The Aliveness Mindset with Jack Craven

In this episode of The Happiness Practices, Phil Gerbyshak sits down with Jack Craven, author of The Aliveness Mindset, to explore what it truly means to live a life of passion, purpose, and joy. They delve into the seven core mindsets that form the foundation of Jack's philosophy and discuss practical steps to cultivate a more fulfilling life. Jack shares personal stories of transformation, actionable strategies for embracing aliveness, and how to overcome common obstacles like fear, perfectionism, and the inner critic.

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Key Takeaways:

• Aliveness Mindset Defined:

  • Jack describes the Aliveness Mindset as a holistic approach to living "all in." This mindset is about being fully committed to what matters most and aligning personal, professional, and community priorities with a sense of purpose and joy.

• The Importance of Ownership:

  • Jack opens up about his journey toward ownership, beginning with a personal story of burnout while running a family business. He discusses the powerful shift that came when he started taking responsibility for his own happiness, leading to greater personal freedom and fulfillment.

• Confronting the Inner Critic:

  • Both Jack and Phil talk about the pervasive nature of the inner critic and the power of shifting toward an "inner coach." Jack shares techniques to develop a kinder, more supportive internal dialogue that can be a game-changer in both personal and professional settings.

• Seven Core Mindsets of Aliveness:

  • Jack details the seven mindsets that form the basis of his philosophy: Ownership, Openness, Awareness, Authenticity, Courage, Tenacity, and Love.

  • Ownership: Taking full responsibility for one’s life and outcomes.

  • Openness: Approaching life with curiosity and an open heart.

  • Awareness: The foundation of change, enabling a clearer understanding of patterns, behaviors, and emotions.

  • Authenticity: Living true to oneself without imposing judgment on others.

  • Courage: Embracing challenges head-on and learning from them.

  • Tenacity: The resilience needed to push through difficulties and setbacks.

  • Love: Showing love not just through words, but by being present and attentive to others.

• The Power of Self-Talk:

  • Jack emphasizes how critical self-talk is for personal growth and happiness. He encourages listeners to replace negative self-talk with affirmations, modeled after how one’s best mentors would speak. This reframing helps build confidence and resilience.

• Anchoring Mindsets for Daily Practice:

  • Jack shares his "anchoring mindsets"—traits he embodies daily: play, connect, learn, and impact. He explains how anchoring these traits helps cultivate consistent aliveness.

• Strategies for Overcoming Fear and Building Courage:

  • Jack discusses how he draws inspiration from courageous individuals throughout history, such as Ernest Shackleton, and how witnessing others' bravery can help reframe personal fears into more manageable challenges.

• Living Authentically:

  • Jack and Phil explore what it means to be truly authentic without being overbearing. Jack offers advice on aligning words and actions with an open heart, ensuring that interactions are both genuine and compassionate.

• The Role of Love in Aliveness:

  • Love, as Jack defines it, isn’t limited to personal relationships but extends to professional settings through acts of attentiveness and empathy. He encourages listeners to give their full attention as a form of love, which fosters deeper connections at work and in life.

• Getting Started with the Aliveness Mindset:

  • Jack recommends starting by reflecting on past moments of feeling truly alive and identifying traits that made those experiences special. He suggests incorporating small, intentional actions each day to increase aliveness incrementally.

Quotes from the Episode:

• "It’s a lot easier to change yourself than it is to change the rest of the world." – Jack Craven

• "Self-compassion is not a weakness; it’s the foundation of sustainable growth." – Jack Craven

• "Awareness is the first step to change." – Jack Craven

• "Courage is needed when you’re in fear—it’s the push you need to take that extra step forward." – Jack Craven

Resources Mentioned:

• Books:

  • The Aliveness Mindset by Jack Craven

  • The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Diana Chapman and Jim Dethmer

  • Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks

  • The Expectation Effect by David Robson

  • Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff

• Authors/Researchers:

  • Carol Dweck, Ethan Kross, Jim Loehr

• Jack’s Website: JackCraven.com - Learn more about the Aliveness Mindset, join the newsletter, and get a copy of the book.

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How to Connect with Jack Craven:

• Website: JackCraven.com

• LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/JackCraven1

• Newsletter: Sign up at JackCraven.com for exclusive content, resources, and insights on living with aliveness.