Travis Bell’s Post

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, stress often creeps in, affecting our mental and physical well-being. But what if I told you that just five minutes of laughter could be the antidote to stress? Yes, you read that right—laughter, the universal language of joy, holds incredible power backed by science to alleviate stress. When we laugh, our brain releases endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals. These endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain. Moreover, laughter reduces the level of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which are notorious for wreaking havoc on our bodies when present in excess. Furthermore, laughter boosts our immune system by increasing the production of antibodies and activating immune cells. It improves blood flow, leading to better cardiovascular health. Not to mention, the act of laughing fosters social connections, strengthens relationships, and enhances our overall quality of life. So, how can you harness the power of laughter in just five minutes? Simple! Watch a funny video, recall a humorous memory, or engage in light-hearted banter with a friend. Embrace the joyous moments, and let laughter be your medicine for stress relief. Remember, a hearty laugh not only lightens your load but also brightens your day and uplifts your spirit. Embrace laughter, and watch your stress melt away! Irwin Barker was a great comedian and better human.  He always took time for us newbies in comedy.  His humour was relatable, funny, and clean.  RIP Irwin. https://lnkd.in/gv3EX2-F #stress #laughter #irwinbarker #standupcomedy #fridayfunny

This week's Mindset Made Simple Tip! Stop Calling Your Team a Family…Unless You Do This! Watch or listen: https://lnkd.in/g-rAzztz Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gp-5839H #ssbmindset #mentalperformance #peakperformance #mentalperformancecoach #mindsetmatters #ssbperformance #family

Men, let’s talk. Not the same old mental health clichés, but the real, unfiltered conversation you’ve been waiting for. This one’s for every bloke who’s felt misunderstood, overwhelmed, or fed up with the standard advice. In this raw and honest chat, comedian Dave Chawner and I dig deep into what really matters for men’s mental health—no sugar-coating, no fluff. Why You Need to Watch: 🔹 Crying Isn’t Always the Answer: Ever feel like “just talk about it” doesn’t quite cut it? We’re breaking down why different blokes need different tools—and why it’s okay if tears aren’t your thing. 🔹 Humour as a Lifeline: Dave opens up about his battle with anorexia and how humour helped him take back control. Mental health isn’t just about surviving—it’s about finding your way to thrive. 🔹 Manly Solutions: Whether it’s wild camping, racing motorbikes, or smashing crockery with a baseball bat (yes, that’s a thing!), we’re talking about unconventional ways to keep your head straight. 🔹 Straight Talk on Suicide: Society often gets it wrong. We’re challenging the misconceptions and focusing on how we can change minds before it’s too late. 🔹 A Laugh When You Need It: Sometimes, all you need is a good laugh. Trust us, the story about Dan’s pug, Geraldine, is worth it. 👉 Don’t just watch—get involved! Hit like if you agree, drop a comment with your thoughts, and share this with a mate who needs to hear it. Let’s make this the conversation that gets men talking for real. No tokenism. No BS. Just the honest truth. Watch now and be part of the change#manupstigma #mensmentalhealth https://lnkd.in/e8aVqgGW

Time waits for no man (or, time is a human construct that evolved as consciousness to process an unbearable amount of information, serving as an event threshold for experience – dealer's choice where you want to go this morning), and here we are on Accountability Friday yet again. I sincerely hope your week was lighter than mine, which has been dotted with funerals, delivery of hard truths to good people, and lots of rain (and thus, few long walks). I'm a bit worn thin at the moment. My projects didn't come to a screeching halt this week, but they didn't exactly take leaps forward, either. I worked on Pennhollow 4 out of 7 days, made some really good progress on some legal products we're developing, did manage to play some sad-boy acoustic guitar. I want to temper my expectations for this upcoming week. I'm going to be flying solo with McNugget as my wife will be out of town for a business trip. I never like to see her go, but it used to be that I got a lot of stuff done when she was gone. I doubt her absence will have the same effect with a 2.5-month-old to care for. The photo today depicts the reason this Accountability Friday post is a little late. You are smart, so I'll let you extrapolate. So my goal for next week is survival. I will be recording an episode of Sonder Union and I have a new creative project I'm getting ready to launch. I'd like to get that put into the world by our next check in, but I'm going to try to do the hardest thing for me to do: give myself some grace. My friends! How are your projects coming? We have folks working on poetry, children's books, crime fiction! We have folks beginning LinkedIn journeys and painting wonderful pieces! Share your good news and/or woes!

We often yell at ourselves to stop it. Stop worrying about the kids. Stop obsessing about the project. Stop eating carbs. Stop being so critical. If that strategy is working for you, please keep it. If it's not working, notice why. Notice how it feels in your mind and in your body. Want to try a different strategy? Try telling yourself to start it. Start timing how often you worry. Make it a worry game. Give yourself a certain amount of time a day to worry and play the game! Start writing about what you can control and what you can't on that project. Start eating a bunch more protein and see if you still want more carbs. Start practicing gratitude and appreciation for what you have now. Bonus: Start doing 5 minutes of metta meditation every day! Yelling at yourself to stop it doesn't work. That's why therapists and coaches lose their mind about this funny video. OMG, I think about it all the time and crack up. Probably the worst teaching strategy ever is telling a student to stop saying "um." Start today. Start doing something you want to do. Start giving yourself compassion. Start giving yourself grace. Start noticing your common humanity. Start laughing a lot more. https://lnkd.in/gvcJqPpd

Our society refuses to accept that some things cannot be fixed or that specific pains are never healed. We’ve grown accustomed to learning to coexist with our struggles, yet that’s not synonymous with everything magically falling into place. No one gravitates towards a narrative where the protagonist remains in perpetual agony at the conclusion. We’re drawn to stories of triumph, where, against all odds, perseverance prevails. We confront challenges head-on, refusing to let setbacks define us. Our actual or fictional icons epitomize courage in the face of adversity. The antagonists, the disillusioned characters, refuse to transform their suffering. Ours is a culture of resilience. Misfortunes occur, yet we emerge stronger. These are the narratives we propagate, but they’re misleading. To tell a survivor they’re better off for enduring is to belittle their heartbreak. In October, I gave an interview, with Shari Alyse with Good Morning Joy, marking a significant milestone in my healing process. I’ve traversed a considerable distance, reaching a point where I can view my past abuse as a chapter in my life’s narrative. However, this newfound perspective also compelled me to strike a delicate balance and acknowledge those who haven’t reached this point in their healing process. I recognize I haven’t yet reached the finish line of healing, and perhaps I never will. This realization doesn’t signify negativity or a refusal to move forward; it reflects my ongoing learning journey to embrace and own my story. I hope sharing my experiences can offer comfort and support to others navigating similar paths.

A Morning Reflection on Gratitude 🎶 One of my favorite morning routine steps is my gratitude practice. For me, “Father and Son” isn’t just a song between a father and son—it’s a father-child conversation that resonates deeply. With three kids, my thoughts often drift toward them when I reflect on gratitude. And let’s be honest, getting into that grateful state just works better with the right music. 🎶 When it comes to songs that make you feel thankful for being a parent, nothing compares to this one. There’s a magic in it, a gentle exchange of wisdom between two voices—one grounded in the lessons of the past, the other hungry to explore the future. The father offers his careful advice, while the son, eager and restless, listens but cannot yet understand. As a parent, this feels so familiar. We guide, we share, and we watch as our children grow, carving their own paths. The song reminds me that the journey of parenting is about both leading and letting go, about appreciating the moments where we’re the guide, and equally, the moments where we step back to let them explore the world for themselves. 🌅 My current health transformation journey has cut down my working hours, so I’ve been less active here. But everything has to balance out when the goal is a balanced sleep routine, with early mornings followed by a gratitude practice. It’s all part of the process to gain more energy to do more in fewer hours. The stakes are super high when the goal is to build a company that can perpetually contribute more than $1M to the InfoTrust Foundation. While raising children who know they are still my #1 priority—and having the energy to make them feel like they are the #1 priority. This has to start with abundant energy, and energy starts with waking up in a state of gratitude. What is your morning routine? 🌻 #Gratitude #FatherAndSon #ParentingJourney #MorningRoutine #PersonalEnergy

Uncover the mystery of whether she is a ghost. Our website offers insights, tales, and expert opinions on the existence of spirits and their encounters. https://lnkd.in/gDVaQVYm

Strengthen Your Nervous System…..

"More Power to the Shields" When we put up our guard, our shields, our fortified walls, then the energy to keep them in place has to come from somewhere. Its takes emotional vigor to keep our heart safe behind our walls. We steel ourselves to keep our life support at acceptable levels. But we are in a battle—a battle for our very lives. (Excerpt from "Loving God, Loving Myself") From behind our walls of protection, we may often feel "God connects with others, but not with me'" or "I know God's here, but I can't feel his love." You may find yourself being more defensive—blaming others or being harder on yourself, or emotionally insulating your heart, or projecting a "false self" to avoid rejection or hurt. The disturbing part about walls is that they do not just go away by growing up or finding your soul mate or getting a great job. The walls were erected a long time ago when you needed to protect yourself from the pain, fear, loss, or loneliness that is still stuffed down inside. At one time the walls were a help to you, but unfortunately the shields will no longer work in your favor as an adult. In these two short video clips, we ask the questions, "How do I climb over my loved one's wall of shame?" and "How do I break down my own defensive mechanisms?" Both require the same response from the person behind the shield—Surrender. (No more power to the shields). If you aren't currently receiving these posts in your email inbox and would like to do so, or if you would like to view our prior posts, click here to go to our blog: https://bit.ly/3kmnsVM. Click here or on the image below to view the videos mentioned above: https://bit.ly/3WTDQBU