Think back, you've likely had a job or other relationship where you felt like you had to guard yourself. Or one where you felt like it wasn't acceptable to show up any less than 110%. Hopefully you've also had the experience of being in truly safe relationships. Ones where you can mess up, stumble, try things and potentially fail, and still be accepted.

That is real psychological safety.

Today we're speaking with Stephan Wiedner who is a psychological safety expert whose career has focused on developing sustainable high performance leaders, teams, and organizations. His passion for unleashing the collective potential of people has led him to cofound Noomii.com, the web’s largest network of independent life coaches, Skillsetter.com, the deliberate practice platform for interpersonal skills, and Zarango.com, the psychological safety training experts. Stephan has been a guest speaker for ACETech, MAGI, Marketing IMPACT Council, and many other audiences interested in psychology, business, and technology. His writing has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and other popular publications. Stephan is married with two children and enjoys spending quality time in the outdoors, hiking, biking, camping, and reading.

This episode is transformational, and I hope you share it with someone who might benefit.

Additional Resources:

1. Free psychological safety assessment
2. Episode 261 - Giving Negative Feedback
3. Episode 264 - Receiving Negative Feedback

This has incredible implications for the way we individually respond to the world, but also for the ways we understand systemic challenges and inequality in our society.

If you've ever worked hard to understand your own behavior... If you've ever fought against continuing dysfunction in your family... If you've ever felt the pain of trauma in your family and wondered how to move past it... This episode is for you.

Today we're speaking with Dr. Lynyetta Willis. As a psychologist and family empowerment coach, Dr. Lynyetta Willis, helps frustrated families stop Stable Misery® cycles or unhelpful patterns that keep them stuck, so they can create more joy in their parenting or partnerships. Her Triggered to Transformed® Parent Coaching Program has helped parents all over the world to confidently deal with their triggers so they can pass on the best parts of themselves and enjoy parenting more.

This episode is transformational, and I hope you share it with someone who might benefit.

Additional Resources:

1. Dr. Willis' website
2. April's TEDx Talk
3. Emotional Sifting

This week, we're exploring these very fundamental questions. The fact of the matter is, we ALL have triggers. It's simply an artifact of the way our minds work. What's most important is that we know what our individual triggers are and how we can be intentional about responding when we encounter them.

This week we're hearing from Jodie Eckleberry Hunt. Jodie has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Indiana State University and is board-certified in Health Psychology. She has been the Director of Health Psychology and Executive Health and Wellness at Beaumont Health since 2016.

I truly believe you'll gain a much more nuanced understanding of what a trigger is, how to identify your own, and what to do to be more responsive, rather than reactive, in the face of them.

Additional Resources:

1. How to Liberate Your Mind
2. 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work (John Gottman)
3. EOS Life
4. Jodie's Website

I'm thrilled to be diving into that very topic today.

Today we're speaking with Dr. Cassandra LeClair. She is a Communications & Relationships Expert, Motivator, Author, and Podcaster. With a Ph.D. in communications studies, specializing in women's and gender studies, Cassandra is an expert on communicating feelings, setting boundaries, and improving connections. She enables high-achieving women to gain an understanding of their identity and communication practices to improve their relationships with friends and family, in the workplace, and beyond.

On this episode with Dr. LeClaire, we dive into burnout - how to know when you're burned out, and what the precursors are. We also dive into the role that boundaries play in burnout. Wow are they important! We also talk about how to figure out what our needs are and communicate them to others. And, finally, we talk about the role that our own behavioral patterns play in our burnout cycle.

I so hope this episode helps you or someone you love. You're worth it.

Additional Resources:

1. Curate Your Life & Manage Your Energy
2. How to Cultivate a Relationship with Yourself
3. Thoughts, Emotions, and 'Mom Guilt'
4. From Dr. LeClaire: 30 Ways to Say 'No'

The 50% divorce rate in the US suggests otherwise.

Today, we're digging into the topic of romantic relationships with a true expert. Dr. Thomas Jordan is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst in private practice in New York City. He is on the faculty of NYU’s Postdoctoral Program in Psychoanalysis, author of "Learn to Love: Guide to Healing Your Disappointing Love Life" and founder of LoveLifeLearningCenter.com. Dr. Jordan specializes in the treatment of unhealthy love lives and has been studying them for over 30 years.

This episode hits on some truly practical, ACTIONABLE steps you can start taking TODAY to make meaningful improvements in your love life. I hope you find so much value in this powerful conversation.

Additional Resources:

1. LoveLifeLearningCenter.com
2. 6 Principles of Meaningful Relationships
3. How Your Attachment Style Impacts Your Relationships

Wellbeing has become even more of a focus since the pandemic because of the experiences we all had over the last 2 years. Mental health has suffered. We've neglected to take care of ourselves and chronic conditions are worsening. Yet, we see many people making professional decisions to help guard the lifestyle they had during the pandemic - particularly if it helped them make positive changes in their health and wellbeing.

It's a lot to think about, so we brought in an expert.

Laura Putnam, MA, author of the award-winning Workplace Wellness That Works, is CEO and founder of Motion Infusion, a leading well-being provider. Her work has been covered by MSNBC, The New York Times, FOX News, ABC News, US News & World Report, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, and NPR. She is a former urban public high school teacher, international community organizer, dancer, gymnast and now a movement-builder in the world of health and well-being. With a mission to get people and organizations “in motion,” Laura is a frequent keynote speaker and has worked with a range of organizations from Fortune 500s to government agencies to academic institutes and nonprofits.

I met Laura at a recent conference, and I knew I needed to get her on the show. I hope you find actionable value in this episode and begin to make healthy changes in your own life.

Additional Resources:

1. Workplace Wellness that Works
2. The Link Between Self Compassion and Self Care
3. Develop Better Habits in 2022

Thankfully, the field of psychology has a very effective tool for times like these: self-compassion. By opening up to and being mindful of our own emotional experience, by realizing that we aren't alone in the way we're feeling, and by offering ourselves kindness rather than criticism, we can help support ourselves through truly challenging times.

The main audio of this episode is a replay of an impromptu self-compassion break I led the day after the mass shooting at the elementary school in Ulvalde, Texas. Quite a few people from around the world joined in community to learn how to apply this important tool during challenging times.

Not everyone who wanted to join was able to (it was a very last-minute session), so this week's podcast episode is a replay of the audio of that session.

In addition, there is a very valuable section at the end of this podcast about what it means to support other people through challenging times. So many times we say, "I just don't know what to say or do." And so we do nothing. The final segment of this week's podcast helps give you another perspective on those situations, and I give you some practical tips about how you can support others during painful or challenging times.

Additional Resources:

1. Fierce Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff

Today, we're debunking that.

Today we're speaking with Dr. Amanda Blake. Dr. Blake is the author of the award-winning book Your Body Is Your Brain, and creator of the Body = Brain course on the neurobiology of experiential leadership learning. In addition to teaching about the art and science of embodiment, she works with progressive leaders worldwide to help them become their best self, enjoy life more, and make a bigger contribution. Once an internationally competitive athlete, Mandy is skilled at cultivating high performance in herself and others. She is a Master Somatic Leadership Coach, holds a degree in Human Biology from Stanford University, and is both a Fetzer Scholar and a Research Fellow at the Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit. 

The goal of today's episode is to help you learn how to tap into another form of insight, the insight in your body, to help you make some of your most difficult important decisions.

Additional Resources:

1. Stress to Serenity Centering Challenge
2. Episode with my personal coach, Shannon Schottler
3. Using Micro Behaviors to Combat Anxiety

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81847216706

We focus so intently on performance, optimization, and striving. We focus on how much we can get done and how to increase that amount. And we forget that life is meant to be fun as well.

This week we're speaking with Dr. Mike Rucker. He is an organizational psychologist and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association who has been academically published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management and Nutrition Research. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness.

Additional Resources:

1. Episode 0143: Dr. Steven Hayes
2. The Happiness Trap
3. Connect with Michael
4. Pre-order The Fun Habit

However, the path toward that future is a very individual one. Not everyone will face the same challenges, and we differ in the way we are motivated. Today, we're diving into a couple of frameworks that can help you understand yourself at a deeper level and make progress toward your biggest goals.

Dr Libby Kemkaran was A lifelong student of Behavioral Psychology and Neuroassociative Conditioning she took the opportunity while at Cambridge to undertake a degree in Biological and Biomedical Science, with a major in behavior, specifically the neural mechanisms of behavior. Libby is a TEDx Speaker and Circle Host and delivers her 'TAME Your Brain' program of strategy and Neurocoaching to the corporate world leading change in Management, Communications, and Mindset for Success.

Additional Resources:

1. Blog post: Judgy McJudgerson
2. Episode 0320: Brain Hacks to Improve Productivity
3. libby@kemkaran.com
4. Visit Libby's website

This week, we're diving deep into what it means to break that stigma, seek out the help you need, and support others in their mental health quest.

I interviewed Sara Schley for the recent Global Resilience Summit, and I instantly knew I had to have her on the show. Sara is the author of the acclaimed memoir, BrainStorm: From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum.

During our conversation, Sara recounts her personal journey on the bipolar spectrum from the days when she was misdiagnosed to getting a correct diagnosis 25 years later. After 40 years of living with this condition, Sara has broken her silence and is speaking out about her experience and the importance of caring for our own mental health. Sara also has a very practical, actionable 4-point plan for helping support others going through their own struggles.

We need to continue the conversation around mental health and wellbeing. People's lives are on the line. Thank you to Sara for her bravery and willingness to share her story for us all to learn from.

Additional Resources:

1. Episode 0086: You Are Here for a Reason https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0086
2. Episode 0060: Understanding OCD https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0060
3. Connect with Sara
4. Purchase Sara's book

The content out there on goal-setting and motivation is conflicting. It can be hard to sift through what is important and what will actually work. Today, we're talking to a true expert - a pioneer - in the field of human motivation and achievement.

Today, we're speaking with Dr. Ayelet Fishbach. Dr. Fishbach is a Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business and the author of "GET IT DONE: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation." She is the past president of the Society for the Study of Motivation and the International Social Cognition Network and is an expert on motivation and decision making.

During our interview we dive into the nitty-gritty of setting and achieving goals. As a bonus, we talk about what all of this means for motivating teams and employees in our current, virtual / hybrid professional landscape.

Today we're featuring a true pioneer in a foundational area of research. I know you'll get so much out of hearing from Dr. Ayelet Fishbach!

Additional Resources:

1. Listen to a recent episode about how to have better habits in 2022
2. Words matter! Here are some ways to support your achievement using language.
3. Check out Dr. Fishbach's website, course, and book

Parental guilt is all too familiar for so many of us. Taking care of our little ones is challenging, and sometimes, you just need a break. But, the second you get one, the guilt creeps in. I find that situations like these are easier to handle when we understand WHY we're feeling that way. That's exactly what we're digging into in this episode.

Specifically, we're going to talk about 2 concepts that you've probably heard about if you've ever taken an introductory psychology course, but we're going to apply them to this common, real-world situation. We're going to cover each concept in-depth, we'll talk about the brain science behind them, and then we'll unpack how they contribute to the parental guilt that so many of us feel on a regular basis.

I'll be honest, I can't take the guilt away. However, I hope this episode arms you with a powerful set of tools that you can use to dilute it out the next time it happens. Remember, psychological strength is a set of skills - you have to practice to get the full effect.

Hang in there, parents, you're doing great!

Additional Resources:

1. Sign up for the FREE Self-Care Summit brought to you by our partnership with Heart Mind Institute: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/selfcaresummit
2. Check out our most popular course: Self Care [by design]
3. 6 Steps for Dealing with Overwhelm

We've all been there. We've experienced anxiety, anger, depression and other states of being, and it can be easy to look at ourselves as though there's something wrong with us. Even the field of psychology has taken this approach. We label things as "disorders" and we try to "treat" people. It all creates a ton of stigma that keeps people from making the changes they want to make in their lives.

Today, we're speaking with Dr. Joseph Shrand, author, triple board certified psychiatrist, neuroscientist, Chief Medical Officer and lecturer of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School

Additional Resources:

1. Learn more about Dr. Joe and Drug Story Theater
2. Listen to my interview with Sean Webb of "Mind Hacking Happiness"
3. Listen to my interview with Dr. Steven Hayes, founder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
4. Check out this podcast episode to learn how to cultivate a better relationship with yourself

As we look to the future and anticipate yet another stage of change, I wanted to have a conversation about how we support our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of our teams and colleagues at work. To do this, I've enlisted the help of my friend, Ryan Wolf, Wellbeing Lead for Gallup.

During our conversation, Ryan and I dive into what wellbeing truly means. We talk about how it has changed in the last decade or so, and anticipate even more change in the coming few years. We talk about how critical it is for companies and employers to support their teams on a more holistic, human level, and we talk about how to go about it.

Finally, you won't want to miss our conversation about our predictions for the return-to-office transition.

Additional Resources:

1. Listen to a recent episode about how to design your WFH life: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0331
2. Want to help your team navigate change? Here's en episode designed to hlep you do just that: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0334
3. Check out an article Ryan recommended about the 7 different types of rest: https://ideas.ted.com/the-7-types-of-rest-that-every-person-needs/
4. Learn more about Gallup: https://www.gallup.com/home.aspx
5. Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-wolf-57260835/

These questions sound like heresy when we put them in the context of our traditional, high-pressure professional world. However, as we've learned from the pandemic and from some very high-profile athletes more recently, no one, even high achievers, is infallible.

If you are a human being with a body and a mind, you have limits. You have needs. And, you simply can not perform at 150% all the time. And today, we're speaking with an expert who will help us sort through all of that.

Today's guest is Lauren Ammon. She is a certified coach who works with athletes of all levels. She helps people acknowledge and recognize their own humanity. She helps people create as much psychological and emotional support for themselves as they do for their physical wellbeing.

This episode is for you if you're the type of person who holds yourself to standards that are nearly unachievable. I know you'll get some valuable insight and action out of this powerful conversation.

Additional Resources:

1. Listen to my conversation with Gail Golden about Curating Your Life and Managing Your Energy: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0242
2. Check out our blog post "Creating the Conditions to Thrive:" https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/Creating-the-conditions-to-thrive
3. Connect with Lauren and grab a copy of her free resource: https://www.laurenammon.com/

During this episode, I give a quick overview of what cognitive-behavioral theory is and the interrelationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I walk you through a great analogy developed by my incredible co-founder, Dr. Ashley Smith, to help you understand the true impact of this interrelationship in how you experience life. And finally, we turn to a practical way you can use small behavioral changes in your own life to influence your emotions in the direction you want them to go.

You're not going to want to miss this one!

Additional Resources:

1. Get the free guided experience I spoke about from Episode 338: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/0338
2. Get 15 practical ways to boost happiness: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/happiness-cheat-sheet
3. Get another analogy to illustrate the powerful relationship between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/stop-feeding-the-dog-how-to-break-negative-self-fueling-cycles

However, the field of positive psychology shows us that it's our interconnection to other people that drives much of our happiness and wellbeing. Beyond that, it's our interconnection with other people that has the power to heal the divisive wounds at the heart of so much of the turmoil we see in the world today.

Today we're speaking about interconnection with this week's guest, Juan Lee. Juan is an author and teacher on the powerful principle of love. For over 30 years, he has studied organized religion to find the elements that unite humanity and share the message with those who need it. Based outside of Washington DC, Juan is a decorated US Air Force veteran and author of Love Made Simple.

Tune in today to be reminded of the importance of your role in humanity. My hope is that you leave this episode feeling optimistic and reengaged.

Additional Resources:

1. Listen to a recent episode about uncovering what you truly desire in life: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/0338
2. Check out our blog post "Social Connection: A Key to Happiness:" https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/social-connection-a-key-to-happiness
3. Connect with Juan and grab a copy of his book: http://juanleetheauthor.com/about-the-book/

I mean, I agree that we're burned out, but my instinct tells me that we've been that way much longer than we realize. The pressure of the pandemic has brought it to the surface more clearly, but the burnout itself is a tale as old as time.

Today we're talking about burnout with the perfect guest. Caroline Dooner is a writer, humorist, and ex-professional actress & singer. She started writing about our relationship with food 10 years ago on thef*ckitdiet.com, after radically healing her own relationship with food. All of that became "The F*ck It Diet" book, geared towards helping others heal. Her second book, "Tired as F*ck," is about her burnout & two years of rest, after years of running herself into the ground. 

This episode is part validation, part instruction manual, part permission slip, and part call-to-arms. It is time we start caring for ourselves as the human beings that we are. I hope this episode and Caroline's book help you do just that.

Additional Resources:

1. Listen to my interview with Dr. Margaret Rutherford about perfectly hidden depression: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0161
2. Listen to this episode focused on role engulfment: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0276
3. The link between self-compassion and self-care: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0275
4. Connect with Caroline & her work: thefuckitdiet.com/tired

I learned the importance of living life by design and not by default. Of living life in a way that is aligned to who I truly am, rather than living to fulfill other people's desires and expectations. I learned how precious this 1 shot at life is, and that I need to be responsible for crafting the road ahead.

Today we're diving into the Life Design process and focusing on the first couple steps in the process. The Stanford Life Design Lab calls this process crafting your Odyssey.

In today's episode, I'll talk about my personal journey to discovering the importance and power of life design. I'll give you a high-level overview of the whole process, then we'll dive deep into the first couple of stages.

As a bonus, I've created a free activity for you all to help you begin to craft your own odyssey. Visit www.peakmindpsychology.com/desire to get free, immediate access to a guided visualization and workbook to help you get a clearer picture of the life you're hoping to design. It's my gift to you.

Your life is important. Please choose to live it by design, not by default.

Additional Resources:

1. Get free access to the visualization and workbook that accompany this episode at www.peakmindpsychology.com/desire
2. Learn about the difference between mindfulness meditation and visualization: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0316
3. Read our post on Increasing Employee Engagement: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/increasing-employee-engagement

But, have you ever stopped to think about the role that brain development plays in the way in which you parent your children?

As it turns out, much of the challenging behavior we encounter when parenting especially young kids can be tied back to their brain development at that stage. Depending upon what stage their in and what "brain" their in, the way we react to challenging behavior and the way our children respond to us will differ greatly.

Today we're speaking with Allana Robinson. She s Parenting Coach and CEO of Uncommon Sense Parenting, as well as a Registered Early Childhood Educator, Mom of two, and military wife. Allana supports parents of toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners in understanding WHY their children are misbehaving and how to fix it without yelling, shaming, or time-outs.

During this episode, Allana gives us a simple yet accurate picture of young children's developing brains. She talks about how to recognize when children are relying on different parts of their brain and uses color-coding to make it quick and easy to understand. Finally, and most importantly, Allana talks about how we can adjust our response to our kids depending upon what "brain" they're in.

As a parent of two young children, I got so much out of this episode, and I know you will too!

Additional Resources:

1. Listen to my interview with Doug Noll about the role of emotions in conflict: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0321
2. Learn how to cultivate a better mother-daughter relationship with Dr Michelle Deering: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0324
3. Sign up for Allana's free class: https://www.allanarobinson.com/freeclass/

How DO we live the best, most aligned life possible?

Today we're digging into this big, complex question with some cutting edge research on process-based psychology. Recently Dr. Steven Hayes and other researchers on his team examined over 55,000 research studies to uncover the 30 or so core processes that we can focus on in order to improve our mental wellbeing and the way we experience life. That's what we're digging into on today's episode.

Today's guest is Dr. Diana Hill. She is a clinical psychologist and co-author of ACT Daily Journal: Get unstuck and live fully with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Through her online teachings, executive coaching, clinical supervision, and private therapy practice, Diana encourages clients to build psychological flexibility so that they can live more meaningful and fulfilling lives. She is the founder and host of the new podcast show Your Life in Process and a co-founder of the Psychologists Off the Clock podcast. Diana blogs for Psychology Today and offers regular workshops in compassion and ACT for clinicians and the general public.

In this episode we talk about what process-based therapy is. We talk about some of the core processes included in it and how to use them to thrive in our lives. We get into some of the most basic processes of mindfulness and our relationship to our thoughts and how we can use these processes to pivot into taking the actions we truly want to take in our lives...rather than the ones that are holding us back.

Additional Resources:

1. Listen to my first interview with Dr. Diana Hill: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0322
2. Dig into the difference between the techniques of mindfulness and visualization: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0316
3. Check out this blog post about creating the conditions to thrive in your life: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/Creating-the-conditions-to-thrive

Self-awareness is a skill that sits at the center of so many psychological strength concepts, and that is what we're digging into today.

Be forewarned! Today's episode is an episode that you DO, not an episode that you passively listen to. It's meant to deepen your awareness of yourself by asking you questions meant to uncover nuance, insight, and connection. This one is for you if you're ready to go DEEP.

Grab a journal, grab a pen, go for a walk, and liberally use the pause button on this one. Carve out some time, and dedicate it to getting to know yourself on a deeper level.

Additional Resources:

1. Listen to my interview with Dr. Steven Hayes, founder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0143
2. Want to cultivate a better relationship with yourself? Here's how: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0315
3. Want to go even further? Catch this episode for 5 life-changing practices you can implement in your life TODAY: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0330

On today's episode, we're diving into the topic of change. First and foremost, we'll talk about why change is difficult for us. Turns out, you're not weak! You don't lack resilience! You're simply a human being with a mind, and our human mind's HATE change. Tune in, and you'll learn why.

Then we'll dive into one of the models of change that I really like as a way of understanding how we as human beings move through change. We'll talk about the difference between a "change" and a "transition." We'll talk about the fundamental principles of the mind that are impacted when we experience a change and how we ultimately move on to get to the other side of a change.

Finally, I'll offer a handful of resources to help you navigate your own change or to help others navigate theirs. These are proven, valuable techniques for supporting yourself and others during some of the most volatile times.

We've all been through a lot, and there's likely more change to come. But, it IS POSSIBLE to thrive through change with the right tools.

Additional Resources:

1. Try out Emotion Sifting by visiting this blog post: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/Emotional-Intelligence-Sifting-Through-Grey-Emotional-Sludge
2. Learn more about the science of self-compassion with this episode from the podcast vault: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0254
3. Ready to design your work life? Check out this blog post for some tips: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/do-you-feel-stuck-at-work
4. Be one of the first 5 people to review this episode of the podcast and email a screenshot of your review to info@peakmindpsychology.com and get a free copy of my Life Design Transformation Blueprint! Submit your review here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-psychological-strength/id1182817399

But, what if there's a problem with following your passion?

This week's guest, Erin Cech is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Michigan. Her research investigates how seemingly benign and taken-for-granted cultural beliefs reproduce workforce inequalities.

In her recent book "The Trouble with Passion: How Searching for Fulfillment at Work Fosters Inequality," Erin teases apart some of the hidden issues with searching for passion and fulfillment solely from your job. She talks about how:

1. Searching for passion can perpetuate societal cycles that promote inequality
2. Our sense of identity can become wrapped up in our job and can suffer when we are laid off or experience a big shift in our careers
3. Our passion is something that can be cultivated and fulfilled in MANY ways in our lives, and by focusing solely on our jobs, we limit ourselves.

We have a great discussion at the end about the micro- (individual) and macro- (societal) shifts that could occur to help all of us experience more passion and balance in our work. You won't wan to miss it!

Additional Resources:

1. Finding Flow at Work (Peak Mind blog post): https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/finding-flow-at-work
2. Designing Your Work Life (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3rV4a0T
3. Episode 0318 Psych Strength & Flexible Work Arrangements: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0318
4. Buy Erin's Book (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3lV2yjQ
5. Follow Erin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CechErin

Or maybe you're are in a relationship with someone, whether it's a romantic relationship, friendship, or professional relationship and you can't believe the other person NEVER asks your thoughts. Or the flip side. You feel like you have to PRY thoughts out of them.

One more. Have you ever been in an important conversation with someone and ended up talking over each other? Almost as thought you're in a dance where BOTH OF YOU is trying to lead?

Turns out that understanding your communication style and the style of other important people in your life can help you communicate more effectively and effortlessly. That's what we're talking about today.

Today we're diving into a model that is over 3 decades old, but I still find it so useful. It's the Social Styles of Communication model. In this model, there are 2 different continuums that divide people into 4 different communication styles. We'll go over all of that in this episode, and we'll talk about how you can more effectively communicate with other important people in your own life.

Additional Resources:

1. Episode 0311 with Peter Montoya about having effective political conversations: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0311
2. Episode 0138 with AmyK Hutchens about handling some of our toughest conversations with empathy and intention: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0138

Let's design your WFH life!

Today, we're going to go through 4 different challenges when you're working from home. Inside each one, I'll prompt you to come up with ways to experiment in order to steer your workday in alignment with what's truly important to you.

During the episode I mentioned a bunch of links. Here they are:

1. If you want to know which pens I talk about, they're right here.
2. Here is a link to the Self Journal
3. Here is how to hide your own face on Zoom meetings
4. Finally, here is a link to last week's episode, and here is a link to get the free guide that accompanies it.

Finally, if you're one of the first 3 people to submit a review for the podcast after this episode comes out, you'll win a free 30-minute Life Design intensive with me. Simply be one of the first 3 people to take a screenshot of your review and email it to info@peakmindpsychology.com.

Additional Resources:

1. Design Your Way through 2022 (blog post): https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/design-your-way-through-2022
2. Episode 0314 - The Secret to Effective Prioritization: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0314
3. Episode 0288 - Structure Creates Flexibility: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0288

The last 2 years have been exceptionally challenging for all of us, but I truly believe that it has been a handful of life-changing practices that have sustained me and helped me thrive through it. These practices have transformed the way I experience my own life, and in this episode, I want to share them with you.

Today's episode is the very first episode in season 6 of the podcast. It's also coming out a mere 2 days before my 42nd birthday! So, as a gift to you, we're diving into 5 life-changing psych strength practices and 5 different ways to implement each practice. That's TWENTY-FIVE different actions you can take to build psych strength.

And, because this episode is so dense with information, I've created a free guide to accompany the episode. You can get a copy of it here. In this guide, you'll find all of the actions I cover underneath each of the 5 life-changing practices. I also included a bunch of supplemental content: extra hands-on exercises, templates, and resources to help you jump-start your practice. You won't want to miss the opportunity to grab this guide.

As you begin your new year, I truly hope you put yourself first. I hope you adopt some practices that help you build psychological strength, and I hope you experience the life-changing transformation that I've been experiencing.

Cheers to 2022!

Additional Resources:

1. Download your free guide at www.peakmindpsychology.com/fivepractices

Today, we're speaking with Stephanie Roldan about the topics of psychological safety and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I).

Stephanie Roldan is the Director of Lean Culture at Rosendin Electric. She leads Rosendin's Respect for People and Continuous Improvement culture, simplified as "Lean Culture." This responsibility includes developing, setting, and leading the strategy on creating an inclusive environment and sense of belonging for employees. She serves as the Chairperson for Rosendin's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and sits on the Board of Directors for the AZ Foundation for Women.

As a woman in the construction industry, Stephanie knows first-hand what it feels like to be "the only" one in the room. She also knows the importance of cultivating a psychologically safe culture and the impact it can have for bringing people together. The impact it can have for helping us all to feel like we can fully express ourselves. And the impact it can have on creating a more equitable workplace.

During our conversation, Stephanie and I have a deep conversation about the experience of being "the only" one in the room. We talk about the importance of psychological safety and how norms around our social groups influence the way we show up and the way others react to us. We talk about the importance of being curious, cultivating connected relationships, being open, and sharing our own stories as a way to create increase connection and empathy. We talk about this and so much more. You won't want to miss this important conversation.

Additional Resources:

1. Episode 0016: Develop the Mind of a Superhero
2. SHRM DE&I Resources
3. Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn

Today, We're speaking with Ben Oosterveld. Ben is a real estate entrepreneur who built a real estate investment company that held 61 properties with investors in 4 different cities. After getting his real estate license, he built a multi million-dollar real estate business with an award winning top national team in 3 years. Today, Ben helps business owners get clear about who they really are and what they really want. He helps them make the right changes in their business and life with the new goal of building a life they love. His focus is on coaching, speaking and running personal growth retreats.

During this episode we dive deep into the importance of defining your "compass" or the type of life you actually want to live. We talk about the importance of finding happiness along the way, not just when we achieve an external goal. And, Ben has some special advice for the entrepreneurs in the crowd.

Additional Resources:

1. Episode 206: The Calendar Audit
2. Hedonic Treadmill

Today we're speaking with Morgan Beard. Morgan has dedicated her life to using creativity to heal and empower. She received her BA in Visual and Media Studies from Duke University in 2012 and her MPS in Art Therapy from the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2017. As an art therapist in New York, she worked in a public elementary school, an adult inpatient psychiatric unit, and a 183-bed nursing home. She currently lives in LA and works as a life coach using art and creativity to help people thrive.

Additional Resources:

1. Episode 183: The Self Care Pyramid
2. Self-Care [by design] mini-course
3. Martin Seligman's PERMA Model: https://positivepsychology.com/perma-model/
4. Learn more about Morgan at www.morganbeard.coach

Today, we're talking about the notion of 'fear traps' with Dr. Nancy Stella. Dr. Stella has been a leading clinical psychologist in the Cincinnati area for over twenty five years, co-owning and growing one of Ohio's largest private, multi-specialty mental health practices. She developed the Courageous Brain Process (CBP)—an innovative, science-based method of therapy. Rooted in the most up-to-date neuroscience, it bypasses the shortcomings of traditional talk therapy to change the way our brains process fear. Her first book, Fear Traps: Escaping the Triggers that Keep You Stuck, gives readers proven practices for building courage and resilience.

Additional Resources:

1. Learn more about Dr. Stella by visiting https://www.nancystella.com/
2. Learn more about the Ascend program: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/ascend
3. The Brain Science Behind Fear [blog post]
4. Episode 0133 "The Courage Habit" with Kate Swoboda

Our minds are hard-wired to make habitual behaviors very difficult to change, but it's not impossible. In today's episode, we're diving into the habit change literature to help set you up for success to change the habits you want to change in the coming year.

Today, we'll talk about what habits are. There are 3 parts to them, and most people focus on the least important part. Then, we'll talk about some tips for making two kinds of habit changes. The first is what I'm calling 'subtractive habits.' These are behaviors we want to eliminate or do less of. Then, we'll talk about 'additive habits,' or behaviors we want to add or do more of. In both cases, I'll offer you some science-backed tips to set yourself up to be more successful, whatever type of behavior change you're hoping to make.

Last, I'll offer you a couple of resources, linked below. We have a treasure trove of goodies in the Peak Mind vault all centered on habit formation and change, and we've linked to it all below.

Finally, if you haven't heard yet, Peak Mind is teaming up with the Heart Mind Institute and Wisdom for Life to bring you the free, 10-day 'Best Year of Your Life' online summit. Over 10 days you'll hear from some of the most famous, world-renown psychologists, teachers, and visionaries, and it's completely free. Hundreds of you have already signed up, and we're so excited to see you there. Click the link below to secure your free spot.

Here's to you and to forming better habits in the new year!

Additional Resources:

1. Peak Mind vault on habit change: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog?tag=habits
2. Sign up for the 'Best Year of Your Life' online summit: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/bestyear

This week, we're diving deep into the Mother-Daughter relationship. Specifically, we're talking about how we can cultivate the type of relationship with our daughters that we want to have, all while keeping ourselves sane at the same time. So, how can we raise empowered daughters while thriving ourselves? That's exactly what we're digging into with Dr. Michelle Deering.

Before running her consulting business, Dr. Michelle Deering served as a licensed psychologist and board -certified sport psychologist at a BIG 10 University, Fortune 500 corporate trainer, and higher education professional. Nowadays you’ll find her speaking at conferences, training for her next Reebok Spartan Sprint Race, and practicing rudiments on her drum kit — all while coaching, serving clients, and recording her hit podcast, Mother Daughter Connections™. Dr. Deering is a graduate of Brown University and is a licensed psychologist and board-certified sports psychologist.

Additional Resources:

1. Episode 321: The Critical Role of Emotions in Managing Conflict
2. Take our FREE healthy selfishness & pathological altruism quiz: www.peakmindpsychology.com/quiz
3. Get a copy of Dr. Deering's free guide: The Quick Guide To Lessen Arguments
4. Learn more about Dr. Deering's work: https://www.curativeconnections.com/meet-dr-michelle-deering/

But, let me ask you this: when you look at your actual behavior, the decisions you're making, the way you're spending your time, does it reflect those values? Are your values important to you in CONCEPT or in ACTION?

Today, we're talking about the topic of personal values from a different lens. From the lens of ACTION. It's one thing to say a value is important to you in a conceptual way. However, if your behavior, actions, and decision-making don't follow, you'll still experience the same level of cognitive dissonance and incongruence. In today's episode, I urge you to take action on your values. To define what they truly mean to you and to begin setting boundaries, making decisions, and saying no when things don't align. To behave in congruence.

It's hard, but it's so worth it!

Additional Resources:

1. Episode 182: "Resentment Grows Where a Boundary Needs to be Planted"
2. Episode 242: "Curate Your Life and Manage Your Energy"
3. Episode 314: "The Secret to Effective Prioritization"

Psychological flexibility is a concept that has risen in the field of psychology over the past decade or so, spearheaded by the work of Dr. Steven Hayes, the founder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Today, we're speaking with another practitioner of ACT and psychological flexibility, Dr. Diana Hill. In this conversation, we talk about what psychological flexibility is, and how it applies to so many different situations in our lives.

We have a particularly deep conversation about how it applies in situations where we're striving. You know those times - you're fixated on achieving a goal or accomplishing a lot. You're grinding. You're working so hard. But, is it always a good thing? If you're the type of person who is driven to achieve, you're not going to want to miss the back half of this episode.

Additional Resources:

1. Learn more about Dr. Hill by visiting https://drdianahill.com
2. Episode 161: What is Perfectly Hidden Depression with Dr. Margaret Rutherford
3. Episode 143: How to Liberate Your Mind and Pivot Toward What Matters with Dr. Steven Hayes
4. The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris [affiliate link]

Today I'm speaking with Doug Noll about the role of emotions in conflict and communication. This conversation is a literal masterclass about how to recognize, label, and validate our own emotions and the emotions of others. Doug offers up his 3 step process to deescalate any situation whether it's with your significant other, a co-worker, or with your kids. His emotion-centric approach is backed by some of the most cutting-edge neuroscience and has shown to be effective in nearly any setting.

Additional Resources:

1. Learn more about Doug by visiting https://dougnoll.co/psychologicalstrength
2. Want help sifting through your own complex emotions? Check out this Peak Mind blog post: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/Emotional-Intelligence-Sifting-Through-Grey-Emotional-Sludge
3. Check out Episode 221 of the podcast to learn how to win every argument: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0221

Today, we're speaking with Dr. Nicole Byers, a neuropsychologist, about ways we can truly become more productive. She talks about why some of the typical advice of grinding it out or multi-tasking simply doesn't work. She talks about practical ways to set up our workday to be more effective. She also gives great tips about how to transition from a hectic workday into your evening with your family to have some capacity and mental space left to be present with those you love.

This episode is full of practical tips you can put to work in your life today in order to be more effective and productive.

Additional Resources:

1. Learn more about Dr. Byers by visiting https://www.drnicolebyers.com/
2. Peak Mind's Blog Post "Why is this Decision So Hard?!": https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/How-to-Overcome-Indecisiveness
3. Patrick McGinnis' TED talk about FOBO: https://www.ted.com/talks/patrick_mcginnis_how_to_make_faster_decisions#t-97978

It's simply not true.

Resilience does NOT mean you somehow don't experience the stress, anxiety, or negative emotions that are perfectly natural consequences of a difficult or challenging time. In fact, during truly challenging times, we worry more if you aren't experiencing those effects.

Rather, resilience, thriving through adversity, and post-traumatic growth have more to do with what happens as a result of a challenging situation. That's the focus of today's episode. Today we talk about how to support yourself through challenging times, but mostly, we talk about what to do afterward. What we make the situation mean. How we grow from it. What we learn. Who we BECOME.

This is a powerful episode, and I hope you'll share it with someone who might benefit from it.

Additional Resources:

• Emotional sifting: Helpful blog post, Emotion Wheel

Today, I'm speaking with Alex Morrall, founder of the Twin Cities Wellness Collective and the host of the podcast of the same name. We're talking about major insights we've all learned from our hybrid work during COVID as well as some very practical ways we can support our own wellbeing and leaders can support their teams in a hybrid work model.

Additional Resources:

1. Learn more about Alex Morrall and his work and subscribe to his podcast at: https://www.tcwellnesscollective.com/
2. Martin Seligman's book "Flourish": https://amzn.to/39QbBMD [affiliate link]
3. Episode 251 "Preparing for the Post COVID Life Change": https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0251

Will is an expert in habit change. Specifically, in this episode, we talk about the importance of cultivating what he calls "success habits" to support you through times that are uncertain or challenging. He's honest about how tough it can be and how "front loaded" the process is. But, his personal story shows the value in cultivating habits that help you thrive and succeed.

Additional Resources:

1. Learn more about Will by visiting Moore Momentum
2. Will's first interview on the podcast - episode 0189
3. Carol Dweck's book Mindset (affiliate link)
4. Episode 0288 - How Structure Creates Flexibility

The skill of mindfulness sits at the center of our wheel of psychological strength, and it's the core of psych strength for a reason. You need strong mindfulness skills to develop skills in all of the other areas. Your relationship with your thoughts relies on mindfulness. Mindfulness is the foundation of emotional intelligence. It impacts your relationships, your sense of self, it interacts with your habits and behavior and is an important component in life design. It really is the core of psych strength. However, it frequently gets confused with other similar skills and techniques. Specifically, visualization.

In today's episode, I want to dig into these two concepts: Mindfulness and visualization to give you a solid understanding of what each of them is. How they're similar, how they're different, and more importantly, when to use each one of them because they're both useful for different things.

Supplemental information:

1. Podcast episode 0239 - "How to not hate meditation"

2. Cheryl B. Engelhardt's episode

3. Use of mental imagery for sports performance

Today we'll be talking about how to use some core aspects of meaningful relationships to cultivate the relationship you have with yourself. Aspects such as communication, compassion and empathy, and appreciation. The impact of the practices we talk about at the end of this episode can be life-changing, and you won't want to miss them.

Supplemental information:

1. Listen to my interview with Shannon Schottler: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0136

2. Learn more about our mini-course Self-Care [by design]: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/selfcare

3. Dig into Dr. Kristin Neff's work on self-compassion: https://self-compassion.org/

In this episode, I'll go over 3 of the main reasons why we don't prioritize, and for each, I'll offer what I hope is a helpful reframe to help you think about how you might begin to intentionally craft your life experience into one that aligns with you, your values, and your needs.

Supplemental Resources:

1. Check out Gail Golden's book Curating Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/Curating-Your-Life-Struggle-Work-Life/dp/1538132877

2. Listen to my conversation with Gail Golden: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0242

3. If you'd like to read Bronnie Ware's viral blog post Regrets of the Dying, click here: https://bronnieware.com/blog/regrets-of-the-dying/

Join us for our FREE live webinar Foundations of Psychological Strength by registering at: www.peakmindpsychology.com/webinar 

In today's episode, we're diving into 4 things that cause us to feel anxious when we step away, and 4 ways to help yourself navigate through that anxiety so you can truly enjoy the time away that you so deserve.

Join us for the FREE live webinar Foundations of Psychological Strength by signing up at this link: www.peakmindpsychology.com/webinar

Like it or not, the divisiveness in politics is something that has infiltrated nearly every aspect of our lives. Things feel so divided right now, and that's what we're diving into this week.

This week's guest is Peter Montoya, and we're talking about his new book The Second Civil War: A Citizen's Guide to Healing our Fractured Nation. In this episode we talk about the ways in which identity and tribalism play into the divisiveness we are experiencing. We talk about ways to approach political conversations and tips for effectively having the conversation. And finally, we talk about grey rocking, a strategy for handling truly morally reprehensible conversations.

Peter Montoya is a thought leader, skilled orator, tech entrepreneur, and successful business strategist, Peter’s expertise comes from decades of being deep in the trenches – guiding sales, marketing, service, and development teams to achieve seemingly unreachable goals by working together cohesively.

Find Peter's book: https://amzn.to/37pnibL

Learn more about Peter Montoya: https://petermontoya.com/

Sign up for our FREE live webinar "Foundations of Psychological Strength" by visiting www.peakmindpsychology.com/webinar 

Research cited in this episode: https://www.ijbssnet.com/journals/Vol_9_No_2_February_2018/2.pdf and https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joop.12365

Becca Ribbing is the author of The Clarity Journal, and she joins us today for a powerful conversation about intentionality, mindfulness, and self-care amidst times when we struggle to find our best path forward.

Find The Clarity Journal on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733131604

Learn more about Becca Ribbing at: https://beccaribbing.com/

In today's episode, I highlight a couple of research articles pointing to the impact that a single employee's behavior can have on others around them. I pose this question: How might you create your own micro-culture around you that supports the values you want to see in your company?

So many times we point to broader forces that are out of our control as the cause of our own experience. Those forces definitely do play a role. However, many times, we neglect to consider the role each of us can play in our own immediate environment. So, take some time to think about the culture you want to work in. Sit down and craft a description with your team. Then, think about the behaviors you can commit to in order to support the culture you want to create. Be the change.

Research cited in this episode: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-031413-091225 and https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1009581330960

But how do we do it?!

This week, we're speaking with Jeremy Pollack, a conflict resolution and peacebuilding expert. He is the Founder of Pollack Peacebuilding Systems, an international conflict resolution consulting firm. Jeremy is a regular contributor on the topics of leadership and organizational conflict management to publications such as Forbes.com, Fast Company, Industry Week, and many more. He is also the author of the recently released book The Conflict Resolution Playbook: Practical Communication Skills for Preventing, Managing, and Resolving, Conflict by Rockridge Press. 

In this episode, we talk about:

1. What conflict actually is and how we can reframe it to be more of an opportunity to grow and deepen relationships

2. Where conflict comes from and why some people are more prone to experiencing it

3. How unconscious biases play into our approach to conflict

4. How we can use a set of conversational sequences to better guide our ability to resolve conflict while maintaining our own boundaries and maintaining our important relationships

Learn more about Jeremy's company at: pollackpeacebuilding.com

Work with Jeremy by visiting coachjeremypollack.com

Get a copy of Jeremy's book: https://amzn.to/3eOCSBT

Today, we're speaking with Mark Heydt. Mark has experience coaching C-suite executives, divisional leaders, entrepreneurs, and middle managers. Mark's book Rescuing the Corporate Exhausted Hero is the playbook we've all been looking for to help us move into the strategic leadership role we're seeking without being exhausted in the process.

Connect with Mark Heydt: https://www.gameplanleader.com/

Purchase Rescuing the Corporate Exhausted Hero: https://amzn.to/3CLUgSg

Today, we're speaking with Jessica Begg. She is is a Registered Dietitian and a Registered Clinical Counsellor. Jessica has a private practice based in Vancouver, Canada and has worked in many eating disorders programs in her area for over 10 years. She works now to help people heal from binge and emotional eating and start building a more peaceful relationship with food their body.

We hit on so many important topics in this episode:

1. The impact of diet culture on our health & wellbeing

2. The role of our emotion in the way we eat

3. The impact of all of this on our self-concept and our relationship with our our body

4. The dangerous link between diet culture and disordered eating

5. And finally, how to cultivate a healthier relationship with food and our own bodies

This is a topic that impacts each and every one of us on a daily basis, and I'm thrilled to have Jessica here to help us navigate it more peacefully.

Learn more about Jessica and her program at: www.shiftnutrition.com

We all will experience grief in our lives. It's a simple fact that we will lose people we love, and our ability to support ourselves and others through the grief process is so important to develop.

This week, I'm speaking with Kimberley Pittman-Schulz. She is is an award-winning poet and author who writes, teaches, and speaks about death and loss, living mindfully, and being a force for change in the world.

We have a powerful conversation about the different ways that grief can. manifest within each of us, and the ways we can support ourselves, depending upon our individual experience. We talk about the critical role that mindfulness can play in our healing. We also talk about grief as a complex mixture of several emotions, as well as the role that joy plays in the grief process.

This is a deep episode but such a meaningful one. You won't want to miss it.

Visit PoetOwl.com/psychologicalstrength to learn more about Kimberley's new book Grieving Us: A Field Guide for Living with Loss without Losing Yourself

Making decisions, dealing with challenges, and heck, even celebrating wins are all inherently collaborative or social activities. But, when we're the sole leader of a team or when we're the sole owner of a company, it can feel very isolating.

Today, we're digging deep into this topic and exploring a couple of ways to help alleviate the loneliness that can come with leadership and entrepreneurship.

The thing is, creativity is a SUPER POWER in our professional lives. The ability to put ideas together in a way they haven't been put together before or to come up with a new, innovative approach to some issue is so valuable!

Because of that, in this episode, I'm offering you 5 ways to SPARK creativity in your work. Put them to use, and let's get CREATIVE!

During this episode we speak intimately about the coming out process. From the initial realization and recognition to the decisions about who to come out to, when, and in what context. We talk about the shift in identity that happens during this process and the resulting impact it has on a person's sense of self and how they show up in the world.

Whether you personally identify with the LGBTQIA+ community or not, this episode can not be missed. Everyone will benefit from this meaningful conversation.

Learn more about the Queer Impact Collective at: www.queerimpactcollective.com

Listen to the Out, What Now? podcast at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-what-now/id1525428380

But, what if there was another way to fill those cups? If you're feeling a lack of passion and satisfaction for your job, this just might be the episode for you.

This week, we're speaking with Philip Cox-Hynd, a personal development facilitator and vipassana meditation teacher. He has trained some of the world's leading executives in companies like Microsoft and Pfizer, and today, he's here to train us.

In this conversation we talk about the difference between happiness and satisfaction. The role mindfulness plays in many facets of our lives. The role of pain and discomfort, as well as our ability to sit with it and be accepting of it when it comes. The connection between our mind and body and what our body can tell us about our own emotional profile. Finally, we talk about using all of those skills to help us in interpersonal communication, particularly when the conversation is more difficult.

Learn more about Philip's work at: https://www.techniquesforliving.com/

Get a copy of Philip's book: Mindfulness and the Art of Change by Choice https://amzn.to/3w8ZR09

What people don't realize is this: Structure is what allows for flexibility and efficiency in my week. I get so much done BECAUSE I use systems and structure to accomplish my most important tasks. In this episode, we'll dive into why and how I do it, and how you can too!

Today, we're talking to renown educational psychologist, Dr. Michele Borba, author of the book THRIVERS: The Surprising Reasons of Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine.

In this interview, we cover what thriving is and the 7 sets of TEACHABLE skills kids need in order to be THRIVERS. You won't want to miss it.

Michele Borba, Ed.D. is an educational psychologist, former teacher, and mom recognized for offering research-driven advice culled from a career of working with over one million parents and educators. A frequent Today show contributor and recipient of the National Educator Award, she is the author of 25 books including UnSelfie, and her latest, THRIVERS: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine. She also appears on Dr. Phil, The View, CNN, The Doctors, Dr. Oz, as well as  U.S. News & World Report, The Chicago Tribune, TIME, and The NYTimes.  

Learn more about Dr. Borba's book Thrivers here: https://www.amazon.com/Thrivers-Surprising-Reasons-Struggle-Others/dp/0593085272

Today, we're taking a life design approach to designing our calendars. Specifically, I'm offering 6 hacks to help steer your calendar into alignment. These 6 hacks will help you become less reactive, in more control, and more intentional about how you spend your time. It'll help you create a calendar by design, rather than one that sways and bends reactively to the chaos around you.

Sign up at www.aprilseifert.com to be the first to know about a new resource I'm putting out there to truly help steer your calendar into alignment. Coming in the next couple of months.

Today's guest is Cedric Bertelli, the founder of the Emotional Health Institute. Through is work, he helps people recognize and overcome disruptive emotional patterns that interfere with their lives. Through a process called Emotional Resolution or EmRes, he helps people retrain their mind to more accurately respond to day-to-day life and move past disruptive emotional patterns.

I personally found incredible value in this episode, particularly as we spoke about our ability to use our bodily sensations as a guide in this process. I know you'll get incredible insight from this conversation.

Learn more about the Emotional Health Institute: https://www.emotionalhealthinstitute.org/

During this episode I mentioned last week's episode with Dr. Richard Nisbett. You can check that episode out here: www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0281

We cover what they are, and I give a process you can use to reframe these sticky problems into something that can actually be solved.

If you're unhappy in your job or another aspect of your life, you won't want to miss this episode.

I also mentioned a few books and resources to dive even deeper. Here are some helpful links:

1. Designing Your Work Life (book) https://amzn.to/3jyPsrX

2. Designing Your Life (book) https://amzn.to/3wkJvlv

3. Designing Your Life (workbook) https://amzn.to/3Am7S5a

During our conversation, we dive deep into the meaningful contribution he has made to the field of Psychology. In particular, we touch on the difference between the unconscious and conscious mind and how we can use our unconscious mind more fully. We talk about errors and biases in our judgement and decision-making. And, he gives us a glimpse into the powerful factors that shape our behavior and the ways in which we experience life day-to-day.

Find Dr. Nisbett's newest book "Thinking: A Memoir" here: https://amzn.to/3ziTVVb

Find Dr. Nisbett's book "Mindware: Tools for Smart Thinking" here: https://amzn.to/3wglNax

Visit https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/organizations for more information on our newest offerings for companies and organizations of ANY size!

Research estimates that we make about 35,000 decisions each day. Hopefully this episode helps you make some of the most important ones more effectively.

If you liked this episode, you may also like this blog post on decision-making: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/How-to-Overcome-Indecisiveness

Today we're speaking with Dr. Aziz Gazipura. Dr. Aziz is a clinical psychologist and one of the world’s leading confidence experts. He teaches people how to rapidly learn confidence so they can eliminate social anxiety and self-doubt, master conversations, accelerate in their careers, and create deeply fulfilling relationships.

After struggling with crippling shyness and social anxiety personally for over a decade, Dr. Aziz became determined to find a way to freedom. Through thousands of hours of his own training, counseling, reading, group work, and coaching, he has truly mastered what it takes to transform fear and self-doubt into permanent self-worth and confidence.Dr. Aziz completed his doctoral training at Stanford and Palo Alto Universities and is the founder of the Center For Social Confidence. He is known for his dynamic speaking, humor, disarming vulnerability, and inspiring storytelling.

Learn more about Dr. Aziz at: www.draziz.com

During this episode, we mentioned a number of past episodes of the Building Psych Strength podcast. Below are links if you're interested in learning more:

Dr. Steven Hayes, founder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0143

Healthy Selfishness: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0204

Visit https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/organizations for more information on our newest offerings for companies and organizations of ANY size!

However, there's a hidden roadblock that can stand in your way if you're not watching for it. Many times, our identity gets wrapped up in our job through a process called role engulfment. We begin to see our job not as something we DO, but as WHO WE ARE. The thought of changing that can be very scary, leading us to stay in situations that aren't suited for us, even if we desperately want to change.

Today we're talking all about it and what to do to move forward.

Also on today's episode, I announced the expansion of my 1:1 coaching practice! I'm so excited to be working with more people in this intensive, intimate capacity. Visit https://www.aprilseifert.com/meet-april and send me a note if you're interested. I'd love to support you as you move into this next chapter, as you reach for your biggest goals, and as you craft a vision for who you truly are.

Learn more about the Self Care Pyramid: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0183  

Learn about our mini-course, Self-Care [by design]: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/selfcare  

Visit https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/organizations for more information on our newest offerings for companies and organizations of ANY size!

As it turns out, taking a more comprehensive view of self-care is so much more than bubble baths and manicures. It's a set of activities you do to support yourself in showing up as your best. In today's episode, I'm lifting the curtain on this process so you can make small shifts with big impact as well.

Learn more about our program Self-Care [by design] at: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/selfcare

Learn about the full Self-Care Pyramid in this episode from the vault: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0183

Learn more about Brian and his work at https://peoplestrength.com/  

Visit https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/organizations for more information on our newest offerings for companies and organizations of ANY size!

Learn more about Michelle & grab her free resources at: https://michelleab.com/  

Try Blinkist for free for 7 days and receive 20% off your first year: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/5bggQN 

Try Blinkist for free for 7 days and receive 20% off your first year: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/5bggQN 

Get a free, 7-day trial of the Blinkist app and 20% off your first entire year by visiting this link: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/c/2730445/802063/10732  

This podcast episode is the recording of our most recent live call. I want to share it because we tackled the important topic of the transition we’re all about to make after COVID. Our lives are about to change again, and a LOT comes with that. We covered off on so many valuable topics in our most recent live call, and I wanted to share it with you.  

Please enjoy this exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse of our Ascend program’s live calls.  

Learn more about the Ascend program at: www.peakmindpsychology.com/ascend  

Try Blinkist for free for 7 days and receive 20% off your first year: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/5bggQN 

Get a free, 7-day trial of the Blinkist app and 20% off your first entire year by visiting this link: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/c/2730445/802063/10732  

This week I’m speaking with Casey Lankow & Timothy Johansson, fellow psychologists, and co-founders of A Deeper Way. They’re also the hosts of 2 incredible podcasts in the psychology space. 

In this episode we talk about 6 important factors of healthy relationships (including our relationships with ourselves) in order to facilitate growth and change. It’s a POWERFUL one.  

Learn more about A Deeper Way: https://www.adeeperway.com/  

Psychology at Work podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/psychology-at-work/id1466167436  

Try Blinkist for free for 7 days and receive 20% off your first year: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/5bggQN 

During the episode I mentioned my incredible friend and emotional intelligence expert, Rich Bracken. Learn more about him at https://richbracken.com/  

Get a free, 7-day trial of the Blinkist app and 20% off your first entire year by visiting this link: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/c/2730445/802063/10732  

Dr. Fleet Maull PhD, CMT-P, is an author, meditation teacher, management consultant, trainer and executive coach who facilitates deep transformation for individuals and organizations through his philosophy and program of Radical Responsibility©. 

Learn more about Dr. Maull’s work at: https://fleetmaull.com/ 

Learn more about Dr. Maull’s book at: https://www.radicalresponsibilitybook.com/ 

Try Blinkist for free for 7 days and receive 20% off your first year: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/5bggQN 

Well, that’s great and all, but what happens when that growth and that change leads to near crippling uncertainty, self-doubt, and fear? On today’s professional edition of the podcast, we’ll talk about why this happens, and more importantly, what you can do about it.  

Catch this Wednesday episode of the podcast to learn about The Committee in Your Mind: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0187   

Get a free, 7-day trial of the Blinkist app and 20% off your first entire year by visiting this link: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/c/2730445/802063/10732  

Learn more about the Ascend program at: www.peakmindpsychology.com/ascend  

Learn the insights of some of the world's most influential and valuable non-fiction books in only 15-20 minutes with the Blinkist app. Get a FREE 7-day trial and 20% off your first year using this link: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/5bggQN 

Get a free, 7-day trial of the Blinkist app and, for a limited time, 40% off your first entire year by visiting this link: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/c/2730445/1038174/10732  

This week, we’re speaking with an expert in the realm of self-compassion. Dr. Jane Tornatore is a licensed therapist and the author of the book “Everything is Perfect, Just Not Me.” During our conversation we talk about the critical importance of developing self-compassion, the brain science behind its power, and practical ways to get started.  

Catch this episode, and share it with someone else who needs this powerful message. 

Learn more about Dr. Jane at Everydaylove.me 

Learn more about the Self-Care [by design] program at www.peakmindpsychology.com/selfcare  

Learn the insights of some of the world's most influential and valuable non-fiction books in only 15-20 minutes with the Blinkist app. Get a FREE 7-day trial and 20% off your first year using this link: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/5bggQN 

Get a free, 7-day trial of the Blinkist app and, for a limited time, 40% off your first entire year by visiting this link: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/c/2730445/1038174/10732  

Our minds are quietest when things are predictable and stable, so when things change, we naturally experience a bit of psychological upheaval. In this episode, we’ll call out some of the changes you might experience, and we’ll talk about 4 ways to help yourself and others navigate through it.  

At the end of this episode, we mentioned our program Self Care [by design]: learn more at https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/selfcare 

Also, Ashley mentioned our blog post about dealing with mixed or “unclean” emotions. Read it here: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/Emotional-Intelligence-Sifting-Through-Grey-Emotional-Sludge  

Learn the insights of some of the world's most influential and valuable non-fiction books in only 15-20 minutes with the Blinkist app. Get a FREE 7-day trial and 20% off your first year using this link: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/5bggQN 

Everyone says that growth and success happen outside of your comfort zone, but scientifically speaking, what exactly is your ‘comfort zone?’ Turns out, the better of an understanding you have of how your comfort zone cognitively forms and how it influences your day-to-day decisions and behavior, the better able you will be to step outside of it when the situation calls. As is frequently the case in business. 

Today on this episode, we’ll talk about the distinction between toxic positivity and a true gratitude practice and how you can implement a practice that will actually help you balance your thinking and create a better life experience. 

Learn the insights of some of the world's most influential and valuable non-fiction books in only 15-20 minutes with the Blinkist app. Get a FREE 7-day trial and 20% off your first year using this link: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/5bggQN 

When you experience challenge, adversity, or a setback, how do you respond? In this 3-part series, we’re diving into something called The Drama Triangle to explore ways to take a more active, helpful, effective stance in our businesses and in our lives when things get tough.  

This week, we’re speaking with Matis Miller, founder, director, and supervisor of The Center for Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy of New Jersey and author of the brand new book ‘The Uncontrollable Child.’ Matis joins me on the podcast today to talk about ways we can build a new set of skills to help us be more effective, mindful parents. I’m so grateful to have had this conversation, and I know you’ll get so much out of it. 

Learn more about Matis’ book at https://theuncontrollablechild.com/  

Learn about Matis’ private practice at http://cbtofnj.com/  

Learn the insights of some of the world's most influential and valuable non-fiction books in only 15-20 minutes with the Blinkist app. Get a FREE 7-day trial and 20% off your first year using this link: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/5bggQN 

This week is Part 2 where we’re diving into what it means to take on the role of The Persecutor, and what you can do instead.

Get a free, 7-day trial of the Blinkist app and 20% off your first entire year by visiting this link: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/c/2730445/802063/10732  Blinkist is a paid sponsor of this podcast.

This book is all about carefully selecting the activities, responsibilities, and commitments we say ‘yes’ to in our lives, based on what is meaningful to us. Gail goes deep into topics like finding out what’s important to you. Saying ‘no’ to the things that aren’t...even when it’s hard. Embracing mediocrity in some things so that you can live your greatness in others.  

In short, this episode is a masterclass in Life Design, and you won’t want to miss it. 

Learn more about Dr. Gail Golden and her work at: https://www.gailgoldenconsulting.com/ 

Get your copy of Gail’s book here: https://amzn.to/3cnSmuz 

When you experience challenge, adversity, or a setback, how do you respond? In this 3-part series, we’re diving into something called The Drama Triangle to explore ways to take a more active, helpful, effective stance in our businesses and in our lives when things get tough.  

If you’ve ever tried to meditate and given up because you just HATE it, this is the episode for you. This week, we’re diving into meditation to talk about this powerful practice and how you can get started and maybe not hate it so much this time. 

Sales can get a bad reputation. Tricking, pressuring, or convincing someone to do something they don’t want to do gets conflated with the true, authentic desire to help solve someone else’s problems.  

Post-partum depression, anxiety, and related issues are so much more common than we realize, and on today’s episode, I’m speaking with Lauren Robbins. She is a therapist and Executive Director of Pregnancy & Postpartum Support MN.  

In this episode, we’re talking about the sensitive and important topic of supporting parents through their pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting years. If you are a parent, or if you know and love someone who is, you won’t want to miss this episode. 

Learn more about PPSI-MN at https://ppsupportmn.org 

If you need help, you can call or text PPSI-MN at 612.787.7776 

Learn more about the Self-Care [by design] program at https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/selfcare  

Confession time. I absolutely love selling. I'm actually serious. I LOVE IT! The thing is, April from 5-10 years ago would also be staring at this version of April in utter disbelief. Who in the heck actually LIKES SALES? I do. 

Self-doubt, the inner critic, anxiety, and judgement are killers of progress because they influence us so heavily. They keep us stuck. 

Today, we’re digging into one of the most fundamental principles of the way our mind works. We’re going back to the basics to tease apart the role our mind plays in keeping us stuck, and what to do about it. 

If you’re even thinking about making a change or taking on something new, this is the episode for you! 

For more information on the Ascend program, visit www.peakmindpsychology.com/ascend 

We want to hear your questions and feedback! Email us at info@peakmindpsychology.com  

I’m willing to bet that at some point in your career, you’ve googled the term “work life balance.” The elusive perfect balance between the time and energy we spend on our work and the time and energy we put into our personal lives feels like that rare unicorn that we all chase, yet no one seems to catch. 

This week on the podcast, we’re speaking with Adele Spraggon, international speaker, behavior change expert, and author of the book “Shift: 4 Steps to Personal Empowerment.” In our conversation, we talk about what brain patterns are and the powerful role they play in our behavior. Adele gives us a step-by-step process for beginning to make changes in our own brain patterns in order to move in the direction we want to go in life. 

We end with a deep discussion on the importance of distancing ourselves from our own automatic thoughts and learning to bore into our emotions for the sake of gaining personal insight. You won’t want to miss it. 

Get a free copy of Adele’s book at www.shift4steps.com  

Learn more about Adele at www.adelespraggon.com  

Take our latest psych strength quiz at: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/quiz

Get a pen. Write this down. “Resentment grows where a boundary needs to be planted.” We all have “that” person in our lives who over-steps, asks too much, and doesn’t give in return. But, what if “that” person is a client? 

Today on the podcast, we’re diving deep into ‘hustle culture.’ We’re talking about the surprising roots of where it came from, the impact it has on our behavior and whether we’re behaving in alignment with the type of person we want to be, and some practical tips to say ‘no’ to hustle culture. 

As we find ourselves becoming more and more squeezed by our schedules and responsibilities, it has never been more important to find ways to create space, ease, and balance in our lives. Listen to this episode to learn how. 

Take our latest psych strength quiz at: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/quiz 

The types of difficult decisions we are faced with in business are unique because they aren't really straight-forward. Many times, there are no clear-cut right answers. No obvious path forward.  

How about this one, if a job opportunity came up that paid DOUBLE what you make today, how nervous would you be to apply for it? 

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the connection between our emotions and our finances. It’s a bigger connection than you’d anticipate.  

Today’s podcast guest is Bob Wheeler. Bob is an accountant by training, but his work goes so much further than that. Through is book, “The Money Nerve,” his podcast “Money You Ask,” and his live and online trainings, Bob helps people unpack their emotions and beliefs about money and how they might be influencing their decisions and financial outcomes. 

In this valuable conversation, we talk about the connection between emotion and money. We talk about where our beliefs about money come from and how they impact our decisions. Finally, we talk about how to begin to do “the work” of realigning our relationship with money. 

The fact is, money is not the root of all evil. The more money you make, the bigger impact you can have on society and your own family for generations to come.  

Find out more about Bob Wheeler and his work by visiting: https://themoneynerve.com/  

Take our latest psych strength quiz at: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/quiz

I can't think of many other life experiences that require more personal growth than entrepreneurship. Launching a new product or service into the market takes grit. Resilience. Strength. Bravery. 

Conflict in our closest relationships is inevitable. No matter how great a relationship is, at some point or another, we’ll find ourselves in an argument, and today’s episode is focused on helping you “win” every argument. 

Take our latest psych strength quiz at: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/quiz

On one side is opportunity. The ability to build and experience boundless growth. The feeling you get when you realize the ceiling has been removed on the amount of money you can make. It's incredible.

But, the opportunity side of that coin is balanced by the other side. The responsibility side. The side that says, "Yes, you are free. You are completely free. And now you must chart your own course. Set your own direction. Put wind in your own sails. No one else will do it for you." The responsibility side also says, "Yes, there is no ceiling on the amount of money you can make, but I've also removed the floor as well. Choose your next steps wisely."

Here's how to chart your own course and get to work, especially in those early days.

The dirty secret of all of this is that, we’re human beings. We have needs. And, many of those needs have been taken away from us.  

Today on the podcast, we’re diving deep into something called “Conditions to Thrive.” We’ll walk you through SEVEN different conditions to thrive that have been significantly impacted by COVID and offer some ideas about how to elevate your experience. 

Take care of yourself. You’re worth it. 

FREE RESOURCE: During the episode, we mentioned a free self-compassion resource that we put together. Visit www.peakmindpsychology.com/support to get immediate access to an in-the-moment exercise that will really help you feel better during challenging times. 

Today, I want to focus on something called the spotlight effect. This is the tendency we have to overestimate how much other people notice about us. And, this tendency of ours, can impact the decisions we make, the risks we take, and our ultimate success in business.

Our brains are constantly changing (neuroplasticity) and growing (neurogenisis). Cutting edge research shows us that the linkage between our brain and the “neurotoxic environment” we currently live in is leading to a weakened brain, causing us to experience heightened levels of anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. 

This week on the podcast, I’m speaking with Dr. Brant Cortright, clinical psychologist and professor emeritus at the California Institute of Integral Studies. In his recent book “Holistic Healing for Anxiety, Depression, and Cognitive Decline,” he discusses the link between our “neurotoxic environment” and our mental health. 

Most importantly, we have a deep conversation about how we all can begin to reverse these effects. You won’t want to miss this episode. Your brain will thank you! 

Learn more about Dr. Cortright at: https://www.brantcortright.com/  

FREE GIFT: Take our newest quiz and find out why you might be feeling overwhelmed. Visit www.peakmindpsychology.com/quiz to learn more.

If you're anything like me, that innocent question became a loaded one when I became an entrepreneur. I fumbled through it, weakly answering in a way that probably told the person on the receiving end exactly NOTHING about what I actually did for a living. And, I found myself confused as to why I had such a hard time with that question.

As it turns out, I have come to realize that there are 3 reasons why that question is hard for entrepreneurs, particularly new entrepreneurs. And none of those reasons is a surface level reason.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, resentful, exhausted, or stretched too thin, it could be a sign that you’re overfunctioning.  

Take our latest psych strength quiz absolutely free. Visit https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/quiz

Imposter syndrome runs deep in entrepreneurship. Not only that, but when we feel like an imposter, it zaps our confidence, and we tend to set goals that are below our capability. We make decisions that are safe, rather than ones that are a calculated risk that could move our business forward. Essentially, imposter syndrome sets us up to underperform.

Even more, most of the advice I hear on the internet and in other domains is actually really ineffective, albeit good-intentioned. This is why we're tackling the topic of imposter syndrome on the podcast today.

When was the last time you felt ashamed? Did you feel inclined to talk to someone about how you were feeling, or did you keep it to yourself? As you think back, were you feeling ashamed about something you actually had control over or were you accepting shame for something outside of your direct control?

Does shame ever play a role in influencing your behavior when you realize that you’ve changed your mind on a belief you once strongly held? Do you ever feel shame toward other people when they seem to “flip-flop” on important issues?

What about at a societal level? Do you see the influence of shame in any of our core institutions? The legal system, perhaps? Or the school system?

These are all of the questions we’re addressing during this week’s episode, which is an in-depth conversation with Nick Jawarski, the host of the podcast “Shame Rules!”

Nick became fascinated by the complex ways in which shame impacts us at both an individual and a societal level. He attempted to cover it in an episode of a podcast, but he quickly realized it deserved its own show. 

In our conversation, we begin by diving into what shame and guilt are and how they impact us individually. We talk about the role they play in keeping us from growing and learning new things, particularly in the age of social media. 

Then, we take an interesting turn to talk about the near-universal role that shame plays in our broader institutions in society. We’re talking about things as fundamental as the legal system and our public school system.

Not only will you leave this episode with a more in-depth understanding of the ways in which shame might impact you on a day-to-day basis, but you’ll begin to see it everywhere in society. I know I did!

I can’t wait for you to meet Nick Jawarski and to check out his new podcast, Shame Rules! https://www.shamerules.com/  

Take our newest quiz at www.peakmindpsychology.com/quiz

We currently release a quick, 1-2 minute, actionable episode every Monday to give you a new tool or tip to try out. We release an in-depth episode every Wednesday focused on helping you build psychological strength to improve your life experience....but there's one set of questions I get asked ALL THE TIME that I haven't yet addressed on the podcast. Business questions.

As it turns out, there's a TON of psychology involved in being a business owner. Sales, creativity, persisting after failure, goal setting, work-life balance, and so much more.

So, to lean into the podcast even more in 2021, I'm experimenting with Friday business-focused episodes. I hope you'll join me for episodes to help you build psychological strength and become more effective, confident, and successful in the world of business.

But, what if you could approach it with an entirely different philosophy? 

What if you truly understood and believed that your space did not have to look perfectly put-together? 

What if you realized that you don’t exist to serve your space and make it look perfect, but rather, your space exists to serve you? 

What if you realized that the chores, or better yet, the care tasks, you do around your home are simply functional tasks. Doing them well, or not so well, perfectly, or incompletely, does not say anything about you as a person and your worth or value. 

What if you dropped all the guilt and shame about it and allowed yourself to simply do only what absolutely needed to be done? 

Enter KC Davis. I encountered KC Davis on TikTok, and I was instantly struck by her message of ‘Struggle Care.’ Through her empathetic and engaging content, she teaches us that care tasks are functional, not moral. That shame is the enemy of functioning. That we can allow ourselves a human moment and be absolutely ok with it. This, and so much more. 

Her new book “How to Keep House While Drowning” gives an approachable, tangible, not overwhelming overview of her philosophy of struggle care, and it’s exactly what we all need during a time when we’re juggling too much or battling barriers to getting our care tasks done. 

No matter what, you are valuable, you are worthy, and none of that value and worth is dependent upon what your home looks like. 

Learn more about KC at: https://www.strugglecare.com/  

Click here to learn more about our most recent program, ‘Self Care [by design].’ For just $29, you can design your own effective, customized, guilt-free self-care routine to support you in being your best every day. https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/selfcare  

Visit the links below and use the code HAPPYNEWYEAR to get 20% off at checkout. (Offer ends on 1/6/2021) 

ASCEND: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/ascend 

LIMTLESS: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/limitless 

SELFCARE [BY DESIGN]: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/selfcare  

One practice I’ve been doing on a semi-annual basis for the past few years is a calendar audit. This is a time set aside for us to intentionally look at how we’re spending our time, and set some general ground rules to bring our lives into better alignment as we look ahead. 

To that end, this week’s episode is a bit different. It’s actually a hands on episode where we guide you through the 10 steps we take to conducting a calendar audit and ending up with an “ideal week” that serves as a compass for how you make decisions about how to spend your time going forward.  

None of us will ever hit our ideal 100% of the time, but imagine how great an intentional B- will feel if it’s in the direction of your ideal.  

As we close out 2020 (April throws confetti), we wanted to give you the gift of time through this powerful, hands on episode. We hope you find it valuable! 

One more gift for you! For a limited time, get 20% any of Peak Mind’s programs. Commit to building psychological strength in 2021. You deserve it!  

Visit the links below and use the code HAPPYNEWYEAR to get 20% off at checkout. (Offer ends on 1/6/2021) 

ASCEND: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/ascend 

LIMTLESS: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/limitless 

SELFCARE [BY DESIGN]: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/selfcare  

Our expectations about how the world works and what “should” happen next provide a powerful lens through which we see the world.

Perhaps no one knows this better than today’s guest. Today we’re speaking with Steve Haffner, a professional magician. Steve intimately understands the power of our subconscious expectations, and he exploits them to create magical experiences for his audiences.

His is entertaining, but it also provides a powerful lesson in self-awareness and self-discovery to help us live our lives to the fullest.

Steve had a successful 30-year career in information systems as a Vice-President of Performance Measurement Systems for a healthcare information corporation. Seemingly on a whim, he walked into his boss’s office and quit to become a professional magician.

What seemed like an abrupt decision was actually a realignment of Steve’s life to his authentic values. A reinvention that brought him into alignment with who he truly was and the contribution he wanted to make in the world.

During this interview, we talk about:

• The fact that our own perception, regardless of whether it is accurate or not, is our reality.
• The impact of mental biases and short-cuts on shaping the lens through which we see the world.
• The critical role that our personal values play in shaping the direction of our daily decision-making (big and small).
• And, how to use your values to “confront the lizard” and make more intentional decisions.

This interview is entertaining AND informative. I know you’re going to love meeting Steve Haffner.

ANSWER: The heart feeds ITSELF first.

Think about that. The heart’s job is to nurture every single other organ and tissue in our body, yet it nurtures itself first by way of the coronary arteries. It’s as though the heart knows that if it isn’t ok, the rest of our body doesn’t stand a chance.

What about you?

Do you nurture yourself first? I bet not.

In a million large and small ways, we’re taught that focusing on ourselves is SELFISH. That it’s something we should avoid and be ashamed of. That we should strive to tirelessly give to others, many times, at our own expense.

But, what if selfishness is actually HEALTHY? 

Turns out, it can be. Recent research in psychology has uncovered the concept of healthy selfishness. This is when we recognize that our own needs are just as important as everyone else’s needs. We take our needs as seriously as everyone else’s needs…just like the heart.

In this age of burnout where all of us are stretched way too thin, I encourage you to listen to this episode and take our new quiz to assess your own level of healthy selfishness. It could very well save your life.

Head over to www.peakmindpsychology.com/quiz to see how you rank on our healthy selfishness quiz and get access to a free set of tools.

But, psychological research shows us that it is possible to grow from tragedy, rather the simply be consumed by it.

This week on the podcast we’re speaking with David Roland. David is a writer, presenter, and psychologist from Australia. For much of his career, he worked as a clinical and forensic psychologist, and on the outside, he had a perfect life.

After experiencing PDSD, depression, and ultimately a stroke, David devoted this latter half of his career to helping people move through suffering and grow as a result of adversity.

In this conversation, he offers some things for us to think about in terms of how we cope with trauma and tragedy and how we might ourselves grow when we’re faced with life’s challenges. Not only that, but he offers such empathetic and kind advice about how we can be a supportive companion to others who might be experiencing suffering, rather than the awkwardness and distance we so often feel compelled to feel when others are going through something difficult.

Life will not always be perfect. We all will experience adversity in our lives, and it is absolutely critical that we develop skills for coping with it and growing as a result. You won’t want to miss this powerful episode.

Learn more about David Roland and his books at https://davidroland.com.au/.

At the beginning of the episode, I mentioned a new quiz that we’ve recently released to see how you rank on 2 new factors that contribute to burn-out, overwhelm, and the feelings of guilt we tend to feel when we take time for ourselves. You deserve to feel calm, balanced and supported in being your best self. The first step is the self-awareness of the factors that might be working against you. Head over to www.peakmindpsychology.com/quiz to see how you rank on these 2 new cutting-edge factors and get access to a set of tools to help you move through it.

When I was 13 years old, I went blind for the first time, and I will admit, I let victim mentality take over at first. I let a number of false beliefs control my actions, and I watched as my once full, vibrant life began to shrink. Until, one day, I decided not to play the victim anymore. I decided to acknowledge the situation I was in and take the next best step.

Radical responsibility is what allowed me to do that, and in this episode of the podcast, we’re diving deep into what that means. We’ll explore the topic in the context of some of the most difficult events life can throw at us: grief, loss, uncertainty.

I hope you leave this episode with a set of tools to help you become more intentional in the face of absolutely anything life can throw at you. It was during the most difficult challenges that I learned these lessons, and I want to share them with you.

I mentioned a few resources during this episode. If you’re interested in learning more about my 1:1 coaching practice, you can visit www.aprilseifert.com. You can also visit this link to get a free 30-day trial of Sam Harris’ ‘Waking Up’ app, which I use every single day (and don’t get paid anything for sharing): https://dynamic.wakingup.com/redeemMonth/240086

Because self-care is so critical, we’re thrilled to announce our newest Peak Mind program: Self-Care [by design]. This program will guide you through a step-by-step process to create your own guilt-free, effective, custom self-care routine to make sure you’re taken care of. Find out more information at www.peakmindpsychology.com/selfcare . At only $29, this program is accessible to nearly anyone who is ready to make themselves a priority.

If so, you’re likely a highly empathetic person, and this episode is for you! 

You see, naturally having a high degree of empathy is an absolute super-power. You have insight into context and detail that other people miss. You’re also an incredible asset to others around you. They benefit from this super-power of yours because you’re so able to relate to them on a deep level. 

However, many highly empathetic people can find themselves feeling flooded and overwhelmed. Burned out. Resentful when others aren’t as able to anticipate their feelings and relate on the same deep level. 

In this episode, we’re talking about the 2 sides of empathy, with the hope that it helps you understand yourself a bit better. 

We’ll also talk about some practical things you can do to help support yourself if you happen to be a highly empathetic person. In particular, self-care is even more important for you. Having a guilt-free, effective, tailored self-care program is an absolute necessity for you. 

Because self-care is so critical, we’re thrilled to announce our newest Peak Mind program: Self-Care [by design]. This program will guide you through a step-by-step process to create your own guilt-free, effective, custom self-care routine to make sure you’re taken care of. Find out more information at www.peakmindpsychology.com/selfcare . At only $29, this program is accessible to nearly anyone who is ready to make themselves a priority. 

Psychologists have recently uncovered 2 new factors that contribute to burn-out, and they'll probably surprise you. 

Once you know how they apply to you, you can start making changes to feel less overwhelmed, less worried, less GUILTY, and less hard on yourself.

Click here to take the quiz to see how you score on these 2 factors.

You see, when we talk about ‘building psychological strength,’ we’re really talking about developing yourself in 5 core areas so that you’re better skilled and equipped to handle anything life throws at you.

2020 has shown us just how V.U.C.A. life can be (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous). We all need to work on the skills and abilities that set us up to be able to thrive, no matter what life throws our way.

How would that feel?

Imagine it! How would it feel to have the confidence that, no matter what, you have the skills to move through any challenge and thrive?

That is what psychological strength is, and today, to celebrate this exciting milestone, we’re diving deep.

Thank you to each and every one of you who have downloaded an episode of this podcast. If you haven’t subscribed, please hit that button in celebration of this exciting day. Thank you for being on this journey with us and for recognizing your own worth.

During this episode, we mentioned our flagship program Ascend. If you would like to learn more information on that program and get in before we raise the price, visit www.peakmindpsychology.com/ascend

Psychologists have recently uncovered 2 new factors that contribute to burn-out, and they'll probably surprise you. 

Once you know how they apply to you, you can start making changes to feel less overwhelmed, less worried, less GUILTY, and less hard on yourself.

Click here to take the quiz to see how you score on these 2 factors.

However, as tough as it can be to set boundaries, it’s absolutely necessary. 

In this episode of the podcast, we’re speaking with Carley Hauck. Carley is a learning architect, leadership development consultant, author, speaker, and serves as adjunct faculty at Stanford University and UC Berkeley Haas School of Business teaching on the subject of leadership and business as a platform for positive change in the world. 

In this episode, Carley talks about: 

• The power of naming our emotions and how it can help us move through unpleasant emotions. “Name it to tame it” 
• Emotional intelligence & the fact that there are no unacceptable emotions 
• What compassionate boundaries are and how to set them 
• The role anger plays in setting a boundary 

Finally, Carley gives a step-by-step way to approach setting compassionate boundaries to begin using them as a way to protect yourself, particularly in times that are as volatile and ever-changing as our current situation. 

The bottom line, you are an asset to everyone in your life. And because of that, you need and deserve some protection. Setting intentional, compassionate boundaries is one key way to do just that. 

https://carleyhauck.com/shinebook/ 

Take part in Carley’s 2-part free workshop at https://carleyhauck.com/consciousleadershipworkshop/  

www.leadfromlight.com 

Psychologists have recently uncovered 2 new factors that contribute to burn-out, and they'll probably surprise you. 

Once you know how they apply to you, you can start making changes to feel less overwhelmed, less worried, less GUILTY, and less hard on yourself.

Click here to take the quiz to see how you score on these 2 factors.

Most of us have a pretty easy time coming up with adversity because we face it ALL THE TIME. In EVERY facet of our lives.  

Our relationships, our careers, our day to day life. We experience adversity all the time. 

Unfortunately, our mind’s natural tendency when things get difficult is to try to avoid. To chatter at us, to try to influence us to have a drink, distract ourselves, or procrastinate until the problem goes away. We attempt to avoid, and we miss out on the opportunity to thrive through the adversity and grow stronger as a result of it. 

Today, on this episode, I want to dive deep into the topic of psychological flexibility. This is a skill that has been shown to help people, not only move through adversity, but THRIVE through it and grow as a result of it. 

Specifically, I want to dive deep into the 6 facets of psychological flexibility and give you some tips and tricks for applying them when you’re in a challenging situation in the future. 

This skill is something you learn, not something you check the box on. This means, you’re likely to be pretty bad at it at first. That’s ok! It’s going to feel awkward. But, as you keep practicing, you’ll get better, smoother, more natural. And, the power of this skill will go to work for you. 

Stick around to the end of this episode. I open up and talk about my personal experience giving my TEDx talk last year. I don’t remember very many other times in my life when I was that anxious and afraid. It was the 6 steps that I share in this episode that got me through it. You can watch my TEDx talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTnSX4sYQhU  

I want the same for you. I want you to be able to confront your toughest situations head on, and thrive through them. 

I know you can. It just takes a little practice. We’re here to support you. Good luck! 

They can be so difficult to bear that, many times, we work at all costs to avoid them. We fall prey to the “Good Vibes Only” Instagram posts that tell us to pretend we’re happy all the time. 

It’s not possible to be happy all of the time. 

In fact, it’s not even GOOD FOR YOU to be happy all of the time. 

In this episode, we’re diving into the more painful, difficult side of our emotional experience. We’re wading through the complexity of our more unpleasant emotions to talk about the valuable role they play in our lives. 

Specifically, we’ll talk about 4 important things your painful emotions do for you.  

We’re all human beings, which means we’re complicated little animals. We have big, emotionally-expressive lives, and that’s a GOOD THING! That’s what we’re digging into this week. 

Toward the end, we give you a framework for thinking about your unpleasant emotions when you experience them. Hopefully this helps you understand yourself a bit more and be more self-compassionate in times when you need it. 

Throughout this episode, I mentioned a free resource for you to help you regain feelings of balance and control when life feels overwhelming, when your perfectionism kicks in, or when the future has you feeling worried. Visit www.peakmindpsychology.com/support to get immediate access to this free resource. Join nearly 1000 other people who have checked out this resource as a way to help regain balance during a chaotic time. 

• You walk into a room and forget why you went there. 
• You forget names or stumble over words as you speak 
• You have an endless to-do list running through your mind of things you can’t forget to get done 

If any of these sound familiar, you’ll want to catch this week’s episode. This week, we’re talking all about cognitive load and decision fatigue and how to reduce mental clutter and create more spaciousness in your mind.  

In this episode, I give a deep overview about what cognitive load and decision fatigue are. We talk about the brain science behind why they happen and how they’re a very natural response to a very old brain attempting to operate in modern society. 

I give such a deep overview, because I want you to know that you’re not a failure, you're not weak, you’re not deficient in some way if you drop a ball or forget something. You’re a human with a brain. That’s it. 

Finally, we go into the 4 R’s of reducing cognitive load to create more mental spaciousness: 

• Reduce  
• Replicate 
• Regorganize 
• Act Rapidly 

I hope this episode helps you understand your mind a little better and helps you develop a sense of compassion for yourself as a human being just trying to do the best they can.  

You’re doing great. 

Throughout this episode, I mentioned a free resource for you to help you regain feelings of balance and control when life feels overwhelming, when your perfectionism kicks in, or when the future has you feeling worried. Visit www.peakmindpsychology.com/support to get immediate access to this free resource. Join nearly 1000 other people who have checked out this resource as a way to help regain balance during a chaotic time. 

Brace yourselves, friends. It’s election season. 

We’re officially in the full-swing of election season, and most of us are FEELING IT. The gluttony of information, constant negativity, divisive content, and the importance of the outcomes has us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or even checked-out. 

There are a lot of blog posts and podcast episodes focused on the different mental biases that come into play during the political season. This is all important content, but it is not what we’ll be reviewing today. 

Instead, today’s episode is focused on ways you can lean on your psychological strength to thrive through this season. To avoid some of the anxiety and worry that can arise. To feel more balanced and centered during a time that threatens to upend even the strongest of us. 

We’ll begin the episode by talking about some key reasons why you might be feeling out-of-sorts during this time. We’ll cover our mind’s tendency to focus on topics in a black and white fashion, our tendency to focus on negative information, our bias toward creating ingroups (us) and outgroups (them) and our illusion of control. 

All of these tendencies are very natural and normal occurrences, but they make our experience during election season particularly difficult. 

Toward the end of this episode, we’ll turn to things you can do to support yourself through the coming weeks. This information is particularly important for those of you who might find yourself in an advocate or activist position. If you are fighting for something important to you, you need to take care of yourself in the process. We’d love to arm you with some tips. 

Friends, take care of yourself in the coming weeks.  

As it turns out, there is a common core: a lack of self-trust. 

Today, we’re speaking with Blake D. Bauer, author of the international bestselling book ‘You Were Not Born to Suffer.’ Blake is an expert in the realm of self-love and self-trust, and he takes a unique approach by using mindfulness as a way to begin to develop both. 

I’ll tell you, mindfulness and self-trust are two of the most impactful, foundational psychological strength building techniques, and I’m thrilled to have had the chance to dive into them with Blake during this episode. 

We had such a robust conversation about: 

• What mindfulness is! It sounds so simple, but the concept of mindfulness gets so over-complicated in the media today. Blake breaks it down for us.
• How to understand the core of many of our problems as a society today and the role that a lack of self-trust and self-love plays. 
• How to cultivate self-trust on a daily basis 
• How all of this feeds into psychological strength 

As someone who works on these skills every single day, it was so refreshing to speak with Blake. He’s another person who understands the impact that psychological strength can have in your life, and his compassion for helping others do the same is so evident in this interview.  

Other resources you might be interested in are: 

• The Peak Mind Starter Pack – a free resource for digging into some of the basis principles of psychological strength 
• An Unteathered Soul – a book that dives into many of the same concepts we covered in this interview 
• Transcend – another book that dives into the importance of fulfilling our own needs so that we might be able to be of more value to others. 

This week, we’re digging deep into the concept of Life Design. Specifically, we’re going over the 5 principles that you have to work within in order to experience the shift that Life Design has to offer. 

In this episode, you’ll hear first-hand why I am so passionate about Life Design. You’ll hear about my own confrontation with mortality and the license, permission, and motivation it gave me. I want that same thing for you. 

We’ll go over the 5 principles and what they mean at their core.  

I’ll challenge you to look for them in your own life.  

My biggest goal for you is that you live like your life depends on it...because it does. Tune in to this episode and allow it to change your life for the better! 

At the beginning of this episode, we mentioned a free resource. As school has begun for many families, a lot of you are feeling stretched thin. You might be feeling overwhelmed, nervous, or your perfectionism might be getting the best of you. Sign up at www.peakmindpsycholgy.com/support to get immediate access to three 3-6 minute interventions to help you return to balance, control, and ease.  
 

Today, we’re talking with my friend, Dave Dellanave. Normally, this would be where I put someone’s very official-sounding bio, but Dave is one of those people whose life and accomplishments don’t fit neatly into a polished paragraph.   

Dave is a world record holding deadlifter. He is an entrepreneur who has successfully sold one company and the founder of one of the most successful gyms in the country. He’s a skydiver with 1400 jumps and counting. He’s an olive oil importer, and a documentary film maker.  

He’s all of these things, and he has next to no credentials for any of them. Rather, he is the type of person who is continually asking himself whether the journey he’s on and the way he’s spending his time is aligned to who he is at his core.   

Yes, it may seem like Dave’s accomplishments make him a bad example for me to feature on this podcast. It all seems a bit untouchable. However, each and every one of these accomplishments came not from a big, sweeping achievement. Rather, they came from constant tinkering, adjusting, experimenting, and progress. 

Small, incremental improvements. Every. Single. Day. 

Every single one of us could be doing the same thing, and Dave is an example of what can happen when you commit to doing that. 

During this conversation, we hit on so many key points about Life Design: 

• The fact that many of the “rules” we all live our lives by are, in fact, assumptions, not rules at all. 
• That knowledge, in particular the type of knowledge you get from DOING something, is more valuable than a formal certification. 
• How very small improvements, small “PR’s” every day can add up to incredible progress over time. 
• And finally, what to do if you’re feeling stuck. He offers some great advice about where to start.  

You can learn more about Dave and purchase his incredible olive oil at www.dellanave.com . Also, watch for his upcoming documentary “From the Source!” 

We mentioned a number of resources during his episode: 

• “The Dip” by Seth Godin 
• “Atomic Habits” by James Clear 

Now let me ask you this: what was the approach you took for coping with that situation? 

Was your approach more pointed toward “making yourself feel better” by focusing on the emotions you were feeling? Or, did you focus more on the situation to try to change it or accept it? 

Today, we’re talking about 2 different types of coping that people use to move through adversity: emotion-focused coping and problem-focused or situation-focused coping. 

In this episode, not only do we unpack these 2 types of coping, but we dive into the nuance of what it means to cope in each way. Times when each type of coping works, and times when it doesn’t. 

Finally, we end with a couple of practical, straight-forward, yet very effective strategies you can use to support yourself when you’re going through something that is requiring all of your coping skills.  

We so hope you find value in this episode, and we’d love it if you would share it with someone else who might need support at this time. 

At the beginning of this episode, we mentioned a free resource. As school has begun for many families, a lot of you are feeling stretched thin. You might be feeling overwhelmed, nervous, or your perfectionism might be getting the best of you. Sign up at www.peakmindpsycholgy.com/support to get immediate access to three 3-6 minute interventions to help you return to balance, control, and ease.  
 

How amazing is that?! 

But, there’s a darker side to neuroplasticity that we don’t typically hear about. A side that can dilute or even thwart some of the hard work you’re doing to develop yourself into the person you want to be. 

This is what we’re covering this week. 

Specifically, we dive into: 

• The ways in which neuroplasticity operates in our minds 
• The brain science behind neuroplasticity and what causes “rewirings” to occur 
• The little-known “dark side” of neuroplasticity that isn’t helpful to us  
• Why we’re asking you to stop watching the news! 
• Ways in which neuroplasticity might be operating in our daily lives and counteracting the hard work we’re doing to better ourselves 

Finally, we end with concrete ways you can begin to use neuroplasticity to your favor. To make your mind into your most valuable asset, rather than your biggest barrier. 

You won’t want to miss this episode. It can literally change your life! 

We also mentioned 2 new free resources we just released. First, check out our new Monday Mindset Minute episodes. These are 60-90 second episodes to give you something concrete to try in your life to build psychological strength. 

Second, we want to support you during a time that many of us are stretched to the max. You might be feeling overwhelmed, nervous, or your perfectionism might be getting the best of you. Sign up at www.peakmindpsycholgy.com/support to get immediate access to three 3-6 minute interventions to help you return to balance, control, and ease.  
 

You see, so much of our behavior, the thoughts we have, and our emotions are ingrained in us to the point that they run nearly on autopilot. Sometimes these habits move us in the direction we want to go, but sometimes they don’t.  

Sometimes, our habits subtly nudge us away from the end goal we have in mind for ourselves, and we may not even realize the impact those small behaviors have on our ultimate outcomes. 

Because of this, today, we’re focusing on the compounding power of habits.  

Today we’re speaking with Will Moore. Will hit rock-bottom in his first year of college when he hit his mom and ended up in jail. Through a turn of events, Will found himself immersed in his first personal development book, and it occurred to him that he wasn’t at all on the path that would lead him to become the type of man he wanted to be.  

Through years of studying and experimentation, Will became the success he is today by focusing on the incremental and compounding nature of small, everyday habits in the areas of life that matter most. And he’s sharing that expertise with us today. 

In this episode, we talk about: 

• What habits are and what they aren’t  
• Some common misconceptions about habits 
• 5 core areas of your life that you develop habits around and why each one is so important to your ultimate outcome.  

Will is the founder of Moore Momentum, and he’s sharing his wisdom and expertise with us in this episode. Dig in, and ask yourself, are you truly on the path that will lead you to become the type of person you want to be? If not, it’s time to adjust course.  

What is the committee in your mind? It’s the set of voices that chatter on a near-constant basis and have something to say and a judgement about every situation you find yourself in. It’s the set of mental patterns you’ve developed over time that leads you to over-function, be self-critical, and ignore your own needs. It’s the set of voices that leads you to suffer unnecessarily. 

It’s time to recognize them and begin to disobey them. 

During this first part of this series, we introduced you to a set of unhelpful committee members who show up involuntarily. If you missed that episode, you’ll want to go back and catch it.  

Now, we’d like to walk you through a set of more helpful committee members. These are members who will not show up uninvited. Rather, they need more of a formal invitation to speak. However, if you can summon them to the conversation, you’ll find yourself in a much better, more confident, aligned position to move forward in the way you truly want to. 

The [Helpful] Committee Members: 

• The Coach 
• The Wise Advisor 
• The Asset 

We barely scratched the surface of this incredibly important concept in this episode, but we go DEEP on this very topic in our Ascend program. We invite you to check out the program and join us! https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/ascend  

We also mentioned a new free resource we just released last week. Sign up at www.peakmindpsycholgy.com/support to get immediate access to three 3-6 minute interventions to help you return to balance, control, and ease when you’re feeling worried or overwhelmed. Just in time for the beginning of the school year.  
 

This week, we released a new free resource, and I wanted to make sure you knew about it. 

As the new school year approaches in the midst of the COVID epidemic, so many families have either made some very difficult decisions already or they’re facing some difficult decisions in the near future. The uncertainty around in-person, hybrid, and distance-learning means families are weighing some tough options and facing the potential of having to wear many hats at the same time. 

The idea of helping your child distance-learn while working from home has many people anticipating a difficult time. 

What is the committee in your mind? It’s the set of voices that chatter on a near-constant basis and have something to say and a judgement about every situation you find yourself in. It’s the set of mental patterns you’ve developed over time that leads you to over-function, be self-critical, and ignore your own needs. It’s the set of voices that leads you to suffer unnecessarily. 

It’s time to recognize them and begin to disobey them. 

During this first part of this series, we introduce you to a set of unhelpful committee members who show up involuntarily. They permeate nearly every moment of our lives, influencing our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.   

We’ll walk you through who each committee member is, how to recognize them, and at the end, we’ll walk you through some actionable steps to begin to quiet their voices and minimize their impact on you. 

The [Unhelpful] Committee Members: 

• The Inner Critic 
• The Persecutor 
• The Debbie Downer 
• The Judge 
• The Task-Master 
• The Logistics Person 
• The Martyr 
• The Victim 
• The People Pleaser 
• The Worrier 

Be sure to catch next week’s episode where we introduce you to the HELPFUL committee members who need more of a formal introduction to show up to the party. You wont’ want to miss it! 

We barely scratched the surface of this incredibly important concept in this episode, but we go DEEP on this very topic in our Ascend program. We invite you to check out the program and join us! https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/ascend  

You are an asset in your life. You are THE asset in your life, and as an asset, you must be protected. 

When you serve such an important role to so many different areas of your life, you need to make sure you’re able to show up with as much energy as possible. And, this means taking care of yourself. 

Today, we’re speaking with Jamie Shapiro, Executive Leadership Coach and Master Nutritionist. Jamie is the founder of Connected EC, and she has been coaching and developing high performing teams since 1998. Her interest in the intersection of wellness and leadership grew out of her own experiences as an executive at large-scale IT companies. She managed large teams, faced enormous pressure and was often on the road. 

We dive into such a great conversation in this episode. We talk about: 

• Approaching leadership from a whole-body perspective 
• The 4 holistic areas that true self-care should hit (pssst! It’s not just mental and emotional!) 
• The battle between our short-term self who wants instant gratification and our long-term self who wants to grow. 
• The importance of a clear vision for the future & the cognitive mechanism that fuels our ability to reach them. 
• The gut – brain connection 
• And finally, quick tips for pouring into ourselves so we can show up as the asset we are in our lives 

Jamie is the author of the book “Brilliant: Be the Leader Who Shines Brightly Without Burning Out." 

“I’m already struggling to be a good mom and a good employee. Now I have to be a good teacher too?!” 

“I have such high standards for myself. I’m afraid of my perfectionism as school starts again.” 

“I’m afraid for my health and for my child’s health.” 

“I feel like I’m choosing my job over my kid’s health.” 

Do any of these sound at all like the thoughts and feelings you’re having right now as the 2020 school year approaches? So many of us are facing such uncertain and difficult times as we attempt to figure out how to handle the school year as our country is still gripped by the COVID-19 epidemic.  

We’ve heard from you loud and clear that you are looking for psych strength resources to help you cope through this year, and that is precisely why we recorded this episode. 

This episode is NOT an episode to teach you “10 Quick Mindset Tips to Force Yourself to Think Positively” or “5 Ways to Fit it All In and Do It Perfectly.” 

This episode is grounded in reality. In the reality that many of us will be facing a very difficult school year.  

But, here’s the thing. While there are many circumstances that are outside of our control as the school year opens up, we do have control over a few things. How we react. The boundaries we set. What we choose to be important and how we focus on it. The way we treat ourselves in the process. 

This episode is for you if you’re looking for some psych strength building techniques to help you thrive through this school year. Thriving through adversity is a real thing. It doesn’t mean that you have an EASY time. It means that you grow as a person, even when times are tough. 

You can do this. We’re here to help. 

Please reach out to us if there is anything else we can do to support you as school reopens, and do share this episode with someone who needs it. 

I mean, why is it that some behaviors or habits are relatively easy for us to adopt, while we struggle with others? Why do some behaviors feel more “authentic” to us, while others feel more fake?  

What underlies all of that? And, more importantly, how can we use it to our advantage? 

That is exactly what we’re talking about this week as we chat with Amy Bucher. Amy holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology and Undergraduate degree in Psychology from Harvard. She’s the author of the book “Engaged: Designing for Behavior Change,” and she is the go-to expert for how to use psychology in the design process. She uses her expertise in her role at the design firm Mad*Pow. 

I stumbled upon Amy and her work in a weekly behavioral design email I’m subscribed to, and I instantly knew I had to get her on the podcast. I knew she’d make a great guest, and wow did she deliver! 

In her episode we covered some amazing topics: 

• How psychology informs the design process and how something called the self-determination theory helps explain our own behavior 
• The myth between having “high or low” motivation, and what science tells us instead 
• The role of authenticity in happiness  
• How we can craft our life in alignment with who we really are in order to thrive through life’s ups and downs. 

I’m sure you can see why I’m so excited about this interview. I can’t wait for you to meet Amy Bucher! 

If you're interested in Amy's book, visit http://rosenfeldmedia.com/ and enter the code PeakMind0720 to get 20% off! (Code expires 8/31/20, so hurry!)

Today on the podcast, we’re diving into something we call The Self-Care Pyramid. Specifically, it’s the 3 key levels of self-care that you really need to have in order to support yourself as the asset that you are. Sadly, most self-care content only addresses one of these levels, and it’s typically the least important one.  

During this episode, we dive into: 

• The 3 key levels of self-care and the distinct role each plays in supporting you at your best 
• The role that life design plays in creating your unique self-care routine.  
• The impact of basic necessities like sleep...and what happens when we don’t meet our basic needs (here is a link to the book ‘Why We Sleep’) 
• Tips for creating a self-care routine. (Here is a link to The Self Journal, April’s go-to self-care tool) 

If there’s one thing we want you to take away it is this: You are such an asset to the people around you, and as an asset, you need to be protected. Self-care is one of the protective mechanisms you need to have around you to make sure you can show up and perform at the level you want to. Take care of yourself. 

INTRODUCING ASCEND! 

During this episode, we announced the beta release of our signature psych strength building program, Ascend. We couldn’t be more excited to send this baby out into the world! 

As a beta program, we’re releasing it at the lowest price it will ever be. If you’ve ever considered doing something for yourself. To build your own psychological strength and resilience. To dive deep into understanding yourself. To design your life around YOU. This program is for you. 

Learn more at www.peakmindpsychology.com/ascend 

The fact is, the way we interact in these interpersonal situations has incredible implications for so many aspects of our lives. It impacts the health of those relationships, it impacts our own sanity and wellbeing, and it impacts the way we show up for other people. 

Boundaries are important...but they’re not always easy to set. 

It’s this reason why we’re tackling this topic in today’s episode, and it’s this reason why we’ve included a bonus module in our new, flagship psych strength building program, Ascend, all about setting boundaries. 

Boundaries are one of the scaffolding elements that helps support you and the life you want to live.  

In this episode, we cover: 

• What boundaries are (Ashley’s definition is spot-on!) 
• The obvious and surprising reasons why they’re critical to set 
• Why they’re so difficult for us to set 
• And most importantly, how to use evidence-based psychological methods to help yourself move forward to set boundaries, even if you’re uncomfortable 

If you’re someone who is stretched thin and relied upon by other people, this is the episode for you! 

INTRODUCING ASCEND! 

During this episode, we announced the beta release of our signature psych strength building program, Ascend. We couldn’t be more excited to send this baby out into the world! 

As a beta program, we’re releasing it at the lowest price it will ever be. If you’ve ever considered doing something for yourself. To build your own psychological strength and resilience. To dive deep into understanding yourself. To design your life around YOU. This program is for you. 

Learn more at www.peakmindpsychology.com/ascend 

But, you might be wondering what that even means, and that’s what we’re diving into with this week’s episode of the podcast. 

You see, here’s the thing: our minds are thought-generating machines. It’s their jobs. Our minds sending us a constant slew of thoughts is as natural as our stomach growling when we’re hungry. 

But, many times, those thoughts feel “authentic.” They feel like they’re something we’ve intentionally decide or believe. They dictate our feelings and even our behaviors, even if it means we avoid doing something we really and truly want to do. 

In this episode of the podcast, we’re diving into the ways in which our minds generate thoughts. Times when those thoughts are helpful, and times when they aren’t.  

Finally, we talk about a set of tools and techniques you can begin using RIGHT NOW to start separating yourself from the thoughts that are unhelpful.  

You’ll be hard-pressed to find an aspect of your life that isn’t impacted by the processes we’re digging into in this episode. For that reason, I hope you’ll give this episode a listen and implement some of the techniques we describe.  

Your thoughts are separate from you, and you do not have to obey them, but it takes psychological strength.  

INTRODUCING ASCEND! 

During this episode, we announced the beta release of our signature psych strength building program, Ascend. We couldn’t be more excited to send this baby out into the world! 

As a beta program, we’re releasing it at the lowest price it will ever be. If you’ve ever considered doing something for yourself. To build your own psychological strength and resilience. To dive deep into understanding yourself. To design your life around YOU. This program is for you. 

Learn more at www.peakmindpsychology.com/ascend 

Your partner. Your kids. Your team at work. Your broader family. Your friends. That's a lot...and it can be overwhelming at times. 

You’ve probably seen the social media meme that says, “Self care isn’t selfish!” It’s typically written in some kind of flowy font on top of a photo of a woman in a bubble bath.  

But, for the number of times you’ve seen that meme, ‘liked’ that meme, nodded along with that meme, and even repeated that meme to other people in your life, do you actually practice it? 

When the rubber hits the road and you have to choose between showing up for someone else’s wants and needs when you’re maxed out and need a break, what do you choose? 

Time and time again, we see people forego their own needs to continue to deliver for, show up for, and take care of others, and it’s to their own detriment. 

In this episode, we’re tackling this head-on by addressing one fundamental truth: If so many people are relying on you, that means you’re a very important person in that equation. It means you’re an asset. And an asset is something that needs to be protected in order to retain its value.  

Let that sink in. 

You are the asset. 

Protect the asset. 

Consider this our battle-cry to achievers everywhere! If you play an important role in others’ lives, you need to protect yourself so that you can continue to show up the way you want to and the way they need you to.  

You are the asset. 

INTRODUCING ASCEND: 

During this episode, we announced the beta release of our signature psych strength building program, Ascend. We couldn’t be more excited to send this baby out into the world!  

As a beta program, we’re releasing it at the lowest price it will ever be. If you’ve ever considered doing something for yourself. To build your own psychological strength and resilience. To dive deep into understanding yourself. To design your life around YOU. This program is for you. 

Learn more at www.peakmindpsychology.com/ascend  

The thing is, gratitude is easy when life is easy. It’s easy to show up as our best when life is going well.  

But, the rubber hits the road when life gets tough and we have to put this information, tools, and techniques to work in difficult times. Today, we’re talking to a man who did just that. 

Michael Arterberry grew up in a very difficult set of circumstances. The son of an alcoholic father, Michael experienced incredible hardship. Poverty. Crime. Bad outside influences. His early days had all the makings of a life that goes down a bad path. 

But, at a very young age, Michael tapped into something POWERFUL: the legacy he wanted to leave behind and the life he wanted to build for his future kids and family. And, that powerful motivator helped him reinvent himself into the man he is today.  

During our conversation, we talk about: 

• Being the driver of our own life, and the forces that are typically in the drivers’ seat for many of us 
• Actionable activities you can do to take back your keys when you’re not in charge. 
• How we can change our own identity & change the course of our lives through reinvention...and ways to do just that. 
• The legacy he wants to leave for his family & why that is so impactful for all of us to think about 

You can find out more about Michael by visiting www.michaelarterberry.com. You can also learn about his organization the Youth Voices Center, check out his online course at www.shakethedirtexperience.com, and read Michael’s book “Be Encouraged.” 

If you’re like many of us, you answer with a simple, “Good.” But, that doesn’t convey nearly the entire story, does it? 

The fact is, we experience incredibly complex emotions, and our ability to recognize our own emotions and the emotions of others is called emotional intelligence, and it’s what we’re focusing on with this week’s guest. 

This week, we’re speaking with Dan Hill. He’s an internationally recognized expert on the role of emotions in politics, business, sports, and pop culture. He’s spoken to audiences in over 25 countries, and to capture and quantify emotions, Dan pioneered the use of facial coding (the analysis of facial expressions) with his company Sensory Logic. 

Dan is also the author of the book “Famous Faces Decoded: A Guidebook for Reading Others,” which we dive into during our conversation. 

We also talk about: 

• What emotional intelligence is and how it relates to many facets of life 
• Facial coding and the 23 different emotional markers on our faces.
• The specificity we can get to when we label emotions. BTW, did you know there are SEVEN different types of anger? 
• Finally, Dan gives us numerous examples of famous people and their “signature emotions” and how to recognize them in their expressions. 

This was such a fascinating conversation, particularly when you think about it from the context of how strongly it impacts our day-to-day lives. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 

Today we’re getting a little glimpse behind that curtain as we speak with Charlie Hartwell. Charlie is a partner within the influential investor group, Bridge Builders Collaborative. This group was the first to see, understand, and invest in startups within the consumer technological health market. They are now pioneers in the new arena of health and well-being centered around human consciousness. 

Charlie also works alongside his wife in the ShiftIt Institute, an organization aimed at raising the consciousness of the world.  

During our conversation we talk about: 

• The importance of mental health and well-being and how the science behind it is becoming so much more available, making it an area that people are willing to invest their time and energy in. 
• Charlie’s own personal story of aligning the work he’s doing to his strengths and value system 
• What it means to “go deeper” and use his work to make a bigger, global impact 
• The big reason why he invests in companies in the mental health and well-being space and what he’s trying to accomplish on a global scale 

This is such a valuable conversation as we think about the importance of the work we’re each doing in our own lives. It’s a testament to the importance of building psychological strength and practicing life design.  

Relevant Links: 

• Life Design after COVID 
• My interviews with the founders of the company Muse: Ariel Garten and Patricia Karpas 
• My interview with Peter Montoya containing our discussion of intentional social connection. 

Today, we’re speaking with Elizabeth Benton. During our conversation, Elizabeth shares how she was depressed, deeply in debt, and obese. As a nutrition expert and educator who binged on junk food every time she put gas in her car, she felt like a fraud and a failure. Desperate to start her life, she decided to believe in her potential rather than her past. She lost 150 pounds, paid off $130,000, and remains debt-free as a successful entrepreneur. 

What I love most about this episode is that it wasn’t the surface level behaviors that needed to change first. It wasn’t about the food or the budget. Rather, to see changes manifest in those areas, Elizabeth had to focus on the core: her identity, her values, her mindset. By doing that, she saw how everything could change. 

Today, Elizabeth is the owner of Primal Potential. Through her platform of podcasts, coaching, and live events, she has fueled her deepest struggles into a burning passion to help people create transformations and live more fulfilled lives. 

I should also mention that Elizabeth very recently lost a child. She shares a bit about that experience in this conversation and how the same mindset techniques that helped her lose weight and get out of debt are the ones she’s relying on to get her through the most difficult time in her life.  

Please approach this episode with care. There is depth and value here, but we’re talking about real topics – difficult topics – topics that might be hard for some listeners to hear.  

Think about it, we don’t talk about how much money we make, nor do we ask other people how much money they make. We have a tough time asking for what we’re worth, or even knowing what we’re worth in the first place. 

We’ve all heard dozens of sayings that portray people who are trying to build wealth as greedy people.  

No wonder why this topic is so off-limits! 

Not today! Today, we’re speaking with Shannon Foreman, founder of Forethought Planning. Shannon founded Forethought Planning with the dream to radically change how people consume their financial education and feel financially empowered! Shannon strongly believes that money is personal and the physical, mental, relational and financial aspects of your life need to work in harmony. 

In her personal time, Shannon enjoys fitness and personal development— self-care is a huge topic of conversation throughout the client experience at Forethought and Shannon wants to lead by example.  

In this episode, we dig into some of the core psychological principles that impact us when we make decisions about our financial future. Things like: 

• The beliefs we have about money and where they came from 
• Our self-identity and what that means for the goals we’re likely to set and achieve 
• How fear and too much of a security net can actually make you less financially secure 
• The importance of having a meaningful ‘why’ that drives your whole financial plan. 
• How a true financial plan needs to encapsulate your physical, mental, and relational aspects of life as well.