Episode 80: You Were Made For More

Welcome to the 100% Awesome Podcast with April Price, you might not know it, but every result in your life is 100% because of the thought you think. And that, my friends, is 100% awesome!

Hello, podcast universe! Welcome to Episode 80 of the 100% Awesome Podcast, I'm April Price, and I am so happy to be here with you today on the podcast. How are you? I have coached a lot of people in the last week or so that are noticing how challenging life is, right? And their stress levels are up. So whether it's because of the ongoing saga of the coronavirus with new lockdown's, and new restrictions here, like nine months after we started all this, or because of the unrest, and uncertainty with the election, and all of that. And just because of the challenges of regular life in a fallen world, stress levels may be a little bit high. And if you are feeling that, too, you are not alone.

Now, of course, the stress is never created by the things outside of us, stress is created inside of us, by the way. We perceive, and interpret, and think about all those things outside of us. But even so, even though you created all of that stress with your brain, it doesn't make it any less real. You have thoughts, and that creates a stress response in your body. And I just want to say first and foremost that that's okay. Your brain is doing its job, and your body is doing its job, and nothing has gone wrong. And just knowing that I hope, will be a little bit of a stress reliever. And if you want to take that one step further, and get a little bit more relief, then I invite you to ask yourself, what if I knew it was always going to be this way? Like if I had been given a snapshot, or a little movie of the future, and I knew that the middle of November 2020, would look exactly like this. And if you find that your anxiety lessens with this thought, it's because you have introduced some certainty where before your brain has only had uncertainty, and our brains remember love certainty. It lets them think that they have a better chance of ensuring our survival. So, when things are uncertain, thinking thoughts that make you feel certain can help thoughts, like I always have everything I need, or it was always going to be this way, or another really good thought is no matter what I get to be certain about me, and I can handle anything. So, sometimes I just like to think like the worst thing that can happen is a feeling, and I can handle any feeling if I need to, right? So, hopefully those thoughts will help you feel a little bit less stressed.

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Okay you guys, I have a really special podcast episode for you today. I want you to know that you were made for more. So, this coming Monday, the applications for my new group coaching program, which I call Made for More, they are opening this Monday. And so, I have been doing a lot of thinking about what this phrase "made for more" means, and how coaching can help us get it, how coaching helps us get more, get the most out of our Earth life experience, so that we can do all the things that we were made for. And that's what I want to talk to you about today. So, I believe that we were made for more, that we came to Earth for a reason, and that we all came to learn, and have experiences, and that the time we have here in our mortal bodies is precious. And that we were made by God to continually be able to strive for more, and create more, and become more of who we were always meant to be. And I don't think we need to do any of that to become more acceptable. Like, I don't think we need to do more in order to be more. I don't think we need to accomplish more, in order to be more worthy, or more lovable. I just think that the chance exists for each of us to have more experiences, and learn more skills, and conquer our human brains in more ways that will then give us more opportunities to help, and bless, and contribute, and become. And I think the more we can get our own human brains out of the way of that, the more that we can make the most of our time here on Earth.

I think each of us are entitled to what the scriptures call, "increase." That we are entitled to progress, that we are entitled to learning, that we're entitled to increase our skills, and abilities, and discipleship. And that as we do these things, our life, and our experiences get bigger. We can help more, and any progress we make in any area only adds to our eternal progress. And I think that each one of us was made for more. And the more we can manage our own minds, that more becomes available to us.

Okay, now what does coaching have to do with all of that, right? So, I think the thing that gets in the way more often than anything else from us really getting what we want out of this life is our own brain. Our own limiting beliefs about who we are, and about what we deserve, and about what we're capable of. Our brain has limiting beliefs about how hard things are, or about how we can't really change, and grow, and become. Our own brain gets in the way of more by only noticing our problems, only paying attention to the things that are going wrong, and by seeing everything through the lens of fear, and scarcity. The brain doesn't want more, it wants the status quo. The brain doesn't want to push outside of your comfort zone, it wants you to stay exactly where you are. The brain doesn't want to make the most out of your time here on Earth, it just wants to survive it. But I have news brain, no one survives it. No one gets out alive. And the fear, and anxiety, and scarcity that the brain offers in the meantime while we're here is in keeping us alive.
It's keeping us from the life we could be living. It's keeping us from all the more we could be having. Now, this tendency toward lack, and fear, and not “enoughness” is the factory setting that comes with every human brain. It isn't just your brain that is preventing you, it's not just my brain preventing me, it is the factory setting of every human brain. And coaching allows us to be aware of this factory setting. And then, it gives you access to the mainframe where you can reprogram those default factory settings to get what you really want. The factory setting of the brain isn't for more, a factory setting is for more of the same. And so, if you want more, I don't think there's anything more effective in being able to help you get that than coaching.

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Coaching is such an amazing tool for showing you how your brain, and its thoughts are the only thing between you, and whatever more you want. And keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with you, or your brain. Your brain is generating thoughts, it's not actually out to get you, right? It's just doing its thing, it's operating as it should. It's doing its job to keep you safe. But, when we don't question the thoughts it gives us, we are misusing our brains, brilliance against ourselves. And it keeps us from living our purpose, and really getting the more that we came for. And coaching is a way to question the thought your brain is giving you, and think differently on purpose. In all the ways that I have been able to create amazing things in my life over the last few years, and love my life for what it is, all of that has been created because of the tools, and insights, and thoughts that I've gotten through coaching. I know that I was made for more, and I get more, and I create more, and I get more experiences that I want, when I am able to observe, and question, and manage my brain.

So, recently, I think I told you my son hired his own coach. And every Wednesday after he meets with his coach, he sends me a text and he's like, "Coaching is amazing!" Or he'll say, like "Coaching for the win." And he's like, "I feel so much better." And I'm like, "I know, right?" And it's not just about feeling better either. It's about doing big things in your life, doing things that you've never done before, and feeling bad while you do that. But, knowing that you only feel bad, because of the factory setting of your brain that wants to make you feel scared, and anxious, and overwhelmed, when you go to do those new things. Coaching helped me see that the negative emotions my brain creates when I'm stretching myself, and going after my goals, when I'm creating more, that those negative emotions don't mean stop. Those emotions mean just keep going.

So, a week or so ago, on the way home from the gym, I was so overwhelmed, right? And my brain was like launching an all-out thought hurricaine about how much there was to do, and how incapable I was to be able to do any of it. And I was just overcome with all this overwhelm, right? By this overwhelming negative emotion. So much so, that by the time I got home, I was like kind of sobbing. David was like, "Hey, are you okay?" And I was like, "No, no, I am not okay." Right? And then, later, at the very end of the day, as we were getting in bed, David said, "Hey, wait a minute, I thought you were going to be a mess when I got home tonight. But you seem really good. What happened?" I said, "I got coached." I got coached. And that helped me manage my brain, and that made everything better. Like it really is that good, you guys, and you might be wondering why? Why does coaching work, and how does it help? And I think it works because we all sort of think that the things that are happening in our lives, right, the things happening outside of us, the things that we're trying to do in our life, the things that other people are doing, we think all of those things are making us feel bad.

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We think it's like our kids, or our jobs, or our schoolwork, or the group program that we're launching, or what other people say, or do or the virus, like whatever it is, we think that thing outside of us is making us feel bad. It's making us feel stressed, or overwhelmed, or anxious, or confused, or scared. But in reality, nothing outside of us ever makes us feel bad. Nothing happening in our lives, or in the world, or with the goals that we set ever has the power to make us feel anything. And everything we feel happens because of something inside of us. Everything we feel happens because of what we think. We are always creating our feelings by how we think about what is happening. And that means that even though coaching doesn't change what is happening, right? Coaching doesn't change the world, it doesn't change what other people do, it doesn't change your schedule, or your to do list. Or it doesn't develop magical vaccines, or remove the risk that comes from going after your goals. Coaching doesn't change any of that. And even though it doesn't change any of that, it changes the way you are thinking about all of it. Coaching reminds you that none of that has the power to make you feel bad, that only your thoughts ever are making you feel bad. And so, then that's the only thing that has to change in order to feel better. And it works every time.

So that means that no matter what is going on in your life, no matter how bad it is making you feel, coaching shows you that that thing never created your feelings in the first place. You're brain did, and coaching helps you think about all those things in your life differently than your brain is thinking about them right now, because your brain is only looking for threats and problems. The feelings that you want to have are never going to happen by chance, they're never going to happen like accidentally. Your brain is never going to accidentally give you a positive thought about you, and your capacity. Just like, not gonna happen. The feelings that you want to have are only created by intentional thought, and that is why coaching works. It helps you find the intentional thoughts to create the feelings that you want to have. And then, those feelings change your actions, and the result is more of what you really want in your life. It works, and it's awesome.

So, I wanted to tell you a little bit about my group coaching programs, so that you can apply if you are interested in being able to manage your brain, so that you get more of what you want while you're here. So, the application opens next Monday, November 16th. And I created it to be a six-month coaching program. Six-months of weekly coaching in a very small group setting. And I am so excited about it! Right now, I have filled all my one-on-one coaching spots, and the next spot on my waiting list doesn't open until mid-January. And I wanted to provide a way to be able to get the tools that I use in my coaching practice to more of you, and give you the chance to be coached on a regular basis. So that you can start to create the changes in your life in the way you love, and the way you go after your goals, and dreams, so that you can get more of what you want. Like I think that so many of you are like me, in that I came to Earth with big plans. I wanted to do things, and create things, and make an impact, and make a difference, right? And also, just to stretch, and grow, and become the person that I know God wants me to be. But somehow in the living of my everyday life, I never felt like I could do any of that. I was always so scared, and disappointed in myself, I felt like I was just going through the motions for so long, trying to be happy, but not really able to. Trying to love, and totally not being able to try, trying to be disciplined, and committed, but always failing, and giving up. Trying to obey, and serve God, but always feeling like he was disappointed in me.

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And I didn't know that all of that was created by my brain, it was caused by my thinking. And I didn't know that. And all of that changed for me when I found coaching. I finally figured out my ability, my unalterable ability to choose. And instead of just applying my ability to choose to my actions, I started applying it to the way I thought. And that just started a domino of change in my life. And I am so grateful for that, I love the life I am living, I love the way I am living it, I love myself in it. And I want that for each of you. So, in "Made for More," I'm going to give you all the tools you need to understand your own brain, to understand why you do what you do, why you feel the way you do, and how your thinking really, and truly, is creating all the results in your life. And I'm going to coach you. And like I always say, coaching is where the real magic happens, because when we coach, we get to take the tools, the concepts, and ideas, and theories, and we apply them to your real life. Coaching is how we're going to see what you're thinking now, and how those thoughts are getting in your way, and keeping you from what you really want. We're going to dump out all your thoughts, and curiously, look at what that is creating for you. I'll show you how to question them, and then you can decide what you want to think on purpose, and that is going to change everything for you.

Okay, so we're going to meet together in the group every week for six months. And in this group, you're going to get coached, and you're going to see other people get coached. And let me just say that I think one of the most powerful things about group coaching is that not only will you get regular opportunities to be coached personally, but you're also going to be able to see other people be coached. And this is where some of your biggest breakthroughs will come. Sometimes, when you can see the thoughts getting in the way of someone else, you can more easily see them in your own life, it reveals your own blind spots to you. And honestly, some of the very best coaching I have ever received, I have gotten by watching someone else be coached. Because, when your brain isn't the one being coach is sometimes easier to see what's actually getting in your way. And so, because I want everyone in the group to be able to have lots of opportunities for coaching, I'm going to keep the group, purposely very small, and the spots are going to be limited.

So, if you want to apply and get one of those spots, you can go to my website aprilpricecoaching.com/madeformore. And the applications will be open on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. And I will put a link in the show notes as well. And then, after you apply, you're going to get an opportunity to sign up for a coaching call with me, so that you can ask questions, and get coached, and see if the program is a good fit for you. So, all that information is on my website, and you can go there for any more details if you are interested.

So, I want to end today by offering you a few thoughts to help you overcome your brain, and get the most from your life here on Earth, because even though your brain doesn't care about change and growth, I know that you do. And so, I want to share three quick ideas to help you with your desire to get more from your life. And the first thing that I want you to think about is to think about your life as a story, as a book that you are writing. Like if you are writing your story, like the way you wanted it to go, the way you wanted it to be, what would the title be? What are the chapters? What are the things that make up this story, if you could tell it any way you wanted? Because, whether you know it or not, you are writing your story, and at any point of your life, you get to rewrite it, and that changes things. For example, if you had asked me four years ago, the title of my story would have been something like, "The Sad Tale of Squandered Potential." And all the chapters would have been about how I had failed, and not measured up, and made all the mistakes, and wasted my time on Earth. And it would have been a very sad story, right?

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But when I know that I am always writing my story, and then I get a look at my life, and tell the story any way that I want, I can change it. That changes all the rest of the story, right? Like if I change the title of my story to, "My 100% Awesome Life," all the chapters, and all the circumstances, all the facts of my life, all are now seen through a different lens. A lens of how I am learning, and growing, and creating something awesome, right? All the setbacks then become stepping stones, and all the mistakes just become necessary parts of my success. Like you can write your story from the future, from the way you want to see yourself, rather than from the past, and from the way your brain has negatively characterized it for you. You get to tell the story any way you want, so tell a good one. Pick the chapters you want for sure to be part of your story, and make sure they happen. Put them in there, make it happen, create your life on purpose.

Okay, the next thought I want to give you to get the most from your Earth-life experience is to do the hard, and scary thing anyway. So, I was thinking about the parable in the Bible, about the man who gave his servants the talents, and then he left them for a while, and he came back to see what they had done with the money that he gave them. And I don't pretend to totally understand everything that is happening in this parable, but notice how the servant that got one talent, the one piece of money, he didn't do anything with it, because he was scared of losing it, right? He said in the scripture, "I was afraid." He was scared that he was going to do it wrong, and that he was going to lose what he had. And fear just stops so many of us from having more, from having more of everything we really want, but especially of giving more, and helping more, and contributing more. We're scared that we're going to do it wrong, and that we're going to disappoint God, or we're going to embarrass ourselves, or other people are going to think we did it wrong, and we're going to lose the little bit of confidence that we do have. And we think we have fear because we aren't enough, and we're lacking in some way. But we only have fear because our brain thinks that's the best way to keep us safe from rejection, and failure. And we forget how clever our brains are, and how highly motivated they are to keep us alive with the least amount of rejection, the least amount of getting kicked out of the tribe as possible. And so, yes, you have fear, but that's okay! You can expect it, and then you can go get what you want anyway.

Finally, the last that I want to give you about getting the most out of this life, and the next, is to give yourself permission. Give yourself permission to believe you can create more, and that you can become in more ways, and you can have anything more you want in your life. Give yourself permission to live the life you want while you're here on Earth. So, before you can believe all the things you need to believe in order to create that life, you first have to give yourself permission to believe them. So because our brain is program for scarcity, and fear, and noticing all the things that are wrong with us, we think that we're not allowed to believe that we can have more. We think we're not allowed to believe we can be the person we want to be, in all the ways we want to be it. But you are! You are allowed. And I know this is like a radical idea, correct? To dare to believe you can have the life you want, but I want to give you permission to do it.

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So, I don't know if you've seen this video going around on social media, and the Internet lately, but there is this video of a woman named Marta Gonzalez, who was a former prima ballerina, right? And now she has Alzheimer's disease, and she's in a wheelchair. And in this video, someone put some headphones on Marta, and plays the music to Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, and Marta starts moving her head and her arms with that music. And then they show a double screen with her dancing that ballet many, many years ago. And they show that double screen with her now, and her head dips in the exact same moments in the music, in the exact same way, her arms open, and close, and her fingers move in the exact time to the music, and exactly mimic that video of her dancing so many years ago. Like those deep neurological patterns are still there, even though the Alzheimer's disease has totally ravaged her brain, and she can't remember lots of things, those deeply ingrained patterns, and neurological connections paired with that music are still there. They are deeply embedded.

And this week, as I watched that video, I had the thought that I want the neural pathways in my brain that say "I am enough." And that say, "I can help people" and that say "my work can make a difference." And the pathway that says I am 100% awesome, and nothing I do can change that. I want those neural pathways in my brain to be so deep, that I never forget them. I want them to be as deep as Marta's. And when everything else is gone, I want those thoughts to remain. And when I can't remember anything else, I want to be able to remember this. And that will only come through practice. Marta's neurological pathways were created by practice and repetition. She practiced, and practiced. She practiced in the studio, she practiced on the stage, she probably practiced as she was lying in bed, and thinking about the music, and thinking about this turn, and that turn, and where it should be, where to lift her arms. Like all of that came by practice. And if I want to believe that I am always enough, and that I am 100% awesome, and nothing I can do changes that, I have to practice. I have to give myself permission to believe it, and then I have to practice. That is all that is required for me, and for you.

If you want more, if you want to get the most out of this life and the next, you have to give yourself permission to believe something new. You have to take control of the story, and write it the way you want it. You have to not let fear get in the way, not stop you from trying, and going after the life you want. And you have to give yourself permission to believe in yourself, and your capacity to get more if you want it. You were made for more, and you are entitled to get it, and that, my friends, is 100% awesome!

I love you for listening and I'll see you next week.

Thanks so much for joining me on the podcast today, if you want to take the things I've talked about and apply them in your life so that you can love your earth life experience. Sign up for a free coaching session at aprilpricecoaching.com This is where the real magic happens and your life starts to change forever as your coach. I'll show you that believing your life is 100% awesome is totally available to every one of us. The way things are, is not the way things have to stay. And that, my friends, is 100% awesome!