Big Happy Life: Recent Episodes
Big Happy Life
This week I talk to the founders of The Authentic Girls Club about what it means to stop seeking happiness and start becoming a spreader of joy.
One practice shines through as a tool we can all use to get out of our own heads and be more intentional about how we show up for those around us.
Listen to the end to hear all about The Authentic Girls Club and the amazing offer currently available - but be quick, doors close on Tuesday 30 April!
Links to access the offers:
Authentic Girls Club Membership: htheauthenticgirlsclub.com/membershipMay Retreat: hempoweredwomanretreats.com/empoweredwoman
It's my 49th birthday today and I was reflecting on the most useful skills I've learned - and still need to learn - in my efforts to live joyfully.
This week, I had to re-learn a lesson about not over-complicating things.
If you are stuck and going in circles, this episode might offer a new perspective and some simple options to find a way forward.
If you have questions or would like to comment, visit nataliebritt.substack.com - you can subscribe there too and receive episodes and show notes direct to your inbox.
Why haven't we evolved to be eternally optimistic if optimistic thinking is so much better?
The answer, like all things in nature, is that nothing is inherently good or bad, and the trick is to learn balance and have the ability to make best use of these different ways of thinking, depending on the requirements of the situation.
This week I explore the benefits of Pessimistic Thinking (and offer a recap of that means for those who missed the last two episodes).
If you have a natural tendency towards pessimistic thinking, this episode may help you harness the power that comes with it and build greater resilience for the moments when you need to take big leaps into the unknown in your efforts to achieve your biggest goals.
If you'd like the episode AND the show notes delivered directly to your inbox each week, subscribe for my weekly email at nataliebritt.substack.com
Welcome to another episode of the Big Happy Life podcast where Natalie Britt, your hypnotherapist and host, takes you on an insightful journey of understanding and overcoming a "pessimistic explanatory style". Learn from her personal struggle with negative thought patterns and how she unmasked her pessimistic explanatory style, transforming it into a driving force for success.
In this episode, Natalie shares her experiences as both a hypnotherapist and mindset coach, illuminating the often overlooked impact pessimism can have, even when encountering good events. She offers crucial insights into the markers of a pessimistic thought process and how it varies from an optimistic approach. This episode is particularly beneficial for those grappling with recurring negative thinking, depression, and self-doubt. Here, you will discover the profound impact your thoughts can have in fostering resilience and driving you towards long-term goals.
Natalie invites listeners to reflect on their thought patterns and grasp their narratives for success, and finishes with a resounding message of belief in one’s ability to shape thought patterns that empower and promote success.
Step into a journey that enables an optimistic outlook to elevate both personal and professional life.
For more on this topic, visit Natalie's Substack page or find the shownotes for this episode at www.bighappylife.co.uk
Rubber cement is a type of adhesive. It's composed of rubber and is known for its ability to form flexible bonds before the bond becomes permanent.
If you're feeling stuck in your efforts to achieve your health, wealth or business goals, this episode is for you.
I don't want to give away too much so you'll need to listen to find out more, but during the episode, I invite you to take an assessment before proceeding to listen to the rest of the show. Click here to access the official assessment at "Authentic Happiness" on the University of Pennsylvania website.
"Joy is not something you quest for. It is something you allow. It is in your nature." - Tess Vergara
My guest today is Tess Vergara, a Soul Powered Executive Coach who addresses the conflicts many executives face between mind and heart, soul and ego so they can be more productive, creative, abundant and successful.
In this episode, Tess helps explore the idea that fulfilment and joy require us to accept all parts of ourselves - including the parts we've been taught were "bad".
If you've every worried about being "selfish" or thought any part of you was "bad" or somehow "not good enough", this episode could help bring you greater acceptance and open you up to a life that feels more joyful and fulfilling.
At the end of the episode, Tess also talks about the freebie she has on offer at the moment. You can find all the links you need to connect with Tess and download the freebie on the show notes page at bighappylife.co.uk
I'm on a bit of a personal quest right now - exploring what it means to live life as an expression of joy rather than in the pursuit of happiness.
In this episode, I talk to the wonderful Tanya Hackney, author of "Leaving the Safe Harbor: The risks and rewards of raising a family on a boat".
This is one of the deepest, most thought provoking conversations I've had on the podcast as Tanya and I explore life, death, God, the universe and, of course, what it means to live life as an expression of joy.
Tanya's faith is a huge part of her ability to do this, and she shares that with us, along with many beautiful stories, experiences and lessons.
I hope you'll enjoy this conversation and take as much from it as I did.
Tanya's book is available from all good book shops and on Amazon as well.
Show notes for the episode are available at bighappylife.co.uk
In this episode, I talk about 4 routes to wellness:
-
Neuroscience
-
Nutrition
-
Habits
-
Healing
These form the four routes to wellness that I live by - the same four routes I teach.
This is the final episode of the series before the podcast takes a break for the summer. Be sure to listen to the end if these 4 routes to wellness resonate with you as there's a fantastic offer available to those of you who want to delve in a bit further.
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
This week I revisit an old episode (25) - originally titled "Happiness and the Brain".
Our understanding of both 'happiness' and 'the brain' is expanding all the time and cool new science is constantly emerging on both subjects. I've learned so much in the years since recording the original episode so this week I pull out the old episode, dusted it off and added a bit of polish in the form of new information and current tips and advice that could help you improve mood and reduce symptoms of mental ill health.
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk.
Resources I mention during the episode:
Dr Mindy Pelz book: Fast like a Girl
Dr Mindy Pelz YouTube Video about Dopamine Fasting
Big Happy Life Podcast Episode - Getting Gut Healthy with Hannah Richards
My journey to greater mental wellness required me to focus on 4 key areas. In this episode I share a brief overview of each one.
They are:
Neuroscience
Nutrition
Habits
Healing
During the episode, I make reference to resources I've found helpful.
These include - under the heading of Neuroscience - 2 books:
"Change your Brain, Change your Life" by Dr Daniel Amen
"You, Happier" by Dr Daniel Amen
The above are affiliate links.
Under the heading of Nutrition:
Hair Mineral Testing
The above is NOT an affiliate link.
This week I had the pleasure of talking to Body Mind Intelligence Therapist, Raj Lehl.
Raj works with multiple healing modalities to support individuals suffering with their physical and mental health. She is a Trustee of the Craniosacral Therapy Association and an academic tutor for the Centre for Homeopathic Education. She is also a single mum to two children.
Raj and I came up with the title of this episode together because, as mums whose children's needs pushed us to our limits - beyond our limits really - we both experienced what it was like to have to grow beyond those limits and become the people we needed to be for our children to thrive (we're both still working on this growth and neither of us expects to ever be "done").
We've both seen miraculous shifts in our children that have correlated with the work we've done on ourselves and we've both experienced first hand how those shifts have changed the way we parent.
In this episode we talk about some of our experiences and Raj explains her work. She also offers some brilliant tips for how anyone who is just starting out on their mind-body connection journey.
After talking to her, I'm definitely keen to book a session! If you are too, here are her details:
email: raj@rajlehl.com
Website: www.rajlehl.com
Resources mentioned on the podcastThe body keeps the Score - by Bessel Van Der Kolk
A huge range of books by Gabor Mate
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
Do you still have the same fridge you were using in the 80's or 90's? Probably not. You probably replaced it with something you liked more or something that worked better.
We do this with products all the time but we don't tend to do it with emotions.
Instead, we leave old emotional patterns in place for years, letting them wreak havoc long after they've served their usefulness.
This week, I talk about one way our emotional patterns take hold and offer some ideas to help you get started if you have emotional patterns that are no longer serving you.
If you're someone who judges yourself harshly and says things like, "I just don't have any willpower", or "I can't stick with anything for long enough to make it work" then this episode is for you.
There's so much more to behaviour than meets the eye and it's easy to think we're at fault when can't stick with behaviours until they become habit.
What few of us realise is that all of our habits developed in the context of our environments - so they're shaped by how we were raised, what we were taught, how we learned to fit in and belong, how we learned to manage our emotions...and a thousand other things.
Not only that but our current environment changes how we feel about the behaviour in the moment of deciding whether or not to do it.
When I'm working to help my clients change their behaviour in order to be happier, healthier and more productive, I teach them my B=SET behaviour change model to help them understand the many factors at play in driving their behavioural choices. I touch on the model briefly in this episode.
B=SETIt stands for Behaviour = State + Environment + Time
State - How you're thinking and feeling in that moment
Environment - Everything and everyone around you.
Time - Your history with that behaviour and where you're focusing your attention (in the past, present or future)
Much more on this model in later episodes!
EnvironmentThis week I talk about how, if you want to live a healthier, happier life, you're almost definitely going to have to "swim against the tide" of your environment.
This is exhausting and requires enormous willpower - which is a finite resource.
The key to behaviour change, therefore, lies is your ability to either disconnect from your environmental influences or shape them in your favour.
For more on B=SET and more tips for a happier, healthier life, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
What's more important for a successful business - a good strategy or a powerful mindset?
My guest this week is Kirsty Kamarauskas, a mum, 7 Figure CEO, Success Mindset Coach & Law Of Attraction Mentor For Purpose Driven Entrepreneurs. Her work is about helping business owners achieve their biggest goals by releasing negative and limiting beliefs they may not even realise are holding them back and in this episode, she helps me answer that question.
This episode forms part of this mini-series about the habits necessary to get your business to that first £100k milestone and focuses specifically on mindset as it relates to business success.
This conversation was incredibly illuminating and helped me understand more about why I've struggled to connect with my intuition and why I've struggled in the past to consistently implement business strategies.
Kirsty's depth of knowledge and experience make her a leader in this field and her insights are both inspiring and enormously practical.
If you're ready to take your business to the next level, this episode holds nuggets that will help get you started.
Connect with Kirsty on social mediaFacebook
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
Perimenopause is getting a lot of press lately and more of us are getting to grips with what it means for our health, memory and overall experience of life when our hormones begin to decline.
What few people understand, however, is that hormones exist in a sort of symphony - and that symphony is largely conducted by two hormones - insulin and cortisol.
This episode focuses on one of those conductor hormones: insulin.
I share my own experience of using a CGM and what it taught me and I share a little bit about why using a CGM just once for a 30 day period could give you life changing information about your own body and how it processes food.
The monitor I used is the Dexcom G6. *
This is a whistle-stop tour and there's a lot more to say on the topic but if you want a deeper dive, I'd enourage you to follow @glucosegoddess on Instagram and check out her two books: The Glucose Revolution * and The Glucose Goddess Method *
What you'll get in this episode is a little insight into the ways in which a CGM can help you make choices that suit YOUR body so you can lose weight, improve mood, increase energy and achieve a far greater sense of health and wellbeing than simply by following conventional diet advice.
To comment or ask questions, visit the show notes at bighappylife.co.uk or email me directly at natalie@bighappylife.co.uk
*These are affiliate links.
So many of us pride ourselves on being almost super human. We're mums, business owners, partners, home makers, carers, friends and devoted family members. We show up when and where we're needed, we help out and keep going no matter how exhausted we get - but at what cost - and what can we do when we no longer have the energy to keep paying?
This week I talk to Evelyn Pacitti, burnout resiliency coach and the founder of Measurable Wellness. In our conversation, Evelyn talks about her multiple experiences of burnout and shares the system she created to manage her energy and wellness more effectively so she continue to excel in her life and career without repeatedly burning out.
Evelyn brings her engineering background to the world of wellness, making something notoriously intangible easier to measure - and therefore easier to manage. Her insights make it possible for all of us to consider the patterns in our lives and the ways in which we might use measures in our own lives to improve our mental, physical and emotional health while continuing to work towards our big goals.
I hope you'll get as much from this conversation as I did!
To connect with Evelyn:Email: evelyn@measurablewellness.com
Linked-in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelyn-pacitti/
To watch Evelyn's Video explaining your daily energy tank and your reserve energy tank, visit the full show notes page at bighappylife.co.uk
This week I examine what it takes for us to make positive changes that take us outside our comfort zone?
The episode is inspired by a conversation that takes place in the first few minutes of The Gavin Sisters Wellness Show (Episode: How to be your own therapist with Owen O'Kane).
“Would we be where we are if we hadn’t gone through such challenging times?” was the theme of the conversation and Sharon and Lauretta - aka The Gavin Sisters - talked about how, in the absence of illness, relationship breakdowns and other devastating losses, they might never have become motivated enough to make the changes they made to their health, wellness, careers and lives.
Immediately on hearing that conversation, I was inspired to join the discussion and recorded this episode.
Listening back now, as I write these notes, there’s so much more I wish I’d included but this is a start.
Here's what to expect:
- I share a little of my own story of adversity and how, without it, I might have carried on as I was.
- I pose some powerful questions to help you think about what’s going on for you right now and what pain you’re tolerating in your life, either waiting for things to get better or waiting for them to get worse.
- To help bring this conundrum to life I tell “The Howling Dog” story – one of my favourite metaphors about the pain of making a change versus the pain of staying stuck.
- For those of you who identify with feeling stuck in patterns that feel stressful or unfulfilling despite you having a comfortable life, I offer some thoughts on how to start moving out of the pain and towards greater fulfilment.
We don’t have to wait for things to get worse before we start moving towards the life we truly desire.
If you’re done waiting and you’re ready to start moving forward, this episode may help spark your first actions, and if you'd like help figuring out those first steps, contact me or jump straight to booking a call.
We all want our children to have happiness, love and success but not many of us know how to create a life that allows us to truly experience joy and fulfilment.
In this episode, I focus on 5 things we need to focus upon, learn or cultivate if we're to have lives that go beyond the mere achievement of goals and take us into the territory of happiness, joy, meaning and fulfilment.
To contact me about working together, email natalie@bighappylife.co.uk or book a discovery call at https://bighappylife.co.uk/contact-me/
Full show notes available at https://bighappylife.co.uk/2023/05/12/live-the-life-you-tell-your-kids-is-possible/
This week I share my answer to the question as to whether or not 'problem drinkers' can ever drink in moderation.
DISCLAIMER:
I am not a doctor or a clinical psychologist. The information I share in this episode and in the MY SOBER SELF course is based on my experience with alcohol and as a coach working with others who struggle to regulate their intake.
Show notes and course details available at www.bighappylife.co.uk
This week, I had the great pleasure of speaking to Dr Tami Berry, a former surgeon whose experience with burnout led her to change the course of her career and her life.
Dr. Tami is now an internationally recognised Resilience Expert & Life Coach, helping purpose-driven people learn how to transform stress into fuel for renewed energy, confidence and joy. Her experience with burnout led her to dedicate her life to researching and pioneering a process for building stress resilience that allows her clients to transform high-level stress into a powerful force for creating a life they love.
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
This week, I had the great pleasure of talking to Jeanette Marie Rogerson.
Through a series of life situations, Jeanette found herself homeless with her two children and, just when she thought things might improve, things got worse as she lost her job.
She shares the story of how the loss of material things, certainty and security freed her to find her inner strength and build herself and her family back up.
Now, she works as a coach, helping other women find their inner strength so they can live the lives they were destined to live.
Show notes available at https://bighappylife.co.uk/2022/02/24/finding-your-inner-strength-with-jeanette-marie-rogerson/
This week I had the pleasure of talking to fellow coach, Melinda Burkhart about the work she does with her clients to help them parent more intentionally.
Melinda works with parents of differently abled children to help them manage everyday life, deal with stress and overwhelm and show up for their kids in ways that nurture, inspire and enhance the love and connection they feel for each other.
I found Melinda's advice really practical and helpful. Her advice is useful for any parent and offers us all the chance to reflect on how we get triggered, what's really going on and what we can do differently in those situations.
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
An episode for The Big Happy Book Club, this week I talk to Mindset Coach, Lisa Archer, about her choice of life-changing book.
Lisa chose The Energy Codes by Dr Sue Morter.
In this episode we talk about the lessons and insights offered by the book as well as Lisa's and my experiences when we've been able to tap into that world of energy. If you're still on the fence and not sure what to make of "The world of Woo" as I like to call it, this episode will offer you a great place to start.
Links to the book as well as to Lisa's website and social media are all available on the show notes page at bighappylife.co.uk
This unplanned and unscripted episode was inspired by a song I heard on the radio this morning - "For those who can't be here" by Tom Watson.
I was reminded of the first Christmas my family spent without my dad and how confusing and lonely it felt.
I decided to record this episode partly to send a little love to the 15-year-old me who experienced that first Christmas and partly to share some thoughts with anyone who is going through that first devastating Christmas this year.
My heart goes out to all of you x
Show notes and links to additional episodes about emotions available at bighappylife.co.uk
What if it's completely normal to arrive in adulthood carrying beliefs that don't serve you well? And what if it's a normal part of development to go back and rip up the tracks of some of those beliefs so you can replace them with new ones?
In this episode, I share a theory about a developmental stage we can only ever reach in adulthood - one with which we must choose to engage if we're to develop self-acceptance.
In this episode I explore the concepts of identity and personality and how we see these things as enduring when they're merely a collection of stories and experiences.
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
In this episode, I talk to Karen Watkins, Technical Advisor at Mineral Check, about the links between mental and physical health and the way our bodies use and store minerals.
This episode is a MUST for anyone who experiences repeated bouts of depression, anyone who regularly drinks more alcohol than the government recommended guidelines, and anyone interested in subjects like ADHD and other behavioural difficulties that could be affected by mineral levels in the body.
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
This week, my guest is Isabelle Griffith, an Emotional Wellbeing & Resilience Coach, Trainer, Speaker, and the creator of The Pause Approach™
Isabelle talks about high functioning anxiety and low functioning anxiety and how these present in our day-to-day lives. She offers wonderfully practical tips about when and how to slow down and allow ourselves the space and time we need to rebalance energy, refocus attention and figure out what's really behind the manic to-do lists or the fears that cause us to retreat.
I found this conversation fascinating, inspiring and also incredibly practical, particularly for people who feel they 'should' be happy but are struggling to feel it.
Show notes available at www.bighappylife.co.uk
For many of us, the critical voices in our minds can become damaging enough to drive us into a downward spiral that ultimately leaves us feeling depressed and powerless.
That's what happened to me recently and is also the reason I haven't recorded a new podcast episode in over 3 months.
If you're feeling depressed and you're judging and criticising yourself, I hope this episode offers some inspiration to start moving towards self-compassion and kindness.
I have more to learn about these things and will share any tips and ideas that help along the way.
The summer holidays can put enormous stress on us as parents when we're trying to juggle everything and still do our best and be our best.
In this episode, I share 5 tips to help you prepare in the lead up to the holidays as well as rebalance, rejuvenate and re-energise yourself when everything is going on around you.
This is the final episode in the series. The new series starts on 25 August 2021.
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
In this episode I talk about how I found out that some of my healthy choices (and of course my unhealthy choices) are actually contributing to my low energy, poor sleep and intermittent bouts of depression.
It all came from something called a Hair Tissue Mineral Sample. I explain what that is and share a few of my results. If you feel as though you're doing "everything right" and still not feeling that much better, this episode is for you.
Show notes at bighappylife.co.uk
This week, I had the great pleasure of talking to Hannah Richards, owner of The Gut Clinic and author of the supremely fascinating book, "The Best Possible You".
Hannah shares her incredible - and often controversial - advice about improving gut health and offers really useful advice about the signs of vitality and the signs of ill health that we should all be on the lookout for.
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
When it comes to self-development, there are few practices more powerful than a morning routine that allows you to centre yourself and prepare your mind and body for the day ahead.
In this episode I explore why these sorts of routines are so powerful and also share tips on what to do in your morning routine and how to get started or improve consistency.
Show notes - including links to all resources and additional episodes - are available at bighappylife.co.uk
This week, I had the enormous pleasure of talking to Sharon and Lauretta Gavin, owners of the Detox Barn in Suffolk.
This was one of my favourite episodes to record as the sisters are also a comedy duo and bring a much needed dose of ease, fun and clarity to the complex world of wellness.
You'll find some fantastic, thought-provoking tips and ideas to help you on your journey towards greater wellbeing, no matter where you are on the path right now.
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
When we learn to master our minds, we change our experience of life.
In this episode, I explore the links between mind mastery and resilience and I talk about two types of resilience and how to bolster each one.
Show notes at bighappylife.co.uk
This week my guest is Adele Stickland.
Adele Stickland, an accredited Coach and owner of ‘Get Gorgeous’ aims to help women over 40 transform their relationship with their body using nourishing food, exercise and positive mindset. In this episode, she shares her knowledge and expertise to help me answer the question, "How good is it possible to feel?" Shownotes at bighappylife.co.uk
If you're stressed and running in circles, this short episode is for you.
There are no show notes with this episode.
To comment, visit @bighappylifepage on Facebook or email natalie@bighappylife.co.uk
This episode forms the start of a new mini-series where I explore what it takes to feel your best - and exactly how good is that?
In this episode, I share some of the habits I've invested in that have helped me feel stronger, happier and calmer.
In future episodes, I'll delve into the details of habits and practices that allow us to feel our best and aim to understand how much better we can expect to feel and how much time, effort, energy and money we'd have to invest to get there.
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
In this episode, I talk about 5 specific stories that can shape our experience in predictable ways.
Do you recognise any of these stories from your experience?
- I'll be happy when...
- I am not enough.
- There's nothing I can do.
- I have no choice.
- The other person sucks.
Visit www.bighappylife.co.uk to find the show notes and links to other related episodes.
This week it's personal.
My daughter lied to me despite every effort I made to help her feel safe enough to tell the truth.
Because of our history, my mind created a whole host of unhelpful stories and those made it difficult for me to handle the situation well.
In this episode, I talk about the stories we tell ourselves and what to do when they're unhelpful and have the potential to cause more damage.
NOTE: This episode contains some adult language.
In this episode, I talk about "Your Two Brains" and how your experience of reality is constructed.
When it comes to anxiety, stress and depression, it's useful to understand these processes in order to gain some distance and begin to observe your experiences and provide yourself with options you previously couldn't see.
Although the concepts explored here are relatively simple, the practice can be enormously challenging and often requires the help of a therapist or coach.
Show notes at bighappylife.co.uk
This week we heard the news about Nicki Graham's passing after she lost her battle with anorexia.
Although I have never experienced anorexia, I struggled with bulimia for almost all of my adult life. In this episode, I share of the thought processes and practices that have helped me find freedom from bulimia.
I still experience the same pulls and the no day is completely free of triggers for me but I am freer than I have ever been and my relationship with food continues to improve.
I hope this episode helps you or someone you love to take the first steps towards freedom.
Show notes at Bighappylife.co.uk
Is there such a thing as too much self-development?
In a word, yes.
In this episode, I talk about the two sides of development and how to ensure you make the most of the great ideas you learn from the books you read, courses you attend and webinars you join.
Visit the show notes page for even more information and tips.
Natasha Bray is a Success Mastery Coach for High Achievers and Rising Leaders and works with transforming women across 30 countries worldwide. She is the creator of Success Imprinting™️, a unique multi-dimensional approach to transformation that creates rapid and unrivalled permanent change for her clients.
She has helped thousands of women transform their lives and businesses. She is an international best-selling author and has been featured in national and local papers as well as in some major online publications such as Thrive Global and Medium, recognised as one of the top 35 under 35 entrepreneurs in her country.
In this episode, Natasha and I talk about what healing is, how it makes a difference, what to expect and how to get started if you're not sure what will work for you.
Show notes available at www.bighappylife.co.uk
It's fair to say that, for most people, money is one of the biggest stressors. Have you ever wondered whether you'd be better with money if you'd learned great habits early on?
If your money habits are a source of stress, have you ever wondered how those habits will shape the way your kids think about money?
That's where Will Rainey comes in. Will is the founder of Blue Tree Savings and it's his mission to help parents teach their kids about money.
In this episode, he shares some of his key lessons and talks about how we can start shaping our kids' habits even if money is tight.
To comment or ask questions, visit www.bighappylife.co.uk
In this episode I talk to holistic therapist, Sonia Norman, about energy healing, meditation and a really interesting therapy called AcuEnergetics.
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
Inspired by Dr Brené Brown's conversation with Dr Susan David on the Dare to Lead podcast, this episode looks at 2 of the skills required for Emotional Agility - the ability to move through emotions productively.
Visit bighappylife.co.uk for show notes.
In this episode, I explain Hebb's Law, which is all about how your brain wires itself for efficiency.
Hebb's Law explains one of the reasons why habit change is so difficult.
Visit the show notes page for links to earlier episodes about habits, including how and why they form.
"Our outer world of form and experience is a reflection of our inner world of thought and feelings." - John Randolph Price
If your inner world is in turmoil, one of the easiest places to start is by getting your outer world in order. In this podcast episode, best-selling author and professional organiser, Louise Simpson, shares her tips and advice to help us manage our space a bit better so we can manage our lives a bit better.
Louise is currently offering 50% off virtual sessions. Visit the show notes page for more information.
In this episode, I talk about the inspiration for Big Happy Life.
It's a short episode where I share a bit about an exercise we did during our pre-adoption training. It was such a profound exercise that it stayed with me for years and has become the foundation for my business.
It's a way to look at life where you see yourself at the centre of everything you're attached to. For some, those attachments are nurturing and rewarding. For others, they're demanding and exhausting - and a whole host of other things too.
When we can see our lives this way, we can start to figure out what "the pulls" are and, where they don't feel good, we can figure out what needs to change.
In this episode of the Big Happy Book Club series, I talked to Biomechanics and Injury Movement Specialist, Ellie Williams about her choice of life-changing book, 'What the Foot' by Gary Ward.
The fascinating insights she shares - both from the book and from her own experience - will have you questioning many of the things you've come to believe about how the body works.
Hear her take on "No pain, no gain" and find out whether it's really a good idea to stabilise your core...
Links mentioned in the podcast:
To buy the book:
https://www.waterstones.com/book/what-the-foot/gary-ward/9781907261084
£34.99 - Out of Stock at the time of publishing this post but possibly available now.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Foot-Game-Changing-Philosophy-Eliminate/dp/1907261087/ref=sr_1_1?crid=17M9X7VTM91D9&dchild=1&keywords=gary+ward+what+the+foot&qid=1611860489&sprefix=gary+Ward+%2Caps%2C188&sr=8-1
£89.47 - Pricey, but at what price your vitality?
To stay in touch with Ellie:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/movefrompain/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movewellwithelliewilliams/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe5q2dgdouLLA_v49z_zj0A
Shownotes available at www.bighappylife.co.uk
Sometimes we cost ourselves our happiness by holding onto things we'd do better to let go of.
Underneath many of our challenges is the hidden expectation that a happy life is a trouble-free life or that a happy life requires a certain amount of wealth and success. Letting go of these two beliefs can free you to see your life in new ways and find happiness despite its challenges.
To comment or ask a question, visit the show notes page or the Big Happy Life Facebook Page.
One of my favourite books (I talk about it quite a lot in this episode) is Solve for Happy by Mo Gawdat.
From this book, I learned about the link between expectations and happiness and that's what led to today's tip.
When you understand the expectations driving your experiences, you're better able to challenge and question them - and when you do that, you're better able to shape your thinking towards feeling happier.
To comment, visit the show notes page or the Big Happy Life Facebook page.
We're accustomed to referring to negative and positive emotions but what if they're nothing of the sort?
What if they're just comfortable or uncomfortable?
Our ability to experience happiness is determined - at least in part - by our ability to make best use of all other emotions in the spectrum.
Inspired by Dr Joan Rosenberg's book, "90 Seconds to a life you love", this episode explores 3 steps you can take when you experience uncomfortable emotions so you're able to make best use of the experience.
Visit the show notes page or the Big Happy Life Facebook page to comment or ask questions.
Today's tip is all about paying attention to the thoughts that drive your behaviour.
When we're playing "shark music" in the background, we end up stressed, make poor choices and end up regretting those choices or judging ourselves harshly - which limits our ability to experience happiness.
This episode explores the patterns in 'shark music thoughts' and what to do when we experience them.
To comment or ask questions, visit the show notes or the Big Happy Life Facebook page.
Happiness can be approached from two perspectives. The first is to 'big up the positive'. That's what fattening the good is all about. The second is remove the things that make you unhappy. During this 5-day challenge, we cover both perspectives and offer tips for achieving happiness via both routes.
The Day 1 Tip is to Fatten the Good.
It is so easy to become overwhelmed by the stressful events in our lives and the things that are outside our control but, in doing so, we make ourselves feel smaller, 'less than' and unable to cope. By consciously making an effort to pay attention to the small wins, the little things within our control and the everyday things we can be grateful for, we can change perspective, shift focus, see ourselves differently and get better results.
This episode shares ideas on how to achieve these results.
If you'd like to comment or ask questions, visit the Big Happy Life Facebook Page or comment on the show notes page.
Looking for your next life-changing read?
In this episode, Nicke Abraham - founder of The Winning Attitude Training Consultancy - talks about the book that changed her life: The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan.
Hear about how she went from being a workaholic to giving equal focus to all areas of her life.
Packed with great tips and advice, this episode provides not only a review of a fantastic book but stories of how to apply its lessons and stay on track until you achieve your goals.
Visit the show notes page to access all links mentioned during the conversation.
Taking control of your emotions is difficult. I'm still learning how to do it.
In this episode, I share the 5 skills I practice in my efforts to manage emotions, particularly when I feel anxious or overwhelmed.
Find show notes at bighappylife.co.uk
Dr Lisa Feldman Barrett offers absolutely fascinating insights into the world of emotions and how they work. This week I talk about some of the things I learned after reading "How Emotions Fool your Brain" and "How Emotions are Made".
My mind was blown and I hope yours will be too.
Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk
(Apologies to Dr Feldman Barrett. Midway through the podcast I started calling her Dr Feldman)
When we feel bad, most of us want to feel better but sometimes it's too big a leap to go all the way from feeling bad to feeling good. This week we explore a tool called the Emotional Guidance Scale and see how to use 'negative' feelings as a stepping stone towards feeling better.
Find the show notes and resources at bighappylife.co.uk
"Self-worth comes from one thing - thinking your are worthy" - Wayne W. Dyer
This week we take a break from the Emotions and Feelings mini-series to focus on the idea of self-worth and consider where it comes from.
This episode looks at the beliefs we hold about what it means to be 'worthy' and how those beliefs shape our efforts in life - as well as the advice we give our children.
Visit www.bighappylife.blog to comment or read the show notes.
Sometimes our emotions get in the way of us reaching our full potential.
In this episode, I explore an approach I find helpful when I feel as though I want to give up or turn back.
To read the accompanying blog or leave a comment, visit https://bighappylife.blog or http://bighappylife.co.uk
Is there a difference between emotions and feelings and, if so, what is the difference?
This episode explores the answers to the these questions and looks at what these answers mean in terms of mental health and feeling more in control of our lives.
Show notes available at www.bighappylife.blog and www.bighappylife.co.uk
The 60-minute retreat is a routine designed to help you feel better - even if just for an hour.
It is one of my favourite mental health practices. It has helped me reduce my stress levels, feel more in control and become the kind of parent I'd like to be.
In this episode, I talk you through how to craft your own retreat.
Find the show notes at bighappylife.co.uk and bighappylife.blog.
Download the free PDF coaching questions worksheet here.
Join the private Facebook Group here.
In this episode, we explore the art of cultivating better feeling thoughts using a practice I call the "60-Minute Retreat".
This practice helps develop positive habits for managing everyday stresses and strains. Be feeling better, it's easier to do better - and that cycle creates more good stuff.
In this episode, I explain what the 60-Minute Retreat is and talk about how and why it works.
Find the show notes at: Bighappylife.co.uk or bighappylife.blog
Links to earlier episodes also referenced in this episode:
How Habits Form
The Power of Keystone Habits
Although many of us are aware of limiting or negative thoughts and the effect these have on our choices and behaviour but that's not always enough to change them. In this video podcast, I look at a simple technique that is helping me shape my thoughts so I feel stronger, more resilient and better able to be the kind of person and parent I want to be.
NOTE: If you are experiencing high levels of anxiety, depression or other forms of mental ill-health, please speak to a professional. This video does not act as a substitute for professional advice. I am not a clinician and am sharing this information because this technique worked for me when I was feeling stressed and scared.
To access the show notes page accompanying this blog, visit: bighappylife.blog or bighappylife.co.uk
Find Big Happy Life on social media at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bighappylife...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/big_happylife/
This episode is about whether you do things for yourself or against yourself - whether you aim to move forward but your thoughts lie in wait for you, unseen, ready to pull you under when you're at your weakest.
Additional information and space for comments and questions can be found on the show notes page (bighappylife.blog). You can also visit @bighappylifepage on Facebook to comment or ask a question.
In this episode, I explore one of the most valuable life lessons I've learned.
It's helping me stay focused, reduce stress and make better choices.
Books referenced in this episode:
Playing the Matrix - Mike Dooley
The thriving child - Dr William Stirred and Ned Johnson
Intending to life a particular way and living that way are not the same thing.
I've learned that the hard way over the last few weeks.
This episode was supposed to be the first in the 6-part "Intentional Living Series". Instead, I share some of the pitfalls I've experienced in Intentional Living and what I've learned along the way.
The Intentional Living Series is still on the way and it'll be even better by the time it's finished!
Despite all the talk about happiness, it seems we're collectively becoming less happy so is it even possible to become happier or are we simply driving ourselves a crazy with an unobtainable ideal?
Welcome back! It's the first episode of Season 2 and you'll notice a bit of a change.
Season 1 was all about sharing information. Season 2 is about taking action where it's needed so we actually start to see the improvements we're hoping for in our lives.
This episode helps you see where Big Happy Life is going so you're able to decide whether it's headed in a useful direction for you.
I'd love to hear from you so please post comments or questions if you have them.
Image Credit: Photo by Heidi Sandstrom. on Unsplash
This last episode until the Big Happy Life podcast returns in October 2019.
This week, we're looking at 5 strategies you can use to direct your attention, take control of your thinking and alter your perspective when 'positive thinking' feels out of reach.
Visit the show notes page here to comment or ask questions.
Although most of us accept the changing seasons without question, we put pressure on ourselves to maintain a 'year-round summer' when it comes to our happiness.
By thinking this way we put massive pressure on ourselves to keep the good times (summers) going for as long as possible. We also potentially make the lows feel worse and last longer - and we miss valuable opportunities to learn from them.
In this episode I explore the different 'seasons' and discuss how each one adds something the others cannot.
Click here to access the show notes page.
When levels of serotonin are low, you might experience anxiety, low mood or depression, trouble sleeping, irritability, low energy, low self-esteem and a whole host of other symptoms so it's easy to see why it might be useful to keep levels topped up.
This episode offers tips for boosting serotonin levels naturally.
To visit the show notes page, click here.
There are 4 brain chemicals associated with happiness - Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin and Endorphins.
This episode explores what each one does and how to achieve a balance so you experience all of them.
To comment or ask a question, visit the show notes page here.
In this episode I talk to Jessica Rashleigh about how she manages to do it all and have it all.
Both inspiring and practical, Jessica shares her story as well as loads of great tips and advice.
For links to her website, social media profile and her free Dream Routine printable, visit the show notes page here.
Have you ever thought "I just don't have the willpower to do this"?
This episode explores the nature of willpower and how to train and boost it so you're better able to make the changes you want to make.
Visit the show notes page here if you'd like to comment or ask a question.
When it comes to habits, it's almost like you have two selves - the one who will accept short term pain for long term gain and the one who wants to feel good right now.
This episode looks at how to build rewarding experiences into the process of starting new habits and how to remove some of the pain associated with giving up old habits.
We also explore how to use setbacks as tools to make you stronger, more prepared and more resilient as your new habits embed.
Click here to visit the show notes page.
This episode explores the link between habits and identity and shows you how to use habits to shape the way you see yourself.
Visit the show notes page to leave a comment or question.
Why do we have habits and what is happening in our brains when we perform habitual acts?
This episode answers these questions and explains why these things matter when it comes to changing an old habit or starting a new one.
Click here to access the show notes page.
This forms Episode 2 of 6 in the Goals and Habits Series.
"If the ladder is not leaning agains the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster" - Stephen Covey
Understanding your values ensures you have your ladder against the correct wall - and that you have the motivation, focus and commitment to climb it.
This episode explores the difference between Aspirational Core Values and Actual Core Values and offers a series of exercises to help you uncover both.
It also looks at how to map your values to your goals (discussed in last week's episode) so you're able to use current values to shape your behaviour and work towards your goals.
Have you set big goals for 2019? Is this the year you're going to break through and change your life?
The lessons in this episode can help. As the first in a 6 part series, this episode applies lessons from sports psychology to business and life goals, encouraging additional focus on skill levels and practice opportunities in pursuit of your goals.
This episode looks at setting goals on 3 levels to maximise the chances of success.
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Outcome
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Performance
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Process
Decision making is difficult mental work. If we're to have the mental capacity we need to focus on our big goals, we have to keep our brains strong. This episode explores the effect of decision fatigue on our choices and behaviour and illustrates why discipline is less mentally taxing than relying on willpower.
This is the final episode of 2018.
If you'd like to leave feedback, please email bighappylife6@gmail.com
As a new podcast, we'd welcome your reviews as these help new listeners find us.
Happy holidays!
If you've ever set goals and had to fight yourself every step of the way, it's likely there is some disconnect between your conscious mind, subconscious mind and body.
This episode opens the discussion about the implications of the disconnect. We'll explore this topic in greater detail in upcoming episodes.
An epiphany!
Your habits shape the tides of your life - they either flow towards your goals or away from them.
If you've ever tried to start a new habit or stop a bad habit but fought yourself every step of the way, this episode will help you consider what was going on.
If you'd like to know more, click here to register for the January Webinar.
Big decisions are rarely big decisions. They're a series of micro-decisions leading you towards a big one, followed by a series of micro-decisions leading you to achieve the goal associated with the 'big' decision.
Every time you make a micro-decision and take the actions associated with it, something happens and every time something happens, you get more information. Learning how to use that information to make future decisions easier is a great way to move towards creating your 'big happy life'
In this episode, we explore 3 'rules' for using this information.
- Pay attention
- Never let a mistake go unused
- Be honest with yourself (but put down the stick)
Click here to visit the show notes page and post a comment or question.
Have you ever made a decision or set yourself a goal only to fall at the first hurdle? Have you ever decided to make a change in your life and then just felt too tired to put in the effort to make it happen?
In this episode, I explore Decision Fatigue and the effect of your Environment on your actions.
Planning helps avoid decision fatigue and allows you to shape your environment so that some of your choices become easier to make and some of your actions become easier to take.
Visit the show notes page here.
Download the accompanying PDF here.
Have you ever made a decision and then found yourself floundering, experiencing doubt and taking actions that ultimately lead you in the opposite direction?
This might be why.
Visit the show notes page, here to leave comments or questions.
When faced with big decisions, many of us feel overwhelmed. This week, I explore ways to help you move past that overwhelm by helping you reframe how you think about decisions.
Visit the show notes page here.
In this episode, I explore the theory that many of our weaknesses are simply strengths we overplay or strengths we play in situations where they don't fit.
For more information and a chance to leave a comment or question, visit the show notes page here.
Does the promise of praise drive you forward? Or the fear of criticism hold you back?
This week I talk about the 5 lessons I've learned about using feedback to add value in your life rather than having it shape your life.
Visit the show notes page here for additional information and to leave comments and questions.
In his book, "Change your Beliefs, Change your Life", Dr Nick Hall explains how our reactions are not reactions to reality but rather to our perception of reality.
This episode looks at how you can determine what's shaping your reactions, particularly when you experience 'negative' emotions.
Visit the show notes page here.
Sometimes our beliefs don't serve us well. We end up avoiding things we should be embracing and embracing things we should be avoiding. We end up more stressed and "less us". When that happens, it's worth examining and challenging our beliefs.
Here is one way to do that.
Visit the show notes page here.
Our beliefs play a part in every aspect of our lives - every thought, every action, every aspiration. Yet many of us don't completely know what we believe and most of us haven't stopped to think about where our beliefs came from.
This episode looks at some of the sources of beliefs.
Visit the shownotes page here
Changing behaviour is HARD! Most of us know what to do but knowing it and doing it are not the same thing. Why?
This week I'm joined by Dr Despina Learmonth, a Counselling and Health Psychologist to help answer this question.
Visit the show notes page here to leave a comment.
It's easy to learn the theory of what will make us happy but difficult to put it into practice.
This week's episode examines Jonathan Haidt's metaphor of the Rider and the Elephant when describing the logical and emotional parts of our minds.
Visit the show notes page here
Are our memories accurate and how do they shape our choices?
Answering these questions might help us shape our lives in ways that lead to greater happiness.
Resources:
Daniel Kahneman's TED talk
This week's episode looks at the Hedonic and Eudaimonic approaches to happiness. Which is most likely to lead to greater happiness and why?
Visit the show notes page here
An introduction to the thought process behind this podcast and the types of questions it will answer in later episodes.