Stay Grounded with Raj Jana

“To get to that emotion, to get to that connection that I think we all crave, you have to be a good listener.” Humans have been connecting through stories since time immemorial. There’s something about stories that hook us in, build meaningful connection, and even leave us forever changed. This episode’s guest has been extracting and telling other people’s life stories for decades. Mike O’Krent’s journey started in 1996 when he spent four years interviewing Holocaust survivors for Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation. [Now the USC Shoah Foundation.]  This life-changing experience inspired Mike to master the art of listening - honing his interviewing skills to bring out the heart and essence of his interviewees.Through Mike’s work at Lifestories Alive, powerful stories don’t have to be left in the graveyard. Instead, they can be captured as a legacy for future generations to tap into their ancestry.“When you shut up long enough to really hear somebody you really get to know the essence of an individual.” Tune into this episode and discover some powerful tips and techniques that will sharpen your own listening, storytelling, and conversation skills. You’ll also discover what’s possible when you tap into the art of listening and set an intention to know another human on a deep and meaningful level.Check out these episode highlights:How Mike felt interviewing Holocaust survivors.What are the healing aspects of telling your story?“The chill of the sigh” and the feeling of telling the story. Mike’s incredible tip for being a better listener. The power of clarifying questions. How personal stories heal families. Interviewing centurions. How do you encourage someone to tell a story they don’t believe matters? The reason WHY? is such a powerful question. Where Mike’s passion for capturing stories comes from Questions to ask to unlock a life story. The power of finding your own story. And more...As a podcaster, I’ve seen for myself how conversations evolve and deepen as my own listening skills develop with practice. I loved speaking with this master storyteller and I know you’ll take so much from Mike’s wisdom. “Volumes are spoken in silence.” Contact Info:https://www.lifestoriesalive.com/https://www.facebook.com/caregiverplanhttps://www.instagram.com/caregiverplan/Summary/ Call to Action: We thrive on your feedback, so if you’ve enjoyed this show, please rate us and leave us a review. And don’t forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“There is a fundamental and universal... almost like a human right, for us to be happy.” If you ask parents around the world what they most want for their kids, most will answer happiness. You could say that happiness is the core aim of the human experience.So why do so many people struggle to experience one of the feelings we crave the most? This episode’s guest is Dr. Elia Gourgouris who’s a keynote speaker, author, and president of The Happiness Center - an organization of world-leading experts in the field of Positive Psychology dedicated to creating personal success and happiness. Dr Elia believes that happiness is a choice. In this episode, Dr Elia shares what he’s learned about the 7 pathways to lasting happiness - and how these paths can lead to self-love, success, and greater work-life balance. “If you want to be happy in life, do something good for somebody else, every day, and you will be a rich man.” Dr Elia is the author of the #1 bestseller 7 Paths to Lasting Happiness. With his positive psychology background, he’s helped thousands of people over the past 35 years choose happiness. Dr Elia also co-hosts the weekly The Kindness and Happiness Connection podcast and was the Executive Producer of the Reality TV show Cash Cowboys and is currently working on a new Reality TV show called The Kindness Givers!In this powerful episode, Dr Elia and I explore: Key takeaways:Why do we find it hard to believe that happiness is a choice? Self-forgiveness as a courageous act. The life-changing advice Elia received from his grandfather when he was five-years-old. Why helping is a catalyst for happiness and joy. What does true happiness feel like? The link between happiness and forgiving.Why your life is a reflection of what’s happening on the inside. How to love yourself - even during times of adversity and challenge. The importance of eliminating toxic relationships from your life. Healing the fear of being alone.The difference between needing to know and accepting what is. Dr Elia explains how you can impact the way you feel by choosing your attitude. When you believe that happiness is a choice, you can back control over your life and intentionally create moments that spark joy. If you desire more happiness in your life, you’ll love hearing what Dr Elia has to say in this deep-dive conversation.  “Self-care or self-love is always the first path to lasting happiness.” Contact Info:https://www.dreliagourgouris.com/https://www.facebook.com/DrEliahttps://www.instagram.com/dr.eliag/https://twitter.com/DrEliaSummary/ Call to Action: We thrive on your feedback, so if you’ve enjoyed this show, please rate us and leave us a review. And don’t forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“My story about the world and everyone in it is what’s making me feel these things, and so I’m the one that has the power to shift that story.” Have you ever wondered why people don’t implement good advice… even advice that they pay for?The answer is your underlying belief system. If advice contradicts or conflicts with who you believe yourself to be [and what you believe is possible], the advice won’t stick. No wonder belief work is so powerful…It’s in our rewiring of our deeply held beliefs that meaningful change and transformation can happen - something that this episode’s guest is a master of. Britt Lefkoe is a business and personal development coach, who specializes in coaching entrepreneurs and executives who are looking to push through glass ceilings, uplevel in their business, and create more joy and authenticity in their lives. For over 20 years, Britt has been expanding upon the groundbreaking work of her father, Morty Lefkoe, whose belief-based, neuroscientific approach to business and personal development has been instrumental in the growth of individuals and organizations around the world. Britt's work is focused on identifying and shifting the underlying beliefs, thoughts, and feelings that are typically buried underneath layers of achieving, accomplishments, and pushing through. Her highly customized methodology helps clients identify blind spots and create unwavering confidence, to accelerate growth without undiagnosed problems holding them back.“Once we realize that it’s a story we’re creating about what happened that’s making us feel how we feel, we have the power to change that story, to heal that story, to have a conversation with that story.” In this episode, Britt explains how you can leverage your emotions as messengers and reveals how to work with the wounded inner child to open the door for new opportunities going forward. We cover a LOT in this episode, including the following highlights:Why we’re afraid to dive into bigger possibilities. What comes first? Do you focus on the mindset or the emotions? How do you unravel the stories that hold you back? Building on the foundation left behind by others. How does self-love allow you to experience a deep, rich life. What it means to be a mirror for others. Embodying your power to be a ripple for others. Exploring your relationship with courage.Expanding your life through the power of feelings alone. Letting the universe surprise you. And more...Britt is a beautiful soul who’s beingness is an inspiration. Her energy lights you up and the way she moves through life and honors the universe encourages others to look for more joy. This powerful episode is packed with golden insights that can inspire you to believe that you can move through anything and everything that holds you back. I can’t wait for you to check it out.  “We are perfect as we are. We just need to remember our own divinity along the way.” Contact Info:www.brittlefkoe.comhttps://www.facebook.com/BrittanyLefkoe/https://www.instagram.com/brittadventures/Summary/ Call to Action: We thrive on your feedback, so if you’ve enjoyed this show, please rate us and leave us a review. And don’t forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“When you can trust in the unfolding, you know that every hardship you’re experiencing is only a hardship because it hasn’t fully blossomed into the blessing yet.” I’m super excited to release this latest reflection episode. April 2021 held a lot of teachings and because it was also the last month of my 20s, this reflection holds an extra special meaning.This month, I’ve been learning to cultivate faith. Sometimes, life doesn’t unfold in the way you imagine. Sometimes, projects and plans can take longer to come to fruition than you would have liked - and that can create inner friction! But when you believe that everything is happening FOR you, delays create an opening to explore uncomfortable emotions and experiences. In the process, you grow and evolve at lightning speed!    I’m super grateful for this month. April has given me the circumstances that have allowed me to experience who I am at a deeper level - and as always, I’m sharing all the juicy details with you in this week’s episode.  “The more I personally lean on reflection, the more I learn to trust in the unfolding of events.” If you’ve listened to any of my previous monthly reflections, you’ll know that Georgina El Morshdy is here to help us navigate this conversation. Here are some of the key takeaways you’ll hear us explore: The important difference between the paths of evolution and achievement. Differentiating between the idea of you and the real you. Faith and the gift of believing everything happens FOR you. Recognizing that painful moments often deepen relationships and cultivate intimacy.Cultivating the courage to ask for help from those you would normally support. What it means to ‘keep the glass clean’.And more...The universe asked me to step up in so many ways this month. But in hindsight, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Allowing myself to see who I am at a deeper level, is an experience I’m always grateful for. It’s my hope that by discovering my recent experiences and listening to this conversation, you’ll have more trust in the lessons life wants to teach you - however they choose to show up.  Check it out. “Asking for help is one of the bravest things anyone can do.”Contact Info:Raj’s contact details. Find Georgina on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/georginaelmorshdy/ Summary/ Call to Action: We thrive on your feedback, so if you’ve enjoyed this show, please rate us and leave us a review. And don’t forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Loss is part of life and we have to be able to support people better.” COVID interrupted our lives in so many unexpected ways. As the fallout of the pandemic continues, people across the world are experiencing loss and grief in ways we couldn’t have predicted. Some people are working through job losses, business closures, and shifts in the way we socialize, travel, and work. Others are navigating the grief of losing a loved one. In this way, COVID has brought the subject of death to the surface. Death is a conversation many of us in the western world are ill equipped to hold, handle, or lead - at work and in our homes. Serial entrepreneur - Tracey Ivanyshyn - is on a mission to change this way of being by helping founders and companies create a culture that holds space for good grief at work. This work is so important - especially during these times - because companies that can hold space for ‘good grief’ are stronger; as are their people. “Grief is like a wave.” Tracey is the CEO of three companies, a founder and a soul centered leader. She’s also a ‘retired’ social worker, with recent studies in Palliative Care, The Art of Dying and The Grief Journey. Selected to join Virgin Unite's 100% Human at Work Group, Tracey attends quarterly gatherings with the Virgin Group of Companies. She’s published in their annual Culture Experiments Collection alongside many corporate culture giants - Google, Zappos, Chanel, Unilever, Ideo and NextJump to name a few.In life, death is the only thing that’s certain, which means grief will tap us all on the shoulder at some point. By empowering people and companies to create sacred space for ‘good grief’, Tracey opens the door to borrow wisdom from death, so we can better live.Key takeaways:The mindset for shifting the grief conversation. Understanding the power of acknowledging loss. How to hold and support someone with grief. What are meaningful condolences? Allowing empathy to guide your response to grief. Exploring rituals for grief and remembrance. Tangible ways leaders can open up about grief and loss. Letters to a 10-year-old. Why Tracey is inspired to support people in grief. The two questions people ask at the end of life that you could be asking now. And more... This episode’s conversation is so beautiful. Tracey’s empathy, compassion, and heart shines through. She makes a challenging topic feel like a safe space to explore. Check it out for yourself. “I think that grief can trip us up because we don’t have the right words.” Contact Info:www.reimaginegoodbye.comTracey.forster.ivanyshyn (Facebook)https://www.instagram.com/goodgriefatworkhttp://twitter.com/goodgriefatwork Summary/ Call to Action: We thrive on your feedback, so if you’ve enjoyed this show, please rate us and leave us a review. And don’t forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“When you reflect on your journey, you’re better able to connect the dots.” What do YOU think about the world? How can you differentiate between the knowledge you’ve acquired from books and the wisdom you’ve embodied as your own? What is the truth of who YOU are - and how can you go about finding it all? Vipul Bhesania’s life transformed when he developed severe eczema while studying at university. His condition was so extreme that even sleep became painful because his skin tore so easily. Physical pain made Vipul question his ambition to become a successful, highly paid city of London lawyer. Instead, he got interested in philosophy and began asking bigger and bigger questions. Who am I? What is this force behind science? What is underneath all the layers of my identity? As a result of these conversations, Vipul transformed his relationship with himself - and cultivated the beautiful skill of expressing emotions through words. “When I connect with the feeling, the words appear.” Today, Vipul inspires other people to seek their truth through his Know Your Legacy podcast, and his new book - ‘Searching in Silence’. In this episode, Vipul shares the personal journey that inspired his spiritual evolution and empowered him to connect with his truth. Together, we explore: What inspires Vipul’s writing and creative process. How to connect with your true sense of self. Self-reflection and how it builds self-trust. Why gratitude is the undercurrent beneath it all. What inspired Vipul’s spiritual path. Digging into the concept of shedding. The power of building a relationship with yourself.The journey of expressing your emotions and heartspace through writing. And more...If your soul is calling for self-discovery and you’re ready to reconnect with your authentic self and unlock the answers to your biggest questions, this soulful conversation holds an abundance of clues.  “What inspires me is to channel more of who I actually am into the work.” Contact Info:www.vipulbhesania.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/vipulbhesania/Summary/ Call to Action: We thrive on your feedback, so if you’ve enjoyed this show, please rate us and leave us a review. And don’t forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Inspiration really comes in the quiet moments.” We all have the ability to be creative, the question is, how do you access your unique talents and allow yourself to be inspired? The good news is there are specific acts you can take to awaken your creative being so you can express your essence and become your authentic self. This episode’s guest is Tracy Matthews - a jewelry designer, entrepreneur, mentor to creative visionaries and host of the top-rated podcast, Thrive By Design. Tracy’s life has been inspired by creativity and imagination ever since she was a child. Tracy has unique insight into what it means to be creative, and in this episode, she reveals it all! “The more open you are to hearing someone else’s perspective or point of view, the more knowledgeable you become about yourself.” Tracy has a passion for helping people tap into their unique creative brilliance factor to make more money and impact. She’s been featured in InStyle, Elle, Us Weekly, Real Simple, Martha Stewart Weddings, Entrepreneur, and The Today Show. She’s also been interviewed on various media outlets including Yahoo Finance, Entrepreneur, American Fashion Podcast, Online Marketing Made Easy and Creative Live. As the Chief Visionary Officer of Flourish & Thrive Academy, she helps other jewelry brands launch, grow and scale profitable jewelry businesses. Over the years, she’s inspired creative thinkers to use their innate gifts to grow their businesses. At Creatives Rule the World, she helps creative visionaries of entrepreneurial companies to spend more time in their creative zone of genius which results in more inspired teams, increased profitability and a lot more fun in business. In this powerful episode, Tracy explores how to tap into your creative genius - so you can express your uniqueness into the world. Here’s an overview of what we discuss.Key takeaways:How do you cultivate an energy of fascination? The power of role models for inspiring your path. How Cameron Diaz inspired Tracy to become a jewellery designer. The value of the nuance that’s often overlooked.Opening up by leaning into curiosity and playing with ‘what if’ energy.Playing devil’s advocate and debating for the other side. Rip-offs, plagiarism, and navigating copycats. Co-creating with the universe. The dance between the inner voice and external influences. Creating from source. And more...If you want to unlock your creativity and top up on some tips and insights to help you cultivate your skills, this episode has your back. Tune in now. “I try to have one day a week to just have nothing on the schedule where I can think about stuff and formulate ideas.” Contact Info:Websites: TracyMatthews.com,  FlourishThriveAcademy.com, &  CreativesRuleTheWorld.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracymatthewsofficial/  https://www.facebook.com/FlourishThriveAcademy/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourish_thrive/https://twitter.com/flourish_thriveSummary/ Call to Action: We thrive on your feedback, so if you’ve enjoyed this show, please rate us and leave us a review. And don’t forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“If we truly want to heal as a country, as a society, as a world, we need each other.” Rewind the clock to 2020 and consultant, coach, author, speaker, and connector Andy Storch was riding a momentum train. He’d re-designed his in-person training business post-COVID and was getting ready to launch and promote his new book - Own Your Career Own Your Life. During this same period, Andy was experiencing some abdominal pain, which he’d planned to “tough out”. Unfortunately, the pain didn’t subside so Andy went to an urgent care facility. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. This diagnosis guided Andy’s life down a path that required a shift in priorities. He faced surgery and chemo as well as redesigning his life so he could manage his mindset and his health.  “Even though I have these challenges, I have so much to be grateful for.” Andy is the host of two podcasts including The Talent Development Hot Seat and The Andy Storch Show. He’s also the founder and host of the Talent Development Think Tank conference and community. Most importantly, Andy is a husband, father, and friend who is on a mission to get the absolute most out of life and inspire others to do the same.In this powerful episode, Andy and I explore what it’s like to receive a cancer diagnosis. We also explore how you can best help someone who’s walking a similar path to Andy. Key takeaways:The moment Andy was diagnosed with cancer at age 40.Andy’s relationship with control and how it changed through cancer. The struggle of asking for help. Specific ways Andy likes to be supported.Healing through the support of others. Gratitude as a force to help you navigate anything.The journey of accepting cancer and finding gratitude for the moment. Cultivating an empowered mindset for dealing with challenges. Three questions to ask yourself when you face a challenge. A mantra that helped Andy navigate these times. Why you’ve got to take ownership of your career.And more... “Nobody else decides your happiness, your fulfillment, or your success. That is all up to you.” Andy’s story is an inspiring reminder of the personal power that’s available - regardless of the path life asks us to walk. Everything in life is a result of the perspective you choose. In this episode, Andy shows how you can leverage the power of mindset to navigate anything with gratitude and courage. This man is an inspiration and I’m excited for you to hear his story. Contact Info:Buy Andy’s book at OwnYourCareerOwnYourLife.comhttps://www.facebook.com/andystorchhttps://www.instagram.com/andy_storch/Summary/ Call to Action: We thrive on your feedback, so if you’ve enjoyed this show, please rate us and leave us a review. And don’t forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The more you can allow yourself to be seen, the more you heal.” For me, reflection is a practice that sparks accelerated growth. I’ve always got a journal near me because I know the value of capturing insights and deep-dives when they show up. Moving through life with this level of awareness helps me bend time around my learnings and lesson. It’s one of the reasons I can move fast, but with a level of depth that keeps me grounded. These monthly reflection episodes are quickly becoming some of my favorite to record. There’s power in riffing off some great questions and weaving out the narrative of my month. I benefit from this practice because it crystalizes my growth. It’s my intention that you get some benefit too by seeing behind the curtain on my life this March. “The voice that I’m supposed to be paying attention to is inspiration and love and joy and passion.” As usual, Georgina El Morshdy is here to interview me. Together, we always stir up some magic! Georgina is great at holding space and guiding my thoughts down a path that ensure I reveal even more than I captured in my journal beforehand! This episode was no exception. There are some gold insights in this conversation and I’m so excited for you to tune in and extract some inspiration for your own journey.  Here’s a flavor of what we discuss: Escaping the cage of emotional blockages. Using anxiety as a north star for emotional release and deep healing. The story behind my badass turquoise crystal necklace.The logical reason why purpose would be a form of pleasure.The unexpected role nature can play in your healing journey. What becomes possible when you calibrate to truth. What happens inside a sweat lodge.Permission to be messy and how this infuses freedom into your life.Allowing requests for support to become your superpower. And more! As Q1 comes to an end, I’m so grateful for my journey, all the experiences that have shaped me, and all the incredible people who hold space for me to continue on this path. I’ve realized that no one needs to walk this healing path alone. You’ll find confidence and courage inside of community. It’s my hope that by sharing my inner journey, you’ll see a bit of yourself in me, and realize you’re not alone.  “When you’re in nature, you’re experiencing the truth of existence. You’re not experiencing this man-made sort of fabricated bullshit lifestyle that we’re all chasing. You’re connecting with what’s actually true.” Contact Info:Raj Jana social detailsFollow Georgina on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/georgina.morshdySummary/ Call to Action: We thrive on your feedback, so if you’ve enjoyed this show, please rate us and leave us a review. And don’t forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“A legacy is living in a way that the world is better every day, not just when you’ve gone.” We’re at a pivotal point in human evolution. As a collective, we have huge challenges to solve, and a growing number of people want to make an impact and create a better world. The desire to make a difference has been at the core of society for millennia. As humans, we instinctively want to help each other. Contribution is one of our core needs. The problem is, change-makers often sacrifice their own well being and needs in the pursuit of helping others that are less fortunate. As “noble” as that sounds, the stark imbalance between the acts of giving and receiving isn’t sustainable. But what if there was a different way to impact that held space for you - as a change-maker - to live an abundant, fulfilling life? This episode’s guest is Lisa Wynn - an award-winning Master Certified Coach (ICF), Certified Wealth Creation Coach, author, speaker, and host of the International No 1 Rated Legacy Creation Podcast. Lisa is all about changing the paradigm of change-making. Her work focuses on empowering people to create legacies fueled by love, joy, play, and inspiration that can be experienced NOW rather than being left behind when we go, which in turn helps individuals create a much bigger impact in the world. Lisa is here to show us how we can all create a long-lasting difference in the world without sacrificing our own abundance, happiness, and joy. Her paradigm-shifting work is having a far-reaching impact across the globe, and I can’t wait for you to experience her wisdom in this powerful conversation.  “Legacy has to start with your world. You have to get into a space where your world allows you to change the whole world. It’s very simple.” Check out this powerful episode to hear Lisa and I explore: Key takeaways:What is a legacy?Why self-love is a key pillar in legacy creation. Why we’re afraid to indulge in the things we desire.How to connect with your desires. The difference between change-making and game-changing. The dangers of the pedestal of old-paradigm change-making. Working with your shadow. Why the energy of giving is more important than giving itself. Unconditional love and the beautiful story of Lisa’s grandparents. And more...If you want to make a bigger impact while creating a beautifully abundant life that you can enjoy now, this episode is for you. I believe Lisa’s fresh perspective on legacy creation is exactly what we need, and I can’t wait for you to discover it all.   “Joy is a pure essence of lightness and celebration that comes from the soul.”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.