Category: thelifeoftry

Finding Calm, Gratitude, and a New Plan

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“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden

Have you noticed that some truths sink in immediately and others take some time to circle around before they land? About six months ago, I listened to a podcast featuring Angus Fletcher who is the Professor of Story Science at Ohio State University talk about planning. Then I read his book, Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know.

Here’s what I took away from how he characterized planning. When we have no plan, we are afraid (and depressed). When we have one plan, we tend to get angry because anger is fuel for making it happen the ONE way we have planned. But when we have multiple plans or ways to get something done, we are more likely to get to an outcome.

It wasn’t until I recently lived through a travel crisis that I truly understood what Professor Fletcher meant. When a plan goes wrong, how do you stay calm, resilient, and brave enough to keep trying?

In this episode of The Life of Try, I share the story of a chaotic family travel day from Paris to England—missed trains, wrong directions, tired kids, unexpected costs, and the kind of uncertainty that can make anyone want to give up.

Through this real-life story, I explore how adaptability, creative problem-solving, gratitude, and “one next step” thinking can help us recover when our best-laid plans fall apart.

Here are three takeaways that helped me:

  • One-thing at a time: Our bad travel day started on train #2 on a day when we needed five trains to get where we were going. I couldn’t fix the whole route at once so I was forced to just handle one step of the journey at a time.
  • Regrouping: There is a Five Guys Burger at the Paris train station. No kidding, I think it saved my life – or at least my sanity.
  • Gratitude: Counting all the days and things that had gone right for our trip helped put in perspective the day that went wrong.

Inspired by Professor Fletcher’s work on resilience and alternative plans, this episode is for anyone navigating change, setbacks, anxiety, mishaps, or the messy middle of trying something new.

Listen in for an honest reminder that trying does not require certainty—it only asks for movement, one breath and one new plan at a time.

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch this episode:

Links for this episode:

When Plans Fall Apart Transcript

 Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know by Angus Fletcher on Amazon

🎥 Other episodes you might enjoy

➡️ How to Create Opportunities in Life | Motive + Means = Success Mindset

➡️ Encouraging Effort, Not Results | How to Build Resilience and Confidence

➡️ How to Celebrate Small Wins | Tiny Habits, Resilience & Personal Growth

(featured photo from Pexels)

Curiosity, Crime Fiction, and the Brave Work of Understanding Others

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“Tell me facts, and I’ll learn. Tell me truth, and I’ll believe you. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.” – Native American Proverb

I admit it – I’m a geek. Back in the day I got a lot of props from my fellow geeks when I caught an error in the movie The Net (released in 1995 with Sandra Bullock and Jeremy Northam). They had an Internet protocol address that was bigger than 255 which is the maximum number that can be represented in 8 bits. Yep, I’m a geek.

But I also learn a great deal about technology by how it’s presented in books and movies. Even for technologies that I know well, my focus is on helping people use them effectively so I often don’t truly grasp how they can be used for nefarious purposes until I read about it in a story. It is truly remarkable how much research goes into making a compelling narrative about some of the challenges facing our world.

For instance, Michael Connolly recently released a fantastic legal thriller, The Proving Ground, about the dangers of AI and the ability to hold companies accountable. And one of my favorite bestselling authors, Barbara Nickless, educated me about online gaming and the dangers presented by virtual manipulators in her latest fantastic thriller, A Voice in the Dark.

In this episode of The Life of Try podcast, I talk with Wall Street Journal bestselling author Barbara Nickless about A Voice in the Dark. Our conversation moves from the dark corners of online gaming and internet manipulation to the real-world vulnerabilities of teenagers, families, and people searching for belonging.

Barbara shares how deep research, FBI consultants, and her own curiosity shape her fiction, especially as she writes about FBI profiler Helen Belle, criminal humanist Benedict Hoffman, addiction, trauma, and the question of what draws people toward danger.

This thoughtful author interview explores how storytelling can help us understand complicated human experiences, including moral injury, PTSD, addiction, grief, law enforcement, cybercrime, and the healing power of writing. Barbara also reflects on teaching writing to military veterans and civilians, researching dangerous places and difficult subjects, and using narrative to “de-other” people we might otherwise misunderstand.

Key Takeaways:

  • A Voice in the Dark explores the dangers young people can face in online communities, especially when vulnerable teens and young adults are targeted by manipulative influencers.
  • Storytelling can help us “de-other” people by taking us inside their motivations, histories, and struggles in ways that facts and news stories alone often cannot.
  • Curiosity is at the heart of Barbara Nickless’s writing process. Her research into online gaming, FBI investigations, addiction, trauma, and moral injury helps make her fiction vivid, compassionate, and grounded in real human experience.
  • Researching modern crime fiction requires balancing accuracy with readability, particularly when writing about cybercrime, AI, online manipulation, and evolving law enforcement tools.
  • The conversation highlights a core Life of Try theme: trying begins with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to enter unfamiliar worlds in order to understand ourselves and one another more deeply.

If you love conversations about books, personal growth, curiosity, crime fiction, psychological thrillers, resilience, and what it means to keep trying, this episode offers a rich and compassionate look at the stories that help us make sense of ourselves and one another.

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch this episode:

The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What can 200 podcast episodes teach us about betterconversations, meaningful connection, and personal growth? In this milestone episode of The Life of Try, Dr. Vicki Atkinson turns the tables and interviews host Wynne Leon about nearly four years of podcasting—and the courage, creativity, and consistency it takes to keep going.Wynne shares why authentic conversations require bothpreparation and presence, how perfectionism can block openness, and why serving your audience matters more than simply publishing content. She and Vicki explore podcast audience growth, building trust over time, creating meaningful work in the age of AI, finding the right collaborators, and learning from the people who say yes.If you feel stuck, uncertain, or impatient with your progress, this encouraging conversation is a reminder that growth does not have to happen quickly. One thoughtful conversation, one genuine connection, and one brave try can move you forward.In this episode:·       How to have deeper, more authentic conversations·       Why preparation leads to better podcast interviews·       How to let go of perfectionism and stop editing yourself·       Why trust and audience growth take time·       How small acts of courage can help you get unstuckRelated themes: personal growth, authenticcommunication, podcasting lessons, creativity, overcoming perfectionism, getting unstuck, building an audience, courage, resilience, and human connection.
  1. The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes
  2. The Power of Saying Yes
  3. Growth Takes Energy| How Rest Helps Habits Stick
  4. When You Know You're Not Going to Make It
  5. Creating Lift: Leadership, Mentorship and the Courage to Keep Growing

📘 Order A Voice In the Dark from Barnes & Noble , Bookshop or Amazon

🌐 Visit Barbara Nickless’s website: https://barbaranickless.com/

🎥 Watch the Book trailer for A Voice in the Dark

🔔 Subscribe to The Life of Try for more conversations on personal growth, creativity, reinvention, resilience, writing, and mindset.

Barbara Nickless on A Voice in the Dark, Online Gaming, and the Power of Story transcript

Other Episodes you Might Enjoy:

➡️ Letting Go Of Outcomes: The Mindset That Keeps You Moving

➡️ 48: How to Get Unstuck: Michael Yang on Saying Yes, Resilience and Coming Alive

➡️ How to Finally Write That Book You’ve Been Dreaming About | Writing Motivation with Vicki Atkinson

(featured photo from Pexels)

The Power of Kindness, Resilience and Trying Again

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“During a crisis, the wise build bridges and the foolish build dams.” – Nigerian Proverb

My 10-year-old daughter has observed two things that are different in Europe – they count the ground floor as “0” and they often separate the toilet rooms from the sink rooms. But more than that, traveling has given us the chance to observe how unique people are from their language, to customs, and dress. It’s a fantastic exercise, especially for kids, in appreciating we are all different.

Books are another way to celebrate this uniqueness. So, in this inspiring episode of The Life of Try, I talk with author and educational advocate Kym Gordon Moore about her children’s book, Hennie and Her Poetry Eggs, a powerful story about courage, compassion, bullying prevention, purpose, and embracing what makes us different.

Through the story of Hennie, Kym invites children, parents, teachers, and adults to have meaningful conversations about social rejection, self-worth, empathy, literacy, and building bridges for people who may feel left out.

This conversation explores why standing out can feel vulnerable, how support from others helps us recognize our gifts, and why trying again after disappointment is part of growing into our purpose.

If you’re looking for encouragement, personal growth, children’s literature with a message, or a hopeful conversation about kindness and resilience, this episode offers a beautiful reminder that our differences can become the very thing that helps us shine.

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch this episode:

The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What can 200 podcast episodes teach us about betterconversations, meaningful connection, and personal growth? In this milestone episode of The Life of Try, Dr. Vicki Atkinson turns the tables and interviews host Wynne Leon about nearly four years of podcasting—and the courage, creativity, and consistency it takes to keep going.Wynne shares why authentic conversations require bothpreparation and presence, how perfectionism can block openness, and why serving your audience matters more than simply publishing content. She and Vicki explore podcast audience growth, building trust over time, creating meaningful work in the age of AI, finding the right collaborators, and learning from the people who say yes.If you feel stuck, uncertain, or impatient with your progress, this encouraging conversation is a reminder that growth does not have to happen quickly. One thoughtful conversation, one genuine connection, and one brave try can move you forward.In this episode:·       How to have deeper, more authentic conversations·       Why preparation leads to better podcast interviews·       How to let go of perfectionism and stop editing yourself·       Why trust and audience growth take time·       How small acts of courage can help you get unstuckRelated themes: personal growth, authenticcommunication, podcasting lessons, creativity, overcoming perfectionism, getting unstuck, building an audience, courage, resilience, and human connection.
  1. The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes
  2. The Power of Saying Yes
  3. Growth Takes Energy| How Rest Helps Habits Stick
  4. When You Know You're Not Going to Make It
  5. Creating Lift: Leadership, Mentorship and the Courage to Keep Growing

Links for this episode:

Embracing What Makes You Different | Kym Gordon Moore transcript

Hennie and Her Poetry Eggs on Amazon

Kym’s blog: From Behind the Pen

Other Episodes you Might Enjoy:

Near-Death Experience with Jesus | Liza Anderson on Faith, Healing & Recovery

How to Let Go of Expectations & Keep Trying | Personal Growth Mindset

How to Find and Share Your Unique Superpower | Roger Kastner on Purpose & Personal Growth

(featured photo from Pexels)

(quote from Real Life of an MSW – Wise Words)

Taking the First Step

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“For some things we never feel ready.” – Moana 2

My kids and I watched Moana 2 this week when we were in Hawaii. It felt like another way to weave in the Island culture. But it turned into something more when I heard the quote above. Moana is getting ready for an expedition and her mom says to her, “For some things we never feel ready.”

That line hit me right in the heart. I always want to feel ready – and never do. My best adventures come from when I do it anyway. Like this summer as my kids and I travel from Seattle to Hawaii and then on to visit friends in Amsterdam, Paris and England. I’ve learned so much. Mostly about how not to get frozen in fear but instead have faith that I can follow the steps in front of me one at a time.

So in this episode of The Life of Try, I share the story about turning a long-held dream of visiting friends in France into a real-life adventure through courage, creativity, and community support. What began as an expensive and seemingly impossible trip became an opportunity to rent out my home, ask for help, and take the next step before the whole path was clear.

This episode explores what it means to stop waiting for perfect timing, listen to the quiet tug of what matters, and move forward even when life feels uncertain. Through stories about Airbnb, travel logistics, helpful neighbors, pet care, and unexpected solutions, I reflect on the powerful formula: Motive + Means = Opportunity.

Key Takeaways

  • Don’t wait for easy—move because it matters. The right time may never arrive, but meaningful goals often begin with one brave first step.
  • Pay attention to the sparks. A casual comment, a book passage, a flyer, or someone else’s story can become part of the solution once you start moving.
  • Say the dream out loud. People can’t support a goal they don’t know about, so communicate what you’re trying to do and be willing to accept help.
  • Use the formula: Motive + Means = Opportunity. When your why meets the resources, people, and ideas already around you, new possibilities begin to unfold.
  • Take the next step, not the whole staircase. You don’t need to solve every problem in advance; you only need to meet the next real step in front of you.

If you’re looking for encouragement to get unstuck, try something new, pursue a meaningful goal, or find courage in the messy middle, this episode offers inspiration, practical wisdom, and a reminder that you don’t need to see the whole staircase to begin.

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch this episode:

The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What can 200 podcast episodes teach us about betterconversations, meaningful connection, and personal growth? In this milestone episode of The Life of Try, Dr. Vicki Atkinson turns the tables and interviews host Wynne Leon about nearly four years of podcasting—and the courage, creativity, and consistency it takes to keep going.Wynne shares why authentic conversations require bothpreparation and presence, how perfectionism can block openness, and why serving your audience matters more than simply publishing content. She and Vicki explore podcast audience growth, building trust over time, creating meaningful work in the age of AI, finding the right collaborators, and learning from the people who say yes.If you feel stuck, uncertain, or impatient with your progress, this encouraging conversation is a reminder that growth does not have to happen quickly. One thoughtful conversation, one genuine connection, and one brave try can move you forward.In this episode:·       How to have deeper, more authentic conversations·       Why preparation leads to better podcast interviews·       How to let go of perfectionism and stop editing yourself·       Why trust and audience growth take time·       How small acts of courage can help you get unstuckRelated themes: personal growth, authenticcommunication, podcasting lessons, creativity, overcoming perfectionism, getting unstuck, building an audience, courage, resilience, and human connection.
  1. The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes
  2. The Power of Saying Yes
  3. Growth Takes Energy| How Rest Helps Habits Stick
  4. When You Know You're Not Going to Make It
  5. Creating Lift: Leadership, Mentorship and the Courage to Keep Growing

Links for this Episode:

Motive + Means = Opportunity transcript

The Fun Habit by Mike Rucker, PhD

Other Episodes you Might Enjoy:

How to Let Go of Expectations & Keep Trying | Personal Growth Mindset

How to Find and Share Your Unique Superpower | Roger Kastner on Purpose & Personal Growth

⁠How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life | Mike Rucker, PhD, on Joy, Burnout and the Fun Habit⁠

Still Showing Up

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“What a good day to be proud of all the progress you made.” – unknown

Last week, my six-year-old son, Mr. D accidentally stepped on a bee and got stung. “Oh, my life is over,” he repeatedly moaned as I struggled to pick out the stinger. And he’s my less dramatic child. Yowsa – those stings hurt.

But most of the pain was gone in an hour and while the swelling and itchiness lasted about four days, there was a clearly an end in sight. How do you still show up when the pain is chronic? What does it mean to keep showing up when life asks more of you than seems possible?

In this episode of The Life of Try, I talk with Kathryn M. B. Johnson, author of Invisible, Until I’m Not, a memoir-in-essays about chronic illness, caregiving, grief, and resilience. Together, we explore what it means to live with fibromyalgia and invisible illness, how caregiving reshapes identity, and why being seen matters so deeply when pain is hard to explain.

Our conversation offers honest insight, emotional validation, and hope for anyone navigating chronic pain, caregiver burnout, loss, or the daily work of endurance.

Key Takeaways:

  • Chronic illness can reshape identity, relationships, and daily life in ways that are often invisible to others.
  • Caregiving is an act of love, but it also carries grief, exhaustion, and the need for self-compassion.
  • Writing can become a lifeline—a way to process pain, preserve connection, and reclaim a sense of self.
  • Being believed and truly seen matters deeply for people living with chronic pain or complex health conditions.
  • Rest is not laziness; caring for yourself is part of being able to care for others.

If you’re looking for a thoughtful podcast episode about chronic illness, caregiving, trauma, faith, and finding strength in difficult seasons, this episode is for you.

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch Liza’s amazing journey:

The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What can 200 podcast episodes teach us about betterconversations, meaningful connection, and personal growth? In this milestone episode of The Life of Try, Dr. Vicki Atkinson turns the tables and interviews host Wynne Leon about nearly four years of podcasting—and the courage, creativity, and consistency it takes to keep going.Wynne shares why authentic conversations require bothpreparation and presence, how perfectionism can block openness, and why serving your audience matters more than simply publishing content. She and Vicki explore podcast audience growth, building trust over time, creating meaningful work in the age of AI, finding the right collaborators, and learning from the people who say yes.If you feel stuck, uncertain, or impatient with your progress, this encouraging conversation is a reminder that growth does not have to happen quickly. One thoughtful conversation, one genuine connection, and one brave try can move you forward.In this episode:·       How to have deeper, more authentic conversations·       Why preparation leads to better podcast interviews·       How to let go of perfectionism and stop editing yourself·       Why trust and audience growth take time·       How small acts of courage can help you get unstuckRelated themes: personal growth, authenticcommunication, podcasting lessons, creativity, overcoming perfectionism, getting unstuck, building an audience, courage, resilience, and human connection.
  1. The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes
  2. The Power of Saying Yes
  3. Growth Takes Energy| How Rest Helps Habits Stick
  4. When You Know You're Not Going to Make It
  5. Creating Lift: Leadership, Mentorship and the Courage to Keep Growing

Links for this episode:

How Writing Helps Save Us From Chronic Illness and Loss transcript

Invisible, Until I’m Not on Amazon

Kathryn’s website

Kathryn’s weekly newsletter on Substack

Kathryn Johnson on LinkedIn

The Crossing: My Near Death Experience with Jesus by Liza Anderson on Amazon

Other Episodes you Might Enjoy:

⁠ Letting Go Of Outcomes: The Mindset That Keeps You Moving⁠

4⁠8: How to Get Unstuck: Michael Yang on Saying Yes, Resilience and Coming Alive⁠

⁠How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life | Mike Rucker, PhD, on Joy, Burnout and the Fun Habit⁠

(featured photo from Pexels)

The Power of Small Wins

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“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.” – Iris Murdoch

I learned this reflective practice from my meditation teacher, Deirdre: before stepping out of a space at the end of the day (the office, a studio, the kitchen), pause for a moment to think about what you did, who you saw, any breakthroughs (or breakdowns, for that matter) you had. It’s a chance to absorb the day before you turn out the lights and leave.

I’m not very consistent in remembering to do this practice. But when I do, I find that it helps me to savor the day as well as to honor the small steps that mark progress. It counterbalances my inclination to be focused on the next thing and helps to answer a question that I struggle with: when should we celebrate progress—only at the finish line, or all along the way?

In this episode of The Life of Try, I explore the power of small wins, tiny habits, and incremental progress. Drawing from a personal story about preparing my home for an Airbnb experiment during the World Cup in Seattle, I reflect on what it means to keep going when growth is messy, nonlinear, and full of setbacks.

I offer some insights from Director of Stanford’s Behavior Design Lab, BJ Fogg, PhD, plus the long-term philosophy of Toyota’s Kaizen culture, where small daily improvements add up over time, and the practical courage found in the checklist mindset associated with Captain Sullenberger.

This episode is about personal growth, habit formation, celebrating small victories, and learning to recognize that progress doesn’t have to be dramatic to matter.

Here are some takeaways:

  • Why celebrating small wins can help you stay motivated even when progress feels slow or messy
  • How BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits approach shows that tiny celebrations can reinforce lasting behavior change
  • What Toyota’s Kaizen philosophy teaches about the long-term power of small, consistent improvements
  • How checklists and small-step courage can help you keep going when you feel overwhelmed or stuck
  • Why growth often looks nonlinear, and how to recognize progress before the final result arrives
  • How honoring effort along the way can help you build resilience, confidence, and momentum

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overlooked your own progress, or wondered whether the little steps count, this episode will remind you that they do. Small wins matter. Tiny steps matter. And trying counts, even before the big outcome arrives.

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch this episode:

The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What can 200 podcast episodes teach us about betterconversations, meaningful connection, and personal growth? In this milestone episode of The Life of Try, Dr. Vicki Atkinson turns the tables and interviews host Wynne Leon about nearly four years of podcasting—and the courage, creativity, and consistency it takes to keep going.Wynne shares why authentic conversations require bothpreparation and presence, how perfectionism can block openness, and why serving your audience matters more than simply publishing content. She and Vicki explore podcast audience growth, building trust over time, creating meaningful work in the age of AI, finding the right collaborators, and learning from the people who say yes.If you feel stuck, uncertain, or impatient with your progress, this encouraging conversation is a reminder that growth does not have to happen quickly. One thoughtful conversation, one genuine connection, and one brave try can move you forward.In this episode:·       How to have deeper, more authentic conversations·       Why preparation leads to better podcast interviews·       How to let go of perfectionism and stop editing yourself·       Why trust and audience growth take time·       How small acts of courage can help you get unstuckRelated themes: personal growth, authenticcommunication, podcasting lessons, creativity, overcoming perfectionism, getting unstuck, building an audience, courage, resilience, and human connection.
  1. The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes
  2. The Power of Saying Yes
  3. Growth Takes Energy| How Rest Helps Habits Stick
  4. When You Know You're Not Going to Make It
  5. Creating Lift: Leadership, Mentorship and the Courage to Keep Growing

Links for this episode:

Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, PhD on Amazon

The Tiny Habits Toolkit from BJ Fogg, PhD

How I recovered from a bout of anxiety-induced paralysis by Dan Harris

Other Episodes you Might Enjoy:

➡️⁠ Letting Go Of Outcomes: The Mindset That Keeps You Moving⁠

➡️ 4⁠8: How to Get Unstuck: Michael Yang on Saying Yes, Resilience and Coming Alive⁠

➡️ ⁠How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life | Mike Rucker, PhD, on Joy, Burnout and the Fun Habit⁠

(featured photo from Pexels)

Fun Is a Practice, Not a Reward

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“If you’re not having fun, you’re not learning. There’s a pleasure in finding things out.” – Richard Feynman

What if fun isn’t a reward for getting everything done—but a skill that helps us live better right now?

Recently as I was driving ten-year-old Miss O to a rehearsal for a musical, she said, “I always have fun at rehearsals.” Six-year-old Mr. D had a similar answer as I was bringing him home from baseball practice the other night. I asked what he liked best – the base running practice, the scrimmage, the throwing contest? His answer was, “I like all of it.“

What kids know and grown-ups seem to forget (speaking for myself) is that fun is a day-to-day practice, not a reward only to be savored when we get everything else done. Fortunately, my guest for The Life of Try podcast this week, Mike Rucker, PhD, reminded me that parents have some agency in this too. We aren’t just Uber drivers getting our kids to the places they need to go. And that prompted me to put on my mitt and take part of the scrimmage at Mr. D’s baseball practice. The ball didn’t come to me but I enjoyed standing in the field and being part of the fun immensely for a couple of innings.

In this episode of Life of Try, I talk with Mike Rucker, PhD author of The Fun Habit, about the science-backed value of fun and why it matters for stress relief, resilience, creativity, relationships, and well-being. We discuss positive psychology, the “sandwich generation,” burnout, parenting, savoring joyful moments, and how to create simple systems that bring more play, rest, and connection into daily life.

Here are some of my favorite takeaways from this great book and fantastic, science-backed conversation about fun:

  • Fun is not frivolous — it’s restorative.
    Being intentional about fun can help reduce burnout, restore energy, and bring more meaning into everyday life.
  • Happiness and fun are not the same thing.
    As Mike says, “Happiness is a state of mind, but fun is something we can do.”
  • Agency matters.
    When we feel like we have a say in how we spend our time and energy, life becomes more enjoyable and sustainable.
  • Small “pattern interrupts” can change everything.
    Breaking our routines in creative ways can open up more space for joy, connection, and better habits.
  • Fun looks different for everyone.
    It doesn’t have to be loud, social, or high-energy. Fun can be calm, quiet, and personal.
  • Burnout narrows our thinking.
    When we’re depleted, we tend to rely on autopilot. Renewal helps us think more creatively, flexibly, and expansively.
  • Enjoyment is a powerful predictor of sticking with a habit.
    If you want to build sustainable habits, choose approaches you genuinely like—not just ones you think you “should” do.
  • You don’t need a total life overhaul.
    Reclaiming fun can start with just a few intentional hours, a simple list, or one activity that brings you back to yourself.
  • The “Fun File” is a practical tool.
    Keeping a running list of activities that genuinely light you up can make it easier to choose joy on purpose.
  • Making life better doesn’t always mean adding more.
    Sometimes it means removing, reframing, outsourcing, or rethinking routines that quietly drain you.

Here is a clip of one of Mike’s eye-opening points – that having fun is an upward spiral that creates more capacity for challenge and growth:

This conversation is for anyone looking for better work-life balance, more joy, and practical strategies for living with greater intention.

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch this great episode:

The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What can 200 podcast episodes teach us about betterconversations, meaningful connection, and personal growth? In this milestone episode of The Life of Try, Dr. Vicki Atkinson turns the tables and interviews host Wynne Leon about nearly four years of podcasting—and the courage, creativity, and consistency it takes to keep going.Wynne shares why authentic conversations require bothpreparation and presence, how perfectionism can block openness, and why serving your audience matters more than simply publishing content. She and Vicki explore podcast audience growth, building trust over time, creating meaningful work in the age of AI, finding the right collaborators, and learning from the people who say yes.If you feel stuck, uncertain, or impatient with your progress, this encouraging conversation is a reminder that growth does not have to happen quickly. One thoughtful conversation, one genuine connection, and one brave try can move you forward.In this episode:·       How to have deeper, more authentic conversations·       Why preparation leads to better podcast interviews·       How to let go of perfectionism and stop editing yourself·       Why trust and audience growth take time·       How small acts of courage can help you get unstuckRelated themes: personal growth, authenticcommunication, podcasting lessons, creativity, overcoming perfectionism, getting unstuck, building an audience, courage, resilience, and human connection.
  1. The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes
  2. The Power of Saying Yes
  3. Growth Takes Energy| How Rest Helps Habits Stick
  4. When You Know You're Not Going to Make It
  5. Creating Lift: Leadership, Mentorship and the Courage to Keep Growing

Links for this episode:

How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life | Mike Rucker, PhD on Joy, Burnout and the Fun Habit transcript

The Fun Habit on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Mike Rucker, PhD’s website

Michael Rucker, Ph.D. on LinkedIn

(featured photo from Pexels)

It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again | Personal Growth and Courage with Lindsey Goldstein

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“Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.” – Pema Chodron

The troubleshooting method that I’ve taught to new technology consultants is to change one thing at a time. But what happens when life goes sideways and you get a chance to change all the things keeping you rooted? Do you scramble trying to rebuild life as it was? Or lean in to the chance to rethink about where you want to be?

That’s the premise behind Lindsey Goldstein’s delightful novel, Gap Year. When in the span of a few days, Jane’s daughter leaves for a gap year, her husband informs her that he’s in love with someone else, and she’s forced to choose between a promotion or to quit at work, she decides to take her own gap year. She goes to Ecuador to climb the mountain she’s always wanted to, Cotopaxi.

There are many reasons I love this book. Climbing and Ecuador – two of my favorite topics. But also because walking alongside Jane in her adult gap year helps to put in perspective the choices that we’ve made that handcuff our ability to try.

I was lucky enough to sit down with Lindsey Goldstein, the author of Gap Year on The Life of Try podcast, for a conversation about personal growth, self-improvement, and finding the courage to try—even when the path ahead feels uncertain. From writing and running to parenting, failure, and fresh starts, we explore how confidence is built one brave step at a time. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to try something new, this uplifting episode is a reminder that growth often begins the moment we say “yes” to the challenge.

Key takeaways

  • When life falls apart, it can also become an opening.
  • Courage often starts before confidence.
  • Trying, failing, and learning are all part of growth.
  • Small steps lead to bigger transformations.
  • You do not always end up where you expected—but you still grow.
  • Practice changes what feels possible.
  • It is never too late to begin again.

Here’s the YouTube video of our conversation:

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch this episode:

The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What can 200 podcast episodes teach us about betterconversations, meaningful connection, and personal growth? In this milestone episode of The Life of Try, Dr. Vicki Atkinson turns the tables and interviews host Wynne Leon about nearly four years of podcasting—and the courage, creativity, and consistency it takes to keep going.Wynne shares why authentic conversations require bothpreparation and presence, how perfectionism can block openness, and why serving your audience matters more than simply publishing content. She and Vicki explore podcast audience growth, building trust over time, creating meaningful work in the age of AI, finding the right collaborators, and learning from the people who say yes.If you feel stuck, uncertain, or impatient with your progress, this encouraging conversation is a reminder that growth does not have to happen quickly. One thoughtful conversation, one genuine connection, and one brave try can move you forward.In this episode:·       How to have deeper, more authentic conversations·       Why preparation leads to better podcast interviews·       How to let go of perfectionism and stop editing yourself·       Why trust and audience growth take time·       How small acts of courage can help you get unstuckRelated themes: personal growth, authenticcommunication, podcasting lessons, creativity, overcoming perfectionism, getting unstuck, building an audience, courage, resilience, and human connection.
  1. The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes
  2. The Power of Saying Yes
  3. Growth Takes Energy| How Rest Helps Habits Stick
  4. When You Know You're Not Going to Make It
  5. Creating Lift: Leadership, Mentorship and the Courage to Keep Growing

Links for this episode:

Reinvention, Resilience, and the Courage to Try | Gap Year with Lindsey Goldstein transcript

Gap Year on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Lindsey Goldstein’s website

(featured photo from Pexels)

Hope Without Attachment

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“You never fail until you stop trying.” – Albert Einstein

I have been watching a lot of Little League baseball this Spring. It’s a fascinating mix of young athleticism and skill development peppered with moments of bitter disappointment. In most every practice and game there is at least one example of someone who wants to sit on the ground and pout because things aren’t going as they expected.

But disappointment doesn’t just happen to six and seven-year-olds. It reminds me that expectations can inspire us to try—until they harden into a demand for a specific outcome.

In this episode of The Life of Try, I dig in to how unmet expectations fuel disappointment, why that disappointment can keep us from taking healthy risks, and what it looks like to stay hopeful without clinging.

From a childhood lesson I learned from my mom about “pressing for the answer” to Alexander Fleming’s accidental discovery of penicillin, I trace how openness, curiosity, and faith can turn apparent failures into forward motion.

Along the way, I draw from Brené Brown’s research on disappointment, Maya Shankar’s reframing of identity after loss, and spiritual wisdom about surrender and non‑attachment—so you can keep trying even when the path changes.

Takeaways:

  • Recognize when expectations are motivating you—and when they’re setting you up for disappointment
  • Practice openness and curiosity when a try doesn’t go as planned (and why that matters)
  • Name and communicate your expectations to reduce “unspoken contracts”
  • Reconnect with your deeper “why” when your “what” gets taken away
  • Hold onto faith that trying will lead somewhere good—even if it’s not the destination you imagined.

Here’s the YouTube video of this episode:

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch this episode:

The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What can 200 podcast episodes teach us about betterconversations, meaningful connection, and personal growth? In this milestone episode of The Life of Try, Dr. Vicki Atkinson turns the tables and interviews host Wynne Leon about nearly four years of podcasting—and the courage, creativity, and consistency it takes to keep going.Wynne shares why authentic conversations require bothpreparation and presence, how perfectionism can block openness, and why serving your audience matters more than simply publishing content. She and Vicki explore podcast audience growth, building trust over time, creating meaningful work in the age of AI, finding the right collaborators, and learning from the people who say yes.If you feel stuck, uncertain, or impatient with your progress, this encouraging conversation is a reminder that growth does not have to happen quickly. One thoughtful conversation, one genuine connection, and one brave try can move you forward.In this episode:·       How to have deeper, more authentic conversations·       Why preparation leads to better podcast interviews·       How to let go of perfectionism and stop editing yourself·       Why trust and audience growth take time·       How small acts of courage can help you get unstuckRelated themes: personal growth, authenticcommunication, podcasting lessons, creativity, overcoming perfectionism, getting unstuck, building an audience, courage, resilience, and human connection.
  1. The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes
  2. The Power of Saying Yes
  3. Growth Takes Energy| How Rest Helps Habits Stick
  4. When You Know You're Not Going to Make It
  5. Creating Lift: Leadership, Mentorship and the Courage to Keep Growing

Links for this episode:

Letting Go of Outcomes: The Mindset That Keeps You Moving transcript

Sir Alexander Fleming – Biographical – NobelPrize.org

How to Regulate Your Emotions and Mental Chatter When Bad Things Happen | Maya Shankar

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Connection by Brene Brown

Penicillin Wasn’t Alexander Fleming’s First Major Discovery | Scientific American

The Mindset to Write a Book: Gratitude, Risk, and the Courage to Try

Posted in thelifeoftryTagged , , , , , , 83 Comments

“Self-consciousness is the enemy of all art, be it acting, writing, painting, or living itself, which is the greatest art of all.” – Ray Bradbury

Writing is hard. But that’s not news on WordPress because you all are the ones that are doing to the work to write and post content on a regular basis. But sometimes we forget to pat ourselves on the back for actually doing the work – especially when we are part of a community like this of like-minded others who are doing the same.

So I love this Life of Try podcast conversation when I talk with professor, author, and my friend, Vicki Atkinson about the mindset, support, and creative courage it took to turn a long-held idea into a finished, soon-to-be-published novel.

Vicki’s new novel, Slivers, is set during a single week in the summer of 1973, when a quiet suburban neighborhood begins to crack under the weight of generational secrets—and an otherworldly presence that refuses to be ignored. Along the way, Vicki shares how unexpected family history research helped fuel the story, and why community feedback can be the difference between starting a draft and finishing a book.

  • How gratitude and loss can become creative fuel
  • What helps writers move from intention to action—and from draft to done
  • Why writing fiction requires a different “writer brain” than memoir or academic work
  • How genealogy and family stories can deepen your characters and plot
  • The role of community, readers, and a publisher in staying the course

Here’s a short clip of our conversation that highlights the stats of how hard it is to get a book to the finish line – and Vicki’s great answer:

Pre-order Slivers (link below), and if this episode resonates, share it with a friend who’s been carrying a book idea for far too long.

Here are some ways you can listen and watch this motivating episode:

Pre-order Slivers (link below), and if this episode resonates, share it with a friend who’s been carrying a book idea for far too long.

The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What can 200 podcast episodes teach us about betterconversations, meaningful connection, and personal growth? In this milestone episode of The Life of Try, Dr. Vicki Atkinson turns the tables and interviews host Wynne Leon about nearly four years of podcasting—and the courage, creativity, and consistency it takes to keep going.Wynne shares why authentic conversations require bothpreparation and presence, how perfectionism can block openness, and why serving your audience matters more than simply publishing content. She and Vicki explore podcast audience growth, building trust over time, creating meaningful work in the age of AI, finding the right collaborators, and learning from the people who say yes.If you feel stuck, uncertain, or impatient with your progress, this encouraging conversation is a reminder that growth does not have to happen quickly. One thoughtful conversation, one genuine connection, and one brave try can move you forward.In this episode:·       How to have deeper, more authentic conversations·       Why preparation leads to better podcast interviews·       How to let go of perfectionism and stop editing yourself·       Why trust and audience growth take time·       How small acts of courage can help you get unstuckRelated themes: personal growth, authenticcommunication, podcasting lessons, creativity, overcoming perfectionism, getting unstuck, building an audience, courage, resilience, and human connection.
  1. The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes
  2. The Power of Saying Yes
  3. Growth Takes Energy| How Rest Helps Habits Stick
  4. When You Know You're Not Going to Make It
  5. Creating Lift: Leadership, Mentorship and the Courage to Keep Growing

Links for this episode:

Slivers on Eckhartz Press – Order Now!

Vicki’s blog: Victoria Ponders

Transcript for How to Finally Write the Book You’ve Been Meaning to Write with Dr. Victoria Atkinson