July 15, 2025 • 26 mins
🌀 What if the truth you've been chasing has been ringing like a bell on your back the whole time?
In this deep-dive episode, Rusty and Erica take you to the sapphire stillness of Belize’s Inland Blue Hole—and into the quiet spaces of your own awareness. From a jungle plunge to the parable of the Bell Thief, this episode explores how insight really works: not as a lightning bolt, but as a lantern lit in the places you’d rather not look.
🎧 Inside this episode:
- Why smart people struggle most with self-awareness
- The “Insight Compass” and how to use it (spoiler: feedback is North, and denial is West)
- How to turn blind spots into breakthroughs
- A powerful coaching challenge to invite real feedback
- Why your patterns aren’t personality—they’re unexamined playlists
You’ll laugh. You’ll wince. You’ll probably see yourself in a few too-honest metaphors involving maracas, sourdough, and spiritual salads.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about choosing to see—clearly, bravely, and on purpose.
The Latitude Adjustment: Insight with flip-flops. Growth with a grin.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Imagine this. You're standing waist deep in
the sapphire waters of Belize's inland Blue Hole.
The jungle canopy forms a cathedral overhead, and the
limestone cliffs around you echothe quiet with holy precision.
The water is mountain cold, breathtakingly blue and still as
(00:23):
a secret. It doesn't feel like you're
swimming. It feels like you're floating
inside a truth you haven't namedyet.
You didn't come here to think, but here you are.
No phone, no headlines, no To DoList, just breath, phone.
And the big question you've beenavoiding, What am I not seeing?
(00:44):
Welcome to the latitude adjustment.
It's time to stop drifting and start navigating by your own
inner compass. The life you're looking for
isn't out there. It's in motion right now.
Get ready to step off the map with your hosts, Erica and Rusty
Harrison. Welcome back, Wanderers.
You're listening to The LatitudeAdjustment, an aging heroes
(01:06):
podcast. I'm Erica.
And I'm rusty, and this week we're diving deep.
Literally and metaphorically. Into the cool, clear waters of
insight. This is episode 12 Develop
Insight, and it's inspired by that unforgettable day we took
the Hummingbird Highway from SanIgnacio to Placencia.
(01:29):
Road dances. It curves through citrus Groves
and villages that smell like wood smoke and lime.
That sounds like something I just want to take a little DAP
with my finger and kind of put right behind my right ear.
Our driver Julio pulled off halfway and said time to cool
the spirit and next thing we knew we were standing on the
(01:52):
edge of that beautiful blue hole.
No, I'm not saying it was cold, but that water hit me like a tax
audit. Unexpected, humbling, and hard
to explain to strangers. That's right.
But the stillness of it, that was a real shock.
Quiet like it had a secret to tell.
And that's how insight shows up.Not when you're showboating.
(02:13):
Not when you're busy arguing with your ego.
It arrives when the world slows down just enough to whisper,
hey, pay attention. Day 11 of A Guide for Aging
Heroes starts with the story of the Bell Thief.
Do you remember him? Sure.
He steals a huge bell and hauls it away on his back.
The bell rings with every step, but instead of putting it down,
(02:37):
the thief just stuffs his ears with cloth so he can't hear it.
The frontline, of course, is that everyone else still hears
it. He's not fooling anyone but
himself, right? It's like trying to sneak off
the dance floor while wearing maracas.
One word impossible. You think you're being subtle,
but your issues are doing the also behind you.
(03:00):
That's how insight works. You can plug your ears, cross
your arms, but if you're dragging something loud and
clanky behind you, believe me, people are going to hear it.
We all have our bells. For me it was anger.
You have anger. I swore I was calm and easygoing
until I almost got thrown out ofthe movie theater for going off
(03:23):
on a guy who was throwing popcorn at Erica.
You weren't angry, Rusty, You were possessed.
Like if someone had brought out a priest, I'd have let them
tried. Here is a truth coconut to crack
open. Smart people struggle the most
with insight. I wonder why that is?
Because smart people think thinking harder will fix us.
(03:46):
But you can't logic your way into transformation.
You have to listen your way in. Insight is asking what's it like
to be on the other side of me? Yeah, and spoiler, it's not
always a beach day with a cold drink and steal drums.
Sometimes it's a Category 4 emotional hurricane with
(04:09):
unprocessed childhood baggage asthe eye of the storm.
When I floated in that blue hole, I thought, this water
knows who I am. And I don't mean the Instagram
version of me. I mean the me I don't post
about. Clarity doesn't always arrive
with a parade. Sometimes it tip toes in
(04:29):
barefoot, holding a flashlight and a bucket of cold water for
your illusions. OK, so we met this guy in
Placencia named Edmund. I remember Edmund.
Cool. Yeah, he was this kind of wise
old beach philosopher. Totally.
He said something I'll never forget.
What was that? He said insight doesn't flatter
(04:50):
you, it frees you. But first, it slaps you in the
face like a flying fish at low tide.
Exactly. It's not always beautiful.
Sometimes insight shows up with messy hair and a truth you've
been dodging since like 1996. My first real one came when a
doctor told me my depression might be medical.
(05:12):
I laughed it off. I have coping strategies.
Yes, I had, you know, denial. But there it was, that ringing
bell, patterns that didn't go away.
Coping that wasn't coping. When something keeps showing up
in your life like it's on a cruise ship itinerary, that's a
clue. All right, let's give a quick
(05:34):
recap here, OK. So far today, we stripped it
back. We dipped into cold water, told
the story of the bell thief, andreminded ourselves that insight
isn't a Ted Talk. It's a tide.
And sometimes it rolls when you least expect it.
Coming up in Segment 2, we'll get practical.
How do you actually develop insight when you've been
(05:57):
stuffing your ears with coconut husks and calling it confidence?
We've got your Insight, Compass and an Aging Heroes challenge
coming up. It might sting a little, but it
might just set you free. All righty, the heroes.
(06:23):
We floated in the Blue Hole. We heard the bell thiefs
warning. We've admitted that just because
we can't hear the ringing doesn't mean our issues aren't
clinging down the beach like a drunk steel drummer.
Now it's time to get practical. Let's open up the insight
compass. So.
(06:44):
Insight isn't a lightning bolt, it's a Lantern, and most of the
time that Lantern gets lit when we slow down long enough to ask
the questions we usually dodge. Like what am I pretending not to
know? Where do people walk on egg
shells around me? Where does my life feel like?
(07:05):
Rinse, repeat. Regret.
Colada. Those are the map makers,
Amigos. Inside doesn't come gift wrapped
in enlightenment. You develop it like a muscle
like rhythm, like the kind of island dance that shakes loose
your blind spots and your dignity if you're not careful.
Let's talk about the four directions of the Insight
(07:28):
Compass. So we've got a compass. 4
points. No jungle machete required here,
just a willingness to stop stuffing your ears with those
coconut husks and calling it confidence.
Many indigenous cultures use thefour directions to anchor
spiritual practices. Here's how we can use them to
(07:49):
gain insight. North feedback from the front
lines. North is where you ask someone
who knows you how they actually experience you, not how you
intend to come across how you docome across.
This ain't your performance review or your grandmother
telling you you're her special little mango.
(08:10):
Not that. We mean raw, awkward, beautiful
feedback. Like do I bulldoze in
conversations? As Rusty looks at me, is that
possible? I do that.
Erica, me. Do I always need to be right?
Oh, there was a mirror back to myself.
Do I suck the joy out of meetings like a sand flea at
(08:32):
sunset? OK, there's a little reprieve
for both. For both things.
Yeah. So ask, breathe, don't flinch.
That's North. East is all about patterns.
You keep dating the same heartbreak in a different shirt,
getting fired because your passion keeps being labeled
insubordination. That's no fate.
No, that's your playlist. Right.
(08:55):
Same argument, same ending, sameapology.
If it feels like life's on a loop, congratulations, you found
your personal remix. Now grab a pen and map it.
That's east, where the sun riseson your repeating storylines.
South values versus behavior. Now let's head South.
(09:18):
Time to look in the mirror. What do you say you value and
what do your actions actually show?
You say you value peace, but your group text read like
courtroom transcripts. You say you prioritize health,
but your Fitbit thinks you're ina medically induced nap.
It's not about shame, it's aboutalignment.
(09:41):
Insight lives in the gap betweenwhat we preach and what we
practice. West, what you've been avoiding.
Now we're on West, the land of the setting sun and that dusty
corner of your soul you've been sweeping stuff into since Y2K.
This is where you'll find the hard conversations, the
unprocessed grief, the relationship patterns that make
(10:04):
your therapist take a long, concerned sip of tea.
Avoidance isn't weakness, it's abreadcrumb trail to the stuff
that it still owns you. If you always swerve around it,
it's probably the very thing youneed to face.
Good stuff there. All right, here is I think it's
time for a challenge. This one, it takes courage and A
(10:33):
dash of humility, but it's goingto be worth it.
So this week, conduct what we call the Insight Interview.
This is a tough one y'all. Yeah, find one person.
Someone who knows your highs, your lows, and even your snack
door secrets. Then ask them these three
(10:54):
questions. Number one, what's it like to be
on the other side of me #2 wheredo you think I get in my own
way? And #3 what's 1 Blind spot I've
probably carried for years. All right, here's the kicker.
Kick it. You can't defend yourself.
(11:16):
No. Don't explain.
Don't pivot into how your ex ruined your trust issues.
Don't go there. Just listen.
Yes, just write. Just sit with it.
So important. Maybe laugh, maybe cry, but
don't deflect. This is sacred word.
It's true. Then what we want you to do is
(11:36):
grab your journal and answer. Where does this show up in my
life? What might I do do differently
and what's one small way I can shift this?
This is not a shame shower, it'sa spiritual rinse off.
A baptism with a little salt water and soul.
Hmm. Hallelujah.
(11:56):
You're not asking because you'rebroken, you're asking because
you're brave enough to evolve. Gosh, and that's where we want
to be. Here's what might bubble up that
you're more controlling than yourealized.
Could be possible? That your sarcasm is a shield,
Yes. That your kindness sometimes
wears the mask of silent resentment.
(12:19):
I'm sitting in our studio with my hand very transparently
raised in the air, just so you all can see it.
Or maybe, maybe your need to be liked keeps you exhausted.
Maybe your silence comes off as indifference.
Maybe your hustle is just you sprinting away from stillness.
(12:43):
Whatever it is, that's your bell.
Right. Do you hear it now?
Welcome to the beginning of Insight.
Love it. All right.
Segment 2 recap. Let's do it today.
Here is we handed you the insight compass NE South and
West, feedback patterns, behavior gaps, and the brave art
(13:06):
of not looking away. We invited you into the mirror
not because you're a mess, but because you're a masterpiece in
mid painting. Your Aging Heroes challenge the
insight interview. Ask, listen, reflect and be kind
to the you who's learning. Coming up next in segment 3,
(13:27):
we're heading into the real world.
How do we live with insight at work, in love at home without
turning into a self help mean? We're talking insight in action
with heart, humor, and humility.Welcome back, heroes.
(13:54):
So far we've floated in cold water, felt good, face the bell
thief within and walk the four directions of the inside
compass. Now comes the part nobody talks
about the daily practice. That's it.
Because insight without application.
That's just fancy wallpaper for your ego.
I love that. And ego doesn't need more
(14:18):
wallpaper. No, it needs a sledgehammer and
coconuts with extra humility. This segment's called Insight in
the village because it's one thing to have a breakthrough
while journaling under a mango tree.
As long as you don't get hit on the head.
It's another to remember it whenyour teenager rolls their eyes,
(14:40):
when your Co worker circles backor your partner asks.
Was that tone really necessary? Insight's real power shows up in
your calendar, your conversations, your cravings,
and your why did I just do that moments.
So let's bring it down from the mountain and into your living
room. No incense required.
(15:02):
Insight becomes transformation only through repetition.
Good, not drama. No, not crisis.
Definitely no. Repetition, yeah.
It's not. I saw my pattern once and now
I'm enlightened. It's more like I saw it, I named
it, forgot it, repeated it, caught it mid spin, tried a new
(15:24):
move, fell down, got up, laughedat myself and kept going.
Think of Insight like a sourdough starter.
You don't get a loaf in a day. No, you nurture it.
You feed it. It sounds like a pet.
You ignore it too long and it grows a weird film.
Definitely a pet, no? You scrape it off, you
apologize, and you keep on baking.
(15:45):
Insight isn't about being right,Erica.
It's about being real, honest, slightly sweaty, and willing to
adjust. All right, can I tell them
myself? Yeah, please do.
Public confessions are the protein of this podcast.
Oh. So while back I got feedback
that I tend to interrupt when I'm excited.
(16:06):
I knew this. Somebody told you that.
I'd coach people on this. I thought I had it in check.
Spoiler alert, he didn't. I was in a meeting classic zoom
with too many opinions situation.
Here it comes. Someone shared a thought I
disagreed with and I leapt in mid sentence like a dolphin
chasing approval. You thought you were
(16:28):
contributing, right? But your face said mutiny and
your tone said Nope. Here's the miracle.
I realized it in real time. That was the win.
For everyone not. That I was flawless, but that I
caught it and course corrected mid sentence.
That's what living insight lookslike.
(16:48):
Fewer perfect moments, more honest pivots.
Real growth is when you mess up and don't build a vacation home
in your shame spiral. Let's talk about the hardest
jungle relationships. The people you live with will
always be the best mirror and occasionally the loudest gongs.
Want to know your blind spots? Ask your spouse or your teenager
(17:12):
or your dog. They know.
They do insight at home might sound like, hey, I noticed I got
defensive just now. That's on me.
Or I've been emotionally Mia this week.
It's not you, it's me unpacking my own suitcase of just
weirdness. Your suitcase is bulging with
(17:35):
weirdness. And I love it.
It's not always neat, but it turns your into what we call a
growth Hut. Messy, honest, and full of
mosquito bites of wisdom. Damn it.
Doesn't sound great. Workplaces are like tropical
islands, lots of strange creatures trying to collaborate
without eating each other. If you've had a personal
(17:56):
insight, like realizing you tendto micromanage when you're
anxious, Erica, name it out loud.
Like hey y'all, I've realized I get bossy when I'm stressed.
Erica. I'm working on it.
Feel free to gently smack me with a virtual paddle if I do it
again. Or Rusty.
(18:16):
I used to assume silence meant agreement.
Turns out it meant everyone was actually waiting for me to shut
up. I'm learning.
Vulnerability is contagious. When you open up others follow
yes, then boom. You've got it.
Culture. Shift.
Try this in the morning. Write one sentence right.
What's one thing I would want todo differently today?
(18:39):
Then at night go with where did I get closer to who I want to
be? Keep it chill, this is homework.
I also keep an insight wall by my desk.
Sticky notes with truth bombs. I don't want to forget just
because life got loud. That's right, mine says just
because it's uncomfortable doesn't mean it's wrong.
(19:01):
Yours. Mine is breathe before you try
to be clever and don't interruptagain.
Want to deepen a friendship? Ask questions that invite
reflection. Like, what's something you've
learned about yourself this year?
What's a pattern you're ready tobreak?
What do you wish more people understood about you?
(19:21):
Most people are craving conversations that go beyond
weather and warranties. They're just waiting for someone
else to go first. That someone.
It's you, little coconut. Let's be honest, sometimes
insight hurts. Like when you realize you were
the storm, or that the thing you've clung to is what's been
(19:46):
sinking your boat. But that sting?
That's compost. It's where growth happens, not
just in the sunshine, but in themessy, humid jungle of the hard
stuff. So what we would suggest is
don't run, stay and ask what is this showing me about how I want
to live moving forward? This also sounds like deep
(20:10):
rooted courage. It does, yeah.
Once you really see it, you can't Unsee insight, right?
And that that's the beginning ofpeace.
It is of power and of presence. This feels like a good time for
a quick Segment 3 recap. So today we pulled insight out
of your journal and into your daily rhythm.
(20:31):
Into your home, your job and your coffee fueled Monday
meetings. We told you the truth about
messing up, making right and giving yourself grace in the
process. We handed you real tools to stay
grounded. Next up, segment 4 is where we
raise our cups, clink our metaphors, and make a toast to
(20:52):
the new eyes you're seeing with.It's the inside toast, and trust
us, it goes down smoother than rum on a porch swing.
Cheers to that. All right, heroes, let's lift
our coconuts. Or our coffee mug, or that
(21:16):
chipped World's Okiest Human cup.
We're not judging. We've earned this.
Not because we've reached enlightenment, but because we
finally looked in the mirror andwe didn't flinch.
We didn't flinch much, maybe blinked, maybe wins, maybe
whispered Whoa, I've got a wholesalad bar in my spiritual teeth.
(21:41):
Sexy. But we stayed.
We did. We saw it and we didn't turn
away. Here is This is your insight
toast. Because insight isn't just a
tool, it's a triumph, a decisionto see what's true even when it
steps on your favorite excuses and tracks mud across your
(22:03):
comfort zone. And.
When you toast that moment, whenyou name that hard won wisdom,
you anchor it, you carry it forward, you let it shape how
you move through the world like a spiritual GPS without the
bossy smug voice. We are toasting to every
listener who asked brave questions this week.
(22:24):
To the one who texted a friend and said what's it like to be on
the other side of me? To the one who finally faced
that pattern, They they've been two stepping since dial up
Internet and said not anymore. To the one who caught themselves
interrupting and didn't spiral but stayed present.
The one who finally said, maybe it's not the universe conspiring
(22:47):
against me, Maybe it's me. That's the moment insight
becomes power. That's not self help, that's
self honor. So cheers.
Here's your segment for recap. In this final segment, we didn't
throw more tools at you. We raised a glass.
We made space for clarity to feel like celebration, not
surgery. We reminded you that insight
(23:09):
isn't about perfection, it's about being honest and honesty
with yourself. That's the key to the whole damn
island. So should we keep a bottle of
inside Toast champagne on the boat?
I think we should. Pop it every time we name a
blind spot. Hey, I wonder what that would
get us. Who needs mimosas when you got
(23:31):
metaphors I? Know let's start a merch line.
Mugs that, say, may contain unflinching self reflection.
I'd wear that. And socks that say stepping into
my patterns. Matching journals, you know.
No more ghosting myself. We're building a brand here,
people. Let's build it.
Get that hammer nailed out. Episode 12 was about developing
(23:57):
insight. In this episode, that's right,
we started in the inland blue Hole of Belize, where we
remembered how stillness reveals, what noise hides.
That truth doesn't shout, it whispers.
And you've got to get quiet enough to hear.
It We also met the bell thief throughout this episode, a man
dragging a burden so loud he hadto plug his ears just to pretend
(24:21):
it wasn't there. We admitted we've all done that,
stuffed our years, avoided the ring, you know?
Segment 2 gave you the Insight Compass.
That's right. N was feedback, E patterns, S
values versus behavior and West,what you've been avoiding and we
dared you to take the Insight interview challenge.
(24:43):
That's a big deal, right? Takes a lot of courage.
Segment 3 took us home to the Village.
We talked about how to live insight in your kitchen, in your
office, in your converse, and how to show up differently again
and again. And here in Segment 4, we gave
you your toast cheers, your pause, your moment to say I see
(25:05):
it now and I'm walking forward alittle braver, a little clearer.
That's worth celebrating. If this episode hit your heart.
If it spoke to you, share it. Text a friend, tag us, and go
follow us on Instagram and Facebook at Aging Heroes.
You can also find our full tribeat www.agingheroes.com.
(25:30):
Next week, we shift gears because insight clears the fog.
But now it's time to turn the ignition.
Episode 13 is called Amp up yourIntellect.
I'm into that. We're diving into curiosity,
creativity, and how to keep yourbrain from becoming a dusty
(25:51):
bookshelf. It's a playful one.
Think thought experiments, brainsnacks, and sharpening your
inner machete without losing your joy.
Because here's the deal, once you see clearly, it's time to
think boldly and have some fun with it.
So until next time, until. Next.
Time keep asking, keep noticing,and keep adjusting that
(26:13):
latitude. We'll see you next time.
Imagine this. You're standing waist deep in
the sapphire waters of Belize's inland Blue Hole.
The jungle canopy forms a cathedral overhead, and the
limestone cliffs around you echothe quiet with holy precision.
The water is mountain cold, breathtakingly blue and still as
(00:23):
a secret. It doesn't feel like you're
swimming. It feels like you're floating
inside a truth you haven't namedyet.
You didn't come here to think, but here you are.
No phone, no headlines, no To DoList, just breath, phone.
And the big question you've beenavoiding, What am I not seeing?
(00:44):
Welcome to the latitude adjustment.
It's time to stop drifting and start navigating by your own
inner compass. The life you're looking for
isn't out there. It's in motion right now.
Get ready to step off the map with your hosts, Erica and Rusty
Harrison. Welcome back, Wanderers.
You're listening to The LatitudeAdjustment, an aging heroes
(01:06):
podcast. I'm Erica.
And I'm rusty, and this week we're diving deep.
Literally and metaphorically. Into the cool, clear waters of
insight. This is episode 12 Develop
Insight, and it's inspired by that unforgettable day we took
the Hummingbird Highway from SanIgnacio to Placencia.
(01:29):
Road dances. It curves through citrus Groves
and villages that smell like wood smoke and lime.
That sounds like something I just want to take a little DAP
with my finger and kind of put right behind my right ear.
Our driver Julio pulled off halfway and said time to cool
the spirit and next thing we knew we were standing on the
(01:52):
edge of that beautiful blue hole.
No, I'm not saying it was cold, but that water hit me like a tax
audit. Unexpected, humbling, and hard
to explain to strangers. That's right.
But the stillness of it, that was a real shock.
Quiet like it had a secret to tell.
And that's how insight shows up.Not when you're showboating.
(02:13):
Not when you're busy arguing with your ego.
It arrives when the world slows down just enough to whisper,
hey, pay attention. Day 11 of A Guide for Aging
Heroes starts with the story of the Bell Thief.
Do you remember him? Sure.
He steals a huge bell and hauls it away on his back.
The bell rings with every step, but instead of putting it down,
(02:37):
the thief just stuffs his ears with cloth so he can't hear it.
The frontline, of course, is that everyone else still hears
it. He's not fooling anyone but
himself, right? It's like trying to sneak off
the dance floor while wearing maracas.
One word impossible. You think you're being subtle,
but your issues are doing the also behind you.
(03:00):
That's how insight works. You can plug your ears, cross
your arms, but if you're dragging something loud and
clanky behind you, believe me, people are going to hear it.
We all have our bells. For me it was anger.
You have anger. I swore I was calm and easygoing
until I almost got thrown out ofthe movie theater for going off
(03:23):
on a guy who was throwing popcorn at Erica.
You weren't angry, Rusty, You were possessed.
Like if someone had brought out a priest, I'd have let them
tried. Here is a truth coconut to crack
open. Smart people struggle the most
with insight. I wonder why that is?
Because smart people think thinking harder will fix us.
(03:46):
But you can't logic your way into transformation.
You have to listen your way in. Insight is asking what's it like
to be on the other side of me? Yeah, and spoiler, it's not
always a beach day with a cold drink and steal drums.
Sometimes it's a Category 4 emotional hurricane with
(04:09):
unprocessed childhood baggage asthe eye of the storm.
When I floated in that blue hole, I thought, this water
knows who I am. And I don't mean the Instagram
version of me. I mean the me I don't post
about. Clarity doesn't always arrive
with a parade. Sometimes it tip toes in
(04:29):
barefoot, holding a flashlight and a bucket of cold water for
your illusions. OK, so we met this guy in
Placencia named Edmund. I remember Edmund.
Cool. Yeah, he was this kind of wise
old beach philosopher. Totally.
He said something I'll never forget.
What was that? He said insight doesn't flatter
(04:50):
you, it frees you. But first, it slaps you in the
face like a flying fish at low tide.
Exactly. It's not always beautiful.
Sometimes insight shows up with messy hair and a truth you've
been dodging since like 1996. My first real one came when a
doctor told me my depression might be medical.
(05:12):
I laughed it off. I have coping strategies.
Yes, I had, you know, denial. But there it was, that ringing
bell, patterns that didn't go away.
Coping that wasn't coping. When something keeps showing up
in your life like it's on a cruise ship itinerary, that's a
clue. All right, let's give a quick
(05:34):
recap here, OK. So far today, we stripped it
back. We dipped into cold water, told
the story of the bell thief, andreminded ourselves that insight
isn't a Ted Talk. It's a tide.
And sometimes it rolls when you least expect it.
Coming up in Segment 2, we'll get practical.
How do you actually develop insight when you've been
(05:57):
stuffing your ears with coconut husks and calling it confidence?
We've got your Insight, Compass and an Aging Heroes challenge
coming up. It might sting a little, but it
might just set you free. All righty, the heroes.
(06:23):
We floated in the Blue Hole. We heard the bell thiefs
warning. We've admitted that just because
we can't hear the ringing doesn't mean our issues aren't
clinging down the beach like a drunk steel drummer.
Now it's time to get practical. Let's open up the insight
compass. So.
(06:44):
Insight isn't a lightning bolt, it's a Lantern, and most of the
time that Lantern gets lit when we slow down long enough to ask
the questions we usually dodge. Like what am I pretending not to
know? Where do people walk on egg
shells around me? Where does my life feel like?
(07:05):
Rinse, repeat. Regret.
Colada. Those are the map makers,
Amigos. Inside doesn't come gift wrapped
in enlightenment. You develop it like a muscle
like rhythm, like the kind of island dance that shakes loose
your blind spots and your dignity if you're not careful.
Let's talk about the four directions of the Insight
(07:28):
Compass. So we've got a compass. 4
points. No jungle machete required here,
just a willingness to stop stuffing your ears with those
coconut husks and calling it confidence.
Many indigenous cultures use thefour directions to anchor
spiritual practices. Here's how we can use them to
(07:49):
gain insight. North feedback from the front
lines. North is where you ask someone
who knows you how they actually experience you, not how you
intend to come across how you docome across.
This ain't your performance review or your grandmother
telling you you're her special little mango.
(08:10):
Not that. We mean raw, awkward, beautiful
feedback. Like do I bulldoze in
conversations? As Rusty looks at me, is that
possible? I do that.
Erica, me. Do I always need to be right?
Oh, there was a mirror back to myself.
Do I suck the joy out of meetings like a sand flea at
(08:32):
sunset? OK, there's a little reprieve
for both. For both things.
Yeah. So ask, breathe, don't flinch.
That's North. East is all about patterns.
You keep dating the same heartbreak in a different shirt,
getting fired because your passion keeps being labeled
insubordination. That's no fate.
No, that's your playlist. Right.
(08:55):
Same argument, same ending, sameapology.
If it feels like life's on a loop, congratulations, you found
your personal remix. Now grab a pen and map it.
That's east, where the sun riseson your repeating storylines.
South values versus behavior. Now let's head South.
(09:18):
Time to look in the mirror. What do you say you value and
what do your actions actually show?
You say you value peace, but your group text read like
courtroom transcripts. You say you prioritize health,
but your Fitbit thinks you're ina medically induced nap.
It's not about shame, it's aboutalignment.
(09:41):
Insight lives in the gap betweenwhat we preach and what we
practice. West, what you've been avoiding.
Now we're on West, the land of the setting sun and that dusty
corner of your soul you've been sweeping stuff into since Y2K.
This is where you'll find the hard conversations, the
unprocessed grief, the relationship patterns that make
(10:04):
your therapist take a long, concerned sip of tea.
Avoidance isn't weakness, it's abreadcrumb trail to the stuff
that it still owns you. If you always swerve around it,
it's probably the very thing youneed to face.
Good stuff there. All right, here is I think it's
time for a challenge. This one, it takes courage and A
(10:33):
dash of humility, but it's goingto be worth it.
So this week, conduct what we call the Insight Interview.
This is a tough one y'all. Yeah, find one person.
Someone who knows your highs, your lows, and even your snack
door secrets. Then ask them these three
(10:54):
questions. Number one, what's it like to be
on the other side of me #2 wheredo you think I get in my own
way? And #3 what's 1 Blind spot I've
probably carried for years. All right, here's the kicker.
Kick it. You can't defend yourself.
(11:16):
No. Don't explain.
Don't pivot into how your ex ruined your trust issues.
Don't go there. Just listen.
Yes, just write. Just sit with it.
So important. Maybe laugh, maybe cry, but
don't deflect. This is sacred word.
It's true. Then what we want you to do is
(11:36):
grab your journal and answer. Where does this show up in my
life? What might I do do differently
and what's one small way I can shift this?
This is not a shame shower, it'sa spiritual rinse off.
A baptism with a little salt water and soul.
Hmm. Hallelujah.
(11:56):
You're not asking because you'rebroken, you're asking because
you're brave enough to evolve. Gosh, and that's where we want
to be. Here's what might bubble up that
you're more controlling than yourealized.
Could be possible? That your sarcasm is a shield,
Yes. That your kindness sometimes
wears the mask of silent resentment.
(12:19):
I'm sitting in our studio with my hand very transparently
raised in the air, just so you all can see it.
Or maybe, maybe your need to be liked keeps you exhausted.
Maybe your silence comes off as indifference.
Maybe your hustle is just you sprinting away from stillness.
(12:43):
Whatever it is, that's your bell.
Right. Do you hear it now?
Welcome to the beginning of Insight.
Love it. All right.
Segment 2 recap. Let's do it today.
Here is we handed you the insight compass NE South and
West, feedback patterns, behavior gaps, and the brave art
(13:06):
of not looking away. We invited you into the mirror
not because you're a mess, but because you're a masterpiece in
mid painting. Your Aging Heroes challenge the
insight interview. Ask, listen, reflect and be kind
to the you who's learning. Coming up next in segment 3,
(13:27):
we're heading into the real world.
How do we live with insight at work, in love at home without
turning into a self help mean? We're talking insight in action
with heart, humor, and humility.Welcome back, heroes.
(13:54):
So far we've floated in cold water, felt good, face the bell
thief within and walk the four directions of the inside
compass. Now comes the part nobody talks
about the daily practice. That's it.
Because insight without application.
That's just fancy wallpaper for your ego.
I love that. And ego doesn't need more
(14:18):
wallpaper. No, it needs a sledgehammer and
coconuts with extra humility. This segment's called Insight in
the village because it's one thing to have a breakthrough
while journaling under a mango tree.
As long as you don't get hit on the head.
It's another to remember it whenyour teenager rolls their eyes,
(14:40):
when your Co worker circles backor your partner asks.
Was that tone really necessary? Insight's real power shows up in
your calendar, your conversations, your cravings,
and your why did I just do that moments.
So let's bring it down from the mountain and into your living
room. No incense required.
(15:02):
Insight becomes transformation only through repetition.
Good, not drama. No, not crisis.
Definitely no. Repetition, yeah.
It's not. I saw my pattern once and now
I'm enlightened. It's more like I saw it, I named
it, forgot it, repeated it, caught it mid spin, tried a new
(15:24):
move, fell down, got up, laughedat myself and kept going.
Think of Insight like a sourdough starter.
You don't get a loaf in a day. No, you nurture it.
You feed it. It sounds like a pet.
You ignore it too long and it grows a weird film.
Definitely a pet, no? You scrape it off, you
apologize, and you keep on baking.
(15:45):
Insight isn't about being right,Erica.
It's about being real, honest, slightly sweaty, and willing to
adjust. All right, can I tell them
myself? Yeah, please do.
Public confessions are the protein of this podcast.
Oh. So while back I got feedback
that I tend to interrupt when I'm excited.
(16:06):
I knew this. Somebody told you that.
I'd coach people on this. I thought I had it in check.
Spoiler alert, he didn't. I was in a meeting classic zoom
with too many opinions situation.
Here it comes. Someone shared a thought I
disagreed with and I leapt in mid sentence like a dolphin
chasing approval. You thought you were
(16:28):
contributing, right? But your face said mutiny and
your tone said Nope. Here's the miracle.
I realized it in real time. That was the win.
For everyone not. That I was flawless, but that I
caught it and course corrected mid sentence.
That's what living insight lookslike.
(16:48):
Fewer perfect moments, more honest pivots.
Real growth is when you mess up and don't build a vacation home
in your shame spiral. Let's talk about the hardest
jungle relationships. The people you live with will
always be the best mirror and occasionally the loudest gongs.
Want to know your blind spots? Ask your spouse or your teenager
(17:12):
or your dog. They know.
They do insight at home might sound like, hey, I noticed I got
defensive just now. That's on me.
Or I've been emotionally Mia this week.
It's not you, it's me unpacking my own suitcase of just
weirdness. Your suitcase is bulging with
(17:35):
weirdness. And I love it.
It's not always neat, but it turns your into what we call a
growth Hut. Messy, honest, and full of
mosquito bites of wisdom. Damn it.
Doesn't sound great. Workplaces are like tropical
islands, lots of strange creatures trying to collaborate
without eating each other. If you've had a personal
(17:56):
insight, like realizing you tendto micromanage when you're
anxious, Erica, name it out loud.
Like hey y'all, I've realized I get bossy when I'm stressed.
Erica. I'm working on it.
Feel free to gently smack me with a virtual paddle if I do it
again. Or Rusty.
(18:16):
I used to assume silence meant agreement.
Turns out it meant everyone was actually waiting for me to shut
up. I'm learning.
Vulnerability is contagious. When you open up others follow
yes, then boom. You've got it.
Culture. Shift.
Try this in the morning. Write one sentence right.
What's one thing I would want todo differently today?
(18:39):
Then at night go with where did I get closer to who I want to
be? Keep it chill, this is homework.
I also keep an insight wall by my desk.
Sticky notes with truth bombs. I don't want to forget just
because life got loud. That's right, mine says just
because it's uncomfortable doesn't mean it's wrong.
(19:01):
Yours. Mine is breathe before you try
to be clever and don't interruptagain.
Want to deepen a friendship? Ask questions that invite
reflection. Like, what's something you've
learned about yourself this year?
What's a pattern you're ready tobreak?
What do you wish more people understood about you?
(19:21):
Most people are craving conversations that go beyond
weather and warranties. They're just waiting for someone
else to go first. That someone.
It's you, little coconut. Let's be honest, sometimes
insight hurts. Like when you realize you were
the storm, or that the thing you've clung to is what's been
(19:46):
sinking your boat. But that sting?
That's compost. It's where growth happens, not
just in the sunshine, but in themessy, humid jungle of the hard
stuff. So what we would suggest is
don't run, stay and ask what is this showing me about how I want
to live moving forward? This also sounds like deep
(20:10):
rooted courage. It does, yeah.
Once you really see it, you can't Unsee insight, right?
And that that's the beginning ofpeace.
It is of power and of presence. This feels like a good time for
a quick Segment 3 recap. So today we pulled insight out
of your journal and into your daily rhythm.
(20:31):
Into your home, your job and your coffee fueled Monday
meetings. We told you the truth about
messing up, making right and giving yourself grace in the
process. We handed you real tools to stay
grounded. Next up, segment 4 is where we
raise our cups, clink our metaphors, and make a toast to
(20:52):
the new eyes you're seeing with.It's the inside toast, and trust
us, it goes down smoother than rum on a porch swing.
Cheers to that. All right, heroes, let's lift
our coconuts. Or our coffee mug, or that
(21:16):
chipped World's Okiest Human cup.
We're not judging. We've earned this.
Not because we've reached enlightenment, but because we
finally looked in the mirror andwe didn't flinch.
We didn't flinch much, maybe blinked, maybe wins, maybe
whispered Whoa, I've got a wholesalad bar in my spiritual teeth.
(21:41):
Sexy. But we stayed.
We did. We saw it and we didn't turn
away. Here is This is your insight
toast. Because insight isn't just a
tool, it's a triumph, a decisionto see what's true even when it
steps on your favorite excuses and tracks mud across your
(22:03):
comfort zone. And.
When you toast that moment, whenyou name that hard won wisdom,
you anchor it, you carry it forward, you let it shape how
you move through the world like a spiritual GPS without the
bossy smug voice. We are toasting to every
listener who asked brave questions this week.
(22:24):
To the one who texted a friend and said what's it like to be on
the other side of me? To the one who finally faced
that pattern, They they've been two stepping since dial up
Internet and said not anymore. To the one who caught themselves
interrupting and didn't spiral but stayed present.
The one who finally said, maybe it's not the universe conspiring
(22:47):
against me, Maybe it's me. That's the moment insight
becomes power. That's not self help, that's
self honor. So cheers.
Here's your segment for recap. In this final segment, we didn't
throw more tools at you. We raised a glass.
We made space for clarity to feel like celebration, not
surgery. We reminded you that insight
(23:09):
isn't about perfection, it's about being honest and honesty
with yourself. That's the key to the whole damn
island. So should we keep a bottle of
inside Toast champagne on the boat?
I think we should. Pop it every time we name a
blind spot. Hey, I wonder what that would
get us. Who needs mimosas when you got
(23:31):
metaphors I? Know let's start a merch line.
Mugs that, say, may contain unflinching self reflection.
I'd wear that. And socks that say stepping into
my patterns. Matching journals, you know.
No more ghosting myself. We're building a brand here,
people. Let's build it.
Get that hammer nailed out. Episode 12 was about developing
(23:57):
insight. In this episode, that's right,
we started in the inland blue Hole of Belize, where we
remembered how stillness reveals, what noise hides.
That truth doesn't shout, it whispers.
And you've got to get quiet enough to hear.
It We also met the bell thief throughout this episode, a man
dragging a burden so loud he hadto plug his ears just to pretend
(24:21):
it wasn't there. We admitted we've all done that,
stuffed our years, avoided the ring, you know?
Segment 2 gave you the Insight Compass.
That's right. N was feedback, E patterns, S
values versus behavior and West,what you've been avoiding and we
dared you to take the Insight interview challenge.
(24:43):
That's a big deal, right? Takes a lot of courage.
Segment 3 took us home to the Village.
We talked about how to live insight in your kitchen, in your
office, in your converse, and how to show up differently again
and again. And here in Segment 4, we gave
you your toast cheers, your pause, your moment to say I see
(25:05):
it now and I'm walking forward alittle braver, a little clearer.
That's worth celebrating. If this episode hit your heart.
If it spoke to you, share it. Text a friend, tag us, and go
follow us on Instagram and Facebook at Aging Heroes.
You can also find our full tribeat www.agingheroes.com.
(25:30):
Next week, we shift gears because insight clears the fog.
But now it's time to turn the ignition.
Episode 13 is called Amp up yourIntellect.
I'm into that. We're diving into curiosity,
creativity, and how to keep yourbrain from becoming a dusty
(25:51):
bookshelf. It's a playful one.
Think thought experiments, brainsnacks, and sharpening your
inner machete without losing your joy.
Because here's the deal, once you see clearly, it's time to
think boldly and have some fun with it.
So until next time, until. Next.
Time keep asking, keep noticing,and keep adjusting that
(26:13):
latitude. We'll see you next time.
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