LOA Today - Your Daily Dose Of Happy

On a festive Christmas Eve, Walt and Jodielynn gathered for a deeply reflective conversation about the true nature of happiness. Against a backdrop of holiday cheer and sometimes stress, they plunged into age-old questions: What does real happiness look like? Is it fleeting, like falling in love, or can it truly last?Walt opened the conversation with warmth, inviting listeners to ponder how the holidays can be both joyous and challenging. “Holidays are supposed to be festive, but they can also be stressful for many different reasons,” he shared, setting the tone for an honest exchange. Jodielynn, sporting a Christmas sweater and a radiant mood, was ready to break down the myths and reveal raw truths.When Walt asked, “Is happiness really fleeting, or is that just what we’ve been told?” Jodielynn didn’t hesitate: “What a sad existence it would be to believe it’s always out of reach.” The discussion that followed centered on a powerful insight: Happiness isn’t about external events, but a feeling that grows from within the heart.As they explored the relationship between the “head” and the “heart,” both reflected on how societal beliefs and personal experiences often confuse us. Walt recounted, “We humans tend to get confused about the role of the heart and the head. Who we are is really what’s in our hearts.” Jodielynn agreed, highlighting that external programming and belief systems were only part of the story.They bravely addressed the coexistence of happiness and sorrow, challenging the notion that joy can’t exist alongside pain. “Happiness and pain can exist in the exact same moment,” Jodielynn explained, comparing emotions to a color spectrum where all feelings blend together, not cancel each other out.Practical wisdom surfaced throughout. Walt suggested that listeners try being kinder to themselves for a day: “How can I find happiness within myself, and then what happens over the next day or two?” He described his own experiment at a concert, focusing on inner joy and noticing how it changed his interactions with others. Jodielynn echoed this, sharing, “I walked through the airport happy and everyone noticed. When I was down, I felt invisible. What you exude changes the world around you.”They also pulled from personal stories of heartbreak and resilience. Jodielynn told of moving through the darkness of a lost pregnancy, afraid to feel pain fully until a friend reminded her, “You have the space and protection to feel whatever you need.” Fully embracing her grief, she described how it shifted quickly to joy, a revelation: “It was so incredibly short. I was so afraid of this. That was it?”Walt, too, recounted devastating moments, including separation and financial hardship, and how support, community, and inner work ultimately made him stronger and happier.Together, their dialogue was a reminder that happiness isn’t handed to us by circumstance, it comes from embracing our full range of emotions and choosing kindness within. As Jodielynn concluded, “No matter what happens, I can make it through. I’m happy, and I’m a good person.”LOA Today Episode Page: https://www.loatoday.net/happinessFollow the LOA Today podcast:  https://www.loatoday.net/follow#lawofattraction#manifesting#vibration#podcast#deliberatecreators#Q&A#waltthiessen#jodielynncraven#loatodayapp#YourDailyDoseOfHappy#EmotionalWisdom #HappinessWithin #HeartAndMind #HolidayReflection #JoyAndPain #SelfKindness #PersonalGrowth #Resilience #LOAToday #InnerPeace

What if the very things that make us feel beaten down are actually the fuel for our greatest transformations?In a powerful conversation between Walt and Joel, listeners are challenged to rethink their entire relationship with struggle not as a punishment, but as the catalyst for growth, resilience, and fulfillment.Walt opens the conversation by reflecting on how we often create our own struggles unknowingly, asking: “Is struggle really just life ‘screwing us over,’ or are we, in some way, the architects of our own reality?” Joel answers with conviction, “Struggle is a growth mechanism.”He shares his journey from seeing struggle as self-inflicted punishment to embracing it as the foundation of his accomplishments. Joel’s raw honesty is evident when he confesses, “I now look at the struggle as what made me who I am today.”The science, Joel reveals, backs this up. He introduces a fascinating framework, highlighting how true rewards and fulfillment come from efforts we authentically earn. Through the lens of neuroscience, Joel explains: “Dopamine from struggle and effort is a reinforcer but dopamine from cheap sources like social media or gambling can become very destructive.” The conversation digs deeper as Joel illuminates the role of the body’s AMPK system, asking the audience, “Are you rewarding yourself through real effort, or are you chasing shortcuts that leave you empty?”Throughout the dialogue, the recurring theme is perspective. Walt points out, “When something merely happens to you, when you’re not directly engaged, it can feel like punishment.” Joel agrees, underscoring the critical difference between being active in your struggles and passively accepting them.Practical wisdom is woven throughout. Joel recounts a consulting gig where launching an imperfect program (and embracing inevitable failures) quickly led to success. “By launching an imperfect system, you allow the failing to show you where the pressure points are,” he says. Walt highlights how the mindset of taking action, even without over-planning, brings real flow - a concept that shaped breakthrough moments at companies like SpaceX.The conversation turns deeply personal and hopeful as Walt admits, “All my greatest advancements came from situations I hated or disliked.” Joel nods, offering, “Everything that happened to me, no matter how bad, helped get me to where I am. I wouldn’t change anything.”Together, they invite listeners to reflect: “Are you stuck in struggle as endless punishment, or are you using pain as a stepping stone to breakthrough?” Walt and Joel stress the importance of embracing change, acting in the face of uncertainty, appreciating unique talents, and even harnessing new technology, such as AI, for personal growth not to avoid thinking, but to expand it.The real question is, when struggle arrives, how will you respond?LOA Today Episode Page: https://www.loatoday.net/strugglesFollow the LOA Today podcast:  https://www.loatoday.net/follow#loatoday#lawofattraction#manifesting#vibration#podcast#deliberatecreators#Q&A#waltthiessen#joelelston#StruggleIsGrowth #ChangeYourPerspective #EmbraceTheJourney #PersonalTransformation #Resilience #DopamineRewards #TakeAction #EmotionalStrength #GrowthMindset #OvercomingAdversity

In a world that too often writes off those who struggle, some voices shine a light so powerful that it changes lives forever.In a recent conversation on LOA Today, host Walt Thiessen sat down with Anne Marie Young and a guest, Russell, who transformed his painful experience with severe dyslexia into a beacon of hope for countless others.Russell’s story is as stirring as it is instructive. “For me, it’s because I have the worst case of dyslexia people have ever seen,” Russell began, recalling the discrimination that shadowed his early years. He described the humiliation of being “flunked” by a university political science department, even after completing an intense New York State Assembly Internship with accommodations that allowed him to thrive. When asked by Walt, “So how did you end up at a point where you wanted to come on a podcast and talk about this?” Russell replied, “That compelled me to literally go out and spend a couple of decades to solve dyslexia.”What followed was a journey powered by relentless determination - one that took Russell from law school, where he learned to read and write at a graduate level, to working with distinguished professors, securing research funding, and ultimately developing methods that propelled dyslexic high school students from struggling to success.Anne Marie, listening in awe, captured the spirit of so many: “I’m loving the fact that Russell’s gone in and worked out, what’s happening, and they’re actually super clever, and it’s just a shame I feel so many people have been written off in the education system.”The heart of Russell’s approach was simple yet revolutionary: embrace each learner’s unique specialty and passion. He recounted a moving story about a student named Casey, who leapt eight reading grade levels in six months simply by immersing herself in a subject she loved. When asked, “How do you get these normal kids to actually care?” Russell emphasized the critical power of letting students dive deeply into what fascinates them. The drop in motivation when forced outside their passion was as much as 90%, he explained - a staggering statistic that underscores the importance of individualized education.The conversation also stretched beyond education into the modern workforce, where Russell described how mastery in research and the integration of AI tools have become game-changers. Sharing both questions and encouragement, Walt observed, “So what you described as a senior person, if you were to go and work for some company, they know they can hire you, and you’re going to be productive immediately.” Russell’s response: “They now expect these kids to become seniors within six to twelve months. If you know how to do this, you’re going to become immensely valuable.”As the discussion wound down, Anne Marie distilled the episode’s heart: “Find your passion, learn to train your brain around whatever that may be building your skills.” For struggling families, Russell offered concrete next steps -inviting them to connect at dyslexiaclasses.com for free guides and support.This was more than a podcast: it was a resounding call to see the genius in every learner, to unlock potential through empathy, innovation, and heart.LOA Today Episode Page: https://www.loatoday.net/russell-van-brocklenRussell Van Brocklen's Website: https://dyslexiaclasses.com/Follow the LOA Today podcast:  https://www.loatoday.net/follow#lawofattraction#manifesting#vibration#podcast#Q&A#waltthiessen#annemarieyoung#Dyslexia #Inspiration #OvercomingAdversity #EducationRevolution #Podcast #AI #LearningDifferences #Empowerment #PersonalGrowth #Motivation

What if the path to true healing isn’t paved with relentless struggle and painful reliving of the past but with joy, deep self-compassion, and seeing the wholeness that’s been within us all along?This was the transformative theme at the heart of my recent conversation with Steven, the Director of Education for Organic Intelligence, on LOA Today.We didn’t just discuss ideas; we explored lived experience: the real questions, doubts, and breakthroughs that happen on the path to wellness.From the very beginning, Steven set the tone for a radically new approach. When I asked how he ended up working in healing, Steven shared, “We’re built on our errors, the learning that we get from our mistakes. And so what can I say? I’ve learned a lot.” His openness established the conversation as a shared journey, not a lecture.We dove deep into the problem with the classic Western narrative of self-denial and hard work as the only way to personal growth. I asked, “If you don’t have a practice of kindness toward yourself, isn’t being kind to others a chore?” Steven’s answer was revelatory: “That’s the essence of it, isn’t it? The job is enjoyable.” Instead of treating pleasure and self-kindness as luxuries, Steven insisted these are essential to real, lasting change.One of the most powerful insights was how Organic Intelligence helps people develop “bandwidth” for life’s experiences by practicing orientation to the world around us not just endless introspection. “The cornerstone is this really great news, within yourself is pre-existing wholeness. We’re not trying to manufacture some kind of goodness. We’re just trying to get out of the way enough to rediscover it,” Steven explained.Questions fueled our entire exchange: How do we bridge the gap between internal and external experience? How do we orient towards what is working, instead of obsessing over what’s broken? Can physical symptoms and real-world limitations be helped by tools we might not expect?Steven answered these with living examples and hope: clients overcoming chronic conditions, communities finding resilience, and the “miracle” moments in therapy when the system guides people to external cues—a butterfly, a surge of pleasure that becomes the gateway to healing.Above all, the message was one of radical hope and universality. “We are preferentially looking for the side of experience that is unacknowledged, but that also feels well, there are ways we can knit back the fabric of our being,” Steven shared. And as we both discovered through our journeys—spiritual, emotional, and physical—the common thread has been finding joy and connection, not in spite of pain but alongside it.Steven’s dream for Organic Intelligence, mentoring others to continue this generational work of wholeness, leaves a lasting legacy not just for those who directly interact but for communities and future generations.If you’re searching for healing that empowers joy, compassion, and self-acceptance to become your new “normal,” you’re not alone. The path is wide, welcoming—and it’s already under your feet.LOA Today Episode Page: https://www.loatoday.net/steven-hoskinsonSteven Hoskinson's Website: https://organicintelligence.org/Follow the LOA Today podcast:  https://www.loatoday.net/follow#lawofattraction#manifesting#vibration#podcast#Q&A#waltthiessen#annemarieyoung#YourDailyDoseOfHappy#HealingWithoutPain #OrganicIntelligence #SelfCompassion #Wholeness #EmotionalWellness #LOAToday #MindBodyHealing #EndOfTrauma #ChooseJoy

In a world so often overcast with negativity, a single conversation can be a ray of sunlight, reminding us of the immense power of kindness, self-reflection, and inner magic.This was a recurring theme in our latest meeting, where Walt, Anne-Marie, and Terry came together to explore the transformative journey behind Terry’s book, “Abracadabra,” and, in doing so, opened a heartfelt dialogue on growth at every stage in life.The conversation started with Terry sharing the origin of“Abracadabra.” Fourteen years in the making, the story was finally born from her determination to spread joy and resilience in the face of adversity. “My glass isn’t half empty or half full—it’s pretty much full all the time,” Terry declared, explaining why the book wasn’t just about magic; it was about the choice to choose happiness even in the darkest moments.One of Walt’s powerful questions caught the spirit of the meeting: “What’s this children’s book actually about?” Terry answered with honesty, painting a scene where a child, overwhelmed by her parents’ fighting, discovers a magical branch. This branch becomes a wand, and the girl’s own reflection turns sage, teaching that true happiness and wisdom come from within. Terry’s intention resonated with Anne-Marie, who remarked that such stories can make an enormous difference: “A good story book can make a massive difference. What kind of message do you want to give your kids?”The group didn’t shy away from hard truths. Walt shared his own journey of learning kindness and the struggle to let go of perfectionism. He spoke about how being kind to himself transformed not just his relationships with others, but his view of the world. “If you are working on your own kindness toward yourself, the kindness that you exhibit toward others isn’t random at all. It just flows out of you on a regular basis,” he said—a message Terry echoed deeply.Anne-Marie contributed candid wisdom on self-care, rediscovering joy, and setting boundaries. “I used to do everything for everybody. But then I completely lost myself, now I’m a lot happier for that, just having my boundaries.”Throughout their discussion, powerful questions guided the emotional current: How do we help children (and adults) understand their own magic? What does real self-care look like, and why is it so hard? Is it ever too late to change perspective and find happiness? Their answers, drawn from lived experience, boiled down to one word Terry repeated: “choice.”“Everything starts here,” Terry said, placing a hand over her heart. From taking responsibility for one’s story, to reaching out and building supportive communities as Terry did, finding the perfect illustrator for her book—the message was woven clear: kindness, perspective, and connection are superpowers.As the meeting closed, Anne-Marie summed it up beautifully: “If something’s happening to you, look at your perspective just change a little thing, and notice what happens.”LOA Today Episode Page: https://www.loatoday.net/terry-beanTerry Bean's Website: https://terrybeanauthor.com/Follow the LOA Today podcast:  https://www.loatoday.net/follow#lawofattraction#manifesting#vibration#podcast#Q&A#waltthiessen#annemarieyoung#YourDailyDoseOfHappy#InnerMagic #KindnessFirst #SelfCare #PositivePerspective #GrowthMindset #EmotionalWellbeing #MindfulParenting #Resilience #LOAToday #BookLaunch #CommunitySupport