Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast
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| #291 Creating Good Routines and Habits for Resistant Children (So They’re Happy Most of the Time) | 18 Dec 2024 | 01:32:17 | |
In this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning dive into practical strategies for managing resistant children and helping them develop positive routines and habits. If your child struggles with resistance or has difficulty adjusting to structure, this episode is for you. Greg and Rachel explore how small changes in family dynamics—like improving self-awareness, fostering emotional connections, and creating flexible routines—can make a significant difference in your child’s behavior and happiness. They discuss the importance of balance between work and play, how understanding a child's emotional needs influences their actions, and why a parent’s demeanor and attitude are crucial to creating a nurturing environment. They emphasize the value of sleep, nutrition, and play in a child’s overall well-being, and how these factors can help even the most resistant children become more cooperative and content. Tune in for actionable tips on transforming resistance into resilience, and learn how to nurture independence, responsibility, and emotional growth in your children—so they’re happy most of the time. The topics discussed in our episodes are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. They should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified professional for any medical concerns or questions. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
#ExtraordinaryFamilyLifePodcast #WorldschoolFamily #RachelDenning #FormidableFamilyMen #FamilySuccess #ParentingTips #Extraordinary #BecomeABetterYou #MarriageAdvice #MarriageGoals #RaisingKids #SelfHelp #PersonalDevelopment #GrowthMindset | |||
| #290 Promoting Lifelong Learning: How to Get Your Child to Practice Their Musical Instrument | 11 Dec 2024 | 00:42:34 | |
In this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning explore the challenges parents face when encouraging their children to practice musical instruments, emphasizing the role of music in promoting lifelong learning and brain development. They tackle the common struggle of balancing practice with enjoyment, and share strategies to foster a love for music while building skills. One participant from their 28-Day Challenge asks, “How do you address problems with kids that don’t want to practice musical instruments? I feel like it’s so important for their education to have this skill, but I’m so tired of trying to get them to practice. It’s always a struggle. They say they love playing but hate to practice. I seriously feel like a crazy person going between wanting them to play and telling them we are going to cancel lessons because it’s pointless to pay for them if they don’t practice.” Greg and Rachel dive into this question, offering practical advice for parents on how to motivate kids without the constant tension. They share insights on how to make practice more enjoyable, set realistic goals, and keep music a fun and integral part of family life. Tune in for actionable strategies to help your children thrive in their musical journey, turning challenges into opportunities for growth. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
#ExtraordinaryFamilyLifePodcast #WorldschoolFamily #RachelDenning #FormidableFamilyMen #FamilySuccess #ParentingTips #Extraordinary #BecomeABetterYou #MarriageAdvice #MarriageGoals #RaisingKids #SelfHelp #PersonalDevelopment #GrowthMindset | |||
| #281 Facing Your Fear and Moving Through It: The Path to an Extraordinary Life | 09 Oct 2024 | 01:13:08 | |
In this empowering episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning explore the essential theme of facing your fear in the pursuit of an extraordinary life. Through heartfelt personal stories and insightful discussions, they illustrate how confronting fear and overcoming feelings of overwhelm can lead to profound personal growth. Greg and Rachel emphasize that living a fulfilling life isn’t about avoiding fear but embracing it. They share practical strategies for stepping outside your comfort zone and making bold decisions that can unlock new opportunities. This episode offers listeners inspiration and actionable advice on how to face your fear and transform challenges into stepping stones for a richer, more meaningful existence. Whether you’re seeking to take a leap in your career, enhance your relationships, or simply cultivate a deeper sense of fulfillment, this episode will motivate you to tackle your fears head-on. Join Greg and Rachel on this transformative journey and discover how facing your fear can lead you to a truly extraordinary life. Tune in and start your adventure today! The topics discussed in our episodes are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. They should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for any medical concerns or questions. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #192 EVERYTHING In Life Gets Easier & Smoother When You Can COMMUNICATE Better. Here's How to Do It | 13 Sep 2022 | 01:22:15 | |
Can we start with a ‘slap’ in the face? In all sincerity, most of us suck at communicating with other people, especially in our family relationships. Plus, ‘communication’ seems like such a vague or broad topic. What exactly does it mean? And how do we improve it? We’re not the experts. And we still struggle communicating in some relationships or situations. We came to our marriage with giant deficits in ‘communication skills’. We both suffered with shyness and were terrified to even talk to people. And when we tried it was superficial or strained. When we got married we struggled sharing our feelings or discussing sensitive or ‘touchy’ subjects. But through specific practices — such as growing in awareness, or developing the ability to articulate through writing — we’ve been able to drastically improve our communication skills — ESPECIALLY in the relationships that matter most. That doesn’t mean they’re perfect. But they are much, much better than they would be otherwise. In this episode we discuss specific techniques for developing communication skills for important relationships such as marriage and parenting. We’ll explain how simple processes like writing can help you learn to think which can help you better speak to those you love. We’ll also discuss why the freedom to ‘be offensive’ and imperfect in your speech can help you discover the truth of what’s happening in your relationships. That’s how the thinking process works. We need to have grace for one another in order to ‘think out loud’ in our communication with each other. And we’ll also cover how sharing the same ‘vocabulary’ can drastically increase your ability to connect and how your ability to communicate (or lack thereof) ties into your personal levels of growth and maturity. Everything in life is so much easier, better, and flows smoother when you can effectively communicate with those closest to you — especially your spouse. So it’s worth every effort to improve your ability to communicate. Listen to this very useful episode for strategies to radically increasing familial closeness through effective communication. | |||
| #191 The Truth (& Myths) About Overcoming Anxiety & Depression | 06 Sep 2022 | 01:02:05 | |
Many, if not all of us, know of someone — are ARE someone — who has dealt with the devastating effects of anxiety and depression. Methods for dealing with these issues can be very charged. It’s a subject that’s often difficult to discuss, for a variety of reasons — shame, guilt, anger, frustration, despair. But they are subjects that NEED to be addressed — least of all because it’s becoming a crisis for youth and adults today. And what those who are struggling need most are advice and strategies that ACTUALLY work — and, as you’ll learn in this episode, more often than not, it does NOT include medication. The research is becoming VERY clear that most people on anti-depressants are still depressed. Medication is simply not the savior many hoped it would be. The truth is that the greatest limiting factor to overcoming anxiety and depression are your own limiting beliefs and erroneous or outdated conclusions about this topic. What you don’t know — and what you think you know that’s just not true — are hurting you. After decades of research, studying, and multiple-lifetimes of experience — including our work with thousands of youth and families across five continents — we have come to some very solid conclusions about anxiety and depression — what causes it, how to prevent it, and how to overcome it FOR GOOD. We guaran-dang-tee that some of what we discuss in this episode will NOT be popular. But it is scientifically, biologically, and psychologically-based and will WORK for the vast majority of people — 97% or more — so it’s worth considering. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #190 Unconditional Love is NOT the Highest Form of Love; Deep, Meaningful Love is CONDITIONAL | 30 Aug 2022 | 00:49:24 | |
Many of us have been taught or grown to believe that unconditional love is the highest of virtues. And in many ways it makes sense. Loving others — without conditions — seems to be the highest level of love possible, partly because it sometimes seems so unrealistic, especially when it comes to family members. (It’s even difficult to get clear on exactly what we’re talking about because we only have one word for ‘love’ in English. In Latin there are at least three — Eros, Agape, and Philia). But as Greg and I have thought about, discussed, and researched it over the years, we’ve come to believe that unconditional love is a lower, shallower type of love that is the foundation for higher, deeper types of love. And those more meaningful types of love are actually conditional. In reality, our closest relationships are — and should be — based on this ‘conditional’ love. For example, I can have unconditional, accepting love for my neighbor, despite what he does or how he treats me. But I can’t have a deep, meaningful relationship with my husband unless our love is conditional — i.e. we treat each other with respect, loyalty, and fidelity. Otherwise, is there any difference between our relationship and the one I have with the neighbor? It is ONLY because of these ‘conditions’ that our marriage relationship exists. In this episode, we dive into what this ‘conditional’ love actually looks like, and how it works so that it doesn’t become toxic or manipulative — which is the risk if it’s not built on a foundation of unconditional love for self and others. We explain how spousal, parental, and even God’s love has conditions, and when unconditional love, non-judgment, and tolerance become vices instead of virtues (and can lead to extremes such as school shootings). Listen to this fascinating episode discussing the pros and cons of unconditional love as well as the depths and levels of love and loving others and how to reach greater heights of love. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #189 How to Get Stuff Done & Be Productive (Even With a Family) | 23 Aug 2022 | 01:01:43 | |
Getting things done is one of the most critical ingredients for achieving your dreams and goals and building a lasting family legacy. Yet it’s also one of the hardest things to do because of the natural ebbs, flows, and interruptions of family life. There are mouths to feed, diapers to change, laundry to fold, meals to prepare, and dishes to wash. How can you even think about taking action toward your big dreams and goals? Well, that’s what we’re going to dive into in this episode. I’ve spent years reading business management and productivity books and always come away thinking how absolutely unrealistic their advice is for parents with children, especially if you work from home. But in this episode, I’m going to share with you the strategies I have learned and developed that help us to seriously get stuff done. These are the ‘secrets’ to our success in being able to ‘do it all’ — homeschooling seven kids, traveling the world, creating an Extraordinary marriage, AND building a multi-six-figure location independent business. Learn how you can become more productive without neglecting the things that matter most — your spouse, children, or household. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #188 Your Teen's Current Habits Will Make or Break Their Life Happiness & Success | 16 Aug 2022 | 01:00:14 | |
Greg Denning often says, “Tell me your habits and I’ll tell you your future.” Habits are the MOST important thing to determining the outcomes and happiness of your life. Habits will make or break your mental, emotional, spiritual, social, physical, family, and financial life. Where you are right now — and the quality and happiness of your life — is a DIRECT result of the habits you have had to this point. Where you want to go, who you want to become, and what you want to do, will be the DIRECT result of the habits you cultivate or break today. And yet, this is something that is not even taught to children, teens, or young adults anytime during their school years. It is something that few adults even understand. Instead, we’re taught to sacrifice our habits — or to develop bad habits — in the name of grades, tests, or graduation. This is a major contributing factor to the mental health and obesity crises we’re seeing in the world today. This is despite the research that shows there is NO correlation between academic success and life happiness and success. Let’s change that. Listen now to learn what the habits are for a successful life and how to develop and cultivate them intentionally in your own life and that of your children. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #187 Seek an ‘Inner Knowing’ (Insight & Intuition) And ACT On It to Avoid Sabotaging Your Life and Your Family | 09 Aug 2022 | 01:04:13 | |
In our line of work coaching families for the past 20 years, we get an up-close-and-personal look into the lives of many different types of people. It’s a sacred privilege and we learn so much. We often experience a wide range of emotions, from empathy to despair to elation. And not going to lie, sometimes we get fired up or frustrated about the things that people do — or don’t do — especially the things that THEY know they NEED to do. They will receive a clear insight about something they should do or should NOT have done… but then they don’t act on it. This is usually because it’s big, frightening, requires too much work — or all of the above. In this episode, we dive into the long-term consequences of avoiding or ignoring these important moments of clarity. Plus, we'll cover what to do about your fears of the 'unknown'. If you’ve ever had a very clear moment, thought, or feeling about something you should do, or realized clearly that something you did do was a mistake but didn't know how to fix it, then you don’t want to miss this episode. Because doing so could be sabotaging your future happiness and success. Listen now! RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #186 How to Build Confidence | 02 Aug 2022 | 01:00:58 | |
"I would like to be more confident but my face turns red if I am embarrassed, nervous, shy, afraid, or just talking with someone. Without that handicap, I know I would be more confident, but unfortunately, I let it stop me all too often. But I heard that Mr. Denning used to be really shy and his face would turn red anytime people would even ask him a question in class. I'm heading off to college soon and am a bit overwhelmed. I do the same thing, I am generally an introverted person, but I really enjoy talking with people and learning, but I don't want to miss out on that because my face looks like a fire engine." We answer this question in this episode and share our personal stories about being shy and introverted as children and teens (my face also turned red while talking to people). We discuss how we overcame these challenges and how gaining confidence can help you not only in college but in marriage and as a parent, too. If you feel that you could use some more confidence in your life then you definitely want to listen to this strategy-filled episode. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #185 Helping Children Develop Self-Control (aka The GREATEST Predictor of Future Success) | 26 Jul 2022 | 01:41:09 | |
As a parent, if you knew there was ONE major characteristic which — if developed — would drastically increase your child’s chances of success and happiness, not only now but as an adult… wouldn’t you want to know what it is? And wouldn’t you do everything in your power to help your child develop that characteristic? As parents of seven children, we give a definite ‘Yes!’ We want to know and we want to help them develop it as fully as possible. Well, researchers have followed a large group of people from childhood into adulthood and they found a common denominator that could predict future success. Children who demonstrated more self-control at age 11 were more likely to be happy, healthy, and successful at age 32. And the best part is that self-control is a learnable skill. It is a skill that we, as parents, can teach to our children. And it is done in simple ways during interactions on a daily basis. Listen to this episode to learn simple strategies for helping your children to develop more self-control starting this week! RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #184 Helping Children to Manage Their Emotions (so They Can Live Happier Lives) | 19 Jul 2022 | 01:01:13 | |
Emotions can be big and scary — for both parents and children. But it is possible to teach — and model — emotional management for your kids. Emotions are EVERYTHING. Our lives our experienced through emotions, so by default, the quality, quantity, and content of our emotions determine the quality and content of our lives. We can and should educate our emotions — and teach our children to do the same. How? That’s what we’ll cover in this episode. Strategies for dealing with a range of feelings (which are normal), and how to validate and accept them when they arise while working through them so they don’t stay to cause long-term distress or trauma. Don’t miss this! RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #183 Seeing BEYOND Roe Vs. Wade, Gun Control, & Other 'Surface Tensions' | 28 Jun 2022 | 01:01:01 | |
There is a lot of ‘surface tension’ in the media today -- social and mainstream. Lots of polarity and opposition about intense topics. And it bothers me. Because it paints the picture that there are only two sides to any issue. And that’s just not true. We (as individuals and society) have to look beyond the ‘surface tension’ of topics to the underlying problems and underlying causes of those problems. There is so little we know — we as a society, (and especially ‘we’ as in Greg & Rachel). But we do know that “as the area of your knowledge increases, so too does the perimeter of your ignorance.” To have more peace in society — and to find more real, lasting solutions — we have to learn to look past what we THINK we know to what we might not know that could be true. In this episode, we walk through the process of learning to look BEYOND the ’symptoms’ to the root causes of the disease in society that plague us. We discuss the problems with a ‘symptom management’ based focus on issues — not only political and societal but familial as well. And we cover some potential solutions that are psychologically, scientifically, and religiously supported. Don’t miss this potentially controversial episode! RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #280 Here's WHY You Don't ALREADY Have the Truly Fulfilling Family Life You Want | 02 Oct 2024 | 01:10:13 | |
In this inspiring episode, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning delve into the philosophy of 'escaping the unhappy dream of our life' and creating a truly fulfilling life instead. They discuss why so many people are 'content' with the results they have instead of pursuing the results they really want. Creating a truly happy life requires deliberate choices and intentional actions. Hard work is required to achieve anything extraordinary. The difference is, with the right coaching and mentoring, you can learn to work hard with 'power tools' instead of doing everything 'by hand'. The Dennings also explore how divine discontent can fuel personal growth and transformation and can be the key to fulfillment. They highlight the importance of continuous effort in pursuing happiness and encourage listeners to reject mediocrity in favor of an extraordinary life. Because if they can do it, so can you, since they began their journey as completely 'normal' people. It’s time to identify what you truly want and take the first steps (even baby steps) toward a life you love! The topics discussed in our episodes are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. They should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for any medical concerns or questions. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
#ExtraordinaryFamilyLifePodcast #WorldschoolFamily #RachelDenning #FormidableFamilyMen #FamilySuccess #ParentingTips #BecomeABetterYou #MarriageAdvice #MarriageGoals #RaisingKids #SelfHelp #PersonalDevelopment #GrowthMindset #ManifestYourDreams #PersonalGrowthJourney | |||
| #182 How to Stop Yelling At Your Kids (Because You're Traumatizing Them) | 14 Jun 2022 | 01:35:34 | |
We get a little serious in this episode -- and Greg sheds a few tears -- because in our work with clients, we've seen the trauma caused by yelling parents. We do not use this word lightly. “People are people no matter how small.” Your children are people. And when you yell at them — consistently and in anger — you’re traumatizing them. A child's self-worth comes from the view their parents have of them. How dare you treat a precious being in your care with such contempt. Stop it! You’re the adult. Learn to act like it. They deserve your love and respect. Despite this harsh and straightforward statement, we are actually very empathetic to the stress and overwhelm parents are under. We do know that children can be annoying and can push all your buttons. We know that you’re exhausted, depleted, unsupported, and pulled in every direction. But ultimately, while yelling might work in the short term, it damages relationships in the long term. Yelling means you’ve reached your ‘wits’ end’, have run out of parenting skills, and don’t have a close enough attachment with the child you’re yelling at. Listen to this episode to learn how to fix all of that. And learn how to never yell in anger again. Watch how this will drastically change your family culture and parent/child relationships. ************ This episode is sponsored by our Preventing Problems & Creating Peace Workshop. Learn how to spend more time helping things go right instead of fixing what’s going wrong — and yelling about it. This workshop will help you understand Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and how to apply it in your family to have fewer (or NO) tantrums, better behavior, more cooperation, and greater peace. We’ll also outline the Pyramid of Peace and how to help your kids be self-motivated. If you would like to have more peace at home — and less yelling — then you need this workshop. Click the link in the show notes for and start today implementing these simple strategies to help more things go right at home. OR you can also get this Workshop as part of our Become a Better Parent Bundle which also includes our Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Course, Teaching Children to Manage Their Emotions Workshop and The 5 Habits of Successful Families Self-Paced Class. Visit extraordinaryfamilylife.com and click the Parenting link in the menu. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #181 Chores as Child Abuse?! Responses to This & Other Surprising Comments | 31 May 2022 | 02:11:44 | |
Have you ever thought of chores as child abuse? I haven’t either. But I shared a post on Instagram about our system for organizing chores and I was shocked at the number of NEGATIVE comments I received from people who believe that giving your children chores is akin to child labor and abuse. One comment said, “Parents who want to do less [sic] things by dumping it on kids should be ashamed of themselves. Kids do not need to have regular chores in order to learn responsibility and you know it VERY WELL… you aren't teaching, you are USING kids!” Another comment said, “There is plenty wrong and abusive in making children feel they must contribute to the household. Why? Because it's putting undew [sic] pressure on children, pressure that they should not have.” One more states simply, “Children should not be made to do regular chores.” And finally, “CHORES FOR KIDS? More like mom and dad don't want to do their household duties!” This concept wasn’t entirely new to me. I had come across it in some out-of-the-way literature. But I hadn’t ever come across anyone who actually believed it. It seems common sense to most parents that using chores can help their children learn responsibility. In this episode, we respond to these comments (since responding to them on Instagram was limited by space) and philosophize on chores, and debate both sides of the argument. When can doing chores be detrimental to a child? In what circumstances do chores become child abuse or child labor? If parents decide to do chores, what is the best way to go about doing them? How do you teach your children the underlying philosophy or archetypal reasons for doing chores so that they feel self-motivated to do them? We discuss all of this and much more in this lengthy but entertaining and enlightening discussion. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #180 This is What's Contributing to All Your Parenting Problems -- And Will Solve Them When Addressed | 24 May 2022 | 01:02:23 | |
When Greg Denning was out on his own as a teenager it wasn’t difficult for him to realize that his life sucked… but he desperately wanted it to be better and different. Nobody wants to live a sucky life and stay there. But it was so interesting to him to watch people live a sucky life — and stay there. They would keep doing the same things that would produce the same sucky results. As a 16-year-old he was able — miraculously enough — to look around and say, “Dude, stop doing what you’re doing and you’ll get different results.” It was just easy for him to see as a teen, even though he wasn’t yet able to articulate it into something we live by — “Nothing in my life will get better until I get better.” Greg came to realize — then experience — then teach thousands of people on five continents that when YOU get better, everything else in your life gets better too. In today’s episode, we are discussing how this applies to parenting. Many parents keep doing things that are producing sucky results and unnecessary pain and suffering in the form of bad behavior, rebellion, tantrums, fighting, yelling, and more. NONE of this is going to get easier or better until YOU get better as an individual and a parent. The problems you’re facing as a parent ultimately stem from your own inabilities or lack of skills & awareness. It’s not your fault, but learning to be aware of them is key to changing everything and solving your problems. If you are a parent or know a parent, you don’t want to miss this! RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #179 Travel More? Or Prepare for the Worst? Finding the Middle-Ground Between Risk-Taking and Being Safe & Prepared | 17 May 2022 | 00:59:07 | |
You may have seen or heard that we’re planning a move to Portugal — and hoping to travel while making the transition. We received some questions about this: “We would love to travel more, even long term, but I am getting more hesitant because of predictions about downturns in the economy, warfare, etc. I see a lot of people encouraging self-reliance and preparation at this point in time (ie growing and storing your own food). This seems like it would be hard to do while traveling. I want to protect and provide for my family, but I also see the amazing benefits of traveling as a family. What is your take on these predictions and what does your family do to prepare for potential crises? Should these things be taken into consideration when considering where to travel and when? Things have changed so much in the world in just a couple of years!” We also had some Instagram followers and podcast listeners asking, “How do you decide where to travel or where to LIVE? And how do you go about getting a visa to do that? And didn’t you want to live in a Chateau in France? What happened to that?” In this episode, we’re going to discuss travel, living abroad, making decisions about WHERE and HOW to live, being safe and preparing for worst-case scenarios, and why ‘following your heart’ (and what that means) is a key piece to this whole life puzzle. Life IS risk. If you’re going to be alive there is risk in living. You might as well make the most of the risky life you already have. You have to get ‘boots on the ground’ and touch, feel, and experience YOUR LIFE. Truly Live Your While You’re Alive! But we’re also not promoting unsafe or stupid behavior. So where is that balance found? How do you find the middle ground between risk-taking and being safe and prepared? That's what we discuss in this episode that you don’t want to miss! This episode is sponsored by our Trips & Adventures. Travel with us to cool destinations like Jordan, Norway, Egypt or Greece. Past trips include riding dromedaries in the Sahara desert or hiking to Macchu Picchu, or sailing around the Galapagos. We lead trips and retreats for teens, couples, families, and men. Visit extraordinaryfamilylife.com and click the link at the top for the Adventures to get notified about upcoming trips, retreats, and adventures! https://courses.extraordinaryfamilylife.com/pages/trip-updates-announcements See what countries are open at joinsherpa.com/map | |||
| #178 We Know It's Hard But DO WHAT MUST BE DONE! The Obstacle IS the Way | 10 May 2022 | 01:26:26 | |
We all have blind spots. We all have things we’re doing (or not doing) that are causing or contributing to our own problems. In our coaching, we often work with people who keep doing (or not doing) the things that are keeping them miserable and unhappy. If they could just STOP then they could drastically change their life. Of course, this is easier said than done, otherwise, you would ALREADY have stopped or started the things that need to be done and wouldn’t be suffering from the current challenges you face. In this episode we dive into specific strategies for DOING what MUST be done -- the things that IF done will change everything — improve your marriage and parenting, help you make more money, or to achieve that big goal or dream that’s been locked away somewhere in your soul. It can be difficult to make the effort or find the courage to do these things. We acknowledge that doing them is hard and that you might not feel ready to do them. But the only way you will GET ready IS by doing them. As the Stoics say, The Obstacle IS the Way. Listen now to this episode to learn how to do what MUST be done before it’s too late for you to make the changes you need to make to have the kind of life you want to have. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #177 How Personality Affects Your Marriage & Parenting; Analyzing (& Laughing About) Our Big 5 Personality Test Scores | 03 May 2022 | 01:50:41 | |
Understanding YOURSELF and the other human beings around you is one of the trickiest and most complex aspects of life and relationships — Your personality begins to form from conception, in the womb, and as you grow as a child. You don’t start to become aware of this until much later in life (and some people never gain awareness of who they are and what makes them do the things they do.) For a long time, Greg and I were not fans of personality tests — until Jordan Peterson’s Big 5 Personality Test. They felt too confining and victimizing, labeling you as a certain color or number. They weren’t holistic. Human beings are more complex than that. This personality test is different and has been peer-reviewed and works across cultures. Greg and I analyze our personal levels of Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Openness to Experience. There’s a lot of laughing at ourselves through this process. :D In this episode, we walk through (and psychoanalyze) our personal results on the Big 5 Personality test — in order to help you understand how these play out in yourself, your relationship, and in your parenting. We also give a quick answer to a question we received regarding sex and conversation — the cycle of intimacy — after this spouse listened to Episode #174 Marriage Q&A. We address falling in and out of love, major reasons for divorce, and deepening the intimacy in your relationship by making deposits instead of just withdrawals. We also cover why your wife cries and wants to talk while you just listen because she needs a mental and emotional outlet. A woman wants her man to be someone who will listen to her. Without this emotional vulnerability, she will never be able to open up sexually. Stick by the woman when she ugly cries and she will love you even more. :D This is a very insightful and informational episode that will give you the vocabulary and words you need to articulate what is happening in your marriage and life. This episode is sponsored by our Best Self Bundle. This bundle of courses gives you all the tools, resources, and strategies that you need to reach upward and become your best self — to develop your personality into what you would like it to be instead of accepting what you currently have even if you don’t like it. Visit extraordinaryfamilylife.com and click the link at the top for the Best Self Bundle and start today learning simple strategies you can use right away that will create powerful positive transformations in your personality. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #176 How Frustration, Guilt, & Discontent Guide You to Your Best Self -- Don't Assuage the Pain or 'Accept What Is'. This is Your Soul Calling! | 26 Apr 2022 | 01:03:24 | |
Have you ever had that inner feeling of discontent, frustration, guilt, or dissatisfaction? (I know I have.) Have you ever thought — what’s the point of setting goals? I’ll just be disappointed. Or have you ever tried to achieve something — losing weight, earning more money, or improving your marriage — only to finally give up and accept yourself and your circumstances? In this episode we’re going to dive into why many people feel and think this way — and how ‘accepting things as they are’ can be a good short-term strategy, but it’s a bad long-term plan. Why? Because you end up living in incongruence and you’ll make yourself miserable -- now and in the future. There is an inner knowing in your soul — a blueprint of your potential — and as long as you live below what you’re capable of you’ll always feel that something is missing (which you’ll try to assuage or excuse away with eating, scrolling, or Netflix). But the only way to find lasting happiness is to accept the call to your highest self and to reach upward. Listen to this episode as we discuss how to live in more congruence and thereby live a happier, more fulfilling, and satisfying life. Please excuse the audio quality in this episode. The original audio recorded with our microphones was lost and we had to use the audio from the video recording. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #175 Q&A Sneaky Teens, Forbidden Apps, Pornography, Masturbation, Device Usage, Teen Sex and More! Oh My. | 19 Apr 2022 | 01:26:38 | |
We received some great questions about parenting that we’re addressing today. We love it receiving questions so if you have one please don’t hesitate to ask us. You can leave a voice message for us on our podcast page, or you can email us support@extraordinaryfamilylife.com The first question is about teen device usage and sneaky behavior. We are having an issue with our son's cell phone usage…We limit it and have always made him turn in his cellphone at night to promote good, healthy habits. I just discovered that he has been hiding an old cracked cell phone that he has been using at night. He also has apps such as TikTok and Snapchat that we do not allow. I know that the phones and apps are made to be addicting. I just don't know how to approach this issue. I will be turning off the wifi night now but how do you deal with the sneaking second phones and apps? It indicates to me that he may be addicted to these apps and his phone. I am curious if you have encountered this before. It is very concerning to us and I would value your input and opinion. The second question is also very relevant with long-term consequences. I’d like to request for you and your husband to talk about the sex drive in teenage boys specifically. As a parent how do you guide them so they can handle their “urges” in a healthy manner? How do you educate them so they don’t fall pray with the use of pornography? What are the best ways to support them instead of shaming for having these normal desires? Our society is so full of trashy messages about sex, masturbation, pornography, etc., that I honestly worry about the future of these young men! If you have kids, make sure you listen to this very important episode! RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #174 Marriage Q&A: Intellectual Conversations, Over-Helping, & Why This Famous Sexpert is WRONG | 12 Apr 2022 | 01:12:00 | |
We regularly receive questions from parents and spouses on all sorts of topics — and we love it! If you have a question please don’t hesitate to ask us. You can leave a voice message for us on our podcast page, or you can email us support@extraordinaryfamilylife.com Recently we received some questions about marriage — specifically how to have more engaging conversations and intellectual connections with your spouse as opposed to discussing the mundane life logistics all the time? Along those lines, how do you ‘accept’ your spouse for where they are on their growth journey — while still encouraging and helping them to do better, to make an effort, and to be interested and interesting? Connected to this — which we explain in this episode — is how to make more time for sexual connection, especially when you’re trying to go to bed early so you can start your day with a morning routine? And how do we (Greg and I) make time for sex multiple times per week?! We also get fired up about how a well-known sexpert is just WRONG about sex and how it IS a need -- for men (and women) and marriage in general. Finally, we answer a question about how to help a spouse who’s lost a job — without OVER helping so you become a nuisance and they feel disrespected or demoralized. You won’t want to miss this great Q&A session! This episode is sponsored by our Extraordinary Marriage Masterclass. If you’re not working ON your marriage, then by default, you’re working on your divorce! Marriage isn’t static and unchanging. It’s in a constant state of flux — day by day, sometimes hour by hour. And you can’t blame your spouse because you don’t have a better marriage. The responsibility lies in your hands — and it’s within your power. It only takes ONE person to make a marriage better. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #173 Beauty, Art, Changing World Order, & Jordan Peterson Live | 02 Apr 2022 | 00:57:15 | |
Greg and I are always fascinated by ideas, the search for truth, intellectual discussion, and meaningful connection. As intentionally as we have designed our lifestyle, it’s still rare for us to have all of those things in one evening. But we got the chance last week when we drove to Birmingham, AL to listen to Jordan Peterson present a live lecture at the Alabama Theater. He discussed a chapter from his new book, Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life about the importance of beauty and art. In this episode, Greg and I share our own journey of discovering beauty during our journey from overlanding hippies living in our truck with five kids, to moving to Germany where we encountered the enduring art and beauty of castles and cathedrals and how that changed us. In a special VIP session after the lecture, Peterson answered some questions about the current state of the world and what his thoughts are about what society might be facing. Greg and I unpack this and share some of our own thoughts about the Fourth Turning and the Changing World Order. The strength and stability of your family life is built on the strength of its foundation which is YOU. Your family life gets better when YOU get better. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #279 Easily Overcome 'Obligation Eating' (Even During the Holidays) for the 'Best Health' of your Life BEFORE New Years! | 25 Sep 2024 | 01:21:50 | |
Join hosts Greg and Rachel Denning in this enlightening episode, where they delve into the vital themes of healthy eating and overall health self-improvement amidst today’s societal challenges of unhealthy processed food options (including during the holidays). Discover the concept of obligation eating and the social expectations of consuming foods that aren't good for you. How do you say no? One key is to fully understand the hidden dangers of processed foods, and the importance of healthy eating practices that nourish both body and mind over a lifetime. Tune in to learn how mindful food choices can positively impact your family’s well-being and strengthen your connections now and in the future. The Dennings emphasize the importance of maintaining personal health standards and how effective communication about food contributes to overall family health. They explore practical strategies for setting healthy boundaries with food to support your family’s health and well-being. With insights drawn from their personal experiences, this episode equips listeners with actionable tips to navigate social pressures and make informed choices that promote a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. Tune in for inspiration and guidance to enhance your family’s health and create a thriving food environment for everyone! RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #172 The Foundations for Magic & Serendipity -- Our Portugal Trip Report | 24 Mar 2022 | 00:58:55 | |
Greg and I just returned from an incredible trip to Portugal to celebrate our 21st anniversary and we’re excited to record an episode about it. We’re going to share all the romance, magic, and serendipity we experienced that surprised even us. It’s difficult for us to put in words the super special experience we shared together during this trip. But we’re going to unpack it for you, explain the key ingredients that made it so meaningful, and outline some foundational principles for creating more magic and serendipity in your own life. You don’t want to miss the romance and magic of this special episode! If you haven’t already, make sure to get our Must-Read Book Recommendations for creating an Extraordinary Family Life. We have books on parenting, marriage, health, finances, and lifestyle design. Plus get a free ebook that will change your life — The Majesty of Calmness. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #171 Force Your Kids to Finish? Or Let Them Quit? Our Surprising Answer | 01 Mar 2022 | 00:54:16 | |
Welcome to the podcast! We’re discussing something today that is crucially important to raising healthy, well-adjusted kids. We want to teach them to NOT be quitters, to follow through, and to have grit and perseverance. But in this episode, we lay out some arguments which show that the way many parents are trying to accomplish this is actually having the opposite effect. When we make a six-year-old take dance class even though she hates it but we don’t want her to be a ‘quitter’, what we’re actually doing is engendering resentment — and she’s not actually learning the lesson we’re trying to teach. Don’t worry! We’ve got some specific strategies for getting those outcomes you want. But you might be surprised that they’re not what you expected. Listen now to learn what they are. If you haven’t already, make sure to get our Must-Read Book Recommendations for creating an Extraordinary Family Life. We have books on parenting, marriage, health, finances, and lifestyle design. Plus get a free ebook that will change your life — The Majesty of Calmness. | |||
| #170 How to Wake Up and Overcome Sleep Depression/Inertia -- Better Mornings Equals a Better Life | 22 Feb 2022 | 01:03:02 | |
Hey everyone. We hope you’re having a great week. I know Greg and I are excited to have some sunshine and warmer weather after two cloudy and cold weeks. Today we’re discussing something which — at first glance — seems overly simplistic. We’re talking about HOW to wake up. And yet, waking up is something every one of us does and we do it every single day of our life. There’s an incredible power that comes when we can learn to do BETTER the things we do consistently. One of those things is waking up. There are specific ways to be more intentional about waking up each morning. And when you learn how to control and your direct your mornings, it provides a lot of power for controlling and directing your life. Helping your mornings to go better helps your life to go better. Listen to this episode now to learn the strategies we’ve been using for the past 20 years to design our mornings — which then led to designing our life. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #169 How to Make the Mundane Parts of Day-to-Day Life More Meaningful | 08 Feb 2022 | 00:57:15 | |
Today we are diving into a detailed look at what living an ‘extraordinary’ life looks like on the day-to-day. The majority of your life — and ours — is spent in daily activities that can be mundane. Dishes, laundry, errands. Even with a travel lifestyle like ours, we spend most of our time sitting in a vehicle on a road trip or waiting in an airport. How do you make the ordinary, routine, ‘boring’ daily interactions more meaningful and purpose-filled? We’ll share specific strategies that we’ve used for over a decade to turn the transactional into transformational. If you’ve ever felt that life is like the movie ‘Groundhog Day’ then you definitely want to listen to this episode so you can learn how to get unstuck and make the daily interactions you’re ALREADY having with your spouse and children special, memorable, and magical. This episode is sponsored by our Be Your Best Self Bundle. The Strength of Your Family Begins With the Strength of the FOUNDATION = YOU YOU are the foundation of your family. You have to be strong to carry the load of responsibility. The 'BEST SELF' Bundle will lighten the burden with tools that help you DO and BE more with less stress and more confidence. Greg loves to teach that ‘A Rising Tide Lifts ALL Boats’ When the tide comes it, it lifts all the boats in the harbor. YOU can be the tide in your family. Family life gets better when YOU get better. How YOU Live YOUR Life is How You Teach Your Children to Live Theirs -- Be Someone Worth Modeling RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #168 What to Do When People Oppose Your Lifestyle Choices | 25 Jan 2022 | 01:04:38 | |
Welcome to the podcast! In this episode Greg and I are answering a question about clashing cultures — what to do when the status quo conflicts with your unconventional lifestyle choices — especially if the clash is happening in your own family. It’s not uncommon for someone like you to try to do life differently and then to get ‘thrown under the bus’ by the naysayers and ‘reality checkers’. Maybe you want to homeschool, travel with your family, eat a different way than you were raised, or to take a different path in college or career than the generation before you. How do you handle the unavoidable conflict that arises from your unconventional choices? Is it best to create healthy distance and accept these differences? Or is there a way to create agreement and harmony despite diametrically opposed viewpoints? Listen now to hear the answer! This episode is sponsored by our Be Your Best Self Bundle. The Strength of Your Family Begins With the Strength of the FOUNDATION = YOU YOU are the foundation of your family. You have to be strong to carry the load of responsibility. The 'BEST SELF' Bundle will lighten the burden with tools that help you DO and BE more with less stress and more confidence. Greg loves to teach that ‘A Rising Tide Lifts ALL Boats’ When the tide comes it, it lifts all the boats in the harbor. YOU can be the tide in your family. Family life gets better when YOU get better. How YOU Live YOUR Life is How You Teach Your Children to Live Theirs -- Be Someone Worth Modeling RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #167 How to Get Your Spouse on Board -- Plus Why Your Marriage Needs a 'Breaking Point' | 18 Jan 2022 | 01:11:39 | |
Welcome back to the podcast! In this episode Greg and I are answering some often asked questions about how to get your spouse on board. This could be getting them on board with your big dreams and goals, or simply on board with the process of growing and improving. There’s nothing worse than starting to learn, grow, and develop as a person but then to feel that your spouse is getting left behind or, even worse, creating their own self-sabotage. One question we received said, As I’ve focused hard on self-improvement over the last 18 months, and not seen my wife doing much to try to improve with me, it has been hard not to judge her and become frustrated with her. That has been especially true with our parenting. It’s extremely painful to observe her parenting and I’m trying to think of what might be affecting her parenting negatively.” We’ll discuss several approaches than can be used to help make tricky situations like this one easier. We’ll also explain what a ‘breaking point’ is and why every marriage needs to face one — or several of them. This episode is sponsored by our Creating an Extraordinary Marriage Bundle. Why settle for a a good or okay marriage when you can have an extraordinary one? Marriage isn’t static. It’s constantly in a state of flux. So if you’re not actively working on growing closer in your marriage then by default you’re working on your divorce. You can’t afford to spend even one day working on your divorce, so if you’re not already being proactive it’s time to make a change. Many of us believe that if our spouse would change then your marriage would be better. But the truth is you can’t wait around for you spouse to change. It is within your power to improve your marriage — even if your spouse won’t change. That’s the good news — it only takes ONE person to ‘be the tide’ and make a difference in your marriage. And that person is YOU. Learn how to create regular daily, weekly, monthly and yearly rituals to remind you that you’re a man and woman in love — and building a legacy. Unite as a couple, peruse shared dreams, and become an example of love and relationship that everyone — including your children — admires and looks up to. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #166 The Size of Your Dreams MUST Exceed Your Current Capacity to Achieve Them | 11 Jan 2022 | 01:01:47 | |
Are you ready to start dreaming bigger and living more intentionally — both for yourself and your family? In this episode, Greg and I dive into one of our favorite topics — dreaming BIG and setting bold, meaningful goals that challenge you to grow into the person capable of achieving them. We talk about why dreaming is not just a nice idea — it's essential. Big dreams expand your vision and help you rise above the limitations of your current reality. As Greg often says,
We’ll walk you through how to reflect on the past year, take the lessons you’ve learned, and paint a fresh vision for what’s possible this year and beyond. We also explore:
If you’re tired of living reactively and you’re ready to become more deliberate and aligned with the life you truly want — this conversation is for you. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #165 Exposing Your Kids to the Dark Side -- WHY and HOW | 28 Dec 2021 | 01:01:01 | |
Welcome to this episode where we will be discussing a sensitive and sometimes frightening topic to many parents — and that’s WHY and HOW to expose your children to the darkness in order to help them be stronger and more prepared to face and fight evil and malice in the world (which does exist, in case you’re like I used to be and naively thought there are no ‘bad people’ in the world or that bad things don’t happen to me or my family. We’ll also touch on the Law of Attraction or Expectation and how that works into our encounters with evil -- as well as why allowing your children to choose the music and movies they listen to or watch can be a helpful place to start discussions that should be taking place regularly if you want to help your kids develop resilience. This episode is sponsored by Mr. Denning’s Habits for a Successful Life — a live, online class for teenagers. After studying personal development for 20 years, we looked far and wide for a class that would teach our teenagers something MORE important than academics — namely HOW to practice self-leadership and manage their minds, emotions, and habits in order to create a happy and fulfilled life. When we couldn’t find what we were looking for we decided to create it ourselves and offer it to other amazing families. Teens absolutely LOVE this class and all of Mr. Denning’s stories from his travels to 48 countries. The most recent 5-star review left this week by a teenager says: “This class was AMAZING! It has helped me get a new perspective and motivated me to shape my life into how I want it to turn out. I loved every minute of it, and I wholeheartedly recommend others try it as well!” If you have teenagers — or know someone who does — please share this class with them. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #164 Teen Mental Health Strategies That WORK! Pattern Interrupts & State Changes | 21 Dec 2021 | 01:14:34 | |
In this episode, we’re discussing teen mental health and strategies for helping them not only overcome mental health challenges but to learn to thrive despite their difficult circumstances. We’re empathetic to the real struggles and suffering that parents and youth are dealing with and want to provide hope in this episode. Through personal experience, as well as from working with thousands of youth, and doing decades of research, we’ve discovered what actually works to help teens deal with the challenges they face. We know that not every situation is black and white with clear-cut answers or solutions but this episode will provide some puzzle pieces that may fit perfectly for your unique situation. Please use what you can and share it with others who may need to hear this message. This episode is sponsored by Mr. Denning’s Habits for a Successful Life — a live, online class for teenagers. After studying personal development for 20 years, we looked far and wide for a class that would teach our teenagers something MORE important than academics — namely HOW to practice self-leadership and manage their minds, emotions, and habits in order to create a happy and fulfilled life. When we couldn’t find what we were looking for we decided to create it ourselves and offer it to other amazing families. Teens absolutely LOVE this class and all of Mr. Denning’s stories from his travels to 48 countries. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #163 The Failure to Launch Epidemic and How to Prevent It In YOUR Children & Teens | 14 Dec 2021 | 01:20:29 | |
In this episode, we’re talking about Failure to Launch syndrome — a significant growing phenomenon among young adults who are not successfully making the transition to adulthood. Its symptoms include young adults who continue to live at home or to be supported by their parents, YA who don’t contribute financially to their own living expenses and begin to withdraw from the world and society. Failure to launch — known as Peter Pan syndrome in the U.S. -- can take the form of unrealistic (or NO) goals, blaming others for their situation, narcissism, a lack of motivation to change, low levels of persistence, high expectations without reciprocation, lack of basic adult skills, and no ‘liftoff’ into adult responsibilities — among other things. In the extreme, it can lead to the proverbial 30-year-old living in the basement and can be accompanied by anxiety, depression, and sometimes suicide. In this episode, Greg and I discuss the contributing factors to failure to launch plus strategies to avoid it. Whether you have toddlers or teens (or are one yourself), you NEED to listen to this! But first — this episode is sponsored by Habits for a Successful Life — a live, online class for teenagers. After studying personal development for 20 years, we looked far and wide for a class that would teach our teenagers something MORE important than academics — namely HOW to practice self-leadership and manage their minds, emotions, and habits in order to create a happy and fulfilled life. When we couldn’t find what we were looking for we decided to create it ourselves and offer it to other amazing families. Teens absolutely LOVE this class and all of Mr. Denning’s stories from his travels to 48 countries. They say things like: "This class changed my life! I have much better personal habits and I feel like I was given the keys to having a totally epic future. Mr. Denning is great at pushing us out of our comfort zones, while still being encouraging and supportive. Five stars are not enought to sum up how amazing and life-changing this class truly is!" 🎉 Enrollment is now open for our Fall 2025 Habits for a Successful Life Online Class for Teens → Learn More Here Help your teen build life skills, confidence, and discipline. Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #278 An ‘Odyssey’ of Obstacles WILL Arise When Pursuing Big Goals -- Here’s How to Handle Them | 18 Sep 2024 | 01:09:54 | |
In this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, Greg and Rachel Denning share a real-life experience happening to them now to illustrate the journey of pursuing goals which is often filled with unexpected twists and challenges. They reveal how pursuing big goals often leads through a series of obstacles, each one becoming an opportunity for growth and learning. Join them as they share their highs and lows, and explore how embracing these challenges shapes your journey in profound ways. Greg and Rachel discuss the significance of recognizing patterns in the challenges we face and how problem-solving skills play a crucial role in overcoming them. They emphasize that the journey itself, rather than just the destination, shapes who we become. Through their personal story, they illustrate that every obstacle is a stepping stone towards achieving our dreams. Tune in to discover how facing obstacles with a growth mindset can lead to unexpected blessings and a deeper appreciation of the journey. Embrace the adventure and let every challenge be a guide towards your dreams! RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
#ExtraordinaryFamilyLife #RachelDenning #FormidableFamilyMen #selfhelp #dreams #liveyourbestlife #liveyourlifetothefullest #success #motivational #personaldevelopment #growth | |||
| #162 'Entertainment Overrun' is Creating a Painful Gap Between Here and the Life of Your Dreams | 07 Dec 2021 | 00:53:16 | |
We often receive emails from parents or spouses asking questions -- we love it. (Email us your questions at support @ extraordinaryfamilylife.com) This email asked us: “How can our family create balance and not feel guilty for doing things we enjoy (Netflix, video games, etc.) that aren’t necessarily productive (toward achieving our goals)?” Great question! We've also experienced the 'gap' between the reality of where we are and where we want to go/be (our BIG dream or goal). Sometimes that gap is painful. And it often requires that we sacrifice, give up, or exchange some of what we're doing now in order to achieve what we really want to have. We call this The Exchange Rate. But where there's pain there's power. And you can use that power to transform your life. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #161 Question Everything -- Including C*vid -- Take Responsibility, And Get Healthy! | 30 Nov 2021 | 01:11:45 | |
Under duress, Greg agreed to do ANOTHER podcast touching on issues around C*vid -- but only because someone was confused about our 'statement' and position during the last one. They also believed there were some holes in our arguments. We address those in this episode. We also encourage you to take 100% responsibility for your health, your life, your family, and your circle of influence. Stop wasting your energy on trying to get others to understand, agree, or conform and put it back into making the most of yourself. Stop hacking at the branches and start getting to the root of the problems. Listen now to see how. Wim Hof & Jordan Peterson podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/cy/podcast/wim-hof-with-jordan-and-mikhaila-peterson/id1184022695?i=1000501492588 Wim Hof Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CWRAbgvlqxZ/ RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #160 "You're Good Enough the Way You Are" Isn't the WHOLE Truth | 09 Nov 2021 | 00:58:48 | |
It IS true that 'you are good enough the way you are'. You are special. You are lovable. You are allowed to just be YOU. But those ideas are INCOMPLETE truths. You were also designed, created, and evolved to continually aim to become YOUR best version of you. So you'll never feel completely content remaining the way you are now. No matter how many times you tell it to yourself. The only way to be completely fulfilled is to regularly work on letting your inner light shine... To get comfortable with discomfort, because that is how you grow... To become self-aware enough to know when to give yourself grace and when to push yourself harder. Because loving yourself for who you ARE -- and being discontent for who you've not yet BECOME... ...being grateful for the progress you've made -- and being dissatisfied with the results you've gotten so far -- -- are two sides of the same coin. And wholeness comes when you learn to hold and operate by these two seemingly opposing viewpoints. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #159 Teenage Rebellion & "Restaurant Parenting" | 03 Nov 2021 | 01:19:37 | |
"Rebellion of basically any kind stems from needs that are not being met." "Which needs are commonly not met that are likely to lead to rebellion?" Is there a difference between healthy and unhealthy rebellion? Do you consider some kind of rebellion necessary in a person’s life? In this episode, we discuss these and other parenting topics and how 'restaurant parenting' (as I call it) may contribute to future teen rebellion. We also talk about rule-breaking and why we encourage a healthy version of it in our teens and young adults. If you're a parent, no matter the current age of your kids, don't miss the critical lessons in this episode! RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #158 The Politicization of C*vid & the V*ccine -- the episode we 'should not' be doing ;) | 25 Sep 2021 | 01:38:37 | |
In our last episode (#158), Greg hinted at doing another episode about the v*ccine. I wasn't so sure. But after thinking and discussing it, we decided to do it together -- partly because our individual views balance each other out and help us both to come to a more centered truth. We discuss how C*vid and the v*ccine have become politicized and what implications that has. We also examine C*vid's significance now compared to other times in history, and examine how politicizing a topic can skew each individuals understanding of the real facts. Most of all, we emphasize points that all sides are likely to agree on, and how that approach overall will help us to come together to find solutions that will benefit humanity as a whole. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #157 Our Response to 'Incomprehensibly Stupid' Memes & Current Events | 12 Sep 2021 | 01:03:46 | |
What happens when you share a 'controversial' meme on social media? Lots of comments and ensuing arguments. In this podcast, Greg and Rachel respond to comments on a meme that was shared which said: "If you've ever wondered if you would have complied during 1930s Germany, now you know." The reactions included words and phrases including:
An adequate response was not feasible in a Facebook comment, so we answered in a podcast episode instead. Plus, it was a lot more fun that way! "Covid is a problem but it's not the real problem. There is something bigger than that which is the real problem. Until we address the bigger problem at the bottom of the swamp, we won't really solve the problem." We'd love to hear your feedback, questions, comments, or requests for clarification -- or show us where we were wrong! Resources: The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park How Will You Measure Your Life? Follow us at: | |||
| #156 How To Know If You’re WINNING In Life | 05 Sep 2021 | 00:43:14 | |
How do you know if you’re winning in life? What about each area of your life? Some aren’t keeping score at all. They have no idea how they’re doing. They don’t think about it, measure it, or reflect on it. They’re distracted, unconscious, in survival mode, or on autopilot—with no clear picture of how they’re doing. Some are even against keeping score altogether. You can’t master what you don’t measure! I’m choosing to win as a man. So I’ll necessarily “lose” on other people’s scoreboards. Stop getting caught up in other people’s scoreboards. That’s one reason why epic failures seem to come out of nowhere—people were trying to win on someone else’s scoreboard. What does winning look like in each of your roles? Creating your own scoreboard takes time, effort, research, discernment, and wisdom—wisdom not easily won. The last thing you want is to win on the wrong scoreboard. Nor do you want to fear being wrong so much that you never set any scoreboard at all. There are countless great books—and just as many filled with terrible advice. Blogs, podcasts, and posts overflow with some of the worst ideas ever shared by human beings. I recently saw a sincere question in a men’s group from someone seeking meaning in life. The advice in the comments was some of the worst I’ve ever seen. Unbelievable. Take advice only from people whose whole life you’d want to emulate. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #155 This Is Why You Misjudge Other People | 14 Aug 2021 | 00:35:53 | |
Misjudging people it’s so easy and most of us do it pretty often if not all the time.Outward Symptoms can often help, but not always. They might Look rich but are broke. Look poor but have millions. Look nice but are evil. Look rough but are as honest as Abraham Lincoln Sometimes you meet people who in your first impression you mentally toss them out because they don’t fit, only to find out later that they’re AMAZING!We often misjudge because we have categories, labels, and boxes in which we psychologically try to arrange all the people, places, and things in our lives.The problem is that there are always people who don’t fit in our boxes, and that is where we get ourselves into trouble.Revisit the categories, rules, and labels that you have and see where they might be inaccurate. Leave an open box for those who don’t always fit the mold. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #154 Learning To WANT What You NEED and LOVE What You Don’t Like | 07 Aug 2021 | 01:03:08 | |
Here are 5 ideas about learning to like and enjoy the things you need to do but may not always want to do.
1—Like the results. You may not like the method and that’s okay. FOCUS on the results. What you focus on you feel. Need motivators? Grab a chunk of belly or flabby arm, and then get your running shoes on and out the door.
2 —If you used to like it but now you don’t, find out what’s changed. Try what you used to do. Or try liking it in new ways.
3—Do something totally different. Try new things. Get creative. Learn to like something else.
4—Train yourself to like what you need, what you must. Do you realize that EVERYTHING you like or dislike is all because of conditioning.
I believed for a long time that it was just the way I was. Perhaps I was born that way. I didn’t realize that I had conditioned myself or had been conditioned to it. Now I know that I can recondition myself to anything.
5—Sometimes you don’t like it. Do it anyway. That’s called being mature, responsible, an adult. Sometimes it sucks. So what. Embrace the suck. Every day you can and perhaps ought to do things you don’t like but are good for simply because we MUST cultivate your I-do-what-I-say-no-matter-what muscle. Our lives are so comfortable and convenient that many of us have become grown up babies.
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| #153 When Being a Good Person Produces Bad Results | 04 Aug 2021 | 00:28:55 | |
Being good is not enoughMost of our default thinking is that if we’re a good person it will be enough. That’s just not true!You can be a good person and a piss poor husbandYou can be a good person and a lousy loverYou can be a good person and a poor loserYou could be a good person and be terribly unproductiveYou can be a good person and a lousy listenerYou could be a good person distracted absent fatherYou can be a good person and a terrible businessmanYou can be a good person and a very Foolish investorYou can be a good person and a flimsy friendYou can be a good person and an unresponsive sonYou can be a good person and totally ignorant and uneducatedYou can be a good person and clueless to what’s going on around you and the needs of other peopleNow if you’re not good at tennis, that’s OK. If you want to be good at it you can work on it. If you don’t want to be good at it then you don’t have to do anything.But that’s not true of the other areas of your life like marriage and parenting and work and contribution and connectionIn my mind working on those skills is nonnegotiable.If you have children, for example, then you have A moral obligation to become a good parent with fully developed parenting skillsIf you want to have a great marriage, healthy kids, and a good relationship with them, if you want to have friends, if you want to make a difference in the world, if you work, then you simply cannot settle for merely being a good personWe have to stop sucking at the things that really matter especially if it’s because we’re succeeding in the things that don’t RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #277 Killing Sacred Cows: Why So Many People Are Leaving the Church | 11 Sep 2024 | 01:38:30 | |
Welcome to this episode, where hosts Greg and Rachel Denning dive into a crucial and timely discussion: Why are so many people leaving the church? They tackle the often-taboo topic of questioning religious beliefs and practices, emphasizing the importance of examining and challenging these aspects to foster genuine transformation and growth within faith communities. With a keen eye on both the potential for positive change and the shortcomings that sometimes plague churches, the Dennings advocate for a faith journey that prioritizes truth-seeking, open dialogue, and the need to challenge sacred cows. Join Greg and Rachel as they explore how questioning and examining existing religious institutions can lead to meaningful improvements and personal growth. They shed light on the dangers of bureaucratic stagnation, the need for grassroots movements, and the incorporation of diverse ideas into religious practice. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that encourages listeners to challenge 'sacred cows', embrace doubt, and strive for a more vibrant and impactful faith experience. RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #152 Your Money & Your Marriage | 16 Jul 2021 | 00:46:25 | |
What are good beliefs and practices around money in your marriage? What if one spouse brings in the income and the other stays home, who should be in charge of how it’s spent? Does the non-income earning spouse have any say on how the money should be spent?What if one spouse wants to save every penny and the other sees it as a tool for experience and growth?What if one spouse wants to approve every purchase before anything can be spent? What if they become upset when they feel you spend in a way they don’t approve of? What if one spouse spends out of control?What if one spouse hates their job and feels resentful and frustrated and doesn’t want their ‘life’ to be spent on anything they don’t personally agree on? What if spouse have completely different paradigms about what money is (good or evil, tool or curse)?Greg and Rachel discuss these and other issues related to money in your marriage. Listen now and share with your spouse! SRESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #151 What Husbands NEED to Know About Their Wives | 09 Jul 2021 | 00:59:18 | |
Many marriages are merely okay, or even slowly dying simply because men are inadvertently neglecting their wives. Gentlemen, you’re living far below your privileges in your marriage. Inadvertent negligence is costing you the spark, romance, and relationship you could have. With a little awareness and a few simple habits, you can totally transform your marriage. How is your health and fitness? It is affecting your relationship!Do you have clear boundaries between work life and family life? That is affecting your marriage.Are you leading at home? Spiritually mentally, emotionally, socially, physically, and financially?Are you fully engaged or usually distracted?Do you listen? Really listen? Are you making daily romantic gestures and planning awesome weekly dates?Are you taking ownership of the condition of the house and raising the children?Your wife will admire you more as you become more admirable.Your wife will respect you more as you become more respectable.Those of you who are married to high Achieving go-getter wives are often receiving things you don’t deserve.Deserve it. Earn it! Listen to this episode right now and share it with someone you know who needs to hear it RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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| #150 The Sex-quel. Follow Up Sex Episode With Rachel Denning | 16 Jun 2021 | 01:17:25 | |
Is your marriage feeling more like a roommate situation than a passionate partnership? You're not alone—and it doesn’t have to stay that way. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the honest, uncomfortable, and totally transformational truth about how to build a great sexual relationship in marriage. This is a raw and vulnerable conversation between husband and wife—parents of 7—about what it really takes to create deep intimacy, desire, and connection even during the most stressful seasons of life. We unpack the emotional and biological differences between men and women that lead to resentment, rejection, and miscommunication—and how to overcome them. You'll learn how to reframe intimacy as a gift instead of a duty, and how simple mindset shifts can totally change your relationship dynamic. This isn’t about shame, obligation, or surface-level advice. It’s about education, empathy, and intentional connection—so you can create a marriage that’s emotionally and sexually fulfilling for both of you. Whether you’ve been married 3 years or 30, this is a must-listen for anyone who wants to restore passion, rebuild emotional safety, and finally understand the REAL keys to a thriving, satisfying sex life. 🔑 Key Takeaways: ✅ Why men and women often completely misunderstand each other sexually 🗣️ Memorable Quotes: "If your man doesn’t desire you, he doesn’t really love you." RESOURCES: Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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