168. The Art of Embracing Obstacles
The Art of Embracing Obstacles
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Today's episode is about the importance of maintaining a healthy mental state during difficult times. Evan shares his favorite shifts in perspective, quotes, philosophies, and practices that helped him improve his mental health. Evan also emphasizes the power of gratitude and the mindset shift of viewing obstacles as opportunities for growth.
On this episode, Evan opens up about a difficult time in his life with regards to his mental health, highlighting the tools that he used to ensure that his bouts of anxiety didn't lead further down a bad path. Evan hopes that this episode provides you with some tools to help you get through tough times, and flip the hard times upside down to look at them as opportunities for growth.
DISCLAIMER:
This podcast is for educational purposes only, it is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional. Evan Roberts is not a medical professional and this podcast is provided on the understanding that it does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services. Statements and views expressed on this show are not medical advice, this podcast, including Evan Roberts and any guests on the show, disclaims responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained in this episode. If you think you have a medical problem please consult a medical professional.
Transcript
No one is immune to difficult
times at one point in time or, or
2
:likely multiple points in time.
3
:Life will give us hardships and we're
going to go through hard times and
4
:the not so funny thing is that these
things typically never get easier.
5
:But the silver lining is that we do
get better at doing those things.
6
:And in today's episode, I'm actually going
to share some of my favorite shifts in
7
:perspective, quotes, philosophies, and
practices that I've used during difficult
8
:times to maintain a healthy mental state.
9
:So all of that and more is going
to be covered in today's episode.
10
:This is the elemental I've been podcast.
11
:I'm your host, Evan Roberts, but more
importantly, I'm someone who truly deeply
12
:cares about both your health and mine.
13
:And as someone who dealt with a lot of
gastrointestinal issues as a kid, This
14
:is kind of my way of paying my respects
to my younger self, because I really
15
:do wish I had some kind of a podcast
or a form of information like this that
16
:I could have used to help heal myself.
17
:But nonetheless, I have one
now and I'm providing it for as
18
:many people as I possibly can.
19
:So that's the goal with this podcast
is simply to break down health topics
20
:from a holistic and a simplified
perspective so that you can walk away
21
:from these episodes with some digestible
knowledge, as well as the tools that
22
:you can apply to your life to actually.
23
:Improve your health and
take control of your health.
24
:And, uh, yeah.
25
:So hopefully you walk away from
these episodes feeling empowered
26
:and feeling like you have some
actionable steps that you can take
27
:after listening to these episodes.
28
:Now today's episode is going to be
a little bit different than most
29
:episodes I used to actually do.
30
:Mentality Mondays, uh, back in the day.
31
:And I really enjoy doing the episodes.
32
:Actually.
33
:They're like some of my favorite
episodes mentality and kind
34
:of the stoic philosophy.
35
:All of that stuff is
super intriguing to me.
36
:So I do really love talking
about these and nonetheless.
37
:Our mentality, the way we view
things, our perspective on things
38
:is super important to our mental
health and our overall wellbeing.
39
:Um, truly you can.
40
:Completely change your day and
the way you see things, just with
41
:a simple, a perspective shift.
42
:So really they're super powerful.
43
:And I found a ton of benefit in really,
you know, reading a lot of these,
44
:um, stoic philosophies and quotes.
45
:A lot of it coming from Ryan holiday.
46
:As well as doing a lot of meditation.
47
:And, uh, yeah, I've just found
a lot of benefit in these.
48
:And so today I'm going to share some
of these tips and tricks that I've
49
:used in the past personally, to really
improve my mental health or rather
50
:just maintain a good mental health.
51
:So first off, I want to start off with
saying that, you know, regardless of
52
:what it is that you're going through,
no matter how trivial it might
53
:sound, um, it's all in, you know,
It's from your perspective, right.
54
:And what may be difficult to one person
may not be super difficult to another.
55
:Um, but it's not for us to compare if
you're going through something and it
56
:feels difficult to you, then that's okay.
57
:That's difficult to you.
58
:And it's something that needs to
be addressed by you, um, so that
59
:you can improve yourself and, you
know, be in a good mental state.
60
:So, um, I just bring that up
because there's obviously people.
61
:In this world who are going through super
difficult times, whether it's with war.
62
:You know, not literally having no food on
the table, like starvation, there's some
63
:really super terrible things going on.
64
:And so, um, that really does kind of lead
me to the first point, which is gratitude.
65
:But before I even jump into that, just
wanted to give a quick little backstory.
66
:Uh, on myself in terms of why
I kind of started using some of
67
:these, you know, mentality shifts
and different things like this.
68
:Uh, so about a year ago, there was a time
of about a year to a year and a half where
69
:I was mainly just really going through a
financial, a financially difficult time.
70
:And.
71
:It was just one of the times in my life
where I really started dealing with, uh,
72
:a little bit of anxiety and I'm typically
a very upbeat, like happy go lucky person.
73
:Um, so for me, when I get into
that state, um, yeah, it's,
74
:it's definitely not enjoyable.
75
:It's not the norm for me.
76
:Um, and so, you know, I, I wouldn't
say it got the best of me, but it was
77
:something that I could definitely see
if I did not bring attention to it
78
:and awareness to it and work on it.
79
:It could have led to.
80
:Really bad downward spiral spiral.
81
:Um, so I'm happy that I did work
on this and find some tools that
82
:I could apply to my life to, uh,
really get me out of that situation.
83
:And so one of the very first
ones was indeed gratitude.
84
:Um, I was, for those of you who don't
know, I did a 30 day straight met of
85
:sorry, 30 days straight of meditation.
86
:It was a Joe Dispenza
meditation, and it truly was.
87
:Like absolutely.
88
:Life-changing, um, doing it 30 days in a
row, but one of the really big things that
89
:Joe Dispenza talks about is gratitude.
90
:And I really, I mean, it's
such a great practice.
91
:I, I I've actually fallen
off of it a bit here.
92
:Um, in the last, um, I don't know,
so many months, I would say honestly,
93
:Uh, but every now and again, I do
still try to bring, uh, this awareness
94
:to some gratitude, whether it's
before a meal or even just waking
95
:up first thing in the morning.
96
:But nonetheless gratitude
is super, super beneficial.
97
:Um, if you feel like you don't have
something to be grateful for, trust me,
98
:there are like so many things in the world
that go right for you every single day.
99
:And then it's just those few
things that aren't going, right.
100
:That we really pay the most attention to.
101
:Right.
102
:Like you can wake up in the
morning, which first off is the
103
:biggest thing to be grateful for.
104
:Right?
105
:Like your eyes literally
opened this morning.
106
:Um, that is a miracle in of itself.
107
:So that's huge right there and
definitely something to be grateful for.
108
:But nonetheless, You know, if you
were able to wake up this morning,
109
:have a, a warm meal and, uh, you know,
get ready, have clothes to put on.
110
:Like, these are all
things to be grateful for.
111
:Obviously, even though they might sound
very basic, they're definitely something
112
:to be grateful for, but you know, it's
always like, The flat tire on the freeway.
113
:And it's just like, man, of
course has had to happen to me.
114
:Right.
115
:And then it totally ruined your day.
116
:And it's that one thing that went wrong,
even though everything else went right.
117
:That totally ruined your day.
118
:And so we really are.
119
:We allow these.
120
:You know, one simple, negative thing
to really dictate the rest of our day,
121
:even though everything else is going.
122
:Right.
123
:So it's super important for us to
remember that there's a lot of stuff
124
:that we should be grateful for.
125
:Right.
126
:And on that note, when you're grateful,
you can't experience two opposing,
127
:uh, emotions at the same time.
128
:So.
129
:If you're grateful.
130
:You can't be angry and mad at life.
131
:And, you know, focusing on the bad
in life, you're actually can only
132
:be focusing on the good things.
133
:And when you're truly in a state
of gratitude, it's super blissful,
134
:you feel great, you feel optimistic
and, um, you know, just grateful.
135
:I'm grateful for all that
you have in your life.
136
:Um, so gratitude was definitely
one of the biggest practices that
137
:I would do every single morning.
138
:And I could definitely feel a huge
shift when I would do a gratitude
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:practice and with gratitude practice.
140
:It's also very important to
note you can't just list off
141
:things that you're grateful for.
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:Like I'm grateful for my house.
143
:I'm grateful for food.
144
:I am grateful for, you know,
can't just list them off.
145
:You actually have to feel.
146
:Gratitude.
147
:You have to feel thankful
in your heart, in your body.
148
:You got to feel grateful for
the things that you have.
149
:And that is what's really going to put
you in a street, a state of gratitude.
150
:So really, you know, bringing
awareness to understanding that
151
:you truly are grateful to have the
things that you have in your life.
152
:So ratitude was one of the first
things that I definitely would
153
:implement every single morning when
I was going through hard times.
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:/
What's going on everybody?
155
:Over the last couple of years, one of my
goals has been to actually decrease the
156
:amount of supplements that I was taking.
157
:At the time, I was taking a ton of
different supplements in my cabinet
158
:and I just really didn't know If they
were a ton of benefit to me or not.
159
:So I went ahead and re evaluated
everything in my cabinet and I came
160
:into 2024 with a very simplified cabinet
of health supplements that I take on
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:a daily and one of those things that
is sure to be in my daily mix is the
162
:Spirulina and Chlorella from Energy Bits.
163
:It is literally one of my
favorite supplements to take.
164
:It's a microalgae, which is basically
just a food that's been grown and then
165
:dried and placed into these little tiny
bits or energy pits, you can call them.
166
:And so they're essentially just
a food that is loaded with over
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:40 plus vitamins and minerals.
168
:You have spirulina, which is going to
have all nine essential amino acids,
169
:and you have chlorella, which is going
to be extremely poet in chlorophyll,
170
:which, if you're unfamiliar with
chlorophyll, it is able to detoxify your
171
:blood from heavy metals and mycotoxins.
172
:And so much more.
173
:Spirulina and chlorella are something
that I think should be in everyone's diet.
174
:And this is my favorite way of making sure
that I'm getting in some form of seafood.
175
:And if you want to get your hands
on some of these energy bits, then
176
:please go ahead and check out the
link in the description of this show.
177
:It's gonna have a 20 percent discount
code as well for your entire order,
178
:which is just my way of saying thank
you for being a listener to this show.
179
:And I hope you love it as much as I do,
and here's to decluttering that super
180
:packed supplement cabinet of yours and
making it a little bit more simplified.
181
:Alrighty y'all, back to the show.
182
:And then the second thing, and
this is a really just the mentality
183
:shift, but it's a quote from,
I believe it's Marcus Aurelius.
184
:And, and Ryan holiday wrote
a great book on this as well.
185
:The obstacle is the way, um, and
that's pretty much the quote as well.
186
:The obstacle is the way or that, which
stands in the way becomes the way.
187
:And there's been many mornings that I
have just literally sat and meditated
188
:on this specific quote and topic.
189
:Um, Yeah, because there's so
much to be gained from it.
190
:So another way to kind of phrase
this or that I've heard it
191
:phrased is I don't have problems.
192
:I have puzzles, which, you know,
pretty much just means the same thing,
193
:but a different way of reframing it.
194
:And it really is the truth, right.
195
:That which is giving us the
most difficulty in life.
196
:The thing that we're probably
avoiding the most as well, or we
197
:have the most resistance towards.
198
:Is the thing that's actually
probably the most beneficial for us.
199
:It's probably the thing that's
going to catapult us forward and,
200
:uh, really, you know, give us the
tools that we need to be better, a
201
:better version of ourselves in life.
202
:And when I was able to finally.
203
:Figure out this mindset shift
of recognizing that, you know,
204
:all the things that I was having
resistance towards in my life.
205
:Were the things that I
actually needed to work on.
206
:Right.
207
:And those are the things that
are typically the most scary.
208
:They're the things that we don't want to
do, and that we try to avoid at all costs.
209
:But at the end of the day,
they're actually the things that
210
:are the most beneficial for us.
211
:And it's funny cause it's, you
know, we have the most resistance we
212
:fight against it, but it's like a.
213
:Uh, Aero being pulled
back in a bow, right?
214
:You're being pulled back.
215
:You're being pulled back all this
resistance, but then once you finally
216
:give in and put in the work and become
better at that point in your life or that
217
:area of your life, that you're lacking,
that's typically when the arrow is
218
:released and it just launches us forward.
219
:So instead of fighting.
220
:The difficulties in our life, the things
that are giving us the most uncomfortable.
221
:Uh, feelings, right?
222
:The most uncomfortable
things in our lives.
223
:Those are probably the things that
we actually need to be leaning into.
224
:So for me, it was finances and
it was difficult because, you
225
:know, you have to also look at.
226
:You know, you have to take a very.
227
:You have to take a very sober look at
the situation of life that you're in.
228
:Now, of course, there are circumstances
outside of our control that.
229
:Can put us in a really tough and not
fun situation, but a lot of the times we
230
:actually have done things in our past that
have led us to where we're at currently.
231
:So it is very important for us to
actually take, uh, you know, a wide
232
:view of, of our lives and kind of
how we've gotten to where we're at.
233
:And really analyze the steps that we've
taken that have brought us where we're at.
234
:And so for me, since it was
finances, I had to evaluate what
235
:have I done financially that
had gotten me to where I'm at.
236
:And so really understanding those
things and understanding that.
237
:Those were the areas, uh,
that I needed to work on.
238
:Right.
239
:So that I wouldn't repeat those things
in the future because I had to learn from
240
:this uncomfortable, this pain, right?
241
:Like these, these situations where
I was just so tired of it, like, why
242
:is this happening to me kind of deal.
243
:But understanding that no,
this is not happening to you.
244
:It's happening for you.
245
:And this is something that you can
learn from, and you can truly take
246
:things from this situation is.
247
:It is everything in life
can be a lesson, right?
248
:It's a test.
249
:And so, um, if we can lean into
these uncomfortable things, We're
250
:going to just ultimately equip our
tool belt at the end of the day.
251
:So instead of.
252
:You know, recognizing these areas.
253
:Uncomfortability in our lives and
trying to avoid them or resist
254
:them or all these different things.
255
:We really should be leaning into those
because once we lean into them and
256
:fully surrender and just be the best
that we possibly can in those areas of
257
:our life, that we're really lacking.
258
:That's where we're going to
make ourselves the best version
259
:of ourselves possible because.
260
:Once again, things in life
don't really get easier.
261
:We just get better at doing them.
262
:It's pretty much true with everything.
263
:If you think about literally learning
to walk and talk and, um, you know,
264
:ride a bike, like it's not necessarily
that those things got easier.
265
:You just got a lot better at doing them.
266
:You develop the muscles and, you
know, built up the muscles, you have
267
:the correct, you know, development
and the ligaments and the tendons
268
:and bone structures and all this.
269
:And, you know, it was because you were
walking and constantly practicing it that
270
:you finally got good at doing that thing.
271
:And so it's literally with everything in
life, the areas that were not very good
272
:in life, the areas that are giving us.
273
:Trouble difficulty.
274
:They're uncomfortable.
275
:Those are the areas that we
just need more practicing.
276
:We need to go and we
need to be relentless.
277
:We need to work hard in those areas.
278
:And ultimately we're going to
come out the other side better.
279
:So really my goal for you with this
podcast episode is if you're going through
280
:a difficult time or you're dealing with.
281
:Um, some anxiety and all
these different things.
282
:It's very important for you to
first off, you need to identify
283
:the areas of your life that are
making you uncomfortable, right?
284
:Because that is something that, uh,
can be difficult to do at first.
285
:You might be experiencing, um,
you know, depression or whatever
286
:it might be, but it's very hard
to actually identify what it is.
287
:That's kind of the root or the cause of.
288
:This uncomfortability in your life.
289
:So we first have to really identify that.
290
:And once we're able to identify it.
291
:Then we really have to be.
292
:Upfront with ourselves.
293
:We have to, you know, look at
ourselves and see, okay, what
294
:is it that I'm doing wrong?
295
:Why are we in this situation?
296
:You know, what are the things that I
could've done better and really just
297
:take that sober, look and understand
that whatever the difficulty is
298
:that you're facing in life today.
299
:Is just an opportunity for you to
learn and to get better at that thing.
300
:And I know it's easier said than done,
but truly just that mindset shift.
301
:If you can actually tap into that and feel
that mindset shift of this isn't happening
302
:to me, but it's happening for me.
303
:What is this moment in my
life meant to teach me?
304
:What does it meant to teach me?
305
:And if you can look at your obstacles in
that light, if you can look at it as a
306
:teacher, as a lesson, And an opportunity
for you to get better and to grow.
307
:It's going to change
everything completely.
308
:Right?
309
:You're now taking the
power into your hands.
310
:You're taking responsibility for
your life and for your situation.
311
:And now you're also taking responsibility
for the steps moving forward.
312
:So.
313
:If you can really grasp that, which,
like I said, it took me awhile.
314
:I truthfully spent a lot of time just
thinking about this and, and trying to
315
:apply it to my life and see how I can.
316
:You know, make it work for me.
317
:And, , when I finally did, when I was
finally able to just understand that look.
318
:Areas that you're like avoiding and
you know, like annoyed about, and
319
:you're so mad and you're just like,
oh, like, why does this happen to me?
320
:Uh, once I was finally able to identify
those and just take a sober, look at
321
:it and to look at it as something that.
322
:Is some, it's something that's
trying to teach me a lesson.
323
:Um, man, that was the biggest
mindset shift for me possible.
324
:And it's truthfully actually
really helped me with, , all of my.
325
:Yeah, kind of my mental health.
326
:It really helped me to just have this
positive outlook on life and to not feel
327
:like, you know, life was attacking me, but
rather it was trying to teach me something
328
:and help me to be better in life.
329
:So.
330
:Um, Yeah, I don't know.
331
:I found a ton of benefit
in that and my mind.
332
:, just felt more at ease.
333
:Whenever I did start to get that
feeling of like, oh man, like, you know,
334
:starting to get just super worried.
335
:All the time and just feeling bad in
my body and in my mind constantly.
336
:Then I would come back to that and
really just ask myself, Evan, hold on.
337
:This is a moment in
time that you can learn.
338
:And you can really grow from this.
339
:So what is it that this
moment is trying to teach me?
340
:And then I would just go from
there and, uh, you know, we
341
:have to take the steps as well.
342
:We have to do the things in
life that are going to get us
343
:better at whatever that is.
344
:So for me, for example, with finances,
it was, you know, really taking a
345
:look at what my finances looked like,
getting a financial, , planning,
346
:journal, you know, writing things
down, , reading books on finances,
347
:all of these different things, right.
348
:We have to take the steps as well, uh, to.
349
:Get better at those things.
350
:But, uh, also another thing that's very
important to remember is if you are
351
:going through a difficult time, just also
understand that it's temporary, right?
352
:Like everything in life is temporary.
353
:We have ups and we have downs
and you know, they come and go.
354
:And so we have to.
355
:You know, remain humble when we're
doing well, but we also have to
356
:remember when we're not doing
so well that it's not forever.
357
:So if you are going through a
difficult time, that's also something
358
:that's so beneficial to remember.
359
:Um, and I definitely would refer to
that as well, myself, where it was
360
:just like, if you're going through
a difficult time, Just remember that
361
:it's not forever, things will change.
362
:And then in those uncomfortable times
they can be some of our greatest
363
:teachers and we can have literally
some of the biggest growth in our lives
364
:possible during those difficult times.
365
:So anyways, that is going to
do it for today's episode.
366
:I hope you enjoyed this.
367
:Well, it's not really a mentality
Monday episode, but nonetheless.
368
:Um, I'll just call it a mentality episode.
369
:Um, and hopefully.
370
:You are able to walk away with some
of these tools, which just as a quick
371
:recap, number one, definitely try
to find gratitude every single day.
372
:Uh, it doesn't take long, but remember
you do have to feel the gratitude.
373
:You can't just list things off.
374
:You actually have to feel gratitude.
375
:Um, and then number two is just
going to be the mindset shift of.
376
:Looking at things not as obstacles, right.
377
:Or difficulties or challenges, but
looking at them as a puzzle or an
378
:opportunity to grow or to get better.
379
:Right.
380
:It's a lesson.
381
:We can look at things in life.
382
:Like what is this moment in my life
trying to teach me, what can I take
383
:away from this so that I can get
better in life because remember.
384
:Things don't get easier.
385
:We just get better at doing those things.
386
:And then last but not least
number three is just going to
387
:be not everything is forever.
388
:So if you're in.
389
:A time that is difficult in your life.
390
:Just remember.
391
:It's not forever.
392
:It's going to pass.
393
:And eventually things are
going to get much better.
394
:And when things are really good,
remember to stay humble and to
395
:remember that life is cyclical.
396
:You know, there are ups and downs
and, um, yeah, just, uh, just
397
:stay humble in the good times and
remember that if it's a bad time.
398
:Things will get better.
399
:So hopefully this brought
you some peace of mind.
400
:Hopefully there is some tools that
you can apply to your life as well.
401
:Um, even if you're not going through
a difficult time in your life, still
402
:keep these in your back pocket.
403
:Because it can really come in handy.
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:Uh, when you need them.
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:They've definitely helped
me out so, so much.
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:Uh, last year in, yeah.
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:In so many ways that I, yeah, I
can't even can't even mention them.
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:Um, or I guess I'm not ready to
mention them yet, but nonetheless, they
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:were super beneficial and, uh, yeah.
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:So anyways, I hope you guys
really enjoy today's episode.
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:Um, as always, if you're not
already subscribed on whatever
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:platform you're listening to this
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:It really helps people to find
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:miss any episodes of this show.
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:And if you haven't already left
a rating or review, please do.
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:So I do read all of the reviews
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:also help people to find this show.
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:Uh, so we can help spread this message.
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:And if you know anyone who could benefit
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:go ahead and send this over to them.
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:Super easy to do it in all of the
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:do it like right from the page
that you're probably on right now.
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:And last but not least.
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:If you haven't already checked out
some of our affiliates and sponsors,
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:please go ahead and check out
the description of this episode.
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:There's some really, really
excellent companies that I work with.
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:That I personally take their stuff
or use their stuff every single day.
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:And, uh, I believe you'll find
some benefit in that as well.
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:And it's also a really great way
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:And of course, internally grateful
to all of you, and I hope you all
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:have a beautiful rest of your day.
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:Um, and I will see you on next Wednesday.
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:Till then I hope you.
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:Yeah.
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:Use these tools and find
some benefit from them.
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:Um, find some clarity and
lean into the discomfort.
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:And of course, as always do
everything with good intentions
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:and connect to your elements.
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:RDL much love, have a beautiful one.
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:Peace.