Everything Is Better Than You Think

This is the final episode of our season on the Enneagram, talking about Enneagram 9.

Enneagram 8 is the topic for this week's discussion.

Enneagram 7 is discussed by the Johns' brothers in this episode.

Join us for a discussion on Enneagram 6, the Guardian.

Enneagram 5 is discussed by the Johns' brothers in this episode.

In this episode, the Johns' brothers discuss Enneagram 4.

Listen as the Johns Brothers discuss the strengths and weaknesses of number 1 on the Enneagram, the Perfectionist.

Listen as the Johns Brothers discuss the strengths and weaknesses of number 2 on the Enneagram, the Helper.

Listen as the Johns Brothers discuss the strengths and weaknesses of number 3 on the Enneagram, the Achiever.

In this concluding episode, the Johns' brothers look at Jesus' final words about building a life that can withstand the storms. 

"Do not judge" and the power of the request--these are the two powerful teachings of Jesus we look at in this episode. 

Jesus said, "Do not worry." A teaching much easier said than done! In this episode, we talk about how to reduce worry and lean into a trust in the goodness of God and life.

In this episode, learn about what it means to "live your life before the audience of One." Also, the Johns' brothers take you through the Lord's prayer and the deeper meaning in embedded in each phrase of this most famous prayer.

Jesus taught, "Let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no.'" In this episode, the Johns' brothers discuss how following this advice can transform your life and set you free.

Right out of the gate, Jesus addresses sex and violence, two issues that underpin so much of the great pain and suffering in our world. Imagine a world where they are managed in a healthy way! It's almost impossible. Listen to learn how you can manage these powerful desires and become more healthy and happy as you do so.

In episode two, the Johns brothers discuss this new religion and spirituality that Jesus presents to His listeners.  It's very different than what most of us realize.

Rick and Will Johns are back in their new season focused on Jesus' teaching in His famous Sermon on the Mount.  The catalyst for these episodes is Dallas Willard's classic book, The Divine Conspiracy, where he leads his readers through an in-depth and refreshing commentary on how incredibly relevant Jesus' teaching is for today.

In this final episode, we discuss the final pillar of happiness, Meaningful Work. Do you wish your job was more meaningful and rewarding? Learn how to improve the meaning of your work and life in this episode.  Thank you to Arthur C. Brooks for his meaningful work on happiness and sharing these insights in his book, Building the Life You Want.

The third pillar of happiness is Friendships. While this pillar may seem obvious, it is the one most often neglected and treated like a luxury, not a necessity.

The second pillar of happiness is Family. The Johns brothers share we can lean into the foundation of family to increase our happiness, even when our family may have some relational challenges.

In this episode, we switch our discussion to the four pillars of happiness, focusing on faith in this episode.

We continue our conversation on the four idols that rob of us happiness-- in this episode discussing the idols of pleasure and money.

In this season, the Johns brothers discuss four pillars of happiness that can greatly add to your quality of life, along with four idols than can steal your happiness. This season is based on the work of Harvard Happiness researcher and author, Arthur C. Brooks.

In this season finale, the Johns' brothers discuss pain, pleasure, and spirituality. How do we find the balance with pain and pleasure on the spiritual journey? 

Truth-telling is a powerful part of living in the healthy balance of pain and pleasure. Learn why you need to pay more attention to this powerful practice.

This episode is about self-binding, a practice that is necessary for all of us, but is especially needed when dealing with addiction. Learn more about it in this episode and how it can set you free!

It is our natural tendency to avoid pain, to run from pain, and to sometimes we go to great lengths to try to escape from pain. However, there is a healthy time to run towards pain and knowing this can greatly benefit your life!

In this second episode, the Johns' brothers go deeper with the subject of pain and pleasure and how to balance them in a healthy way in our lives.

A new season begins here with a discussion on pain and pleasure based on Anna Lembke's book Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence. Pain and pleasure are the two basic driving forces in our lives, but new brain research helps us understand how the brain processes them and seeks to find balance.

In this final episode of the season, the Johns' brothers discuss the intersection of gratitude and spirituality.   Ideally, both can compliment each other, but the brothers deal with the topic of what happens when religion creates negative experiences and hinders our gratitude.  Learn how spirituality, if done correctly, can be a tremendous asset to gratitude and how gratitude can greatly benefit our spiritual journey.

How do you make gratitude a regular and sustainable practice in your life?  Tune in to this episode to learn how to incorporate gratitude into your life until it just becomes part of who you are.

How do you experience gratitude and its benefits?  You practice it.  Learn six simple, but life changing, gratitude practices you can incorporate into your life in this episode.

Are gratitude and pain incompatible?  If we are practicing gratitude, what do we do in the painful times, in the trials and challenges?  In this podcast the Johns brother discuss the relationship of gratitude and pain.

Much of our identity and self understanding is based on the narrative we tell ourselves about our life.  In this episode, you will be challenged to examine your stories, how you create them and how they impact your quality of life.  One of the most powerful things any human can do is start changing the negative story and start living into a positive one.

The Johns' brothers talk about 3 main barriers to gratitude and how they circumvent our attempts to live in gratitude.  Recognizing these barriers can be huge in helping you move past them and into a healthier and happier mental space.

This is the first episode in this new season on the "superpower" of gratitude.  Learn how your life is actually better than you think (and how that is really the fault of how your mind thinks).  Anxiety, depression, discouragement, sleepless nights, all tied to how how our mind thinks.  Gratitude is the antidote and research shows it can significantly change your life for the better.

Best Thoughts is changing its name to the Everything Is Better Than You Think podcast!  Same brothers, just a new name, and great new content coming soon!

Coming up in Season 7, we talk to Will about his book on gratitude, Everything Is Better Than You Think.

The final two stages in the critical journey are "the journey outward" and "the life of love."  Coming through stage 4, you are a different person and some say that stages 5 and 6 is where real life begins.  Learn more in this final episode about how you can experience the peace and love of these latter stages in the spiritual journey.

This is the second part of the discussion on Stage 4 and what it means to hit the wall and enter the dark night of the soul. This is a time of doubt, fear and losing religion, but somehow it becomes the greatest spiritual blessing to our authentic soul and falling into the Divine.

You never saw this stage coming!  Counter to what we would normally think, there is a stage in the spiritual journey where you feel like you are losing faith and you can no longer believe in what you were taught. Listen to learn more about this counter intuitive stage and how it can be the most spiritually rich stage of your spiritual journey.

Stages 2 and 3 in the Critical Journey are the life of discipleship and the productive life.  Learn more about these first stages in your spiritual journey and what you can expect moving forward.

The Johns' brothers are back for Season 6, this time taking you through the book The Critical Journey.  Learn about the six stages in the spiritual journey that you can expect to encounter as you navigate your way through this thing called "life." And you will be shocked, because these stages are probably not what you expected.

In Season 6 of the Best Thoughts Podcast, the Johns brothers take you through the book, The Critical Journey, which features fascinating research on the spiritual journey and what you can expect as learned from thousands of people who have gone before us.  Spoiler alert, the stages in the spiritual journey are not what you would expect!

How do we learn to prioritize the relationship over the content, to stay connected to people who with disagree with?  It's not easy, but it is necessary to navigate this world and maintain lasting relationships.

In the first of two episodes, the Johns brothers discuss how do we deal with people who are wrong?  It's not easy when you're convinced someone is in the wrong and especially if you have to deal with them regularly!  This episode wrestles with just that challenge.

Bonus Episode!  In this episode we talk with our friend, fitness expert, and personal trainer, Darnyl Allen for a powerful conversation on all things fitness!  It's a great conclusion to our summer fitness series and Darnyl will give you a lot to think about as you seek to be holistically fit! For more information visit our website at www.soulcare.net  

Will power and external factors can motivate us for a while, but any lasting improvement is birthed out of our inner spiritual journey.  Listen to learn how this inner spiritual journey lies at the center of all we truly hope to change and transform in our lives.  There's a Divine power that aids us in the journey and set us free from the habits that entrap us. For more information, visit us at www.soulcare.net/podcast Or email us at [email protected]  

It's vacation time and family dynamics are on full display this summer.  Family life is a challenge, now more than ever, and in this podcast the Johns brothers discuss the challenges as well as the things that work!  Apply what you learn in this podcast and you can help your family take it to the next level of health and happiness. More information at www.soulcare.net/podcast Email us at [email protected]  

How would you like to improve you financial fitness--to manage your money more effectively and worry less?  Who wouldln't, right?  This episode reminds you of basic financial principles that work and pitfalls to avoid, so that you can be as financially fit as possible!