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June 25, 2025 29 mins
Welcome to another uplifting and thought-provoking episode of the Inspirations for Your Life Podcast! I’m your host, John C. Morley, Serial Entrepreneur and Podcast Coach. Today, we're diving into the heartwarming and powerful concept of creating traditions that carry meaning. In a world that often moves too fast, traditions remind us to pause, connect, reflect, and celebrate what truly matters. Whether they’re passed down, newly created, or shared in your business or social circle, meaningful traditions are the threads that weave identity, belonging, and joy into the fabric of our lives. 🎁💫 🧭 Talking Points – Each One a Paragraph   1️⃣ What makes a tradition meaningful 🎈 Traditions become meaningful not just by repetition, but by the values and emotions they carry. A tradition rooted in love, respect, or purpose can turn an ordinary moment into a cherished legacy. Think about the “why” behind it — that’s where the meaning lives.   2️⃣ The power of small, intentional rituals 🕯️ Big or small, the intention behind a ritual is what gives it power. Something as simple as a weekly walk or lighting a candle before dinner can ground us and become something we look forward to. Over time, these actions reinforce connection and calm.   3️⃣ Traditions strengthen identity and belonging 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 When we engage in shared traditions, we reinforce who we are and the values we hold. Whether it’s family, cultural, or spiritual, these rituals remind us that we are part of something bigger and help shape how we see ourselves and each other.   4️⃣ Traditions can be rewritten ✍️ Outdated or disconnected traditions don’t have to stay. You have permission to reinvent or replace them with practices that reflect your life today. Empower yourself to shape traditions that are more inclusive, respectful, and joyful.   5️⃣ Pass them on with purpose 🔄 Don’t just pass on the “what” — pass on the “why.” When people know the story or significance behind a tradition, it becomes more than a habit. It becomes an intentional act of love and connection that they can carry forward with pride.   6️⃣ Business and community traditions matter too 🏢 Traditions aren’t just for home. Rituals in teams or communities — like weekly wins, annual outings, or even a “fun Friday” — create a shared identity and culture. They humanize the workplace and make people feel seen.   7️⃣ Traditions provide comfort during uncertain times 🌧️ In moments of stress or change, familiar traditions offer stability. Lighting the same candle, preparing a favorite dish, or attending a weekly gathering can offer emotional security and a sense of control in chaos.   8️⃣ They mark milestones and celebrate growth 🎓 Traditions help us pause and honor life’s stages — birthdays, graduations, anniversaries. They turn a single moment into a celebration of progress and transformation, helping us reflect and appreciate how far we’ve come.   9️⃣ Repetition with intention builds legacy 📜 Doing something once might be nice — doing it every year, with heart, turns it into legacy. Repetition with purpose creates meaning across generations. It’s how stories live on, long after we’re gone.   🔟 Traditions connect us to something bigger than ourselves 🌌 Whether spiritual, cultural, or social, traditions often link us to a higher purpose or shared consciousness. They remind us that we’re part of a larger story that extends beyond our personal experience.   1️⃣1️⃣ Break unhealthy traditions with conscious awareness 🛑 Not all traditions are positive. Some may perpetuate harm or exclusion. Part of growth is knowing when to let go of what no longer serves your values and making space for new, empowering customs.   1️⃣2️⃣ Involve others to make traditions inclusive 🤝 When others participate in shaping a tradition, it becomes more meaningful. Inviting feedback and contributions fosters a sense of ownership and makes the tradition feel alive and evolving, not fixed.   1️⃣3️⃣ Technology can help preserve and share traditions 📱 F
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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:20):
Well, hey there everyone.
It is John C.
Morley here, serial entrepreneur.
It's great to be with you on Inspirations
for Your Life.
Great to have you with me.
If you are new here, I want to
extend a very warm welcome to you for
joining me here on the show.
If you're coming back, well, of course, welcome
back.

(00:41):
Great to have you with me as well.
All right, guys.
If you're thirsty, feel free to head out
to your kitchen and get a delicious RO
water or something else.
Maybe it's a snack.
Maybe it's a candy.
Maybe it's some fruit.
Maybe it's healthy, sweet, tart or not.
That's up to you.
Go ahead and get that and hurry on
back.

(01:01):
Do check out BelieveMeAchieve.com for more of
my amazing, of course, inspiring creations.
So again, it is great to be with
everyone.
Our master topic for the week is multiply
meaning, not effort.
And today's granular show is, you ready?
Create traditions that carry meaning, series four, show
26, episode number five.

(01:23):
All right, guys, let's kick this show off.
Hurry back to the kitchen.
All right.
So welcome to another uplifting and thought provoking
episode of, yes, the ever popular Inspirations for
Your Life podcast.
I'm your host, John Seymourley, serial entrepreneur and
also a podcast coach, serial entrepreneur, video producer

(01:44):
and many other things.
Tonight, I'm diving into the heartwarming and powerful
concept of creating traditions that carry meaning in
a world that often moves too fast.
Traditions remind us to pause, connect, reflect and,
of course, celebrate what truly matters, whether they're

(02:04):
passed down, newly created or shared in your
business or social circle.
Meaningful traditions are threads that weave identity, belonging
and joy into the fabric of our lives.
And so I think this is important to
understand as we dive in tonight.

(02:26):
What makes a tradition meaningful?
That's a good one.
Traditions become meaningful not just by repetition, but
by the value and the emotions they carry
and we assign to them.
A tradition rooted in love, respect or purpose
can turn an ordinary moment into a cherished

(02:47):
legacy.
Think about the why behind it.
That's where the meaning lives.
The power of small, intentional rituals, big or
small.
The intention behind a ritual is what gives
it power.
Something as simple as a weekly walk or
lighting a candle before dinner can ground us

(03:12):
and have us become something we look forward
to.
Over time, these actions reinforce connection and they
calm us down.
Number three, guys.
Traditions strengthen identity and belongingness.
When we engage in shared traditions, we reinforce

(03:33):
who we are and the values we hold.
Whether it's family, cultural or spiritual, these rituals
remind us that we are part of something
bigger and it helps shape how we see
ourselves and each other.
Number four, traditions can be rewritten.

(03:54):
Sure they can.
Outdated or disconnected traditions don't have to stay
that way.
You have permission to reinvent or replace them
with practices that reflect your life today.
Empower yourself to shape traditions that are more
inclusive, respectful and also joyful.

(04:14):
I think that's a very, very important thing.
Number three, pass them on with purpose.
Don't just pass on the what.
Pass on the why, the feeling.
When people know the story or the significance
behind a tradition, it becomes more than a
habit.
It becomes an intentional act of love and

(04:36):
connection that they can carry forward with pride.
Number six, business and community.
Traditions matter too and so traditions aren't just
for home.
Rituals and teams or communities like weekly wins,
annual outings or even a fun Friday create

(04:57):
a shared identity and culture.
They humanize the workplace and make people feel,
well, seen.
Number seven, traditions provide comfort during uncertain times.
In moments of stress or change, familiar traditions
offer stability.
Lighting the same candle, pairing a favorite dish

(05:18):
or perhaps attending a weekly gathering can offer
emotional security and yes, a sense of control
in, yes, chaos.
So this is important to realize.
Number eight, they mark milestones and they help
us celebrate growth.

(05:40):
Traditions help us do a lot of things.
They're really good for us.
They help us pause and honor life's stages.
Birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, they turn a single moment
into a celebration of progress and transformation, helping

(06:00):
us reflect and appreciate how far we've come.
Number nine, repetition with intention builds legacy.
Doing something once might be nice.
Doing it every year with heart turns it
into legacy.
Repetition with purpose creates meaning across generations and
it's how stories live on long after we're

(06:24):
gone.
Number 10, traditions connect us to something bigger
than ourselves, whether it's spiritual or cultural or
social traditions.
They often link us to a higher purpose
or shared consciousness.
They remind us that we're part of a
larger story that extends beyond our personal experience.

(06:46):
Number 11, break unhealthy traditions with conscious awareness.
Not all traditions are positive, folks.
Sorry to say that.
Some may perpetuate harm or exclusion.
Part of growth is knowing when to let
go of what no longer serves your values
and making space for new empowering customs.

(07:09):
Number 12, involve others to make traditions inclusive.
When others participate in shaping a tradition, it
becomes more meaningful.
Inviting feedback and contributions fosters a sense of,
well, ownership and it makes a tradition feel
alive and evolving, not fixed or static.

(07:34):
Number 13, technology can help preserve and share
traditions.
From digital scrapbooks to Zoom celebrations, technology helps
us keep traditions going even when we're apart
from others.
Recording stories, recipes, or songs keeps them accessible

(07:55):
for future generations.
Number 14, seasonal and holiday traditions anchor time.
As seasons change, traditions mark time and bring
rhythm to our lives.
Whether it's decorating a tree, lighting candles, or
spring cleaning, these actions signal transition and renewal.

(08:18):
15, spontaneous moments can evolve into traditions.
Sometimes the most cherished traditions begin accidentally.
A laugh shared or a silly inside joke
can become something repeated year after year, proof
that authenticity matters more than the planning.

(08:39):
Number 16, traditions create stories, folks, that last
and span many generations.
Behind every tradition is a story, and stories
are how we connect across time.
It's like a bridge, whether it's spoken or

(08:59):
written or maybe just some gestures.
These tales keep ancestors and experiences alive, adding
a rich vibrance to our shared human experience.
Number 17, guys, review and refresh traditions as

(09:21):
life changes.
As families grow and evolve or circumstances change,
it's okay to adapt your traditions to the
way your new life is.
Flexibility ensures they remain relevant and joyful instead
of burdensome or outdated.
Renewal can braid life into the old.

(09:43):
Number 18, guys, traditions help reinforce values and
priorities.
Every tradition we keep sends a message about
what we value, connection, gratitude, resilience, and fun.
Use them as a way to realign with

(10:05):
your goals and communicate what truly matters.
Number 19, personal traditions support mental and emotional
health.
Solo rituals like journaling, daily affirmations, or gratitude
walks provide grounding and emotional regulation.

(10:27):
They serve as a quiet set of anchors
in often chaotic worlds, promoting a sense of
inner peace.
Number 20, keep the meaning, not just the
method.
This is important.
Sometimes we get too attached to how a
tradition is done.
We focus on the essence instead of if

(10:48):
you can't do it the same way, find
a new approach that honors the heart and
reason the tradition was started.
I think a lot of people feel like
if they don't do traditions properly, they're letting
down their family.
And so your family would be grateful that

(11:08):
you are embracing a tradition.
And even if you're changing a little bit,
that's not disrespecting them.
That's making the tradition adapt to your life,
but it's still keeping a legacy alive because
you started from a tradition and maybe you
added some things or moved some things, but

(11:30):
it's still honoring from the original tradition.
Here's the part of the show I love
the most.
I'm going to give you basically a lesson
or let's say a story for each point
to help us grow.

(11:51):
And it's my hope, guys, that this will
solidify in your minds, your hearts, what these
concepts really mean, because a lot of these
concepts are very abstract.
You think they're easy, but they can challenge
us.
And I think in life, what I've learned

(12:13):
is that when a challenge shows up for
us and we rise to the occasion, we
become a better version of ourselves.
We draw on some strengths that we didn't
even know that we actually had.
I think that's a very wise thing, ladies

(12:33):
and gentlemen.
But some people just, you know, they get
stuck.
They get stuck in that moment, right?
And like, oh, my gosh, I can't do
it this way.
If I don't do it this way, then
what am I going to do?
Well, I think it's about a perspective.
And if you understand a perspective, then you'll

(12:54):
be able to take the lesson that I'm
sharing with you and apply it in your
own life.
So I think this is really key.
So please definitely listen up to this.
What makes a tradition?
I remember when my grandfather would handwrite birthday
letters to each of his grandkids.
They were an extravagant, just a few heartfelt
sentences.
But the love and the care behind them

(13:16):
gave those letters such power and meaning.
Long after he passed, we kept those notes
and now write similar letters to our own
families.
The meaning wasn't in the act, but in
the emotion it carried out.
Number two, the power of small, intentional rituals.

(13:37):
Every morning I do something like journal or
I'm grateful.
It's not about the flame you light for
a candle or the act of writing something
up, but the signal, the sacred time that
you give for yourself.
That simple action grounds me every day, even
on chaotic days.
It helps me approach the world more mindfully.

(14:00):
Small rituals like these are powerful because they
center us.
Number three, tradition strength and identity and belonging.
Growing up, my family always had a Sunday
spaghetti dinner.
It wasn't just about the food.
It was where we laughed, we debated, and
we celebrated life together.
Grandparents would come over.
That tradition made me feel like I belonged

(14:22):
to something consistent and strong.
Even now, I carry that tradition with chosen
family and friends.
My mom made the homemade meatballs with her
sauce and spaghetti and linguine or other types
of pasta, and it was just amazing.
And that tradition I carry on today with
family and friends creates the same sense of

(14:43):
deep rootedness that started in our family.
Number four, traditions can be rewritten for years.
Our holiday dinner included outdated routines that left
some guests out.
One year I decided to flip the script,
introducing a tradition swap, where everyone brought something
meaningful for their culture or story.
It transformed the evening.

(15:04):
It showed me that traditions aren't relics.
They meant to evolve as we grow.
Pass them on with purpose.
My father used to take us to volunteer
at a soup kitchen every Thanksgiving morning, and
as a kid I didn't fully understand why,
but now I see it was about gratitude,

(15:25):
service, and about grounding.
I continue this tradition today with my own
team, but I always start by sharing why
we do it.
The story gives the action weight.
Six, business and community traditions matter too.
At the Jamor Connection, we started a monthly
share one win, a ritual where each person

(15:46):
shares a victory, big or small.
At first it felt awkward, but over time
it became a cultural defining moment that boosts
morale and reinforces community.
Traditions in business remind people they've seen and
who they're valuing.
I think that's a very, very important thing,
guys.
Number seven, traditions provide comfort during uncertain times.

(16:10):
When I lost a close friend many years
ago, I felt unmoored, but every year on
his birthday, I visit the park where we
used to walk and leave a stone with
a note under our favorite tree.
It's become my tradition of remembrance.
That ritual gives me peace.
It reminds me that love doesn't end.

(16:30):
It keeps evolving.
Number eight, they mark milestones and celebrate growth.
When I hit my hundredth podcast, well, I
didn't want it to just pass by.
I create a reflect and rise tradition where
I look back at how I've grown and
recommit to my mission.

(16:50):
Every milestone now comes with a personal check
-in, making success feel meaningful, not just measurable.
Number nine, repetition with intention builds legacy.
My mentor gave me a journal on my
21st birthday and asked me to write one
insight per week.
I've done it ever since.
It's become a tradition of reflection.

(17:12):
Now I share the practice with mentees that
I work with.
Who will pass it on?
That's how a single act becomes a lasting
legacy.
Number 10, traditions connect us to something bigger
than ourselves.
Finding a candle at the beginning of each
solstice reminds me of the cycles of life
and nature.
It's a small act, but it connects me

(17:34):
to something timeless and the seasons, the earth,
and a rhythm that's greater than me.
It reminds me I'm part of something sacred
and much bigger.
Number 11, break unhealthy traditions with conscious awareness.
There was a family tradition of criticizing everyone's
choices at the holiday table.
It masked itself as concern, but it was

(17:56):
toxic.
I chose to address it head-on and
sat across and then set some boundaries.
Breaking that pattern created space for more honest
and true integral traditions of communication to emerge.
Number 12, involve others to make traditions inclusive.
When I hosted my first community board game

(18:18):
night, they asked each other to bring a
game from their childhood.
That small invitation made everyone feel seen and
involved.
People shared stories, laughed at pieces of their
past, and now it's a standing tradition at
every gathering that I run.
Number 13, technology can help preserve and share

(18:39):
traditions.
During the pandemic, we couldn't gather for our
usual holiday dinner, so we created a digital
cookbook together, each submitting a recipe with a
video story.
It wasn't the same, but it brought us
together.
Now the online cookbook is something we continue
to build each year.
Number 14, seasonal and holiday traditions anchor time.

(19:03):
Every autumn, I take reflection walks during peak
leaf season.
It's my way of honoring change and preparing
for winter.
It started as a spontaneous moment, but it
became, for me, a tradition.
It helps me feel in sync with nature's
rhythms.
Number 15, spontaneous moments can evolve into traditions.

(19:28):
One night, I shared a silly toast with
a friend over a tea.
To the ordinary, it made the extraordinary.
We laughed, but then kept repeating it.
Years later, it's our thing.
Every cup of tea carries that joy within.
It reminds me that the best traditions often
surprise us when we're not waiting for them.

(19:50):
Number 16, traditions create stories that last generations.
My uncle recorded our family history in a
short audio snippet.
He played them every Thanksgiving.
And then we continue the tradition.
His voice and his story still fill the
room, reminding us where it came from and
the lessons that he left behind.

(20:10):
Number 17, review and refresh traditions as life
changes.
That's what life's about.
When my siblings moved across the country, our
tradition in-person birthday dinners became impossible.
So we switched to monthly virtual game nights.
Same connection, new format.

(20:32):
The key is honoring the spirit of tradition,
not clinging to outdated logistics.
Number 18, traditions help reinforce values and priorities.
Every New Year's Day, I ask myself three
questions.
What did I learn?
Who would I help?
And what will I do better?
What did I learn?
Who would I help?

(20:52):
And what will I do better?
It's not flashy, but it aligns me with
who I want to become.
That reflection has become a yearly compass that
reminds me what matters most to me in
life.
Number 19, personal traditions support mental and emotional

(21:14):
health.
Each Sunday night, I do a reset ritual,
journaling wins, challenges, and gratitude.
It clears my mind and sets the tone
for the week.
This personal tradition has improved my clarity, mood,
and resilience for more than I ever expected.
Number 20, keep the meaning, not just the

(21:39):
method.
One year, we couldn't cook our usual holiday
meal due to a power outage.
So we ordered takeout by Kintway.
Surprisingly, it became one of our favorite holidays.
We realized it wasn't the turkey or the
timing.
It was the laughter, the love, and the
togetherness.
And I think a lot of people, when

(22:00):
you think about traditions, I mean, a tradition
could be something like singing Christmas carols.
It could be making cookies.
I have loved making cookies since when my
grandmother was alive.
She was teaching me how to bake, didn't
really know that I was going to love
baking so much.
And she started teaching me, and I was

(22:21):
still kind of in my infancy of it.
But she taught me enough that I was
able to then teach myself the rest of
the way.
She had gotten sick, and she wasn't able
to share with me, but I know she
was here to this day.
And she saw how diligent I was with
doing what we call mise en place, which
is how you get ready for your baking.

(22:42):
You measure everything out, put it in these
different ramekins.
And how intentional I was with every step
of baking, double checking my measures, making sure
everything was correct.
I know she would be proud.
Another ritual that I think is important.

(23:05):
We've had in our family for a long
time is Happy New Year.
So when the New Year comes, first thing
we do is we let the old year
out through the back door, ring bells and,
you know, little noisemakers.
Do that for a few minutes.

(23:25):
We sing Happy New Year, Happy New Year.
And then we go to the front door
and we welcome in the New Year.
So these are just some simple things you
can do, guys, but there's a lot you
can do for traditions.
Another tradition we love to do is crackers.
So this has been around for a while.

(23:46):
We get these crackers on the holiday time
and you pull the two ends.
And when you do a pop and there's
a little toy inside and there's usually a
little passage or joke or something.
And I think that's an important thing.
Very important to have these traditions because these
traditions are things that we look forward to.

(24:09):
Another tradition was when I was younger, we
always did egg hunts.
And that's a lot of fun.
Another tradition that we always have at, well,
we have lots of traditions.
Traditions we have on our birthday, and this
is something that I've been doing for years.
Every time it's a family member's birthday, I

(24:32):
call them usually early in the morning.
They answer the phone and I sing Happy
Birthday to you.
So I sing that to them.
And you know something?
It doesn't cost anything.
But that little thing really sparks up my
family member's day.

(24:52):
And I think when we understand, appreciate what
a tradition is and why we do traditions.
Traditions help us celebrate our past and revere
them, respect them.
And give us something that our family members

(25:14):
of the past can say, oh my gosh,
wow, they're really having a great time.
Right?
In Italy, there's something called a Pasta Giada,
which is where every time after you finish
dinner, you go out and you walk around
the town.
For the July, we watch fireworks.

(25:35):
There's so many traditions, guys.
Another tradition that I like a lot is
probably the one where, you know, we think
about putting out cookies for Santa, right?
We put out the cookies and I put
out a carrot and we leave it for

(25:55):
Santa Claus.
What's another tradition?
Another tradition is something we do every year.
And this happens right around Thanksgiving.

(26:18):
And the tradition is having a Thanksgiving dinner,
right?
And we always usually have a Thanksgiving dinner
with our immediate family.
And sometimes we don't go out for Thanksgiving
dinner, but what we will do is we'll
usually be home for Christmas, Christmas Day.

(26:41):
Christmas Eve we'll go out, but Christmas Day
we'll be home.
And I think when you appreciate a tradition,
you not only celebrate, but you respect your
ancestors.
And you show them grace and gratitude for
giving you this meaning.

(27:03):
I know right now if my grandmother could
see me baking cookies and she could see
the way I bake other things, I know
she'd be very proud.
Because she was always meticulous in how she
did everything and I'm very meticulous too.
So I think she would be very proud
of me.
And that's a tradition that I know I'll
do forever and ever and ever.

(27:23):
Another tradition that I love to do, it's
going to be right around Easter time.
And that's getting the palms from the church
and then sharing some with my parents.
I think those are important things to do.
So traditions can be something simple.

(27:44):
It could be making bread with your family.
It could be putting up trees on your
Christmas light, putting up a Christmas tree, right?
These are all traditions.
And traditions bring us together as a family.
You can have traditions with your company.
You can have traditions with your friends, right?

(28:05):
Maybe you get together every year or something
like that.
Traditions are something that makes life really worth
celebrating.
And it gives us gratitude for the people
that help us create those amazing, powerful memories.
Ladies and gentlemen, you know who I am
by now.
But I'm John Seymour, serial entrepreneur.

(28:25):
You can check out BelieveMeAchieve.com for more
of my amazing, of course, inspiring creations.
Create some traditions now and find out what
you've been missing.
Don't be afraid to change the ones you
had because your ancestors will be so grateful
that you're choosing to work with an existing
tradition.
Have yourself a great week, everyone.
Be well.

(29:07):
Bye.
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