- The Brighter Side of Everything
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- Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Welcome to The Brighter Side of Everything.
This newsletter serves a simple purpose → To help you build optimism, resilience and a solution-focused perspective.
Each week, I’ll share actionable insights that not only brighten your day but position you to be a leader within your own life and seize life’s opportunities.
Read time: 8-10 minutes.
Hey everyone,
Well … that was fun.
Thanks for supporting my 1st edition and welcome to our newest subscribers!
After a few rookie mistakes (who needs a subject heading anyway), I truly appreciate your feedback and messages of support over the last week.
As we continue this journey together, I'm excited to share more stories and insights to help you uncover the possibilities of an optimistic mindset.
Whether you're a longtime optimist or just starting to explore the brighter side, I trust you'll find something to inspire you in today's edition.
This week's featured story highlights Steve Gleason's inspiring ESPY Award speech, showcasing the power of resilience and turning challenges into opportunities.
Gleason's journey from NFL hero to ALS advocate embodies the transformative potential of a positive outlook in the face of adversity.
Yes, I am a Saints fan.
But trust me, this story transcends sports or any choice of team.
It serves as a powerful reminder of the human spirit's ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
He just also happens to be a Saint ⚜️
See you on the Brighter Side,
Chris
P.S. Send me feedback on how we can improve. I respond to every email.
Bright Side in Brief
What’s covered this week?
Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Bright Reads - quick links to fun or insightful articles
Insights from an Expert - Simon Sinek
Eye Opening Stats - The Impact of Gratitude on Relationships
Now Spinning: Kruangbin ‘Con Todo El Mundo’
A Bright Idea to Consider - Michael Jordan
Daily Gratitude Journal
Positively Hilarious - smile like you mean it.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Steve Gleason’s Inspiring Award Speech
Gleason on stage accepting his award with his son, Rivers.
Now and then, we encounter moments of inspiration that transcend the ordinary rhythms of life.
These moments remind us of the extraordinary potential of the human spirit.
Last week, the 2024 ESPY Awards provided one such moment.
First, let’s set the scene, by revisiting the play that etched Steve Gleason’s name into NFL history.
On September 25, 2006, during the New Orleans Saints’ first game back in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, Gleason made a play that would become a symbol of the city’s resilience.
Just minutes into the game against the Atlanta Falcons, Gleason burst through the line and blocked a punt.
His teammate recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown, igniting the crowd and setting the tone for a Saints victory.
This electrifying moment became more than just a great football play.
It represented hope and rebirth for New Orleans, a city still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Gleason’s block became a rallying point for the community, symbolizing their determination to overcome adversity and rebuild together.
Little did anyone know at the time that this moment of triumph would take on even greater significance in light of Gleason’s future challenges.
His courage on the field that day foreshadowed the incredible strength and resilience he would demonstrate in his fight against ALS.
Gleason’s story is one of remarkable resilience.
Diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2011, he was given only three years to live.
Instead of giving up, he has dedicated his life to raising awareness about the disease and supporting those affected by it.
His nonprofit, Team Gleason, has allowed him to spend the past 13 years documenting his journey and working tirelessly to help others with ALS.
This inspiring path has defied expectations:
providing over $40 million in adventure, technology, equipment and care services to people living with ALS since 2011.
helping over 30,000 people living with ALS across the country over its first 12 years.
Incredible results for someone given only three years to live, turning a devastating diagnosis into a catalyst for change and hope for thousands of people.
Gleason’s play is immortalised outside the Superdome in New Orleans.
Last week, Steve Gleason was honoured with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2024 ESPY Awards.
The prestigious award recognizes individuals who reflect Arthur Ashe’s spirit of courage and willingness to stand up for their beliefs in the face of adversity.
Gleason has this in spades.
He has demonstrated this through his inspiring journey and unwavering commitment to helping others since his ALS diagnosis in 2011.
Steve Gleason’s acceptance speech at the ESPYs was a powerful testament to his resilience and positive outlook.
He reflected on the meaning of courage.
Emphasizing that it requires first experiencing fear and adversity.
His words resonated deeply as he shared insights on facing challenges, the importance of vulnerability and the interconnectedness of humanity.
Highlighting the universal nature of fear and suffering, he encouraged everyone to find ways to be courageous and love the life they have.
He stressed the importance of sharing vulnerabilities and supporting one another, noting how the compassionate support from his family, community and caregivers has been crucial in his journey.
This powerful speech wasn’t just about his battle with ALS however;
It was a testament to the transformative power of optimism and resilience in the face of life’s greatest challenges.
Listening to him speak, we were reminded that even in our darkest hours, there’s always a brighter side waiting to be discovered.
He highlighted the infinite potential that lies within each of us when we choose to embrace hope and optimism.
Some key highlights from his acceptance speech:
Reflecting on the meaning of courage as facing fear and adversity.
Emphasizing the importance of sharing vulnerabilities and supporting each other.
Encouraging compassion and collaboration to solve problems.
Stressing the interconnectedness of humanity and the power of love.
“To be courageous, we must first experience fear. The fears and adversities we encounter are our opportunity to grow stronger. Our ability to courageously share our vulnerabilities is our greatest strength. If we can compassionately collaborate to solve problems, our human potential is boundless. We’re all in this together. The greatest aspect of our purpose is to generously help, serve, and love others. If we can listen, understand, and help alleviate each other’s suffering, then truly, all things are possible.”
Steve Gleason is a glowing example of optimism at work.
Through his will and desire, he took a 3-year diagnosis and extended it to 13 years.
Not only has he defied medical expectations, but he transformed his struggle into a powerful force for change.
Gleason has dedicated his life to raising awareness about ALS, advocating for better care/technology and inspiring thousands of others facing similar challenges.
He personifies the idea that we are ALL capable of much more than we think.
Building Resilience
5 Daily Practices from Gleason's Playbook
Face a Fear: What's weighing on your mind at this moment?
Open Up: Chat with someone you trust about what's on your mind.
Spread Kindness: Help out someone who's having a tough time.
Connect: Join a local club or volunteer - it's amazing how alike are.
Celebrate Wins: Journal how tackling your fears has helped you grow.
These steps may seem simple, but with regular practice and integrating these habits into your routine, you create a foundation for growth and a brighter outlook.
For those interested, Gleason’s full speech can be viewed here (5 mins):
Bright Reads
Ignite your inner optimist.
How to reset your sleep, when you’re overtired.
22 small things that people say made them drastically happier.
Why is UNO so popular?
How Optimism can help your career: 4 simple steps.
Nine things you didn’t know about the Ancient Olympic Games.
Insights from an Expert
Eye-Opening Stats
Science-based facts to supercharge your optimism.
Gratitude is a powerful tool for building optimism and living with intent.
A study published in the journal Emotion in 2014 found that expressing gratitude can facilitate the formation of new relationships and social connections.
The research, conducted with university students, revealed three key findings:
Key Findings:
Contact Sharing: People who received gratitude were more inclined to share their contact information with those who thanked them. This simple act of appreciation created a bridge for future interactions.
Warmer Personalities: Grateful individuals were perceived as having warmer personalities. This positive perception made others more eager to form relationships with them.
New Connections: The study provided groundbreaking empirical evidence that expressing gratitude can kickstart new relationships between strangers.
The Takeaway:
Be Specific: When thanking someone, mention exactly what you're grateful for. Instead of a generic "thanks," try "Thank you for taking the time to explain that concept to me."
Write It Down: Send a handwritten note or a thoughtful email. This extra effort can make your gratitude more impactful.
Look for Opportunities: Make it a habit to notice things you can be grateful for, even in challenging situations.
Express It Immediately: Don't wait to show your appreciation. The sooner you express gratitude, the more genuine it feels.
When you make gratitude part of your day-to-day, you significantly boost your overall well-being.
Personally, the more I focus on what I’m grateful for, the more reasons I find to be grateful.
Now Spinning: Music that moves you.
"Con Todo El Mundo" by Khruangbin
This album has been a regular feature on the turntable at home for the last couple of years.
It’s a fascinating blend of global influences, combining elements of Thai funk, Middle Eastern psychedelia and surf rock.
The lack of vocals and instrumental nature allows for deep focus when working, introspection while relaxing or simply great background music.
How it can benefit you:
Cultural exploration: diverse musical influences will broaden your cultural horizons and inspire curiosity about various musical traditions.
Stress relief: The mellow, laid-back vibe helps reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Creativity boost: The unique fusion of sounds can spark your own creative ideas or problem-solving abilities.
Mood lifting: The upbeat rhythms and positive energy will elevate your mood and outlook.
Remember though: music is a personal experience.
Not everyone will connect with the same sounds or styles and that's perfectly okay.
I encourage you to give this album a spin and share your thoughts and any recommendations you might have – I'm always searching for great new music!
A Bright Idea to Consider
Lessons from the Brightest Thinkers.
Setbacks aren’t reasons to quit, they’re necessary feedback on your path to success.
Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and go again.
“When a child is learning how to walk and falls down 50 times, they never think to themselves: Maybe this ain’t for me.”
Daily Gratitude Journal
Transform your daily routine with my specially crafted gratitude journal. Start (or end) each day with a moment of reflection and positivity.
For every gratitude journal sold, I'll donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
This means that as you develop daily gratitude, you're also helping grant wishes to children facing critical illnesses.
It's a powerful cycle of hope and optimism.
🌟 What's Inside:
Thoughtful prompts to inspire daily gratitude.
Space for personal reflections and affirmations.
Beautifully designed pages to make each entry a delightful experience.
Ready to embrace the power of gratitude?
Click here to order a copy now!
Positively Hilarious
A quick laugh as we part ways this week.
Recommended Newsletters:
Are you looking to level up your leadership skills?
Check out ‘The Leading Edge’ weekly newsletter from Chris March.
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