement, we’re here navigating the complexities of long-term relationships and personal development.
How do you handle growth and change in your relationships? What strategies have you found helpful? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for Joining Us.
**What Grows Together Goes Together** – Episode 45
Keith and Laura discuss relationships and personal growth.
Keith and Laura discuss viewing life holistically rather than as separate segments. They explore the idea of creating a “recipe” for a fulfilling life, with various aspects serving as ingredients; work, family, hobbies, relationships, etc.
Our conversation emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, reframing perspectives, developing tools and leveling up skills to navigate life’s challenges. As we explore the idea of helping others find their own path to a fulfilling life, we acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers. But, we are determined to be curious as we keep moving forward to better understand our goals.
Morning routines, journaling, and other practices help Laura and Keith manage stress and stay focused. The importance of balancing personal time and shared experiences in their relationships is key, especially the challenges of managing work-life balance as parents.
Moving in between the components of life is the hard work. Work that is worth doing on our way to living a robust, fulfilling, and meaningful life. Keep exploring what
Laura and Keith dive into the world of storytelling and share their top entertainment picks. Laura reveals insights from her experience in a PhD-level storytelling class. Keith wants to lean into telling inspiring stories worth sharing.
Keith and Laura share recommendations for books, podcasts, and TV shows, while also touching on the importance of storytelling in content consumption and creation.
Whether you’re looking for your next binge-worthy show, a captivating book, or a new podcast to dive into, join Keith and Laura as they explore the interconnected world of media and share how they discover new content and stories through recommendations and personal connections.
Tune in for an entertaining discussion that will expand your media horizons and maybe even inspire you to tell your own stories more effectively.
Thanks for Joining Us.
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**Books, Podcasts, and TV Shows – A Mixed Tape – Session 3** – Episode 43
Keith and Laura discuss slowing down so they can recognize, acknowledge and celebrate wins, both big and small.
Laura likes to celebrate. She wants to focus on pausing after a project is completed to acknowledge and recognize people’s work. Keith enjoys downtime and relaxation after a project is finished, but doesn’t find himself pulled towards celebrating–something for him to explore.
Celebrating accomplishments is important in both personal and professional relationships. Understanding people’s expectations and celebration styles will lead to better, more balance experiences , and success. Investing in supportive and reflective practices fosters relationships that thrive.
Laura and Keith have different styles and expectations for celebration. But, they can both agree on the importance of acknowledging accomplishments. Investing in communication, managing expectations and celebrating authentically is crucial in their relationship(s).
Keep making time and space for your team to celebrate. Again, Slow down and recognize wins.
Keith and Laura discuss the marketing insights in Seth Godin’s “This is Marketing” and Gary Vaynerchuk’s “Day Trading Attention.” We consider marketing, brand identity, and social media. The strategy and tactics from the books can be leveraged to grow a business, brand and audience.
Laura dove into Seth Godin’s “This is Marketing” and Gary Vaynerchuk’s “Day Trading Attention.” Both authors emphasize the importance of understanding your audience and have a similar core message. Identifying a specific audience and tailoring your message to resonate with them.
Social media is important for brand building, but brand reputation is built through all our actions and interactions, not just online presence. As Laura points out from “This is Marketing,” people will remember what you did. They won’t remember what you said.
Keith feels strongly that it’s about more than just getting attention; it’s about connecting with people and helping them get where they are seeking to go. Or, put another way, people will remember how you made them feel, not just what you said.
Marketing is storytelling. Let’s keep leaning in to learning and discovering how to communicate better, to serve others, and make the change we seek to make.
**Is this Marketing, Serving and Selling? – Episode 41**
Keith and Laura’s conversation highlights the importance of awareness, communication, and planning in maintaining a healthy relationship.
We listened to a podcast conversation with Brené Brown and Tim Ferriss. Brené talked about the importance of checking in with her partner around their energy levels. They implement a plan when their combined energy is low, so they can keep moving.
Communication continues to come up. When navigating situations where one or more of us are feeling depleted, it’s crucial that we have a plan and focus on being open and vulnerable. Listening carefully to each other is as important as speaking up when we are feeling low energy.