The Connected Life

With so many unknowns, life can feel great one moment, and in the next, our world can feel like it’s crumbling all around us. Sometimes the chaos and mayhem happens to us, and sometimes it’s self-inflicted. When mishaps, meltdowns, or tragedy happen, we can find ourselves broken and at a loss for what to do. In this episode  Paul Young, author of The Shack, joins Abi and Justin as they discuss the dismantling that happened when he was forced to face the reality of his affair with his wife’s best friend. Together they take a look at the losses and explore the redemption waiting on the other side of facing our greatest fears no matter what it costs us. In a world drowning in an ocean of difficulties, this episode is a lifeline of hope for every listener. And don't forget to check out www.stumvollconsulting.com/courses/thecompassionproject to get your hands on The Compassion Project.

Marriage is a lot of things to a lot of people. For some, it’s the answer to all our problems or the source of them. To others, it’s just a contract between two roommates until they’re tired of seeing each other’s faces. So what exactly is the purpose of marriage? In this episode Justin and Abi get naked, hop in the tub, yes you read that right, THE TUB, and have a candid conversation about what marriage is and what it isn’t supposed to be. It’s time to break the illusions about marriage and embrace the reality that there’s no such thing as masters of marriage. If you truly want to live a connected life in marriage, it’s time to learn how to love well, be powerful, and embrace becoming a master at being messy. And don't forget to check out www.stumvollconsulting.com/courses/thecompassionproject to get your hands on The Compassion Project.

In this moment in history so many people are faced with mounting unknowns. As people are suffering the loss of jobs and businesses, many are asking the questions, What do I do now? Where do I go from here? What if the biggest NO life has to offer is actually the open door to a YES you’ve always dreamed of? In this episode Justin and Abi sit down with their two friends, Bryant and Ben, who share their journey of partnership and success through creating and launching their company The Adventure challenge. These risk-taking dreamers talk candidly about overcoming the challenges they faced when following their hearts and leave a deposit of hope for a better tomorrow. If you’re ready to laugh, have fun, and be inspired, this episode is for you! And don't forget to check out www.stumvollconsulting.com/courses/thecompassionproject to get your hands on The Compassion Project.

The current conversation around race can be confusing and seems to have many pitfalls. Politics and ideologies often muddy a much needed, and necessary, conversation. Hidden behind the eruption of protests are real people with real experiences. In this episode Abi and Justin are given the unique opportunity to sit down with and hear from their friend Jon Miller. Jon shares vulnerably about his experience with pain and trauma as a black man, while opening up about the broader experience of trauma in the black community. This is a time in our nation in desperate need of non-combative, compassionate conversations where we lay down our swords, stop our talking, and start our listening.  Regardless of your political views, or race and ethnicity, this episode is an invitation to understand and heal. And don't forget to check out www.stumvollconsulting.com/courses/thecompassionproject to get your hands on The Compassion Project.

The world is truly faced with unprecedented trying times. After an outbreak of a global pandemic, filled with uncertainty, we’re now face to face with battles in our streets and unresolved trauma from a tainted past. Finding a firm foundation to stand on can feel almost impossible in the midst of feeling like we’ve been stretched well beyond our capacity. In this episode Justin and Abi take an honest look at the collective pain and suffering the world is feeling in an attempt to acknowledge and find healing for the widespread trauma humanity has to overcome. When all of our human efforts to find resolutions for our suffering are exhausted, looking to something greater than ourselves might just be the hope and solution needed to heal. If you’re ready for relief and restoration this is a must listen to episode! And don't forget to check out www.stumvollconsulting.com/courses/thecompassionproject to get your hands on The Compassion Project.

The world is stricken with grief and seemingly more divided than ever before. Injustices caught on camera strike our humanity to the core. With the instability of Corona, the painful conversation of racism, and an up and coming election in the United States, how will the world survive 2020? In this episode Abi and Justin address the real pain, as well as the division being expressed across social media. They take an honest look at the ever growing divide and explore powerful concepts like compassion as a much needed solution to move us from reaction to response. If you’ve felt overwhelmed at trying to navigate a world that seems to be on fire, this episode is an invitation to dig deep and search for answers on how you can be part of the healing and restoration process. And don't forget to check out www.stumvollconsulting.com/courses/thecompassionproject to get your hands on The Compassion Project.

We all play a role in relationships. This role we play evolves in our childhoods as we take on very specific identities within our families. Some of us were the “responsible kid”, others were the “screw up”, "goof off", “black sheep”, “hyperactive”, or “timid” kid. The list of roles are endless, and when thought about for a moment, very apparent, especially at family gatherings. In this episode Abi and Justin explore the roles we play in our family systems and highlight critical postures we have to take in order to pivot out of an identity that was never supposed to be ours in the first place. Though the price to get out can be great, the cost to stay in the system could bankrupt a person. If you’re ready to redefine your identity in your family and to the world at large, this is a MUST listen to episode! And don't forget to check out www.stumvollconsulting.com/courses/thecompassionproject to get your hands on The Compassion Project!

Red flags are all the rave in relationship advice, but what about green lights? What are key signs to look for when choosing a friend or mate? Understanding DOs can be even more critical than understanding DON’Ts! In this episode Justin and Abi lay out 12 fundamental green lights to look for when exploring  possibilities for friendships and dating partners. Woven into the fabric of the conversation is an invitation to take an honest, yet compassionate look at your life and explore the pitfalls you’ve been blinded to in becoming a green light yourself! This episode is meant to be guide, not a rule book, so don’t become a stickler just because you listened! And DO checkout The Compassion Project at www.stumvollconsulting.com 

As humans, we have a tendency to make mistakes and be messy. If we spend any depth of time in relationship with one another, we’re bound to create painful moments for the ones we love the most. Knowing that problems are inevitable, repairing relationships is an art form worth learning. At the foundation of all relational repairs are apologies. In this episode Abi and Justin explore the power of apologies, why we need them, why we don’t give them, and what a quality apology could sound like. If you’ve been needing an apology or can’t quite figure out why the world should get one from you, this episode might just be for you! And don't forget to check out www.stumvollconsulting.com/courses/thecompassionproject to get your hands on The Compassion Project!

It’s easy to feel out of control and barraged by emotions. Sometimes it’s unclear what we’re feeling, or why we’re feeling it. The truth is, emotions are an energy pulsating in us and through us. We are consistently broadcasting this energy to the world around us. Through intelligent design, we have been made for relationship, and our ability to broadcast is equal to our capacity to be receptors. In this episode, Justin and Abi shine a spotlight on the world of feelings. They discuss the paramount necessity of self-awareness in order to accurately understand what feelings are yours and what feelings are other’s. Without this kind of clarity we can live our entire lives believing we’re an emotional mess, when in reality, our receptors are simply sensitive the world around us. Get ready for some eye opening ah-ha’s as you tune into this episode and take back the power you didn’t know you lost! And don't forget to check out www.stumvollconsulting.com/courses/thecompassionproject to get your hands on The Compassion Project!