ThriveologyStress – Thriveology

Food to Thrive

Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. — Thu, 01 May 2025 10:00:41 +0000

One of my favorite things about doing this podcast is meeting some very cool guests. And on this episode, I had the chance to talk with Dr. Colin Zhu, a holistic doctor and chef extraordinaire. Why the chef part? Because Colin sees so many areas of health and wholeness that is touched by a good diet… along with the consequences of poor dietary choices.

A life-long advocate for healing and holistic care, Colin developed his Thr5 (Thrive) Protocol (with 5 pillars to follow). But as he continued his clinical work and his studies, Colin saw a missing element for self-care. At the roots of many lifestyle illnesses (diabetes, strokes, and cardiac illness, for example) was the eating patterns of patients/clients. The idea of “Food as Medicine” is one pillar of his protocol, and the focus of his upcoming book: The Empowered Kitchen.

In our chat, Colin discusses the earlier influences that led him to his holistic outlook. We also cover his Thr5 Protocol pillars, and talk about his latest project.

Listen below to discover how you can thrive on the 5 pillars… and how your eating may make all the difference.

RELATED RESOURCES:
Dr. Colin Zhu’s Website
His Book: The Empowered Kitchen

Monkeys, a Circus, and You

Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 10:00:34 +0000

One of my favorite sayings is “Not my circus, not my monkey.”

Evidently, this is a Polish proverb: Not my circus, not my monkey.

Maybe it is because I have an affinity for monkeys, but I love the meaning of that.

Am I caught up trying to deal with someone else’s circus or monkey? Am I trying to deal with an issue over which I have no control, and maybe not even a stake?

We do that.

Friends are fighting, and we get in the middle. Family members are angry with each other, and we intervene. Office squabbles (in which we have no stake) pull us in. We make the circus our own, and try to take over that monkey.

When I was growing up, we had another saying: “I don’t have a dog in that fight.”

Something is happening around us, and we involve ourselves.

But if we involve ourselves when it is not our issue, not our fight, and has little bearing on our own lives, we usually end up on the losing side.

Communication theorists talk about this as creating a triangle. The reason for the triangle is an attempt to lower the level of conflict. It is an attempt to stabilize the situation. But instead of stabilizing, it only serves to destabilize, pull energy, and entrap bystanders.

We can thank our ancient ancestors for this tendency. But it is up to us to not pretend we have a dog in the fight. It is up to us to remember it is someone else’s circus, someone else’s monkey.

Learn how to distinguish your involvement in this podcast. Listen below.

Unlooping Loops

Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 10:00:11 +0000

It’s just human nature. We like things finished

And when they’re not, they can often tug at us, pulling energy and focus away. When things are left hanging, we feel (oh, by the way, the last word from that first line is “finished”) incomplete, unfinished, unsatisfied. Did you feel that sensation when you realized a word was missing… and it bugged you? Unfinished loop.

So, what is a “Loop?” Great question. This one concept, if you understand it, will help you get free. If you feel stuck, this is something you need to understand. More than that, this is one of the most. . .

Tell you what, I’ll let you listen and hear for yourself.

Hang in There!

Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:00:27 +0000

Life is tough.

Not always. But along the way. And even after you get past one struggle, that doesn’t mean there isn’t another one up ahead. That’s just the nature of life.

It doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong or that the world, God, or the Universe is out to teach you a lesson. It’s just the nature of life.

You may notice 2 crowds. First is the “Grind Culture” that just says to suck it up, keep on grinding, and MAKE it work. They have a point that you have to get through some tough times. But sometimes, it is wise to step back and ask if the fight is worth it.

Then there is the “Sign Culture.” That group tells you that any struggle is an indication you are on the wrong path, that something is wrong with you, and that life “should” be easy… if you are doing it right. They have a point that sometimes, a struggle is pointing to you moving the wrong way… swimming upstream. But the fact is, life means struggles… at times.

So what do you do to hold up when life gets you down?

We discuss it… and 5 things to do… on this episode of the Thriveology Podcast. Listen below.

Start Here

Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 14:57:58 +0000

“Where should I start?”, my client asked.

Lots of times, we want to make changes, we want things to be different. And sometimes, we want things to be different before we make any changes.

We want a different starting point.

If you’ve ever been at a park or mall, looking at the map to figure out where to go, you might notice that one very important feature, “You Are Here.” It points to the spot where you are now.

Not where you want to go. Not where you want to be.

But where you are.

If you are at the mall and see the store you want… on the other side of the mall, you might wish you were standing nearby, near the destination store. Not all the way across the mall.

But if you are on the other side of the mall, that is where you are. Navigating to the destination from a closer point — a point where you are NOT — is not likely to be effective.

You start where you are.

And you might just find… it is a pretty good place to start.

Listen to this podcast episode for how to start where you are, and why where you are is a pretty good place to start.

RELATED RESOURCES
Accepting What Is
Limiting Beliefs
Making Changes
Book: The Immutable Laws of Living

Calm in Crazy Times

Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 21:30:38 +0000

Have you seen the meme that caught my eye?:

I really wish I weren’t living through a major historical event right now!

I feel that! But here is the thing I am realizing — historic events are happening on a very regular basis. We aren’t living through the first pandemic (nor will it be the last). This isn’t the first time we have had political upheaval and polarization (nor will it be the last). This isn’t the first time an unpredictable war has rocked a nation (and unfortunately, it won’t be the last).

I could go on and on. But you get the point. We are living through historic events. As have others, through every other historic event.

Sometimes, I wonder how future generations will look back on us, what we are going through, and how we went through it. Will they believe they could have done better? Will they think we learned anything? I wonder….

We get caught up in worrying about events all around us. And that can lead to anxiety, frustration, and inaction. Nothing changes.

As a client told me years ago, “Its not like I’m not doing anything! I am worrying!” My client felt like that was doing something. Indeed, her brain was spinning. But nothing was changing. Nothing was happening.

How DO you find calm in these crazy times? We talk about it in this episode of the Thriveology Podcast. Listen below.

Finding Compassion

Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 21:10:35 +0000

The Thrive Code

Over the past 7 episodes, we have been building our Thrive Code. The code to follow that allows us to thrive, and also the code that runs your system, like computer code. And we are closing in on the finish line!

We bring the series to an end in this episode. The final piece of the Thrive Code is all about how we feel about others. Do we see others as “other” or as connected to us? Do we use compassion or do we objectify?

I have a built in belief that we are born with compassion. Babies and children have a natural compassionate response to others in pain. But many times, people are taught to not have a compassionate response. We are taught beliefs about why others are having problems. Often, those beliefs are based in blame and condemnation.

It is no surprise, then, that we are living in a compassion crisis. Both in terms of compassion for others and self-compassion.

Is there a way back? Yes! And it starts with understanding exactly what compassion is, where it comes from, why we lose it, and how we can cultivate it. Learn more in this episode of the Thriveology Podcast.

Listen below.

Redux: Merry Stressness!

Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 15:09:48 +0000

And just like that, the Holiday season is upon us! All the hustle and bustle. All the events. All the demands… in the midst of a time that you want to be enjoyable, meaningful, and manageable!

Why the stress?

In a repeat of last year’s podcast (since we still have that holiday stress!), I discuss the causes of holiday stress. But more importantly, I cover the ways to cope with holiday stress.

Don’t let stress rob you of the deeper meanings and connections of this holiday season.

What Is Stress?

Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:34:49 +0000

I bet you hear it as much as I do. You may even say it. “I’m so stressed!” The malady of the modern age. Stressed out, exhausted, and frustrated.

But what IS stress?

As much as we toss that term around, sometimes almost as a badge of honor, you may not think about what that term is REALLY about.

These days, I tend to push my body, physically. I take a good long walk in the morning, usually do a workout after that, then go to jiu jitsu 3 to 5 evenings per week. My body can, indeed, get stressed.

When we talk about “stress,” in everyday life, we are more talking about psychological stress. Which is really just a term for something else. Something we’d rather not claim.

But once we recognize what it really is, we can do something about it. So, let’s figure out why we stress… and what we can do about it.

Listen below to this episode of the Thriveology Podcast.

When Life Knocks You Down

Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. — Mon, 03 May 2021 11:00:15 +0000

Life has a way of knocking us down. Every single person. Life hits hard sometimes, and softer sometimes. But life will knock us down. Not once. Not twice. But many times.

Many people get stuck trying to figure out what it means. I am more focused on what we do.

How do we keep moving forward? How do we find our balance again? How do we face another day?

But there it is, right there. There will be another day. The sun will rise again tomorrow. Which is why we have to decide how we are going to respond when life trips us up and knocks us down.

In this episode of the Thriveology Podcast, I discuss how we can thrive through the tough times (even because of the tough times) and find a path through life, even when life bumps us and trips us… even knocks us down.

Listen below.