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Jeff Yalden: 7 Rules of Life

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Mental Health Motivational Speaker Jeff Yalden

The more we get to know ourselves through counseling, wisdom, experience and daily self-care, the more comfortable we are with who we are, what life means and how we live.

Enjoy my seven Rules of Life and it is my hope that you find peace, love and joy in your mental and physical well-being, just as I continue to do every day:

1. Let It Go

You are only one person. You can only do so much. If you can change a situation for the better, do so. If you can’t, let it go. Show up every day and do the best you can.

2. Ignore Gracefully

Don’t participate in drama or outside noise. Don’t listen to other people who put you down or don’t believe in you or your dreams.  Ignore those who fail to validate you or are just plain rude. Live a life that is empowering to you. Be graceful in how you respond, act, speak and do. Remember, it’s their issue. Not yours. And if people walk out on you, LET THEM GO!

3. Give It Time

We’re connected 24/7, 365 days a year. Time is at a premium and there never seems to be enough of it. Choose to bring back time by being mindful and present. Choose to bring back time by being mindful and present. Although life is about being in the moment, we must also have patience in the process of living. Perfection doesn’t exist. You matter. Perfection doesn’t matter.

4. Don’t Compare

We live in a world where everyone is trying to live a life compared to what they see on social media, and it can become an addiction. What you are accustomed to is embellished, filtered and photoshopped, depicting an image of a lifestyle that isn’t real. People are making it look like their lives are perfect and yours doesn’t measure up. Don’t get caught up in other people’s fake lives. Put the phone down and connect with people your heart to theirs.

5. Breathe & Stay Calm

It will be OK. Just breathe. Stay calm and don’t act on emotions. You don’t need to answer that email or text right now. Take time for yourself. Have balance and boundaries. Have a trusted friend that you can talk to and vent and know they’re supportive and nonjudgmental. Don’t ever be afraid to seek a counselor or therapist to learn tools for coping, communicating or problem solving. Remember, they work for you. Just breathe. It will be OK.

6. You Are Responsible

The most powerful two-letter-ten -words in the English language: “If it’s going to be, then it’s up to me.”

Tough times happen. It might be your fault, or it might not – but understand this: How you move forward from anything is always your responsibility. What are you going to do? Don’t be a victim. Choose to be a victor. Don’t be bitter or angry. It does no good. Choose to be better every day. Be responsible in your behavior, your attitude and the choices you make.

7. Smile

Love will always be stronger than hate. A smile will always be better than a frown. You’ll feel the smile yourself and your smile will brighten someone else’s day. It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile. If you can’t find a reason to smile, try this: Choose three things you are grateful for and reflect on being appreciative. Replace expectations with appreciation and gratitude.

Life Isn’t Easy

Life isn’t all rollercoasters, unicorns and rainbows. Expectations leave us disappointed. We live in an imperfect world. Things aren’t always fair nor are they black and white. Don’t get caught up in the complications of life. You can only do or be in control of so much. This can be overwhelming when you see it all in front of you. Relax. Breathe. Simplify.

At the end of the day, you can’t change people, places or things. You can control you and how you live, act, and respond to people, places, and things. Live with grace, forgiveness, and acceptance. Learn self-care and advocate for your own best mental, physical and spiritual health. Be influential. Be the light for others.

As Gandhi said, “Be the change.” Live in a way you wish others can live their lives.

Thanks for letting me share my 7 Rules for Life.

Teen Mental Health Motivational & Educational Consultant: Jeff Yalden

Jeff Yalden is highly regarded as the number one Teen Mental Health Speaker in all of North America. Jeff is a Suicide Crisis Intervention Expert and Suicide Prevention Trainer working with hundreds of school communities every year.

He’s an Amazon Best Selling Author of four books, including Teen Suicide: The WHY Behind Today’s Suicide Epidemic and BOOM: One Word to Instantly Inspire Action, Deliver Rewards, and Positively Affect Your Life Every Day!  His podcast, Mental Health & Motivation: The Unlikely Life Coach continues to attract thousands of new subscribers every month for his direct talk and influence on families and teens.

Since 1992, Jeff Yalden has traveled to 50 states and 48 countries delivering his message, “About Life.”

From 2005-2011, Jeff was a celebrity teen and family life coach on MTV’s hit realty show MADE.

As a celebrity teen & family life coach, Jeff gets the heart of the matter helping teens, young adults, families, and communities in their struggles together.

He’s a Gulf War Veteran and a two- time Marine-of-the-year recipient 1991-1992. He was Mr. New Hampshire Male America, 1990.

Every year over 1 million people are left inspired by Jeff Yalden’s inexhaustible energy that permeates after he speaks.

Jeff has an online suicide prevention course for school communities, parents, teachers, staff, and teens. Check it out HERE.

For more information, please visit www.jeffyalden.com and www.thejyf.org

PURCHASE Jeff’s new book, Teen Suicide: The “Why” Behind America’s Suicide Epidemic

Link to Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jeffyaldenfoundation

Click HERE for school resources.

Join Mailing List: Text YALDEN to 66866

Life Changing Conversation with Teens

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Jeff Yalden Inspired by Conversation with Teens

Recently, I visited Sequim High School in Washington State. Sequim is a beautiful place along the Dungeness River near the Olympic Mountains – and whenever I am in a spot like this, I feel grateful for the opportunity to take it all in.

The Sequim school community was amazing.

One of the things I truly love about my full-day school programs is that I get to meet and really get to know the students. They are so open when we talk, and that’s inspiring. Because I have more time, I learn more about them – what they think, how they feel – and I am able to get an understanding of their emotions by engaging with them. By listening.

The students are enthusiastic, and I could tell that they had so many questions they didn’t seem to know how to ask – but once you gain their trust (and their respect), they are eager to talk. What happens next is absolutely amazing…

During one conversation in this VIDEO, a young lady asked me a great question: “What makes you valuable?”

I thought about it and told her that what makes me valuable is that I’ve been able to take my life experiences and choose to be a victor through my circumstances instead of a victim. It hasn’t been easy – but in getting to know myself, it’s an honor to share what I have learned in order to plant seeds of wisdom, hope and knowledge in our youth.

Her next question was incredibly thought-provoking, deep and intense: “If you lost all of what makes you valuable, would you still be valuable?”

Holy Cow!

What really makes us valuable?  It’s different for everyone, but what hit me with this question is that I don’t need my life’s experiences or even my career as a youth and mental health speaker to feel valuable. I get it, but I don’t think I always understood that.

It’s my passion to inspire our school communities, talking about mental health and life and helping to make sense of it all for young people and families – but I don’t need the applause to feel valuable or worthy. What makes me valuable is how I feel about who I am – my heart – being a kind, respectful man of influence and dignity. I was amazed by this exchange and could go on and on about it and what it meant to me as well as to the young people involved.

It was remarkable getting to know these teens and speaking heart-to-heart with them. I was inspired.

I hope you enjoy this video and share it.

The next time you engage in conversation with teens, remember this: Teens don’t care about titles, research or statistics. They care about the answers to two questions…

  • Do you care about me?
  • Can I trust you?

If you have a teen in your life, be sure to give them time. Be patient. Don’t judge. Speak to them and not at them. When you do that, I promise you that you’ll have an amazing conversation that will inspire you as much as you might inspire them.

Be the trusted adult.

Be a significant influence in the life of a child and you’ll be making a difference in the world.

Who is Jeff Yalden?

Jeff Yalden is highly regarded as one of the top teen mental health and suicide prevention experts in the world.  He works with teens and adults, school communities and mental health professionals.  He’s a four-time bestselling author, radio show host, podcast host, online course creator, non-profit foundation founder, and advocate for mental health.

Teen Suicide Prevention Online Course for Schools and Communities: CLICK HERE

For more information about Jeff Yalden, CLICK HERE.

BUY Jeff’s new book, Teen Suicide: The “WHY” behind America’s Suicide Epidemic.

Check out Jeff’s Facebook page HERE.

What Difference Are You Making in the World?

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Yalden - Do Your Paer meme.jpg

Recently, I was in Baudette, Minnesota – near the Canadian border and not too far from Winnipeg.

I was so far north that I saw cars with amphibious tracks on them as they drove through the snow. No kidding – and one of them was a Smart Car.

While I was about to get ready for my day, I came across a VIDEO that a nonprofit called Sandy Hook Promise put together by several family members of victims of the Sandy Hook shootings. These folks have gone on a crusade and are making an incredible difference in the world. I applaud them.

Trigger warning: Here’s the video – but it could be tough to watch:

The video is powerful, and I am still trying to process it – but because of this, I started thinking: What difference are we making in the world?

Listen, maybe you haven’t gone through a gut-wrenching tragedy like Sandy Hook or Parkland, Columbine or any of these mass school shootings.  Maybe you’re a mom, a teacher, a coach, a businessperson – a dad, a friend – a youth speaker – a pastor – I don’t know. Maybe you just wake up, go to work and do your thing every day – and the next day and the day after that. That’s beside the point.

It doesn’t matter what you do. My question is simply this: What difference are you making in the world to make it a better place?

You might be thinking, “Well – I really don’t have a platform to do much.”  OK. Or, “Well Jeff – I’m really not in that position. Well, Jeff – I’m really focused on my family…”

Good. I understand.

I am a big believer in the “think globally, act locally” course of action. We can make a huge difference right in our own little corners of the world. Think about what you can do – right here, right now.

Maybe you are a parent. It’s important to put your family first. Let’s say you go to your child’s sports events. I think you can make a difference in the type of parent and fan you are by being supportive of everybody else’s kids too. And stop screaming at the referees if you think they made a bad call. You can choose to be objective and understand that the refs have a tough job to make calls on the spot and they are not always perfect.

But the bottom line is that we should support and applaud our refs and our coaches – and we honor the work that they are doing every single day. I think that’s making a difference in the world.

What about if you work with other people every day in your job? I think your attitude and your behavior make a difference.  For those in education, you’ve got young people under your watch every single day. You are making a difference by being supportive and encouraging, knowing that your words and actions make a huge impact in the life of a child.

Everybody has an opportunity to make a difference in the world – and this means you. It doesn’t have to me a monumental thing, either. Think about your sphere of influence – your words, your actions, your attitude and your kindness – being a person of selfless service and acting with grace.

I don’t know what this looks like for you – but you don’t need to overthink the issue. When you walk into a restaurant, hold the door open for somebody. When a car stops to allow you to cross the street – wave at the driver. Say “thank you.”

When I was in Baudette, I was standing in line in a convenience store, getting an Arnold Palmer (half iced tea and half lemonade). I was the fifth person in line, so I watched the four people in front of me as they got rung up. As the cashier said, “can I help you” and “have a nice day,” not one of these people so much as said “hi” or “thank you.”

Not one of these people – grownups who should know better – said anything.

Wow.

If we’re looking to make a difference in the world, my friends, it’s sometimes a simple nod, a smile, a “thank you” or “have a great day.” That’s it.

These simple gestures have a ripple effect – radiating outward from you and into the lives of others.

Now go out there and make a difference.

This blog post has been adapted from an upcoming episode of Jeff’s podcast, Mental Health and Motivation: The Unlikely Life Coach. Click HERE to subscribe.

To find out more about The Jeff Yalden Foundation, go HERE.

ORDER your copy of Jeff’s new book, Teen Suicide: The “Why” Behind America’s Suicide Epidemic.

To book Jeff for your school, event or conference, call Betty at 800-948-9289.

A Memorable Day at The Meadows – A Psychiatric Hospital

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Teen Mental Health Speaker and Suicide Prevention Advocate

Jeff Yalden has been speaking in education and to school communities for the past 28 years. He started in 1992 while stationed at Cecil Field Naval Air Station Marine Barracks. One day, a phone call came into the office asking if a Marine would be available to come down to Apopka High School in Apopka, FL and speak to the Marine ROTC Cadets.  Jeff, having just been meritoriously promoted to Corporal, said he’d be honored to drive two hours down on his day off and talk to the cadets.

Little did he know that this opportunity would lead him into a career he was made for and the man he has become as a result of taking the initiative on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Perhaps it was fate. Maybe it was his as yet undiagnosed bipolar II disorder, which kept him running full-speed-ahead – keeping him active and always wanting more out of life. For Jeff, bipolar is a blessing and a curse.  It’s crippling and painful, and has almost been the death of him – but it’s also been a blessing because Jeff is resilient, hard-working, and always striving to succeed in business and in life.

Before therapy and medication, Jeff was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but after his diagnosis and being put on medication, he is a whole new person.

“I am proud to be a man that lives with mental illness,” he said. Being proud hasn’t come easy, and his greatest regret is that he has hurt people in his journey toward getting to know who he is – the man he is slowly becoming.

As a youth speaker in his early years Jeff didn’t talk much about mental illness.  He talked a lot about resiliency, self-esteem, and life’s obstacles.  Fast forward 28 years: Jeff spends his time focusing on and talking about mental health and suicide prevention.  It’s like he’s come full circle – telling his story about where he was, what he has gone through, and now the going through and becoming part.  Jeff wouldn’t want it any other way.  Life is a journey.  It’s not a race.  He says this a lot, but he also says, “Get to know who you are and be comfortable with who you are not.”  That is all part of the journey of life.

Jeff just wrapped up a week speaking to high schools in the Clearfield-Jefferson County of Pennsylvania.  What a week it had been speaking at four amazing schools and to parents and community each night.  On this day, Friday, Jeff was spending the day at The Meadows.  A psychiatric hospital just outside of Penn State University.  They had invited Jeff to speak to their patients. Jeff was inspired by this and was excited to be a part of it. Not that it was more important than any other talk or visit, but this one was different because he spent time as a patient in psychiatric hospitals at 16 and again at 22.

Teen Suicide: The WHY Behind America’s Suicide Epidemic

Jeff doesn’t talk about these visits in his presentations – and it’s not that he is embarrassed or ashamed. Quite simply, the subject doesn’t fit with most of these. It’s part of his story, but not significant enough to add to his usual talks.

On this day, though, he was proud to talk about it – especially to let the patients know that it was OK to be where they were. He made sure to tell them that they needed to be present in these moments and take in the support and guidance offered them before going back out into the real world where they are expected to live, reason and act accordingly.

It was nearly two hours of talking and answering questions.  The staff thought he’d have their attention for maybe 20-30 minutes.  Everyone was in awe about how incredible the patients were -attentive, inspired and and eager to want more.

Jeff is real.  He’s not afraid to be brutally honest about his journey of living with mental illness.  He is not skittish about being one with his audience and letting them know that it can be OK.  You have to do the work, but paradoxically the work is so much easier than not doing the work.  You can live a healthy life with mental illness, but you have to make your health a mindset and a priority each and every day.

If you are interested in Jeff Yalden coming and speaking to your school community or mental health event, please visit www.JeffYalden.com or www.TheJYF.org today.  You’ll be a HERO when you invite Jeff Yalden to speak at your next event.

Check out Jeff’s new book, Teen Suicide: The “Why” Behind America’s Suicide Epidemic.

 

Jeff Yalden: Positivity in Coastal Virginia

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On April 19, youth motivational speaker and Amazon bestselling author Jeff Yalden visited Mathews, Virginia – a community in the Chesapeake Bay region of the state.

Yalden was invited by the Mathews County Sheriff’s Office to speak to high school and middle school students about life choices, mental health, behavior, and attitude. He also presented to more than 100 parents and community members that night.

Investigator April Edwards from the Sheriff’s Office organized Yalden’s visit. It’s fitting that after some due diligence about Yalden himself, she knew that he would be the ideal candidate to instill a sense of purpose, hope and direction to kids who might otherwise be tempted to go down the rabbit hole of risky behaviors and compromise their self-respect.

“Jeff Yalden came and took our schools by storm,” said Edwards. “He captured the attention of our students as well as the attention of faculty, administration, law enforcement, parents and many other vested adults from our community.”

She added that the kids developed trust in Yalden within two hours and then poured their hearts out to him.

“Jeff has a gift, and he has helped many of our children through a very difficult time in their young lives,” she said. “Many of these kids will never forget the day that a motivational speaker captured their attention, their hearts and their minds.”

Yalden was grateful to Edwards for going to bat for him.

“Thank you for organizing and fighting to make it happen. We made a difference today,” he said.

In his more than 25 years working with young people and school communities, he said he has met many awesome teachers, administrators, coaches and counselors, but he cited then-interim and now permanent Mathews High School principal Alexis Foster as one of a kind.

“Today’s teens are growing up differently and need trusted adult who can find the perfect balance of understanding, discipline and encouragement, while providing inspiration and hope – an individual who shows beyond any doubt that they truly care about the students that walk through their doors,” Yalden said.

“Mr. Foster is the embodiment of empathy and compassion, yet he held the kids accountable in a way that they felt empowered and hopeful – that their needs were being met and that they had solid futures to look forward to.”

Foster himself was more than pleased with the result of Edwards’ work to bring Yalden in for the day.

“As a school administrator, it’s very difficult to always find the time to say the right things or to do things to motivate your kids – but if you have the time and really care about kids, you need to invite Jeff Yalden to your school,” he said. “Just spending the day with him today, I saw lives changed, kids’ attitudes changed – and parents are now thinking about things that maybe they never thought about before.”

What Yalden most wanted to instill in the young people in attendance was the fact that the world owes them nothing.

“You get out of it what you put into it,” he said.

For more information about Jeff Yalden, go HERE.

Learn all about The Jeff Yalden Foundation HERE.

To book Jeff now, call (800) 948-9289.

The Peanut Incident: Why It’s Better to Ask than to Assume

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Most of us have heard the old adage, “If you assume, you make an ASS out of YOU and ME.” It’s a staple in journalism school, but more importantly, the wrong assumption can send your mental state into a downward spiral – sometimes resulting in anger or resentment – or both.

Day 14: Attitude of Gratitude: The ability to walk away without getting angry#BOOM28 #BOOM #JeffYalden #Gratitude #MentalHealth #Attitude #Gratitude #LifeofSuccess #Depression #Appreciation #People #Success #LiveLifetotheFullest #CarpeDiem #NAMI #MentalHealthSpeaker #NationalAssociationMentalHealth #Veteran #MarineCorps #ServiceLink to iTunes Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/boom-one-word-to-inspire-action-and-deliver-rewards/id1238558637

Posted by Jeff Yalden on Monday, November 20, 2017

Mental health speaker and Amazon bestselling author Jeff Yalden says that the ability to walk away from a situation without letting it trigger a negative emotion like anger is key to living your BOOM life.

Recently, Jeff was on a plane from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Kansas City.

He had a Gatorade with him, and when the flight attendant asked him if he wanted anything while in-flight, he thanked her and said he was all set.

But then the warm peanuts came around, Jeff wasn’t offered any.

As he mentioned in episode 61 of The BOOM Podcast, he knows this sounds almost like a non-issue, but it didn’t seem like a non-issue at the time.

“When you have bipolar and anxiety, triggers like this really hit you – and by the way I love those warm peanuts you get on the plane,” he said.

Even though the flight attendant also offered everyone in first class warm towel, including Jeff (which he declined), it felt weird that everybody got the warm peanuts but him.

He decided not to say anything because he didn’t want to seem like a ten-year-old who didn’t get his candy – but somewhere in his emotions was the inkling that he might have done something wrong – as if the peanut exclusion was some sort of punishment.

Jeff is a man who lives with mental illness every day, and he was grateful to keep his emotions in check by repeatedly telling himself to let it go, and this was not a big deal.

But for something that isn’t a big deal, this perceived exclusion happens to many of us, especially on social media.

Let’s say you see a post from a friend who is having a great time at an event with other friends, some of whom you know. The first thought might be that you have been excluded for some reason. You weren’t tagged, and you certainly weren’t out with them. Did you do or say something to hurt this person’s feelings?

“There are little things in everyday life that can affect you, and you start wondering if you did something. My friends, sometimes we just need to let it go,” he said.

To the flight attendant’s credit, maybe she took to heart what Jeff said in his first encounter with her – that he was all set. She offered him a chocolate chip cookie when the flight was about to land, but he politely declined.

“Getting off the plane, she was like, ‘have a great day, sir.’”

Let it go.

“Don’t compare one situation to another situation,” he said. “Don’t compare your life to someone else’s life. I think sometimes when we do that, we raise our anxiety and stress us out more than we need to.

If you haven’t heard from someone for a couple of hours, it’s no big deal.

“We are all busy. We are all trying to work hard – but if you think that maybe you have hurt someone’s feelings – ask them.”

More times than not, you will come to know that it’s not about you.

To listen to this episode of The BOOM Podcast, go HERE.

Find out why Jeff Yalden is North America’s Number One Youth Motivational Speaker. Go HERE.

Check out Jeff’s new nonprofit, THE JEFF YALDEN FOUNDATION.

Jeff’s speaking calendar fills up fast. To book him now for your event, organization or school now, call 800-948-9289.

For a limited time, you can own Jeff’s new book, Your Life Matters, for only $0.99 on KINDLE.

SUBSCRIBE to The BOOM Podcast.

JOIN the BOOM Nation Facebook Group and share your BOOM moments with us.

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 14

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In Episode 60 of The BOOM Podcast, mental health speaker and Amazon bestselling author Jeff Yalden encourages you to bring the BOOM into your life – whether it’s a factor or an effect – but if you can align that BOOM with a purpose, and that purpose makes you happy every day, even better.

Day 13: Attitude of Gratitude: Living a Life of Purpose that is Bigger than Who We Are: Fulfillment!#BOOM28 #BOOM #JeffYalden #Gratitude #MentalHealth #Attitude #Gratitude #LifeofSuccess #Depression #Appreciation #People #Success #LiveLifetotheFullest #CarpeDiem #NAMI #MentalHealthSpeaker #NationalAssociationMentalHealth #Veteran #MarineCorps #ServiceLink to iTunes Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/boom-one-word-to-inspire-action-and-deliver-rewards/id1238558637

Posted by Jeff Yalden on Friday, November 17, 2017

Day 14 of the “Attitude of Gratitude” series is all about purpose and fulfillment.

“If you knew me when I was younger, and you would have ever thought then that I’d be doing what I’m doing now – there’s no stinkin’ way,” he said, but he added that he is proud of the work he does because it’s fulfilling, meaningful and very rewarding.

Jeff said being happy personally is not the same as being happy professionally, but if you are not happy professionally, you will have a tough time feeling fulfilled.

“You have got to determine whether you are happy or not, and one of the ways for happiness to be fulfilling is to do something in life that is bigger than you. Serve this world or your community or your family in a way that, every single day, you feel like you are not stressed because you are living a purpose that is so big.”

Find what you are grateful for, and this can serve as a roadmap to fulfillment.

Jeff shares a couple of examples of this in his life where his purpose is bigger than himself.

“Carolina Forest High School here in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, had a student make that forever decision about a week ago. I sent a message to the school and I offered my prayers and thoughts. I said I was sorry, and if there was anything I could do, please let me know.”

Because he reached out, Jeff was able to do presentation at the school.

“I feel very fulfilled in my heart that I got to do that,” he said.

He also recently spent two days in Killingly, Connecticut, where the local community lost five people in the past year.

“In those two days, I had some very meaningful conversations with the student body, the counselors and social workers and the administration – and I got to talk to some students one-on-one.”

He also participated in a home visit for a person whose roommate overdosed and died that very day.

“We got to go to the house to just let this person know – ‘we care about you and we just want to make sure that you are OK as you go through this process over the next couple of days.’”

He finished up his time in Killingly by watching the local high school continue to go undefeated against a rival team from Hartford that had three Division 1 athletes on the team.

“It was cold, but it was beautiful to watch those kids of character and, resilience and perseverance,” he said.

What can you do that is bigger than you?

“When you find something to do that gives you a beautiful purpose, your life is going to change,” he said.

Find out why Jeff Yalden is North America’s Number One Youth Motivational Speaker. Go HERE.

Check out Jeff’s new nonprofit, THE JEFF YALDEN FOUNDATION.

Jeff’s speaking calendar fills up fast. To book him now for your event, organization or school now, call 800-948-9289.

For a limited time, you can own Jeff’s new book, Your Life Matters, for only $0.99 on KINDLE.

SUBSCRIBE to The BOOM Podcast.

JOIN the BOOM Nation Facebook Group and share your BOOM moments with us.

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 13

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Years ago, Amazon bestselling author Jeff Yalden was walking toward his gate at Pittsburgh International Airport when he caught sight of Bill Cowher, then the head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Day 12: Attitude of Gratitude: The Truth will Expose You … How I Called Out The Principal this Morning. Recognizing the Little Things. #BOOM28 #BOOM #JeffYalden #Gratitude #MentalHealth #Attitude #Gratitude #LifeofSuccess #Depression #Appreciation #People #Success #LiveLifetotheFullest #CarpeDiem #NAMI #MentalHealthSpeaker #NationalAssociationMentalHealth #Veteran #MarineCorps #Service #BillCowher #PittsburghSteelers #LittleThings #Respect Link to iTunes Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/boom-one-word-to-inspire-action-and-deliver-rewards/id1238558637

Posted by Jeff Yalden on Monday, November 13, 2017

Jeff’s first inclination was to go up and shake Cowher’s hand, but he wavered for a moment because he thought most everybody wanted Cowher’s time and he likely didn’t want to be bothered.

But he decided to approach Cowher anyway. The iconic coach was with his wife, Kaye Cowher, who died in 2010.

“I will never forget that moment,” he said. “Bill Cowher stopped and turned toward me, and his wife engaged in the conversation. They probably gave me 20 seconds, and 20 seconds is a long time. I introduced myself and told him I was a big fan. He looked me in the eye. His wife smiled, but I remember him smiling and saying, ‘thank you.’”

Day 13 of the “Attitude of Gratitude” series is all about exposing the truth, and how the little things will hold you accountable.

Jeff recorded this episode of The BOOM Podcast in Reno, where he was the keynote speaker for one of the regional Student Council (STUCO) conferences in Nevada.

He arrived early at the hosting high school, got set up for the event, and met the principal.

“I went to shake his hand,” he said. “It was a good handshake, but he gave me that ‘looking away’ handshake.”

This moment turned into a later defining conversation between Jeff and the principal.

“I asked the principal if there was anything he wanted me to share in my message, and he was telling me about social media and first impressions.”

Obviously, the door was wide-open for Jeff to bring up his earlier first-impression – that handshake.

“I took a great risk, but I tried to be tactful,” he said. “I explained the handshake we had, and I explained to him exactly what he did. He didn’t realize he had done that.”

The point is this:

‘I know you’re busy. I’m busy too. I know we’re grinding so hard every single day and that sometimes we need stop and be present.”

Jeff recalled a similar moment when a young man bought one of his books after a school presentation a while back.

“Apparently, I didn’t acknowledge him – and I remember getting an email from him, just blasting me. I reached out to the school and to the advisor of this young student. I tried to do everything I could. I sent books, t-shirts, posters, pictures. That young man wanted nothing to do with me because of that one moment.”

According to Jeff, sometimes that first impression is a lasting impression.

Always remember that a little kindness and common courtesy go a long way.

“My moment of gratitude today is recognizing that it’s the little things every single day.”

Find out why Jeff Yalden is North America’s Number One Youth Motivational Speaker. Go HERE.

Check out Jeff’s new nonprofit, THE JEFF YALDEN FOUNDATION.

Jeff’s speaking calendar fills up fast. To book him now for your event, organization or school now, call 800-948-9289.

For a limited time, you can own Jeff’s new book, Your Life Matters, for only $0.99 on KINDLE.

SUBSCRIBE to The BOOM Podcast.

JOIN the BOOM Nation Facebook Group and share your BOOM moments with us.

 

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 11

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When mental health speaker and Amazon Bestselling author Jeff Yalden recorded Episode 57 of The BOOM Podcast, he found himself at home in the beautiful Myrtle Beach area – enjoying some quality time and chilling on his patio and planning his day.

Then it hit him: This was November 10, also known as the Marine Corps Birthday, which is now 242 years old.

Day 11: Attitude of Gratitude: Being a Veteran and Service to a Purpose Greater than Myself#BOOM28 #BOOM #JeffYalden #Gratitude #MentalHealth #Attitude #Gratitude #LifeofSuccess #Depression #Appreciation #People #Success #LiveLifetotheFullest #CarpeDiem #NAMI #MentalHealthSpeaker #NationalAssociationMentalHealth #Veteran #MarineCorps #ServiceLink to iTunes Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/boom-one-word-to-inspire-action-and-deliver-rewards/id1238558637

Posted by Jeff Yalden on Friday, November 10, 2017

As many of you know, Jeff served as a United States Marine during the Gulf War.

What an awesome time to be recording a podcast episode about gratitude!

“Oorah! Semper Fi to all of my fellow marines that I served with,” he said, adding that this shout-out went to those who served before, who are serving now or thinking about serving in the future – and he extended his thanks to all servicemembers.

“You are serving our country, and you are giving us the very freedom that so many of us take for granted every single day. Thank you.”

And while he was on the subject of gratitude for those who serve – Jeff broadened his scope to include other folks who are of service to a purpose greater than self – who toil selflessly every day to make sure that others are taken care of.

SERVE A PURPOSE GREATER THAN SELF

“Here’s my question: What are you doing in life that makes your community a little bit better? What do you do? What is your service to a purpose that is bigger than you? Think about that.”

Every day, Jeff asks himself the following three questions:Is my life meaningful?

  • Is my life meaningful?
  • Is my life fulfilling?
  • Is my life rewarding?

“I challenge you to ask yourself those three questions – and if you can’t say yes to those three questions, I challenge you to make a change. The greatest change that you can make is finding a purpose in life that is bigger than you.”

For Jeff, as it should be for you, gratitude is feeling good in your heart for something that you are receiving, but it can also be something that you are giving through service to others.

What are you grateful for?

“Sometimes we live our lives so fast that we forget just the little things. Remember this: Fast is slow and slow is fast. Just stop, take it all in – breathe, feel and appreciate – because health is not health unless we first have our mental health.”

Jeff says it’s imperative that we lower the anxiety we experience every day, and get to the heart of what is bothering us and taking up space in our heads.

“If you go out every single day and you are living at about a seven out of ten on the anxiety scale – how productive are you, really?”

Instead, start your day with a self-care routine – reflecting on the things you appreciate. Don’t be like 99 percent of the people who are on autopilot – merely going through the motions. That’s not living.

“Wake up every day with a purpose, my friends. Wake up every single day with love in your heart. Wake up every day knowing that life is a challenge – but as much as life is a challenge, life is also a blessing.”

Find out why Jeff Yalden is North America’s Number One Youth Motivational Speaker. Go HERE.

Check out Jeff’s new nonprofit, THE JEFF YALDEN FOUNDATION.

Jeff’s speaking calendar fills up fast. To book him now for your event, organization or school now, call 800-948-9289.

For a limited time, you can own Jeff’s new book, Your Life Matters, for only $0.99 on KINDLE.

SUBSCRIBE to The BOOM Podcast.

JOIN the BOOM Nation Facebook Group and share your BOOM moments with us.

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 10

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As you may have noticed, mental health speaker and Amazon bestselling author Jeff Yalden sometimes records episodes for The BOOM Podcast on the fly. His travel and speaking schedule is usually jam-packed, and he takes advantage of every opportunity to make sure he gets his message out, whenever and wherever he can.

Day 10: Attitude of Gratitude: Believe & Ask Questions = Good Things Happen#BOOM28 #BOOM #JeffYalden #Gratitude #MentalHealth #Attitude #Gratitude #LifeofSuccess #Depression #Appreciation #People #Success #LiveLifetotheFullest #CarpeDiem #NAMI #MentalHealthSpeaker #NationalAssociationMentalHealthLink to iTunes Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/boom-one-word-to-inspire-action-and-deliver-rewards/id1238558637

Posted by Jeff Yalden on Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Episode 56 was no different. Jeff was sitting in a warm rental car and watching the snow come down in Fargo, North Dakota – the first snow he encountered this year.

Believe and Ask Questions: Good Things Happen

Earlier that day, Jeff said he was 15 miles from Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, where he was scheduled to take a morning flight to Minneapolis. He thought he’d get to the airport early and get a bit of work done before his flight.

That 15 miles took him an hour-and-a-half, and when he got there, things were at a standstill because a bomb threat had been called into Sky Harbor. There were no flights coming in or going out. Rental cars and buses were being stopped and checked.

The first class and priority boarding line was 100 people deep.  At that point, his flight was supposed to have been boarding in 20 minutes. He mentioned this to one of the airline employees, but was told to get back in line.

You might be wondering what this has to do with an Attitude of Gratitude.

“I spend a lot of money traveling all over the world, doing the work that I do, and I’m t hinking that I have got to get to my flight, because Concordia College had a suicide about a month ago. I had to speak to these young people tonight and do my thing.”

But he was surely going to miss his flight.

“I kept believing and asking questions, and some of the American Airlines agents said they were sorry, but there was nothing they could do.”

But Jeff kept asking, and he finally asked the right person – a lady who took charge, walked him through TSA and right up to the gate – where they checked his bag.

He was the first one on the plane to Minneapolis.

Another kicker is the fact that he thought he was speaking at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota but found out when he landed in Minneapolis that he was in fact specking at Concordia College in the twin cities of Moorhead, Minnesota and Fargo, North Dakota.

He made it.

Jeff realizes that it might seem a bit narcissistic; flying first class and enjoying the privileges of frequent air travel – and with everything going in the world, he should be grateful to simply be alive.

“I get it,” he said. “I pray every day for the people – whether it be the victims of the Las Vegas massacre, or the [recent church massacre] in Sutherland Springs, Texas. I understand. For millions of people, life goes on – and for many people, life stands still, and I am sorry.”

As he was getting ready to speak in Fargo, he got a text from a friend that a young man in the Carolina Forest area of Myrtle Beach made that forever decision and hung himself that very day.

“My friends, we live in a very uncertain time. If we let all of this affect us every single day, it’s going to take its toll emotionally – and for many of us, it does,” he said.

But one thing that Jeff said keeps us going is this: We simply wake up, brush our teeth, wash our face, do our dance and walk out the door, putting one foot in front of the other.

We keep stepping.

Despite the tragedy and the negativity in our world, Jeff talks about three important points to foster a sense of gratitude and help us on our way:

  • Value yourself. Value your close circle, the people in it – your family and your friends.
  • Ask questions. Do the work. But also, be grateful for the little things that we have every single day. Shelter. Food on the table. Clean clothing. Unconditional love.
  • Your daily choices: Choose a positive attitude and positive behavior, you get positive results. If you choose a negative attitude, you then have negative behavior and then you have negative results.

“My friends, believe every single day. Believe in the beauty of you. Believe in the beauty of your dreams. Believe in the beauty of your influence on people.

Don’t let life beat you up.”

Find out why Jeff Yalden is North America’s Number One Youth Motivational Speaker. Go HERE.

Check out Jeff’s new nonprofit, THE JEFF YALDEN FOUNDATION.

Jeff’s speaking calendar fills up fast. To book him now for your event, organization or school now, call 800-948-9289.

For a limited time, you can own Jeff’s new book, Your Life Matters, for only $0.99 on KINDLE.

SUBSCRIBE to The BOOM Podcast.

JOIN the BOOM Nation Facebook Group and share your BOOM moments with us.

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