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FREE DOWNLOAD: The Magic Six Hours Tracker
Download and print this FREE 2-week tracker to build a habit out of “The Magic Six Hours.” The Magic Six Hours is a concept developed by Drs John and Shirley Gottman when they noticed through their research that happy couples find small but consistent ways to invest in their relationship each week. If you follow the prescription for The Magic Six Hours, you’ll spend a total of 6 hours each week (just 4% of your total week) to keep your relationship vitalized and strong. Sounds like a pretty good return on investment to us!
Thoughts from the Inca Trail: How to Build Psychological Flexibility
If flexibility is an indicator of good mental health then maybe the correlation goes the other way too? Cultivate flexibility and you will improve your mental health? Worth a shot since flexibility is a skill you can practice. So here are a few things I do/have done to cultivate psychological flexibility.
Build Wealth. Keep Your Soul.
I have always been wealthy. But it's only recently that I've had money.
The semantics battle between being wealthy and rich cannot be solved in a blog post. But I'd like to contribute to the conversation by sharing my own personal experience.
Finding and Funding a Good Life | from PWL Capital, Inc
In 2022, the wealth management firm, PWL Capital, Inc. published a white paper entitled “Finding and Funding a Good Life” that made the rounds on socials. It seemed both out of place and also perfectly appropriate for a financial manager to pontificate at length on things like long-term happiness and whether homeowners or renters are happier in the long run, and whether living in a sunnier climate or a setting with more trees has a greater impact on your day-to-day satisfaction. After all, most of the best things in life are free (or are they?) The paper presents a six-factor (PERMA-V) model (don’t worry, they cite their heavy-hitting sources) for what A Good Life looks like.
This paper is worth a read.
Iron Sharpens Iron | with Pepperdine University
We’re proud Pepperdine alums (both undergrad and graduate work and also teaching there over the years) and it was an honor to team up with the marketing team, telling this story of how we and others pursue challenge and growth while at Pepperdine.
Would you rather be Super Rich… or Super Wealthy?
The terms "rich" and "wealthy" are often used interchangeably, but are they the same thing? New York Times columnist Paul Sullivan, author of the 2015 book The Thin Green Line: The Money Secrets of the Super Wealthy, suggests that while these two terms might seem similar, they are not.
Podcast Appearance: Fueling Earth Podcast
Tune in to hear an explanation of our 11 guiding principles that have helped us live intentionally in our relationships, health, work, and finances. Huge thank you to amazing podcasters and interviewers, Jewell from Sweet Fuel and Kristen from Earth Kandee
Podcast Appearance: Another Step podcast with Kyle Holton
How to be FINANCIALLY FREE and Live with the END IN MIND. Watch/listen to Dusty’s guest appearance on Another Step Podcast with Kyle Holton.
How We Gather, from Harvard Divinity School
America is changing. Millennials are less religiously affiliated than ever before. Churches are just one of many institutional casualties of the internet age in which young people are both more globally connected and more locally isolated than ever before. Against this bleak backdrop, a hopeful landscape is emerging. Millennials are flocking to a host of new organizations that deepen community in ways that are powerful, surprising, and perhaps even religious. After two years of noticing this happen, we’re sharing our findings in order to start a conversation. ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN 2015
Wedding Officiants Take Bathroom Selfies Too
I don’t always take bathroom selfies…but when I’m in a tuxedo and the bathroom is filled with geometric patterns…I become basic.
Got Your Back Weekend Training with US Army National Guard
Last weekend Dusty traveled to San Diego to present at an Army National Guard training called Got Your Back. The weekend training is designed in group workshop format for individual soldiers to develop their interpersonal relationship skills that will benefit them in both their military duties as well as civilian lives.
Wanted: Small Business with Big Aspirations
WANTED: Small to mid size business that is serious about providing growth and development for their staff.
Topa Topa Backpacking Trip in Ventura, CA
For many people, the idea of backpacking can be a daunting concept. “Carry all my food and supplies into the backcountry and sleep miles from my car?! Sounds terrifying.” But at Skull & Bones Society, we’ve learned that the path to who you want to be frequently leads through uncomfortable and unfamiliar experiences (that afterward usually turn out to be less of a big deal than you originally thought), and that life’s challenges are always made easier and more memorable when shared with a group of likeminded friends. The Topa Topa backpacking trip combined many of the essential ingredients of our workshops: mindset, communal support, physical challenge, laughter, and reflection.
Podcast Guest: Almost Essential Series with Jordan Coss and Lars Coburn
Thank you to Almost Essential, hosted by Jordan Coss and Lars Coburn, for hosting Dusty Breeding to talk about retirement planning for professional ministers.
This long-form conversation features some differing perspectives on practices and policies that will help professional ministers make the most of their retirement planning while doing the meaningful work of ministry.
Podcast appearance: Jesus Drinks Coffee with Rachel Yoshimura
Thank you Rachel Yoshimura of Jesus Drinks Coffee for hosting Dusty Breeding for a conversation about faith and finances. How do we faithfully steward our finances while also ensuring money doesn’t become our master? In this episode Dusty Breeding and I talk about discerning the “why” behind our financial desires, how to practically start being wise with our money, and more.
Goal-Setting Workshop Recap
Thanks so much to everyone who came out for our goal-setting workshop at Made West Brewery! We had a great crew come out to sip some quality brews and connect with other likeminded go-getters. See you next time!
In-Person Goal Setting Workshop in Ventura, CA
Grab a date or ride solo for a goal setting workshop on Thursday, February 16th, from 7-9PM at MadeWest Brewing Company in Ventura, CA.
Open to anyone in the Ventura, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles area who likes beer and wants to set goals. Or just wants to set goals. Or just likes beer.
Podcast Appearance: Persistence Culture Podcast | Special Guests Dusty and Cecily Breeding
Thank you to Persistence Culture podcast for inviting us to be your guests on EPISODE 100! We cover topics from the big lessons we learned in a graveyard in Paris, why we think everyone needs therapy, and the CrossFit workouts we hate the most.
7 Habits Training
Over the past three days, I've participated in a FranklinCovey 7 Habits of Highly Effective People training course in partnership with the US Army. As the Army values building individual resilience, growth, and development, they have partnered up with FranklinCovey to offer training to chaplains throughout the military. Stephen Covey's landmark book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was released in 1989 and has gone on to sell over 40 million copies around the world. It is regarded as one of the most successful books in history; it is a NYT Bestseller, and it has been called the most influential business book of the 21st century. High praise for a book filled with “simple” concepts.
Free Workshop: Beyond Bouncing Back
Wed, September 28, 2022, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PDT on Zoome
Resilience is often defined as the ability to bounce back from a difficulty and is a critical tool in the workplace and in life. But new research in post-traumatic growth suggests that individuals and employees have the capacity to do more than simply endure difficult times. In this session, Dusty will argue that adversity is not merely something to survive but can be a critical catalyst for growth. Attendees will leave with practical tools to help them face adversity in their own life as well as lead others through turbulent times.