Stillness in the Storms

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukI'm diving into a big question today: if I'm feeling grateful and content, can I still dream for more? It's a real paradox, right? I'm exploring whether wanting more means I'm not happy with what I already have. I got some great feedback from last week's chat about happiness, which got me thinking about this idea of contentment versus ambition. So, let's dig into this together and see how we can balance feeling grateful for now while still dreaming for a brighter future.It is a really interesting question, one I have grappled with for some time. If we are truly grateful and content with everything we have and our lives as they are, then is it painful and wrong to want more?Gratitude and dreams often feel like they’re on opposite sides of a seesaw, don’t they? In this podcast, we dive into this big question: Can you be super grateful for what you have and still dream about more? It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff, looking down at both sides. On one hand, we’ve got contentment, that cozy feeling of being okay with our lives as they are. On the other, there’s that itch to reach for more, to push boundaries and aim higher. We share a touching email from Amanda, who wonders if being content might stop us from dreaming big. It’s a thought-provoking chat that challenges us to think about where we draw the line between appreciating the now and chasing future goals.Throughout the conversation, we reflect on the paradox of happiness. We can find joy in the mundane, and yet, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t aspire for bigger things. Sometimes, wanting more can actually inspire us and lead to personal growth. We share stories from our own lives, including my journey from meditation coach to mayor of Truro, illustrating how striving for more can coexist with gratitude. It’s about understanding that happiness isn’t tied to what we have or don’t have, but rather how we relate to our desires and aspirations.In the end, we emphasize the importance of being present while still allowing ourselves to dream. It’s not about sacrificing one for the other; it’s about finding balance. Through this lens, we explore how our desires can enrich our lives and encourage us to connect more deeply with our current reality. So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and let’s navigate this intricate dance between gratitude and ambition together!Takeaways: In this episode, we explore the balance between feeling content and dreaming about more. We discuss how happiness is often found in the ordinary moments of life, not just big events. It's important to recognize that wanting more doesn't mean you're not grateful for what you have. Being content now is key to happiness; dreaming should not overshadow your present joy. We reflect on how attachment can lead to suffering and how to find peace in the moment. True contentment comes from understanding and accepting life as it is, not just what we want.

A thoughtful dive into why chasing happiness often backfires. Conversations about fleeting highs from promotions, relationships, and gadgets. A look at finding calm in everyday chores and ordinary routines. A warning about social media’s glossy highlights and a simple metaphor about how pursuit can push happiness away.

A reflective look at what we are truly searching for in life. Short tales about chasing quietness, comfort, and belonging. Honest talk on masculinity, identity, and living with disability. Stories of losing, rediscovering, and learning to be authentic. An invitation to show up openhearted and focus on what you love.

A reflective chat about non‑physical strength like resilience, forgiveness, and emotional flexibility. He shares leadership challenges from becoming mayor and reframes disability as a source of adaptive strength. Listening, forgiving, and turning weaknesses into wisdom get spotlighted. The conversation invites you to notice and celebrate hidden, quiet capacities that help you navigate change.

Today, I want to share my experience of stepping into my role as the mayor of Truro. It’s day two, and let me tell you, it’s been a whirlwind. I had this nervous feeling in my stomach before a public meeting, but I pushed through it. I messed up my speech, and you know what? Nobody really cared. What really matters is that we all face our fears and step up to make a difference, no matter how messy it gets. I also dive into the idea of reconnecting with our inner child, reminding us to embrace joy and curiosity as we navigate life. So, let’s chat about how we can keep that seven-year-old spirit alive while tackling the challenges ahead.Day 2 of being #MayorOfTruro, I wanted to share a podcast of how I'm feeling. And I am really feeling alive as if I am that 7-year-old child again with the wisdom and experience of life.Stepping into the role of mayor in Truro, Cornwall has been a wild ride for me. Just two days in, I woke up with that uneasy feeling in my stomach, probably something I ate. The thought of speaking in front of everyone at a public meeting was nerve-wracking. But you know what? I pushed through that fear. Sure, I fumbled my speech a few times and felt like everyone was watching, but in reality, nobody cared. People are more interested in seeing us take action than in our slip-ups. It’s about stepping up and making a difference, and that’s what I want to talk about today.We’re all in this together, and I really believe we’re more alike than we think. Everyone is just trying to improve their lives in their own way, whether that’s through Netflix, food, or other means. It’s important to remember that when we judge others, we’re often looking at parts of ourselves we’re uncomfortable with. Understanding this helps us to be more compassionate and less critical. I also had a chat with a BBC guy about stoicism, and he reminded me of a Carl Jung quote about even the rotten potato sprouting towards the sun. We all have struggles, and it’s those very struggles that connect us.Today, I’m going into a meeting about neighborhood planning with fellow councillors, and I can’t help but feel like a kid on a school trip. It’s exciting to be involved, even if I’m not sure what to do yet. But that’s okay. Embracing my inner seven-year-old is the key. That childlike wonder and enthusiasm are what we need to approach life with. So, what does your inner child want? Let’s make sure we listen to that voice and incorporate that joy and curiosity into our lives, while also using our grown-up wisdom to guide us. This is a journey, and I’m thrilled to have you along for the ride.Takeaways: Being mayor of Truro is a wild ride, and I feel both excited and terrified. Even when I mess up, like during speeches, nobody really cares as much as I do. We all share struggles, and it's important to remember that we are all the same. Embracing our inner child can help us see the world with wonder and enthusiasm. It's okay to feel afraid, but we must step forward and face our fears. We should hold each other accountable in our roles, aiming for better service for Truro.

A reflective dive into whether we can genuinely feel love for strangers. Personal stories about growing up without verbal affection set the scene. The conversation explores seeing shared struggles beneath surface differences. Practical prompts invite recognizing yourself in others to foster compassion and reduce judgment.

A candid look at the modern pressure cooker of life, from anxiety and overwhelm to stress. Personal stories about disability, new roles, and mobility upgrades set the scene. Practical moments on noticing early signs of overwhelm and creating space to avoid reactive patterns. Uplifting positive-news snippets and a nature-based meditation metaphor punctuate the conversation.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukI asked my Twitter followers: What would you teach the world? And the results were amazing, so brilliant I had to do a podcast going through them. I want to thank everybody that replied, sorry I did not get to everybody's answer but there will be more opportunities in the future.positive.news

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukWe are living through the richest period of human history, and we are having to teach people to be grateful for what they have. Perhaps there is a better way, perhaps we should just stock-take every 12 months of everything we have.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukEverybody wants to be happy, I don't think anybody apart from the odd joke would ever say they don't want to be happy. But is it really a choice, it is something that we can choose to be or is it something to do with our genes or maybe by choosing we are making ourselves even more unhappy?