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Authority Magazine: Best-Selling Author of Mastering Adversity Lance Essihos
Daily journal practice. This can look like a brain dump where you just write whatever is on your mind for 20 minutes and or incorporate a gratitude list and write down 10 things you are grateful for and why. Then read them over and say thank you after.
From an objective standpoint, we are living in an unprecedented era of abundance. Yet so many of us are feeling unsatisfied. Why are we seemingly so insatiable? What is going on inside of us that is making us feel unsatisfied? What is the brain chemistry that makes us feel this way? Is our brain wired for endless insatiable consumption? What can we do about it? In this interview series, we are talking to credentialed experts such as psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, brain science experts, as well as spiritual and religious leaders, and mind-body-spirit coaches, to address why so many of us are feeling unsatisfied & what we can do about it.
As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Lance W Essihos.
Lance W Essihos is the host of the University of Adversity Podcast. He created this podcast to help people learn from stories of adversity, which has ranked Top 50 on iTunes Worldwide and the Top #5 in Entrepreneur Magazine’s 20 Podcasts That Will Help You Grow in 2020 List.
Lance W Essihos is a top-ranking podcast host on Apple Podcast, Spotify, YouTube, and more. He created a platform so that people can learn from stories of adversity, grit, and success. He has interviewed over 300 inspirational people all over the world which has seen global success, ranking in the top 20 on Apple podcast charts in Canada and the Top 100 in all major markets, including and not limited to Australia, Japan, Uk, and the USA.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to know how you got from “there to here.” Inspire us with your backstory! After losing his chance of becoming a professional hockey player, Lance found himself in the midst of an identity crisis. Directionless and bereft of his dream, Lance spent many years searching for his purpose in the world, drawn to the night-life industry fulfilling his craving for adventure and the hedonism that comes with a bad-boy lifestyle. Death and despair shortly followed and it was time to pour this pain into something more purposeful.
After decades of heartbreak, loss of loved ones, and numerous business failures, Lance was able to uncover the behavioural patterns that arise in hard times. These experiences led to Lance’s life’s mission of helping the world alchemize their rock bottom into personal power. Through his own personal development journey working with countless healers, experts, and leaders in the field of adversity and personal struggle, Lance has discovered the greatest tool to get you to the other side of your darkest moments: Becoming the Warrior.
Lance Essihos, a Canada native and world traveler, has made it his life’s mission to help heal the world through the art of powerful storytelling and human connection. He is the host of the top-rated podcast University of Adversity, motivating hundreds of thousands of listeners to turn their darkest days into their greatest motivators. He has interviewed over 350 renowned people all over the globe, including world-class entrepreneurs, pro athletes, celebrities, doctors, spiritual masters, and the common heroes among us. Lance is the Founder & CEO of Mic-Up Media, an agency that helps founders and visionary leaders grow their businesses, brands, and networks through podcasting and storytelling.
What lessons would you share with yourself if you had the opportunity to meet your younger self? I would give them a big hug and tell them to focus on these 3 things. Discipline, confidence, and belief. If you can maximize these you are unstoppable.
Mastering the daily habits and discipline will create more confidence within yourself. More confidence will help create a deeper level of belief in yourself. Whatever you need to do to figure out how to believe in whatever it is you want to create, you must commit to doing it. It may take healing, it may take pain, it may take a lot of work, but developing that level of belief will be what propels you ahead of the rest. Because belief In yourself is what separates the people who reach their full potential Vs people who don’t.
None of us are able to experience success without support along the way. Is there a particular person for whom you are grateful because of the support they gave you to grow you from “there to here?” Can you share that story and why you are grateful for them? My first first mentor and friend Balazs W Kardos. He saw the potential in me and helped push me into the direction of personal development and new opportunities. He helped me see what I was capable of and has been very supportive in my journey ever since.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think it might help people? I am excited for my brand new book “Mastering Adversity” unlock the warrior within and turn your biggest struggles into your greatest gifts. It has been the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life.I poured out my heart into the book through vulnerabile stories, and provided a real framework for how to move through life’s most difficult challenges, and take complete ownership of their lives.
How are societies different? For example, capitalistic societies trade differently than communists. Developed nations trade differently than developing nations. In your opinion, how does society shape a human’s experience and feelings of satisfaction? I’m not sure if this is the right answer but I’m a big believer of self education and accountability. I don’t think all capitalism is bad and 100 percent don’t agree with communism as we have seen time and time again that it doesn’t work. I think it’s important for each individual to realize what is important to them and why and ask themselves if this is actually true to them or are they living out someone else’s narrative.
Most people don’t give themselves the time and space to answer these questions. Then from there it’s important to seek out mentorship and an education that brings you closer to what you want or believe. I don’t believe in being a victim to circumstances and believe we need to take complete ownership on who and what we allow in our minds to influence how we operate. If each individual takes complete ownership of their life and is accountable for themselves we would solve a lot of problems .. again not sure if this was the answer you were looking for.
With a specific focus on brain function, how has the brain and its dominion over the body and beliefs been impacted by the societal construct? Mental health is a real issue. And I think this is the most important topic that needs to be addressed. People are more Connected to devices than ever, and less connected to themselves and nature than ever before. I believe that a lot of people leading the world are struggling with unrelated trauma which leads to projectioning of that trauma onto everyone around them. We have created a fear based world which is unfortunately what creates divide, lack, and fear.. unfortunately this is how they sell us things. If we were all to Commit to healing ourselves of our own traumas and insecurities, we would need less from external objects or validation from others. The feeling that we aren’t enough will constantly perpetuate the want to consume more. I believe there is a way to create conscious capitalism and not prey on people’s insecurities, fears and Weaknesses to sell a product or get people to buy into a narrative.
Do you think the way our society markets and advertises goods and services, has affected people’s feelings of satisfaction? Can you explain what you mean? Absolutely. Like I mentioned before the creation of divide, separation and fear is what most companies use to sell us stuff we don’t really need. Buying the next thing will never fill the void. Doing the work on yourself creates a level of wholeness so that you don’t feel the need to keep buying the next big thing to bring you joy, or impress someone with. The more whole we are and feel within ourselves the less we need from outside of us..
How is the wiring of the brain, body, and beliefs shaped by marketing, language, and how humans trade? It’s all psychology. Create a feeling of lack, fear, and sell the product. I believe scarcity isn’t all bad if You are selling something to someone that actually needs it. But in most cases it isn’t done that place. It’s created to make a person not feel enough, and you will only feel enough if you have this. And then that goes away and you want the next thing.
I work in marketing so I’m very cognizant of this question. In your opinion, how do you think marketing professionals can be more responsible for how their advertising shapes humans’ health and experience of happiness overall? I think by helping people connect to their intuition and discover the uniqueness within them they can offer the world as a service. I think a lot of what people call success is just making money, but there is more to that in developing real fulfillment. I think encouraging people to connect to the truth of who they are and harness that into life. Your purpose and passion will be what propels you further ahead in a meaningful life.
I think if we use scarcity tactics and traditional marketing it can be effective depending on the context and if the thing that’s being sold actually helps the human get form AtoB Vs just wasting money on a liability. I think we are going to shift into a new economy where the real success is turning what you love into a profitable business and creating a great network and community of people who share the same mindset.
For you personally, if you have all your basic needs met, do you feel you have enough in life? Some days, yes. Some days no. The days I do are the days I do my daily practices like meditation, journaling, reading and working when I’m out. When I fall out of the good habits and on social media too much, I start to feel a lack and need for more
That I don’t believe is really true. That’s why social media and our phones can be so dangerous at times for making us feel like we need things outside of ourselves.
Okay, fantastic. Here is the main question of our interview: Can you share with our readers your “5 things we can each do to address the feeling of not having enough.”
Focus on gratitude. Shift the question to What do I have or what is going well for me? Vs what I don’t have or what isn’t working?
Meditation- Minimum 20 minutes a day I find is most helpful for me
Daily journal practice. This can look like a brain dump where you just write whatever is on your mind for 20 minutes and or incorporate a gratitude list and write down 10 things you are grateful for and why. Then read them over and say thank you after.
Read 10 pages or 20 minutes a day. Fill your brain with knowledge.
Move your body! Exercise can help change your state almost better than anything. So if you push yourself and get a good sweat not only will the endorphins be flowing but you will be more accomplished
If someone commits to those everyday for 30 days they will notice a massive shift in how they see and feel about life. I know because I’ve done it.
Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or resources that have inspired you to live with more joy in life?
I think for what we are talking about here Atomic Habits is a good place to start to build better habits.
The power of now was the book that shifted things for me in a big way ten years ago and planted a seed.
And of course my book 😉 Mastering Adversity
Fav podcast: Joe Rogan, Aubrey Marcus, Tom Bilyeu, Lewis Howes
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
Inspire people to face their shadows and commit to healing their wounds and trauma. And when one person decides to do so then it inspires others around them to do the same. That’s how we make real lasting change happen.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
Follow me on IG
My podcasts University of Adversity
And my new book MASTERING ADVERSITY
Website: lanceessihos.com
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
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