“In a world where great risks can bring extraordinary rewards, Tom Mullen has succeeded beyond his wildest dreams...” Now I hear it, I’ll never make it as a movie trailer voiceover guy, like that one guy, who’s done every movie trailer ever produced. Do you know his name? I looked it up and will tell you at the end of this intro. “But first, in a world where husbands and wives fight for control of the other, one couple takes a risk. They boldly enter into a difficult conversation.”

You’ll love this movie! Drama, comedy, suspense, and a happy ending...no, not that kind of happy ending! Pain is part of an intimate relationship but most of us can’t ever go there because we either avoid pain, or we turn pain into an unproductive hurt locker.

Today we learn how to have a difficult conversation. You’re going to learn about, wait for it, cue the dramatic music...the the soft start-up.

Welcome to the show, I’m your host, Michael...

Feeling flooded in tough conversations is miserable! Don't miss out on August 7th from 7pm to 9pm when I share the best thing I've ever learned to do when my heart rate gets too high in an argument.

Watch the webinar free, the toughest thing I ask of you is to register: https://www.smalleyinstitute.com/offers/FooijErY 

Your marriage is hard, now get over it

I’m continuing in the series, The Warriors Marriage, today is perhaps the simplest concept and the hardest way to be a warrior in your marriage. Your marriage is hard, circumstances seem impossible, now get over it.

Welcome to the podcast, I’m your host Michael Smalley and next, don't ignore this podcast. Keep listening. Keep trusting. Never quit, never surrender.

But first, a word from my sponsor...me! Put the podcast on hold and find hope, a way out of your current nightmare..

Attend the free webinar on August 7th, Friday night from 7pm to 9pm CST. I’m going to spend two-hours unpacking today’s strategies. Plus plenty of time for Q&A and very cool downloadable couple's exercise you can print out and use right away.

Leave a review and subscribe to the podcast. 

“No matter how bad things are, you can always make things worse.” ― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

Randolph Frederick Pausch (October...

Welcome, “Today is the 2nd part of my series on the warrior’s marriage, and you’re not going to like it...well...you’ll eventually like it but first I have to shove a few things down your throat for a second, maybe a minute.  “Welcome to the Inspiritaitonal Comedy podcast with Michael Smalley, learning doesn’t have to be boring!”

• Schedule your virtual coaching today at smalleyinstitute.com
• Attend my free live webinar August 7th

The pain is a good thang!

• Why do we avoid it?
  
  • No one likes it
  • Seems logical to avoid
• How is it a good thang?
  • You can’t know pleasure without pain
  • Relief from pain brings pleasure (Studies show when relief arrives, and it will, pleasure is better than before)
  • You bond through pain
    • It’s why camping was such fun!
  • Gives you permission to reward yourself

“There's a reason a cold beer tastes better after you've mowed the lawn or a hot chocolate tastes better after you shovel the...

Dr. John Gottman writes:

We all know what it’s like to get carried off by some rough emotional currents when we are dealing with our mate. These aren’t the day-to-day flashes of anger or hurt. I am talking about the giant waves of bad feelings that completely knock you down and take any rational thought with them. This is how it usually goes. You are in the middle of a conflict or disagreement, your partner says or does something, and suddenly you fall down a deep dark rabbit hole. The only notes you register are rage, hurt, panic, and fear.

Ever think, "Why do our arguments feel insane? I end up overwhelmed and totally discouraged"? On August 7th learn why "Flooding" derails your relationship.  More importantly, learn how to eliminate "Flooding" from your arguments! 

If you want to turn arguments from miserable moments to opportunities for deeper intimacy, educate don't degenerate by:

1. Focusing on the good and dealing with the bad
2. Take a Sacred Pause to...

Who are you?

• A crisis of life - My own journey of identity
• I had all the head knowledge
• My actions showed I didn’t actually believe it

These choices reflect who we are and what we value.

• It’s important not to identify just as a wife or a soldier. You are far more than that.
• We get in trouble when we allow our parents or society to define who we are (e.g., the pursuit of materialism, power, and appearance).
• Identity may be acquired indirectly from parents, peers, and other role models.
• Children come to define themselves in terms of how they think their parents see them.
  
  • If their parents see them as worthless, they will come to define themselves as worthless. People who perceive themselves as likable may remember more positive than negative statements.

To be more satisfied in your relationship means living in harmony with who you really are.

• You are not a reflection of the life around you.
• You aren’t just a wife, husband, warrior, or anything of this world....

28 Statements from Jesus that will Transform Your Marriage

Part 1 - The critical importance of intimacy with Jesus

Repent Matthew 4:17

1. Listen to this devotional on my podcast
2. 'From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”' Matthew 4:17
1. A true disciple is not first a learner or reader of his words.  You are a doer. In v19 Jesus says, “Come follow me”.
3. The first command of Jesus’ public ministry was, “repent”.
1. Jesus wants an inward change because nothing else will stick if you don’t first address YOU
4. Your actions need to be immediate
1. v20 “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”
2. A friend’s wife was giving a sermon where she shared this same advice, because it’s what she did.  Drugs, alcohol, miserable. Meets a janitor at the church who tells her to repent and go and tell everyone that she now believes in Jesus.
3. Repent is...

Day 6 - The time I kissed a girl and then…

Yesterday I shared the time I was patient zero in a meningitis outbreak in Conroe Texas.  Today you get to hear when I was patient zero at Kanakuk Kamp in Branson Missouri! It involves my first ever kiss with a girl I wasn’t dating and more! 

BUILD A BETTER LIFE WITH… 

• Virtual Intensives are here! 3hr, 1 day, 2 days and 3 days options.
  https://www.smalleyinstitute.com/smalley-virtual-intensives  
• Turn your relationship around during the quarantine with one of our powerful online courses.
  https://www.smalleyinstitute.com/store 
• The Comedy of Love, this isn’t just some show, it’s a comedic learning experience! https://www.smalleyinstitute.com/comedy-of-love 

Real or Messed up Quarantine Family Fun Tips

Exploding Kittens

YOU PUT THE CARDS ON THE TABLE AND TAKE TURNS DRAWING FROM THEM.

Playing Exploding Kittens

IF YOU DRAW AN EXPLODING KITTEN CARD, YOU EXPLODE. WHEN YOU...

Day 5 - Abducted in India

Today’s show features a game you can play as a family, it’s my own family’s favorite game! I’ll just give you the subtitle which says it all…”Build a Unicorn Army. Betray your friends. Unicorns are your friends now.”  And then, you’ll get the story of when I was abducted in India.  Yes, I’ve been abducted before and you won’t believe what it lead to!

BUILD A BETTER LIFE WITH… 

• Virtual Intensives are here! 3hr, 1 day, 2 days and 3 days options.
  https://www.smalleyinstitute.com/smalley-virtual-intensives  
• Turn your relationship around during the quarantine with one of our powerful online courses.
  https://www.smalleyinstitute.com/store 
• The Comedy of Love, this isn’t just some show, it’s a comedic learning experience! https://www.smalleyinstitute.com/comedy-of-love 

Unstable Unicorns is a strategic card game about everyone’s two favorite...

Day 4 - Surprise colon exams

On today’s Comedy Hour (not quite an hour) America is great again, Real or Messed up Quarantine Family Fun Tips and a man’s worst fear…surprise colon checks!

New York retired doctors and nurses!

BUILD A BETTER LIFE!

• Virtual Intensives are here! 3hr, 1 day, 2 days and 3 days options.
  https://www.smalleyinstitute.com/smalley-virtual-intensives 
• Turn your relationship around during the quarantine with one of our powerful online courses.
  https://www.smalleyinstitute.com/store
• The Comedy of Love, this isn’t just some show, it’s a comedic learning experience! https://www.smalleyinstitute.com/comedy-of-love

Real or Messed up Quarantine Family Fun Tips

• The Great Race, Coronavirus Edition:  Get your family out and about your town or city and see who…ok, I can’t take this one any further, and honestly, I just wanted to make sure everyone knew about the latest Darwin Award winner!
  • Here’s the headline...