PODCAST

Ep.185 | Jesse Bradley | The Best Time to Live is Now

How much hope would you have if you were facing a life-threatening illness?

This is what former pro soccer athlete and Dartmouth standout, Jesse Bradley, faced at one point of his life. One minute he was living his childhood dream of playing professional soccer, the next minute he was fighting for his life.    

On today’s episode of the Coming Up Clutch with J.R.™ show, Jesse shares his powerful story and how he leveraged hope as part of his healing process. This is one powerful and inspirational episode!

In this latest episode, Jesse and I talk about… 

  • The life lessons that came from Jesse’s clutch moments
  • What helped Jesse overcome a near fatal disease and his 10-year battle recovering from it
  • Why Jesse believes now is the best time to live

…and so much more.

If you want to inject more hope into your life and career, then lock in to today’s episode.

[00:01 – 09:17] Introducing Jesse to the show

  • Jesse’s most embarrassing moment
  • Jesse’s background, story, and professional journey

[09:18 – 28:55] The life lessons that came from Jesse’s clutch moments

  • Clutch moments aren’t just for the moment, they’re for the next for clutch moment
  • Great leaders set the culture. Your culture precedes the championship.
  • The key decisions Jesse made before his clutch moments: he just went for it, but he also prayed a lot and trusted God for the results
  • Love drives out fear
  • It’s not about fear completely going away. It’s about finding a boldness that’s greater than that fear.
  • When you focus on who you’re reaching, then you experience more freedom  
  • If your mind is right, that will lead to your relationships being right. If your relationships are right, then your culture will be right.
  • The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your relationships
  • Your identity can’t be tied to something you can lose

[28:56 – 37:20] What helped Jesse overcome a near fatal disease and his 10-year battle recovering from it

  • Jesse stopped and prayed because he had a gut feeling that he shouldn’t take any more medications. He decided not to take any more medications.
  • After that decision, he found out his anti-malaria medication became too toxic.
  • If Jesse didn’t make that courageous decision, he might be dead today.
  • Key takeaway: when you feel like you’re mistreated or going through a battle, don’t be passive. You’re still empowered and still have choices.
  • When Jesse was going through recovery, he realized the tools he used in the past were not useful for the fight for his future. That’s when Jesse began creating Hope Habits.
  • Jesse creates a daily Celebration list, which he calls “gritty gratitude.” Resentment and bitterness is like poison. Unforgiveness is like being locked in 

[37:21 – 42:10] Why Jesse believes now is the best time to live

  • Hope doesn’t mean you deny the realities or the hardships…it doesn’t mean the hardships go away or that it’s going to get better or easier. 
  • Hope is a confident and joyful trust in someone or something. It’s relational – you only have as much hope as the one in whom you trust. Your hope is only as strong as the thing or person you put your hope in.
  • You have to find a source of hope that’s greater than your circumstances
  • Hope isn’t a maybe, it’s a certainty. Find those certainties (for Jesse, one of them is Jesus)
  • Hope is not just about receiving it. You must give it. We’re made to give hope.

[42:11 – 47:11] How to instill more hope in your relationships 

  • Be quick to listen and slow to speak. We have to listen with our mind AND heart (listen with the goal of understanding). Three practical questions you can ask:
  • How you doing?
  • How do you feel about that?
  • What about that? What’s that like for you?

[47:12 – 54:01] Wrapping Up

  • Jeese’s BIG domino
  • How to connect with Jesse

KEY QUOTES

“Hope is available for everyone.” – Jesse Bradley

“Great leaders set the culture.” Jesse Bradley

“Your culture precedes the championship.” – Jesse Bradley

“Love drives out fear.” – Jesse Bradley

“Your identity can’t be tied to something you can lose.” – Jesse Bradley

“The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your relationships.” – Jesse Bradley

“Unforgiveness is like being locked in your own jail.” – Jesse Bradley

“Find a source of hope that’s greater than your circumstances.” – Jesse Bradley

“Hope isn’t a maybe, it’s a certainty.” – Jesse Bradley

CONNECT WITH JESSE

CONNECT WITH J.R.

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