Bradley Wright, Life Purpose Lab

Have you ever dreamed of doing something that was entirely new, but  you have no idea how to do it? All too many people don't act on such a dream. It's too different, too difficult. Some people, however, try it. They take the risk and boldly walk into the unknown. Cam Anderson is a woodworker doing really interesting things. He makes extraordinarily beautiful tables--thick slabs of wood with gaps filled with resin. He also films himself making these tables, and posts the videos to YouTube. Many, many people watch these videos. The channel has 1.2 million subscribers! In this episode, Cam shares his secrets for getting into something new that feels purposeful.  In this episode, you'll learn about Being brave enough to suck at something newSerendipitous input from othersCore vs. manifest purpose in lifeEducating others about their purposeThe relationship between ability and purpose Connect with Cam:YouTube ChannelInstagramBlacktail Studio***Thank you for listening to the School of Purpose Podcast. Would you like assistance in finding  your own purpose? Email us at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. We'll do what we can.Want to connect? Make a connection on Bradley's LinkedIn page. Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com. He specializes in working with early podcasters.

What should a young person do when they passionate about doing many different things?Sierra RyanWallick is one such person. She's been a go-getter from early on. At age 11, she founded a fundraising organization that has since raised over $100,000 for local charities. Now, Sierra has turned her attention to social entrepreneurship and mentoring. In this episode, she shares her stories and struggles in creating something that will make the world a better place.In this episode, you'll learn about:Narrowing one's passions when you have many of themWhether passion precedes or follows purposeful behaviorParental support for one's purposeUsing social entrepreneurship to create meaning in lifeThe impact of mentoring on enacting purposeSierra's Links:InstagramLinkedInYouTube ChannelUpcycle Design***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

How can Christians find their calling in life? There's lots of teaching in the Church about God's "general" will-that is for all people. What about God's "particular" will-His individualized plans for a specific person?Chase Davis is the pastor of a thriving church in Boulder, Colorado. He's also a deep thinker-having recently authored the book Trinitarian Formation. He has both personal and professional insight into how Christians find purpose and calling in life. In this episode, he shares how to think about these issues, and he gives practical advice on finding one's calling. In this episode, you'll learn about:Finding purpose and identity in GodFeeling called to participate in a local churchThe difference between a general and particular callingThe value of getting feedback from othersThe first question that Chase asks people when they want to know their callingChase's links:LinkedInWebsiteBookThe Well Church***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

As much joy as purpose gives us, it's often born in pain.Amber Hovanec-Carey grew up with suffering. At age 9, she was diagnosed with stage 4 of a very rare form of childhood cancer. She went through extensive treatment. At one point, she asked her father, "Daddy, am I going to make it?" Eventually, the cancer went into remission. At in mid-twenties, she was diagnosed with breast cancer--likely resulting from her earlier radiation therapy. She battles that today. This life of overcoming illness has given Amber a unique, deeply empathetic outlook on the world. In this episode, she shares how her suffering has resulted in a daily sense of purpose.In this episode, you'll learn about:The link between empathy and purposeHow writing can be a callingWhat it feels like to be called to an activityActing purposefully in a situation versus finding purposeful situationsHow past pain produces future purposeAmber's links:LinkedInFree-Form Feminist Blog***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

Purpose is multifaceted. We experience it in different areas of our lives. Many different factors come together to move us into it. How do they come together?Ben Houltberg has done a lot of things that gives him insight into life purpose. He has been an elite track athlete, a marriage and family therapist, a developmental psychologist, and now the CEO of the Search Institute ("Helping Young People Thrive.") His professional life has been devoted to helping people live their best lives. In this episode, he shares lessons that he's learned along the way for living more purposefully.In this episode, you'll learn about:How fear robs us of purposePurpose being what holds our life narratives togetherA simple definition of purposeHow relationships foster purposeHow painful events can lead us to greater purposeBen's linksLinkedInSearch Institute***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

What's keeps us from pursuing purpose? For many, it's what's inside of us. Our fears, worries, even negative expectations keep us from moving forward.Maya Nazareth knows all about this. When she started practicing jiu jitsu, she realized that the available gear was made for men, not women. As an aspiring entrepreneur, she saw an opportunity, and she started her own business making fightwear for women. There were many obstacles to overcome. The first and foremost was inside of her. Her internal chatter told her that she shouldn't do this and that she couldn't do this. In this episode, Maya shares how she overcame this barrier to launch a successful business.In this episode, you'll learn about:The importance of finding people pursuing purpose in a similar wayWhat it means to gamble on finding purposeHow our internal chatter blocks us acting on what matters mostBuilding the muscle of believing in yourselfHow to use purpose in brandingMaya's links:LinkedInAlchemize Fightwear***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

Living in a digital world has many advantages, but living purposefully isn't one of them. Digital distraction affects us and our relationships in so many ways. What can we do to overcome it and live a life that matters? Ed Cyzewski is a writer and thinker who explores the boundaries of theology, spiritual practice, and daily living. His book Reconnect: Spiritual Restoration from Digital Distraction guides readers in living deeply in a shallow world. In this episode, he shares his thoughts on the many ways that digital distraction pulls us away from living meaningful, authentic lives and what we can do about it.In this episode,  you'll learn about:The effect of digital distraction How to figure out what matters most in lifeChoosing intentional versus reactionary actionsConnecting contemplation with purposeWhy social media is toxic for living purposefullyEd's websiteReconnect bookLinkedIn***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

(Part two of a two-part series)Have you ever wanted to get away from it all for a wild adventure? If you did, what would  you learn about yourself? How would you be different?Logan McDonald did this. He was a student in my class his senior year. After he graduated, he planned to hike the Appalachian trail by himself. Logan graciously agreed to a two-part interview--one shortly before he left for the trip and the other right after he got back. He shares with us thoughts about why to do such an adventure and what can gotten out of it. In these episodes, you'll learn about:The connection between challenge and purposeGrit, gratitude, and purposeThe value of solitude in discerning what's importantFinding purpose even in social interactionsHow challenging difficulties change usLogan's Instagram page***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

(Part one of a two part series)Have you ever wanted to get away from it all for a wild adventure? If you did, what would  you learn about yourself? How would you be different?Logan McDonald did this. He was a student in my class his senior year. After he graduated, he planned to hike the Appalachian trail by himself. Logan graciously agreed to a two-part interview--one shortly before he left for the trip and the other right after he got back. He shares with us thoughts about why to do such an adventure and what can gotten out of it. In these episodes, you'll learn about:The connection between challenge and purposeGrit, gratitude, and purposeThe value of solitude in discerning what's importantFinding purpose even in social interactionsHow challenging difficulties change usLogan's Instagram page***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

Which aspects of your life do you need to manage to have more purpose? Naturally, we think of money, time, and energy. But, what about the space that you live in?Shawna Scafe, at Simple on Purpose, teaches people how to live on purpose. One of her main tools is decluttering. Decluttering is much more than just getting rid of things. It forces us to understand who we are and what is important to us. It's also a way of gaining control over our lives. Finally, we can set up our space to support our purpose as we understand it. Shawna shares her deep insight into this topic with us. In this episode, you'll learn about:The devastating effect of "safe" jobsDecluttering and purposeUsing space as a resource, just as we do money and timeHow to remember your whyNine areas of life in which to find purposeInstagramSimple on Purpose website***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com