Two hundred. Wow, how did that happen? That’s right, today we are celebrating the 200th episode of Unabashed You and here to bring his premier conversational skills to the party, is none other than Shaun Conde. He asks me various questions about these past few years, how it all came to be, and what I’ve learned.

What I know is that it has been an extraordinary pleasure to connect with each guest, for each conversation. And if you’re willing, we will continue on hopefully inspiring you to be a bit more you, fueling you with confidence to go out and do the thing that only you can do. Encouragement is our thing. Let us know how we can encourage you.

**If you’re a little bit scared AND a little bit excited about something, that is a green light to proceed.**

— RCN

Making him Beautiful

Thoughts from Be the Advice You Give Your Kids

Are you? That is, are you being the advice you give your kids? I’ve got thoughts and what a perfect place to ponder. I think each generation wants things to be just a wee bit better for their children than they were for them. This could be in the achievement sense, as in acquiring titles or “climbing to the top” to have more stability; in the material sense, as in having more because there was lack; in the wise sense, as in making sound choices the first go-round to avoid the obvious pitfalls, or it could be in the spiritual sense, as in keeping your beliefs strong so you will have a more meaningful life.

It’s the latter thought I am most interested in looking at. If you know me personally or have been a reader of these pages, you know I have a faith, I am a believer. As mentioned previously I hesitate to label myself a Christian, not because of my belief in Christ - I have that, but because of what many groups of individuals have done to tarnish this moniker to an elitist, divisive, hate-mongering, nationalist, connotation. I am not that.

I prefer love. Actions and thoughts that come from there, and meet a person where they are at, and loving them anyway, myself included. The best thing I can say about anyone is, You make Jesus beautiful. And I have had the pleasure of saying such a thing to many individuals because they do that very thing. Is it hard? Not really, although it does require self-control and an awareness that your immediate base reaction may not be the one you want to behave from. Take a beat and think about how you can show love, be love, do love in that moment. Therein lies the sweet spot of genuine connection with another and the deepest sense of joy you feel from having done this very thing. The next reaction is humility because you recognize it’s not really about you. If you come from a healthy place it becomes about the other.

That’s part of my message with Unabashed You. Heal and love yourself first. Then you will be in a better place to reach out and love the other. You can’t bring, share or give what you don’t already have for yourself. And you should love the other as that’s one of the reasons we are here in the first place. Even before all of that comes God’s love for us and our love for God. He is first. If you are not there with me that’s okay. I have no intention of brow-beating you or even feeling superior by my beliefs. I respect your choices, your journey, and I expect you to respect mine. If you’re curious, I’d be happy to share with you about the hope I have. If you don’t ask, that’s okay too.

Part of why this came up is because of our 200th episode and the conversation Shaun and I had about being the advice you’d give your children. I feel very strongly we could all strive to be more of that. It seems we settle for less all too easily, it becomes our norm. The other reason is I am aware I don’t overtly post about my beliefs on social media. As of late I am feeling the urge to reveal more of myself in that way. I have not wanted to offend or be put in a category I don’t feel I belong to. Most importantly I want to be warm and welcoming not just to those who share the same faith, but to all. I hope that has been in evidence these past 200 episodes. I am following the advice I gave my children.

Be the Advice You Give Your Kids - episode 200

If you’re a little bit scared AND a little bit excited about something, that is a green light to proceed.

Making him Beautiful