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Mental Health Motivational Speaker & Mental Health Speaker Jeff Yalden

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A WHIRLWIND DAY IN RURAL OHIO

February 24, 2018 by Jeff Yalden, Youth Motivational Speaker

Newcomerstown, Ohio is a small rural community just north of Appalachia. I was invited to spend the day with Newcomerstown Exempted Village Schools and heard that nearly 80 percent of the students there were receiving free or reduced lunches. I hear that stuff all the time but have never let that influence how I look at the kids or the community. I arrived on February 20 at 6:50 in the morning for a seven o’clock meeting with the administrative team and was astonished to learn that all these people were born and raised in this area. They had grown up, graduated, gone out into the world and came back. It was that kind of community. I love that. We had a great hour-long meeting, and I listened – learning about who they were, their needs, and how they value their kids. It was an awesome way to start my day. My first impression was from high school principal Josh Branch, who texted me about parking in the pharmacy lot across the street and come in through the front doors, which I did. Three steps into the building, I noticed the lockers – many of which were decorated with inspirational quotes and messages of kindness from students to their peers. The walls were also filled with uplifting posters and decorations. Shortly thereafter, I met the young ladies who were responsible for such awesomeness. I assumed that they had put everything up the night before and asked them how long it took them to do this. It turns out that these young ladies decorated their peers’ lockers in October, and the kids hadn’t removed anything – everything still looked new. I was amazed. At this point, I knew that this day was going to be awesome. My first assembly was for middle schoolers. I spent two hours in the auditorium with sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Did I ever mention that I should request a shower after my talks? I sweat a little too much. These kids were amazing. We didn’t waste any time with an introduction. I just said, “BOOM – Lives are going to change,” and sure enough, a bunch of students lined up afterward to shake my hand. Some told me that I changed their lives. A few of them wanted to talk about their lives, and they did. I heard about a group of girls that called their group “different.” I found out that they were very smart and mature for their age, and all had lovely hearts. However, they secretly talked to each other about their thoughts and feelings. This was a circle of trust in which they talked candidly about suicide and self-harm. Imagine being in the sixth grade and hearing this stuff about each other. Then it happened. I was summoned to the office and told about a self-inflicted gunshot incident that morning at Jackson Middle School, about 40 miles away. A seventh-grade boy brought a rifle to school and shot himself in a restroom there. [UPDATE: He died the next day. No additional details have been released, and an investigation is underway.] After processing this, we had to get back to work at Newcomerstown. But it didn’t take long before a couple kids came running in and told us about an incident in the auditorium concerning a female student. Now we have the young girl in the office, and a couple of her friends are in other offices. School personnel responded very well – calmly and on top of things. This is the team that I would want looking out for my kids. This isn’t my first rodeo, but it was incredible to see well they worked and how open their hearts were. I was very impressed. This incident took a couple hours of our attention – talking to kids, parents coming in and figuring out who knew what. The whirlwind day continued with another two-hour assembly – this time for the high school students. If I were to travel with a camera crew you’d see and hear stories that would break your heart. I love what I do. It’s amazing giving these kids hope and support, but gosh, it can be tough hearing their pain and home lives. I met with the teachers after school for 45 minutes. At six o’clock, I gave a presentation for parents. More than a dozen mental health and other agencies had tables set up as well. It was impressive to see the support for a school community that wanted to be proactive about the issues their students face every day. We had 125 people come out for the event, and I think that was a great turnout. We spent an incredible two hours talking about parenting, teen mental health, social media and the signs and symptoms related to teen suicide. It was after nine when I was finally saying my goodbyes – and we all just sat in the auditorium, thanking each other. I love my job. For more information, go HERE. To book Jeff now, call (800) 948-9289

Filed Under: High Schools, Mental Health, Self-Care, Teen Depression / Suicide, Youth Programs Tagged With: Jackson Middle School. Jeff Yalden, Jeff Yalden Foundation, Keynote Speaker, Mental Health Advocate, Mental Health Speaker, Newcomerstown, Newcomerstown Exempted Village Schools, Suicide Prevention, Teen Coach, Youth Motivational Speaker

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

January 3, 2018 by Roger Yale

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.
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.

Filed Under: BOOM, Gratitude, Mental Health, Personal Development, Podcasts Tagged With: Amazon, Amazon Bestseller, Appreciation, Author, BOOM Podcast, Gratitude, Jeff Yalden, Jeff Yalden Foundation, Keynote Speaker, Mental Health Advocate, Mental Health Speaker, Personal Development, Self-Care, Service, Suicide Prevention, Teen Coach, Your Life Matters, Youth Motivational Speaker

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 14

January 1, 2018 by Roger Yale

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 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.

Filed Under: BOOM, Gratitude, Mental Health, Motivation, Personal Development, Podcasts, Self-Care Tagged With: Amazon, Amazon Bestseller, Appreciation, Author, BOOM Podcast, Gratitude, Jeff Yalden, Jeff Yalden Foundation, Keynote Speaker, Mental Health Advocate, Mental Health Speaker, Personal Development, Self-Care, Service, Suicide Prevention, Teen Coach, Your Life Matters, Youth Motivational Speaker

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 13

December 31, 2017 by Roger Yale

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.
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.  

Filed Under: BOOM, Gratitude, Mental Health, Personal Development, Podcasts Tagged With: Amazon, Amazon Bestseller, Appreciation, Author, Bill Cowher, BOOM Podcast, Gratitude, Jeff Yalden, Jeff Yalden Foundation, Keynote Speaker, Mental Health Advocate, Mental Health Speaker, Personal Development, Pittsburgh Steelers, Self-Care, Service, STUCO, Suicide Prevention, Teen Coach, Your Life Matters, Youth Motivational Speaker

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 12

December 30, 2017 by Roger Yale

If you can count your true friends on one hand, consider yourself wealthy. In Episode 58 of The BOOM Podcast, mental health speaker and Amazon bestselling author Jeff Yalden continues to lay out his 28-Day “Attitude of Gratitude” series. Day 12 is all about self-awareness.
Are you loved? Hated? A little of both? Self-aware people know where they stand with others. Jeff has a close circle of friends that he knows he can call if he ever needs them – and any of these friends would be there for him in a heartbeat. “I consider myself a very wealthy person, but I think it’s also important to understand and to be OK with the fact that not everybody will like you,” he said. An interesting question to ponder is this: Do we change who we are to meet their approval, or do we continue being who we are in our lives’ journeys? Your journey is not somebody else’s journey. “Listen: There are a lot of people that don’t like me, and there are a lot of people that don’t like you – but here’s the thing: Are we going to live our lives every single day, giving these people the power over our emotions, or are we going to realize that there are people that just don’t like us? People might not like you because you are different from them. Being different is OK. “But if people don’t like you because you are a straight-up ass, I think you really need to look at the type of person you are, because there might be a lot of other people with valid reasons for not liking you – and if that’s the case, I don’t see that you live a very happy life.” Jeff knows that he can be loud, opinionated and selfish with his time, but in his self-awareness, he knows his intentions are pure. “I’ve got a big heart. Maybe too big – so I can’t really be affected by people that don’t like me. You might not like me because I’ve made mistakes in the past. I have. I’ve hurt people in the past, and I’m sorry,” he said. “Have you ever said something to someone you wish you didn’t say? Have you ever done something you wish you didn’t do?” We all have, haven’t we? “I can’t dwell on the past. I can kind of look at the past as a rear-view mirror. It’s just used to check out the past, but you don’t live there long,” he said. But if you have hurt somebody, Jeff recommends reaching out to them and apologizing if you can. “Now it’s up to them to accept your apology and maybe give you forgiveness – which I think most people probably would – but there are also a lot of people who might not.” But at this point, it’s no longer about you. The ball is in their court now. You have attempted to make amends, and if forgiveness doesn’t come, that’s their issue. There is nothing more for you to do. “In being self-aware, I think it’s important to know who you are – but it’s just as important to know who you are not. In being aware of who you are not, you are also choosing to live in a way that you are not going to live your life to meet the approval of other people,” he said. Jeff said that if you can forgive, and if you can apologize and ask for forgiveness from the people you may have hurt, that’s a very powerful place to be. “When you look in the mirror, the big question is this: Are you as beautiful a person on the inside as you are on the outside? That’s the question that you must answer.” When Jeff recorded this podcast episode, he was getting ready to head to Reno, Nevada for a speaking gig. “I’m going to reflect on the plane – about who I am as a man – who I am as a significant other – who I am as a leader in my community and a leader in my field of work – and I want to challenge you to do the same thing. The question is: Do you like yourself? Because that’s what matters the most.” 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.

Filed Under: BOOM, Gratitude, Mental Health, Motivation, Podcasts, Self-Care Tagged With: Amazon, Amazon Bestseller, Appreciation, Author, BOOM Podcast, Gratitude, Jeff Yalden, Jeff Yalden Foundation, Keynote Speaker, Mental Health Advocate, Mental Health Speaker, Personal Development, Self-Care, Service, Suicide Prevention, Teen Coach, Your Life Matters, Youth Motivational Speaker

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 11

December 29, 2017 by Roger Yale

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.
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.

Filed Under: BOOM, Gratitude, Mental Health, Motivation, Personal Development, Podcasts Tagged With: Amazon, Amazon Bestseller, Appreciation, Author, BOOM Podcast, Gratitude, Jeff Yalden, Jeff Yalden Foundation, Keynote Speaker, Marine Corps, Mental Health Advocate, Mental Health Speaker, Personal Development, Self-Care, Service, Servicemembers, Suicide Prevention, Teen Coach, Your Life Matters, Youth Motivational Speaker

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 10

December 22, 2017 by Roger Yale

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.
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.

Filed Under: BOOM, Gratitude, Mental Health, Personal Development, Podcasts, Self-Care, Teen Depression / Suicide Tagged With: Amazon, Amazon Bestseller, Appreciation, Author, BOOM Podcast, Concordia College, Gratitude, Jeff Yalden, Jeff Yalden Foundation, Keynote Speaker, Mental Health Advocate, Mental Health Speaker, Nutrition, Personal Development, Self-Care, Suicide Prevention, Teen Coach, teen depression, Teen Suicide, Yalden Open, Your Life Matters, Youth Motivational Speaker

Attitude of Gratitude: Day Nine

December 21, 2017 by Roger Yale

When mental health speaker and Amazon bestselling author Jeff Yalden recorded Day Nine of his “Attitude of Gratitude” series for The BOOM Podcast, he was in Phoenix, Arizona, for what was to be a grueling series of talks – and his voice was showing signs of strain.
 

BETTER HEALTH, BETTER PERFORMANCE

Jeff’s program agreement for the two schools in Phoenix listed two school assemblies, but when he arrived, he was astounded to discover that he was to do two assemblies at each school. “What? I’m speaking four times in one day? No, man – I don’t do that,” he said. But he has worked for 25 years with teenagers, parents and mental health professionals – and he wasn’t about to let a situation like this get to him. “What was I going to do – argue the program agreement when I am already out here in Phoenix? The bottom line is that I just had to go with it – and you know what? I went with it,” he said. Last year, Jeff wouldn’t have been able to do this – but since he had taken major steps to get control of his health and physical well-being, including weight-loss surgery, a healthy diet and regular exercise, he was able to push through the four assemblies with no trouble. “I’m feeling good, but I’ll tell you, one thing that is hurting [is] my voice. But sometimes you’ve just got to suck it up and do what you’ve got to do – and remember: Lose your ego, open your heart and do the little things that other people aren’t willing to do.” Do these three things to help improve your health and your performance:
  • Get your sleep.
  • Get Proper Nutrition
  • Get Involved.
Today was an awesome day, although my voice is hurting.” Better health, better performance. 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!

Filed Under: BOOM, Gratitude, Mental Health, Personal Development, Podcasts, Self-Care Tagged With: Amazon, Amazon Bestseller, Appreciation, Author, BOOM Podcast, Exercise Gratitude, Jeff Yalden, Jeff Yalden Foundation, Keynote Speaker, Mental Health Advocate, Mental Health Speaker, Nutrition, Personal Development, Self-Care, Suicide Prevention, Teen Coach, teen depression, Teen Suicide, Yalden Open, Your Life Matters, Youth Motivational Speaker

Attitude of Gratitude: Day Eight

December 20, 2017 by Roger Yale

Day Eight of the 28-Day “Attitude of Gratitude” series is all about self-care – and Amazon bestselling author and mental health speaker Jeff Yalden explains this very important topic in Episode 54 of The BOOM Podcast.
  Jeff recorded this episode while he was getting ready to fly to Phoenix, Arizona – but he was able to get in a game of golf before he left town.

The Importance of Self-Care

“Whether you have children, a high-stress job with great expectations and a lot of responsibility, or it’s your family – hey, I get it I know,” he said. But through all the stress and the anxiety with everything that’s going on, [the] one thing that you cannot go without is taking care of yourself.” Jeff offered the following components of self-care that he feels are critical:
  • Make sure you are eating well. One of the things that contributes to depression is sugar – and even just feeling bloated can trigger an emotional, negative response. Get proper nutrition.
  • Make sure you exercise daily – getting the endorphins up and the blood flowing.
Jeff says that he has not been exercising lately as much as he would like to, but he has been playing golf like crazy. “That’s something right now that I am enjoying,” he said, adding that he likes the competitiveness of the sport and the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather that the Myrtle Beach area has to offer. Exercise is not too far off his radar, but for now, golf is doing what he needs it to do during such a busy work schedule. “Even if it’s 40 or 50 degrees where you are and the sun is out, get outside and get a walk in – just a nice, brisk walk. And breathe,” he said. Try waking up 15 minutes earlier to practice some positive affirmations: “I am strong. I am capable. I deserve great things in life.” Positive behavior + positive attitude = positive outcome. Negative behavior + negative attitude = negative outcome. Jeff warns us not to allow a negative outcome to make us victims. “My friends: You are not a victim. You are a victor,” he said. “Stop being bitter and angry about life or life’s circumstances and choose to become better every single day. That is what we do.” Remember: Self-care is not selfish. Make time in your day to take care of yourself, whether it’s eating lunch in your car and listening to music or self-help programs. “Meditate. Breathe. Lower your anxiety. Get involved in yoga or pick up the golf clubs and go swing those sticks,” he said. Jeff is putting together a golfing event in Myrtle Beach in April. For more information, 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!

Filed Under: BOOM, Gratitude, Mental Health, Motivation, Personal Development, Podcasts, Self-Care Tagged With: Amazon, Amazon Bestseller, Appreciation, Author, BOOM Podcast, Gratitude, Jeff Yalden, Jeff Yalden Foundation, Keynote Speaker, Mental Health Advocate, Mental Health Speaker, Personal Development, Self-Care, Suicide Prevention, Teen Coach, teen depression, Teen Suicide, Yalden Open, Your Life Matters, Youth Motivational Speaker

Attitude of Gratitude: Day Seven

December 19, 2017 by Roger Yale

  If you have been keeping a gratitude journal, there are times when it seems like a struggle to pinpoint things you are grateful for on a daily basis. But remember to embrace the people and the moments in your life that lift you up, inspire and challenge you. When he recorded this episode of The BOOM Podcast, mental health speaker and Amazon bestselling author Jeff Yalden said he had been struggling to find daily gratitude, but that’s a good thing. “I think we have to look for what we are grateful for, and every day it’s about searching for something to be thankful for. I mean, who wakes up every day grateful, like – ‘Oh I’m grateful to be alive.’ How fake is that!”

Gratitude and Loss

Jeff woke up on this particular morning and thought about his new friends, Mike and Becky Bina, who recently lost their son Kyler to the forever decision of suicide. “Let me talk about gratitude,” he said. “Mike and Becky have an amazing family of support, love and togetherness – and that’s really helping them get through this whole thing.” Jeff recently spoke at a suicide awareness event set up by the Binas in Cresco, Iowa – and that is where they began their bond of friendship. “Mike and Becky:  I’m waking up this morning, and I am grateful for our friendship. I’m grateful that we met, [but it was] through pain. You heard me say when I came up to Cresco that life doesn’t happen to us – life happens for us. You will understand this when you finish going through the grieving process and you get to that acceptance.” If the above seems insensitive or unsympathetic, that is not Yalden’s intention. Far from it. Most of us have experienced hardship in life, and some of us have been devastated by unspeakable loss – but we wake up the next morning. “As we wake up the next day, we move forward with one foot in front of the other. I think it’s important that we remember that everything we go through shapes us. Everything that we go through makes us the people that we are destined to become.” Life is a series of victories and defeats. “Some victories are epic, like the Houston Astros. Some victories are a part of life, like little league baseball.  Some defeats are forever life-changing [think the Las Vegas massacre or the and the October truck attack in New York City], and yet a high school football team loses too.” Jeff reminds us that we are not victims in life, and we should never play that card. We cannot have that mindset. We are not victims. We rise up and become victors. But I’m thinking of gratitude – we are not a victim in life – we can’t play that card. We can’t have that mindset. We are not a victim. Rise up and become a victor. “We can all be bitter and angry over circumstances and situations, but what does that do? It doesn’t help. Let’s choose to become better. That’s a mindset,” he said. We all have a story, but do our stories define us – or do they shape us? “Do you live your life for titles or testimonies? That’s a matter of being selfish or selfless. My friends, I want to invite you to be really specific about something you are grateful for. As a matter of fact, I challenge you to go back to a painful moment in your life – and I want you to find gratitude in that situation.” 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!

Filed Under: BOOM, Gratitude, Loss, Mental Health, Personal Development, Podcasts, Self-Care, Teen Depression / Suicide Tagged With: Amazon, Amazon Bestseller, Appreciation, Author, BOOM Podcast, Gratitude, Jeff Yalden, Jeff Yalden Foundation, Keynote Speaker, Loss, Mental Health Advocate, Mental Health Speaker, Personal Development, Setbacks, Suicide Prevention, Teen Coach, teen depression, Teen Suicide, Your Life Matters, Youth Motivational Speaker

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