Motivating ourselves, even in “normal” times can be challenging enough. We’re constantly talking ourselves out of doing the harder, brave work, or maybe we start it only to self-sabotage.
But what about when the whole world as we knew it hits the pause button?
Many of us have been realigning our schedules, figuring out how to stay productive with a houseful of kids, or reexamining our relationship to being productive altogether.
Today’s guest is fellow ontological coach, and a best-selling author of 8 books. Jenn Louden and I have been on a collision course for years, since we have so many mutual friends. I’m so grateful it happened now, during COVID-19.
Since the world shifted a couple months ago, I’ve found myself asking that Supreme Ruler of all demotivating questions— “Why Bother?” We ask it in subtle ways, like “is this really worth it?” or, “Is this the right time for this thing I want to do?”
Jennifer’s latest book reframes that classic question as a gateway back to power, and purpose. In healing her own life since the passing of her Father, Jennifer traveled a painful path creatively, writing more than 500 pages of a memoir her agent and publisher wouldn’t accept. Along the way however, she had to answer the question— Why Bother.
In our conversation today we talk about the courage it takes to sit down and write after feeling lost. She shares her joyful curiosity in discovering what life really wants from us, and the many ways we can practice deepening our being during a challenging time.
If you’re feeling called to discover What’s Next, and you’ve felt demotivated recently, this interview is for you. Jennifer is a Master at asking brave questions, and then sitting down for as long as necessary— years in this case— to discover a more meaningful path forward.
I love her latest book, and we spend time digging into how she knows it’s her best. In fact, she’s not sure at this point she needs to write another one! That’s rather BOSS. Feels like a mic drop.
About Jennifer Louden:
Jennifer Louden is a personal growth pioneer who helped launch the concept of self-care with her first bestseller, The Woman’s Comfort Book. Since then, she’s written seven additional books on well-being and whole living, including The Woman’ s Retreat Book and The Life Organizer, with close to a million copies of her books in print in nine languages. She has spoken around the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and has written a national magazine column for Martha Stewart magazine.
Jennifer’s work has been profiled or quoted in dozens of magazines; Brené Brown’s books, Daring Greatly and Dare to Lead; and Jennifer has appeared on hundreds of TV, radio shows and podcasts—including The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Her newest and most personal book Why Bother? Discover the Desire for What’s Next was released in April to stellar reviews.
Jennifer has been teaching workshops and retreats since 1992. She writes weekly to her email list of 20,000, and hosts an online community of over 600 members. She lives in Boulder County, Colorado.
Connect with Jennifer + Her WOrk
‘Why Bother’ on Barnes + Noble
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You will learn in this conversation:
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- Who’s in Jennifer’s all-star mastermind group, and what has kept them going for 14 years.
- The origin of the Why Bother question from a place of demotivation, and answering the question as a breakthrough to personal power
- How to reconcile ‘desire’ with the path of meditation and reflection. Does it cause suffering? Or is it attachment?
- How getting her 500-page memoir turned down led to her favorite book that she’s written.
- How an early appearance on Oprah’s couch wasn’t quite good enough, and where it led her career.
About our Host
Kristoffer Carter (“KC”) is a coach for founders and executives, and meditation teacher for organizations. He is also the founder of This Epic Life, and creator of the Full-Life Integration™ Framework.
As a meditation teacher, KC has over 33,000 active students on Insight Timer. As a workplace culture consultant, he has designed, or is delivering conscious leadership programs for AT&T, Avery-Dennison, Good Life Project™, Litera Microsystems, and more.
KC’s Mission + Values-centric programs have been featured in Business Insider, onstage at TEDx (“What if change was FUN?”) and Wisdom 2.0, and in countless conferences and podcast interviews.
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Incredible leaders + creators, how they live, and how they contribute to the world we deserve. Our show explores 3 powerful permissions with guests and listeners: Permission to Chill, Permission to Feel All the Feels, and Permission to Glow in the Dark.
Emceed by yogi, Dad, and executive coach KC (Kristoffer Carter). Learn more: thisepiclife.com
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