Chapter 18: The Beginner in Us

While doing some yard work, Mike was poked by a thorn on his wife's rose bush. When he stepped back because of the pain, he was struck by the bush's beauty.Life comes with amazing moments, but also comes with its fair share of pain and challenges. How do we find the beauty in life while, at times, it attempts to simultaneously pull us down? Are you in your thorns or your petals? And how do we get the most out of both?Mike takes you through his own experiences in this week's episode of "The Prequel."Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and follow, rate wherever you get your podcasts! Don't forget to pick up merchandise from Mike's online shop: https://tinyurl.com/MuchLoveMerchBuy Heartbeats: https://tinyurl.com/tfrry7ezAnd don't forget to follow Mike on the following social media platforms:- Twitter:  @MikeAzzalina- Facebook: Mike Azzalina- Instagram: @azzalinam- TikTok: @MikeAzzalina5- LinkedIn: Mike Azzalina- www.MikeAzzalina.com

"I wish there was more time in the day." A phrase we have all uttered more than once in our lives is Mike's focus in this week's episode. He reflects on his younger days when being the first one done or getting onto the next thing was all that mattered. What he quickly learned that it is important to move slow because, in the end, success catches up to you.In this episode, he shares how he finds success and happiness through that idea of slowing down.Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and follow, rate wherever you get your podcasts! Don't forget to pick up merchandise from Mike's online shop: https://tinyurl.com/MuchLoveMerchBuy Heartbeats: https://tinyurl.com/tfrry7ezAnd don't forget to follow Mike on the following social media platforms:- Twitter:  @MikeAzzalina- Facebook: Mike Azzalina- Instagram: @azzalinam- TikTok: @MikeAzzalina5- LinkedIn: Mike Azzalina- www.MikeAzzalina.com

Join Mike for another episode as he takes a look why we fear being in the spotlight throughout our lives. As an introvert, Mike can find many moments that being the center of attention has made him nervous. However, he has come to learn that everyone being focused on him is a story that he has been telling himself.So how do we avoid the "Spotlight Complex" and pull others into this perceived nightmare scenario? Check out Mike's newest episode for ideas!Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and follow, rate wherever you get your podcasts! Don't forget to pick up merchandise from Mike's online shop: https://tinyurl.com/MuchLoveMerchBuy Heartbeats: https://tinyurl.com/tfrry7ezAnd don't forget to follow Mike on the following social media platforms:- Twitter:  @MikeAzzalina- Facebook: Mike Azzalina- Instagram: @azzalinam- TikTok: @MikeAzzalina5- LinkedIn: Mike Azzalina- www.MikeAzzalina.com

As human beings, it is very easy to get caught up being a cog in the wheel of helping others accomplish what is important to them. In this episode, Mike reminds us to be the wheel. His message is simple: Do what is important to YOU! The question he asks may shock some of you, but Mike believes it is a valuable question to answer if we are truly going to start focusing on what is important to us!Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and follow, rate wherever you get your podcasts! Don't forget to pick up merchandise from Mike's online shop: https://tinyurl.com/MuchLoveMerchBuy Heartbeats: https://tinyurl.com/tfrry7ezAnd don't forget to follow Mike on the following social media platforms:- Twitter:  @MikeAzzalina- Facebook: Mike Azzalina- Instagram: @azzalinam- TikTok: @MikeAzzalina5- LinkedIn: Mike Azzalina- www.MikeAzzalina.com

On this episode of "The Prequel", Mike answers a question he is asked very often. How do we avoid the idea of "Toxic Positivity" or trying to force others to only feel positive emotions despite what their experiences are. He dives into the difference between realistic positivity, creating a brave space for belonging, and allowing people to experience life however they need to in the moment.Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and follow, rate wherever you get your podcasts! Don't forget to pick up merchandise from Mike's online shop: https://tinyurl.com/MuchLoveMerchAnd don't forget to follow Mike on the following social media platforms:- Twitter:  @MikeAzzalina- Facebook: Mike Azzalina- Instagram: @azzalinam- TikTok: @MikeAzzalina5- LinkedIn: Mike Azzalina- www.MikeAzzalina.com

Mike spends this episode of "The Prequel" pushing an important reminder. As life presents us new opportunities, we have all sorts of emotions attached to them. We might feel nervous, excited, joy, thrill, and more. Being a beginner comes with a sense of excitement (and maybe a side of nerves). As we settle in, it is possible that the joy subsides. Mike reminds us to always keep a bit of "beginner" inside of our hearts.Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and follow, rate wherever you get your podcasts! Don't forget to pick up merchandise from Mike's online shop: https://tinyurl.com/MuchLoveMerchAnd don't forget to follow Mike on the following social media platforms:- Twitter:  @MikeAzzalina- Facebook: Mike Azzalina- Instagram: @azzalinam- TikTok: @MikeAzzalina5- LinkedIn: Mike Azzalina- www.MikeAzzalina.com

We are back for another episode of "The Prequel" and Mike is looking back to look ahead. He reminds us that sometimes in life, reflection can take us further than rushing too far ahead of ourselves. The ability to slow down and understand the experiences we confront on our journeys help us learn how to show up down the road.Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and follow, rate wherever you get your podcasts! Don't forget to pick up merchandise from Mike's online shop: https://tinyurl.com/MuchLoveMerchAnd don't forget to follow Mike on the following social media platforms:- Twitter:  @MikeAzzalina- Facebook: Mike Azzalina- Instagram: @azzalinam- TikTok: @MikeAzzalina5- LinkedIn: Mike Azzalina- www.MikeAzzalina.com

"The Prequel" is back and taking a look at our measure of perfection. Mike walks us through toward the idea that we are forever a work in progress. He challenges us to never stop working on ourselves and discusses ways in which he has been able to continue working on himself throughout his own life.As Mike says in the episode, "Human being is a verb...We are all a work in progress."Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and follow, rate wherever you get your podcasts! Don't forget to pick up merchandise from Mike's online shop: https://tinyurl.com/MuchLoveMerchAnd don't forget to follow Mike on the following social media platforms:- Twitter:  @MikeAzzalina- Facebook: Mike Azzalina- Instagram: @azzalinam- TikTok: @MikeAzzalina5- LinkedIn: Mike Azzalina- www.MikeAzzalina.com

On this week's episode of "The Prequel," Mike reflects on the limitless opportunities we have each day to make a difference in the world. How do we take advantage of it? Are we scared of taking the steps we have to take? Do our thoughts get in the way while others are out there doing what we can to add to our own greatness?Mike takes us on the reflective journey of how we can live limitlessly in a world where we are often pausing in fear of rejection or failure.Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and follow, rate wherever you get your podcasts! And don't forget to follow Mike on the following social media platforms:- Twitter:  @MikeAzzalina- Facebook: Mike Azzalina- Instagram: @azzalinam- TikTok: @MikeAzzalina5- LinkedIn: Mike Azzalina- www.MikeAzzalina.com

Another week and another episode of "The Prequel" is here! In this episode, Mike focuses on how we can be someone's favorite person. He discusses one of his favorite songs and the ways in which we can live out the important lyrics in simple ways for the people we meet in our daily lives.Mike pushes us to move past the idea that making a HUGE difference has to be a HUGE act beyond our means.Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and follow, rate wherever you get your podcasts! And don't forget to follow Mike on the following social media platforms:- Twitter:  @MikeAzzalina- Facebook: Mike Azzalina- Instagram: @azzalinam- TikTok: @MikeAzzalina5- LinkedIn: Mike Azzalina- www.MikeAzzalina.com