WEBVTT 00:00:15.660 --> 00:00:18.579 Hey everyone, my name is Austin and I want to 00:00:18.579 --> 00:00:20.500 personally welcome you all wherever you're listening 00:00:20.500 --> 00:00:23.000 to the very first episode of Unfiltered Thoughts 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:25.260 with Austin. Today we're going to be talking 00:00:25.260 --> 00:00:27.820 about unexpected joys and finding happiness where 00:00:27.820 --> 00:00:30.960 you least expect it. Let's dive deep into the 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:33.659 heart of everyday experiences and discover the 00:00:33.659 --> 00:00:38.520 joy hidden within them. Now I know we all have 00:00:38.520 --> 00:00:41.100 our ups and downs, but sometimes the most beautiful 00:00:41.100 --> 00:00:43.560 moments come from the least expected places. 00:00:44.170 --> 00:00:46.909 As a general society, we often think about the 00:00:46.909 --> 00:00:50.189 bad rather than the good. Our minds often go 00:00:50.189 --> 00:00:52.869 to the worst -case scenarios in a lot of situations. 00:00:53.189 --> 00:00:55.689 Why is that? Why do we often think about the 00:00:55.689 --> 00:00:58.149 bad, the ugly, and the worst before the good? 00:00:58.729 --> 00:01:01.929 Why do we often ask for the bad news first before 00:01:01.929 --> 00:01:04.549 we ask for the good news? Now, I'm not speaking 00:01:04.549 --> 00:01:06.870 for everybody, but I am speaking for the general 00:01:06.870 --> 00:01:09.689 populace. What would happen if instead of thinking 00:01:09.689 --> 00:01:12.549 of the worst -case scenarios, the bad, the ugly, 00:01:12.590 --> 00:01:15.280 and the worst, or asking for the bad news first, 00:01:15.780 --> 00:01:17.579 we start thinking about the best -case scenarios, 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:20.859 the good, the bad, and the great, and asking 00:01:20.859 --> 00:01:24.140 for the good news first. What would happen? So 00:01:24.140 --> 00:01:26.939 let's explore where we can find happiness amidst 00:01:26.939 --> 00:01:30.120 the chaos and cultivate a spirit of gratitude 00:01:30.120 --> 00:01:33.120 that transforms our perspectives, and you'll 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:36.060 begin to see the world more brightly on those 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:39.140 gloomy days. Let's start with a little story. 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:42.519 Picture this. It's a rainy Monday morning. and 00:01:42.519 --> 00:01:44.739 you're stuck in traffic, feeling the weight of 00:01:44.739 --> 00:01:46.359 the world on your shoulders. You're running late 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:48.799 for work, and all you can think about is the 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:51.239 stress of the week ahead. But then as you look 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:55.459 out your window, you see a small child, splashing 00:01:55.459 --> 00:01:58.079 in puddles, laughing with sheer joy. In that 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:01.299 moment, something shifts. You realize that happiness 00:02:01.299 --> 00:02:03.980 can be found in the simplest of things, like 00:02:03.980 --> 00:02:07.250 a child's laughter or the beauty of rain. This 00:02:07.250 --> 00:02:09.430 brings us to the first point of our discussion. 00:02:09.750 --> 00:02:12.750 Finding joy in the mundane. We often overlook 00:02:12.750 --> 00:02:15.349 the small moments that can illuminate our days. 00:02:15.969 --> 00:02:19.030 Gratitude is like a lens. It allows us to focus 00:02:19.030 --> 00:02:22.069 on the positive aspects of our lives, no matter 00:02:22.069 --> 00:02:25.009 how small they may be. When we practice gratitude, 00:02:25.229 --> 00:02:27.449 we train our minds to recognize the good around 00:02:27.449 --> 00:02:29.870 us. Now, let's be honest. How many of you wake 00:02:29.870 --> 00:02:32.210 up each day and feel like you're on autopilot? 00:02:32.469 --> 00:02:36.639 I know I do. You go through the motions. brush 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:40.300 your teeth, prepare your breakfast, commute to 00:02:40.300 --> 00:02:43.659 work, and take off endless to -do lists. It can 00:02:43.659 --> 00:02:46.659 feel tedious, can't it? But what if I told you 00:02:46.659 --> 00:02:49.120 that within these mundane moments lies an opportunity 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:52.539 for happiness? Life can often feel like a whirlwind, 00:02:52.699 --> 00:02:55.819 can't it? We get so caught up in the daily grind, 00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:58.439 in our routines, and in our responsibilities, 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:01.000 that we sometimes forget to pause and notice 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:05.039 the small sparks of joy that pop up when we least 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:07.840 expect them. Have you ever had one of those serendipitous 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:10.879 moments? Maybe you stumbled upon an old friend 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:13.159 while running errands, or perhaps you found a 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:16.319 $20 belt in your coat pocket that you had forgotten 00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:20.219 about. These moments, while small, can bring 00:03:20.219 --> 00:03:22.819 a burst of happiness that lights up your day 00:03:22.819 --> 00:03:25.080 and reminds you of the beauty of life. I want 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:27.620 to share a personal story with you. The end of 00:03:27.620 --> 00:03:29.879 May last year, I was rushed to the emergency 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:33.300 room only to find out I almost contracted sepsis. 00:03:33.770 --> 00:03:36.490 But before I continue my story, let me give you 00:03:36.490 --> 00:03:39.870 guys a little bit of a backstory on myself. I'm 00:03:39.870 --> 00:03:42.169 a college student, and I decided to move back 00:03:42.169 --> 00:03:44.629 home from my senior year due to mental health 00:03:44.629 --> 00:03:46.830 issues. And I'm not sure if it was a god thing, 00:03:47.129 --> 00:03:49.789 because two weeks prior to me going to the hospital, 00:03:49.849 --> 00:03:53.530 I was packing up my apartment to go move back 00:03:53.530 --> 00:03:55.729 home. What I thought was the common flu ended 00:03:55.729 --> 00:04:00.430 up almost taking my life. For two weeks, I was 00:04:00.430 --> 00:04:04.090 incredibly ill. because of it. I ended up lippuzing 00:04:04.090 --> 00:04:06.930 10 pounds in those two weeks. Not exactly the 00:04:06.930 --> 00:04:09.729 weight loss rating I signed up for, but I digress. 00:04:09.830 --> 00:04:11.909 I was rushed to the hospital and they immediately 00:04:11.909 --> 00:04:14.650 had to administer fluids through my veins along 00:04:14.650 --> 00:04:17.329 with some pretty heavy antibiotics because I 00:04:17.329 --> 00:04:21.329 was severely dehydrated and from what I've been 00:04:21.329 --> 00:04:24.509 told, it's what gets into your body the fastest. 00:04:25.389 --> 00:04:29.029 The emergency room nurses looked at me like they 00:04:29.029 --> 00:04:32.029 had seen a ghost. I was gray in the face and 00:04:32.029 --> 00:04:35.290 had thick black circles around my eyes. The doctor 00:04:35.290 --> 00:04:38.089 said that if I had waited another week to go 00:04:38.089 --> 00:04:40.670 to the hospital then I would have died. I ended 00:04:40.670 --> 00:04:43.209 up having surgery the next day and then another 00:04:43.209 --> 00:04:45.930 surgery 12 days later. You may be thinking yourself 00:04:45.930 --> 00:04:48.670 Austin, what is the point of this story? Sorry 00:04:48.670 --> 00:04:52.149 guys, I'm a writer and I love telling stories. 00:04:53.310 --> 00:04:55.569 I'm a very tell it how it is, no sugar coating 00:04:55.569 --> 00:04:58.769 type of guy. And it's the title of this podcast, 00:04:59.009 --> 00:05:01.230 Unfiltered Thoughts. with Austin because I want 00:05:01.230 --> 00:05:04.209 to be 100 % real with y 'all. So the first three 00:05:04.209 --> 00:05:07.449 days of playing Hospital was a lot of fun. Well, 00:05:08.069 --> 00:05:11.389 fun is a bit of a loose term. I didn't hate it. 00:05:11.829 --> 00:05:14.209 I had nurses and techs taking tremendous care 00:05:14.209 --> 00:05:17.569 of me. Good food, TV, friends and family coming 00:05:17.569 --> 00:05:20.329 to visit me pretty much every day. I had it made, 00:05:20.350 --> 00:05:22.490 but at the same time, I felt this overwhelming 00:05:22.490 --> 00:05:26.370 sense of loneliness over me. Definitely not foreshadowing 00:05:26.370 --> 00:05:29.399 for a future episode. I can go on and on about 00:05:29.399 --> 00:05:31.800 each individual person that came to visit me, 00:05:32.100 --> 00:05:35.139 those that texted me to check up on me, and those 00:05:35.139 --> 00:05:37.879 that gave me a warm welcome when I returned back 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:40.160 to school, but this would be a two hour podcast. 00:05:40.740 --> 00:05:43.240 I felt an overwhelming amount of joy when I saw 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:46.060 the doorknob of my hospital door turn and I saw 00:05:46.060 --> 00:05:49.980 a familiar friendly face. And speaking of joy, 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:54.399 open, and speaking of staying open to joy, let's 00:05:54.399 --> 00:05:57.709 dive. into a quick segment on mindfulness practices. 00:05:58.470 --> 00:06:01.230 Mindfulness is a powerful tool that helps us 00:06:01.230 --> 00:06:04.689 remain present, allowing us to notice the beauty 00:06:04.689 --> 00:06:08.990 around us. Here are a few simple practices to 00:06:08.990 --> 00:06:11.389 incorporate into your daily life. First of all, 00:06:11.430 --> 00:06:14.129 how about we start our day with gratitude? Each 00:06:14.129 --> 00:06:17.730 morning, instead of getting on our phones and 00:06:17.730 --> 00:06:19.730 take a moment to reflect on three things you've 00:06:19.730 --> 00:06:22.769 read before, this sets a positive tone for your 00:06:22.769 --> 00:06:25.660 day and opens your heart to joy. And the second 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:28.680 one is mindful walks. When you're out for a walk, 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:30.899 put your phone away again. Focus on your surroundings. 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:35.259 The colors, the sounds, the smells. Let yourself 00:06:35.259 --> 00:06:39.120 be mindful and fully present in that moment. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:42.939 Joy Journal. Keep a journal where you jot down 00:06:42.939 --> 00:06:46.779 joyful moments, no matter how small. Over time, 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:49.019 you'll create a collection of happiness that 00:06:49.019 --> 00:06:52.129 you can revisit whenever you need. a boost and 00:06:52.129 --> 00:06:54.370 over time you'll begin to see a shift in your 00:06:54.370 --> 00:06:57.430 mindset. I'm a writer. That's what I love doing. 00:06:57.610 --> 00:07:00.029 It's my passion. So joy journaling has been my 00:07:00.029 --> 00:07:03.009 go -to. Not only do I engage in joy journaling, 00:07:03.069 --> 00:07:06.269 but I also write poetry. I would often refer 00:07:06.269 --> 00:07:09.230 back to poems I wrote several years ago compared 00:07:09.230 --> 00:07:12.509 to now and just see the transformation in how 00:07:12.509 --> 00:07:16.810 far I've come. And then the last thing, add some 00:07:16.810 --> 00:07:18.829 humor into your daily routine. One technique 00:07:18.829 --> 00:07:22.240 I found helpful in transforming These monotonous 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:25.959 tasks into moments of joy is to inject some humor 00:07:25.959 --> 00:07:29.139 into them. Maybe it's turning your morning coffee 00:07:29.139 --> 00:07:32.319 ritual into a mini dance party in your kitchen 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:35.699 or listening to a comedy podcast during your 00:07:35.699 --> 00:07:40.000 commute. Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:43.779 and it can turn the most ordinary moments into 00:07:43.779 --> 00:07:47.339 extraordinary ones. Speaking of joy, let's talk 00:07:47.339 --> 00:07:50.199 about kindness. Have you ever noticed how a simple 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:54.740 act of kindness, a smile, a compliment, or even 00:07:54.740 --> 00:07:57.560 holding the door open for someone, can create 00:07:57.560 --> 00:08:01.220 a ripple effect? When we're kind, we not only 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:04.339 uplift others, but also elevate our own spirits. 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:07.939 It's a win -win. But let's not stop there. Gratitude 00:08:07.939 --> 00:08:10.980 doesn't change how we see ourselves. It also 00:08:10.980 --> 00:08:13.319 impacts our interactions with others. When we 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:15.939 express gratitude to those around us, we strengthen 00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:19.220 our relationships. and create a ripple effect 00:08:19.220 --> 00:08:22.720 of positivity. A simple thank you can brighten 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:25.040 someone's day and remind them that they matter. 00:08:25.079 --> 00:08:27.139 Now let's shift gears for a moment. Sometimes 00:08:27.139 --> 00:08:30.959 life throws us a curveball. Jobs we didn't get. 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:34.240 Projects that didn't go as planned. Or paths 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:38.100 that suddenly veer off course. But what if I 00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:40.480 told you that these failures might just guide 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:43.759 us to our true passion and joys? Think about 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:46.539 it. Every setback can be a setup for a comeback. 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:50.980 We often discover we're truly passionate about 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:55.139 when we confront obstacles head -on. Embrace 00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:58.279 those moments. They can lead to unexpected adventures 00:08:58.279 --> 00:09:01.740 and new beginnings. We live in a world that bombard 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:05.320 us with information. Emails to social media notifications 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:09.000 can feel overwhelming by decluttering our mental 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:12.159 spaces. We can create a sanctuary for our thoughts. 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:14.539 And that's what I was talking about earlier. 00:09:15.170 --> 00:09:18.090 about putting our phones away, starting our day. 00:09:18.289 --> 00:09:20.850 But let's take a moment to reflect. Think about 00:09:20.850 --> 00:09:24.250 a challenge you're currently facing. How might 00:09:24.250 --> 00:09:27.389 you find enjoying the situation? Is there a lesson 00:09:27.389 --> 00:09:30.350 to learn or an opportunity for growth? Perhaps 00:09:30.350 --> 00:09:32.870 there's a person you can reach out to or a way 00:09:32.870 --> 00:09:36.649 to help others in similar circumstances. Imagine 00:09:36.649 --> 00:09:39.570 a community where kindness is the norm. It starts 00:09:39.570 --> 00:09:42.879 with each one of us. It can be as simple as checking 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:45.779 in on a neighbor or volunteering an hour of your 00:09:45.779 --> 00:09:49.139 time. These small acts can lead to unexpected 00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:51.340 connections and a deeper sense of belonging, 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:54.419 ultimately enhancing our personal well -being. 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:57.480 Remember, happiness is not a destination, it's 00:09:57.480 --> 00:10:00.820 a journey. By embracing gratitude, we can navigate 00:10:00.820 --> 00:10:04.159 life's ups and downs with sense of purpose and 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:07.679 positivity. It's incredible how a simple moment 00:10:07.679 --> 00:10:11.279 of joy can turn your day around. It's a reminder 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:14.320 that happiness often comes in unexpected forms 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:16.559 and that sometimes we just need to be open to 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:20.659 it. I was reminded that even though these series 00:10:20.659 --> 00:10:23.639 of events have happened to me, to take a moment, 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:25.940 slow down, and appreciate those around me more. 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:27.919 And that's what I want to encourage you to do 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:31.120 today. Stay open to joy. Let's embrace stillness 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:34.700 that, whether it's a smile from a stranger, a 00:10:34.700 --> 00:10:37.299 compliment from a coworker, or a beautiful sunset 00:10:37.299 --> 00:10:40.620 that takes your breath away. These are the moments 00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:44.200 that make life richer. Take time each day to 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:47.360 pause, breathe, and let go of the noise. Whether 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:49.740 it's through meditation, journaling, or simply 00:10:49.740 --> 00:10:52.799 taking a walk in your nature. Clearing your mind 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:56.379 can lead to unexpected contentment. You may find 00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:58.980 that once you clear out the clutter, joy and 00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:01.340 inspiration can flow in. Now I want to hear from 00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:05.259 you. What unexpected, as always, have you experienced? 00:11:05.470 --> 00:11:08.009 Please share your stories with me. You can reach 00:11:08.009 --> 00:11:11.450 out through social media, LinkedIn bio. Let's 00:11:11.450 --> 00:11:13.830 create a little community of joy together. As 00:11:13.830 --> 00:11:18.549 we wrap up today's episode, I encourage each 00:11:18.549 --> 00:11:20.870 of you to take a moment each day to acknowledge 00:11:20.870 --> 00:11:24.149 something you're grateful for. You might be surprised 00:11:24.149 --> 00:11:27.409 at how it transforms your outlook. This thing, 00:11:27.470 --> 00:11:30.889 then I'll step off my soapbox. So let's remember 00:11:30.889 --> 00:11:34.820 that happiness doesn't have to be found. in grand 00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:37.740 moments. It's often hidden in the mundane, waiting 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:41.480 for us to uncover it. By finding laughter in 00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:44.039 our daily routine, spreading kindness and embracing 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:46.740 our failures and decluttering our minds, we can 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:49.220 cultivate a life filled with joy and purpose. 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:52.559 Joy is all around us, waiting to be discovered. 00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:56.080 It's in the small things, the serendipitous moments 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:59.559 that catch us off guard. Let's keep our hearts 00:11:59.559 --> 00:12:04.250 and minds open to the experience. Thank you for 00:12:04.250 --> 00:12:07.070 joining me today on today's episode of Unfiltered 00:12:07.070 --> 00:12:09.269 Thoughts with Austin. I hope you feel motivated 00:12:09.269 --> 00:12:11.750 to discover those unexpected joys in your life. 00:12:12.009 --> 00:12:13.889 If you enjoyed this episode, please share it 00:12:13.889 --> 00:12:16.529 with someone who could use a little boost of 00:12:16.529 --> 00:12:19.669 joy. Don't forget to share your stories with 00:12:19.669 --> 00:12:22.210 others, and if you'd like, let's keep this conversation 00:12:22.210 --> 00:12:24.629 going by submitting your own personal stories 00:12:24.629 --> 00:12:28.639 on my Instagram of when you... faced a challenge 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:31.379 in your life and how you encountered unexpected 00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:34.600 joys and found happiness where you least expected 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:38.059 it. Join me for next week's episode where I will 00:12:38.059 --> 00:12:41.600 share from your responses where you guys experienced 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:44.299 unexpected joys and found happiness where we 00:12:44.299 --> 00:12:47.059 least expected it. Until then, stay mindful, 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:49.679 stay joyful, and remember to embrace the beauty 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:50.500 of the unexpected.