Women Inspired!

Ashley and I have been doing quite a few workshops centered around what psychological strength is and what the components are that make it up. And, there's one component that consistently generates more confusion and questions than any other. That topic is mindfulness. 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: Podcast episode 0239 - "How to not hate meditation" Cheryl B. Engelhardt's episode Use of mental imagery for sports performance

One of the 7 main skillsets that make up psychological strength has to do with the self. One of the core ways we think about the self is in terms of identity. Who am I? What am I like? What do I value? What am I good at...or not so good at? All of that is important, but today, I want to cover a slightly more obscure facet to the self. Specifically, we're talking about the relationship we cultivate with our self. 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: Listen to my interview with Shannon Schottler: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0136 Learn more about our mini-course Self-Care [by design]: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/selfcare Dig into Dr. Kristin Neff's work on self-compassion: https://self-compassion.org/

We've all felt the squeeze of having too much on our plate and too little time, energy, and capacity. We feel pulled to accomplish, achieve, and deliver based on other people's requests and demands. Our calendars turn to time confetti as we attempt to juggle multiple things at a time, and at the end of the day, we collapse into bed exhausted, wishing we could have squeezed in a workout or another personally meaningful activity. Sound at all like you? It definitely sounds like me on my most difficult days. Here's the tough truth: We know the answer. We know we're supposed to prioritize, yet we don't do it, or we don't feel like we can do it. 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: Check out Gail Golden's book Curating Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/Curating-Your-Life-Struggle-Work-Life/dp/1538132877 Listen to my conversation with Gail Golden: https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/blog/0242 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/

As human beings, one thing we simply have to learn to contend with is our emotions. They can get the best of us at times. The thing to remember is that an emotion typically arises when we're interpreting the facts of a situation or applying a judgement to something that is happening, has happened, or will happen. What happens when you remove the judgement? Join us for our FREE live webinar Foundations of Psychological Strength by registering at: www.peakmindpsychology.com/webinar 

Have you ever taken a necessary break from work with the goal of recharging, resting, and relaxing...yet you end up feeling ANXIOUS?! Stepping away from work should feel relaxing, right? Yet, so many times, we end up feeling anxiety, and it can feel surprising and unexplainable. 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  

Picture this - it's Thanksgiving, and in walks THAT family member. The one who has differing political views and ALWAYS wants to talk about them. You want it to go well, but you're afraid it just won't. What do you do? 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/

What if you are one conversation away from peace of mind? Hear me out. Many times, we spend our precious mental energy making assumptions and predictions about what another person is thinking or how they might react. Sign up for our FREE live webinar "Foundations of Psychological Strength" by visiting www.peakmindpsychology.com/webinar 

Becoming a better leader of others requires that we become a better leader of ourselves. In today's professional edition of the podcast, we're focused on self-leadership. What it is, why it's important, and how to cultivate it. 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

Have you ever found yourself in a position where you've just felt stuck? Unsure of what direction to go next? Feeling like you're torn between a bunch of options and not sure which one to choose? We've all felt that way, and we're diving deep into how to chart our new direction in a mindful way in this episode. 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/

We all face problems. It's a fact of life. So many times, we believe that the solution to a problem should just come to us. Sometimes it does, and that's wonderful. But, sometimes the solution is more elusive. Here's one way to get to a solution.

As we contemplate the potential of returning to the office in the coming months and all of the uncertainty and complexity surrounding it, one question that's on many people's minds is what it will feel like to be back in the office with everyone? One important element of that question is the age-old topic of corporate culture. 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

Let's be honest...no one likes conflict. BUT, let's be honest again...conflict is inevitable. There isn't a relationship in our lives that won't involve some degree of conflict at some point whether it's a personal relationship or a professional relationship. And, our ability to manage that conflict and come to a resolution is a critical skill for us all to learn. 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: What conflict actually is and how we can reframe it to be more of an opportunity to grow and deepen relationships Where conflict comes from and why some people are more prone to experiencing it How unconscious biases play into our approach to conflict 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

Imagine that your child or a friend or family member whom you love dearly did something that hurt you. When they come to you and apologize, what do you do? In most cases, we're quick to forgive. But, what about when you do something wrong? Do you forgive yourself as quickly?

This episode is my special gift to those of you who find yourself wearing multiple hats. Individual contributor AND manager. Individual contributor AND strategic visionary. It's not easy! 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

How often do you think about your own diet and the food you eat as a form of self-care? What does that even mean? So much of our understanding of what constitutes a HEALTHY diet is shaped by diet culture and what amount to marketing messages designed to sell products and services. We forget that nourishment is one of the most basic needs our bodies have, and that we're able to be psychologically impacted in the realm of this basic need, just like we are in so many other areas of our lives. 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: The impact of diet culture on our health & wellbeing The role of our emotion in the way we eat The impact of all of this on our self-concept and our relationship with our our body The dangerous link between diet culture and disordered eating 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

A cornerstone of both Buddhism and Stoicism is the notion of impermanence. The fact that nothing is permanent. This applies to events and situations we would classify as "good" as well as ones we'd classify as "bad."

One of the most formative experiences of my life was losing my Dad to colon cancer when I was 11. The grief that I experienced at such a young age, coupled with the harsh realization of my own mortality, and eventually, the passion and meaning that came out of his death cannot be understated. 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

Tell me if this sounds like you. You work so hard to achieve a goal or solve a problem, and when you finally do, you move right on to the next big task. Yet, then we wonder why we feel less confident in future situations! If we don't take a moment to be mindful and celebrate our wins and accomplishments, we miss out on the ability to strengthen the trust we have in our own abilities.

Being an entrepreneur or a leader of a team can be so rewarding. It's creative, it's strategic, it's impactful. But....it's also LONELY at times. 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.

It's easy to practice gratitude when life is good. It's easy to feel strong when you're not being tested. However, the real value of psychological strength reveals itself during a crisis. In this episode, I'll share a crisis situation I recently went through and will articulate a handful of ways that psych strength helped me get through it and truly thrive on the other side of it.

If there's one thing we've learned from studying people's subconscious it's that small details in our environment can have a big impact on our mood, the contents of our thoughts, and on our subsequent behavior. Why not use this to your advantage?

I hear from people ALL THE TIME who say they aren't creative. They struggle with participating in brainstorming sessions and feel like their ideas are somehow lacking compared to others. 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!

This week on the podcast, we're having a very intimate, open conversation about the process of coming out with none other than the incredible Megs Pulvermacher. Megs is a nationally certified School Psychologist, host of the hit podcast Out, What Now?, and the founder of the Queer Impact Collective. 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

No doubt, some of the most meaningful accomplishments come on the heels of a big effort. We work exceedingly hard at something, and when we achieve it, we feel incredible. Hard work and endurance are important to cultivate, but so is rest.

In the U.S., we put an incredible amount of pressure on ourselves to be passionate about our jobs. When we feel a lack in creativity, expression, and impact, we immediately turn to our jobs as the one and only source that should be filling up those cups. 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.

How often do you find yourself feeling reactive to the circumstances life hands you? Human beings are naturally reactive, and many times, that reactivity can actually be helpful. But, many times, our minds are tricked into reactivity in situations that don't actually call for it. 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

Many times when we're trying to change a habit, we get excited when we can go for a long streak. I've made it 10 days! or 2 months! But oftentimes, when we "slip up" we feel like we've failed.

If there are 2 things I hear most often from people it's this: How do you get so much done? Why are you so RIGID about the systems and structure you use? 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!

There hasn't been a day that's gone by during the pandemic when I haven't heard a parent question the impact the pandemic has had on their kids. What's at the heart of that concern is the desire to raise kids who are resilient. Kids who can stand up to life's challenges, pandemic or otherwise. 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

The relationship we. have with ourselves is perhaps the most important relationship we'll ever cultivate. Think about how you cultivate other important, intimate relationships. We express love. We show our love. And in turn, that love grows. Consider doing the same thing for yourself.

Question for you - how's your calendar looking these days? Are you feeling aligned, spacious, intentional? Or, does it look like total time confetti? If you're feeling overwhelmed or consumed by the hustle and bustle and reactivity of your calendar, this episode is for you. 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.

How many times have you experienced a strong, negative emotion and acted in a way that you later regret? How many times have you experienced intense fear, anger, or anxiety, seemingly out of the blue? These experiences are what's called disruptive emotional patterns, and they can be changed. 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 have a tendency to look to the future as though it's the source of our happiness. But, what if, in doing so, we miss out on the opportunities to cultivate happiness in the here and now?

On today's professional edition of the podcast, we're using Life Design to help us move forward when we're feeling stuck. The Life Design process has so many valuable tools and techniques to help us creatively solve some of life's most difficult problems, and today, we're focusing on 2 of the stickiest problems. Something called anchor problems and gravity problems. 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: Designing Your Work Life (book) https://amzn.to/3jyPsrX Designing Your Life (book) https://amzn.to/3wkJvlv Designing Your Life (workbook) https://amzn.to/3Am7S5a

In today's episode of the podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Richard Nisbett, one of the most well-known, well-cited, and influential Psychologists of all time. To say I am thrilled is an understatement! 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

We've talked quite a bit on this podcast about the notion that each of us has a limited store of energy each day. Even at our best, we only have so much capacity. However, we have a tendency to add, add, add to our list without keeping that limited capacity in mind. This week's challenge will help you better manage your limited energy capacity. Visit https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/organizations for more information on our newest offerings for companies and organizations of ANY size!

Do you have a bias toward ACTION or a bias toward ANALYSIS when you're making meaningful decisions? Today we're talking about these tendencies, their implications for the outcome success of your decisions, and how to be more unbiased and effective. 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

Be honest, how often do you find yourself working hard to keep up appearances, be nice, and manage other people's perceptions of you? Do you do it to the point that you're not behaving authentically anymore? Is it beginning to create resentment or friction in your relationships? If so, realize that it's so common, and we're digging into it on today's episode. 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  

This one is for my Type A, Enneagram 3, high-responsibility, over-achievers. PS, I'm raising my hand right now. You're in good company. Something I've noticed about myself is my tendency to focus on productivity in every moment of my life. In this quick episode, I'll give you a quick tip about how to create a more enjoyable life that isn't always focused on productivity. Visit https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/organizations for more information on our newest offerings for companies and organizations of ANY size!

The last 18 months have caused so many of us to reevaluate the way we live life, and most notably, the work we do. Because of this, experts are predicting that we are at the beginning of one of the biggest professional migrations we've ever experienced as people change jobs, companies, and even industries to align their work with who they truly are. 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.

If you've listened to us for a while, you know that we have a very strong take on self-care. That it is necessary, non-negotiable, and that most times, people get a very incomplete view of what it encompasses. In a past episode linked below, we covered our take on self-care with ‘The Self- Care Pyramid.” In this episode, we're diving deep into self-compassion, a precursor of self-care. Whether we choose to develop self-compassion influences the likelihood that we'll take care of ourselves, and subsequently, impacts the way we learn and grow from failure. This is a powerful episode, and you won't want to miss it.  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  

One of the most difficult situations we can find ourselves in is a transition where we aren't sure what the right next step is. It can be incredibly stressful! The fact of the matter is that we only have one shot at life. And, the "right" direction is the one that aligns to who we truly are at our core. Catch this episode for a quick tip about how to do just that. Visit https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/organizations for more information on our newest offerings for companies and organizations of ANY size!

A few years back, I made a change to my morning routine that has had a significant impact on the way I show up each day, on the level of control and confidence I feel in my work, and ultimately, in my professional success. This one small change was uncovered when I used the life design process to dig into my self-care routine, of all things. 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

What went well this week because of you? I was scrolling on TikTok, and that question stopped me in my tracks. I knew I had to get a hold of the creator in the video to have him on the show. Turns out, this week's guest, Brian Fretwell is an author, facilitator, and the founder of People Strength. Through his unique method of asking intentionally crafted questions, he helps people rediscover their curiosity for their own potential. Using concepts like growth mindset and locus of control, he is able to reshape the way people view their own limitations. Can you see why I was so excited!    Learn more about Brian and his work at https://peoplestrength.com/  

Have you ever heard the quote "the idle mind is the devil's playground?" It implies that spaciousness, mind wandering, or simply time set aside for reflection is somehow a bad thing. But, neuropsych research doesn't agree. Catch this episode to learn what research actually says about idleness and how you can incorporate it into your life. Visit https://www.peakmindpsychology.com/organizations for more information on our newest offerings for companies and organizations of ANY size!

The relationship we have with money and the value of the contribution we make in our professional life is so intricately related to our ultimate revenue or salary and consequently the lifestyle we can afford to live. In today's episode, we’re speaking with Michelle Arpin Begina, founder and gateway of michelleab.com. She offers practical advice and resources for changing our mindset around money and worth.   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 

So many times when we’re facing the notion of doing something new, uncertain, big, etc., we resort to saying that we can’t do it. We point to reasons why we can’t, and we end up staying right where we are. Today, we’re talking about a slight shift in our language that data and research shows increases our likelihood of taking action in the direction of a change we want to make, even when it involves hardship to get there.  

The dreaded big task. You know the one. It's the one you've been putting off. The one that seems so big, so daunting, and so overwhelming that you just can even make yourself begin. Yet, it's on your mind all the time. Consuming precious brain space. Causing anxiety. This week, plan out the small steps it will take to accomplish that big task, and begin to eat that frog. Try Blinkist for free for 7 days and receive 20% off your first year: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/5bggQN 

Transitions are part of professional life. There’s no getting around it. Right now, many of us are facing the transition of returning to work as the COVID epidemic winds down. Here’s the thing: transitions are always difficult. One reason for this is the complex mixture of emotions they tend to generate. Learning to sift through this emotional complexity can help you support yourself more effectively through times of transition. Listen to this episode to learn how.   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  

Peak Mind exists to support people in living their best lives possible through psychoeducation, hands-on work, and other educational content. Our flagship program Ascend covers 3 key areas: You, Your Mind, and Your Life. As part of that program our members get an exclusive invite to a set of live calls that we regularly conduct. Sometimes we dig deeper into program content, other times, we dive into a topic that is timely. Something that is affecting our members NOW.   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  

How do you talk to yourself in your most delicate moments? When you've messed up. When you've dropped a ball. When you're overwhelmed. How nice are you to yourself? How does that compare to the way you talk to your best friend or your child when they're in a similar situation? Try Blinkist for free for 7 days and receive 20% off your first year: https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/5bggQN