What do you do when someone misunderstands you, criticizes you, rejects you—or tells a version of your story you don’t recognize?

You can spend a lot of energy trying to defend yourself and change people’s opinions. Or sometimes, the better choice is to go higher.

This week, Micah and Daniel are joined by Greg and Tammy Batten for a conversation about navigating negativity without letting it steal your joy. They talk about the sting of rejection, why negative voices can have so much power over us, how to know when criticism is worth listening to, and when it’s time to stop fighting and move forward.

Greg also shares the story of the eagle and the crow—a picture of what it can look like to rise above the things trying to weigh us down.

And because this is Fountains of Youth, it’s not all serious. Greg and Daniel find out just how well they know the women in their lives, we encounter some truly bizarre school mascots, and there are plenty of laughs along the way.

Maybe staying young in mind, body, and spirit isn’t about avoiding negativity. Maybe it’s about refusing to let negativity determine your altitude.

🎧 In this episode:

• Why rejection and criticism can weigh us down
• When to respond—and when to let it go
• Staying teachable without being controlled by others’ opinions
• Rising above negativity without becoming bitter
• The eagle and the crow
• How letting go can help us stay young
• Games, laughs, and some very questionable school mascots

Challenge of the Week: Don’t feed the crow. Take the lesson if there’s one to learn. If there isn’t—gain altitude.

Subscribe to Fountains of Youth for more conversations about staying young in mind, body, and spirit.