Today, we look at your next step of improvement in life. We talk about the 5 -2 -1- 0 and 10 measure for your health and the 5 second a day way to evaluate change and transformation in your day. We want to say thank you for all the fantastic feedback about the podcast. January was very hectic for us and we enjoyed the month off. Facebook = Less Stress Family Podcast Shawna = Instagram @shawnashereewood Art Work: Shawna Intro Voice: Hosanna, Asher, Ezra Intro and Outro Music: Acoustic guitar - Ju...
Feb 02, 2021•24 min•Ep. 159
Here is the full Sing A Long CD. We made it to be a blessing to anyone who is feeling lonely and isolated. Like Shawna said in the intro of this episode, imagine 16 of us with half a dozen instruments coming into your living room, drinking coffee and singing songs. It is fun chaos! This is free so please share it freely with anyone who might need some encouragement! Facebook = Less Stress Family Podcast Shawna = Instagram @shawnashereewood Art Work: Shawna Intro Voice: Hosanna, Asher, Ezra Intro...
Dec 28, 2020•52 min•Ep. 158
Traditions can bring stability and purpose to your life. Today we talk through how Christmas traditions like St. Nicholas Day, St. Lucy Day, Christmas Caroling and Finding Baby Jesus bring meaning to our family. Movies like = The Nativity, The Man who Invented Christmas, A Christmas Carol all build a rich tradition in our family. But we have to communicate to our kids and to ourselves why we are going through the traditions that we have. Expressing the "why" can make space for such awesome memor...
Dec 21, 2020•20 min
We have learned that if we don't learn a lesson in life, then we often have to re-take the test. We don't want to re-take the tests from 2020. So here are ten things we have learned or had reconfirmed in 2020: 1. Do the new thing = launch a podcast. 2. Your environment is your cookie cutter. 3. Routines are essential. 4. Life is very short. 5. Build redundancy in every area of life that you can. 6. Self learning is always best. 7. Slow down and reconnect with what is important. 8. Who are the re...
Dec 14, 2020•25 min•Ep. 156
In November 2020, our dear Grandma June passed away. This episode is dedicated to her memory and life. What you do matters! Living an ordinary life is more than ok. https://www.facebook.com/100766271391212/videos/3548322861927487 Email = woodfamily@lsfpodcast.com www.lsfpodcast.com for our free morning planner for adults and kids. Facebook = Less Stress Family Podcast Shawna = Instagram @shawnashereewood Art Work: Shawna Intro Voice: Hosanna, Asher, Ezra Intro and Outro Music: Acoustic guitar - ...
Dec 07, 2020•27 min•Ep. 155
Today, we are coaching ourselves through transition and changed. We all have seasons of transition and change. It is okay to feel a bit nervous about the unknown. However, you don't have to feel completely out of control during a time of change in your life. Focus on what you can control. Today we talk about: staying positive and thankful putting a time line on the change see it as a challenge not a problem think about benefits plan out the simple things more during transition reflect and journa...
Nov 13, 2020•20 min•Ep. 154
We are both super EXCITED about Thanksgiving and Christmas this year!! Why? Because we have decided to get back to the basics. We discuss how to de-stress your holidays with some very simple adjustments that we have learned over the years. We talk about: Too Much of everything Scheduling Sugar Intake Unrealistic expectations and Being Unprepared Email = woodfamily@lsfpodcast.com www.lsfpodcast.com for our free morning planner for adults and kids. Facebook = Less Stress Family Podcast Shawna = In...
Nov 11, 2020•19 min•Ep. 153
Politics stress got you down? Some people said that this 2020 election was the most stressful day in their life. Good grief people!! Get a grip!! In 1796, George Washington gave a farewell address and talked about the dangers of political parties and how they divide people - ultimately causing us great stress. "They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation the will of a party , often a small but artful a...
Nov 09, 2020•22 min
Hope all of you are doing fantastic! We just have a full week this week of living life so we are going to shut down the podcast for this week. If you really want to hear our voice this week, there are over 150 episodes archived. Enjoy this awesome week. Remember that What You Do Matters!!!!
Nov 02, 2020•44 sec
Self Sabotage is when you block yourself from reaching your own goals. Things like: chronic lateness, procrastination, perfectionism, negative self talk, etc. Shawna is going through some professional development where she realized that there is some self sabotage going on. So we have been talking about the story or stories that go with that self sabotage behavior. Why? We also talk about Fixed vs Growth Mindset and how we need to develop the habits of a life long learner to overcome self sabota...
Oct 30, 2020•20 min•Ep. 151
Today we talk about how we choose to be stressed in life. Sure, there are hard times but how we handle the situation is the key. I (Justin) cut out most news and stressful media for over a week. Instead, I listened to encouraging podcasts and youtube videos. Shawna noticed a big difference in that week of time. We refuse to allow stressed out to be the new normal in our life. We are replacing the words "busy and stressed" with "full and at peace". Email = woodfamily@lsfpodcast.com www.lsfpodcast...
Oct 28, 2020•21 min•Ep. 150
We are NOT talking about another virus you should be concerned about. We talk about Irlen Syndrome (Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome) and some things you might need to know. We discuss how our discovery that 1 of our kids had it has opened us up to all of us getting tested for it. We got our son glasses and he is on pace to advance 2.5 grade levels in reading this year!! No joke. Our glasses have been ordered and we should get them in a couple of weeks. Dyslexia, reading problems, headaches from li...
Oct 26, 2020•20 min
You are the leader of yourself. You are the leader of others (whether you like it or accept it). We discuss chapter 2 of the book Extreme Ownership. We also talk about: How face to face communication is so important in good leadership. How you have to have your team's best in mind as you lead. How there are 2 parts to the equation: the goal/mission and the team dynamics (you will probably spend half your time on each) https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057 Email = ...
Oct 23, 2020•24 min•Ep. 148
I (Justin) have fought routine and structure most of my life. I don't like to be told what to do with my time. But I keep finding that routines make my life and my family's life so much better. Just a couple of small changes in your life can really create a better flow for your entire day. We talk about how helpful routines allow you to go into auto-pilot and get so much stuff done in your day. Start your routine building with simple things that help you, help your spouse, and help your kids. Em...
Oct 21, 2020•23 min•Ep. 147
Our goal in this episode is to talk through some of the complexity with needing but also being over dependent on technology. There is never a good time to unplug from technology. Well, we went on this camping trip and we didn't use our screens and technology. Wow. We actually had to deal with our own feelings and our own thoughts a little bit. We all get sucked into our screens and technology. We talk about the complexity of our need for technology in 2020. We talk about the addiction for techno...
Oct 19, 2020•20 min•Ep. 146
Overcoming Fear. You probably have this mastered. Right? "Fear is a liar with a smooth and velvet tongue." Perfect love casts at fear. Focusing on your fear will steal your peace and weaken your immune system. We talk in this episode about some practical steps to overcome fear. We talk about our journey and dealing with fear. https://reallifecounseling.us/overcome-fear-and-anxiety/ Email = woodfamily@lsfpodcast.com www.lsfpodcast.com for our free morning planner for adults and kids. Facebook = L...
Oct 16, 2020•20 min•Ep. 145
Journaling is a great tool to have in your toolbox. Neuroscience is showing us that writing things down makes a greater impact on your brain (and ultimately your whole self). Shawna and I have been greatly impacted by the journaling of Anne Franke, George Mueller, Thomas Merton and Mark Virkler. We cover some helpful tips for journaling well. https://www.cwgministries.org/Four-Keys-to-Hearing-Gods-Voice Email = woodfamily@lsfpodcast.com www.lsfpodcast.com for our free morning planner for adults ...
Oct 14, 2020•23 min
Today, we flip the script and talk about what to do to stay stressed, negative and miserable. Sometimes it is helpful to look at life from a different perspective. These negative habits are very small, but holding onto them for long periods of time will exhaust you: Don't be thankful. Stay default pessimistic. Focus on perfection. Maintain a negative physical atmosphere. Neglect your body. Confuse what you can and cannot control. Then worry about what you cannot control. Don't rest. Only think B...
Oct 12, 2020•23 min•Ep. 143
If your purpose and "why" are clear, then you will win if you don't quit. Sure, your activities and tactics may change over time, but if you keep the goal in mind, then you will succeed. Our society teaches us that the easy path is the best path. We falsely think that if it hurts or is difficult then we must be doing something wrong. That is simply not the case. Embrace the grind now so that you will reap the benefits later. Email = woodfamily@lsfpodcast.com www.lsfpodcast.com for our free morni...
Oct 09, 2020•17 min•Ep. 142
Be proactive and write your own headlines: Husband loves his Wife! Parents have an Awesome Day with Their Kids! Neighbors Show Great Kindness to Each Other! Multiple people this past week have told Shawna that the news headlines have raised their blood pressure or caused them great stress. Stop it!!! Shawna's new mission in life is to have people write their own headlines for their day, week, month, year and life. Of course, we need to know what's happening, but do not give up your control of yo...
Oct 07, 2020•19 min•Ep. 141
This year 2020, is forcing us to ask a lot of questions about "why" and the "purpose" of many things. Finding your purpose is a journey that we keep refining on a continual basis. Shawna reads a story about finding purpose: https://betterlifecoachingblog.com/2013/07/19/panning-for-gold-a-story-about-finding-your-purpose-in-life/ We visit 10 questions that Jack Spirko asked about finding your why: http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/why-and-your-passion Email = woodfamily@lsfpodcast.com www.lsfpodc...
Oct 05, 2020•20 min•Ep. 140
Part 2 We continue with our look at wisdom from Robin Sharma. We need more and more wisdom in our society because we are becoming more and more foolish. We have said numerous times that information does not equal transformation. A famous quote (that I have now seen attributed to multiple people) says, "Knowledge is learning something every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day." We look at some wisdom from Robin Sharma. https://www.robinsharma.com/article/25-life-lessons-i-wish-i-knew...
Oct 02, 2020•20 min
Part 1 Make a place for wisdom in your life!! Where is wisdom in our society today? One could argue that we are the smartest people ever to exist, yet we lack wisdom in our relationships, dealing with people we disagree with and the way we live our life. We have said numerous times that information does not equal transformation. A famous quote (that I have now seen attributed to multiple people) says, "Knowledge is learning something every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day." We lo...
Sep 30, 2020•22 min•Ep. 138
I (Justin) had a friend keep coming to mind. I prayed for him but I didn't really reach out to him for a couple of weeks. Turns out, he has been going through some difficult times with work and family. It made me realize that burn out is a very real problem that many of us face in 2020. We talk through the 5 stages of burnout. Then we discuss ways to recover from burnout (it isn't a quick fix). Again, this stuff is simple, but we need to be watching out for our own self and also the people that ...
Sep 28, 2020•21 min•Ep. 137
Since Justin wrote his devotional book, he has had a difficult time of seeing himself as an "author" because it wasn't part of his story. When you grow and develop, the story inside your head must change. You must see yourself and accept yourself in this new reality. We talk through the 5 different types of Imposter Syndrome that Dr. Valerie Young articulates. This is such helpful stuff for you to use on yourself and anyone you know. It is a great help to accelerate you forward as you rewrite th...
Sep 25, 2020•21 min•Ep. 136
Here is the bottom line: In 2020, you can even develop your gratitude muscles or you can practicing being a jerk and just not fun to be with. We know that we have talked about thankfulness a lot, but being thankful is probably the single practice that will keep you from sliding into misery and hatefulness (just look around you). If we are going to overcome the challenges of 2020, you have to walk out these 10 things. We share a great article from the Dave Ramsey blog about the benefits of being ...
Sep 23, 2020•20 min•Ep. 135
School routines have re-started and we are focused on enjoying the now. Autumn is an awesome time to experience life. Today we talk about some simple but profound things we can all do to enjoy life in the Fall. Because if you are waiting on the news to find your happiness, then you are wasting your time. https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/entertainment/fall-activities Email = woodfamily@lsfpodcast.com www.lsfpodcast.com for our free morning planner for adults and kids. Facebook = Less Stress F...
Sep 21, 2020•21 min•Ep. 134
Our 2nd son has very strong perfectionist tendencies so we as parents have been working with him and with our own selves to develop ourselves more. Perfectionism is trying to "arrive" completely around that particular thing or event. It is essential to shift to thinking about growth as the goal and not perfectionism. We use this article to help frame some things we can do better for our son: https://www.theemotionmachine.com/how-perfectionism-destroys-happiness/...
Sep 18, 2020•23 min
We go through a lot of examples in our own life that hinge on 2 things: First, happiness is not a good goal, but you can do some things to enjoy those happy times more deeply. Second, communicating and interacting are really essential for digesting happiness. This means you have to deal with the negatives aspects of relationships and people to get to the happy stuff. If you isolate yourself and your experiences all the time, it is hard to cultivate the necessary connections to sustainable happin...
Sep 16, 2020•22 min
Here are the easy steps for having a quality family devotion: 1st - don't wait to feel holy or spiritual. You won't. 2nd - read through a short Bible passage (like 10 verses or less - less is better) 3rd - read through the same Bible passage again but leave some blanks as you read (we demonstrated this with our kids on the podcast) 4th - then we ask what you like, what you disliked, what you learn about God, what you learn about people 5th - a short and sweet prayer to close www.lsfpodcast.com f...
Sep 14, 2020•20 min
