432: What If Tomorrow Could Be Different… Because You Decided to Love Bigger? (A Life-Changing Mindset Shift)

Kevin Lowe: What is up, my friend, and welcome back to the podcast.

Kevin Lowe: I am your host, Kevin Lowe, and in case you are new here, well, first and foremost, welcome to Great Grace and Inspiration.

Kevin Lowe: This is the podcast for the moments life didn't prepare you for and the mindset it takes to rise anyways.

Kevin Lowe: Now, I'm going to dive into today's topic, but I got to give you a little understanding of why this topic hits home maybe.

Kevin Lowe: More than it Did when I first created the outline for today's episode.

Kevin Lowe: This idea is that I want you to wake up tomorrow morning and start deciding to love a little bigger.

Kevin Lowe: Now, when I came up with this concept.

Kevin Lowe: I was thinking it had to relate with Valentine's Day.

Kevin Lowe: Yes, you know, the holiday for all the couples in our lives.

Kevin Lowe: If you are a couple, Well, you know what I'm talking about. If you're single, you also know what I'm talking about.

Kevin Lowe: But I was thinking this had to do with that.

Kevin Lowe: With Valentine's Day. What I didn't Realize is what would happen in between before I would actually record today's episode. And that was a moment that completely changed my mindset And.

Kevin Lowe: I believe maybe It's going to change my life, And that is last weekend on a random Saturday morning, a routine visit to the barbershop.

Kevin Lowe: I believe in all my heart that I almost died.

Kevin Lowe: If you receive my monthly newsletter.

Kevin Lowe: You already heard the story. A lot of you responded.

Kevin Lowe: And for every one of you who did respond to the newsletter that went out, I want to thank you in the most sincere way possible.

Kevin Lowe: Your support means the world to me. But in the newsletter, I shared the story.

Kevin Lowe: And basically, just a really shortened version of that is the simple fact that I was at the barbershop just on a normal routine Saturday.

Kevin Lowe: And all of a sudden, I had sat up in the chair and remember telling my barber that.

Kevin Lowe: Man, I don't feel good.

Kevin Lowe: And it was instant, instant that I said, I don't feel good.

Kevin Lowe: At the same point, It was like my ears were completely clogged and boom. Without warning, I completely passed out.

Kevin Lowe: When I woke up, it was almost 10 minutes later before I came to.

Kevin Lowe: And the barbershop had been filled with firemen and EMTs.

Kevin Lowe: Everybody working on me.

Kevin Lowe: They were putting in IVs, trying to get me stable.

Kevin Lowe: Apparently, my blood pressure had completely just plummeted without warning.

Kevin Lowe: And as I lied there in the chair, everything still just sounded like I was in this big fog.

Kevin Lowe: And I can remember so clearly, though, that.

Kevin Lowe: thinking, let me rephrase that.

Kevin Lowe: I wasn't thinking.

Kevin Lowe: I was just knowing.

Kevin Lowe: I was going through it.

Kevin Lowe: That I was dying.

Kevin Lowe: And I knew all I had to do was.

Kevin Lowe: Just go to sleep. And I was so tired, And that's all I wanted to do. And I kept saying.

Kevin Lowe: I just want to go to sleep. And the firemen and EMTs, They kept telling me, no, no, just keep breathing, Kevin. Keep breathing.

Kevin Lowe: And in that moment, I can remember I had these different little thoughts, I guess, that were going through my mind.

Kevin Lowe: And the ones I remember was Just being so at peace.

Kevin Lowe: I wasn't scared. And yet I was so grateful that that morning I got To see my sister.

Kevin Lowe: One last time before I had left to go to the barbershop. I truly believe that I was a breath away From dying that day. And yet for some reason, I kept breathing.

Kevin Lowe: Long story short, they would eventually get me stable enough that they would get me transferred out of the chair at the barbershop and.

Kevin Lowe: Load me into an Ambulance where they would take me to the hospital.

Kevin Lowe: And at the hospital, I would stay there for roughly about 24 hours.

Kevin Lowe: Basically under observation, but it was really scary.

Kevin Lowe: It was really close. They had to give me some pretty strong medications to even get my blood Pressure to come back up.

Kevin Lowe: It was a moment that made you really understand how precious every breath we take is. When I came home from the hospital, I remember just breaking down multiple times.

Kevin Lowe: Something as simple as walking into my recording studio just to grab my laptop computer.

Kevin Lowe: And yet, I broke down because I didn't think I would ever walk back into this room again.

Kevin Lowe: So, I share that story with you because I want you to understand that what I'm going to talk about today.

Kevin Lowe: It means everything. The idea of us making an intentional decision to wake up every morning and love a little bigger. So many times, We all go through life wanting things to be different. hoping for something to change in our life.

Kevin Lowe: And so many times we think, you know, I'll be happier when everything calms down.

Kevin Lowe: Or maybe I'll work on being more patient when I don't have so much stress in my life.

Kevin Lowe: Or how many times do we think, Yeah, I'll start showing up for people when.

Kevin Lowe: They start showing Up for me. And the problem with all of this is the simple fact that it's all relying on someone else, on something else, for us to be able to act how we should be acting.

Kevin Lowe: Instead, today, I'm wanting us all to begin to look at things differently.

Kevin Lowe: That what if we hold the key? What if the power is in our hands.

Kevin Lowe: In your hands?

Kevin Lowe: By you deciding to show up to life differently, what if that starts to impact everything else around you?

Kevin Lowe: So what I'm Saying is maybe the reason things in your life maybe feel broken, like things aren't going so great, relationships, work, life in general.

Kevin Lowe: What if it's Maybe because you've had your love turned down a little too low?

Kevin Lowe: Because let's face it, life teaches us that bad things do happen.

Kevin Lowe: We put our guard up. We blockade everything from entering because we don't want to get hurt again.

Kevin Lowe: And so we start going through life.

Kevin Lowe: Living with this shield up, Blocking ourselves because we're trying to protect ourselves.

Kevin Lowe: And in doing so, what harm are We actually causing to ourselves?

Kevin Lowe: Because we're not Meant to go through life alone. We're not meant to go through life with our guard up.

Kevin Lowe: We're meant to love bigger. We're meant to experience love, love in all of its many ways.

Kevin Lowe: So what I'm asking you to do is to think to yourself.

Kevin Lowe: How can I begin to turn up the volume on my love? Not all the way.

Kevin Lowe: I'm not talking about perfection. I'm just talking about turning up the dial a little bit.

Kevin Lowe: If you've been loving at 40%, why not crank it up to 60% and.

Kevin Lowe: See what that Might do?

Kevin Lowe: Now, what does loving bigger even look like?

Kevin Lowe: What does loving bigger even mean? Well, let me break it down for you.

Kevin Lowe: Well, first and foremost, loving bigger does not mean getting softer.

Kevin Lowe: It doesn't mean That I want you to become a doormat.

Kevin Lowe: And it does not Mean letting people disrespect you, run all over you. That is not what loving bigger is.

Kevin Lowe: Instead, loving bigger means that you start showing up to life with intention instead of living on autopilot.

Kevin Lowe: You start prioritizing connection over control.

Kevin Lowe: And you always lead with love rather than waiting to be loved first.

Kevin Lowe: Basically, it's not love perfectly or not perfect love, but rather love on purpose.

Kevin Lowe: Now, you might be thinking, Yeah, well, this sounds kind of corny and I don't really get it.

Kevin Lowe: But I'm here to tell you it's not so corny.

Kevin Lowe: If you're thinking that, It's because I'm just not doing a good job at selling it. But basically, I.

Kevin Lowe: Just want you to Think of it like this. The world needs you to show up as your best In.

Kevin Lowe: Order for the World to show up as its best All of our energy that we radiate It comes back to us And.

Kevin Lowe: If you can Start showing up better Bigger, loving bigger I believe the world's going to respond, So at this point, let's talk about what loving bigger actually might look like in your life.

Kevin Lowe: It can be something simple as you saying good morning, Like you mean it, not just part of your routine, not just on autopilot.

Kevin Lowe: Again, we are living with intention saying good morning, Like you mean it saying, I love you like you mean it.

Kevin Lowe: It's you, in the middle of the day, Actually taking the time to send the text message to the person that you've been thinking about.

Kevin Lowe: It can also just look like you actually complimenting somebody out loud rather than silently.

Kevin Lowe: Instead of you thinking To yourself as you pass your coworker in the hallway that, oh, wow, she's looking good today.

Kevin Lowe: Why not actually say it out loud?

Kevin Lowe: Or maybe it Looks like you being sure that when you're talking with somebody.

Kevin Lowe: You're actually truly Engaged just in that conversation.

Kevin Lowe: How many times do We have a conversation while also scrolling on our phone, while also paying attention to what's.

Kevin Lowe: Happening over there, Or thinking about this? Everything but what the person is saying is right in front of us. For you drivers out there in the audience, maybe it's you letting somebody in.

Kevin Lowe: You pausing for a moment to make somebody's day by simply letting them merge In front of you. I know it doesn't take an amazing effort here.

Kevin Lowe: It's little things like that that are what Loving Bigger Really looks like. And here is my biggest and final example of what loving bigger looks like, is.

Kevin Lowe: How many times Do all of us see somebody and say the simple words of.

Kevin Lowe: Hey, how are you? And then we just Go on about our day. We don't more expect them to respond.

Kevin Lowe: And we certainly aren't there to actually listen, Because quite honestly, who really cares?

Kevin Lowe: Instead, what if you actually ask that simple question and anticipate a response?

Kevin Lowe: You are waiting For them to actually tell you how they are.

Kevin Lowe: And when you can tell that in their voice, they said they're fine, they're okay, but there was maybe a slight hesitation.

Kevin Lowe: Why not ask him, really, are you, you really doing okay?

Kevin Lowe: Show that you care.

Kevin Lowe: A few minutes out of your day can.

Kevin Lowe: Actually mean the World to somebody else. Because none of us know what everybody else is going through.

Kevin Lowe: You might think That you have it rough.

Kevin Lowe: Well, what about the Person next to you in the cubicle?

Kevin Lowe: Have you found out what they're dealing with? And a lot of Times it's the people who we think have it all together, who we're jealous of. A lot of times they're.

Kevin Lowe: The ones who Have it the worst.

Kevin Lowe: So maybe loving bigger, turning up that dial just simply means you taking a few extra moments out of your day to simply ask somebody, hey, how are you doing?

Kevin Lowe: And let's talk about the downside of loving bigger, because it does come at a cost. Of course it does.

Kevin Lowe: And that is you having to maybe wake up a little bit earlier than you want to, because you want to be sure that you're able to see your loved one off before they leave for work.

Kevin Lowe: or maybe it's you spending an extra few dollars to.

Kevin Lowe: Pay for the Person's coffee who's behind you in line. That's all love. Some of it takes time. Some takes a little extra energy.

Kevin Lowe: Maybe some takes a few extra bucks.

Kevin Lowe: It's just a little bit here and there.

Kevin Lowe: But when added up, My friend, it makes a big difference.

Kevin Lowe: Now, by you Deciding to love a little bigger, your life is going to change in three specific areas.

Kevin Lowe: Most importantly, yourself.

Kevin Lowe: When you start loving bigger, You are able to eliminate resentment.

Kevin Lowe: You've been carrying around all this resentment, all this judgment.

Kevin Lowe: You get to let all of that go, Freeing yourself. You also eliminate the need for people to act a certain way for you to be happy. No, you take control of your own happiness.

Kevin Lowe: All of this means you're going to get to live freer, Lighter, because you're not clenched up all day.

Kevin Lowe: You're not anticipating.

Kevin Lowe: No, you are taking action. So my friend, if you could use some peace, some comfort, some tranquility in your life, it's as simple as you deciding that you're going to start loving a little bigger starting tomorrow morning.

Kevin Lowe: now loving bigger it's not just going to change your life i.

Kevin Lowe: Believe it will Change the life of your entire family now when we start loving bigger this is where it gets real because our family as much as we love them there also can be the toughest crowd because they know your buttons to push.

Kevin Lowe: They are the people who can hurt you without even trying. So inside of your family, When we want to start talking about loving bigger.

Kevin Lowe: Maybe it means you saying, I'm proud of you more than you even think you need to.

Kevin Lowe: Acknowledging that family member for what they do.

Kevin Lowe: For thanking them for even the littlest thing.

Kevin Lowe: Maybe in the middle of an argument, you being the one To be the first to say, hey, you know what? You're right. I'm wrong.

Kevin Lowe: And it's okay. And I'm sorry.

Kevin Lowe: And just to move on and to not allow a Little argument to escalate into a.

Kevin Lowe: Full-blown war.

Kevin Lowe: And another idea is, again, you choosing to listen to what they say.

Kevin Lowe: Again, we live with them.

Kevin Lowe: They're family. We know what they're up to.

Kevin Lowe: And maybe what they're into, What's important to them, isn't so important to you.

Kevin Lowe: But they're your family. They are there for you in the best and the worst.

Kevin Lowe: And so if there's ever a time to give your full undivided attention, it's when you're talking to your family members. Show them you love.

Kevin Lowe: Love a little bigger by showing up for them.

Kevin Lowe: And in return, I guarantee you, you're going to Start seeing the same come back to you. It's an echo. It's a ripple. What goes out.

Kevin Lowe: Is going to return.

Kevin Lowe: And the last thing I want to say about loving bigger and how it impacts your family is that sometimes we have to stop matching the energy and.

Kevin Lowe: We have to Start setting the energy. because, quite honestly.

Kevin Lowe: It only takes One person to change the entire atmosphere in a room.

Kevin Lowe: So if everybody is dull and boring and got bad attitudes.

Kevin Lowe: I want you to be the one who chooses To make a difference, who becomes the shining light, who is the source of positivity because you've decided that I'm loving bigger.

Kevin Lowe: And then, of course, After yourself, your family.

Kevin Lowe: We enter the community, your neighborhood, your town, Your city, your state, your country, the entire world.

Kevin Lowe: The entire world can be changed starting with you deciding tomorrow morning you're going to start loving a little bigger.

Kevin Lowe: Now, this idea doesn't mean that I'm expecting you to be some saint.

Kevin Lowe: It doesn't mean that you're going to be perfect. No, you are just choosing to do something powerful.

Kevin Lowe: So instead of you moving through life with your guard up, moving through life at high speed, not paying attention to those around you.

Kevin Lowe: Instead, it's you actually seeing people rather than rushing past them.

Kevin Lowe: Again, when you pass the person in the hallway.

Kevin Lowe: It's you literally looking them In the eye.

Kevin Lowe: And saying good morning. It's you encouraging others.

Kevin Lowe: For you, being sure that you are there to help build up the people around you at your workplace.

Kevin Lowe: My friend, how much better could work be if you were the encourager?

Kevin Lowe: Helping to spur people, to motivate them, to get them thinking better of themselves.

Kevin Lowe: My friend, that ripple is going to come back to you.

Kevin Lowe: And hey, it doesn't have to even just be about the.

Kevin Lowe: Idea of it Coming back to you.

Kevin Lowe: It's you making a difference where you work, Where you live, where you do life.

Kevin Lowe: I don't know about you, But I want to do life where it's positive, where it's uplifting.

Kevin Lowe: And it all starts, I have to believe, By us all deciding to just love a little bigger. If we love a little bigger.

Kevin Lowe: What can that do to our neighborhood?

Kevin Lowe: If you see somebody who's in need, who just left their garbage can out, rather than you calling the HOA and tattling because Sally.

Kevin Lowe: Number 33, left her garbage can out two days after garbage pickup, What if you actually just went ahead and grabbed her garbage can and took it up to her front door where you know she keeps it? What if instead.

Kevin Lowe: Of making a big Deal out of somebody's dog that's always barking in.

Kevin Lowe: The backyard and You get so annoyed with it?

Kevin Lowe: And again, you're calling the HOA complaining.

Kevin Lowe: Well, have you wondered what are they maybe going through?

Kevin Lowe: Maybe they're working A full-time job and they're gone a lot.

Kevin Lowe: They might have To travel an hour every morning, every evening to go to work and get home.

Kevin Lowe: They don't have the time, the energy to walk the dog like it needs.

Kevin Lowe: So yeah, the dog is wound up. What if you, who maybe you work from home and maybe you have the time, But if you actually ask them.

Kevin Lowe: Hey, I noticed your Dog a lot of times is in the backyard and.

Kevin Lowe: I hear it Barking.

Kevin Lowe: Would it be of Any help if I walked your dog at the same time that I do mine?

Kevin Lowe: It's just little things like this that.

Kevin Lowe: Can mean the World and that I believe can change the world.

Kevin Lowe: Again, going back to the dial, the love dial, I'm not talking about you saving the world.

Kevin Lowe: I'm just talking about you turning up the dial a little bit.

Kevin Lowe: From wherever you are at, turn it up another 10 degrees, 20 degrees, and.

Kevin Lowe: See what that Might do for you, for your family, for the world.

Kevin Lowe: My friend, take it from me, Who realizes just how precious every day is.

Kevin Lowe: that understands just how important every person in our life is and.

Kevin Lowe: How every day Is truly a gift. Let us all do our part to make it as good as it can possibly be by just deciding to love a little bigger.

Kevin Lowe: And in case you're still here, you're still listening, and you're loving this idea of loving bigger.

Kevin Lowe: Well, then I believe you're going to Love the song. This song that you're about to hear, I created, and is what had inspired the initial idea for today's episode, not having any clue what was about to happen a few weeks after even writing this song.

Kevin Lowe: Or coming up with the idea Of this podcast. Of course, I'm talking about the story of what happened to me at the barbershop.

Kevin Lowe: This idea of loving a little bigger.

Kevin Lowe: So my friend, I'm your host, Kevin Lowe, And if you love the song that you're about to hear You can find it streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Literally everywhere music is found Under my artist channel called K-Lo Music So here is Love a Little Bigger by K-Lo Music To help you finish off today's episode.