616: How to Prepare NOW for Your Best Year Ever

Getting a good night's sleep shouldn't be difficult, and yet, it can feel almost impossible at times. And when you're not sleeping well, it affects everything from your energy and mood to your relationships, productivity, and overall health. I know firsthand how debilitating it can be, and how difficult it is to break the cycle once you're stuck in it. In 2020, after undergoing 700 hours of chemotherapy, I was sleeping just two to four hours a night for months. My physical and mental health had deteriorated to the point where I was experiencing suicidal thoughts, and I was terrified that my lack of sleep would prevent my body from healing. Thankfully, I reached out to my good friend, Dr. Michael Breus, and the strategies he shared helped turn things around. Dr. Breus, also known as The Sleep Doctor, is a clinical psychologist and world-renowned sleep expert who has dedicated his career to helping people improve their sleep and quality of life. He's also appeared in The Miracle Morning Movie, and I'm grateful to have him back on the podcast to share his expertise. In our conversation, Michael explains why the pathway to better sleep is often simpler than we think and how our daily habits can help or hinder our body's natural ability to rest. We also discuss the powerful connection between anxiety and insomnia, what to do when you wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep, and some surprising misconceptions about sleep supplements, mouth taping, and other popular sleep strategies.

If your doctor said chemotherapy is your only option, would you automatically say yes? If you or someone you love is facing a cancer diagnosis, or you simply want to do everything you can to prevent it, this conversation may completely change the way you think about healing, health, and the questions you should be asking right now. Today, I'm joined by my good friend, Chris Wark. Chris was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer at just 26 years old, shortly after getting married. After surgery, his doctors told him chemotherapy was required, but Chris chose a different path. He radically changed his diet, leaned into his faith, and over the last two decades has remained cancer-free. He later turned that experience into Chris Beat Cancer, a platform that has helped millions of people find hope, guidance, and practical support. In our conversation, we talked about what it really means to take ownership of your health, especially when the stakes couldn't be higher. We explore the mindset shift from being a passive patient to becoming an active participant in your healing, along with the role faith, nutrition, and lifestyle can play when you're facing one of the most difficult moments of your life. We also dive into the questions many people never think to ask their oncologist, why Chris believes healing begins with believing it's possible, and how forgiveness, gratitude, and reducing stress can impact your health in powerful ways. KEY TAKEAWAYS Why Chris Wark Was A Pivotal Resource For Me Life Isn't Fair: Chris Wark's Stage 3 Cancer Diagnosis Trusting God & Finding Meaning in Hardship A Prayer Is Answered: A Path to Reject Chemo Healing Is Possible: The "Beat Cancer Mindset" How to Have Better Conversations With Your Doctor Questions Everyone with Cancer Should Be Asking Diet Tips & Daily Habits That Reduce Cancer Risks The Second Leading Cause of Cancer Is Surprising How to Connect & Learn From Chris Anger Is Toxic But Forgiveness Heals Pain Practicing Gratitude Is The Ultimate Stress Reliever

Do you struggle to keep yourself motivated throughout the year? I certainly do. In fact, I've been struggling with it today. Whether it's perfectionism, fear of the unknown, or simply feeling exhausted, there are plenty of days when we don't feel motivated to take the actions necessary to achieve our goals. In today's episode, I'm sharing what I call the four cornerstones of motivation: clarity, commitment, discipline, and faith. I'll explain why you shouldn't wait around hoping to feel motivated, and why learning to act your way into feeling can help you generate the motivation you need to move forward. I'll also share how I use these principles in my own life when I'm struggling with perfectionism or stepping outside my comfort zone, why your feelings can be unreliable indicators of what you should do, and how maintaining unwavering faith can keep you moving forward when your effort hasn't produced the results you hoped for yet. KEY TAKEAWAYS Motivation is a system you generate, not a feeling you wait for. The four cornerstones of motivation: clarity, commitment, discipline, and faith. How to "act your way into feeling" when motivation is lacking. Real commitment starts when you stop negotiating with yourself. How discipline builds confidence by following through on your commitments. Why unwavering faith is the belief that consistent actions will lead to a desired outcome. Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/656 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Get Access to Hal's Books and the Miracle Morning App For access to Hal's Miracle Morning books, CLICK HERE. To upgrade your morning routine, CLICK HERE to download the Miracle Morning App. Book Hal to Speak At Your Event! If you'd like to book Hal to speak at your next event, CLICK HERE. Connect with Hal Elrod

Sometimes the tools that have always helped you manage stress suddenly stop working, and keeping a positive mindset isn't enough. When that happens, the answer isn't to push harder or immediately look for the silver lining. Sometimes you need to acknowledge what you're going through and allow yourself time to get the support you need. Today's guest, Ruby Fremon, knows firsthand what that feels like. Ruby is an author, coach, and someone I've had the privilege of knowing for years. She's also the author of Potent Leadership and has spent the last several years studying Somatic Experiencing. She works with high-achieving leaders who have reached a point where they know they can't keep living and leading the way they have been. In 2022, Ruby was at the highest point of her career when a traumatic event involving the death of her dog triggered a very unfortunate series of events. Over the next few years, her mental and physical health declined; she stepped away from the business and identity she had spent years building, and eventually reached a point where she was contemplating taking her own life. In our conversation, Ruby shares what helped her survive the darkest season of her life and explains why healing doesn't always mean immediately finding the positive in what happened. We also talk about how trauma can affect the way you experience life, practical ways to build your capacity to move through difficult emotions, and how losing the person you thought you were can ultimately help you reconnect with who you really are. KEY TAKEAWAYS What happens when the regular life tools stop working Why healing doesn't always begin by finding the silver lining The importance of acknowledging what you're actually going through How Somatic Experiencing can help build emotional resilience True regulation means increasing your capacity to experience emotions How your identity is usually shaped by past experiences How A dark night of the soul or season can challenge your sense of self Why high achievers need to stop trying to do everything alone Finding the right support can change your healing journey Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/655 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Get Access to Hal's Books and the Miracle Morning App For access to Hal's Miracle Morning books, CLICK HERE. To upgrade your morning routine, CLICK HERE to download the Miracle Morning App. Book Hal to Speak At Your Event! If you'd like to book Hal to speak at your next event, CLICK HERE. Connect with Hal Elrod

Have you ever had a dream that you gave up on because you tried and it didn't work out right away? One of the biggest mistakes someone can make is assuming that failing once or twice is proof that they're not capable of achieving their goals. In most cases, we simply haven't given ourselves enough time to learn, grow, and become the person capable of making that dream a reality. Today, I'm joined by Stephanie Fisher, a mother of four and former civil engineer who completely reinvented herself as a full-time content creator. Just over a year ago, Stephanie was waking up at 4:00 AM, raising four young kids, working a full-time engineering job, and trying to build an audience on Instagram. After months of making virtually nothing from her content, her consistency eventually paid off, and she's now on track to earn 3X what she used to make as an engineer. In our conversation, Stephanie shares how she went from roughly 100 followers to building a successful business and creating more time and financial freedom for her family. We also talk about the pivotal moments that changed the trajectory of her life, the unexpected opportunity that came from losing her engineering job, and how pursuing her dream has allowed her to make a bigger impact while being more present with her family. KEY TAKEAWAYS It's never too late to reinvent yourself and pursue a dream. Any skill can be learned if you put in the reps. Focus on the actions that you can control, not the results. Give yourself enough time to become great at something How Stephanie's discipline helped adapt her morning routine. Consistency matters even when you're not seeing immediate results. How to use other people's success to keep yourself motivated. The importance of self-care when life feels overwhelming. Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/654 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Get Access to Hal's Books and the Miracle Morning App For access to Hal's Miracle Morning books, CLICK HERE. To upgrade your morning routine, CLICK HERE to download the Miracle Morning App. Book Hal to Speak At Your Event! If you'd like to book Hal to speak at your next event, CLICK HERE. Connect with Hal Elrod