Do Life Better Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Stress”

100: Celebrating, Pausing, and Ending Season 1

Dave Jorna — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 05:00:00 +1000

Can you believe we have reached episode 100? Since we have come so far, it is time to pause and reflect.

We can get so caught up in the day to day busyness that we can forget the bigger picture.

Also, this is the end of a very long first season.

You can follow me on Instagram at [@davejorna](www.instagram.com/davejorna) and [@dolifebetterpodcast](www.instagram.com/dolifebetterpodcast). To contact us about retreats, leadership training and workshops visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and do your life even better.

99: Achieving Beyond Your Current Situation with Michael Puhle

Dave Jorna — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 05:00:00 +1000

What do you desire the most in life? For most of us, this can be a difficult question to answer. But, it's in seeking this desire that you can find your truest self, and in doing so, reach well beyond your current situation.

Today's guest is Michael Puhle, his mission is to inspire the globe to be more ambitious and as a result, more fulfilled. He will share with you how you can achieve beyond your current situation.

Michael's career path had the eternal battle of ‘following others opinions vs. finding his own way’ causing four career changes before the age of thirty. It was while being an admitted solicitor in NSW that Michael found his love and skill for advocacy, persuasion and emotive speech. Then as you’ll hear, tragedy struck his family in 2011 and Michael was compelled to change tack.

Michael believes the right words, delivered in the right way, by the right source can change your life; and it’s his mission to inspire the world through executive coaching to his online program - the Eight Week Life Hack; speaking on a range of topics; as well as hosting his Words With Oz - The Essay Question Podcast.

During this chat, we do briefly discuss suicide, so if you are effected in any way, please call lifeline’s national 24/7 counselling service on 13 11 14. And, for our listeners outside of Australia please contact your local crisis centre or your family doctor.

Michael shares:

Moving from a focus of profit to purpose
How to inspire someone beyond their current situation
The importance of your core values
Acting in line with that which you desire
Achieving audacious goals

Michael's challenge for the week is to answer the following questions each night before bed:

What are your 2 happy moments from today
"I am happiest when ..."
"It's more important for me to ... than to ..."
"In 10 years time, I see myself ..."
"Today I was passionate about ..."

You can connect with Michael at:

https://www.instagram.com/wordswithoz/
http://www.wordswithoz.com
Words With Oz - The Essay Questions Podcast

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and do your life even better.

97: Smarter, Sharper Thinking (Part 2) with Dr Jenny Brockis

Dave Jorna — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 05:00:00 +1000

In this half of the chat with Dr Jenny Brockis, she dives into the other two key areas of creating smarter, sharper thinking to help you live and operate at your peak every day.

Make sure you've listened to the first half of the interview (episode #95) already to give the background to the tips and strategies you'll hear in this episode.

Jenny talks about:

healthy stress
optimising focus
how your smarter, sharper thinking can help others
the importance of trust and authenticity
the power of curiosity
the impact of a good night sleep

Jenny’s challenge for the week: be more physically active (at least 10mins a day), go to bed 20mins earlier than normal for 21 days and see what difference that makes to your mood and thinking skills, and choose to switch off from your digital technology for 20mins a day.

You can contact Jenny at:

https://www.drjennybrockis.com
instragram: @drjennybrockis
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjennybrockis/
twiiter: https://twitter.com/drjennybrockis

Please share it with on social media and tag Jenny @drjennybrockis and me @davejorna and @dolifebetterpodcast.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and do you life even better.

96: The Power Of Hope - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 05:00:00 +1000

Do you wish or hope for things to work out?

It turns out that there is a big difference between the two. One is a form of a victim mentality and the other is a survivor mindset.

During this Feel Good Friday, I’ll share with you the power and outcomes of being hopeful and how to increase your levels of hope.

Please share it with on social media and tag me @davejorna and @dolifebetterpodcast

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and do you life even better.

95: Smarter, Sharper Thinking (Part 1) with Dr Jenny Brockis

Dave Jorna — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 05:00:00 +1000

What would it be like if you could feel and operate at your peak every day?

The good news is, you can easily achieve and maintain this level of energy, clarity and confidence with the right set of habits and routines.

In this episode, Dr Jenny Brockis, author of Smarter Sharper Thinking, shares how you can create smarter, sharper thinking. This is part one of our conversation, so keep your eyes out for part two next week!

Dr. Jenny Brockis is a medical practitioner and board-certified lifestyle medicine physician, specialising in brain health and mental performance. She works to inspire others to become the best versions of themselves by translating the findings of the neuroscience and positive psychology into simple practical tools that enable people to work smarter not harder. With three decades experience of working with people, she understands that while intentions may be good, changing behaviours is not always easy! An international speaker, trainer and author of three books including the best-selling “Smarter, Sharper Thinking” (Wiley), Jenny is frequently sought after as a commentator in the media and has had many articles published in a variety of magazines and journals.

Jenny shares:

The key areas of Jenny’s thinking that has changed since writing the book
How Jenny over came the imposter syndrome
The 3 key areas for sharper, smarter thinking
Why exercise is the most impactful thing you can do for your brain
How video games increase your levels of attention and focus

You can contact Jenny at:

https://www.drjennybrockis.com
instragram: @drjennybrockis
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjennybrockis/
twiiter: https://twitter.com/drjennybrockis

Please share it with on social media and tag Jenny @drjennybrockis and me @davejorna and @dolifebetterpodcast.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

94: Be A Help Receiver - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 05:00:00 +1000

It's time to be a help receiver.

You probably spend so much time focusing on helping others, that you forget to let others help you.

Maybe you don't ask for help because you don't want to be a burden, or because you like to do be independent and do it all yourself.

Letting others help you is good for you and them.

In this Feel Good Friday, I share the benefits of being a help receiver.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

93: Your Self Awareness Determines The Success Of Your Self Improvement - Solo Round

Dave Jorna — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 05:00:00 +1000

If you have been wanting to make improvements in your life such as health, mindset, mental health, career, relationships, or anything else but aren’t making the gains you are hoping for, then a large part of that comes back to your self-awareness.

Without self-awareness, you end up trying to create the ideal you, but not knowing what to improve, or how to improve, why you do certain things, when you do them, the outcomes you create from certain choices, habits, decisions and behaviors. It simply won't work.

Your self-awareness determines the success of your self improvement.

During this solo round, I'll share with you the habits and strategies to help you increase you self-awareness so that you can gain greater improvements in your life and enhance your relationships and level of success.

Challenge for the week: choose one area mentioned in this episode to improve your self-awareness.

Please share it with on social media and tag me @davejorna and @dolifebetterpodcast

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and do you life just that little bit better.

92: 3 Happiness Habits with Cass Dunn - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 05:00:00 +1000

Happiness doesn't just happen. It's created from the choices you make and the habits you develop. By maintaining these habits, it becomes much easier to focus on the positives even when times are difficult.

In this Feel Good Friday, Cass Dunn, the host of the wildly popular Crappy to Happy podcast and author of the Crappy to Happy books, shares her 3 most important happiness habits.

You can contact with Cass Dunn at:
Website: https://cassdunn.com/
Instagram: @cassdunn_xo
Facebook: Cass Dunn
Linkedin: https://au.linkedin.com/in/cassdunn

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

91: Meaning, Addiction and Sacrifices with Andrew (Spud Fit) Taylor

Dave Jorna — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 05:00:00 +1000

If you don’t sacrifice for what you want, then what you want becomes your sacrifice. And, to maintain the drive, persistence and strength you need to continue making these sacrifices, it’s important to have a cause and a meaning much bigger than yourself.

Today’s guest, Andrew (Spud Fit) Taylor, became a viral sensation when the world heard the story of his personal challenge to eat only potatoes for the entire year in 2016. In late 2015, the former junior Australian Champion marathon kayaker was in the depths of despair after yet another failed attempt in a lifetime of dieting that had left him even heavier than before – 151.7kg. So, after realising that he was a food addict, he decided to tackle his food addiction with abstinance, or as close as he could get.

Andrew’s first short book, 'The D.I.Y. Spud Fit Challenge' : a how-to guide to tackling food addiction with the humble spud’ was co-authored by his wife Mandy van Zanen and has helped many people to break the shackles of food addiction.

Andrew now spends his time coaching others through food addiction through 'The Spud Fit Academy' community, speaking, making Youtube videos and interviewing groundbreakers for his own podcast. He has also just released his second book.

Andrew shares about:

how he first realised he had a food addiction
what made him choose to eat only potatoes
his driving force and purpose for breaking his food addiction
difference between food addiction and cravings
the power of finding a meaning bigger than yourself
his changes in thought processes which fight his cravings
if you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want is what you will sacrifice

Andrew's challenge for the week: remove one thing from your life

You can connect with Andrew at:

www.spud fit.com
andrew@spudfit.com
spudfit on all the socials

Please share it with on social media and tag Andrew @spudfit and me @davejorna and @dolifebetterpodcast

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

90: Change Your Self Talk To Change Your Life - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 05:00:00 +1000

The most important, influential, life-changing, mood affecting conversations you will ever have, are the ones you have with your self at each moment of every day.

So then, what is your self talk like? Is a lot of your internal chatter focused on overthinking, picking out the negatives in all situations, is it judging and labelling yourself, or do you focus on what is helpful such as the positives, the lessons and your goals

You see, since your mind is most likely in constant chatter, this self talk influences and even determines your mood, your confidence, your resilience, how likely you would be to take positive risks, the way to see and engage with your family, friends and colleagues, whether you are someone who chases after your dreams and ambitions or whether you spend your time waiting and hoping that things will turn out in your favour.

Ultimately, your self talk creates the lens through which you see yourself and the world, and this lens changes everything.

After all, it’s not what happens in your life that is important, instead it's how you interpret what happens and how you respond that makes the difference.

If you want to change your life, start by changing your internal dialogue.

This Feel Good Friday will give you the tips and habits you need to improve your self talk.

Please share it with on social media and tag Matt @mattgriggs and me @davejorna and @dolifebetterpodcast

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

89: Optimise Your Clarity, Health and Wellbeing with Jason Gilbert

Dave Jorna — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 05:00:00 +1000

Even though I work hard at eating well, exercising and making enough time for rest, I still feel that I don’t have all these components dialled in well enough, because sometimes I feel too tired, foggy, or just flat and low on energy. And, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause because there are so many different factors.

So, chatting with today’s guest, Jason Gilbert, was a big help for me. In fact, we started going into the specific things I should be doing each day to optimise my own health, clarity and energy, so I know this will be helpful for you too.

Jason is a biohacker and is constantly researching the latest in health technology and new discoveries regarding the optimazation of human performance and wellbeing. He is also sports physician with the World Surfing League, owns of 7 Clinics in Peru and Brazil, is the author “O Segredo da Coluna Saudável” (The Secret of the Healthy Spine) in Portuguese and Spanish. English copy due 2018, a motivational Speaker, a TV Presenter FOX Life Brazil, a Health Coach, a Detoxification Specialist, and a Certified Yoga Teacher.

Jason shares about:

mercury toxicity
key factors that create good health and wellbeing
intermittent fasting
how much exercising you should really have a day
nutrition after exercising

You can find him on:

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quiropraxiajasongilbert/
instagram: @jasongilbert_
website: www.wellbeingjase.com
Mobile: 0451698763

Jason's challenge: try Jason’s breakfast challenge of drinking a litre of water with lemon, ginger and garlic for a week and skip brekky … or at least put it back an hour a day. See how you go.

Please share it with on social media and tag Jason @jasongilbert_ and me @davejorna and @dolifebetterpodcast

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

88: Reignite Your Intuition with Steve Willis - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 05:00:00 +1000

Experiencing true happiness doesn't mean that you need to have an absence of sadness. Instead, you can be both happy and sad at the same time but only if you let yourself be open to the different experiences.

For this Feel Good Friday, we revisit some wisdom and inspiration from Steve Willis (aka Commando Steve) as he shares about the importance of tapping into your intuition and allowing yourself to experience the range of emotions in their fullness.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

87: The Impact Of A Growth Mindset And Passion With Eddie Woo

Dave Jorna — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 05:00:00 +1000

Have you ever given up on something too early because you put it in the ‘too hard’ basket? Maybe it was a business venture, a new skill, a subject you studied, or a hobby. What if you gave it another go with a greater sense of openness, passion and willingness to improve? With the right mindset, support and hard work, you can get closer to where you want to be.

Today’s guest, Eddie Woo, is a perfect example of what can be achieved when a growth mindset is combined with passion.

Eddie has a received a swag of awards for his incredible work including being one of ten teachers to win the inaugural Choose Maths Awards, he won the 2017 University of Sydney Young Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement, and he was one of 12 Australian teachers to win a Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award which is a prestigious national awards event co-presented each year by the Commonwealth Bank and education charity Schools Plus.

The list goes on - he was also the first teacher to ever give the Australia Day address, he won the Australia's Local Hero Award at the Australian of the Year Awards and was named a Top 10 Finalist in the Global Teacher Prize.

Eddie’s WooTube channel started simply to help a student who was in hospital suffering from cancer, and now has over 550,000 subscribers and more than 25 million views worldwide as of December 2018. In 2018, Woo hosted a show called Teenage Boss on the ABC, which gave teens control of their family's financial decisions for a month.
Eddie wrote a book called Woo's Wonderful World of Maths.

Eddie opens up about:

His journey from teacher to over 25 million downloads on youtube
The power of adding value without expecting anything in return
Creating a healthy tension instead of life balance
How a growth mindset changes everything
How you are far more natural at maths than you imagined
His inspirations
The greatest things he has learnt

Eddie’s challenge for the week: find something that you closed the door and give it another go.

Contact Eddie at:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq0EGvLTyy-LLT1oUSO_0FQ
Instagram: @misterwootube
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eddiew00
Twitter: https://twitter.com/misterwootube

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

86: Be Your Own Coach - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 05:00:00 +1000

It's time to turn that inner critic into your own personal coach.

Focusing on that harsh, unhelpful self-talk probably hasn't gotten you anywhere, so let's turn it into constructive thinking.

You show up with empathy, compassion, and positivity for your friends and loved ones, so start doing the same for yourself.

In this Feel Good Friday, I'll give you the inspiration and tips you need to be your own coach.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

85: Being Open To Everything And Affected By Nothing (Part 2) with Matt Griggs

Dave Jorna — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 05:00:00 +1000

This is the second half of the conversation with Matt Griggs and we pick it up just after Matt spoke about the extra clarity, awareness, presence and openness that comes from practicing Kelee meditation. And, how all this leads to reducing your fear which means that you are far more open to taking on positive risks, trying new things and backing yourself making growth and development far more exponential.

Matt shares:

the outcomes of practicing Kelee meditation
the power of becoming more consciously aware
what it’s like to eliminate brain chatter
how to detach from the disfunction of the mind
80% of your performance and health goes up and down with your state of mind
his daily routines
Matt’s breathing technique

Please note: if you wish to try the beathing technique Matt discussed, make sure to do it somewhere safe with other people around. Do not attempt it while driving or in a pool.

Matt's challenge for the wee: get started with Kelee meditation.

To connect with Matt:

instagram - @mattgriggs
website - https://mattgriggs.com.au

Please share it with on social media and tag Matt @mattgriggs and me @davejorna and @dolifebetterpodcast

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

84: Your 5 Determines Your Happiness And Success - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 05:00:00 +1000

It’s time to revisit your 5.

You are literally the average of the 5 people you associate with the most.

Your values, beliefs, mindset, relationships, health and wellbeing, levels of happiness, ambitions, income, whether you smoke or not, and much more are all directly related to the 5 people you associate with the most.

When you surround yourself with the rigth people, you spend less time questioning and doubting yourself, less time worrying about the negativity of others, and more time being and building your greatest self. You then have more to give those you love, to your family, your friends and colleagues.

During this Feel Good Friday, I share with you the importance of surrounding yourself with the best 5 people for you.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

83: Being Open To Everything And Affected By Nothing (Part 1) with Matt Griggs

Dave Jorna — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 05:00:00 +1000

Imagine the level of self belief and confidence you could create if you weren’t affected by the negativity of others and if you weren’t inhibited by your own fears. Attaining this degree of detachment and clarity of mind would enable you to notice much more around you and help you live a life with far greater freedom to be your truest self and take on your biggest dreams.

Today’s guest, Matt Griggs, is a true example of what it means to be open to everything and affected by nothing.

Matt is a high performance coach, hailing from Sydney. A former professional surfer himself, Matt has coached, world champions, Australasian champions, published 2 best-sellers, coached and lectured on performance to many leading executive groups world-wide. Matt is at the forefront of performance coaching, having worked with Mick Fanning (2007/09 World Surfing Champion), Stephanie Gilmore (current and 4 x Women’s World Surfing Champion), Owen Wright (current World Tour surfer), first grade NRL players and many other elite athletes.

Matt also teaches a unique meditation (Kelee) that helps people detach from disharmonious thoughts and emotions, so they may distill their natural ability to its purist point. Matt has a 360-degree view of performance and brings his deeper understanding of health, happiness and high performance to everyone from professional athletes to businessman.

I’ve decided to split this chat over two episodes because we went on for a while! I found his experience on the world stage for surfing as a competitor and coach incredibly intriguing, and then his understanding of the mind blew me away - especially when it comes to the meditation technique he uses, Kelee Meditation.

In this first part of the interview Matt shares:

The ups and downs of winning and losing
Matt’s transition from a pro surfer to a coaching Mick Fanning
His wholistic approach to coaching
His proudest moment as a coach
Being open to everything and affected by nothing
The importance of detachment
He starts diving into Kelee meditation - which again, blows my mind.

The app Matt mentions is Kelee Meditation.

The book is Troubleshooting the Mind by Ron W. Rathburn.

Please share it with on social media and tag Matt @mattgriggs and me @davejorna and @dolifebetterpodcast

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

82: Doing Life Gratefully Challenge - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 05:00:00 +1000

What if we spent as much time looking for the positives as we do focusing on the negatives, the stresses, the things that make us worried and anxious.

There is an abundance of positives around you, that is, when you stop and intentionally notice it. Even when things are going wrong, when you are having a struggle day, or when everything seems to be going against you, if you look for it, you will still find positives all around you.

Where you focus is where you end up. If you focus on the negatives, that’s where you and your energy will end up. However, if you focus on the positives, your energy and internal dialogue will follow.

Let’s start something. When you take one photo per day of something you are grateful for, you start noticing more positive things and moments each and everyday. In fact, it has been proven to even reduce depression.

This thing or moment you are grateful for doesn’t have to be anything big. It can be just an everyday thing, like clean sheets, or a fresh coffee, or time with your friends, a good book, the sunrise, anything that brings you a little joy.

So, I’m going to start posting one image per day of something I am grateful for as part of my instagram stories, and I'd love for you to join me. Make sure you use #doinglifegratefully and tag me in @davejorna and @dolifebetterpodcast.

Also, if you want to challenge or invite someone to join in, tag them in your post.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

81: Crappy To Happy In 12.5 mins with Cass Dunn

Dave Jorna — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 05:00:00 +1000

If you could make significant changes to key areas of your life by doing one simple thing for 12.5 mins per day, would you do it? It turns out, that by doing just 12.5 mins of mindfulness each day you will noticeably improve in areas such as your health, happiness, wellbeing, relationships and self compassion.

Mindfulness is a practise that is thousands of years old, but in recent times has become more popular in the health and wellness sector.

Today’s guest, Cass Dunn, is a clinical and coaching psychologist. After graduating with a Masters of Coaching Psychology from the University of Sydney, Cass became a successful life coach but felt that her psychology journey was not yet done and enrolled in Masters of Clinical Psychology.

Now, Cass is a mindfulness meditation teacher and the resident psychologist at tiffxo.com, which is an online health and fitness program. She is also the host of the wildly popular Crappy to Happy podcast, that has over 3million downloads, and author of the Crappy to Happy books.

During our chat, Cass decided to very generously offer a $50 discount off her upcoming online mindfulness course, and I highly recommend you sign up. Go to www.cassdunn.com/courses-events and sign up for the Mindfulness For Busy People 8 week online course. Make sure you enter the coupon code “dolifebetter” (make sure it is in lower case) to receive your $50 off. Again, make sure you do this, because as you will see in our chat, this course could be a complete game changer for you in terms of your self compassion, your abilities to handle and process stress, anxiety, anger, and the whole range of emotions, which we all help you live your life event better.

Take a screenshot of this episode and share on social media. Tag Cass @cassdunn_xo, and tag me in too, @davejorna and @dolifebetterpodcast

Mindfulness is an activity I practice everyday and I had an absolute blast chatting with Cass. During our chat, she dives into:

The definition of mindfulness and what it is and is not in contemporary society
The difference between mindfulness and meditation.
The benefits, positive affects and outcomes of practicing mindfulness regularly
Mindfulness techniques and how to clam your mind
The optimal amount of time to practice mindfulness each day
How to calm your mind in more creative ways

Cass’s challenge for the week: Find a mindful practice for this week.

To sign up for Cass's_ Mindfuless for Busy People_ 8 week course, visit this website - https://cassdunn.lpages.co/mindfulness-online/ and use the coupon code, "dolifebetter" to receive your $50 off. Please note, the course begins on 25 February, 2019.

To pre-order Cass's new book, Crappy To Happy, use this link - www.smarturl.it/crappytohappy

You can contact Cass Dunn at:
Website: https://cassdunn.com/
Instagram: @cassdunn_xo
Facebook: Cass Dunn
Linkedin: https://au.linkedin.com/in/cassdunn

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

80: You Are Stronger Than You Know - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 05:00:00 +1000

You have more inner strength than you could ever imagine.

For today's Feel Good Friday, I thought we would do something special by revisiting the incredibly powerful words and story of our very first guest, Matthew Ames. You may remember that after he fell ill with Strep A, he was given a 1% chance of survival only if they amputated his limbs. The resilience, hope and love shown by Matthew and his wife, Dianne during the recovery and in forming their new life continues to inspire me today.

I thought there was no one better than Matthew to give you a little boost today and remind you that yes, you are far stronger than you know.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

79: Master The Habits Of Elite Athletes with Dr Joann Lukins

Dave Jorna — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 05:00:00 +1000

Success leaves clues. Therefore, studying those who are success and replicating their habits and strategies is a sure way to reduce unnecessary mistakes and road blocks, while increasing your chances of achieving your goals.

Today’s guest, Dr Joann Lukins, spends her day inside the heads of individuals, teams and organisations – seeking to understand what makes them tick and assisting them to reach their potential. A psychological Indiana Jones, she describes it as a truly fascinating career that she is grateful for every day.

She holds a PhD in Psychology, has over 25 years’ experience, and a breadth of knowledge in the sport, organizational and educational domains. She delivers programs in resilience and expert performance for the Australian Defence Force.

Jo has worked with outstanding professionals and elite athletes throughout her career, including the North Qld Cowboys and Townsville Fire, giving her a unique insight into the world of success. She has been acknowledged as an expert in her field, being awarded an Outstanding Alumni by James Cook University for her achievements. Jo is sought after as a presenter, interventionist and for her expertise in the media space.

Just as a heads up, the Skype connection wasn’t great at the start of this episode. I like to use video calls so that we can create a deeper sense of rapport, however, it kept mucking up, so we ended up going for straight audio. If you stick with it, the quality gets much better. And, my dog Bailey gets involved in the conversation too.

This is a cracker of an episode with so many golden nuggets and I know you will get a lot out of it, even if you have to split it over a few listens because it is a long one.

Take a screenshot of this episode and share on social media. Tag Jo at @dr_jo_lukins, and tag me in too @davejorna and @dolifebetterpodcast

Jo dives into:

Resilience in difficult times like the Townsville floods
How self esteem effects your outlook on winning and losing
The psychology of backing up after a grand final win
How athletes reframe their emotions before the big moments
The importance of creativity and innovation
Embracing the suck and the importance of focusing on your purpose
Life Balance B. S.

Jo’s challenge for the week: create your recipe for success.

You can contact Jo at:

website http://www.drjolukins.com
instagram @dr_jo_lukins
facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrJoLukins
linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoannlukins/
twitter https://twitter.com/Dr_Jo_Lukins

Jo’s book, which will be released soon is The Elite: Think Like An Athlete. Succeed Like A Champion.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

78: Want What You Have - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 05:00:00 +1000

Bring to mind the last thing you purchased or achieved believing that it would make you happier. How long did that happiness last?

And how long did it take before the novelty wore off and you started chasing after the newer model or the next goal? My guess is it probably only took a few weeks.

Getting what you want doesn’t great real happiness, instead it’s wanting what you have.

During this Feel Good Friday, I’ll take you through some ways you can gain extra happiness even if you don't have all the things you want.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

77: Why A Meaningful Life Is Simpler and More Beneficial Than You Think - Solo Round

Dave Jorna — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 05:00:00 +1000

The idea of living a life that is worthwhile has been shown by a growing amount of research to be closely linked with a wide range of positive health outcomes.

However, a new study has found that living a worthwhile and meaning life has positive affects on nearly every aspect of your life, not just your health.

Don’t start searching for more meaning in your life just yet though, because that sense of searching is actually connected with a lower experience of a meaningful life.

So, what do you do then?

It turns out that it’s quite simple, and I’ll take you through these easy steps and habits in this solo round.

Your challenge for the week: stop searching for meaning and start enjoying life.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

You can follow me on Instagram at [@davejorna](www.instagram.com/davejorna) and [@dolifebetterpodcast](www.instagram.com/dolifebetterpodcast). To contact Dave about leadership training, emotional intelligence workshops and retreats visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

76: Play By Your Rules - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 05:00:00 +1000

Too often, we set our life’s goals based on the fear of not living up to someone else’s ideals or expectations. We also find ourselves making our choices based on the fear of not experiencing the same as everyone else, of being left behind, or of being judged for opting out. But, when this happens, you end up living life based on their rules, not your own.

During this Feel Good Friday, I dive into why and how you can set your own life’s goals and make your own choices based on your values, beliefs and gifts.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

75: It Ain't Weak To Speak with Sam Webb

Dave Jorna — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 05:00:00 +1000

What if starting one conversation could help you change or save a life? Often, that’s all it takes.

Unfortunately though, this one crucial conversation never happens for too many people because of the stigma around mental health and vulnerability, and because we just don’t know what to say. It’s time to break the stigma and speak up.

Today’s guest has been doing some incredible work surrounding mental health and suicide prevention for almost 6 years now. Sam Webb, previous star on Neighbours, co-founded LIVIN after losing a close mate to suicide and knew that enough was enough and more needed to be done surrounding the stigma of mental health, especially in young men. LIVIN is all about living your life at the top and connecting, supporting and encouraging one another to open up about their feeling and challenges because “It ain’t weak to speak.”

During our chat, Sam and I talked about:

His social media presence and the inspiration for the iconic quotes he posts
The story of LIVIN
Resilience and overcoming grief
Various ways to better support and listen to those around you who may be struggling
How to be a help giver
Warning signs for those who may be struggling
‘Smiling depression’ and how even those who are high function, may be at risk
Sam’s self care and daily routine
How to improve self-awareness and improve relationships
Sam’s acting career and future aspirations

Sam’s challenge for the week: Do something that you’re scared of doing or that you haven’t done previously because you were too worried of what other people might say or think.

You can connect with Sam on instagram @samwebb or on Facebook @samwebbau. You can find LIVIN at https://livin.org/ where you can access resources to help those struggling with mental illness and the online store to purchase merchandise.

Due to the nature of this podcast, if you are effected in any way, please call lifeline’s national 24/7 counselling service on 13 11 14. And, for our listeners outside of Australia please contact your local crisis centre or your family doctor.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

74: Stop Being Comfortable - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 05:00:00 +1000

You aren’t here to play small, to hold back, or to tell yourself that you don't deserve that goal or dream.

You are here to go for it, to back yourself, and to live your life to it’s fullest.

And, that means leaving your comfort zone, because it’s only when you leave comfort behind and enter the courage zone that the real magic begins.

In this Feel Good Friday, I share with you some tips and inspiration on the importance of leaving your comfort zone to make an important change in your life.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

73: Live More With Less: Lottie Dalziel

Dave Jorna — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 05:00:00 +1000

As you know, on the Do Life Better podcast I like to focus on things that you can do to enhance the quality of your own life and how you can positively impact the lives of your loved ones, friends, family, and those you encounter each day. And today, I’m excited about bringing you something a little different.

This episode will give you some strategies and inspiration to make a difference on bigger scale, and help you become healthier along the way.

Today’s guest, the incredibly high-performing and driven Lottie Dalziel, tried to drastically reduce her waste as part of her New Year's resolution in 2017 and realised how hard it was not only to find environmentally-friendly products but also find credible information around waste - that’s why she started Banish - to help Australian’s reduce their waste with the right products and even better information. Banish is a revolutionary online marketplace that not only provides the best eco-friendly products in the industry, but it offers consumers all of the support they need to reach their zero-waste goals.

We chat about:

how waking at 4am every morning helps her achieve more,
her week of zero waste,
how your wellbeing can be improved by living with out waste,
how you can live more with less

Lottie's challenge for the week: choose to refuse. Just go for one thing a week.

You can connect with Lottie on instagram @lottiedl. Her Banish webiste is www.banish.com.au, on instragram @banish.au and facebook at https://www.facebook.com/banishau/. And, her Toska Active Towels are at https://toskaactive.com and on instragram @toskaactive.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

72: You Only Have This Moment Once - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 05:00:00 +1000

If you had $86400 and someone stole $10, would you throw away the remaining $86390 chasing down that $10 or trying to get even with that person.

Or, would you simply move on since you still have the remaining amount in the bank. You would probably move on wouldn’t you.

We all have 86400 seconds in a day, yet we sometimes let that 10 seconds of someone else’s negativity or own stress ruin what ever is left of your 86390 seconds within that day.

This Feel Good Friday will give you the motivation, tips and habits you need to helping you move on from those unhelpful moments and help you make each moment count.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

71: Why Smiling More Will Improve Your Life - Solo Round

Dave Jorna — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 05:00:00 +1000

Have you ever thought about how regularly you smile? Or, the effects a big, wide, cheesy grin can have on your overall health, lifespan and levels of success? It turns out, that a simple smile may be far more powerful than you ever thought.

During this solo round, I’ll share with you the incredible impact a simple smile can have over your relationships, success, attractiveness and overall wellbeing. I’ll also dive into some strategies and habits for optimising the impact of your smile.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

70: You Are Enough - Feel Good Friday

Dave Jorna — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 05:00:00 +1000

Welcome to the very first Feel Good Friday. And, thank you to everyone in the Do Life Better community who voted on the name for these short episodes in which I will help you have a strong finish to the week with some quick life hacks or words of motivation. Today's episode dives into why you are enough for simply being you and how your value is non conditional.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

Want A More Successful Year? Use These Habits (Best Of 2018)

Dave Jorna — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 05:00:00 +1000

Do you have big goals and dreams for this year that will allow you to become happier, have greater confidence, and be more successful? I hope you said, “Yes!”. I know I certainly have my vision and plans for taking 2019 to the next level, but to get there I have to start with myself. After all, you can’t achieve new goals if you are still thinking and acting exactly the same as you were before. Instead, you need to focus on your strengths, continue to increase your confidence and resilience, and discover how you can make the biggest difference possible.

So, to help kick start your year, and because of the huge response from the last one, I’ve created another mash up for you from some of our most popular and inspiring guests. During this episode, our guests will share with you strategies and habits for:

overcoming the imposter syndrome and negative self talk,
backing yourself and working to your strengths,
using your strengths to make the biggest difference you can here and now,
how to build your confidence and resilience so you can keep working towards to your goals.

The guests in this episode are (in order of appearance):

Steve Willis (aka Commando Steve): Master Your Mind to Build Strength and Presence (#28), and Fear, Authenticity And Survivor (#50)
Laura Geitz: Self-esteem, Leadership and Chasing A Dream (#57)
Dan Stanford: Everyday Heroism (#48)
Dr Rick Hanson: Hardwiring Your Brain for Happiness, Calm and Strength (#41)

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

Creating Influential And Healthy Relationships (Best of 2018)

Dave Jorna — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 05:00:00 +1000

When your relationships are strong and healthy, you are also stronger and healthier. This is one area of my life I am constantly working on. We tend to spend so much time giving our attention and energy to everything else because we are too busy, stressed, overwhelmed or distracted, that our relationships with friends and family are often overlooked.

However, it is in these times that we need our relationships and sense of connectedness even more. With Christmas and New Years upon us, it is even more important that we invest in our connectedness given the spike in people struggling with mental health during this time of year.

Having positive relationships and feeling a sense of connection with others has been proven to help you live longer and increase your levels of happiness.

During this mash up episode, we will share some of the outcomes of building connectedness and relationships, such as: leading a full life, going beyond what you thought was possible, and increasing compassion and empathy.

The guests in this episode are (in order of appearance):

Dr John Barletta: Habits for Living a Good, Full Life (#42)
Mat Rogers: Going Beyond What You Think Is Possible (#61)
Dr Gary Chapman: How The Five Love Languages Will Transform Your Relationships (#35)
Ryan Hassan: The Strength And Power In Being Vulnerable (#23)

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

You can follow me on Instagram at [@davejorna](www.instagram.com/davejorna) and [@dolifebetterpodcast](www.instagram.com/dolifebetterpodcast). You can also join in the conversation in our closed facebook group, Do Life Better Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1169742113185928/) To contact us about retreats, leadership training and workshops visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

My Strategies For Overcoming The Struggle Days - solo round

Dave Jorna — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 05:00:00 +1000

Have you ever had one of those days when you just weren’t feeling yourself and everything seemed like more of a struggle? Maybe you were impatient, more anxious, tired, unmotivated, negative and spent too much time overthinking everything. I know I’ve been there. In fact, most of us have these days, and you’re allowed to have them. To be honest, there’s been a few things happening lately that’s contributed to me having more of these moments than usual.

Since you’ve probably had these times as well, or know someone who does, I thought I’d use today’s solo round to share the key strategies I rely on because I know they will help you too. After all, you can’t always choose what happens, but you can choose what you do next.

Remember, there are always people in your corner who you can help you. If you are really struggling, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 and talk to someone now.

Your challenge for the week: Listen to your body and be responsive to what it is telling you.

We have a VERY SPECIAL OFFER only for our Do Life Better community. Coming up soon, I’ll be interviewing Sam Webb, co-founder of LIVIN. LIVIN is all about living your life at the top and breaking the stigma of mental health. Connecting, supporting and encouraging one another to talk about their feelings and challenges because “It Ain’t Weak to Speak”. Through the development of cutting edge education programs, trendy fashion apparel and cool awareness initiatives, LIVIN is launching a generation of change.

THE OFFER: use the coupon code “dolifebetter” and receive 15% off purchases at www.livin.org until 21st December, 2018.

Please note: this is not a sponsorship arrangement. This is just something we are doing to enable the Do Life Better community to support LIVIN’s vision.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

Your Brain Has A Delete Button (Here's How To Use It) - Solo Round

Dave Jorna — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 05:00:00 +1000

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could remove old, unhelpful information from your brain? Well, you can because your brain has it’s very own delete button. For example, have you ever had that feeling after a big day that your brain is full and you can’t handle any more information. Well, that’s probably because your brain is actually full. And, using your delete button will help you retain and strengthen the important information while cleaning out what ever is unhelpful.

The big question then is, how do you make sure your brain declutters itself thoroughly and properly. After all, you want to make sure it gets rid of the information you don’t need while keeping and strengthening every thing that is still important. In this solo round, I’ll share with you the two simple things you can do to effectively use your delete button.

Your challenge: use your brain’s delete button effectively by getting enough sleep and being more aware of the amount of time you spend on unhelpful thoughts.

We have a VERY SPECIAL OFFER only for our Do Life Better community. Coming up soon, I’ll be interviewing Sam Webb, co-founder of LIVIN. LIVIN is all about living your life at the top and breaking the stigma of mental health. Connecting, supporting and encouraging one another to talk about their feelings and challenges because “It Ain’t Weak to Speak”. Through the development of cutting edge education programs, trendy fashion apparel and cool awareness initiatives, LIVIN is launching a generation of change.

THE OFFER: use the coupon code “dolifebetter” and receive 15% off purchases at www.livin.org until 21st December, 2018.

Please note: this is not a sponsorship arrangement. This is just something we are doing to enable the Do Life Better community to support LIVIN’s vision.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

‪My Habits For Overcoming Self Doubt And Insecurity (on the Insecurity Project)‬

Dave Jorna — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 05:00:00 +1000

‪Have you ever thought that you weren’t good enough or that you were inferior in some way? I know I have, and I still sometimes feel this way. ‬

‪I was recently interviewed by Jaemin Frazer on the Insecurity Project podcast and we dive into my own story, some of my insecurities and my strategies to overcome and push through them. I opened up during our chat more than I usually would on the Do Life Better podcast, so I thought I would share the chat with Jaemin as this week’s episode. ‬

‪Your challenge for the week: allow yourself to be vulnerable with some you trust and let them in on some of your insecurities, and then work in some strategies for overcoming them. ‬

‪You can follow Jaemin on Instagram @oneminutecoach and his podcast, Insecurity Project.‬

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

Boost Your Happiness By Discovering And Optimising Your Strengths - Solo Round

Dave Jorna — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:00:00 +1000

Are you looking to find more meaning in your life, or are you trying to discover your purpose? Do you want a boost in happiness, or need that extra drive and positivity to help you reach your goal?

Research based on using one’s strengths has repeatedly found it provides a boost to happiness and a reduction in depression, lasting for up to 6 months!

That’s right, even if you just do it for a week, that lasting impact can stay with you for up to 6 months.

During this solo round I share with you the importance of using your signature strengths and how to integrate them in your everyday life to help come more fully alive.

Take the VIA Character Strengths assessment here - http://www.viacharacter.org/www

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

Mat Rogers: Going Beyond What You Think Is Possible

Dave Jorna — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 05:00:00 +1000

Sometimes you have a conversation with someone who reminds you of what’s important in life, of the huge impact you can create, and that you can achieve more than what you believed was possible. My chat with today’s guest, was one of those conversations for me.

So, if you are setting out to achieve a big goal, or have a challenge in front of you, or are wanting to go beyond what you thought was possible, then this episode is for you.

I recently sat down with a sporting superstar and Australian Survivor competitor, Mat Rogers.

Few players have achieved as much as Mat has in both Rugby League and Rugby Union, setting records for the highest points scored in a match, in both league and union, as well as the most points scored in league for an entire career and for a session.

He also made it to the final 12 on this year’s Australian Survivor, and by doing so, he once again become an inspiration and role model for thousands of Aussies.

After he and his wife, Chloe Maxwell, went public in 2009 about their son with autism, they founded the charity, 4ASDkids as a way to change the lives of families with children battling with an Autism Spectrum Disorder by assisting them to access the early intervention treatment that they believe is critical to giving these kids the best chance at leading a normal life and reaching their full potential.

They also have an upcoming documentary, MaxingOut, which follows 3 celebrities on a journey to their first ever Iron Distance Triathlon. This documentary mirrors the struggle of everyday challenges dealing with a child with Autism.

This chat was incredibly inspiring for me, and I know it will be for you too.

Mat shared about:

What he learnt from being on Australian Survivor
How he developed his drive, tenacity and determination
What it's like being a role model
Living with authenticity and character, and being values driven
Achieving beyond what you think is possible
Raising a child with ASD
Creating the charities 4ASDKids and Maxing Out
The power of creating the right team and support network around you
If you put the right people around you, you can get through anything
Re-thinking masculine roles
What Mat has learnt from raising Max
The power of taking your eyes of yourself and putting it on to other people
Saving your best for your best

Contact Mat on facebook and instagram, https://4asdkids.gofundraise.com.au, and https://www.maxingout.tv

Mat’s challenge for the week: go all week without saying anything negative. Instead, use positive language and focus on what you do want, not what you don’t want.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

Making It Happen - Solo Round

Dave Jorna — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 05:00:00 +1000

A dream will only ever be a dream unless you take the first step. And, sometimes you need to take that first step without having the whole path mapped out before you.

During this solo round, I share with you about the power and importance of making a start.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

Becoming An Influential And Productive Leader with Steve Scott

Dave Jorna — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 05:00:00 +1000

Do you want to become a better leader, get that promotion or leadership role, be more productive or have a greater, more positive and lasting influence on those around you, well then this is the episode for you.

We’ve spoken about the importance of having mentors, and of surrounding yourself with 5 people who build you, lift you, and help you grow … well today’s guest is one of my mentors and one of my 5.

Steve Scott is the author of the soon to be released book titled the 15 disciplines of productive leaders, he received numerous awards and commendations during his 22 year Royal Australian Air Force career, and is quickly becoming the pre-eminent source for leadership inspiration within the Australian independent schools sector. He is well known as being a leader with an innate ability to change the way people think in a single conversation.

During this chat, Steve shares about:

His own journey as a leader
Difference between good and bad leadership
Discipline means ‘to teach’
The importance of character and integrity, and doing the right thing instead of what’s easiest
15 disciplines of productive leaders
What it means to live a truly productive life
How leadership is learnable
Steve's rocking chair test and his definition of 'Do Life Better'

Steve's challenge: when you are faced with a challenge ask yourself, “what does this situation require of me?”, not “what do I require from this situation”

To contact Steve or find out about his book, visit www.15disciplines.com.au or www.laurus.com.au

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

Master Your Breathing To Optimise Your Mind And Wellbeing - Solo Round

Dave Jorna — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 05:00:00 +1000

How is your breathing going today? Have you taken a moment or two to notice or to control your breath? That age old saying of “take a deep breath”, now has scientific research to back up it up it's claimed benefits.

New researching using recordings made directly from within the brain of people undergoing neurosurgery have shown that breathing can in fact change the brain.

In other words, changing the way you breath, such as breathing slower and paying closer attention to your breath, engages different parts of the brain. In doing so, it can change the state of your brain and physiology to help you do your life even better.

During this solo round, I share with you some proven, quick and simple methods you can start using immediately to create instant and lasting change in your mood, mindset, memory, focus and levels of stress and anxiety.

Remember to share this episode with your friends and family who would also find this helpful.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out there and create a great day.

Bonus Episode with Tobias and Eli: Love, Being Happy and Gratitude

Dave Jorna — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 17:30:00 +1000

Tobias and Eli join us for a very special bonus episode where they share with us about love, being happy and gratitude. We will return with our normal episodes in the New Year.

Challenge for the week: focus on spreading love and happiness, and spending time in gratitude.

To contact us about retreats, leadership training and workshops, visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out and create a great day.

Ep 14 - Adventure, Finding Yourself and Comfort Zones

Dave Jorna — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 05:00:00 +1000

Our guest on today's episode might sound familiar - that's because he's our voice over guy. Adam, or Burnsey as he's more affectionately known, was a part of our team in 2016-17, before departing on a world-wide trip with his wife, Jade. Not only are they heading overseas, but they're finishing their jobs to live abroad for 14 months.

A key inspiration for Adam is to live in the present. He shares that throughout his life, he's just gone through the motions, moving from one thing to the next. It's easy to do. For Adam and Jade, their trip is an opportunity to take time away from the busy-ness of work and study and be present to one another and to others.

There's a lot of different reasons to travel. Many young people embark on a gap year. There are thousands of travel blogs and Instagram accounts detailing people's travels. It's common for people to travel to find themselves.

For Adam, it's not about finding himself, or fitting it in while he's young or before he has kids. He speaks about being present in the moment and in the world. He talks about experiencing life through the eyes of other cultures and people. And he talks about service, giving of his time and gifts to others.

Have you ever thought how odd the concept of "finding yourself" overseas is? If you can't find yourself at home, how are you going to find yourself overseas? Definitely, through the experience of travelling, you might learn a different side of yourself, or it might shape you in different ways. Yet, you are who you are wherever you are.

This doesn't mean that travel is meaningless. As Adam shared, there is incredible meaning in being present, in learning from others and in seeking ways to serve.

What are the two things that would make this trip successful, rewarding and fulfilling for Adam?

Being able to push outside of his comfort zone and to interact and learn from other people and other cultures.
Being able to slow down life in order to focus back on his core values.

Sure, those are things that Adam could do at home, but as he points out, it's about your intention. What's your intention about doing things? With travel, you can just make it about finding yourself, or you could make it about making the most of the different people and places you encounter.

As Adam candidly shares, this wasn't an easy thing to plan. He experienced a lot of fear and nervousness about quitting his job and sacrificing other things to make their trip a reality. But as he points out: "anything in life where we want to have that growth, where we want to push ourselves in new space of doing life even better, there needs to be those experiences where we push ourselves and we're out of our comfort zones."

What are the three things Adam wants to have as his daily focus while he's away:

Putting people ahead of tasks.
Being more grateful.
Pushing out of his comfort zone more.

Challenge of the week: you don't have to go overseas to find yourself, you create yourself right here and right now. What are the three things you can focus on each day of this week?

To contact us about retreats, leadership training and workshops, visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out and create a great day.

Ep. 13 - Focusing Your Mind to Create Better Outcomes

Dave Jorna — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 05:00:00 +1000

Our team has been travelling a lot as we close out the year - and each team member uses a different travel routine. Dave usually tries to make the most of travel time by getting work done, but one time he decided to give himself a break. Ten minutes into a movie, Dave realised he had no idea what the movie was about. He was staring at the screen but his mind wasn't processing what exactly was happening!

Maybe you've had a moment like that before - your mind has blanked, or you haven't been able to focus in? What's actually going on when this happens?

Dave asked himself that question and he realised he was carrying a feeling of guilt. Turns out, Dave was travelling on Mother's Day and he was feeling bad for not being home to celebrate with his wife and boys. He was so concerned about not being at home that he couldn't even focus on the movie.

Dave tried to process what he was doing and by questioning the feeling of guilt that he had. NOTE: Dave allowed himself to sit with the feeling of guilt. This helped him to examine what was important about the guilt he was experiencing and to determine that next time he can plan not to be travelling on Mother's Day.

Even after processing and questioning what we're feeling or experiencing, we might still find ourselves distracted. What can we do to refocus our attention?

Suggestions, tips and advice for practising mindfulness:

try mindful listening: play a song and listen to individual parts of the song: focus on the sound of the guitar, then the sound of the drums, then the bass, etc.
if your mind wanders, its OK, just bring your attention back to the mindfulness practice you're using - this actually helps you more because you're working out your brain.
you can use your three senses: take a deep breath, then count five sounds you can hear, then count five things you can feel right now, then count five different things you can see; this helps especially with anxiety.
body scan: work from your toes to the top of your head and focus on the different sensations you feel in each part of your body.
focus on your breathing or your thoughts.
apps for mindfulness: Smiling Mind, Headspace and Calm.
try different things and find the one that works best.

Have you ever crammed for the last 10 minutes before an exam? Try doing mindfulness instead. Even just sitting and breathing will create a more calm and present state, which will help you focus better during your exam.

Benefits of practising mindfulness:

decreases violence and aggression
grows the part of your brain that deals with stress and anxiety
helps you remember and learn more
helps you feel more compassionate towards yourself and others
reduces procrastination
improves overall focus and attention
increases resilience

It sounds counterproductive, but spending time doing mindfulness actually leads to clearer, more focused activity afterwards.

Challenge of the week: each day this week, try a different form of mindfulness. Create a reminder on your phone that reminds you to do mindfulness each day.

To contact us about retreats, leadership training and workshops, visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out and create a great day.

Ep. 12 - How One Small Action Can Create Massive Impact

Dave Jorna — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 05:00:00 +1000

On today's podcast, we're joined by one of our team, Rhiannon. Recently, Rhiannon was preparing for an exam at a cafe at uni, when she noticed there was a girl at the counter who seemed quite anxious. It turned out the girl was shortchanged and empathising with the stress that this girl could have been feeling (remember, it's exam time) Rhiannon stepped up to help her out.

Maybe for this girl, it became more than the coffee. Maybe it created extra positivity for her, that flowed into her exam and maybe even further. Maybe she was able to share positivity with family and friends when she got home later that day. Maybe even everyone who saw Rhiannon help out became inspired to think about the positivity they could also create.

Even by doing the smallest acts of kindness, we have the power to change someone's day. Maybe it could be towards a stranger, like in Rhiannon's story, or it could be a random act of kindness for a friend or family member or loved one.

Of course, we come away feeling good about the positivity we've shared. More than just getting the "warm and fuzzies", random acts of kindness can help us grow. Doing positive things for others:

helps our self-esteem grow
builds confidence and
creates a deeper sense of happiness

Doing one random act of kindness helps us grow in courage and bravery. Maybe you have had the situation where you've seen someone needing help and you've asked yourself, "Do I or don't I?" Stepping up in that one moment will give you the courage and the bravery to do it again. And, by doing it once, you'll be able to find more opportunities to help and serve others.

For the person receiving the random act of kindness, maybe they get to feel better too? Maybe they come away feeling validated, valued and acknowledged. Often, we don't know everything that's going on in someone's life and this one simple kind act could be the thing that turns their day around.

Even research has found that if you do a favour for someone, you're likeability increases for that person you do the favour for. You would think that being asked to do things by someone else would create a negative view of them, but we actually like people more when we do things for them.

Obviously, we don't just do random acts of kindness just for ourselves - but there are a lot of positive outcomes we get from them too, which makes doing random acts of kindness even more important!

Challenge for this week: look for opportunities to do a random act of kindness for someone else - and if that opportunity that doesn't come up, do something for a family member, friend or loved one.

To contact us about retreats, leadership training and workshops, visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out and create a great day.

Ep. 11 - The Power Of Assumptions

Dave Jorna — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 05:00:00 +1000

You probably make more assumptions more than you realise. That statement alone is an assumption, though it holds true for the average person.

We all do it. Someone doesn’t return a text, so you think that something is wrong or that you have upset them. Or, someone asks if they can have a chat and immediately you get nervous thinking that you’ve done something wrong or that they have some bad news. Or, you’re cut off while driving or someone pushes in while you’re lining up and you start thinking they are rude.

But, what if something else was really happening for the other person? What if they weren’t just being rude but had a good reason behind their behavour? Maybe instead of pushing in, they made an honest mistake by not realising that you were lining up. Or, the person who cut you off while you were driving was rushing to hospital to see a family member. Would you forgive them and be more compassionate if they had a reasonable explanation? Probably.

Getting caught up in an assumption can also cause you much more worry and anxiety than needed, and generally it’s all for something that may in fact be completely untrue.

A lot of the time, jumping to conclusions creates negative outcomes, both for you and the other person involved.

We often carry stories about other people, their motives and their behaviours. And again, a lot of the time these stories are negative and untrue.

However, when you catch yourself making an assumption, there are a few simple steps you can take to reduce the anxiety or needless worry while also increasing compassion towards the other person. These same steps can also be used to reduce unhelpful anger that is caused from an assumption.

How to check your assumptions:
Stop and take a breath.
Ask yourself these questions:
What is the assumption I am making?
Is this based on evidence (eg. have you checked) or is it just my thoughts and perception of this event?
Then, list 3 other possibilities for what is happening.
Finally and when possible, check in with the other person involved.

Challenge for this week: check your assumptions. Every time you catch yourself making an assumption think of 3 other reasons or possibilities.

To contact us about retreats, leadership training and workshops, visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out and create a great day.

Ep. 10 - How To Create Real, Lasting Happiness

Dave Jorna — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 05:00:00 +1000

You may have noticed if you’ve had any big accomplishments, success or wins in your life that it is easy to experience the joy of that moment. But have you ever sat with the joy or gratefulness or satisfaction of the small moments?

One of our team members, Adam (who is also the voice you hear on the Intro and Outro of the podcast) just submitted his last assignment for a Masters Degree in Business Administration. It’s a huge accomplishment for him and he sent out a group message to all our team thanking us for supporting and encouraging him. As we congratulated and celebrated with Adam, Jared gave him some really important advice: remember to stop and smell the roses. What he meant was to stop and let the moment wash over him, to stop and sit in that moment. To savour the moment.

Maybe you can think of your biggest accomplishments or significant moments: getting a good grade on an assignment you’ve worked really hard on, or being offered a job you really want, or getting married or having kids. It’s easy in these big moments to experience the joy and satisfaction.

It’s not only in the big moments that we can experience this joy or satisfaction. It can happen in little moments too. Sometimes we just rush through these moments. We can experience the joy, but skip quickly into the next thing. Or it might feel like a small or insignificant moment compared to the other big things we need to get done that we don’t allow ourselves to experience that small win. We might feel like we don’t deserve to enjoy that little moment because there are other more important things to be concerned with. We can enjoy the everyday interactions: a good class, a quality chat, a scenic drive. These moments are worthy of satisfaction.

This might seem contrary to the message we often hear, that to be successful you should never be satisfied. Yet research has shown that high performers do have success because they do savour more. It makes sense that when you’re happier you perform better and it follows that if you perform better you can achieve more. If we keep looking for the massive celebration moments, we can overlook the little moments and miss opportunities to savour.

Quick note: savouring and gratitude are different. They are both positive practices. The difference is that gratitude is about looking back or looking forward on a moment to remember or foresee that positivity, as well as being thankful for opportunities and other things in your life. Savouring is about prolonging the positivity of a moment. For example, Dave’s family practice gratitude at dinner time, where Dave, his sons and his wife express thankfulness for something that has happened. Savouring, for Dave in that moment, is sitting with and feeling the warm and fuzzies as his sons share their gratitude right there and then as it is happening.

This is really simple to do. For Dave, savouring that moment with his sons doesn’t require him to start meditating but simply to be really present in that moment. To fully allow himself to experience the joy or pride or positivity of hearing what his sons are thankful for. Try not to turn that moment into something bigger, simply give yourself 20 seconds, breath deeply and allow the moment to circulate in you.

The long term effects of savouring a moment for just 20 seconds can actually change your brain and rewire it in a way that allows you to be more positive. This leads to greater satisfaction, fulfilment and confidence. It actually becomes easier for your brain to go to a positive place quicker and more easily. Its like when you’re looking for new shoes or a new car - you start noticing that shoe or that car everywhere you look. Your mind becomes more attuned to it. Savouring has the same effect, you become more attuned to positive moments. Your enabled to be more positive.

Challenge for this week: set a reminder in your phone to go off every morning that says: “savour the moments”. Let it remind you when you experience a moment of joy to sit with it for just 20 seconds.

To contact us about retreats, leadership training and workshops, visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out and create a great day.

Ep. 9 - Unlocking Your Inner Strength with Matthew Ames | Part 2

Dave Jorna — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 05:00:00 +1000

Dave and Jared continue the conversation with Matthew Ames. Here are some of the key points from Dave’s interview with Matthew:

It’s ok to experience negative emotions.
Be open to others who see something for you that you don’t see for yourself.
The single biggest predictor of whether you will get through adversity is the quality of relationships you have with those people who are close to you.
It takes a village of people to make something possible.
We greatly underestimate the ability of young people to be able to do things. We can have more patience to teach young people how to do things and to empower them.

Four of Matthew’s biggest learnings:
Things are how they are, this acceptance creates a foundation for peace.
Understand your why, your purpose behind why you do what you do.
The positive attitude you need to execute and to identify opportunities, especially when things aren’t going your way.
The value of relationships.

What does Do Life Better mean to Matthew: love yourself and love others.

Challenge for the week: ask yourself the question, are you happy with the relationship you have with those who are close to you? And if you’re not, what are you going to do about it?

To contact us about retreats, leadership training and workshops, visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out and create a great day.

Ep. 8 - Unlocking Your Inner Strength with Matthew Ames | Part 1

Dave Jorna — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 05:00:00 +1000

Matthew Ames was 39 years old when he was struck with illness. It started with just a sore throat but worsened to the point that he eventually ended up in the Hospital ER, where the last thing he remembers was describing his symptoms to a nurse before being placed in an induced coma.

His doctors soon discovered he had a strep infection which had entered his bloodstream. Matthew had a 1% chance of survival and his doctors and family were left with just one option: amputate all of his limbs.

Can you imagine what it would be like to go from riding a bike into work and renovating your own house, to lying in a hospital bed with no arms and no legs? Matthew couldn’t.

Here are some of the key points from Dave’s interview with Matthew:

You don’t know what you can do until you do it. We have an inner strength in us and we don’t realise how deep it is until we face something significant.

Matthew’s wife was faced with the decision of whether or not to amputate Matthew’s limbs. Knowing who Matthew is and knowing that her role in their family would dramatically change, she made the call to amputate. Do you have people in your life like Diane who you would trust with your life in their hands? People who have your best interests at heart? People who can be selfless when it counts?

Initially, while in Intensive Care, Matthew was focussed on survival. He would set himself 24-hour goals. When things get tough, you can focus on those small things you can do right now.

Matthew’s strength to work on those goals came from his deeper “why”: wanting to get home. What is the deeper meaning or purpose behind why you want to achieve, do or have something? When you focus on that, you’re able to have greater motivation, focus and willingness.

Keep trying different ways of doing something. This is the only way to learn whether something will or won’t work.

Sometimes we get caught up focussing on the bigger picture. When you’re trying to achieve something or have something, concentrate on the smaller parts, step through the process and focus on what you can do, this will help you not get overwhelmed.

It is ok to fail. Fail quickly, but also fail safely. Plan things out, think things through and make an honest (and safe) attempt.

The second part of this interview will be our next episode.

Challenge for the week: find one main thing that inspired you from this interview and use that as motivation for this week.

To contact us about retreats, leadership training and workshops, visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out and create a great day.

Ep. 7 - Overcoming Procrastination With Necessity

Dave Jorna — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 05:00:00 +1000

It’s springtime, meaning the Jacaranda trees are in full bloom, reminding Dave of his time at uni - and of exams!

How well do you prepare for exams? Are you like Dave and leave it all to the last minute? Cramming the night before doesn’t always lead to the best results. When you’re tired and stressed you can’t give study - or anything else for that matter - your best.

Many of us procrastinate. But there is something we can do to when to redirect our focus. Get to know your “WHY?”. Make the connection between what you’re doing and where you want to get to. For example, Jared didn’t do great at Study of Religion when he was in high school. But when he got to uni that changed because he was focussed on becoming a great Religion teacher.

Sometimes it’s easy to get energised and focus in on what you’re doing. Sometimes it’s easy to connect with the why. But other times it can be hard, monotonous or even boring. What can help is connecting our “WHY?” to a “WHO?”. This creates a sense of necessity: I need to do this because of this greater goal. So, by doing this I get closer to becoming the person I want to be and/or because of the influence I get to create for others.

A quick hack is before you begin a task or job, spend a minute bringing to mind who you’re doing it for. This helps you connect to that deeper purpose or reason underlying the task and creates greater motivation and desire to work towards completing it.

Another way of looking at it is by doing the task or job, what will it bring you? For example: doing ten minutes extra study - what could that bring you? Well, it could bring you better results, which could bring you to a university course you want to get into, which could bring you to a job you love, which could bring you to a position where you can create a positive influence for many more people. It all connects in the end.

Another quick hack: every 45-50 minutes take a 2-5 walk or break and then come back to what you’re working on but do some deep breathing first to connect to that deeper meaning, the why, for who and what it could bring you.

Challenge for the week: when you sit down at your desk to study or work, or when you’re about to begin a task, spend one or two minutes to close your eyes, do some deep breathing and ask yourself who or what needs am I doing this for right now?

Extra challenge: set yourself a reminder on your phone at the start of each day that says “Who needs my A-game the most right now?"

To contact us about retreats, leadership training and workshops, visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message.

Now, go out and create a great day.

Ep. 6 - Failure vs Success

Dave Jorna — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 05:00:00 +1000

Have you ever made a mistake? Jared accidentally left behind a microphone stand after a retreat day at a school 3 hours away. Was it a failure?

As we get older, we start to see failure as a bad thing. But it doesn’t have to be. Through our mistakes, we can actually learn how to do things differently or even better. We can turn failure into success and we can even become good at failing.

It’s all about not believing our thoughts. When you experience a failure, you might experience one of three responses. The first is fight - where you might assign the fault to someone or something else. The second is flight - which is avoiding those things or people that caused the mistake. These are both negative responses and we can’t learn or grow from them.

The third way is to reflect on the situation. There are a few ways you can be more reflective of your failings:

You can acknowledge the things you did do well, even if you didn’t get the outcome you wanted your left with a series of things that you can focus on next time to do that thing even better
By discussing with someone what you could have done better, you can identify other options to succeed next time.
By journalling about the situation, you can process what happened and even give yourself advice about the situation.
Lastly, you can talk to yourself. You can see things from a different perspective by talking to yourself in the third person.

By reflecting on failure we can actually get excited about it because we now have new information to have more success in the future. Even big companies like Apple and Google reward staff who make mistakes because it helps their companies grow and become even more successful.

Before Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he found 10 000 ways not to invent the light bulb! In his words, “There’s a way to do it better - find it!”

Challenge for the week: write down “learning or success” and display it somewhere visible you will see it often as a constant reminder for yourself to reframe your thinking and see each failure as a learning moment or a success in helping you do life even better.

To contact us about retreats, leadership training and workshops, visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Remember to subscribe to, rate and review the podcast to help spread the do life better message to more people just like you.

Now, go out and create a great day.

Ep. 5 - The People You Need In Your Life

Dave Jorna — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 05:00:00 +1000

You are the average of the five people you associate with the most.

Your income, values, beliefs, aspirations, confidence, and more are directly related to the five people you spend the most time with.

When you spend time with people who are negative, who hold themselves and others back and who treat others poorly, you are most likely to become that way yourself. However, if you seek out those who are positive, inspired, excited, have high aspirations, chance are you will end up like that too.

How are you going with your five people? You get to choose who you associate with the most, so choose well.

We are not saying to remove negative people from your life because you can still be there for them, support and encourage them. What we are saying is choose to spend more time with people who are good for you, people who are a great positive influence in your life.

Seek out those who believe in you, who see the greatness in you and who see what your capable of now and who you can become.

Challenge for the week: contact someone who is a positive influence in your life and spend more time with them.

To contact us about retreats, leadership training and workshops, visit www.projecthatch.com.au or email us at hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Now, go out and create a great day.

Episode 4: Is it a stress or a challenge? Your answer changes everything.

Dave Jorna — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 05:00:00 +1000

When you call a difficult moment a stress, your brain’s capacity to think clearly, creatively and positively is dramatically decreased. Therefore, when you are stressed, your performance suffers. For example, the emails or assignments you are trying to write wouldn’t be to your highest standards.

Instead, if you call that same moment a challenge, your brain steps up to the task. Chemicals are released into your brain and body which help you perform better. You think more clearly, you are more focused, positive and creative.

Next time you feel stressed, remind yourself that it is a challenge, not a stress. Set yourself some fun, challenging, rewarding goals to help you perform better. For example, instead of being stressed about doing house work, put on your favourite music and see how much cleaning you can get done before the songs end. Or, instead of stressing about having to reply to 10 emails during a 10 minute break, challenge yourself to do only five now and to make them as positive and clear as possible.

The words you tell yourself make a big difference. Choose well.

Thank you for joining us for another episode on the Do Life Better podcast.

Remember to leave a rating and a review in the podcast app or in iTunes.

You can follow us on facebook.com/projecthatch or instagram at project_hatch.

You can contact us or find out more about our retreats, leadership programs, workshops and teacher training at www.projecthatch.com.au or hello@projecthatch.com.au.

Now go out there and do life even better!