Choose Happiness With Rachel Cole: Recent Episodes
Rachel Cole
Join Rachel Cole, author of Choose Happiness, as she delves into the concepts of how we can make the choice to invite happiness into our lives, regardless of what challenges may come our way or what is going on in the world around us.
As we go through life and experience situations that leave us disappointed, sad, angry, or frustrated, we might tend toward rationalizing the outcomes to make ourselves temporarily feel better. If this becomes a habit, it can seriously hinder our emotional growth and prevent us from living the happiest and healthiest life that we can imagine for ourselves. Here are some ways that we can break the cycle of rationalization and take the steps necessary to validate our own feelings; which then leads to standing in our own power and living our own truth, no matter what might come our way.
Sometimes choosing happiness can be hard. It's so much easier to allow ourselves to be bogged down in the misery of regrets from the past, worries about the future, or the state of the world that we're in at any given moment. But among the difficulties of life we do have the choice to focus on what's good and the reality of what's going well instead of leaning into despair.
For the past few years I have been developing tools and practices to help me choose happiness when I'd rather stay mired in grief and sorrow. I share some of the most beneficial ones in this podcast in the hope that they will help us all to make the choice to find the good and get us out of our own heads when necessary.
Join me for a fun and fascinating interview with The Okayest Magician, also known as Gary Hernberg. Learn about his journey toward fulfilling his dream of becoming a professional magician post-retirement and finding tremendous success along the way. We'll also learn a magic trick to impress our friends and family! Gary shares some great advice about how to make a favorite hobby into a profession at any age, and reminds us that it's never too late to experience all of the magic that life has to offer.
Check out Gary's website here: https://www.theokayestmagician.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theokayestmagician/
Competing with others is rooted in human nature as a deeply ingrained evolutionary strategy for securing scarce resources—such as food, mates, and shelter - to ensure survival and reproduction. However, in today's society when we're not competing for basic survival, the innate, inherent drive system of competition has evolved, as things do, into modern competition for status, power, and achievement. Social media has intensified this need to compete and has blown it completely out of proportion with the "highlight reels" that people post, and the online trolls who make it their mission to tear people down for any (or no) reason. Additionally, at times I have found myself in situations where people have chosen to be in competition with me even though I haven't even entered the race. I have an idea: Let's turn off the comparison machine and stop competing with our fellow humans because those only lead to jealousy, bitterness, and dissatisfaction. A better choice for happiness is to be so focused on making our own lives the best that they can be, which doesn't leave any time or energy for competing with anyone else.
I learned to become an expert knitter by being persistent, being tenacious, and being willing to make mistakes. Which also applies to life. -Ellen Rubin Ellen Rubin is one the most inspiring people I have ever met. Her main goal in life has always been to help others. First as an immunologist working with cancer patients and then transitioning into owning and running a magnificent full-service yarn and fiber arts store called Luv 2 Knit and More in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. She also founded a non-profit organization called Therapeutic CraftCare, which builds community and supports students, children with emotional needs, teenagers in foster care, veterans, cancer patients, nurses and anyone else who can benefit from the mental and physical transformations provided by knitting and crochet.
Throughout her years of teaching knitting and crochet lessons, Ellen has seen children with autism have major breakthroughs as a result of learning fiber arts skills. She has also made great strides working with the Philadelphia school district incorporating literacy with crochet in a very successful afterschool enrichment program.
Ellen has gone through some truly harrowing and traumatic life experiences and has made the conscious choice to see the lessons from the difficulties. Her overall determination to have a better second half of her life than her first half is a wonderful reminder to always trust our gut and follow our instincts to know what's best for us. She encourages everyone to always be true to themselves and to live the most fulfilling and positive life we can imagine for ourselves.
Visit her store at www.luv2knitandmore.com
Check out Therapeutic CraftCare and donate here: https://tccare.org/
"I don't want to live through people, I want people to live through my life." -Sam Butler
Join me for an uplifting and fascinating conversation with Sam Butler, proprietor of The Hermitage Bookshop, Denver's oldest independent bookstore. I encourage you to watch the video of this one because he gives us a tour of the beautiful store as well as gives us on-camera insights into some of the rarest and most interesting books they have on the shelves.
Sam shares about his journey from educator to rare book specialist, and reminds us all of the importance of cultivating our personal relationships. Maintaining connections with others is a vital key to overall happiness, and keeping openness, love, hospitality, and compassion alive in our hearts are true keystones for living a happy life.
In this age of everyone being able to be reached at every minute of every day, I have found a certain degree of freedom in allowing myself to be unreachable at times. Let me be clear - I love my phone and I really appreciate the fact that I can communicate with people quickly and efficiently. But the stress of having to respond to every text immediately or the burden to have to pick up the phone when we're in the middle of doing something else can be weighty, especially if we're going through a hard time. This episode is a reminder that our life is our own, our phones are there for our convenience, and at no time should they be something that we feel tethered to at all hours. In this time of instant response expectation, maybe it can be good to remember that the Do Not Disturb function is there for a reason, and we can be empowered to avail ourselves of it any time we choose.
Welcome to Season 4 of the Choose Happiness podcast! I am thrilled to kick off this new season with an interview with a truly remarkable individual. Jud Turner is a gifted artist whose work speaks magnificently not just to the eye, but to the soul. Known for his breathtaking sculptures and beautifully unique creative vision, he has carved a space for himself in the art world that offers not only exquisite works made from found materials but also provides a significant service to his community through his distinctive and meaningful public art installations.
But beyond the gallery walls and recycled motorcycle parts lies a story even more compelling.
In this warm, engaging, and inspiring conversation, we’ll explore not only his journey as an artist, but also his deeply personal and courageous path to sobriety. With honesty, grace, and unwavering strength, he shares how recovery is possible by choosing to build a life that we want to be fully present for.
I encourage you to watch the video of this interview, as we will be examining some of Jud’s awe-inspiring art in real time. If you are listening only, please go to his website to see the pieces we are talking about as well as all of Jud’s truly spectacular sculptures.
www.judturner.com
To see Jud’s amazing art in person, visit:
The Oblivion Gallery
3923 Cross Street
Eugene, OR 97405
Check out his phenomenal parking meter community art project here:
https://www.instagram.com/eugeneparkingmeterart
I have long espoused the importance of trying new things when choosing happiness. But a lot of us have found that when we try something new we're faced with self-judgement, self-criticism, and a lot of self-doubt. In this podcast I share my own experience with trying a new activity (that I have always wanted to try), and how I came up against not only my own insecurities, but also a cranky sewing machine that had me consulting the owner's manual far more times than I had expected. Thankfully I did triumph in the end, and I hope my story of perseverance helps to encourage you to try your own new pursuit of what could bring you joy, with absolutely no judgement to be found.
Join me for a fascinating conversation in my Powerful Women series with CEO and all-around extraordinary person Erin Guard. She shares how in her role as decades-long business owner she has built her extremely successful company on the bedrock of staying true to herself and her own core values and integrity. She embraces an "abundance over scarcity" mindset, which encourages her employees and clients to stop worrying about what might NOT be there, and instead to make what is supposed to be there, be there. Erin also offers stellar advice for anyone who wants to start their own business or make their current business more effective. I learned so much from this dynamic business leader and humanity-focused woman and I know you will too. Enjoy!
We're so into checking our phones all the time now that we rarely have the inclination to look up and smile at one another. I recently had an experience of sharing a smile that was very profound and meaningful and it made me realize just how easy it is to turn a bad day around with something as simple as a smile. A smile makes us all feel accepted and seen, and it releases chemicals in the brain that reduce stress and instantly make us feel happier. So I encourage you to share a smile today, as it will improve your own day, as well as the day of the person who is lucky enough to receive a bright and happy smile from you.
Get ready to find your calm. Join me for an enlightening and beautifully informative interview with the amazing yoga and mindfulness instructor Amy Rollins. She shares some truly life-changing tips for relaxation, how to mindfully begin each day, how to easily fall asleep, and how to go about our life with less self-judgment and more serenity overall. She explains how important our breath can be to quell anxiety and reduce stress, and shows us simple breathing practices that we can use in difficult or overwhelming situations. Amy is a gift to the world and I am so excited for you to learn from her knowledge, wisdom, and tried-and-true mindfulness techniques.
Find Amy and her wonderful content here:
https://yogamymind.com/
https://www.instagram.com/yogamymind.coach/
If self-loathing was a requirement for achievement, we all would have accomplished everything we wanted to do in life and more. It seems that we tend to put ourselves down in the hopes that our own criticism and self-deprecation will spur us into action. I have found the opposite to be true - and the only thing that berating myself does is make me feel badly about myself and curbs my enthusiasm for getting things done. Imagine what our lives would be like if we spoke to ourselves lovingly, the way we talk to our friends, our loved ones, and even our pets! Making the choice to give ourselves positive encouragement when trying to achieve our goals is choosing both success and happiness. Guaranteed.
We tend to put a lot of value on things like awards and accolades in our society. But while it's wonderful to be acknowledged for our work, prizes and trophies are fleeting, and we can sometimes feel like if we are not highly recognized for what we do that it's not worthwhile. I believe that what is most important in life is who we are and not simply what we do, and always seeking outside approval is no way to live a happy life. Join me for this podcast episode, For When You Think You're Not Doing Enough.
Join me for a fun and fantastic interview with health coach, women's health advocate, meditation specialist, and recent MBA grad Sarah Dubow. She shares how she helps her clients to live life according to their own terms, her specialty meditations that encourage play and imagination, and to be gentle with ourselves, no matter what we're going through. Learn about her "Well-Being Non-Negotiables" like always incorporating nature and creativity into her day, and the important gifts we can give ourselves through prioritizing our mental and physical health. Find Sarah's wonderful and insightful content here: https://www.sarahdubow.com/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindfulnesswithsarah/ https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mindfulness-with-sarah/id1503944430 https://www.instagram.com/sarah.dubow
I have been learning a lot as I've been traveling around recently, and I've found that the more places I go and the more people I meet, the more of what I thought were my core beliefs have been turned on their heads and I've realized they aren't actually true. I encourage you to open yourself up to new perspectives and different points of view to recognize what old ideals may no longer align with your own belief system now.
Our comfort zones are comfy, and can bring us a certain amount of joy, but I believe that staying for too long in one's comfort zone is not a good practice for choosing happiness. Trying new things and having new and different experiences are what bring color and sparkle and excitement to our lives. And if that seems scary, it's important to remember that every single thing that we are comfortable doing now was once new to us (think: driving, riding a bike, typing) so there's no excuse for putting ourselves out there to see what new things there are to try and get excited about. Remember the old saying, "Everything you've always wanted is just outside of your comfort zone."
I talk about the power of thoughts very often and how if we're able to change our inner narrative, we can change our whole outlook on a situation. One reason why this is so important is because our brains can't tell the difference between real and imagined scenarios, so whatever event we are playing or replaying in our mind, the brain is actually living it as if it were really happening. So it is vitally important to stay in the present moment and recognize the reality of our current circumstances, rather than potentially spiraling out of control or focusing on the negative aspects over the positive ones.
Join me for an illuminating and extraordinarily inspiring conversation with ICF Professional Certified Coach Nicole Trincia. Through her work she inspires high-achieving, independent women to slay self-doubt, confidently claim their true calling, and thrive in their purpose. In our time together she shares the importance of aligning our decisions with our core values, to exercise our own freedom and power through intentional choice, and the vital step of saying “no” to others’ expectations in order to say “yes” to ourselves and our own passions.
Nicole is currently enrolling participants in her 12 week Discover Your True Calling program, beginning on October 1, 2024, which will enable you to start off the new year with clarity, confidence, authenticity, and happiness. Sign up here: DYTC Program: bit.ly/4brSRRf
www.nicoletrincia.com
IG: @nicole.trincia
FB: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleTrinciaCoaching/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletrincia/
We all have people in our lives that we'd rather not deal with. And yet, we can't banish them from our lives for a variety of reasons. So here are a few tools for our Choose Happiness Toolbox to protect our psyches when the tough people try to infiltrate our defenses and steal our joy away.
Join me for a captivating and thought-provoking interview with Professor, Lecturer, and Film Historian Courtney Spikes. She provides a fascinating look at how we can successfully teach kids discernment between all of the information they are bombarded with on a daily basis, and provides insights on how we can use history to create a more positive and caring present-day and future society.
Unfortunately most of us will not go through life unscathed by hurtful experiences from the words and actions of other people. Things like betrayals, break-ups, and the loss of relationships that we thought were safe and "for forever," happen, and can leave us feeling deep, seemingly insurmountable emotional pain and grief. Having been there myself, here are some concrete things to do to help pull ourselves out from the mire of sorrow, and help us to become stronger, more resilient, and ready to trust again when the time is right.
When we look at what determines "success" or "failure" in our lives, it's so important to realize that these judgments are usually being measured by someone else's criteria. What success looks like to us professionally as well as personally, depends on where we are in our lives and changes throughout our journey. No one ever has the right to call us a failure for any reason, regardless of what we look like, how much money we make, or how many possessions we own. Success or failure is always subjective, and it always depends on how we choose to evaluate either one.
Join me as we kick off Season 3 of The Choose Happiness Podcast! We are starting off with a dynamic interview with Carole Miller, the founder of Miller Happy and Healthy, LLC. Carole shares her inspiring journey of self-discovery, as she made the choice to take control of all aspects of her life: her mental health, physical health, financial health, and spiritual health; and created an existence of joy, fulfillment, strength, and true power that she practices every day.
Carole is seeing clients in person in the Philadelphia area, as well as remotely all over the world.
To contact Carole at Miller Happy and Healthy, LLC:
millerhappyandhealthy@gmail.com
On Facebook:
Carole May Miller
www.facebook.com/carolejmiller
Website to come:
www.carolejmiller.com
As the Buddhist saying goes, "Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional." It's very easy to get mired down in negative thoughts and have those thoughts take control and make our difficult situation worse. When we make the choice to change our thoughts, we consciously take control of our emotions and our attitude, resulting in a fresh perspective and a happier outlook overall.
We all exist in the center of our own universe and our world view is determined by how things outside of ourselves affect us. Oftentimes we tend to live in our own heads and apply our own viewpoints and baggage to situations, making them personal, when they actually have nothing to do with us at all! Making the choice to question the authenticity of a perceived offense or insult can help us to live a happier and healthier life, as we take the focus off of ourselves and place it back into reality where it belongs.
Sometimes we can get stuck in an endless loop of unhealthy mental behaviors - like worrying about what someone else might say to us, assuming the worst is going to happen, putting ourselves down for making a mistake, the list goes on and on. When we've started down that all-too-familiar road of misery, there are 4 words that can immediately snap ourselves out of the spiral and get our minds focused on the positive instead. These words are:
Is it worth it?
What is worth our time, our energy, and our brain space? I have found that most of the things that regularly go through my mind are actually NOT worth any of the time and effort that I assign to them. Asking yourself if the things we are thinking about or doing are actually worth it is a real game changer when choosing happiness.
Hopefully we don't have many regrets in our lives, but if we do, we can find ways to turn those regrets into gifts; encouraging us to pursue what we've always wanted, nurture lost relationships, and change our futures to avoid further remorse. It may require some creative effort, but a life free from regret is a happy life indeed.
While grabbing for "The Brass Ring" is a great metaphor for going after our biggest dreams in life, it's important to remember that when we focus solely on the ultimate goal, we can miss the beauty and magic of the carousel ride along the way. We also need to realize that there is no "One Brass Ring" that makes everything fall into place as promised - the real brass ring is a balance of everything that can brings us fulfillment and joy.
We all know that envy can be a destructive and dangerous emotion. However, what if we took the chance to use envy as a springboard for making our dreams come true? Or if we recognized when we feel jealous of someone, it's because we were programmed to automatically covet what they have, even if it's something that we don't actually want. Join me as I describe how I recently learned to use a tiny spark of envy as a tool for choosing happiness.
2022 was a challenging year for me and for so many other people. While I'm not usually a fan of looking back, I think it can be important and helpful to acknowledge the difficult things we've been through and celebrate our triumpant victories over them. Disappointment, grief, and pain are all a part of life, and how we navigate the traumatic events in our lives (that are usually out of our control), can play a big part in how we choose happiness, or whatever comes closest to it.
The holidays can be a super stressful time of year, so here are some ideas for putting aside the worry and choosing instead to fully enjoy the special moments that the holidays can bring. Now's the time to try some new activities that could turn into fun traditions, to embrace letting go of obligations, and to focus on real connection instead of outward trappings. The holidays can be a magical time, so give yourself permission to choose your own happiness first, and then spread that joy to others.
In our current culture of TikTok and trying to attract followers and social media likes, there is an alarming trend toward kids wanting to be famous as their only career goal. Celebrity and fame are held up as important things to aspire to, but we have to remember that a person's fame is entirely dependent upon what other people think of them. Fame itself has no substance, and just because someone is an "influencer" today, does not mean that they will have any kind of a meaningful lasting legacy in the future. Fame does not equal quality, fame does not equal success, and fame most definitely does not equal happiness.
Before the pandemic, I think we underestimated the importance of connecting with our fellow human beings. And I mean really connecting - more than just rudimentary small talk or on social media or through texting. Humans are a tribal people and a social species by nature, and the massive disconnect among us is causing both mental and physical problems on a large scale throughout every demographic worldwide. Here are some thoughts on how to connect with one another and why it is vitally important to do so.
I am a big fan of making tangible representations of our goals and dreams. These seem to be out of fashion these days, but I believe that the act of creating something tactile can be a powerful first step in making our dreams a reality. While positive thinking is great, it's no substitute for positive action. When we can visualize our goals as specifically as possible, it shows us they are achievable and honors our desires in an encouraging and inspiring way.
When someone says something unkind to us, we have to remember that it has nothing to do with us, even though the person spewing the vitriol may intend for it to be hurtful. We always have a choice as to whether or not we allow someone else's rudeness, shame, or anger to become our own. We do not have to give unhappy people the satisfaction of being brought down to their level of misery by taking what they say as a personal attack. Ever.
To stay safe when driving, walking or riding a bike, we have to keep our eyes looking forward, toward where we are going. The same goes for our thoughts: if we keep our eyes fixed on our difficult past, or all of the reasons why something won't work, or on all of the negatives of a situation, it is impossible to move ahead with any kind of optimism or momentum. When we consciously focus on what brings us joy, our minds will inevitably follow, and that is a vital decision we can make to choose happiness for ourselves, both now and in the future.
So many people have specific qualifications when it comes to the definition of "work." For some it means it must be compensated, for some it means going into an office or somewhere outside of the home to do a job for an established company, and for some it means something negative that we have to do to earn a living. I would challenge those definitions and replace them with "Our work is what we do to add value to the world." Whatever that looks like, and whatever that means to us.
I strongly believe that in order to choose true happiness in life we need to live within the shades of gray. So often we categorize things into polarized, "black and white" thinking, which can lead to spoiled dreams, unsuccessful communication and broken relationships. The gray spaces hold life's nuances, its exciting possibilities, and opportunities for us to grow and change, rather than remaining stubbornly stuck where we've always been.
Wouldn't it be nice once in a while to take a break from all of the things we tell ourselves? Like what we should be doing better? What we haven't accomplished yet? How "not enough" we are? I encourage you...no, I GIVE PERMISSION to you to take a break from all of that nonsense and just live, contentedly, as you are right now, without needing to change a thing.
Very often we can get stuck in box of saying "I'm a _____" so I can't do_____." We limit ourselves by "shoulds" and by what other people may expect of us. I encourage you to consciously break free from those restrictions and give yourself permission to try new things and follow any path you choose.
It is no fun to do the hard things in life but we HAVE to. Because choosing to not run away from them but to instead do the work that the hard things require, makes us strong, resilient, courageous, and dependable people. When we do the hard things they eventually become the easy things, and happiness becomes more attainable overall.
When we experience the magical moments that life has to offer, we need to immerse ourselves fully in the joy and wonder of them. If we can't find any magic, then we can always create some, and enhance that exuberant feeling of marvel in our everyday lives.
Whenever someone says something unkind we have the choice as to whether or not we allow it to hurt us. This episode explores why, as humans, we're taught to take things personally and how we can successfully break free from a pattern of accepting others' nasty behavior into our souls.
It is so important to tell our story - both the joy and the sorrow - with the safe people in our lives. Grief is lessened and joy is magnified when shared with others, and being seen, heard, and validated takes us miles ahead in our healing and happiness journey.
My recent "Bereavement Tour" has taken me around the country to 3 funerals in 3 months. These close-up experiences of how limited our time on Earth really is, reminded me that we have many choices of how we spend our short time here, and it's up to us to choose happiness as often and as fully as we can.
Our body holds a wealth of information about how we're doing and what we need, and it is vital to stop and listen to what the body is trying to tell us. Tuning in to our body and our gut is paramount when it comes to choosing happiness because it always knows what's best for us, every time.
Or, more accurately, what we THINK other people are thinking. So often we let perceived judgment from others determine the decisions we make, and always having other people's voices in our heads is definitely a roadblock to living our truth and choosing happiness. Make the choice to turn off those mythical opinions and choose what's you know is right for yourself and your own joy.
As we begin the new year with goals and resolutions, it can be very helpful to focus on what is truly most important to us, and the things that are non-negotiable on our bucket list. Here's one way to assess that, and to realize that the dreams we considered to be impossible, may be attainable after all.
When we are faced with difficult times in our lives it is so important to remember that there is a lesson to be learned and a blessing that ultimately comes out of every one. It is a choice to see and recognize those blessons, which can be a truly vital decision on our happiness journey.
When someone tries to insult us or make us feel badly about ourselves, it is so important to consider the source of the slings so we can make an informed choice about whether we choose to let their negativity permeate our minds, hearts, and souls. This can be a vital tool in choosing happiness for ourselves.
It's so important to pay attention and be aware of the opportunities that life presents to us. When we find ourselves with a brass ring within reach, we need to grab it and make the most of whatever opportunity it is. Life is short - and if you get to be on tv for some reason, take the curlers out of your head!
Hope is a necessary thing for a happy life. However, there are some rare times when we need to assess what we've been hoping for, and make the decision to possibly deflate a balloon of hope in one area, to make room to inflate a different hope balloon that will ultimately be better and more satisfying for ourselves.
Too often we can get stuck in a place of not asking for what we need because we don't have the courage or we believe that our needs aren't as important as someone else's. That is simply not true! No one else's dreams or desires are more valuable than our own, and we deserve to stand up for ourselves and demand respect from others. Always.
So often we feel like we have to put ourselves down in order to get something done. But that doesn't work! What works for lasting success is encouragement and optimism, and if we change the voices in our heads to positive ones, there's no limit to what we can accomplish and how great we can feel while we're achieving our goals.
When we worry, we are tricked into believing that we are actually doing something productive to help the worrisome situation. But the reality is, worrying has never changed the outcome of anything, nor has it ever prevented something bad from happening. It's hard to train our brains to not worry about things, but here are some ideas to help preserve our happiness when worry comes knocking at the door.
People we encounter in our lives will often say or do things in an attempt to take our happiness away. Unhappy people can't stand to see other people experience joy and it makes them feel better to try to steal it. In these times we need to not allow that to happen, and here are some tools to have in our toolbox for those unfortunate - but often common - situations.
We all hit metaphorical speed bumps on the road of life, but we have to make the choice to not turn them into stop signs or U-turns. Sometimes it can be good to slow down and take the opportunity to assess a situation before continuing forward, always recognizing that we are in control and at the wheel for where we want to go next.
Join me for the latest episode of the Choose Happiness Powerful Women Interview Series, where I had the privilege to talk with Dr. Jerry Anderson, principal of Bloom High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois. She shares some secrets of her phenomenal success including beginning each day focused on possibility, the importance of taking time to stop and breathe when we need to, and how we should never give our power away to anyone else for any reason. She gives spectacular advice on how she makes choosing happiness a priority in her life, and how she is taking the gifts of the past year into a new chapter for her, her family, and her tremendously distinguished and successful career.
"When you help someone up a hill, you find yourself closer to the top." -Brownie Wise. When we purposefully encourage someone else, it lifts our own spirits as well, and shared joy is double joy. Couldn't we all use some more exponential happiness in our lives?
Having the right people around us on our life's journey can often be the most crucial thing in determining our happiness. It's up to us to curate people who make up our "Cabinet Community" as well as to consciously refuse to settle for less than we deserve from people we choose to call our friends.
When we're choosing happiness that means doing what is right for US, not what someone else thinks is best for us or what we've been told we "should" do. It's so important to remember that we do not have to justify our life choices or our actions to anyone else, for any reason.
Panic attacks - they are real, they are terrifying, and if we are prone to them, we need to have tools in our toolbox at the ready for the situations when they might arise.
When we stay in the same place for a long time, and keep doing the same things over and over - much like we did during 2020 - we can get into a rut. This is dangerous, because as our minds and what we're exposed to gets smaller and smaller, which usually results in our own problems getting bigger and bigger. When we're consciously choosing happiness in our lives, it's important to take steps to stretch ourselves out of our comfort zones to gain some necessary perspective about the world around us, and how we relate to it.
Living with chronic pain can be horrible. But like with most difficult things in life, if we can reframe our attitude toward it, it can have some unexpected outcomes, not all of which are bad. It's all about retraining our brains to see it in a different light, and while it's definitely not an easy thing to do, it can be vital if we want to live a happy life, where we're not consumed by daily physical or mental pain.
In this episode I share something life-changing I learned when I was faced with something extremely difficult that I had no other choice but to do. As my nervous system was primed for a severe "fight or flight" response, I was able to tune into the most instinctual, survivalist, coping strategy I could find within myself: the gratitude for the opportunity to do this hard thing, because it meant I was still alive.
In this episode we explore the dangers of comparing ourselves to other people's carefully curated "highlight reels" that they put out on social media. When we're choosing happiness in our lives it's vitally important to remember that what we're seeing isn't even close to reality, and sometimes they are even blatant falsehoods.
So often, choosing happiness means giving ourselves the permission we need to be happy. Sounds simple, but when we've been taught otherwise, we have to consciously tune in to our gut and our instincts to allow ourselves to feel joy.
Seeking other people's approval for how we choose to live our lives takes our power away and puts our validation where it doesn't belong - in the hands and minds of others. This is a roadblock to true happiness and we need to learn to put far less emphasis on other people's opinions and to stop constantly seeking "likes" and "thumbs ups" from elsewhere.
If we can coat ourselves in metaphorical "Happiness Teflon," then the unkind things that people say to us will bounce off, instead of sticking, where they can burn and cause damage. Learning how to repel the harm aimed directly at us is a key component in choosing happiness.
When we compare ourselves to others, we usually end up feeling dissatisfied with our own lives in many ways. This is a surefire way to sabotage our own happiness, so take a listen to find some ways to stop the comparison game and live our happiest lives possible.
What is enough when it comes to how we feel about ourselves? This episode explores how feeling like we are 100% enough, without having to change a thing about ourselves, is vital to choosing happiness in our lives.
This episode examines the the postive aspects of grief and how allowing ourselves to take the time we need go through hard times can be important step to finding our happiness waiting for us on the other side.
This episode is about exerting our own power over the voices in our heads and determining if those voices are telling us the truth, or if we're just clinging to an outdated belief system that needs to be banished forever from our psyches.
This episode delves into how examining our regrets (but not wallowing in them) can help us to make different choices as we move forward in our happiness journey.
This episode talks about how our life and happiness are enhanced when we stay open to new experiences and embrace the unexpected.