In this episode of Friday Feelings, Jenelle Friday sits down with speaker, coach, and podcast host Bob Mathers to ask a simple question with big consequences: Are you waiting for change, or choosing it? Bob shares the two moments that reshaped his life - getting sober after decades of weekend drinking and facing his son’s sudden brain surgery and how those experiences moved him from coasting to living with intention.

Together, Jenelle and Bob connect story to science. Jenelle breaks down the amygdala–hypothalamus–prefrontal cortex loop and how fear, habit, and chemistry keep us stuck. Bob shows what interrupting that loop looks like in real time: prioritizing sleep, scheduling “high-energy” work before 11 a.m., and adopting Morning Pages to find his voice onstage, with clients, and online. They also explore the practice of savoring positive moments for about 17 seconds to counter negativity bias, and Bob’s “Cookie Jar” — a simple way to bank proof of past wins so you can act with courage when your brain throws up doubt.

If you’ve been feeling the pull to change but don’t know where to start, this conversation gives you a blueprint. You’ll walk away with practical steps to journal without judgment, protect your best creative hours, slow down for small joys, and choose intentional action when the old pattern calls you back.

Resources:

Connect with Bob on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmathers/)
Listen to The Growth Mixtape podcast (https://open.spotify.com/show/4yJWl0GtV3wgVGzsoMysq6?si=8149fff0304c4dd5)
Explore Bob’s speaking and work: bobmathers.ca
Morning Pages from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron (https://a.co/d/1J38SNc)
Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins (the “Cookie Jar” concept) (https://a.co/d/2E75Z9f)
Quote referenced: “Take responsibility for the energy you bring to this place.” — Oprah Winfrey

Referenced ideas and tools:

Energy mapping your day to match work with your natural peaks
Morning Pages: three handwritten pages first thing in the morning, no editing, no sharing
Savoring: linger with a positive moment for ~17 seconds
The Cookie Jar: write past wins on notes and pull one when you need courage

Whether you’re rebuilding after a hard season or simply ready to stop running on autopilot, this episode invites you to pause, choose, and lead your life on purpose.