The FREEDOM and POWER in letting GO

 Brett’s podcast episode focused on how holding onto anger and bitterness can quietly damage your peace, relationships, health, and future. He emphasized that forgiveness and letting go are not about excusing what happened, but about freeing yourself from being emotionally controlled by past pain. Throughout the episode, he encouraged listeners to choose gratitude, healing, and a positive perspective instead of replaying resentment over and over. He also shared uplifting stories about students who saved a bus driver during a medical emergency and a Canadian woman who has given away thousands of bikes to children in need. The episode closed with motivational takeaways from podcasts by Ed Mylett, Mel Robbins, and Jim Rohn, all centered around confidence, mindset, growth, and personal responsibility. 

Ed Mylett | There’s Nothing More Powerful in the World Than the Human Soul on Fire

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quote-of-the-day-show-daily-motivational-talks/id1163094296?i=1000766578547

Mel Robbins | How to Eliminate Self Doubt Forever & Build Unshakable Confidence

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mel-robbins-podcast/id1646101002?i=1000766679397

Jim ROHN | Words That Influence:  Steps to Affect & Inspire Anyone

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jim-rohn/id1579900012?i=1000766991560

Daily Healthy Lifestyle:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1coeDFfQP3wt1DX-nRvIi4Q0W9IJSB8Mr/view?usp=drivesdk

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Welcome to A Conversation of Hope with Brett. This podcast is all about you, the mission, to remind you that you are a masterpiece. To inspire you to dream again. To equip you with simple, actionable strategies for success. Strategies you can start using today to begin your journey towards the incredible life you deserve. He wants to remind you of the champions you were born to be. No matter your past or current struggles, Matt firmly believes that your best days are still ahead. He's grateful you're here and promises to give us all each week to help you create the life you were meant to live. So buckle up. Let's get started.

SPEAKER_01 0:52

Welcome, welcome, welcome to a conversation of hope. Thank you for taking your valuable time to tune in today. Right from the jump, I want to remind you, you are enough. You have what it takes. You are a champion whose absolute best days are straight ahead. Before we get into the main content, I wanted to tell you the very powerful story of two people and how the proper perspective can change everything. Remember, having a positive perspective costs you no more money and no training. You can have a positive perspective in life starting at this moment. Here we go. So the first person had some valid challenges come up throughout the day. They allowed those challenges or problems to absolutely ruin their day. They got upset over every little thing that did not go right throughout the day. They continued throughout the evening telling everyone that would listen about the injustices of the day. On and on, ruining one of the days of their life because they focused on all the negative, y'all. We don't want to do that. In contrast, there was another person that ironically encountered all the same challenges throughout the day. This person just went with the flow and at the end of the day truly believed that they had a good day. They focused on all the things good in their life and refused to allow minor challenges throughout the day to steal their joy. They truly realized every day was a gift and they would squeeze all the life out of it. They were overflowing with gratitude and were thankful for every moment they had with their friends and family. I personally have lived out like both of these people. I've been on both sides of it, y'all. I finally realized one of the greatest gifts God ever gave us was we get to choose how we will process each and every problem or challenge that comes up every day. And they will. I want to encourage you, please choose to live life with a massively positive perspective, not allowing anything to steal your joy every day. Accept the free gift of positive perspective and watch your life immediately get better. Remember, I just want you to have an amazing life. That's true. That's the whole reason behind this podcast. And this is definitely one of the key components to making that life happen. All right. Let's dig into the main content for today's episode. I was listening to a podcast the other day, which I do almost every day, and was shocked when I heard 70% of people harbor a lot of anger and bitterness towards something in their lives. Something or someone. Well, once again, I want you to live out an amazing life. And we can't do that with a lot of anger and bitterness. So let's deal with it today so we can move forward in the total peace and freedom that you have when you release all your anger and bitterness. All right, here we go. Anger can feel powerful in the moment, and bitterness can feel justified. When someone has hurt you, betrayed you, rejected you, lied to you, or broken something precious in your life, anger often feels like armor. Bitterness can feel like protection. You may believe that holding on to the pain somehow keeps you safe, that replaying what happened gives you control, that refusing to let go means you're standing up for yourself. But here is the truth. Anger and bitterness do not punish the person who hurts you. They punish you. They steal your joy, they rob your joy, they drain your energy, and they cloud your purpose, and they poison your future. If you hold on to anger long enough, it stops being something you carry, and it becomes something that carries you. It begins to shape your thoughts, your relationships, your decisions, your health, and your identity. And before you know it, one painful moment from your past has taken control of your entire life. That is why learning to let go is not weakness. It is one of the greatest acts of strength you'll ever demonstrate. Letting go does not mean what happened was okay. It does not mean you excuse betrayal. It does not mean you pretend the pain didn't matter. It means you refuse to let pain define you. It means you stop allowing someone else's actions to control your emotional future. It means you choose freedom because your best life cannot be built on a bitter foundation. Imagine trying to build a beautiful home on poisoned ground. No matter how much effort you put into it, the cracks will eventually show. This is what bitterness does. You may smile on the outside, but inside resentment grows. You may achieve success, but anger can still sabotage your peace. You may move forward physically, but emotionally you are still chained to what happened years ago. Bitterness keeps you emotionally connected to your pain. And here's the tragedy. Many people spend years blaming the person who hurt them, while unknowingly giving the person continued power over their happiness. When you refuse to let go, they may have hurt you once, but bitterness allows the hurt to replay over and over and over again. You relive it, you rehearse it, and you reopen it, and in doing so, you continue the destruction. Science even confirms what the soul already knows. Chronic anger can increase stress, anxiety, depression, heart disease, sleep problems, and emotional exhaustion. Why? Because your body was not designed to live in a constant state of eternal warfare. You were created for peace, for purpose, for joy, and for growth. And every day you hold on to the bitterness is a day you delay your healing. There is an old saying, resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. This is exactly what bitterness does. It poisons your perspective, it poisons your opportunities, it poisons your relationships. When anger controls you, you may start pushing away people who truly love you. You may become cynical, guarded, distrustful, and emotionally unavailable. And then the pain from your past begins destroying blessings in your present. This is why letting go is essential if you want your best life ever. Your best life requires emotional freedom. You cannot soar while chained to resentment. You cannot embrace peace while feeding rage. You cannot fully step into your future while living in constant reaction to your past. Letting go means you decide I will not allow what happened to me to become who I am. That decision changes everything. Because when you release anger, you think clearer, you sleep better, you love deeper, you trust wiser, and you live lighter. Forgiveness is not for them, it is for you. Forgiveness is cutting the chain that keeps you connected to the pain. And sometimes forgiveness is a daily choice. Some wounds are deep, some scars are real, some betrayals are devastating. Healing may not happen overnight, but every day you choose peace over bitterness, you reclaim another piece of your life. Think about some of the greatest comeback stories in life. People who were abandoned, abused, rejected, and wrongfully accused. The ones who rose did not rise because life was fair. They rose because they refused to let bitterness become their identity. They transformed pain into purpose. And you can too. Your pain can either make you bitter or it can make you better. The choice is yours. You can spend your life replaying what broke you or you can start rebuilding what's next. You can stay trapped in resentment or you can walk in freedom. You can let anger burn your future or let healing build it. One path leads to destruction and the other leads to your best life. So how do we begin? First, acknowledge the pain. Don't deny it. Don't suppress it. Face it honestly. Second, decide that your peace is worth more than your pain. Ask yourself, is holding on helping me heal or helping me hurt? Third, release the need for revenge. Not every wrong will be made right the way you want. But peace comes when you trust that your future matters more than your past. Fourth, focus forward. You cannot rewrite yesterday. You can absolutely create a better tomorrow. And finally, choose gratitude. Gratitude shifts your focus from what was lost to what is possible. Because your life is too precious to waste being angry. Your calling is too important. Your purpose is too great, and your future is too valuable. Do not let bitterness write the final chapter of your story. You were made for more than just survival. You were made to thrive. So release the anger, release the resentment, release the bitterness. Not because they deserve it, but because you deserve peace. Because the moment you let go of what is trying to destroy you, you create space for what can truly transform you. Joy, peace, purpose, strength, and freedom come from letting it go. Your best life is not found in holding on to pain, it is found in letting go and rising. Today can be the day you stop carrying what has been carrying you. Today can be the day you choose healing. Today can be the day you choose life. And when you do, you won't just survive what hurt you. You will become stronger because of it. Let go so you can regrow. Forgive so you can flourish and heal. So you can in fact live your best life. That's all we want for you. Oh my goodness. Alright, y'all. Wow. Powerful information reminding us how important it is to let go of all our anger and bitterness. Let's apply it today and begin walking out an amazing life with absolutely no anger and bitterness. We can do with it. All right, it's time y'all. Buckle up as we head straight into the laugh zone. Here we go. Why did the invisible man turn down the job? He just couldn't see himself doing it. Why do cows wear bells? Because their horns don't worry. And they are phenomenal. So let's begin on the first one. Not one, not two, but five students jump into life-saving action as school bus driver loses consciousness. Oh no. Five Mississippi middle school students leapt into action when their bus driver lost consciousness while driving and are being hailed as heroes, and they are. Driver Leah Taylor from Hancock County School District was on her usual route with a busload of students on board when she suffered a serious asthma attack and lost consciousness. Not one, not even two, but five students jumped out of their seats and got a handle on the situation. First, Jackson, who grabbed a hold of the wheel when he felt the bus veering off the road. While Jackson had the wheel, it was sixth grader Darius who hit the brakes. Eighth grader Kaylee called 911 while classmates Destiny and McKinsey helped the driver. McKinsey propped her head up, which allowed Taylor, the driver, to regain some awareness, and that's when she immediately began reaching for something which Destiny noticed was almost undoubtedly medication on the dashboard. She says, I cannot thank these students enough, said the driver, for saving everybody's life because it could have turned out so much worse. I know what we're going to do when things come up. A lot of times when situations arise, a lot of people, you know, might not jump into action, but I know we would. And thank goodness for those students that decided, hey, we need to do something now. All right, next story up. Fantastic. And this one showed me. Man, Bray. There's so many things you can do out there that can make an impact on others. Um, this was a really neat one. Canadian woman gives free bikes and trikes to thousands of kids in the past fourteen years. For 14 years, a generous soul, Krista Moncton has been collecting donated bikes and children's tricycles and holding regular giveaways for families who cannot afford to buy one. The reward of seeing kids smile and ride off on their bikes is priceless, says Krista. She's the organizer of the bikes and trikes for everyone program. Krista collects the bikes all year round and fixes them while holding the giveaways between April and October. Last year, some 400 children were on her waiting list, like Giannis and Oz, who put on their best Friday clothes and got their hair done for the big day when they would ride off with their first real bikes. Krista told the news that she's given away thousands of bikes and trikes over the years and says the fresh air and time spent outdoors has more benefits than just the health of a child. With all these video games, there's no social contact, she says, and people don't know who their neighbors are anymore. But if you get a bunch of kids on their bike, they get to know each other, and then the families get to know each other. And I think the more time you spend outside, the better. Giveaways always take place on Sunday, and there's a small team of volunteers who mostly go to collect the donated bikes, but Krista does much of the rest herself. She even started keeping adult bikes as well, in case the parents wanted to go riding with their kids. Wow, everybody, that is absolutely fantastic. And it once again just goes to show you that you can literally do anything almost just to help impact others' lives, whatever skill you might have, um, even if it's rebuilding bikes, um, she's helped thousands of people have a better day and bring joy into their lives because of it. All right, yeah, everybody. I like you enjoy listening to podcasts for inspiration, motivation, wisdom that I can apply to my life and be better, to be a better husband, dad, grandfather, and friend to all. Always trying to get better, never going backwards. Here is a recap of my top three podcast episodes of the week, everybody. And they were really good, a lot of good ones. Ed Milette. There's nothing more powerful in the world than the human soul on fire. Ed is putting out a rally cry to awaken the greatness that is already in us. He wants us to understand the most unstoppable force on earth is not money, talent, status, or circumstances. It's a human being who has ignited their spirit, discovered their purpose, and refuses to quit. Ed begins by challenging one of the biggest lies people believe that extraordinary lives are reserved for extraordinary people. He argues that greatness is not something you are born with, it is something you activate. Every single person has seeds of greatness planted within them, he says, but most people never fully ignite them because of fear, doubts, insecurity, and comfort. Too many people settle for survival instead of stepping into the life they were created for. He explains when your spirit is on fire, you become unstoppable because your inner conviction becomes stronger than your external conditions. Life may throw pain, setbacks, rejection, betrayal, failure, or hardships your way. But when your spirit burns with belief, purpose, and determination, no obstacle can permanently defeat you. The human spirit is powerful because it can rise when everything around it says stay down. Ed says your identity shapes your destiny. Most people's biggest limitation is not their circumstances, it is the story that they are telling themselves about who they are. If you believe you are broken, average, unlucky, or incapable, your life will reflect that belief. However, when you begin to see yourself as someone designed for more, capable of resilience and worthy of greatness, your life shifts completely. It's powerful. Alright, everyone, the full episode is linked in the show notes as always. Number two, how to eliminate self-doubt forever and build unshakable confidence from Mel Robbins. Mel says self-doubt is not your identity. It's a habit or a thought. And like any habit, it can be broken. She says everyone experiences self-doubt. Even the most successful people in the world hear that in hear that inner voice saying, You're not good enough. What if you fail? Or who do you think you are? The difference is not the confident people never feel doubt. The difference is they just do not obey it. Self doubt is often rooted in fear. Fear of failure, fear of judgment, and fear of not being enough. These fears are usually shaped by past experiences, criticism, comparison, or limiting beliefs that we have carried over the years. Over time those thoughts become automatic. Mel reminds us just because you think something, it does not mean that it's true. Confidence is not something you wait to feel, it's something that you build through action. Confidence is created every time you act despite fear. Every time you speak up when you're nervous. Every time you apply for the job you feel unqualified for, every time you walk away from no longer seeing you're serving yourself. You are proving to yourself that fear does not control you. The moment you feel fear, hesitation, or insecurity, count backwards. Five, four, three, two, one, and then go. This interrupts the brain's pattern of overthinking and pushes you into action before doubt can stop you. Your mind will always try to protect you by keeping you comfortable, but comfort is often the enemy of growth. Mill says comparison is the thief of confidence. Comparing your beginning to somebody else's middle is destructive. And the link for the full episode, which is fabulous, is in the show notes. Alright, number three Words That Influence Steps to Affect and Inspire Anyone by Jim Roan. Jim says words are among the most powerful tools we possess. A single sentence can change a career, save a relationship, inspire a dream, or transform a life. Why? Because the words shape emotions and emotions drive decisions. Effective communication begins with personal development. Before your words can influence others, your life must give these words credibility. People are not only inspired by what you say, but by who you are. Work on yourself first, Jim says. For things to change, you must change. If you want your words to inspire, become someone worthy to listen to. Develop wisdom, practice discipline, and build character. The more substance you have inside, the more impact your words can carry on the outside. People are moved when your life reflects your message. If you speak about hope, live with hope. If you speak about discipline, practice self discipline. If you speak about success, pursue excellence. Your words become powerful when backed by authenticity. To influence others, don't just talk about what matters, learn what matters to others. Great communicators connect their message to another person's dreams. Instead of criticizing, encourage possibility. Instead of commanding, inspire ownership. Instead of focusing on problems, paint a vision. Leadership is the ability to help people see more in themselves than they currently believe. Words like you can do this, you are made for more. This challenge can strengthen you. These phrases awaken belief. Facts inform, but emotions move people. Alright y'all, link to the full episode is in the show notes. Here we go. Time for the challenge of the week. Let's all look inside, and if we have a lot of anger and bitterness, let's let it go once and for all so we can live out a greater life. I want to remind you that you are more than enough. You have what it takes. You are a champion, and I mean that. Whose best days are straight ahead. You are loved and appreciated. Always remember, always better and never backwards. That's where we're headed. Better. Let's all live out hope, which is an acronym for helping one person every day. Think how great the world be. Everyone helping one person every day with whatever. Keep speaking words of life over yourself daily. Words like I am getting better and better every day in every way. And never ever, ever, ever stop believing and dreaming big for you and your family. Thank you, thank you, thank you once again for being a part of our great community as we roll to one million. Have an epic day and a magnificent week. God's best is yet to come. God bless us.

SPEAKER_00 27:18

Thank you once again for listening to a conversation of hope with Brett. Brett wants to remind you that you are loved and appreciated. If you found value in this episode and know someone who could use a little hope of encouragement, please like, share, and comment. Be sure to check out the show notes for links to Brett's top three podcasts of the week. Until next time, wishing you and your family an incredible weekend. And ultimately, a great life. Because you, you, you deserve it.