The Connected Life

Some people believe that celebrating yourself can lead to arrogance and pride. Often times people feel awkward and out of place when the spotlight shines on them, especially if they're shining the light. A false sense of humility often replaces a healthy expression of necessary celebration. In this episode Abi and Justin explore the need to celebrate yourself. Justin opens up about the painful loss of his brother that led to an inability to celebrate himself. Together they discuss the powerful affects of celebration and how that overflows into creating a world of gratitude and joy. If you want to see your life become the best it can be, celebration has to be at its core! And don't forget to head to Amazon August 17th through the 21st to be the first to order The Tree of Life AUDIOBOOK!

For most of us adults, we find ourselves struggling to connect with creativity. We lose the ability to dream and create from a place of joy and happiness. The evolution of growing up comes with the loss of our childlike wonder, the foundation for feeling fully alive. In this episode Justin and Abi sit down with their friend Ryan. Ryan shares his story of working himself to death and how his disconnection from emotions left him feeling bankrupt as a businessman, father, and husband. He opens up about his terrifying journey to regain his childlike wonder as he let go of control and let love in. Together, Justin and Ryan talk about their miraculous connection and how their separate goals became the common ground for a much greater purpose. If you're in need of inspiration and want to experience a more joyous life, this episode is a MUST! And don't forget to head over to Amazon and get your copy of the audiobook THE TREE OF LIFE!

For many, an end goal is the engine driving our lives and has a way of becoming our sole purpose. Along the way we can find ourselves being willing to do some pretty uncaring and unloving things, believing the end justifies the means. But, what if the end goal is nothing more than an opportunity for the real purpose? In this Episode Justin is joined by his good friend Noah Elias. Together they explore how Noah's talent of being a Disney Fine Artist is really a vehicle for creating relationships and how Justin's book, The Tree of Life, was an on-ramp for connection. The two shine a light on people being our highest purpose through vulnerably sharing how their lives have impacted one another. They also discuss how being faithful with what's right in front of us is the first step to seeing our greatest dreams come true. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. If you want to create a purpose worth living for, listen to this episode now! Don't forget to head to Amazon to get your copy of The Tree of Life Audiobook!

Learning how to trust our inner voice, especially when it comes to the dreams and desires of our heart, can sometimes be difficult. Often times we are met with unforeseen delays, obstacles, and naysayers. Very rarely is the road to fulfillment straight and paved smoothly. In a world of uncertainty, bringing your dreams to life can sometimes feel like an unclimbable mountain. But with the right approach it can be a tale of adventure and redemption. In this episode Abi interviews Justin about the journey of creating his book The Tree of Life. Justin shares about the wildly miraculous moments and the wisdom he learned along the way as he surrendered his expectations and learned how to come alive in the process. If you're in need of hope and inspiration, this episode is a must! Don't forget to head to Amazon to get your copy of The Tree of Life Audiobook!

Building trust in a relationship can take years and requires immense vulnerability. When we've given our hearts to another human, the cost of betrayal can be so high that few truly bounce back from it. Often times people put a lot of effort trying to clean up the pieces of something that didn't have to be broken in the first place. In this episode Justin and Abi discuss ways to create an anti-affair plan. Though we can't control our significant others into making healthy committed decisions, we can co-create a shame-free culture that empowers honesty, health, and healing. If you've already played a role in creating a train wreck through betrayal, moving forward isn't hopeless, because once we know better, we do better. So whether you're wanting to protect your relationship from an affair, or wanting to right the wrongs of the past moving forward, 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.

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.