Episode 22: The Mile That Changed Everything

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Pam Dwyer introduces the Plus One Theory, a philosophy centered on taking one more step forward regardless of life circumstances to create meaningful transformation over time.

• The Plus One Theory originated from Pam's childhood experience running a timed mile despite malnourishment and poverty
• During the challenging run, Pam discovered inner strength by channeling past pain into determination
• This approach became central to Pam's parenting style—expecting effort and resilience rather than perfection
• Storytelling creates powerful connections, allowing others to reflect on their own journeys
• The Plus One Theory isn't about doing more for more's sake, but about intentional small actions
• Pam is currently writing a book about the Plus One Theory featuring real stories of overcoming adversity
• Future podcast episodes will focus on applying the theory to health and wellness with expert guests
• Sustainable progress matters more than perfection when building healthy habits

Share your "plus one" story for possible inclusion in the upcoming book by visiting PamDwyerSpeaker.com. Enter the book giveaway for "She: Share, Heal, Empower" and support the crowdfunding campaign for the Plus One Theory book and workbook through links on the website or social media.

Visit Pam Dwyer online and sign up on her email list to receive the latest updates!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:13):
Hey there, friends, it's Pam Dwyer, and welcome back
to the Plus One Theory podcast,the place where we talk about
small steps, big change and howto build a life of purpose,
kindness and growth.
And if this is your first timelistening, let me explain what
the Plus One Theory is all about.
It's this idea that no matterwhere you are in life whether

(00:38):
you're in the middle of healing,building something new or just
trying to survive your day youcan always do one more thing to
move forward Just one more step,one more breath, one more act
of kindness, and when you stackthose up over time, you get real
momentum and transformation.

(00:59):
And just a quick disclaimer I'mnot a therapist or medical
professional.
I'm just someone who's lived alife full of lessons and is
passionate about sharing what'shelped me thrive after a whole
lot of trial and error.
So, with that said, let's getinto it.
So many people have asked mewhere did the plus one theory

(01:21):
come from?
And I'll be honest it wasn'tborn in a workshop or a
leadership seminar.
It was born in the mess of reallife, raising two kids and
trying to teach them theimportance of effort,
consistency and going beyond thebare minimum, even when it's
hard to do.
I used to give them this story,one they've heard a hundred

(01:46):
times About a mile I had to runback in junior high and I was
pretty malnourished, weak andtired from being, you know, very
poor.
So if you've read my story fromthe Piney Woods you'll
understand, but if you haven't,you need to read it.
Number one and number two.
I grew up in a situation whereI wasn't always around food.

(02:09):
I was very hungry.
So anyway, our coach had thisrule If you stop running and
start walking, you have to startover.
So in other words, no walkingon the time mile.
Every time I'd try to run thatmile, I would stop, I'd run,

(02:29):
then walk, then start over.
It was awful.
Finally I decided all right,I'll just do a slow trot,
nothing fancy, just a light jog,and maybe, just maybe, I won't
stop and have to start overagain.
And maybe, just maybe I won'tstop and have to start over
again.
Well, somewhere around thatthird lap, everything in my body

(02:49):
was screaming.
But I started thinking aboutall the pain I had been through,
the abuse, the neglect, thehunger, the unfairness of it all
and somehow, instead of givingup, I found this energy.
I didn't know that I had.

(03:10):
It came from somewhere deepinside me.
I kicked it into high gear andfinished stronger and faster
than I started.
Not only did I make it acrossthat finish line, but I felt the
power of overcoming every lie Ibelieved about myself.
That was my plus one moment.
I didn't know what to call itback then, but now I know I

(03:31):
found that little extra that wasalways there, just waiting for
me to access it, and that becamethe way I parented.
I didn't expect perfection frommy kids, but I did expect them
to try again, give their bestand then give just a little more
, whether it was with schoolwork, sports, friendships, chores or

(03:54):
life in general.
The plus one theory was how Ihelped them see their own
strength.
When I wrote From the PineyWoods, I never dreamed it would
resonate with so many people.
It was my story raw, real,filled with pain and hope and
moments where I didn't know if Icould keep going.

(04:15):
But it taught me something.
When we tell our stories, wegive others permission to
reflect on their own.
That book continues to reachpeople who feel like their past
disqualifies them from a betterfuture.
But it doesn't.
Your past doesn't define you.
It prepares you, and that'swhat the plus one theory is all

(04:38):
about Taking pain and turning itinto purpose, not by doing it
all at once, but by stackingsmall victories that add up over
time.
Here's something I believe withmy whole heart.
We are all storytellers, fromcavemen painting animals and
people on walls to sittingaround the fire with your family

(05:01):
swapping memories or stories.
That's how we connect.
They're how we pass down wisdom, laughter, love and hard-won
lessons.
You know, my favorite thing inthe world is bedtime stories
with my grandkids watching theireyes light up when I weave a
silly story with a hidden lifelesson tucked inside, it's pure

(05:23):
magic.
And guess what?
I do the same thing in reallife with adults.
We all need stories to feelseen and understood.
That's why the Plus One Theoryis filled with real-life stories
from people who've been throughit and chosen to grow anyway.
Real-life stories from peoplewho've been through it and

(05:43):
chosen to grow anyway.
Here's what I have learned.
No one's life is easy.
No one's journey is smooth thewhole way through, but every
single one of us has the powerto choose our response, to
decide.
I'm not going to shut down.
I'm going to take one more step.
I'm going to keep moving, andwhether that's in healing from

(06:08):
heartbreak, building a business,raising kids or just getting
through your day, that choicematters.
The plus one theory isn't aboutdoing more for the sake of
doing more.
It's about doing what's rightfor you.
That extra bit of kindness,that second chance, that breath
before you react, that one morewalk, one more glass of water,

(06:28):
one more text to someone youlove.
I'm writing the plus one theoryright now and I can't wait to
share it with you.
It's full of real stories andothers about how people overcame
adversity with grit, grace anda whole lot of small,
intentional steps.
If you've been listening andthinking I've got a story like
that, then I want to hear it.

(06:50):
You might just be featured inthe book.
Head to PamDwyerSpeakercom toshare your story or join our
email list to stay in the loop.
Okay y'all, we're giving away acopy of she, which is Share,
heal, empower, volume 1, writtenby an amazing author, shannon

(07:11):
Hogan Cohen.
It's a beautiful collection ofreal-life stories featuring 24
inspiring women, each pairedwith their own artwork and their
own moment of breakthrough.
Go to PamDwyerSpeakercom andclick on the book giveaway link
to enter.
Speakercom and click on thebook giveaway link to enter.

(07:33):
The stories in that book arejust more proof that one step
forward can change everything.
So here's my question to youwhen can you give a little more
today?
Not because you have to proveanything to anyone, but because
you deserve the life that comesfrom trying again.
Whether it's a whisper ofeffort or a full-on sprint, that
plus one moment belongs to you.

(07:56):
Oh, and before we go, I'veofficially launched my
crowdfunding campaign to helpbring the Plus One Theory book
and its workbook into the world.
This message has alreadytouched so many lives and with
your help, we can reach evenmore people who need that little
extra hope, clarity or courage.
There are several tiers ofsupport available, each with

(08:18):
their own rewards, so head overto PamDwyerSpeakercom or you can
find it on PamDwyercom as welland check it out.
You'll also find the links onall my social media.
I've placed this project inGod's hands and if it's meant to
grow, you'll also find thelinks on all my social media.
I've placed this project inGod's hands and if it's meant to
grow, it'll grow with the helpof people like you.
Okay, in the upcoming episodes,we're shifting our focus to

(08:40):
health and wellness and how wecan apply the plus one theory to
our physical and our emotionalwell-being.
I'll be inviting special guestswho've dedicated their lives to
helping others feel better,live stronger and take ownership
of their health, one small stepat a time.
Because, let's be real,improving your health isn't

(09:01):
about perfection.
It's about progress.
We're going to talk about whathappens when we don't hit our
goals, how to keep going withoutbeating ourselves up, and how
to build sustainable, feel-goodhabits that actually last.
So stay with me.
We're growing together, onepowerful step at a time.
Until next time, keep yourheart open, your steps steady

(09:25):
and always, always, add a littlemore and always, always add a
little more.
Hey, before you go, I justwanted to say happy Mother's Day
to all the amazing moms outthere, to the women who always
manage to find one more, onemore hug, one more act of
patience, one more late nighttalk, one more reason to keep

(09:46):
going, even when no one sees itbut their children.
Let's celebrate the women whoshaped us, whether they raised
us, mentored us or loved us whenwe needed it most.
And, hey, maybe honor her storyby sharing it with me for
consideration in the Plus OneTheory book.
Let her legacy live on in astory that will inspire others

(10:06):
forever and ever.
Okay, this is really goodbyenow, really.