Enjoy this replay of our October 2026 Zoom chat with the Team Ripples Patreon Community.

We followed our usual format:

pebble (a resource that I've found useful in my work or life)

boulder (and activity I'm using personally or professionally)

ponder (a collection of information and ideas I've been pondering)

You can also watch the video replay here: https://youtu.be/tfMcZK2s-kM

PEBBLE (resource)

Read Your Color: Discover Your Reading Type and Build a Life-Changing Love of Books, by Steven J. Reese

BOULDER (activity)

I found these three questions over several months from a variety of sources, I gradually combined them into a trifecta of curiosity that has been helping me respond a little more wisely to situations that might otherwise derail me.

What is this? (Ezra Klein)

Is this useful? (Dan Harris on Rachel Martin)

What’s here now that I’m not already noticing? (Jeff Warren)

PONDER

1. SIDE QUESTS. Coach Colene’s Monday Morning Peptalk talked about Side Quests and I really liked that term.
2. HOUSE HUSHING. a simple method for decluttering that focuses on quickly turning down the visual volume of a room. to hush a room, simply remove the small decorative and everyday items. Smith recommends placing them in another room — she calls it “your holding area” — for 24 to 48 hours. Then, for the next day or two, simply “enjoy your hushed room. At first it will look weird, but after a few hours you’ll find yourself enjoying the more quiet and simplified space.”
3. VPAs: SHORT BURSTS. short bursts of exercise make a huge difference. VPA (vigorous physical activity) is different than HIIT (high intensity interval training)
4. MUSITATION. Using music to escape your negative thought loops..choose pleasant, uplifting or calming music; synchronize your breath (inhale 4 beats, exhale 6-9 beats); focus the attention on music, following phrases, harmonies, emotional arcs OR use affirmations like breathe, relax, let it flow. Emotionally shifting playlist: start with music that MATCHES your mood, then play a series of songs that gradually shift you into a more upbeat mood. (if you’re in a good mood, you can just play some music to help associate that music with a positive state)
5. BRIGHT Six step plan to combat cyberbullying (from middle schooler)

Block: Block the bully online to create distance

Report: Report the bully to the online platform

Ignore: Don’t respond, and distract yourself with other activities

Get an adult: Tell a trusted adult what’s happening so they can give you advice

Hotline: If you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide, connect with a hotline like stopbullying.gov or Crisis Text Line

Tech break: Log off and do things that don’t involve technology

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Colene Elridge — known to many as Coach Colene — is a speaker, writer, and success coach on a mission to help people and organizations create better work and better lives. She and I met 10 years ago at a conference we both spoke at, and have been good friends ever since. Our conversation was a blast!

PEBBLE

Colene's Monday Morning Pep Talks are in the same vein as Ripples, and I'm telling you, they are awesome! They are the only other weekly email that I consistently save nuggets from! You can sign up for them at her website.

To sign up for Coach Colene’s Monday Morning Pep Talk emails, visit her website.

Her book is pretty awesome, too: Read This When...: Pep Talks For When You're (Barely) Holding It Together

BOULDER

Here’s the question that Colene spends 45-ish minutes journaling each quarter:

“If I were my Best, Most Empowered, Happiest Self, what would I be doing?”

PONDER:

She mentioned two books that have had a profound impact: Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, and Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons

We also talked about the Just Record app for iPhone/Apple Watch/MacOS. (Yes, it's $4.99. Yes, it's worth it!)

Here are the conversations decks that I pulled questions from:

Holstee Reflection Cards


Basecamp Cards (apparently no longer available)

BoredWalk Delve Deck

BestSelf Conversation Decks

A huge thank you to the members of the Team Ripples Patreon Community who make these possible. When it feels like your turn to help keep the Ripples flowing freely, join us and get behind the scenes access and more contact with The Ripples Guy!

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Sherry Belul is a writer, gift maker, and life coach who gets excited about helping people find creative, intentional, and impactful ways to celebrate life and to express love for family and friends. Among her many gifts to the world, Sherry is the author of Say it Now: 33 Creative Ways to Say I Love You to the Most Important People in Your Life, and most recently, The Love List of a Lifetime: Your Essential End-Of-Life Planner.

We also mentioned Postagram.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/ripples.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.