Don’t think about elephants!
But what do you think about the moment you read the sentence? Yup… elephants!
The mind can’t process negatives so saying, “don’t” doesn’t help. Yet as parents telling our kids “don’t” do something is standard practice. Is it possible to give a more positive vision? Billy and Joy offer some practical ideas in today’s podcast.
Read MoreHave you ever looked at your spouse cross-eyed and wondered, “Why are you like that?” only to meet their family and then understand? In this episode Billy and Joy talk about how our family of origin impacts our marriage and why we need to get this connections out in the open. They discuss triggers and how to build empathy through understanding our background.
Read MoreAre you engaged or recently married? Do you know someone who is? Or have you been married for a while and forget all of the helpful newlywed tips? Take a listen as Joy & Billy review 21 quick bits of advice for how to get marriage off to a great start!
Read MoreDo you know the most important part your kid’s education process? In this week’s podcast Billy & Joy discuss Seth Godin's opinion that the best education focuses on just two things. Listen in and decide if you agree!
Read MoreWhat if you had to summarize your life story in a few brief statements – what would you say? Consider the headlines of your life; milestones that rise to the level of being noted. What if you were to reverse engineer your life, how you raise your kids and the way you treat your marriage based on the milestones you want to hit? In today’s episode, Billy and Joy talk through four things to consider for your family's story.
Read MoreNo one likes to be picked at…but criticism is especially deadly in marriage. In this episode Billy & Joy challenge you to try and see your critical habits in the mirror and to consider the impact they have on your marriage.
Read MoreThe world is a crazy place!
Like every generation before, today’s parents have to process difficult news with their kids. But where do we start? What do we say? How can we explain events we don’t fully understand?
In today’s podcast, Billy and Joy talk about principles parents should consider as they process current events with their kids. How do we lead our family well - and wisely - when we are emotionally charged ourselves?
Read MoreParents are often nervous about talking to their kids about sex. While this is natural, we need to shake off these nerves and jump into the discussion. But where do you begin? In this podcast Billy and Joy give some practical ideas of when to start and what to cover.
Read MoreWhether we acknowledge it or not, sex is more than just a physical act. In today’s episode, Billy and Joy discuss nine intimacy principles that impact every relationship and then they tee up a list of questions that should open the flow of communication. Take a listen and, more importantly, have a chat!
Read MoreWriter Stephen Covey said, "The enemy of the 'best' is often the 'good.'" This is certainly true in marriage as couples often lose what’s best while they do what’s good. In this episode Billy and Joy discuss how marriages often develop ruts and how couples can make changes to keep relationships fresh.
Read MoreOur words are powerful, particularly as we use them with our kids. In this episode, Billy & Joy talk through a strategy of how to use words well and how to avoid common pitfalls in our families. They talk about the danger in making comparison statements and how to make statements that will be memorable (in a good way!)
Read MoreAre you stuck in a car? Delayed at an airport? Or maybe you need a few questions to pick up a lagging conversation around the dinner table. Here are some favorite conversation starters. These questions are perfect for the family (or a date night)! So keep the pause button handy or just refer to the list below.
Read MoreDid you pick up the dry cleaning? Have you walked the dog? Did you pay the bill? Every day we ask our spouse a list of questions, but most of them don’t impact our relationship. On this episode, Billy and Joy talk about one question that has the ability to improve EVERY relationship.
Take a listen and ask your spouse this simple, impactful question!
Read MoreIn this episode Billy & Joy discuss the fact from the blog post, The Tail End, that points out that by the time you graduate from high school you will have used 93% of the face-to-face time you have with your parents.
Feel free to re-read that sentence. Doesn’t that stop you in your tracks?
What are the implications to this fact? Get the conversation started with this episode.
Read MoreBy the time we reach adulthood everyone has fully developed Operating Systems. These systems are the way we engage with the world in a kind of reflexive manner. They are a well-crafted blend of nature AND nurture and are perfect for achieving the results we are currently experiencing. But because these systems operate in the background, we don’t always recognize what’s working and what’s not. In this episode Billy and Joy tee up a few ideas for identifying our systems and for getting insights into our blind spots.
Read MoreWe all have habits. We all do little things daily that add up to something bigger than we expect. In this episode Billy and Joy talk about Charles Duhigg’s concepts around Keystone Habits and how little efforts can make a big difference in our relationships and with our families. Take a listen and find small victories you can have with little changes!
Read MoreUnfortunately children don’t come with an owner’s manual and parents aren’t given a detailed job description. Is it any wonder raising kids can be confusing? In this episode Billy and Joy talk about three parts of a parent’s job which clarify what it is we are really doing with our kids!
Read MoreHave you ever heard of a nameless team…or of a team without logos, colors, and songs? These are common tools used to identify groups, to rally individuals and to galvanize fans. When you see people sporting a particular mascot on the back of their car, you learn something about them. In this episode, Billy and Joy talk about the importance AND the process of creating a family identity.
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