Stay ConnectedTHE podcast for parents with big dreams who want to create an EXTRAORDINARY lifestyle but feel stuck.
Greg and Rachel Denning are parents of 7 children whom they’ve traveled with to 60+ countries on 5 continents — all while homeschooling and building a multi-six-figure location independent biz.
Let them show you how to finally break through what’s holding you back so you can achieve your biggest dreams — even with a family!
Copyright: © Greg & Rachel Denning
We like to get our podcast topics from issues that really ‘fire us up’ (it makes for better discussions).
This week, I was fired up by some comments left on an Instagram Reel I created about allowing ‘boys to be boys’ with audio taken from our recent Workshop on Boys Adrift — The Growing Epidemic of Undermotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men.
Some of them said things like:
In this episode, Greg and I discuss these comments and address why this ‘movement’ regarding ‘toxic masculinity’ does have a direct downstream effect on some of the issues we’re seeing with boys and young men today being unmotivated and turning to video games as a way to find meaning and purpose in their lives. It’s all connected.
And we also explain how masculinity and femininity are neither good nor bad, toxic nor harmless. Like a hammer or any other tool, they’re neutral. It’s the way they are used by the individual person that determines their toxicity or validity.
If you have boys or men, young or old, in your life -- or girls who will have relationships with men one day -- then listen now to this episode regarding a topic that hasn’t yet ‘peaked’ in significance before it’s reversed or corrected.
RESOURCES:
Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)
Rachel’s Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms
Follow us on Instagram: @worldschoolfamily or @greg.denning
Enrollment is open for the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method!
Get Rachel's Family Systems & Charts
Join the Do More With Less Stress Workshop Series for busy moms
Join Greg’s 7-Day Challenge
JOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE!
Gather with us at the World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort in Portugal
"My husband and I have been struggling a great deal in our marriage, mostly over parenting issues. We have specifically been struggling with our 13 year old daughter who told us she is gay."
Many emails and questions we receive from parents begins with something like this statement above.
Spouses are struggling in their marriage, and it's often because of disagreements in parenting approaches or issues they're facing with their children that they're not sure how to handle.
They will tell us things like:
But parenting differences aside, there's also a growing concern for children and parents during this seemingly complicated and confusing time where as a society we're trying to (re)define things as 'basic' as sex and gender.
Are our children being caught up in societal shifts? Can things like suicide, depression, or being gay become ‘trendy’?
What are the statistical chances a child could be gay, and how do we respond to that if they are?
What are the best ways to approach issues like these with our children —and to effectively deal with them when they arise in a way that prevents unhealthy parent/child relationships?
What's the most psychologically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally healthy approach for our kids?
If you have children and have had or will have any concerns about these issues, then don’t miss this important episode!
Listen now.
RESOURCES:
Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)
Rachel’s Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms
Follow us on Instagram: @worldschoolfamily or @greg.denning
Enrollment is open for the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method!
Get Rachel's Family Systems & Charts
Join the Do More With Less Stress Workshop Series for busy moms
Join Greg’s 7-Day Challenge
JOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE!
Gather with us at the World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort in Portugal
I remember the first time I realized that humanity’s desire for luxury was actually a driving force for improving the world.
Previous to that I often felt that wanting luxury and comfort was wrong or bad… perhaps from generations of Puritanism passed down through religion and culture?
But as I lay in the comfort of a luxurious hotel room feeling perfectly at home, I finally understood that this desire was a positive thing.
Without (a woman’s?) desire for indoor plumbing, a comfy bed, and the ease of flipping a switch to produce light or heat, we probably wouldn’t be enjoying all of these luxuries right now as a society.
It is our innate drive for comfort (aka luxury) that drives human progress.
Yet with every strength there is an inherit weakness.
There is a downside to pursuing comfort and luxury at the expense of all else. And it results in becoming ‘soft & squishy’ and unable to face the challenges ahead of us.
Does that mean we give up our lives of comfort?
Perhaps for some.
But for all of us, it means that we intentionally add ‘pressure’ to our lives in a way that strengthens our mental, emotional, and physical muscles allowing us to ‘keep our edge’ and to prepare for hard times (which are coming).
Listen now!
RESOURCES:
Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)
Rachel’s Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms
Follow us on Instagram: @worldschoolfamily or @greg.denning
Enrollment is open for the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method!
Get Rachel's Family Systems & Charts
Join the Do More With Less Stress Workshop Series for busy moms
Join Greg’s 7-Day Challenge
JOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE!
Gather with us at the World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort in Portugal
We’ve been asked several times over the years by coaching clients and others regarding masturbation.
Specifically, they want to know how to approach masturbation in general — with their children or teens, and in their marriage.
Is it normal for teens to masturbate? What are the side effects or outcomes?
And what about in marriage? Is masturbation okay or normal, especially if your sex drive doesn't match up with your spouse?
We’ve also been asked by young adults and college students IF or WHY some of these things are so “wrong” — masturbation, mutual masturbation, or other sexual acts — at least they’re not having sex.
These are the type of questions we answer in this unique episode which is intended to help you navigate masturbation and the sex drive — before and during marriage — with the healthiest psychological approaches to these topics.
A correct understanding of these forces and practices will help you to better build the life of meaning, fulfillment, and purpose that you’re striving to create for yourself and your families (future or present).
Listen now!
RESOURCES:
Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)
Rachel’s Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms
Follow us on Instagram: @worldschoolfamily or @greg.denning
Enrollment is open for the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method!
Get Rachel's Family Systems & Charts
Join the Do More With Less Stress Workshop Series for busy moms
Join Greg’s 7-Day Challenge
JOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE!
Gather with us at the World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort in Portugal
We’ve all had the experience of being around someone who’s grumpy — even our spouse or children — and then soon we’re feeling grumpy as well.
A mother of multiple children recently asked us,
“When the people around me (aka my children) are grumpy, negative, or ‘down’, how do I not let that affect me?”
Negative emotions and grumpiness are inevitable and a normal part of life.
But when those around you are moody or grumpy, how do you keep that from bringing you ‘down’ as well?
Is it possible to stay happy or positive in such cases? And if so, HOW?
And is it possible to positively influence those around you so that they can better process their negative emotions and return more quickly to a positive state?
With deliberate intention and focus it IS possible to become the ‘rising tide that lifts all boats’.
YOU can become a great force for good in your family and develop the skill of maintaining positivity —
— not fake, masked happiness, but true, appropriate positive emotion that becomes a stabilizing force in your most important relationships.
This episode is very real and relevant to anyone who has to interact regularly with people who aren’t always happy.
Which is especially needed if you’re married or have children (or plan to one day).
Make sure to listen until the end where we discuss:
“How do you want your children to remember you emotionally?”
“What kind of person do your children see you as?”
“What emotional memory will they have of you?”
We discuss all this and more in this practical discussion between parents of 7 children with 20 years of experience.
If you enjoy this episode — or any of our episodes — would you please do us a favor and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or on our website at podcast.extraordinaryfamilylife.com
When you leave us a rating and review it helps to make this world a better place by getting this podcast to get into the ears of more people and parents — the molders and shapers of future generations.
We all need all the help we can get to be the best people and parents we can be.
Families with thriving parents raise thriving children who grow up to have a positive impact on their families and communities, which leads to better nations and a better world.
You can make an impact by taking a minute to share the podcast with someone who will benefit from it, and by leaving a rating and review.
RESOURCES:
Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)
Rachel’s Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms
Follow us on Instagram: @worldschoolfamily or @greg.denning
Enrollment is open for the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method!
Get Rachel's Family Systems & Charts
Join the Do More With Less Stress Workshop Series for busy moms
Join Greg’s 7-Day Challenge
JOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE!
Gather with us at the World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort in Portugal
We are busy people. And so are you. We have a LOT going on, as I’m sure you do too. Human nature often makes us feel that we’re “too busy” to do things like morning routines or rituals. We’re “too busy” to do morning discussions with our family.
But because you are so busy is exactly why you MUST do family discussions and devotionals. (When we use the term devotional we don't necessarily mean it as a religious activity, although it certainly can include religion and spirituality.)
Daily family devotionals are one of the foundation blocks for building a solid family culture. In fact, it’s a strategy we’ve used for two decades to create family stability even with a nomadic lifestyle living and traveling to 48 countries on five continents with our seven children.
But creating family stability with family devotionals doesn’t just work for nomads like us. When it comes to your family’s stability, it doesn’t matter where or how your family lives or how long you stay in one place. What does matter is what sort of daily rituals and routines you share — such as morning family devotionals or discussions.
Listen to this episode now to learn more about our personal and family morning routines, why they are so powerful and have a compounding effect over your children’s lifetime, and how to begin doing them in your family.
RESOURCES:
Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)
Rachel’s Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms
Follow us on Instagram: @worldschoolfamily or @greg.denning
Enrollment is open for the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method!
Get Rachel's Family Systems & Charts
Join the Do More With Less Stress Workshop Series for busy moms
Join Greg’s 7-Day Challenge
JOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE!
Gather with us at the World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort in Portugal
Fear is a universal emotion. We’ve all experienced it at some point. It is very real and very relevant. As a teenage girl, Edith Eger was a prisoner in Auschwitz Concentration Camp. She said that after she was released once the War ended, it was then that she learned that the greatest prison is the one in our own minds. Fear makes us prisoners of our minds.
With all the people we work with — and through our own experiences — we’ve learned that so many of us are living far below our privilege, potential, desires, wants, and ‘callings’ because of fear.
Even in our day-to-day life, we’re missing out on deeper relationships with our spouse or children because we’re afraid of the little things that feel so big — the conversations that need to happen or doing the things that need to be done. These things aren’t happening because of fear, and so your family life is less than it could be.
Shakespeare put it this way.
“Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.”
Fear is the greatest of thieves. What fears are betraying you and keeping you from the life you want? And how do you face and overcome those fears?
Listen to this episode now for simple strategies to overcome fears so that you can move forward in your relationships, finances, lifestyle, and opportunities. Learn to live more fully by facing and overcoming fear.
RESOURCES:
Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)
Rachel’s Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms
Follow us on Instagram: @worldschoolfamily or @greg.denning
Enrollment is open for the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method!
Get Rachel's Family Systems & Charts
Join the Do More With Less Stress Workshop Series for busy moms
Join Greg’s 7-Day Challenge
JOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE!
Gather with us at the World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort in Portugal
Every great story, movie, or book contains elements of what’s been called the ‘Hero’s Journey’ — a series of events and experiences that makes the story meaningful and transformational. It’s the process by which the hero-to-be becomes the hero of the story.
The interesting thing is that the same elements which make a great story also make a great life. YOU can become the hero of your own life by living and following the ‘Hero’s Journey’. When you do, you finally get out of the bleachers and into the arena of truly living. This starts by stepping from the ‘Ordinary World’ into the ‘Unknown’.
But HOW do you do that? And HOW do you do it if you have children and a family? Doesn’t that prevent you from becoming the ‘hero’ of your life story simply because you have other people to be responsible for?
That’s what we dive into in this episode. Listen now for specific strategies for living and creating a ‘great life story’ by becoming the hero of your own life as you live and grow and ‘level up’ in each area of importance -- mental, emotional, spiritual, social, physical, and financial.
If you’ve ever felt a ‘call’ to do something different or bigger than what you’re doing now then don’t miss this inspiring episode and learn how to accept the call, leave the ‘Ordinary World’ and step into the ‘Unknown’.
RESOURCES:
Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)
Rachel’s Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms
Follow us on Instagram: @worldschoolfamily or @greg.denning
Enrollment is open for the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method!
Get Rachel's Family Systems & Charts
Join the Do More With Less Stress Workshop Series for busy moms
Join Greg’s 7-Day Challenge
JOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE!
Gather with us at the World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort in Portugal
All of us have been ‘conditioned’ by society when it comes to things such as HOW to behave and WHAT to care about.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It fact, social conditioning can be very positive. Caring what other people think or how others view us helps us to be law-abiding citizens — which keeps order and civility in communities and nations.
But sometimes, social conditioning can cause us to believe and behave in ways that our detrimental to our own well-being. Social conditioning can limit our own growth and development.
However, it takes a lot of wisdom and experience to discern what aspects of social conditioning we should disregard and which we should keep. We have to learn how to effectively ‘break the rules’ of society in a way that creates something even better.
This is where greatness happens. But in order for greatness to emerge there has to be times when you literally do NOT give a ‘crap’ what other people think or say about you. Caring TOO MUCH holds you back.
Listen to this episode now to learn how to appropriately STOP CARING about what other people think about you.
RESOURCES:
Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)
Rachel’s Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms
Follow us on Instagram: @worldschoolfamily or @greg.denning
Enrollment is open for the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method!
Get Rachel's Family Systems & Charts
Join the Do More With Less Stress Workshop Series for busy moms
Join Greg’s 7-Day Challenge
JOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE!
Gather with us at the World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort in Portugal
Can we start with a ‘slap’ in the face? In all sincerity, most of us suck at communicating with other people, especially in our family relationships.
Plus, ‘communication’ seems like such a vague or broad topic. What exactly does it mean? And how do we improve it?
We’re not the experts. And we still struggle communicating in some relationships or situations. We came to our marriage with giant deficits in ‘communication skills’. We both suffered with shyness and were terrified to even talk to people. And when we tried it was superficial or strained.
When we got married we struggled sharing our feelings or discussing sensitive or ‘touchy’ subjects.
But through specific practices — such as growing in awareness, or developing the ability to articulate through writing — we’ve been able to drastically improve our communication skills — ESPECIALLY in the relationships that matter most.
That doesn’t mean they’re perfect. But they are much, much better than they would be otherwise.
In this episode we discuss specific techniques for developing communication skills for important relationships such as marriage and parenting.
We’ll explain how simple processes like writing can help you learn to think which can help you better speak to those you love.
We’ll also discuss why the freedom to ‘be offensive’ and imperfect in your speech can help you discover the truth of what’s happening in your relationships. That’s how the thinking process works.
We need to have grace for one another in order to ‘think out loud’ in our communication with each other.
And we’ll also cover how sharing the same ‘vocabulary’ can drastically increase your ability to connect and how your ability to communicate (or lack thereof) ties into your personal levels of growth and maturity.
Everything in life is so much easier, better, and flows smoother when you can effectively communicate with those closest to you — especially your spouse. So it’s worth every effort to improve your ability to communicate.
Listen to this very useful episode for strategies to radically increasing familial closeness through effective communication.
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