Be Kind. Be Positive. Be Yourself.
By Matthew Handel
When you listen you support a great cause! Every penny made from the podcast is donated here! afsp.donordrive.com/campaign/Todd-Handel-Memorial
Be Kind. Be Positive. Be Yourself. Apr 14, 2019
What Are Your Words?
Protect Your Energy
Your Story Matters
My Manila Folder
You Are Not A Burden
Showing Love to the Present
Everyone Is Carrying Something, Be Kind
We all have things we "carry" around with us. In our minds and hearts. Sometimes in life, we carry multiple things. We meet people and often have no idea what they are going through. That's where kindness can come into play. Kindness is free and I've never regretted being kind. Episode 161 dives deeper into into the idea of helping people along their "stepping stones".
with love,
Matthew
Having Grace and Setting Boundaries
The two ideas in this episode are both things I want to continue to get better at. Let's talk about each one and what they can mean to us. As always,
with love,
Matthew
leave a review of the podcast :) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-kind-be-positive-be-yourself/id1446475536
Not Being Grateful for Pain and Suffering
I recently listened to an episode of the On Purpose podcast hosted by Jay Shetty. Jay was talking with Trevor Noah and they discussed the idea of not being grateful for the pain and suffering we go through. Instead, they say to be grateful for the qualities that help us push through those experiences. This was something that instantly clicked in my brain and I wanted to share my thoughts about it with y'all.
Let me know what you think!
with love,
Matthew
Why Active Listening Matters
Applying Pressure On Yourself
Making decisions in your life is already hard enough. When you add pressure and guilt into the mix then it can feel completely overwhelming. For episode 158, I wanted to talk through a recent decision I made and how I prioritized removing any guilt or pressure on myself to make the "right" decision.
As always,
with love,
Matthew
Being Intentional About Pausing
I recently discovered that there is still so much power when I pause and take time to reflect. Of course, a new year is seen as a great time to do this, but I'm advocating for more pauses, not just for myself, but for you too my friend. It feels so good to release an episode again and I appreciate your patience and grace with me. I love y'all!
With love,
Matthew
The Power of Being Vulnerable
It feels like a lot of my life recently has been led by being vulnerable. It got me thinking. How has being vulnerable positively impacted my life, relationships, and my ability to show up as my authentic self? Being vulnerable is something I've leaned into the past couple of years and I'm continuing to practice it every day. For myself and the people I love. I hope you enjoy episode 156.
with love,
Matthew
Growing Sideways (Thank you, Noah Kahan)
Episode 155 happened because I felt recharged. My cup felt like it was refilled. Do you know what I mean? It felt so good to sit down and record another episode. I had some things I needed to let out and I hope you find value in them. I cannot wait until we do this again.
with love,
Matthew
Your 80th Birthday
It can be a crazy thing to try to think about -- your 80th birthday. Why would we even think about that? Take a listen to episode 154 and see what you think about this idea. I hope you enjoy it!
with love,
Matthew
Talking Self-Compassion with Magnus
The internet can be a really beautiful tool sometimes. I was scrolling through TikTok one day and I saw someone named Magnus who made really positive videos. In particular, his videos where he asked strangers one thing they loved about themselves really drew me in. I was immediately inspired and wanted to try this idea on my own. Fast forward a few weeks and Magnus and I are sitting down to record this podcast episode. There is a lot to be said about self-love and being compassionate towards ourselves. This is something Magnus and I firmly believe is really important. We talked about this, and more, in episode 153. I hope you enjoy it!
Please go follow Magnus, he's a great human doing really positive things. You can follow him at the links below:
Magnus on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@magnusdavies?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Magnus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnus.davies/
Magnus on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA2VfV4CQ6axRaxGSqjFoZA
with love,
Matthew
Your Timeline
Do we even have timelines in our lives? Throughout episode 152 I think I came to a conclusion on this question. Let's talk about it.
with love,
Matthew
June Is A Beautiful Month
In episode 151, I wanted to talk about some things happening in June. They are important and special to me, and I think you can find value in them too. Let's chat about it, my friends.
with love,
Matthew
mental health resources:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): https://afsp.org/
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): https://www.nami.org/Home
Show Up For Yourself
When we change who we are we lose that authenticity that is awesome about each of us. In episode 150 let's talk about how we can continue to show up for ourselves.
with love,
Matthew
Taking Rejection in Stride
Rejection hurts. It just does. The doubt may start to linger each day when we get rejected in our life. Let's talk about taking that rejection in stride and not doubting ourselves through the process.
with love,
Matthew
Apple review the podcast :) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-kind-be-positive-be-yourself/id1446475536
Celebrating Ourselves
Celebrating yourself can feel uncomfortable sometimes. That's how I feel at least. What happens when we decide to celebrate ourselves more often? Let's talk about it.
with love,
Matthew
leave a review if you feel connected!
Remembering to Pause
In life, it can be easy to think about what already happened (our past) and what is yet to happen (our future). Somewhere in between lies the opportunity to pause and take a break. Taking a break does not make you weird, lazy, unproductive or anything else you might hear from others or tell yourself. Taking a pause in life is a form of self-love. Let's remember the pause.
with love,
Matthew
leave a review! :) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-kind-be-positive-be-yourself/id1446475536
In Between the Good and the Bad
Letting Go Many Times
Sometimes it may feel like nothing happens after we let go once. Some things in life may require us to let go more than once. Maybe even over and over. Let's talk about this idea.
with love,
Matthew
leave a review :) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-kind-be-positive-be-yourself/id1446475536
Life Is All About the Questions
Have you ever felt like all you have is questions in your life? Sometimes it can feel like you can't figure anything out. That's what I've been feeling lately. I'm practicing being okay with leaning into the questions that my life is giving me right now. Let's talk about it on episode 144.
with love,
Matthew
Leave an Apple Podcast review if you'd like: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-kind-be-positive-be-yourself/id1446475536
Getting It Wrong
Sometimes we get it "wrong". We can't always be perfect and that's okay. Episode 143 is meant to serve as a gentle reminder to let yourself grow when you get it "wrong".
with love,
Matthew
Noting Our Emotions
What happens when you take a moment to think about those current emotions? It can help us take away the permanence of it all. Let's talk about this practice and how it can help.
with love,
Matthew
Apple Review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-kind-be-positive-be-yourself/id1446475536
Power of a Second Chance
Episode 141 talks about the power of a second chance. Inside of second chances is the powerful feelings of forgiveness and growth. Let's talk about what that means for us.
with love,
Matthew
Apple Podcats review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-kind-be-positive-be-yourself/id1446475536
Giving Our Heart Grace & Patience
Most, if not all, of the best moments of my life, have been when my heart was open to new people or new experiences. When we're healing, it can be difficult to feel that again. When we lead with grace and compassion for our hearts, it can be that way again. I hope you enjoy episode 140.
with love,
Matthew
apple review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-kind-be-positive-be-yourself/id1446475536
spotify review: https://open.spotify.com/show/7bLrcnIPdnhR7lZNn1ieaB?si=d328e3a1d03c4f83
Celebrating Our Progress
Sometimes the end result gets all the attention and credit. What about the steps along the way? Let's take a moment to celebrate our moments along the way in our journey. I hope you enjoy episode 139, my friends.
with love,
Matthew
Apple Review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-kind-be-positive-be-yourself/id1446475536
Spotify Review: https://open.spotify.com/show/7bLrcnIPdnhR7lZNn1ieaB?si=21a09cc886a44f11
Change Reflects Growth
Change is constant in our life. Sometimes change can feel overwhelming. What happens when we take the role of "student" in the face of changes? I think we should talk about this. I hope you enjoy this one!
with love,
Matthew
Approaching Tough Situations with Honesty & Transparency
Throughout our lives, we are bound to face tough situations. When these situations arise, I've found that honesty and transparency can be key skills to help us thrive. In episode 137, I wanted to talk more about this idea and how we can each apply it to our daily lives.
with love,
Matthew
link to poetry book discussed in the episode: https://bookshop.org/books/inward-9781449495756/9781449495756
Time to Process
Hello, my people. It's been a while, right? 4 months if my calculations are correct. Episode 136 is right from my heart. I've missed this and I hope that this episode gives you more insight into what I've been going through. I love y'all so much.
With love,
Matthew
First Week of National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Episode 135 is audio taken from an Instagram live I did back on May 19th of 2020. I wanted to bring this clip to the podcast because when this episode is aired it will almost be the first full week of September, which is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This clip talks about how to discuss mental health with others with topics and questions from the AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention). I hope you enjoy and remember you deserve to be here.
with love,
Matthew
You Are Not Lost
Sometimes we feel "lost". I recently heard a way to shift the way we think of this feeling. You're not lost. You're still right here. Let's talk about it on episode 134.
with love,
Matthew
Mental Health Chat with My Dad
This episode feels both groundbreaking and surreal for my podcast. For episode 133, I sat down with my dad to talk about mental health. What has his mental health journey looked like so far? How do you support someone you care about without judging their decisions? This episode means everything to me. I hope you enjoy it!
with love,
Matthew
Consistency Can Be Frustrating
Consistency makes me feel at ease. It slides nicely into my routine. I'm not perfect, though. I make mistakes, I don't always do want I want, and sometimes that bothers me. Let's talk about the frustrations that arise when trying to be more consistent in our lives.
with love,
Matthew
The Great Freedom of Creativity
Why do kids seem to have more imagination than adults? When do most adults lose that imagination? What happens when we free ourselves from judgement and let our creativity take control? I believe that when we are taking creative risks we are also showing ourselves that being vulnerable is beautiful and strong. Let's do more of this. Shall we?
Ted Talk mentioned: https://youtu.be/WRS9Gek4V5Q
with love,
Matthew
Compassion before Comprehension
Sometimes life gets really confusing. We just want to get it all figured out, right? What happens if we took a step back, took a deep breath, and led with compassion instead? In episode 130, I want to talk about this idea that I recently learned from a podcast I listened to. Let's chat.
with love,
Matthew
The Man Enough Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq3C9R8HNUQ
ALOK on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alokvmenon/
When Outside Judgement Impacts Decision Making
Sometimes it can feel like other people are writing our story. I'm here to gently remind you that that's simply not true. Let's talk about this idea in episode 129.
with love,
Matthew
Their Thoughts Are Not Who You Are
Something that can be really challenging is letting things go. Especially, when other people say or do things that you can't control. Let's talk about this in episode 128!
with love,
Matthew
Fresh Starts
Sometimes the idea of a "fresh start" sounds overwhelming. Maybe it sounds incredible. What does it even look like for you? Well, I recently had a fresh start in my life and I wanted to talk about it on episode 127. I hope you enjoy it!
with love,
Matthew
See Y'all In New York
Episode 126 is an episode meant to encourage you. What are we waiting for? Let's go!
with love,
Matthew
Gentle Reminder about Assumptions
Recently, experiences in my life provided another opportunity to think about assumptions. Some are needed while others can be checked. Take a listen to episode 125 and let me know what you think!
with love,
Matthew
Recycling the Boxes
I'll admit, the title of this episode is confusing at first. But, trust me on this one. Inside of episode 124, it all makes sense. Thank you for continuing to listen. Take care of yourself!
with love,
Matthew
When Strong Emotions Fade Out
It's probably much easier to think about times when strong emotions come into your life. Yet, when thinking about when those same emotions go away, it can be harder to recall those times. It was for me. That's why I wanted to talk about this idea in episode 123. I hope you enjoy!
with love,
Matthew
My Therapy Journey (So Far)
Therapy is something I wanted to add to my life for a long time now. I finally got myself back into the swing of things. It wasn't that easy for me. But, I wanted to share my experiences so you know you're alone and most definitely not weird. I hope you enjoy it!
with love,
Matthew
Compassion fatigue resource: https://www.compassionfatigue.org/
The Power of Expression
In episode 121 I'm asking this question, "How do you express yourself?". I also want to know who makes the rules on what "normal" is. Let's talk.
with love,
Matthew
Diamond Dialogue
Sometimes you have conversations that leave you walking away with a "diamond". The diamond is the new perspective you just gained. Let's talk about it in episode 120.
with love,
Matthew
Mental Health Google form: https://forms.gle/Uj96DGJHmEhTAs9u6
Compromise Does Not Equal Weakness
For a long time, I felt like compromising anything meant that I was weak. But, lately, my idea of compromising has shifted. I talked about this shift in episode 119. I hope you enjoy this one!
with love,
Matthew