Episode 34: Finding Your Balance: Outside-in and Inside-Out

In this episode of Stop 2 Think, Dr Ray Sylvester and I explore the idea of celebration as a way of life. We talk about the challenge Ray once gave me to find a way to celebrate in the middle of suffering, and how that eventually led to the creation of Hannah’s Story. What became clear during this conversation was that the celebration had actually started much earlier. Through the videos, blogs, fundraising and the way Hannah and I shared our journey, we had been celebrating life all along. We also explore the difference between gratitude and celebration, the idea that celebration is something we actively do, and how grief can become an expression of enduring love. At the heart of the conversation is a simple Stop 2 Think question: What in your life deserves to be seen, honoured or celebrated differently?

Welcome to the STOP 2 THINK Podcast. In this episode, Stories, States and Sentences Part Two: What Are You Saying to Yourself?, we continue our conversation with Dr Ray Sylvester about the powerful connection between the stories we believe, the states we live in, and the sentences we repeat to ourselves. We explore how the stories we carry can shape our emotions, decisions, relationships and sense of possibility. Some of these stories may have been with us for years, quietly influencing the way we see ourselves and the world around us. Together, we look at the impact of familiar sentences such as: “I’m not good enough.” “It’s too late.” “I should be further ahead.” “The best years are behind me.” We consider where these beliefs come from, why they can be so difficult to change, and what happens when we pause long enough to notice the language we use internally. Most importantly, this episode invites us to question whether the sentences we repeat are actually true—or whether they are simply stories we have believed for a long time. Because when we become aware of the story, we create the possibility of changing it. And perhaps it is time to write a new one. In this episode, we explore: How our stories influence the states we live in The connection between thoughts, emotions and behaviour Why certain beliefs can stay with us for decades How repeated sentences shape our identity and choices The impact of self-critical and limiting language Why awareness is the first step towards change How to begin creating a more empowering story for yourself Listen now and take a moment to consider: What are you saying to yourself—and is it time to say something different? Follow us here. Follow me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/petecohen_/

This is one of the most personal and revealing conversations Ray and I have recorded. We talk about fear, grief, loss, health, getting older and something I’ve only recently begun to recognise about the way I’ve lived much of my life. For years, I became very good at helping other people change their lives while often avoiding some of the things going on inside my own. In this conversation, Ray challenges me to look at that and at the extraordinary difference between living your life from the outside in and from the inside out. The fear that can exist beneath busyness and achievement Why helping others can sometimes stop us looking at ourselves What grief has taught me about slowing down Learning to be kinder to yourself Why the hardest journey can be the journey within What can arise when we finally give ourselves permission to stop

What Will You Pass On? Legacy, Hope and the Lives We Touch What do we really leave behind? This very special episode of the STOP 2 THINK Podcast was recorded in Uganda with my friend Mandela Salim Buluma. Mandela and his team care for 101 vulnerable children, many of whom have experienced extraordinary challenges very early in their lives. But this isn’t really a conversation about charity. It’s a conversation about legacy, leadership, hope and what we choose to pass on. Mandela shares how his father inspired the work he does today, and how losing him created an even greater responsibility to continue what he had started. We talk about the importance of giving children more than food, shelter and education. Mandela’s vision is to help them develop practical skills, confidence, independence and the belief that they can become valuable members and leaders within their communities. We also explore something much bigger. What happens to the things people give us after they’re gone? Can someone’s values, love and influence continue through the lives of other people? And can our most difficult experiences eventually become something that helps somebody else? During our conversation, Mandela said something to me about my late wife Hannah that genuinely stopped me in my tracks. I’m not going to tell you what he said here. I’d rather you experience that moment for yourself. The extraordinary story of how Mandela and I first met How his father’s legacy inspired his work with vulnerable children Why creating independence is more powerful than creating dependency Giving young people skills, responsibility and a voice Why asking for help is a strength What suffering can teach us about leadership and life The importance of hope when circumstances are difficult The vision for creating a sustainable future for 101 children in Uganda And a deeply personal moment that I will never forget This conversation reminded me that perhaps legacy isn’t something we start thinking about towards the end of our lives. We’re creating it now. In our conversations. In our choices. In the way we treat people. In what we teach. In what we give. And in what we choose to do with the things life has given us. So as you listen, STOP 2 THINK: What are you passing on? And perhaps more importantly… What would you like to pass on? If you like to find out more about Mandela, the work he does then check the links below. If you would like to donate or set up a fundraising event then contact him directly thorough the website. https://www.godinactionuganda.com/ Follow him on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/godinactionuganda/ If you like to donate then please visit here. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=N8QJFV8NTGETJ

When Scott Edwards Jimena reached out to me, I had no idea just how much this conversation would stay with me. Like Hannah, Scott is living with glioblastoma. But this isn’t really a conversation about cancer. It’s a conversation about what happens when life forces us to STOP. Scott shares, for the first time publicly, the childhood trauma he carried in silence for more than thirty years and how confronting it completely changed the way he sees himself and the world around him. We talk about identity, vulnerability, fatherhood, purpose, spirituality, healing and why so many of us spend our lives wearing masks. What struck me most wasn’t Scott’s diagnosis—it was the peace he has found despite it. His story is a reminder that sometimes the greatest transformation begins when we stop resisting life, stop running from ourselves, and have the courage to discover who we really are. I genuinely believe this is one of the most honest and courageous conversations I’ve ever recorded, and I hope it encourages you to stop, reflect and perhaps see your own life a little differently. I hope you enjoy it. Follow Scott on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/scott_edwards_jimena/