How many of you have been in the pursuit of a romantic relationship when, much to your surprise, you found yourself dumped in the "friend zone"? It's an awkward place to be, isn't it? Well this week on "Win Today," I want to find out how guys get sent to the friend zone, if they can ever get out, and what they can do to most effectively "pull the trigger" on a prospect. We're also going to talk about how guys and girls can better position themselves for successful romantic relationships and what each person can do to remain a contributor instead of a "taker" in the context of a relationship. In this episode, you'll discover... A lot of relationship confusion occurs when a lack of defining the relationship occurs. Clarity in communication is critical for success. Relationship requires risk. Guys, be willing to establish your feelings early-on. Certainly doing so is a risk, but the potential payout is worthwhile. Risk of rejection is intimidating to anyone involved in a relationship. The "friend zone" isn't a bad place to start; it's just a disappointing place to end when one party expects more from the relationship. Be willing to take regular "temperature checks," especially early-on. Where are your emotions and desires for the relationship at each step? You must be willing to slow-down and protect your heart and mind from going further in the relationship than it actually is. Vulnerability requires risk. Defining the relationship is best so that you and your potential significant other can move together with more intention or move apart with less emotional hurt. Thanks again for joining us this week. I'm really excited to continue our conversation with Derek, Katie, Jamal, and Carmen next week right here on Win Today. Listen, I want to hear more from you. So...I have a brand new call-in line in which I want to invite you to ask me a question about anything. I'll air your question on the show and do my best to answer it. Here's the number: ‪248-266-2945. That's ‪248-266-2945. Again, don't forget to join us next week for the continuation of this great conversation about relationships. Until next time, visit me over at CHRISCOOKis.com for blogs and archived podcasts all designed to help you become the best you're capable of becoming. Have an awesome week.

For a lot of people, the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. But what happens when your life is falling apart and spiraling out of control? Well that was the story of my guest today, my friend, Troy Murray, owner and artist at TYP Collection in Birmingham, Michigan. He has an incredible story of redemption and revival of his God-given purpose. His message: it's never too late. And that's what we're diving into today. Listen, there are consequences to the choices we make in life. You heard about that from Troy. But amidst that, it's never too late to make a positive change and redirect the trajectory of our life. Does that mean everything will quickly turnaround? No. But the opportunity for redemption is here right now. Today. Underneath the chaos is a God-breathed purpose for your life. Listen, we're finishing 2016 quickly. A brand new day, a new chapter is possible. My prayer for you is that you glean from Troy's story and make whatever change you need to step into your purpose. But like Troy said, the key isn't simply changing your mind. The key is the transformation of your heart. It's the only way to break limiting mindsets that are burying you in shame, guilt, and hopelessness. Troy said it best: "Take things a day at a time. You don't have to do everything at once. Be the best "you" you can be." Connect with Troy Please do yourself a favor and connect with Troy and his work at TYPcollection.com as well as on Facebook and Instagram. If you're in the Detroit area, get to downtown Birmingham and check his work out in person. You will not be disappointed. New on Win Today Thanks again for joining us this week. Listen, I want to hear more from you. So...I have a brand new call-in line in which I want to invite you to ask me a question about anything. I'll air your question on the show and do my best to answer it. Here's the number: 248-266-2945. That's 248-266-2945. Until next time, visit me over at CHRISCOOKis.com for blogs and archived podcasts all designed to help you become the best you're capable of becoming. Have an awesome week.

Welcome back for part two of my conversation with my good friend and former national journalist, Kayla Brandon, in which we are tackling the issue of entitlement. Today, we're going to discuss the mindset and behavior shift we need to find freedom from entitlement, why we need relationship with the generation that has gone before us, and how to stay within our specific area of personal strength in order to stay free from distraction and focused upon our total betterment. In this episode... Why today's young adults haven't adequately learned how to deal with adversity and failure. Real love requires truth. Without truth, love is limp. But sometimes, the truth hurts. The statement "you can do/be anything you want" isn't beneficial. We all have limitations. And we all have areas of strength. They key in life is to discover and develop areas of convergence in our own life in order to maximize our overall output. We need to stop saying "I can't do this" and replace it with "I can deal with this situation to the best of my ability." The issue of entitlement is not a millennial issue; it's a society issue. When adversity hits, do you look to God as your provider or do you take matters into your own hands? Why you need daily disciplines to keep focused and motivated in everyday life. We need relationship with all generations. We millennials need to heed the wisdom of those who have gone before us so we can be a voice of wisdom, hope, and empowerment to those behind us. We would be making a grave mistake if we only listened to our voice. Narrow-mindedness would soon turn into closed-mindedness. Connect with Kayla Connect with Kayla on Twitter or Facebook. NEW on Win Today Thanks again for joining us this week. Listen, I want to hear more from you. So...I have a brand new call-in line in which I want to invite you to ask me a question about anything. I'll air your question on the show and do my best to answer it. Here's the number: 248-266-2945. Call me now!

Entitlement is an epidemic in our culture today. And I think it's paralyzing men and women like you and me from being the best for those who matter most in life. So here's where we're going today: I want to know what we need to do to mature, handle adversity, and live with integrity amidst a "me first" cultural trend. At the end of the day, we can't be our best "self" if we are self-focused and narrow-minded. And I can't think of a better person to discuss this matter with than my good friend and former national journalist, Kayla Brandon. Connect with Kayla on Twitter or Facebook.

I have a massive passion to see young men become the men God designed them to be. Yet I observe too many aging little boys who leave their "man card" on the shelf so-to-speak. What's behind the lack of maturity? What's behind the fear of commitment? What's behind the fear of intimacy? In this episode, I'm diving into part two this topic with one of my key mentors, Dave Bauer. In this episode, you’ll discover... Why a young man's desire to conquer is normal and healthy. To be a man, a boy must see a man. Why enmeshment between a mother and a son can hinder the development of the young man. What does a boy need to grow into manhood? He needs to know what's good about him. Every young boy needs to know his area of strengths. Every young boy needs to be corrected and confronted in order to grow. Healthy respect and disagreement. Why young boys don't learn responsibility by accident.

I have a massive passion to see young men become the men God designed them to be. Yet I observe too many aging little boys who leave their "man card" on the shelf so-to-speak. What's behind the lack of maturity? What's behind the fear of commitment? What's behind the fear of intimacy? In this episode, I'm diving into part one this topic with one of my key mentors, Dave Bauer. In this episode, you’ll discover... How to stand-up against injustice as a man. How to develop core values that shape your decisions as a man. Why unresolved pain and bitterness from the past derails a man's emotional maturity. How to create safety for the woman in your life. You can't just bring a young boy into the world and expect him to be responsible. He must have role models and mentors who will model the practical skills he needs to be successful.

Too often, we hide behind the highlight reel of our lives rather than letting people see the real us. And I believe the culprit behind our isolation is fear of rejection and shame. Even though we are the most connected generation of all time we are the most emotionally disconnected. So this week, I'd like to share a message I recently preached. It's about the need for authentic community and the trap of isolation caused by shame. While on stage, I used a simple demonstration of two plants to represent a life enriched by healthy community that fosters identity, purpose, and character development in our life. But as I mentioned, when we live isolated, uprooted lives, there's a good chance we will receive an onslaught of depression, depletion, and deception. That is no way to live. Wouldn't you agree? I give my life to see fear and shame broken off of people just like you. The development of your potential is at stake. A healthy, fulfilling life is at stake. And great relationships are at stake. Emotionally-speaking, shame opens the door to anxiety and depression. It builds walls of self-protection and overconfidence, both of which prevent others from having access to bring truth, life, and freedom to us. I believe this is my core message: that freedom from fear and shame will allow you to live a successful life. And I believe that success, as legendary coach John Wooden said, is, "peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming." But you can't do any of that if your life is looking through the lens of fear and shame. It's why I say, it's never too late to become who you really are. Because this conversation is cornerstone to my passion, I need your help. In which areas of life are you struggling to find freedom from fear and shame? Write me an email. Better yet, leave me a voicemail right now. There's an icon on the right side of your screen. I'll be compiling your questions and hosting a Q&A episode with two friends. Together, we will go after this thing head-on because your life's potential matters to me.

I believe that it’s never too late to become who you really are. But who we really are isn’t a function of performance, it’s a function of identity. All too often, we succumb to the “performance-acceptance” trap in which our worth and value is innately connected to our good performance. Simply, if we do good, we are good; if we do badly, we are inherently bad. Worse, if we make a mistake, we believe we are a mistake. You see, lurking behind a life characterized by significance is fear, guilt, and shame. I know it too well. For years, fear controlled every aspect of my life. And finally I had enough. Joining me today is a friend and mentor named Jamie Winship who is bringing freedom through truth and identity to thousands of people around the world. I truly believe this message will give you the courage you need to live the life you want to live. In this episode, you'll discover... How to discover your individual identity in life by pursuing truth. The very foundational component of a successful life resides in truth. Confession is simply speaking truth. And telling the truth can be ugly. It just has to be true. It's the only way to walk in freedom. Fear, guilt, and shame always cause us to disconnect from other people and from God. God never uses guilt, shame, or fear tactics to lead people. Shame is the idea that you are an embarrassment to myself and others. Fear and shame biologically hinder the development of the frontal lobe of the brain. People who feel shame at their core revert to self-protection and self-promotion. Anger is a secondary emotion; it's a reaction to something else. Therefore, we must always ask ourselves which emotion precedes the anger. How negative emotions function in our life and why they are key indicators of a need for greater truth. Why feedback and community provide truth in our life. A key question to ask yourself: what are you most afraid of? Your greatest dream is just beyond your deepest fear. Connect with Jamie Winship here.

Next week, this kamikaze ride called the Presidential Election will be over, and we will have elected a new leader. I'll bet most of us have been in bewilderment about our choices. And the intensity meter has been jacked-up even further after the FBI re-opened the email case involving Hillary Clinton over the weekend. You're ready to vote now, right? In all seriousness, though, a lot of us have found ourselves wrapped-up in the drama of the election and in need of a little perspective. Which brings us here today. Joining us this week is director of Great Lakes School of Ministry, Drew Neal, and together, we're going to develop a healthy perspective about the candidates, the issues, and the long-term direction of our nation. Drew Neal's Seven Points: God loves the people of America, but God isn’t an American. Believers, please stop fear vomiting on your keyboard. Go do something. Get a law degree or get informed. At a minimum, go vote. The strength of our democracy demands it. It’s impossible to hold God and country together as one, you hold them in tension. Abraham was a pagan liar, Moses had an anger problem, David was an adulterous murderer, Solomon had a sex addiction, Esther was a prostitute, Peter disavowed his faith in a public forum. They would have been great for TV and disqualified by the majority of the Christian population. God has been involved with broken leaders since the beginning of time. He’s not intimidated and the world won’t end with either candidate. This is a great nation with great people that are bigger than one person. I believe good overcomes evil. As believers, we hyper-protect things in the name of God as validation for our extreme behavior, but if this behavior is rooted in fear, it misrepresents God’s intentions completely. It's time to change the way we think.  I'll leave you with this quote that many of my friends say:  "Who ever has the most hope, has the most influence."

When tragedy, crisis, and pain hit your life, how do you respond? How do you cope? And how do you move forward? Well in the words of our guest today, "Sometimes the most beautiful stories are written right in the middle of the mess.” Joining us is author and speaker, Michele Cushatt and together, we're going to explore navigating through crisis while holding firmly onto hope. In this episode, you'll discover... Hopelessness is a case of misplaced trust and failed expectations. If we desire peace in the midst of our chaos, we must change what we see. How to develop long-lasting trust in life. Fear is a focus on an uncontrollable variable in life. Counteracting war requires a change of perspective. Pain is not an indication of the abandonment of God, nor will it last forever. The basis of our identity has nothing to do with us and everything upon God.

Living a life of intentionality and effectiveness is never a one-time choice. It's a daily choice. And the key to doing so is developing and applying your core values to every area of your life. So many of us live for the moment and miss the treasure in the "middle" but in this episode, our guest, Daniel Budzinski, is going to inspire all of us to re-harness our "why" and live a life of impact each day. In this episode, you’ll discover... Our values have to be the guiding force of consistent character, not the litmus test of our greatness. Principle without a value for people to whom the principle is applied becomes rigidity and insensitivity. Clarity and self-awareness keep us honest in life. Core values not applied to your life remain theoretical. The unexamined life is not worth living. Wisdom begins in wonder. Self-examination and feedback keeps us focused and in a state of producing favorable output. Why we can never run-over the people who matter the most on the way to fulfilling our dreams and purpose.

Are you someone who wishes you could get going and take the first step in life? Maybe you’re eager to finally step out of the boat and walk upon uncharted water, but taking that first step is all too intimidating, so instead of risking failure, you decide to stay safe and settle for mediocrity. Behind all of this is fear. This week, we will be joined once again by relationship coaches, Chris and Megan Rea, and I’m going to be asking them about how to get free from the fear of the future that keeps us locked in mediocrity. In this episode, you’ll discover... Fear will stunt your growth. Fear will shutdown your potential. Fear will burn your dreams to the ground. Fear will jade your relationships. But most of all, fear will keep you from taking the most important step: the first step. Being concerned with every turn in the journey will keep you locked in inactivity. Why you need to operate within your strength zone. Why perfectionism is a dangerous trap. Why cynicism must be extinguished. Why we must take full responsibility for our lives in order to reach our full potential. Your subconscious mind is more powerful than your conscious mind. In order to make goal-setting work, your integral programming so-to-speak, must be congruent with (and support) your decisions and plans. When you target everything, you hit nothing. [Tweet "When you target everything, you hit nothing."]

I believe it’s safe to assume that at some point in life, you’ve asked yourself at least one of the following questions: what am I doing/what have I done with my life? Where am I going? Who am I? This week, you and I will be joined by relationship coaches & speakers, Chris and Megan Rea, and we are going to be talking about how to get unstuck after disappointment and how to reclaim our purpose so we can move at the speed of life. In this episode, you’ll discover... Why unresolved disappointment causes despair and produces the state of being stuck. Just because you've been victimized doesn't mean you have to take on the identity of a victim. What we focus on determines our behavior. Why people isolate when difficulty arises and why isolation creates long-term damage in our personal growth. Change isn't an effort to escape something. Healthy change is an effort to move forward even after crisis. Results produce passion and passion produces perseverance. Why you need to ask yourself, "what am I putting into my mind and heart when I am in pain?" Why moving on is not moving forward.

In the words of our guest, "the greatness we experience in life should be used for a greater purpose." Joining us today is world-renown celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart. Jeremy has traveled the globe shooting for Hollywood's "who's who," but the dream he has embarked upon recently is to build a global hotel chain whose purpose is to literally change lives while people sleep. I trust you'll be inspired to join the effort after listening today. Who is Jeremy Cowart? "At his core, Jeremy is an artist. Starting out as a painter first, Jeremy fell in love with the creative process. He then went on to study graphic design in college and founded his own graphic design company, Pixelgrazer, in 2001. Jeremy really only began taking pictures to bring texture into his design work. But before he knew it, he realized that photography was his true passion. So in April of 2005, Jeremy switched over to it full time and he has never looked back. In a relatively short amount of time, Jeremy earned the respect of artists, photographers, and celebrities alike. Now hailed as one of the trailblazers in the industry, Jeremy sees photography as a natural extension of his passion for the arts. Jeremy has taken portraits of many familiar names such as Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson, Tim Tebow, The Kardashians, Sting, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Heidi Klum, Gwyneth Paltrow, The Civil Wars, Emma Stone, Courtney Cox, and Ryan Seacrest, just to name a few. His clients, mostly entertainment based, include ABC, FOX, A&E, F/X, Discovery Channel, ESPN, People, US Weekly, VIBE, E!, Universal Records, Sony Records and Warner Brothers Records. His work has been published in Rolling Stone, ESPN Magazine, People Magazine, USA Today, Fast Company, NYTimes, TIME, Nylon and more." - courtesy of JeremyCowart.com About The Purpose Hotel "I've traveled the world for the past decade as a photographer, and every time I stay at a hotel, I can't help but think -- what if everything in this hotel was connected to a cause or a need? Could a simple shift like that change the world? Imagine not just a hotel, but a global hotel chain, where every time you book a room: A child gets sponsored. The internet fee fights human trafficking. Every product (soap, shampoo, linens, furniture, curated art, specialty products) is purchased from partners who are making a difference. In the lobby, a clean water well symbolizes the flow of hope and life to everyone and everything connected to the hotel. By choosing this hotel, you touch a hundred lives or more locally and internationally. You literally change the world in your sleep. And that’s just the beginning. The design reimagines the hotel as a creative, interactive experience that ignites the imagination, promotes play and fosters community. “[Purpose is] where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." - Frederick Buechner We aim to create a joy-filled space where this generation can come together and make awesome things happen. It starts right now. Let’s make history." - courtesy of The Purpose Hotel Join "The Purpose Hotel" Team! Click here to join the team and make history together.

The pursuit of your passions and dreams require so much more than talent and even more than hard work. In the words of our guest today, you have to fall in love with the grind. Joining us this week is singer/songwriter Brian Nhira. Brian is best known for his work on season 10 of NBC's hit show, "The Voice." And today, we're going to be taking all about the grind that makes the dream work. Let's welcome Brian to our conversation. In this episode, you’ll discover... Why your gift, talent, and dream are catalysts to bring purpose and value to others. When your motivation is to see others bettered by your contribution, your drive for success gains stamina for the long haul. Why pursuit of the mastery of a skill never stops. To get to another level of skill and development, you must be willing to put in the time and energy to grow. You'll never find lasting success unless you fall in love with the grind. We have a responsibility to steward the gifts and talents we have been given by God. Why you can't expect more unless you maximize what you've already been given. Why disappointment doesn't have to stay disappointment. How to gain perspective on short-term loss in order to stay committed to long-term progress. Why hope is a critical component of personal development.

No matter what passion or vocation you have in life, there's a need for effective leadership. And effective leadership has nothing to do with being the boss. This week, we'll be joined by my good friend, Rachel Saigh. At age 22, she is a successful Dairy Queen franchise owner and is doing much more than serving ice cream. She's building people for significance. The principles she's going to share today are sure to add value to your life. In this episode, you’ll discover... Why leadership is the make or break component of success. Excellence starts from the top. As a leader, your life is more about show than tell. You cannot afford to give direction without corresponding action. Knowing your "why" is critical for motivation, focus, and ultimately success. Good leaders equip people for long-term success, not simply for short-term gain. Why people—not the product—is the greatest asset an organization possesses. Why integrity must drive your leadership. Why leaders must respect what they expect from their team members. Why leaders must stay motivated, healthy, rested, and focused in order to lead their teams and grow their business. Why trust must be at the foundation of your leadership and organizational structure.

Last week, we began a conversation around the subject of pornography. And as I said in the last episode, pornography is destroying relationships and the healthy identity of men and women alike. This week, you and I are going to be joined once again by my mentors, Dave and Connie Bauer, for part two of this discussion in which we are going to talk about steps to freedom from pornography as well as how to develop a healthy sexual identity. In this episode, you’ll discover... Why a believed lie empowers a lie to stay active and destructive in your life. Why condemnation and shame can cause us to find our worth and value from outside sources such as pornography. How to break free from shame. What sexual purity actually is and how to pursue it. The difference between changing your mind and changing your mindset. Steps to finding freedom from pornography and promiscuity. How pornography literally re-wires your brain. How to invite accountability into your life. How to be a safe place for other people. Why willpower will never be the solution to finding freedom. Why healing is good, but why wholeness is better.

There is an insidious monster lurking in the bedrooms and even deeper—in the minds and hearts—of millions of people today: pornography. And pornography is destroying relationships and the healthy identity of men and women alike. In just a moment, you and I are going to be joined by relationship counselors, Dave and Connie Bauer, and together, we are going to pull back the curtain on this destructive addiction in order to bring freedom to people who find themselves trapped. In this episode, you’ll discover... Why "virtual relationships" threaten the health of real romantic relationships. Why insecurity and rejection contribute to the desire to return to pornography as a means to dull internal pain. Why pornography becomes a substitution for true emotional intimacy. Why the need for control after being controlled plays into the habitual return to pornography. Why pornography isn't just a "man's" issue anymore. Why pornography dulls our senses and arrests our ability to have real meaningful relationships. Why the drive for pornography has less to do with sex than one might suppose.

What you eat is important, but what’s eating you has more of an impact upon your overall wellness than you may realize. Toxic thoughts and emotions left unchecked are like foreign terrorists living comfortably within the borders of your mind, body, and spirit; terrorists you’re tolerating. After listening to this episode, featuring New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Don Colbert, you will be equipped to better manage stress caused by bitterness, unforgiveness, and toxic thinking. In this episode, you'll discover... Why stress and toxic emotions can trigger the onset of autoimmune diseases, cancer, chronic anxiety, depression, and mental illness. How you will know when emotional trauma and soul ties have been healed in your life. Why joy is a critical component of strength for our daily lives. Why a "doing"-centered life without the balance of rest creates a stress response in life. How to get your stress response unstuck through rest and joy. Why the company you keep is critical for your emotional health. How to identify inflammatory foods in your diet and eliminate them. What oxidative stress is and how it is formed. Purchase the resource mentioned on today's show now: In Let Food Be Your Medicine, Dr. Don Colbert takes a look at the most common health issues and offers simple dietary changes using a specially modified Mediterranean Diet. With a better understanding of what to eat and what not to eat, readers will know how their nutritional choices affect: CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES, WEIGHT LOSS, ARTHRITIS, ADHD, TYPE 2 DIABETES, CANCER…AND MORE. Let Food Be Your Medicine includes meal plans, delicious recipes, tips on supplements, and other information to help you find an approach to food that will change your life. You can beat genetics. You can overcome. You can start today.

One of the most unknown keys to your emotional and physical health is a supplement, really a hormone, sitting atop the shelves of every health store in America. And that’s Vitamin D3. In this week’s episode, you and I will be joined by New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Don Colbert. I’ll be asking him why Vitamin D3 is critical, how to have it measured, and what we all can do to effectively bolster our overall health.

In this episode, you’ll discover…

• Vitamin D is critical for immune system regulation and for the repair of DNA mutations, particularly as it relates to the prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancer, and diabetes.
• Vitamin D helps prevent depression, bipolar disorder, and even schizophrenia.
• What normal Vitamin D blood levels are and how to have those levels checked.
• How much Vitamin D3 you may need to take per day in order to maintain proper blood levels.
• Why natural sunlight is critical for health and why the overuse of sunscreen is actually dangerous.
• Why Vitamin D cannot be received from food.
• The identity of the number one vegetable consumed in America.

Living life characterized by mediocrity and passivity cripples your capacity to dream and your ability to win in your everyday life. And you that it’s one thing to read about the success stories of various people, but it’s another thing to pull back the curtain of their lives and learn how they did it. In this week’s episode, business owner and financial advisor, George Wells, joins the conversation to discuss the daily decisions he makes to create meaningful, lasting success in his personal and professional life.

In this episode, you’ll discover…

Failure—I believe—is inevitable at various stages in life. But here's my concern: too many of us internalize failure and create an identity out of it. Joining me today is my friend and business coach, Joe Pici, to talk about the components of failure. In this week's episode, you'll discover... Failure is only truly failure if you quit. If you allow failure to fester, things only get worse. Stay in the game. We don't have time to dwell upon failure in this short life. You can't allow it to affect the next opportunity. Failure is an event, not a person. You need the right people in your life. Whiners will cost you time and money. Decisions and choices create actions. Actions create results. Results create culture. Culture is how people view you.

You know those people who just tell it like it is? People who you can’t fake out for a second? Well I have a few of them in my life. They keep me from living an unfocused inauthentic life. And one of them is my guest today. Joe Pici is a sought-after coach and strategist who has trained hundreds of thousands of individuals and companies worldwide. Today, we’re talking all about developing the clarity and mental toughness you need to succeed in life.

In this episode, you’ll discover…

• Clarity is comprised of the answers to three questions: what is your desired end result? When do you want to see the result? Why do you want the result?
• There is no such thing as partial clarity.
• Mental toughness is a required character trait of a winner.
• Adversity doesn’t develop character. It defines and reveals character.
• Determine your non-negotiables of your conquest. They determine your priorities.
• Lack of time is not the issue. Prioritization of time is the issue. You cannot manage time. You can only manage priorities.
• We should embrace adversity, for when we do, our competition goes away.
• Live life with a “whatever it takes” attitude. If you do everything with integrity and honor, there is no price too high to pay.
• Get a mentor. And most importantly, make sure they have fruit on their tree so-to-speak.

How many of you have believed taunts such as I’m not good enough. I’m missing something. I always make the wrong choice? You know that if you have, instead of using your time and energy to discover and live from your true identity, you live through the lens of “less than.” But the trouble is that a believed lie empowers those lies to become real to us. Joining me today to empower you with strategies to live from a healthy personal identity is my good friend and former American Eagle model, Brigitte Wanner.

In this episode, you’ll discover…

• The performance-acceptance cycle mandates that we perform well in order to be good as person.
• Breaking insecurities are often accomplished by serving others.
• In order to break the cycle of insecurity and competition, you must be willing to invite feedback and mentors into your life.
• When we succumb to the performance-acceptance manner of living, we sacrifice living a life of authenticity, one that’s right in front of us.
• You must run your own race and ignore the temptation to compete internally with those around you.
• Self-worth doesn’t come from others. It comes from God.
• Our goal in this life is not to be comfort ale. It’s to impact others.

Too many of us are living in a glass bubble of illusion in an effort to show ourselves strong to a world that really isn’t paying attention. Deep down, I’m convinced we’re possessed by the pressure to jumpstart the mundane and numb the fear of not being good enough fast enough.

I’m certain there is a better way to live because that one is a far cry from reality. Joining me today to discuss this issue is my good friend and former American Eagle model, Brigitte Wanner.

In this episode, you’ll discover…

• Measuring the total worth and value of your life by looking through the lens of social media creates a destructive environment in which insecurity, comparison, and a lack of self-worth not only grows, but thrives.
• If you’re faithful in what is least, you can be trusted with more. As a generation, how can we be entrusted with more when we’re not fully appreciating and stewarding the time and resources we have been given already?
• Living an authentic life requires us to be fully present in the moment. And to be fully present with the people who truly matter most, we must learn how to separate from our devices in order to make meaningful emotional connections.
• Breaking the addiction requires a decision and regular follow-through.
• Show-up for life. Don’t waste precious moments to add value to others.