Name: Josh Windsor
Profession: Identity Development Coach
Company: Empathy Paradigm
How long have you been helping people become better?
I think the term “better” is pretty subjective, but I’ve been helping others in their mental health and identity development journeys for around 10 years.
Why is it important for people to focus on themselves and become better?
In short, attending to your needs and growth ensures you bring your best self to every situation. By creating an internal environment where you feel safe to continuously grow and improve, you build the confidence and emotional capacity to foster that same safety in your relationships with others.
What do you believe are the top 3 things a person can do to be happier?
Develop a deep understanding of yourself through meditation, coaching, or therapy.
Continuously grow your emotional intelligence.
Build and foster your community.
What do you think are the top 3 things for a person to do to be healthier?
Again, “healthier” is probably pretty subjective, but I’d recommend:
A balanced diet that works for their lifestyle and body type.
Emotional support through their community, family, or a licensed professional
Regular body engagement and movement in ways their lifestyle and body allows.
How have you found your core values and stay true to them?
I developed my core values by examining and ultimately deconstructing the values our social and faith systems assigned to me. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a faith system whose values directly conflicted with my identity and created a friction I couldn’t ignore. Discomfort and uncertainty caused me to think critically about whether or not that belief system worked for me, and I developed a habit of examining the values and beliefs of the communities around me. I’m constantly reevaluating my worldviews and I’m not afraid to change them as I learn new information, so I wouldn’t say I’m true to my values so much as I’m true to learning and growing as a person.
From your perspective, how can someone start making little steps to be better?
Identify what you want! How can we take steps towards a destination without knowing what the destination is? Determine a long term goal, and then lay out the realistic short term goals that’ll take you there. Personally, I needed the help of a coach and therapist to help figure out my goals and the roadblocks in my way.
What advice do you have for someone that struggles to make time for themselves?
Assuming making time for themselves is a priority for them, I’d advise them to start small. Give yourself a realistic goal of a few minutes each day. Sometimes it helps to attach it to an activity! Maybe add 10 minutes onto your shower so you can really soak in the warmth. Listen to an audiobook or podcast you’ve been interested in while driving to work. You don’t have to create time when you don’t have any to spare, and you don’t have to commit to an entire evening. I’d also remind them to celebrate the ways they’re already showing up for themselves. Sometimes we’re so concerned with what we want to do that we forget the things we’re already doing.
What are some of the things you do for yourself to be better?
For me, “being better” means prioritizing my mental health. I play volleyball at least once a week as a form of self-care and go to tournaments regularly to spend time with my community. I schedule with my therapist when I need a session, and I have a great community that offers additional support as needed.
What advice do you have for those that falter or become uninspired?
Don’t be hard on yourself! Inspiration and commitment come in waves, sometimes. You can’t be expected to continuously achieve and produce, so don’t treat rest as a reward or a lull as a failure.
Any other tips or advice for our readers about how to work on being holistically a better person?
“Better” is defined by YOU. Don’t let social expectations or trends determine what success or health look like in your life. Find a friend, coach, or therapist that can help you explore your definition of “better” and then act as a guide to help you achieve it. –
