We learn the lessons of life when we take ownership. That is the moment in time when your life can shift! Adam Nugent and Kate Strong welcome Craig T. Smith to the podcast. He is the founder of Greatest Day Mindset Counseling. Changing your life is hard, but so is staying stuck in the same place day after day. Find out how you can finally release yourself from the addictive patterns in your life and live every day with a positive attitude, choosing to be happy and living your life with energy, no matter your circumstances!
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In this week’s podcast excerpt, Craig T. Smith discusses his role as a therapist and what he has learned from his profession. He emphasizes the importance of taking ownership of our decisions and teaches us how that can change our relationships with others.
AN: So, on your journey, what’s been the biggest challenge for you that you’ve faced in this space personally as you’ve been in this industry?
CTS: The thing I have learned the most is that I hide my own insecurities and vulnerabilities as a father and a provider by focusing on helping other people. So, years ago, I would stack my schedule 60, 70 hours a week. As I looked at other people and helped them, I became the student. I’m like, “Wow, I do that. No wonder why I’m here running programs till 11 pm, so I don’t have to go home and face my fear of ‘You’re not a good dad. You’re not a good father. You’re not a good provider. You suck as a husband.'” And I still battle those things, but that has been the most beautiful part of me working in this arena. I’ve got ways to keep growing and learning as those different roles in my life, but only by facing it.
KS: Having a parent who’s willing to say, “You know what? I just messed up.” Or like, “I just reacted to you. And it has nothing to do with you. I am so sorry.” What a game changer that is.
CTS: We learn lessons so much, and as you said, we do it by taking ownership. And then once we own it, we can move forward. Here’s an example of ownership real quick. I go and sit with my son one night, and I’m crying. He is not as openly crying, but it’s there. And I’m like, “I’m sorry. I actually don’t know what I’m doing. Some of the times, I didn’t have a father growing up. I didn’t have that. I didn’t have the model.” I said, “Right now, me sitting on the side of your bed, talking to you is the first time this has ever happened in my life. I will start trying right now. This is the first time this has ever happened in my life that this interaction has happened. Father, son, for you and for me, because I didn’t have somebody do that with me. So let’s figure this out together.” And I think it’s changed us. That’s my oldest, that’s my 11-year-old, and I think it’s changed us. So taking ownership, that’s the key here. It’s so scary, but it’s where everything else opens up.
To learn more about Craig T. Smith and Greatest Day Mindset Counseling, visit greatestdaymindset.com. Be sure to pick up a copy of his amazing guided gratitude journal!
► You’ll also like: Episode 31: Becoming Your Best with Rob Shallenberger
