Having It All: Conversations About Living An Abundant Loving Life

We have all been in a situation where another person has challenged a belief that we held.  Big or small, we know what it feels like to be questioned and to then feel like we need to defend our beliefs.  Well, I'm no stranger to this either, and I had an excellent opportunity to experience this very thing during a recent podcast interview! The episode that you're about to listen to was recorded just minutes after I had my belief challenged on air. I decided that I wanted to capture the moment as it was happening, and share my experience with you.  The original episode where my previously held belief was challenged will be publishing soon (most likely directly after this one), but this episode is about what happened and how I responded.  What you'll hear in this episode: The experience that inspired me to record this episode What I consider to be one of the purest pathways to growth A personal challenge for you to experience growth STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY?  Download the free "trust account" app fr

Monique Ruffin is a celebration of living. She is one of those people that folks say has “A beautiful soul”. And I completely understand why. Monique grew up in the neighborhood of Watts in Los Angeles. Yes, that Watts. It's where Sanford And Sons was set, and was where Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke duke it out in Training Day. That neighborhood is not known for many empowering things, but it’s where Monique called home. Growing up in an area impacted by crack, with parents in and out of jail, many wouldn’t have been surprised if Monique failed to transcend her environment. But she did, and in a big way. Monique is a mother, writer, creator, coach, radio host and group facilitator. But most of all she’s an example of what it looks like to live with heart, authenticity, courage, vulnerability and realness. In our conversation, Monique and I talk about her childhood, the lessons she’s learned as a mother, and how we can all grow beyond our circumstances. What you’ll learn in this episode: How to unde

“We are all creators. Whether or not we create is not up to us. We are human, and creating is what we do.” - Michael Gungor You are a creator! Yes, you. Whether you not you believe it is irrelevant, because like Michael Gungor said, “We are human and creating is what we do.” In every role we play in life -- parent, spouse, friend, lover, community member, coach -- we create experiences and meaning. Today’s episode is an exercise in creation. I followed the advice of a friend and fellow podcaster, and recorded this episode with no notes and no script. Every part of this episode was created organically, on the spot. I did that because I wanted to exercise my muscles of creation, and what resulted was a powerful reflection on creative, the creative process, and tapping into our creative potential. What you’ll learn in this episode: What happens when we fail to acknowledge our creativity (especially when we praise it in others) How creativity ties into our gifts, talents and passions, and the difference of

At the end of last week's episode I left you with a cliffhanger. Last week I was talking about FEEDBACK and the power of feedback to ensure you stay on path in life. I introduced the question, "What's the point of being on path if you don't know where the path is leading you to?" I left you with the promise that the next episode would be about Mission Statements and would feature a special guest.  Well...here we are! This week I have an incredibly awesome guest with me, live in the studio (first episode with a guest in the flesh with me), and we get down and dirty on everything about Personal Mission Statements.  Most people have heard of Mission Statements within businesses or organizations. But have you ever thought about how a Personal Mission Statement might impact your life? The difference between a life that's fueled by a clear, intentional mission, and one that is not, can be staggering.  What you'll learn in this episode: Exactly what a Personal Mission Statement is, how they are used, and why

I’m a firm believer that life is always going to throw circumstances your way, especially when you say (or think) you’re ready to handle them. Circumstances can look like a fender bender, a letter from the IRS, a pet needing to go to the vet, and pretty much whatever other not-sought-after experience that you can think of. Enter Faydra Koenig, a woman who has been through her fair share of circumstances! I was inspired to connect with Faydra after watching a personal and candid video on the circumstances that she has experienced in her life.  When we sat down, Faydra was an open book. And having listened to her podcast and spent time on her website, I didn’t expect anything less. In our conversation Faydra and I talk about circumstances and how to not only survive them, but thrive! What you’ll learn in this episode: The Law Of Gestation 2 types of accountability groups (and which ignites powerful results) How to thrive when life throw’s you circumstances STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY?  Download the fr

We’ve all been through situations that, at the time, felt never ending. Time crawls by. Our bodies respond to the tension. Our minds race from present to future to past. Going through hell feels like going through hell. But if you’re reading this, if you’re here right now, then that means you made it through hell.You survived! Because when you walk through hot coals, your feet get tougher and more resilient. Colleen Crain knows that is like. A traumatic event as a child left her physically impaired fora time, and emotionally shaken. But she also know, first hand, that rising above circumstances is what we are designed todo. What you’ll learn in this episode: How to relate powerfully to circumstances How to thank fear for showing up Colleen’s personal story of dealing with circumstances STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY?  Download the free "trust account" app from the YourDay Balance Game, and start building trust with YOURSELF today!  Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balancegam

What is simultaneously the most significant factor and biggest barrier to becoming your greatest self? Without this thing, airplanes would not make it to their final destination, corporate managers would have less work to do, and you would reach a ceiling with your potential. It's something that confronts the ego so directly that many people shy away from it at any cost. Yet, it is a powerful tool for self realization, growth and transformation. Any ideas yet?!? What you’ll learn in this episode: The one thing that can accelerate you on your path to greatness (or stop you in your tracks) How to ensure you’re growing and moving in the most powerful direction for YOU in life My personal mission statement for my life right now STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY?  Download the free "trust account" app from the YourDay Balance Game, and start building trust with YOURSELF today!  Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balancegame.ydbg iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ydbg-watch-play-disco

This powerful conversation stemmed from a tip a friend gave me, “Matthew, you have got to interview this guy!” The guy I was being encouraged to speak with was Mike Mills. Mike is an exceptionally unique guy. He has what I call the Small “s” success and Big “S” Success. Mike is the owner and operator of the Buffalo Outdoor Center, a lodging and outfitting resort sitting on the historic Buffalo River in Ponca, Arkansas. The Small “s” success is the thriving business that Mike has built over the past 40 years. The Big “S” Success is the way that Mike describes his experience of life: Heaven. In this conversation, Mike shares his story of growing up paddling the Buffalo River, learning discipline from his father and the Marines, jumping into entrepreneurship with little money and even less business experience, and growing a world renowned outfitting resort that attracts heads of state, National Geographic photographers, and thousands of nature seekers each year. What you’ll hear in this episode: How a lett

We are all influencers. Everyday we influence, without fail, we influence three groups: our Selves, Others and Life. However, many of us go through life unaware of just how much we influence these groups, and unconscious of the power of influence we really have. Yet, despite this lack of awareness and intention, we are still wielding this power of influence in many ways, some more responsibly than others. In today’s episode I share a powerful story of influence and ask you to ponder a question that will change how you look at your ability to influence your Self, Others and Life. STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY?  Download the free "trust account" app from the YourDay Balance Game, and start building trust with YOURSELF today!  Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balancegame.ydbg iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ydbg-watch-play-discover/id1489276659 FEELING THE IMPACT OF CODEPENDENCY? Watch the free #1 obstacle video and learn what derails all successful people and keeps them from m

Love and Fear. It's what all decisions in our lives can be boiled down to. Fear can be one heck of a beast! We all know because we all can recall times when we let fear overpower our ability to make clear decisions. I lived much of my life in fear and can vividly remember making choices from a place a fear since early on. And I also remember the feeling after those choices. The feeling of having to sit with myself knowing that I choose a lesser path. This past weekend I faced a different kind of fear: the fear of physical death. I JUMPED out of a plane, and in that choice I connected with so many other choices I had made throughout my life that illuminated the fact that when it boils down to the essence we always have a choice between FEAR and LOVE. What you'll learn in this episode: Why jumping is always the precursor to living Why you will probably choose fear again and again How to break the fear cycle STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY?  Download the free "trust account" app from the YourDay Balance

How do you define "wellbeing"? How about breaking down the word into it's two parts -- WELL and BEING -- what do those words mean to you? My guest in today's conversation is clear on what those words mean to her, and is on a mission to spread her message of whole wellbeing.  Dr. Michelle Robin is a chiropractor by trade, but has expanded herself into an author, speaker, and podcaster. STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY?  Download the free "trust account" app from the YourDay Balance Game, and start building trust with YOURSELF today!  Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balancegame.ydbg iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ydbg-watch-play-discover/id1489276659 FEELING THE IMPACT OF CODEPENDENCY? Watch the free #1 obstacle video and learn what derails all successful people and keeps them from moving from codependent to independent https://theydbg.com/obstacle-video/ WANT TO FEEL MORE CLARITY, CONFIDENCE AND PURPOSE? Get the "Having It A.L.L. Blueprint", my self-paced online program for d

You have been lied to about success. Like most of us, we've been told that success is determined by factors "out there". Achievements, accolades, possessions, titles, certifications, promotions - you know the deal. But you've also been told that success is simply a mindset. You are successful if you feel successful. But I'm introducing a new concept to the mix. The concept of little "s" success and big "S" Success. We may all define success in our own unique ways. But the big "S" and little "s" concepts are universal. STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY?  Download the free "trust account" app from the YourDay Balance Game, and start building trust with YOURSELF today!  Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balancegame.ydbg iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ydbg-watch-play-discover/id1489276659 FEELING THE IMPACT OF CODEPENDENCY? Watch the free #1 obstacle video and learn what derails all successful people and keeps them from moving from codependent to independent https://theydbg.com/o

What would your life look like if you were fully engaged? If you were living your life to the max? If you were experiencing a "guttural brushfire"? That’s the question that my guest today has been meditating on. Sandy Chambers is very close persona friend of mine and one of the most consciously mature people I know. She devours books, videos, podcasts -- anything that she can get her hands on that will elevate her consciousness. She has read and re-read the works of authors like David R Hawkins, Eckhart Tolle, and Marianne Williamson. She has studied and applied and surrendered to the processes that the sages and gurus have given us to follow. And every single time I have the chance to go in with Sandy on a conversation, I walk away feeling like I need to download all of the information I’ve just taken in, or else my brain might overload. Now, Sandy wanted my help in crystallizing her passion -- she has been doing some deep and critical thinking on what her true passion is -- which is why we scheduled this

Have you experienced true discontent in your life? That’s totally a rhetorical question because if you’re alive then that means you’ve been in situations that you haven’t liked. The real question is, how did you handle those situations? My guest in today’s conversation is Dianne Crampton, and she would guess that you did one of three things: blamed someone else, ignored it all together, or asked yourself “What is this here to teach me?” Dianne has spent most of her life asking herself “What is this here to teach me?”, and that has led her to many amazing realizations and experiences. STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY?  Download the free "trust account" app from the YourDay Balance Game, and start building trust with YOURSELF today!  Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balancegame.ydbg iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ydbg-watch-play-discover/id1489276659 FEELING THE IMPACT OF CODEPENDENCY? Watch the free #1 obstacle video and learn what derails all successful people and keeps them f

Paul Colaianni has not always led an authentic life. Experiences as a child taught him that authenticity and self expression were detrimental to his health and the health of those around him, so he bottled them up. The result was a life rife with unsteady relationships, frustration, and disillusionment. It wasn’t until facing the end of another relationship, that Paul reached an emotional, mental and spiritual breaking point, which sent him on a 10 year journey to study and self examine. Today, Paul is a self empowerment coach who uses his life experiences and the insights he’s picked up along the way, to coach others through their challenges and help them reach their personal goals. In this episode, Paul shares what he’s learned through a life of exploring what living authentically means to him, and he gets personal with me and he talks about his experience of growing up in an alcoholic home, destroying relationships with judgement and fear, and going through life not being his true authentic self. R

What does it mean to “lead from center”? It's a question that many high achievers ask themselves (or are asked of themselves), and it's a question that my guest today is going to help us answer. To Amy Balog, leading from center means being so in-tune with yourself -- knowing who you are, and what makes you tick -- that you're able to create amazing results in your life and the life of others. It's about gaining clarity, calmness and conviction, and being acutely aware of the environment inside of yourself so that you may more powerfully impact the environments around you.  Amy’s passion is helping leaders tap into their center to create massive results within their organizations, and within themselves. In this conversation Amy and I dive into what leading from center truly means and looks like, and we examine the impact that understanding your bigger WHY has on your life and the lives of those around you. Amy shares her journey of stepping into this work and the watershed moment that changed her career

Colleen Patrick Goudreau lives a life of compassion. She has compassion for animals, which influenced her to choose a vegan lifestyle (on which she is a leading authority). She has compassion for other people, which influenced the message she spreads to the world. And she has compassion for herself, which, through intentional practice, has allowed her to experience herself fully and manifest her deepest values. In this episode, Colleen and I have a powerful conversation on the practice of manifestation, self compassion and the truth behind how we make a difference in this world (spoiler: you are ALWAYS making a difference, the question is whether you’re providing value or taking it away). RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Colleen's website: https://colleenpatrickgoudreau.com/ STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY?  Download the free "trust account" app from the YourDay Balance Game, and start building trust with YOURSELF today!  Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balancegame.ydbg iPhone: https:/

Here we are, my friend. The final episode of Having It A.L.L.! It has been an awesome 8 years, and in today’s episode I’m going to share my thoughts, memories and takeaways with you all.  Let’s do this! RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Get in touch with Matthew: matthew@matthewbivens.com Learn about the YourDay Balance Game coaching programs: https://theydbg.com/  STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY?  Download the free "trust account" app from the YourDay Balance Game, and start building trust with YOURSELF today!  Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balancegame.ydbg iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ydbg-watch-play-discover/id1489276659 FEELING THE IMPACT OF CODEPENDENCY? Watch the free #1 obstacle video and learn what derails all successful people and keeps them from moving from codependent to independent https://theydbg.com/obstacle-video/ WANT TO FEEL MORE CLARITY, CONFIDENCE AND PURPOSE? Get the "Having It A.L.L. Blueprint", my self-paced online program for designing and living y

What is emotional regulation and what part does it play in having it all?  In today’s episode I’m diving deep into the world of emotional regulation and emotional intelligence because these two concepts (and their related parts) are critical components of living a self fulfilled life.  Without a healthy level of emotional intelligence, it’s extremely hard to get from where you are now in your life to where you’d like to be. It’s like trying to navigate an obstacle course with the lights off --- technically possible, but the odds are stacked against you.  STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY?  Download the free "trust account" app from the YourDay Balance Game, and start building trust with YOURSELF today!  Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balancegame.ydbg iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ydbg-watch-play-discover/id1489276659 FEELING THE IMPACT OF CODEPENDENCY? Watch the free #1 obstacle video and learn what derails all successful people and keeps them from moving from codependent to

Can every relationship be improved? And if so, how would you actually do it?? Today I'm sharing with you an incredibly effective way to improve any relationship in your life, from a marriage to a friendship to your relationship with your boss or neighbor.  This episode pulls from my own personal life and the relationship experiences that I have created. The conversation today will impact how you engage in your current relationships, and will help you create amazing future relationships.  RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Coaching with Matthew, apply here > https://forms.gle/WWj3BwcZq59BdaCs8 DOWNLOAD THE FREE "TRUST ACCOUNT" APP FROM THE YOURDAY BALANCE GAME Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balancegame.ydbg iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ydbg-watch-play-discover/id1489276659 WATCH THE #1 OBSTACLE VIDEO Learn what derails all successful people and keeps them from moving from codependent to independent https://theydbg.com/obstacle-video/ GET THE "HAVING IT A.L.L. BLUEPRINT" FOR