Power For Positive Living

Birthdays mean different things to different people. Some of us celebrate them in a big way, some would rather keep things simple, and others would just as soon let the day pass without much attention. For your host, though, one day simply isn’t enough. Over the years, his birthday celebration has grown to include the entire month of October. It’s become less about the birthday itself and more about spending time with people, enjoying new experiences, and creating memories to carry forward. Of course, every birthday also reminds us that life keeps changing. Another year brings new experiences, new challenges, and sometimes a different perspective on where we’ve been and where we’re going. We may not get to choose all the changes that come with another year, but we do get to choose how we respond to them. And maybe that’s one of the best things about birthdays: they give us a chance to celebrate where we are, appreciate the people and experiences that got us here, and look ahead to what comes next.

At different points in life, many of us find ourselves asking a simple but surprisingly powerful question: Who am I?Who am I today compared with the person I was years ago? How have my experiences, relationships, successes, and mistakes shaped me? And what choices am I making now that could change the person I become in the future?In this episode, we explore what it means to take an honest look at ourselves—not through clinical labels or complicated theories, but through questions that can help us better understand who we are and what matters to us.The conversation explores five deeply personal areas of life: our relationships with our parents, our beliefs about God and spirituality, how we would want our lives to be remembered, emotional and physical intimacy, and our thoughts and experiences surrounding human sexuality.There may never be one final answer to the question “Who am I?” As we grow and our lives change, the answer can change with us. This episode offers a starting point for that conversation—and an opportunity to think about where you've been, who you are today, and who you may still become.

Some of the most important questions we can ask ourselves are also some of the simplest: Who am I? Who am I today, and how have I changed from the person I was years ago? What choices am I making today that might shape the person I become tomorrow?There are no shortage of questions when it comes to understanding ourselves. And taking an honest look at who we are isn’t always easy. It takes time, reflection, and a willingness to be honest with ourselves. In this podcast, we’ll explore some questions that can help us take a closer look at ourselves and the way we relate to the world around us.We’ll look at five areas of everyday life: our need for privacy, our need for other people, how we respond to authority, the way we see our bodies, and our need to be loved. The goal isn’t to come up with perfect answers. It’s simply to stop for a moment, think about the questions, and maybe learn something new about ourselves along the way.

One of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is also one of the simplest: “Who am I?”The answer goes deeper than our job, our relationships, our interests, or the roles we play in everyday life. Understanding ourselves often means taking the time to look beneath the surface and think about what really matters to us.One way to do that is by asking ourselves a series of thoughtful questions. There’s no single right way to explore them. You might write your answers in a journal, talk them through with someone you trust, or simply spend some quiet time thinking about them.In this podcast, we’ll explore questions that can help us better understand who we are. What do our possessions mean to us? What brings us the greatest satisfaction in life? What do we see as our weaknesses? And what are our basic attitudes toward the people around us?These questions aren’t about finding the “right” answers. They’re about looking a little more closely at ourselves and perhaps discovering something we hadn’t noticed before.

One of the most interesting questions we can ask ourselves is simply, “Who am I?” It sounds like a simple question, but answering it can lead us to discover things about ourselves that we may not think about very often. Beyond our job, our relationships, our responsibilities, and the roles we play every day, who are we really? One way to explore that question is by taking some time for honest self-reflection. You might write your thoughts in a journal, talk them through with someone you trust, or simply spend some quiet time thinking about them. In this podcast, we’ll explore several questions designed to help us look a little deeper. We’ll talk about getting to know ourselves better, describing ourselves in our own words, telling the story of our lives in just ten statements, and considering one thing we might want to change about ourselves. There are no right or wrong answers. The goal isn't to come up with a perfect definition of who we are. It's simply to take a little time to understand ourselves better—and perhaps discover something along the way that we didn't realize was there.

From the time we're born, we're given labels. Family, friends, teachers, and society all influence how we see ourselves and who we're expected to become. Many of those messages come from people who care about us, but that doesn't mean every label still fits. As we grow, it's easy to keep living according to old expectations instead of asking an important question: Who am I today? In this episode, your host explores how our self-image is formed and how taking an honest look within can help us build a healthier, more authentic identity.

"If I am 98% perfect in everything I do, it will be the 2% I remember when all is through."For many people, one small mistake can overshadow dozens of successes. Instead of celebrating what went well, the mind fixates on the few imperfections.In this episode, your host explores the concept of "Red Ink Thinking"—the tendency to focus on flaws rather than accomplishments. Through personal stories and honest reflection, he discusses how perfectionism can affect self-esteem, relationships, and personal growth, and why learning to appreciate progress instead of perfection can lead to a healthier, more balanced life.

Each of us presents a version of ourselves and to others. Sometimes we're open and transparent. Other times, we hide our feelings to protect ourselves from rejection, disappointment, or hurt. The emotional clothing we wear can change depending on the situation. Around people we trust, we may feel free to be our authentic selves. In unfamiliar or uncomfortable situations, we may put up emotional walls to feel safe. By becoming more aware of the roles we play and the defenses we build, we can begin making choices that lead to greater authenticity, healthier relationships, and a more fulfilling life.

The passions we have when we’re younger can be difficult to hold onto as the years pass. Over time, routines take over, and we may find ourselves thinking, feeling, and acting in the same familiar ways without asking whether they still serve us. Taking an honest look at these patterns—and making meaningful changes—can feel uncomfortable, especially when we’ve held the same beliefs for many years. But we are not powerless. We can challenge old habits and choose a different path forward.

Teachers spend much of the day asking students to listen—but how often do we stop and ask whether we're truly listening to them? Real listening goes beyond hearing words. It builds trust, strengthens relationships, helps us better understand students and families, and creates classrooms where people feel valued. In this episode, we explore why listening may be one of the most important qualities an educator can develop, how it shapes the learning environment, and the lasting impact a teacher can have simply by making others feel heard.

Real connection starts with feeling heard. In our relationships with family, friends, and the people closest to us, communication isn’t just about talking — it’s about truly listening. But how often are we fully present when someone is sharing what they think or feel? Listening takes more than staying quiet while another person speaks. It requires attention, patience, empathy, and a willingness to understand, even when we don’t agree.

What does it really mean to listen? In this episode, we explore one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to show love and care for others: truly listening. Not just hearing words—but being present, understanding, and making space for someone to feel seen and heard. Through a moving pastoral letter, this episode reveals how the simple act of listening can profoundly change someone’s life.

This episode reflects on why listening is far more than hearing words; it is one of the greatest gifts we can offer to those around us and an essential part of building stronger human connection.

Years may pass, technology may change, and life may become busier, but one thing remains true: listening is one of the most meaningful ways we can show we care. In this companion episode to an earlier podcast, *Listening Is Loving*, your host revisits the idea that being fully present for another person is a powerful expression of love, friendship, and respect.

Decades after the 1990 broadcast, Power For Positive Living embarks on a new voyage as an internet podcast dedicated to personal growth, emotional well-being, and meaningful living.Whether you're seeking greater self-awareness, personal development, or simply a fresh perspective, Friend Ship Radio welcomes you aboard to the grand march of life!

  Your host concludes the radio broadcast segment of this Power for Positive Living podcast series with an introspective review of Wellness Psychology life lessons.    He observes some changes that have taken place during his past 27 years of living life as well as how many characteristics of human behavior have remained consistent.    There is a focus on the major factors which he has personally found to be most useful in developing positive life lessons for his own mental health system over the years of using Wellness Psychology.

In this special episode, our host wraps up a memorable trilogy of guest appearances on Hello, Henry on WBT AM 1110 in Charlotte, North Carolina, bringing to a close a powerful series of conversations centered on personal growth, self-discovery, and living a more intentional life.Throughout the conversation, your host and Henry explore some of life’s biggest questions — the kinds of questions we all face as we navigate relationships, personal struggles, purpose, and the search for meaning. Inspired by a thoughtful caller’s question, the discussion turns toward an important idea: Where do we go when searching for life’s answers? Do we look outward to the world around us, inward to our own experiences and intuition, or somewhere in between?

In this episode, your host makes a return visit to Hello Henry on WBT AM 1110 in Charlotte, NC, ahead of an upcoming move to the Atlanta area. Joining longtime radio host Henry Bogan, the conversation dives into real-life questions from about relationships, boundaries, and personal growth.

In this engaging interview, your host sits down with Henry Bogan on WBT-AM in Charlotte, NC for a conversation on well-being, emotional awareness, and healthier relationships. Together, they break down the idea of “emotional pricing”—the hidden emotional toll (or payoff) behind our everyday decisions and interactions.

Expectations and Stress One life challenge that tends to remain the same over the years is the decisions that one makes in how he/she chooses to manage the many expectations and stresses of various holiday periods.    This brief radio interview has your host offering some factors for choosing options on WGBR, Goldsboro, NC, during the Christmas season of 1992.

  Your host brings his listening ministry from Galveston, Texas to Goldsboro, North Carolina.  In this interview from WGBR AM 1150, he discusses the connection between Wellness Psychology personal-retreat principles and those used in clinical private practice counseling. Dr. Hughey firmly believes that caring to actively listen is the primary foundation of personal and professional counseling relationships.

As the Power for Positive Living radio series moves on from KGBC broadcasting, the focus turns toward what your host has personally learned from his experience and adventure of offering wellness psychology concepts to others.    Any life experience is open for one to learn.  What each of us chooses to learn from whatever happens along our Life Journey has been and will continue to be a personal decision.  Change continues in our lives and each retains the power to choose our individual responses.   Power for Positive Living has been an effort to share what your host has learned over the years. Each listener is encouraged to consider this knowledge and utilize any relevant portion of it within their own individual lives. 

Using various emotional tools like a positive-view camera or a positive magnifying glass, we each make choices on how we see various aspects of our world and the people in it.  What we choose to see generally will translate into the attitudes we develop.

  There can be times when we need an objective, competent and caring person to listen and offer guidance for the many and varied stresses of living.   Sometimes we need more than we can receive from family and friends.    Choosing a counselor is a very personal decision.  One may be lucky with the first choice they try or they find that finding the right person can be a long and challenging road.  Like many significant life choices, it helps to do extensive research on options that match one's own unique personality.

  Wellness psychology accepts that basically healthy people frequently have needs for assistance from others to better understand themselves and others.   About one in four persons will need some type of psychological assistance from another during their life journey to make healthy mental health choices.   Mental Health is defined on Friend Ship Radio and at the Personal Retreat Center as: positive interaction with life to the benefit of self and others.     Various mental health myths are discussed.  Our society often has difficulties with individual differences.  We like persons to be "individual" as long as they are also "normal".

  One of the cornerstones of wellness psychology is acknowledging the power of choice that each of us has with personal prejudices. A key to a better understanding of who we are is learning how we choose our personal attitudes and expectations.   Your host discusses how specific perceptions of mental illness create our prejudices. Over the decades there have been myths that mental illness is caused by factors such as emotional weakness, bad parenting, sinful behavior or that the individual actually brings their mental illness on themselves.

  Who am I?  How did I develop into the person I am?  Who were the people and what were the major events that led me to make healthy and unhealthy choices which bring happiness or sadness into my current life?  Am I ready to study and understand the internal compass that guides me when I enter the emotional fogs of daily living?   How can I understand myself better and explore/experiment by choosing different emotions and/or behavior?   Wellness Psychology encourages the exploration of diverse characteristics in ourselves as we choose who we wish to be.  One is encouraged to choose the role of being the author of one's life rather than choosing to be a victim of life.   Experiencing a personal retreat is one way for an individual to focus on four major aspects of life:  emotional, physical, social and spiritual

  Who am I?  How did I develop into the person I am?  Who were the people and what were the major events that led me to make healthy and unhealthy choices which bring happiness or sadness into my current life?  Am I ready to study and understand the internal compass that guides me when I enter the emotional fogs of daily living?   How can I understand myself better and explore/experiment by choosing different emotions and/or behavior?   Wellness Psychology encourages the exploration of diverse characteristics in ourselves as we choose who we wish to be.  One is encouraged to choose the role of being the author of ones life rather than choosing to be a victim of life.   Experiencing a personal retreat is one way for an individual to focus on four major aspects of life:  emotional, physical, social and spiritual

Wellness Psychology encourages each of us to more fully understand and appreciate the choices we make in developing and implementing our own individual self-esteem beginning as a child to becoming a senior citizen.   Special interest is paid to the emotional cancer of perfectionist tyranny and the ways we can re-decide to promote healthy self-esteem for ourselves.

Wellness Psychology encourages each of us to more fully understand and appreciate the choices we make in developing and implementing our own individual self-esteem beginning as a child to becoming a senior citizen. Beginning with words from the Book of Proverbs, "As he thinks in his heart, so is he", various approaches are presented to understanding the choices our heart implements during our daily living.  "Love thy neighbor as thyself" is another guideline for study with emphasis on the last two words.  Honesty is often defined as the ability, to tell the truth to others.   Maturity is the ability, to tell the truth to ourselves and, therefore, often tends to be more challenging for many.  Maturity becomes a major goal of the personal retreating process.  Jim Cole's book Facades is used to demonstrate that healthy self-esteem needs a sense of belonging, having worth and value as well as having some competency. Development of our self-views is characterized by "children are the world's best recorders of their world and also the world's worst interpreters of it." The outcome is that many individuals make choices that are inaccurate and lead to unhappiness.

Understanding Defense Mechanisms Your host discusses the following:  * What is a defense mechanism? What role do they serve? * What is a reaction formation? * What is projection? We strongly condemn in others what we can't admit about ourselves. * What is rationalization and how can we recognize it? * Is there a difference between a "good" reason and the "real" reason?

This broadcast PTP (Point to Ponder) involves the behavior of responding to someone who often seeks advice and then chooses not to implement it.   People seek advice from others for a number of reasons ranging from seeking confirmation of ideas (people do what they want to do) to seeking help from others to reinforce a perspective of neediness.   Psychological mind games can be played such as, "See, I told everyone that my problem could not be solved".   A significant point to ponder is for a helper to self-define what he/she sees as their role in encouraging others to seek healthy assistance.

One of the most frequent challenges a person can face is the process of developing a positive self-image and choosing positive ways while interacting with negative people.

In this episode, your host explores eight traits commonly found in successful entrepreneurs and offers practical ways to better understand yourself. 

  Each of us has the ability to receive many viewpoints from others as we create and define our personal self-esteem.   During this broadcast, your host contrasts his views with those of John Leo to illustrate there are many ways for us to perceive the same thing.  Believing that no one-size-fits-all, listeners are encouraged to seek many different sources as they develop their individual path to see and value themselves.

Our friendships are often the most important aspect of our personal mental health system.  Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves as we compose our Life Story and journey through life using the concepts of wellness psychology.  An awareness chart is offered for each of us to better understand our own unique personal 'Friend Print'.   This broadcast is one that allows an individual to learn and personally grow after the program is completed with techniques one can complete on their own.

  Our friendships are often the most important aspect of our personal mental health system.  Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves as we compose our Life Story and journey through life using the concepts of wellness psychology.  Our friends tend to be a reflection of how we see ourselves.   We tend to be selected as a friend to compliment others self-perceptions.   Constructing, understanding and learning from our friendship mirror allows us to be healthier human beings and can be one of the most important aspects of our personal growth.   Our friends tend to mirror who we are and we can offer back the unique gift of reflecting how our friends see themselves.

One way we each can create loving friendships is by giving the gifts of listening hospitality.  When we love a person to the degree that they can truly be themselves without the burdens of perfectionism, we encourage the mutual gift of friendship.  This attitude of listening with others also allows us the opportunity to build a strong, positive and loving friendship with ourselves. 

  One foundation of Wellness Psychology is believing that listening is loving.   Some key aspects of developing a behavior and attitude pattern of listening to self and others include the following:  Listening is a gift that allows another to take what is inside them and bring it out in the open to be seen and understood more fully in a loving, non-judgemental atmosphere. Understanding that each of us has a different view of ourselves and our world, we can be loving by listening carefully to ourselves and each other.

One foundation of Wellness Psychology is believing that listening is loving. Some key aspects of developing a behavior and attitude pattern of listening to self and others include the following: One skill is the ability to ask myself whether I can tell someone what they have just said.  Was I truly listening to the degree that I really heard the words, saw the non-verbal language, felt the voice inflections and deeper feelings, able to put aside my own thoughts and feelings while seeking understanding, etc.?Dr. Hughey's personal guideline for interacting with others:  I am here to assist you with whatever you need to do for yourself.We like people who care to listen to us.   Active listening takes energy and effort.  It is far more than not talking.Even though our society values the powers that come from speaking, giving the rare gift of listening hospitality to another is a rare and valuable way of conveying our love.Most people like to talk about themselves first, then about their opinions/beliefs followed by talking about other people and last on their preferences is talking about you.  

Learning to actively listen is often a personal challenge. While most efforts are focused on learning to listen to others, the more challenging behavior is often learning methods to listen and hear one's self.Your host uses illustrations of the model: attitudes = feelings & thoughts = behavior. Many blame their behavior of being a life victim on the input from others. We each have the personal power to make individual choices that can determine our behavior. A second possibility for self-study is to use the D-I-J method: Describe, Interpret, JudgeJust having information about personal growth does not guarantee that a person will actually implement that knowledge to make healthy life decisions. Knowledge does not create change, taking action can. 

  Your host responds to questions received on how we each choose our personal path to a positive lifestyle.   Reference is made to addressing family dynamics in an Ann Landers newspaper column.  Encouragement is offered to avoid working to be a 'victim' in life.   Accept the reality that one cannot change others; each is responsible for choosing a personal path to positivism. Also, Andy Capp's cartoon on marriage counseling illustrates the reality that it does take two to address interpersonal issues.

With three books, Richard Bach encourages our personal emotional growth by offering different points for us to ponder as each of us writes our Life Story.  The story of Johnathan Livingston Seagull encourages us to develop a standard of personal perfection for living our life and then take what we have learned during our individual journey and invite others to share.  "Illusions" is a book that encourages us to individually implement the commandment of being happy as we make choices to live the gift of life that is freely given to us.The third book entitled One reminds us that we do make a significant difference in the lives of other people regardless of where we manage to land during our Life Journey.  

Two personal growth books by Abraham Twerski are discussed. These books have so much to offer individuals interested in personal growth that they are still available in print 30 years after this broadcast. Each book, When Do The Good Things Start? and Waking Up Just In Time provides various topics for each of us to ponder as we make the decisions on the life path we choose for ourselves. Points to Ponder (PTP) are made clearer, less threatening and more relatable through the power of using humor. These books liberally use the humor of Charles Schultz with his "Peanuts" gang.

Your host responds to a book called How To Make Yourself Miserable by Dan Greenburg. This book is a parody of money/attractiveness to show how so many are successful in making themselves emotionally miserable.

Your host shares some thoughts on the power we each have for choosing the attitudes we place in our personal Life Story that we write each day of our lives. Some topics covered for each listener to consider are:*We each have a personal camera where we make choices on the "photos" we take to reinforce our view of our world.*Aids to bury the faults of our friends and the manner we choose to use our emotional magnifying glass.

Your host switches from episodes that feature guests to a more personal approach."Who am I?" is usually the basic question one often seeks to answer in life. The methods usually vary with the individual. Our mind and body give us powerful tools to explore new experimental options for healthy choices.Ann Landers, the newspaper columnist, conveys her choices for using words that are most effective in dealing positively with others.

The process of introducing the wellness psychology foundation of Friend Ship to the Galveston-Houston community continues with a spirited interview with Doug Johnson on talk radio KPRC, AM 950, in Houston, Texas.  Friend Ship evolves from an entertainment self-learning program offered on cruise ships at sea to the building of Friend Ship House in Galveston.   This interview stresses the unique feature of having individuals 'check out' from their daily lives, roles, and commitments to immerse themselves in a self-learning experiential and experimental individualized program within a land-based program. Friend Ship also grew from Friend Ship at Sea and Friend Ship House to include a weekly personal growth radio program (Power for Positive Living) which debuted on Galveston's AM radio station, KGBC.

This KGBC broadcast is an interview by Charles McCullough to better understand the history and evolution of your host's life story and his creating of Friend Ship as a wellness psychology ministry. 

Choosing My Personal Life Journey, Part 1 This KGBC broadcast is an interview to better understand the history and evolution of Friend Ship as well as its facilitator's personal life journey.   An interest in knowing the life story of James Hughey and his creating of Friend Ship as a wellness psychology ministry prior to its weekly broadcasting on KGBC in Galveston, Texas, will find this interview by Charles McCullough to be of interest.