Podcast appearances and mentions of Tim Sharp

Broadcaster and comedian Wendy Harmer and positive psychologist Dr Tim Sharp (aka ‘Dr Happy’) lift the veil on relationships and explore what it takes to nurture our most important connections with our partners, friends, and with ourselves. About the episode – brought to you by Australian Seniors, in partnership with RSPCA. Join Jean Kittson for the seventh season of DARE: The time of your life (formerly Life’s Booming), called Better With Age. Too often ageing is painted as decline. In reality, Australians are living longer, healthier lives and reshaping what “older” looks like. This series flips the script and shows how ageing is not a dirty word but rather a time to be embraced, featuring interviews with extraordinary over 50s refusing to slip quietly into the background. Wendy Harmer is a trailblazing comedian, broadcaster and journalist who has spent decades at the centre of Australian media and entertainment. Wendy first made her mark breaking new ground in Australia’s stand-up comedy scene before going on to become one of the country’s most recognisable media personalities and the author of bestselling books including Farewell My Ovaries. Australia’s own Dr Happy, Dr Tim Sharp is a leading positive psychologist, bestselling author and founder of The Happiness Institute, Australia’s first organisation dedicated to enhancing happiness. With a career spanning academia, clinical psychology and public speaking, he’s become one of the most recognised voices on mental health and wellbeing. Watch DARE: The Time of Your Life on YouTube Listen to DARE: The Time of Your Life on Apple Podcasts Listen to DARE: The Time of Your Life on Spotify For more information visit seniors.com.au/podcast Produced by Medium Rare Content Agency -- TRANSCRIPT: Jean Kittson: Welcome back to the podcast – DARE: The Time of Your Life, formerly Life’s Booming, brought to you by Australian Seniors, in partnership with RSPCA. I'm Jean Kittson, and this season is called Better with Age where we're flipping the script and showing how ageing is not a dirty word, but rather a time to be embraced. Australians are living longer, healthier lives, and this season celebrates over 50s who are pushing the boundaries of what ageing looks like and feels like. In this episode, we are lifting the veil on relationships and exploring what it takes to nurture our most important connections with our partners, friends, and with ourselves. We've probably all experienced how relationships shift over time. It's natural, of course, but it might surprise you to know just how important they are to our overall happiness and why it's vital to keep nurturing all relationships old and new. Which brings me to our first guest, Wendy Harmer, who knows about the importance of friendships and relationships and making new ones as we age. I first met Wendy when we worked together back in the 80s, so we've been friends a long time. She's one of Australia's most beloved entertainers, a trailblazing, standup comedian, journalist, broadcaster, performer and bestselling author. Her books include the wonderful Pearly children's book series, as well as more adult titles like Farewell My Ovaries and her memoir Lies My Mirror Told Me. And joining Wendy is Dr Tim Sharp, otherwise known as Dr Happy. Tim is one of Australia's leading positive psychologists, and the founder and Chief Happiness officer at the Happiness Institute. Also a bestselling author, including The Happiness Handbook and his most recent Lost and Found. Tim has dedicated his career to helping people live happier and more flourishing lives. Tim and Wendy, welcome to the podcast. Thank you both for coming in. Wendy Harmer: Great to be here, Jean. Jean Kittson: Oh, it's lovely to have you both here. Wendy Harmer: I've got to say, Tim, the first time I set eyes on this one, what a bombshell. She would've been on stage in a nurse's uniform at The Last Laugh Theatre Restaurant. It was, at the time, playing Nurse… Jean Kittson: Pam Sandwich… Wendy Harmer: …Pam Sandwich Jean Kittson: …in Let the Blood Run Free. Wendy Harmer: And this. All arms and legs and big boobs and blonde hair and falling over and doing all this amazing physical comedy. Everyone just adored Jean – and the men, we had to fight them off with a stick. Jean Kittson: Yeah. Well those were the days, weren't they? This is what friendship's all about Tim, right? Thanks Wendy. That was lovely of you to say that. I mean, we've known each other for, well, since the early 80s. Wendy Harmer: It would have been about ‘83. Jean Kittson: And you were on stage doing stand up. See, I was doing [characters] and you were amazing, what you were talking about, women’s things – topics for women, about women and relationships. Wendy Harmer: That's right. Well, because when I first started out doing standup, it was really a bloke's domain and I thought, well, this, you know, this is ridiculous because, you know, women's lives are interesting too, and I mean, there's one thing that annoys me above anything else is saying women aren't funny. Like the idea, Tim, that you would say, ‘oh, the pet budgie can make me laugh. The dog can make me laugh, but a woman can't make me laugh.’ I mean, it really, I think it strikes to our humanity and I get really cross about that. So I've sort of been a bit of a campaigner with that, you know, rubber chook on a stick for many years. But you know, the idea, I know you have this happiness. You talk a lot about happiness. How important is laughter? Dr Happy: Very important. Well, it's a general group, laughter, fun play, all of those things, which we too often underestimate and discount. Well, we sort of see them as a nice to have, but the research is pretty clear. It's super important for a good life. It's hard to live a best life, a thriving life, a flourishing life without laughter, without fun, without play. I mean, there are many other things as well, and I'm sure we'll get to some of those other things, but a hundred percent it is a very important contributor to living a really, really good quality life. Wendy Harmer: And it's interesting too, that our sense of humor. It's not universal at all. It's formed in that crucible of the family, or indeed your chosen family like Jean. You know, we chose each other as grownups to be a family. But that, you know, there is like the punny family, there's the practical joke family. There's, you know, each family has its own particular sense of humor, doesn't it? Jean Kittson: Well, I think friendship is a really important way of maintaining humour in your life because you get together with friends to have a laugh, don't you, often? Wendy Harmer: Yeah. Jean Kittson: I mean, they're complex relationships, friendships. I mean, you've had friendships for a long time, Wendy, long-term friends. Wendy Harmer: I still have a friend who was at my 70th birthday a couple of months ago, whom I met on the school bus when I was 13 years old. So I – Gary. So I think that's pretty cool. He's the friend that I've had the longest, but you know, Jean and I have very similar trajectories in this way. We both were sort of country girls, and then we went to Melbourne and then we moved to Sydney. And that is a big dislocator, isn't it, of friendships. It's when you, you know, and we both moved to Sydney about the same time, so we left this huge coterie of friends to move to Sydney with our husbands, and then we both had kids, which is isolating as well… Jean Kittson: …definitely, it changes everything, doesn't it… Wendy Harmer: … you know, the nature of a friendship just changes so much over the years. Jean Kittson: But in terms of friendship and happiness, I mean, is friendship a really important element? You are talking about laughing, which it is, but I know when I get together with friends, we laugh a lot. But friendship is a really important part of, you know, happiness. Dr Happy: Yeah. Well, look, I've been, well, I probably should say I started out my career specialising in unhappiness. I was a clinical psychologist to begin with and an academic. So I was studying sort of stress, depression, and misery before I even discovered happiness. But I have been studying, well, what we technically call positive psychology for several decades now. And if I had to sum up everything I've learned from thousands of research articles, hundreds of books, many, many conferences about, you know, what are the most important contributors to, well not just happiness, but wellbeing more generally, longevity, physical health, et cetera, it would certainly be positive relationships. In fact, one of the – so Christopher Peterson was one of the leaders, one of the grandfathers of positive psychology, and he dedicated his life to studying, thriving and flourishing. And he was once asked, what have you learned in, you know, 50 years as a professor? And he said, I can sum it up in three words. He said, other people matter. Wendy Harmer: Wow. That is correct. Dr Happy: So yeah, it's vitally important, almost certainly the most important contributor and the most important thing we can do is prioritise fostering and developing good quality relationships. Wendy Harmer: Well, you do hear that, don't you? That people ask on their deathbed, you know, what's your regret? And it's often that I didn't spend enough time with friends or family. You have some amazing relationships, Jean, and it's funny when you have a friend and you get to know that – and Angela, she's not a friend of mine, but I know her to be your best friend and that your friendship has been amazing over the years. How long have you known Angela? Jean Kittson: Well, I've known Angela for, since we were both teachers sent to the wilderness to teach first year out teachers. So probably since we were about 21, so 50 years. But she's a long distance friend, so I would speak to this friend regularly on the phone, and we speak all the time whenever we like on the phone, but I would only see Ange maybe once or twice a year, which is another thing about friendship. I know that our friendship endures because we speak regularly and we are in touch with each other's lives. Then I have friends who live a few streets away who I don't see for months, but I don't ring because they're only a few streets away and I lose contact – I mean, we often lose contact with friends. So, how do you manage that sort of – have you lost contact with any friends? You've got a huge cohort of friends. Wendy Harmer: Oh, well, I've lost, you know, I've lost contact with lots and lots of friends. I've only once lost contact with someone on purpose. I've done the– and that was after I spent time with this friend, and I realised that every time I walked away from spending time with this friend, I felt worse about myself. There was something just subtle in the relationship that just made me feel that I wasn't smart enough or I was like overweight or I wasn't achieving or whatever. Richard Stubbs, you know, our comedian friend, he would say, Wendy, he said, ‘sometimes you go back to that well, where it's quite clearly the person doesn't wanna be friends with you, and you are like, you won't take no for an answer.’ So I'm probably the opposite. I'm probably that needy person who wants, who needs you to be my friend, maybe. Jean Kittson: Well, I think we all need friends and we don't like it when we lose contact. And then you get embarrassed because it's been so long since you called. This is my situation that I'm too scared to ring up in case they just won't pick up and then I know I'm dropped. How do you mend broken friendships if– because they can be very painful, that sort of grief of losing someone just because of neglect, really not deliberately ghosting them or anything. Because friendships need to be nurtured, need to be fed in a way, need to be maintained. Wendy Harmer: [Like this plant..] Oh, that's plastic. That's plastic! I was going to say like this house plant! Jean Kittson: Yeah. Dr Happy: Look, it's, well, there's a couple of things there. You're a hundred percent right. We– relationships do need to be worked on. Now for some people that's easier than others. There's no doubt that some people who, at the risk of oversimplifying, may be the more extroverted people who find it more enjoyable, easier. It just comes naturally to them. Some of us, some other people, need to work a bit harder at it, but it is something you need to work at. And the other thing that came out through both of that, is that things change over time, which shouldn't be a surprise. You know, as we age and as our circumstances change and as our contexts change, you know, and you get married and you have children and then you retire, and all those sorts of things. So, our relationships will change, but we do still need to work on it. We do still, it is important to have some friends, for some people that will be fewer than others. You know, so some people, some of us are happy with one or two good friends, that's enough. Other people might need five 10 or whatever. But… Wendy Harmer: I can never have enough! Dr Happy: …and that's okay. Again, we're all different. Wendy Harmer: Well, yeah. My husband is, he has the most friendships of any person I've ever met in my entire life, to the point where every now and then, it's like barnacles on a barge. I have to go down and scrape them off… Dr Happy: Are you calling your husband a barge? Wendy Harmer: …every now and then. Yeah. But then he had his 50th birthday at our house. Mind you, 350 people came. Jean Kittson: Amazing. Dr Happy: Wow. Wendy Harmer: Lord. But it's almost… Jean Kittson: I’m jealous. Wendy Harmer: …Yeah. But it's almost like his mission, you know, mission in life. But you know, I'll tell you something though. Oh, have you ever had this Jean, have you ever been jealous of someone else's friendship? Because I remember years ago, I was a big Oprah aficionado. I loved everything that Oprah did. And then she talked all the time about her best friend, Gail King. Jean Kittson: Mm-hmm. Wendy Harmer: And they went on a road trip together and how they talked to each other three or four times a day and dah, dah, dah, dah. And I thought, oh, I wish I had a friendship like Gail and Oprah. So I had to stop reading about their friendship because it just seemed too ideal. But, I'm not sure that they weren't just lying. Jean Kittson: They–– didn't you say that they rang each other three or four times a day? Wendy Harmer: Yeah. Three, three or four times a day. Jean Kittson: I know that seems excessive. Wendy Harmer: It does seem excessive. Jean Kittson: I think it seems like there's some insecurity there even. Wendy Harmer: Yeah. Maybe. Jean Kittson: Maybe, although, you know, we all need friends for different reasons, and we all need them at different times for different reasons. Often friends are the ones that get you through the hardest times in your life and you don't want to burden your family and your partner all the time with your insecurities. Wendy Harmer: See, I wanna say something really important there, which I hate, which is, you know, where people, you know, they make their marriage vows and they say, ‘you are my best friend.’ And I think. I don't want my husband to be my best friend. My husband is my lover, but he's not my best friend. I mean, what do you think of that, Jean? Jean Kittson: Well, in some ways, I suppose, you need to have a friendship with your relationship. Wendy Harmer: Yeah. Yeah. Jean Kittson: It needs to be companionable. You need to trust them to be able to be honest with each other, and that's what friendships are like, and to have sex. You know, if you… Wendy Harmer: Be honest with each other? Are you serious? Jean Kittson: I'm serious. You gotta be honest about your– well, about how you're feeling, I mean, you don't, I mean– of course. I think honesty is really important, although, no, I don't wanna say anything too personal here, but there is a difference, yes. There is a difference between your friendship with your girlfriends, where you can just download and, I mean, do you have a really close male friend, this is the other thing? Wendy Harmer: Oh, yeah, yeah. I've got, actually, probably, I've got more male friends and female friends even. And I love my male friends. When my husband and I got married, I had an ex-boyfriend in my bridal party and he had his– one of his girl, not his girlfriend, but a female friend in his party. So we are very relaxed, you know, about all that. But as I say, you know, yes, I believe in trust, absolutely, in a relationship with your partner. Honesty? Hmm. I'll get back to you. Jean Kittson: Well, I think with really good friends, you can be honest. I often hear people say, oh, these– well, you were talking about a friend who made you feel bad. I'm not talking about that. But I think some friends, you often hear people say, ‘oh, friends should build you up’ or ‘you should always have a positive relationship with them.’ But sometimes friendships go through periods where you are there to support them through really hard times. So, it's not always gonna be someone who makes you feel better about yourself. It's maybe you making them feel better about themselves. Wendy Harmer: But sometimes also as a friend, you've got to say, listen, I think that you might be, you know, on the wrong path here. Or, you know, you've gotta put… Dr Happy: Honesty. Wendy Harmer: …Yeah. You've gotta be diplomatic, haven't you? But some– do you think that a friend, good friend should be able to say, yeah, well, maybe, I don't know whether this is quite the–– how should we go about that? Dr Happy: Oh, for sure. I think, well, if I take my sort of professional hat on and just so to speak personally, because this is something I've learned over the years and, and I haven't really seen much research on it.There's not much talk in the sort of academic community about it. But, I've come to learn, there are different types of friends and so, I have some friends who I can talk honestly about and share my feelings with, even though I'm a bloke and then there are other friends who are fun, but I would never go to them necessarily if I have a problem. And I don't think that necessarily makes them not a good friend. I think it took me a long time to learn there are just different friends who have, kind of almost different purposes for want of a better phrase, including my wife and family as well in that. And so there are some things I will call some people for and other things I'll call other people for and I don’t know if we necessarily give that as much consideration. Wendy Harmer: Is your… Jean Kittson: I think that's really true. Wendy Harmer: …Can I ask, do you think your wife is your best friend? Dr Happy: She is actually at the risk of disagreeing with you! But I don’t know if that's necessarily that common. I have, well, I suppose it depends how you define best, but we are very close friends. We've spent over 30 years now. Jean Kittson: I think you're right about friends for, you know, you don't have friends for all seasons. You have different friends for different seasons in a way. And I– there's friends I would call if I needed a bit of therapy, you know, uplifting, give me a confidence boost. And then there's friends that I would call to just take me out of my world into a whole different world. Wendy Harmer: Yeah… Jean Kittson: …And that's, that's a benefit of having many friends or a few friends. But of course, what you mentioned before, some people are introverts and find friendships more difficult to maybe maintain or they're more exhausting and other extroverts might have a whole lot of friends – like you and Brendan are both extroverts, I would say, Wendy. Dr Happy: Well, so at the risk of disagreeing, that's a bit of a misunderstanding, with introverts and extroverts, so it's not– introverts don't necessarily find friendships difficult. It's just that they don't get their energy from mixing with lots of people a lot of the time. So, they need to have time. They still could have good quality relationships, maybe not as many, but it's just that they'll need to take time out probably a bit more often and spend a bit more time on their own. So it is a bit of a– introverts aren't necessarily loners, or even lonely, for that matter. Jean Kittson: No, that's right. I'm glad you clarified that. I think I'm probably– was talking about sort of at parties and big [events] whereas extroverts get their energy, they find the whole thing… Dr Happy: Yeah. When you were describing your husband's party with 350 people, this is my worst nightmare. I was thinking, my God, I'd be out of there in five minutes. Wendy Harmer: Yeah. Tim, can I ask you, how do we kind of know, how do we know when we are deficient in friendship. Is there any universal standard or is it just every single person will feel that very differently? Dr Happy: That's a really good question. And there's probably multiple answers. Wendy Harmer: Thanks. It's a better question than Jean’s! Jean Kittson: Yeah, wow, I was– you just interview us, Wendy. I would be so happy. Dr Happy: As I say, no, great question. I think everyone is different. So again, we all need, you know, some of us are quite happy with a very small group of intimate friends, other people want the 350, whatever it might be. I guess the real question is to ask yourself honestly, like, how do I feel about my life? Do I feel I have enough, do I feel it's adequate in that context and in other contexts as well? Because there's a difference between being alone and being lonely – [we] kind of almost touched on that before. And again, there some people are perfectly happy, either totally on their own or maybe just one or two people in their lives. Other people need more than that, and it's not– one's not right or wrong or better or worse, it's just, again, we're different. So the question then is, how do you feel and if you are, if you don't feel happy with it… Although what we do need to be careful of, and you kind of touched on this a bit earlier maybe with the Oprah thing, is social comparison. Jean Kittson: Yes. Dr Happy: We do need to be careful looking at, you know, let's say you or your husband saying, ‘oh, she's got lots of friends. I don't have enough so I'm inadequate.’ Wendy Harmer: Yeah. Dr Happy: That's not necessarily the case. Social comparison is problematic and number is one, because as you hinted at, especially on social media, it's not always accurate. Not always truthful. But two, even if it does work for you or Oprah, it doesn't necessarily mean it works for me. Wendy Harmer: Mm-hmm. Dr Happy: So we've all gotta find our own right way, our own balance, I suppose. And again, for some people that will be a bit easier than others. Wendy Harmer: Mm, Jean Kittson: Yes. I suppose as you get older too, there's going to be, there's so many more responsibilities in your life. I know that as a carer, people always say, ‘oh, maintain your own friendships and maintain a social life,’ but it's almost impossible if you are a carer for someone and you're on-call and you have to cancel social engagements, and you find yourself drifting away from friends and moving – you're no longer the inner circle of your friendship group. You're getting further and further out. And I just wonder if that's– if you can repair that, if that couldn't be repaired when you are, you know, you have more time and let fewer responsibilities. Wendy Harmer: Yeah. It feels like, to me, it feels like to me that anyone that you want to have in your life would understand that. And if, if you picked up the phone and said, ‘look I've been caring for, you know, a sick relative or mum and dad or whatever,’ and I find myself now, you know, I don't have that as much responsibility anymore for whatever reason, whether there's been a bereavement or whatever that if you, if that, if you pick up the phone and that person says, welcome back and I've been thinking of you, and they welcome you with open arms, that's the person you want in your life, don't you think? Jean Kittson: Definitely. But I think the distance that can happen over years particularly means that people move on with their friendships and their lives have changed and you can no longer be intimately involved with their lives and it takes a lot to catch up. Wendy Harmer: Yeah, that's true. Jean Kittson: But you really– I think somehow you have to bridge that otherwise you will be lonely. Dr Happy: It's a really good point. As you were saying that I was, again, reflecting on my personal life as opposed to my professional life. And I was thinking, I've always found it difficult, you know, initially, busy starting my career and trying to establish my career, then getting married, having young children, and at that time, not that many of my friends had young children at the same time. So that sort of then, you know– so there was always, and now caring for elderly parents, et cetera. There's always been something that's potentially got in the way, but I am at a stage now where I'm trying to reestablish because I lost – I don't wanna bring this down too much – I lost many years through mental ill health, through quite serious depression, anxiety, and I particularly lost a lot of friendships because I isolated, it wasn't their fault necessarily. So I'm trying to reestablish it. And it's interesting, and this goes to your point, I think, to see how people respond. And some people are welcoming me back with open arms saying, ‘great, we missed you.’ Other people, not so much. And that's fine, I suppose. I guess you do learn when you do make that effort, who the real friends are. Wendy Harmer: One of the things that I'd like to talk about is that it is often women in relationships who are doing the heavy lifting when it comes to friendship. Of course this is very problematic if there is a bereavement, you know, and like my dad. My dad ended up living alone without friends. And I mean, it was very, I mean, he ended up, I think they prescribed him Prozac or some darn thing or whatever, but that happens to a lot of men, doesn't it really? It's something to watch out for, I would've  thought. Dr Happy: Certainly. Yeah, the research is pretty clear. Older men, well, men generally, tend to be not quite as good at fostering and developing those relationships. It tends to become more problematic as they age, and they tend to become more isolated, which is then a high risk factor for a whole range of problems including depression, but also other health problems as well. So yeah, it is a big problem and I think we're starting to see a real explosion as this, as the baby boomers really are hitting that, well are at that age now, I suppose, and even Gen X are getting to that point. Things are changing. So when I– I think my generation was sort of the bit of a turning point and then–– Well, when, if I look at my son, for example, is in his early twenties and how he interacts, and he might not be typical, but the way he relates to particularly his male friends is very different in a good way, I think. Jean Kittson: In a good way. Yeah. Wendy Harmer: I think I agree. Same with my–– how old's your son? Dr Happy: 23. Wendy Harmer: Yeah, mine's 28. I see them very accepting of each other. They don't have to, well, you know, maybe this, our particular sort of… Dr Happy: We might not be typical… Wendy Harmer: But they don't have to put on that macho thing, and they're very, it seems to me they do reach out to a friend who's down. You know, going through a hard time, they seem to be softer. Dr Happy: I think it is changing. So, I mean, I did a podcast series a few years ago on what does it mean to be a man? And the main thing I took, I learned from, I mean, I was meant to be teaching people, I suppose, but the main thing I learned from that is that there isn't one masculinity. There are masculinities. There are multiple ways to quote/unquote be a man. And I think I sort of try and talk a lot about that, particularly young men that, you know, there are different ways to be masculine. There are different ways to show your emotions. There are different ways to be vulnerable. Again, we'll all do that differently, but if we can be more accepting, I think that's really important because, you know, men as a result of all of that, there are significant health and mental health problems, from poor definitions of masculinity. Jean Kittson: Yes, of course. Wendy Harmer: Hey Jean, do you reckon you can make a new friend at our age? Jean Kittson: Well, I was just going to ask you that, in fact, Wendy. I think well, if we take from the men's side, often people of our age and getting older are put into retirement villages or their families say, you know, you go off and sell the family home. And they wanna put us with each other instead of a cross section. And we’re supposed to make friends like we were back at kindergarten and often people are in their 80s and they move into a whole new community. Wendy Harmer: They're quite set in their ways. Of course. Jean Kittson: …yes, of course Not flexible. Jean Kittson: Well, maybe they just have other, different incapacities. Maybe they can't see very well, maybe they can't hear very well, and you're supposed to start new friendships at that stage in life. I think that from my point of view, but I'd rather ask you both this.. Wendy Harmer: …but you've written the books about this… Jean Kittson: Well, I wrote books about being, yes, about caring for our elders and how to make sure they got what they wanted and they had the life they wanted. And not many people wanna leave their community at a late age and try to make new friends, that's for sure. It's very, very difficult. And often it comes with, because of their maybe ill health and they can't– mum had lost her sight for 20 years and mum and dad, both of them couldn't hear very well. So it was harder to make new friends, but they did through groups, like you're saying, how do you make new friends? It's like the Men Shed, or bowling for the vision impaired – which is a very dangerous sport, I must say – but you make new friends by, and we had… and there's, you know, choirs and painting and perhaps joining groups where you're not having to go out for a coffee and sit opposite a stranger and try to, you know, find common ground, that you're doing something else. It's like the friendships, I imagine, it's like those sometimes very intimate friendships you have with people on a train or a bus or a plane that you know you're never going to see again, and then you just share all sorts of things. Wendy Harmer: Yeah. Yeah. Well, I'm really pleased to hear that because I mean, it just sounds horrifying to me, the idea of going to an aged care home and being sat around with a whole lot of people and then think, and someone jollying and like, ‘oh, let's all be friends’. I could not think of anything worse. But you're saying that it doesn't have to be like that. Jean Kittson: Oh, there is a lot of community and if you're there for a while, I mean, people often are very– start off not very happy in those sort of places, because they've had illness. And there'll be a lot of people probably listening to this podcast who are struggling with things that are happening in their lives and thinking, well, how do I even have time for friends? But it is really important, even if you've only got one friend, don't you think? Dr Happy: Definitely, and I think you've hit the nail on the head. I think it is difficult, I think we all acknowledge that, but it is possible. And I think you're right. Joining clubs, societies, community– I mean, I was thinking of my mum who, after mum and dad got divorced and very later became a very passionate bridge player like multiple times a week. And that was her family. It was her second family. It was– dad's been very involved in Rotary. So some of the– you know, there are communities or groups that already exist, you know, woodworking or sporting or the Men's Sheds for example, that's a great way to do it because you're also pursuing, you know, presuming you're pursuing a passion that you enjoy or some sort of hobby, but you're interacting with other people. So that is possible and it's one of probably, the best and easiest way to do it if that's something you want to or need to do. Wendy Harmer: Mm-hmm. I did a little bit of research about this, about resilience in children, and one of the conclusions is that resilience, if a child– a child just needs one adult to make a difference to their resilience. So, and you know, that might not be mum or dad, it could be a friend, could be a relative or whatever, but just that one person, and I'm thinking it's probably the same in old age as well. Dr Happy: Yeah, well I talk a lot about happiness and thriving, flourishing, and as I had said earlier, I talk a lot about positive relationships because it's one of the most important contributors. And I often talk about what I call ‘3:00 AM friends.’ Who would you call at 3:00 AM when the [bleep] hits the fan? – Am I allowed to say that? – When something goes wrong. And well like you said, you really only need one. I mean, if you've got two or three. That's just fantastic. But if you've got one person who you can call when something's gone wrong, that's all you need and that's super important at any age really. Wendy Harmer: Well I’ve got Jean on speed dial. Jean Kittson: Call me at 3:00 AM anytime, Wendy. Oh, that's a very great point. Wendy Harmer: I've never thought of that. That’s a really good point, who would you call? Jean Kittson: Who would you call… Wendy Harmer:…who would you call at 3:00 AM? Well, I know that Jean has been such an extraordinary carer for her mum and dad that I know that she'll have every number of every medical centre, ambulance, where to get drugs… Jean Kittson: But which friend would I call? Dr Happy: Can I get your number? Jean Kittson: And have you got someone you would call after…? Dr Happy: Well, at the risk of upsetting Wendy, my wife. And then well, yeah, I'm pretty lucky to have a good family as well. So, I wouldn't say we are best buddies who speak every day, but I have a brother and sister, and we have pretty good, strong relationships. I think if I needed to, I know either one of them would do whatever they could. I have a father who's still, he's obviously getting– my mother died, but he's elderly and physically sort of isn't able to do much, but he would do whatever he could, obviously. And then, yeah, I do have a small handful of friends who I think if I really needed to and who I have, I suppose in the past, called up when I needed to. Wendy Harmer: I wanna put this, I mean, I really, really must insist here that, I'm talking about in the event that my husband is like, lying next to me dead or something, who am I gonna call? Because he would be the first person… Dr Happy: …well if he's dead there's no point calling anyone! Jean Kittson: It's interesting that, well, sometimes people would prefer, well, what am I trying to say here? Sometimes I feel guilty when I think the first people I would call would be in my family. They're the people I'm closest to, probably, and they're the ones that I– we share everything. Wendy Harmer: Yeah, of course. Jean Kittson: But then psychologically that could be called enmeshment, if I say I'd call my daughters if I, you know, needed something at three in the morning, they'd be the first people that I would. Wendy Harmer: Of course. Jean Kittson: But, I'm not sure whether that's unhealthy or not. Dr Happy: No, not necessarily. Enmeshment is maybe the three times a day sort of thing, but calling – and probably I should have put my kids in that when I was talking about earlier as well – but no, I think calling… One of the greatest myths in our society, I think, and one of the greatest myths and misconception about happiness or life generally, is this myth of independence. And I could bang on about neoliberalism… Wendy Harmer: …No man is an Island, John Donne… Dr Happy: But no, well, I think so much of a sort of quote/unquote Western society is focused on independence and individual responsibility. And that's not to say we shouldn't be responsible. Of course we should, but we are social animals. We're social beings, and there's nothing wrong at all in needing other people and relying on other people. Not every minute of every day for everything. That's problematic. But when something goes wrong, we shouldn't feel bad at all about reaching out and asking for help. Wendy Harmer: But this is also, this is also a product of the kind of society that we live in. I mean, if you look at those intergenerational households… Dr Happy: Mm-hmm. Wendy Harmer: …that you see in so many other cultures, of course everyone's enmeshed and everyone's friends, everyone's arguing, everyone's, you know, it's a whole… Jean Kittson: Ecosystem… Wendy Harmer: …in itself. That's right. And so you've got, living down the street, there's this ecosystem there and this one there and this one there. But, Australia, of course, we have this thing where, oh, you must grow up and move out of home and it's gonna be great for everyone. And I mean, it's not necessarily. Jean Kittson: Well, we're products of the nuclear family, aren't we? Where our… Wendy Harmer: Yeah, we sure are. Jean Kittson: …our parents were, they were aspirational. They wanted to leave the small towns and the… everyone seemed to think a small town was bad when I was growing up. And you had to go to the city and that was where the excitement was and the stimulation was, and that's where people got things done and they were more interesting. And now I think we're realising that small towns and villages… Dr Happy: …green changes… Jean Kittson: …yeah, exactly. They really have so much to offer. And you were talking about young people beforehand, people in villages, you know, now we need mentors for young people and this great organisation, Raise organisation, that puts mentors in schools. And that's another thing you can do if you're older and you wanna connect, you can volunteer to be a mentor for a younger person. A younger person once– you know, we had, when we were in a village, we had mentors, whether we liked it or not. We had companionship because everyone was interested in who we were and what we might contribute to the community. But that's lost. Wendy Harmer: Well, I'm glad you're asking. Yes, I will move in with you. Jean Kittson: Yes. Move in and mentor me, Wendy. Dr Happy: No, I think… I couldn't agree more. I think there's no doubt that big cities do offer something like, you know, employment prospects and entertainment variety and even, you know, cafes and restaurants and blah, blah, blah. But when we're– if you look at the research into, well not happiness at an individual level, but sort of, thriving and flourishing at a sort of higher level, the happiest places to live tend to be those regional centres that are big enough… so for example, in, you know, New South Wales it would be Orange or Newcastle or Wollongong. So they're big enough to have everything you might want, but still small enough to have a sense of connection and community. Wendy Harmer: …Geelong, Ballarat … Dr Happy: Yeah. So every state would have a version of that. And that's what you know, I think during COVID for example, we saw a significant shift to some of those places. Because that's what people were looking for, that connection, that community, and many of those people have stayed there or are continuing to move those spaces. So, I mean, I suppose if you can find that in the big city, great. That's good. That's what we wanna try and do, those of us that do live in big cities, to find that community through clubs, through societies, through whatever, you know, surf club, for example, that's a great example. Whatever it might be. Jean Kittson: That is an excellent piece of advice about finding the connection where you are. So many people reach our age and they decide they want a tree change or a sea change, and they leave their community and then they think their kids will visit, but they're back in the city with their own family earning a living, and then they find they're on their own again, and they've left the people that are really important. Yeah, would you ever move Wendy? Wendy Harmer: Oh yes. Jean Kittson: …but not far… Wendy Harmer: Oh, yes! My husband's a bit of a mollusc and a rock. We lived in, I mean I grew up moving all over the place because dad was a rural school teacher. So, I mean, when we talk about friendships, well, you know, I had to make friends over and over and over again. And so I think that's why I might just have a little bit of neediness there because I always think, oh, you know, that things that you grow up with, I suppose a pathology. I would love to move, but my husband's very content to, you know, where he is. I've got one daughter who lives next door. I mean, I adore that. And then I've got one son who's, you know, he spends a lot of time overseas, so, I've got a bit, you know, I've got a bit of both. Would I move ? Jean Kittson: Well, you could take your friends with you, obviously you would move in the same area, or would you do a really– I mean… I would be worried about community and friendship moving. Wendy Harmer: You have to understand this. Did I say mollusc on a rock? The man is immovable. It's not happening. So, yeah. But, you know, home for me is where I am. You know, I don't– because I grew up in all these different places, I don't really– if you said, Wendy, where's home? I would say, here, Wendy is home. That's where home is for me. So a little bit different. Jean Kittson: And Tim, what about you? Dr Happy: Well, we were chatting before, and we're literally in the process of selling a family home that we've been in for 25 years. But we're probably not going to move very far at all, like a few kilometers. But what we have done, because we're empty nesters now, but we've also bought a block of bush, a couple of hours out of Sydney, where we're gradually spending more and more time. So that's thoroughly enjoyable, immersed in nature. So sort of trying to get the best of both worlds. We have a smaller place in Sydney and a nice retreat. Jean Kittson: That's perfect. That's like the ideal. Wendy Harmer: …best of both worlds. Fantastic. Jean Kittson: My sister and I both married people from New South Wales and then my parents moved from Sorento where they'd been for years and years, had a great network of friends and they moved up to New South Wales to be near my sister and I. We both had young kids. We were both, you know, we needed help, and they moved there. And I went back to Sorento last week, and there were all these people – to do a fundraiser for a hospice – and there were all these people who were friends of mum and dad's. Because they were in business, they had friends that were younger. We didn't touch on this, but friends of different ages, you know, not just your peers. They had friends who were my age who thought of them really fondly and it was really lovely. It was amazing how warmly they spoke of them and how if mum and dad had turned up again after 20 years, they would just fall straight back into that friendship. Wendy Harmer: We get back to that, to the kind of culture that we live in that does not make being close as possible as it should. Jean Kittson: No, we should never have moved away from mum and dad. We should have stayed near them and they moved to be near us. And, I don't think they– they made some good friends, very, very good friends. But the friendships they'd made over their middle years were the closest friends, and long lasting. I mean, after their death, they were still friends with them. In fact, I was saying how I've got this problem because mum and dad's ashes are still in my cupboard, because mum wanted to be scattered at sea and dad wanted to be with mum, but not scattered at sea. So. I'm stuck. Dr Happy: I'm not gonna get involved in that one! Jean Kittson: No, exactly! Wendy Harmer: I've still got a whole lot of dad's ashes, because he moved around Victoria so much, I've got no idea where I should put them. I'd have to do this tour, you know, Cook’s tour and put I bit there, and a bit there, a bit there… Jean Kittson: But what I was gonna say, one of these women who– mum had given her her first job, which I didn't really know her. She has a boat and she said I'll take their ashes out and scatter them for you. Wasn't that nice? Dr Happy: There you go, a generous offer. Jean Kittson: I know… what sort of… that's a pretty good friendship, I would say. Wendy Harmer: Yeah. I'll scatter your ashes after you die. Jean Kittson: Will you? Thank you Wendy. Wendy Harmer: I think I'll do it in the shoe department at David Jones. Jean Kittson: Do it next week…! Wendy Harmer: You'd be quite happy there, wouldn't you? Jean Kittson: That's where you would be. I'll be in the local op shop. Just leave them there. Someone will probably buy them. Would either of you like to say anything more about the importance of friendship because we can wrap up otherwise. Wendy Harmer: I would like to say that I'm still recruiting! Jean Kittson: Yeah. I'll share your number! Wendy Harmer: …So if you'd like to… Jean Kittson: …this is Wendy's number Wendy Harmer: …if you'd like to be my, where's my camera? If you'd like to be my friend, do drop me a line. Look, I am Mrs Have-a-chat. My daughter just says, going down the street with you is a nightmare because I'm like, oh, there's the butcher. I might have a yarn with them. And oh, there's… So, yes. As I say, I'm taking applications. Dr Happy: Oh. Well, I think I probably already made my point, but I just to reiterate, I'd say there are multiple factors that contribute to living a good and happy life, but if I was gonna say the most important thing, I would say fostering and developing good quality relationships. So, make it a priority. It's just as if not more important than anything else you can possibly do. Jean Kittson: Thank you both very much… Wendy Harmer: …And thank you for being my friend all these years. Jean Kittson, an ornament to my life. Jean Kittson: Yeah. I'm a bauble on the Christmas tree of your friendship tower. Wendy Harmer: Indeed. Jean Kittson: Oh no. Well, I'm very proud to be your friend, that's for sure. Thank you both so much. I've learned a lot and I'm gonna ring up some friends now… And thank you for sharing your stories of friendship too. Thanks, Wendy. Thanks, Tim. Wendy Harmer: You're welcome. Thank you, Jean. Dr Happy: Thank you. Jean Kittson: Thanks. Thank you to Wendy Harmer and Dr Tim Sharp. You've been listening to DARE: The time of your life, brought to you by Australian seniors. Please leave a review and share this show with someone you know. Visit seniors.com au slash podcast for more episodes. Thank you. Goodbye.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest this week is Tim Sharp, a global corporate veteran turned courageous truth-teller.After nearly 30 years in high-pressure leadership roles across industries, including tech, tobacco, pharma, and global sports, Tim has stepped forward with a message he believes the world urgently needs to hear.In his debut book, Tim chooses not to market under his own name—not out of fear, but because he wants the message to take centre stage. For him, this isn't about building a personal brand; it's about starting a global conversation about what's broken in corporate culture and what's possible when we confront the truth.Tim exposes the hidden mental health costs of modern corporate life and the cracks in workplace culture that quietly erode purpose, well-being, and integrity. He isn't building a brand; he's sparking a movement.The Hidden Mental Health Cost of Modern Corporate LifeWhy he Chose to Publish a Book Without Branding MyselfHow Corporations Are Failing Their People—and How We Can Fix ItAddiction, Ambition & Awakening: A Corporate Story from the InsideTruth-Telling as a Tool for Change in BusinessFind out more about Tim's book: https://bustingbusinessbullshit.com/Your host Sharon Fitzmaurice https://www.sharonfitzmauricemindfulness.comThanks for reading Sharon's Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sharonfitzmaurice.substack.com

Join us for an inspiring and practical conversation with Dr. Tim Sharp widely known as Dr. Happy as he unpacks the real science of happiness and how we can apply it to our daily lives. As a clinical psychologist, author, and founder of The Happiness Institute, Tim shares decades of research and experience on what truly makes us thrive.In this episode, you'll learn why money doesn't guarantee happiness, how to get a better “return on investment” from the way you spend, and the surprisingly simple but powerful habits that build lasting wellbeing. Tim also reveals why connection, gratitude, and purpose are at the heart of a fulfilling life and why fun, laughter, and giving back matter more than we think.About our guest:Dr. Tim Sharp is a renowned clinical psychologist, author, speaker, and founder of The Happiness Institute. Affectionately known as Dr. Happy, he has dedicated his career to exploring the psychology of happiness and helping individuals and organizations apply positive psychology to achieve greater wellbeing and success. With multiple books, a thriving practice, and a global following, Tim is a leading voice in making happiness practical, accessible, and sustainable.Follow Our Guest:LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtimsharp/Website – https://drhappy.com.au/Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thehappinessinstitute/Follow Us On:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thestevehodgson/https://www.instagram.com/sharewithsteve/Episode Highlights:00:00 - Episode Trailer00:25 - Why financial stress impacts happiness00:45 - How spending on experiences brings more joy than possessions01:10 - The science of giving: why helping others boosts happiness02:19 - Daily and weekly habits that enhance wellbeing03:17 - The role of meaningful goals in creating purpose04:02 - Exercise, sleep, and nutrition as foundations of happiness04:24 - Building optimism and gratitude as “muscles”05:03 - Why relationships and connection matter most05:37 - The importance of play, fun, and laughter in life06:15 - Awareness and reframing emotions through action07:15 - Why it's okay not to be okay — and how to bounce back faster08:07 - Simple strategies to shift mood and break negative patterns08:41 - Dr. Tim's surprising lessons on happiness over his career09:22 - Why happiness is a skill that can be learned and practiced10:02 - The psychological benefits of exercise, sleep, and connection10:42 - Making time for friendships as life gets busier11:18 - Moving into generativity: mentoring and giving back12:12 - Why mentoring and social good have become Tim's focus

What does it really mean to live a happy life and why are so many of us chasing it in the wrong way? In this powerful conversation, Steve speaks with Dr. Tim Sharp also known as Dr. Happy the one of Australia's leading psychologists and founder of The Happiness Institute.Together, they unpack the myths of happiness, why it's not about being positive all the time, and the tools and strategies that help us bounce back from life's challenges. Dr. Tim also shares his own raw experiences with depression and suicidality, showing how resilience, acceptance, and connection shape a more meaningful life.About Our GuestDr. Tim Sharp is an internationally renowned leader in the fields of positive psychology, resilience, and mental health. Known as Dr. Happy, he has written several best-selling books, appears regularly in the media, and has built The Happiness Institute into a global platform for promoting wellbeing. With decades of clinical and academic experience, he is passionate about redefining success, mentoring young leaders, and helping individuals craft their own “recipe” for a good life.Follow Our GuestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtimsharp/Website: https://drhappy.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehappinessinstitute/Follow Us OnHost Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestevehodgson/Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharewithsteve/Episode Highlights00:00 - Episode Trailer01:08 - Meet Dr. Happy: the man behind the nickname02:38 - Misconceptions about happiness and mental health05:01 - Defining happiness: fleeting joy vs. lasting life satisfaction09:22 - Dr. Tim's personal journey with depression and suicidality13:56 - Tools for bouncing back: joy lists, gratitude & self-care16:42 - Emotional regulation and learning to savour the good19:34 - Why there's no single “secret” to happiness22:24 - Lessons from the darkest times: this too shall pass & you're not alone25:12 - Why failure and detours are essential for growth29:25 - Reflection, journaling & the power of looking in the mirror32:24 - What we can control: mindset, response & perspective35:38 - Living in the present vs. finding joy in past and future39:26 - The ‘tyranny of when': money, success & the hedonic treadmill45:38 - Does money buy happiness? Freedom, choices & giving back48:04 - Daily strategies to create a better life51:47 - Relationships, connection & not forgetting to have fun54:26 - Biggest lessons from a life studying happiness57:02 - Dr. Happy's mission for the next decade58:50 - One key message on happiness & the noise of life01:01:08 - Where to find and connect with Dr. Tim Sharp

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Tim Sharp, also known as “Dr. Happy”, to explore how positive psychology can transform the way schools approach staff wellbeing. Together, we unpack what truly drives happiness and resilience at work, from small daily habits to creating cultures of laughter, connection and psychological safety. Tim also shares how leaders can strike a balance between optimism and honesty, helping their teams feel supported even through challenges. In this episode, we cover: How traditional Psychology differs from Positive Psychology A deeper look into Dr Tim’s audiobook ‘Habits for Happiness at Work’, and what inspired this framework What the habits for happiness are, and how they can be used by professionals in their everyday work environment How to practice optimism in a practical and realistic way The most important habits leaders should adopt and embed in their leadership to positively influence staff How to adopt the habits for happiness without adding more to your plate. Hint: It’s all about mindset! About Tim Dr. Tim Sharp, fondly known as Dr. Happy, is one of Australia’s leading voices in positive psychology, mental health and wellbeing. With three degrees in psychology, including a PhD, Tim has built an extraordinary career spanning clinical practice, academia, executive coaching, and corporate consulting. He is the founder and Chief Happiness Officer of The Happiness Institute, Australia’s first organisation dedicated solely to enhancing happiness in individuals, schools and workplaces. As a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and podcaster, Tim has worked with everyone from schools and small teams to global organisations like Twitter, Coles, and Telstra. His books and Audible audiobooks, including Habits for Happiness at Work, provide practical tools for building resilience, positive culture and lasting wellbeing. With warmth, humour, and research-backed strategies, Tim helps people understand that happiness is not just about feeling good, but also doing good. Links and Resources: Explore our Well-Led Schools Partnership program Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, so that we can inspire and educate even more people together. Connect with Tim via: His website: https://drhappy.com.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtimsharp/ Connect with me via: My website: adriennehornby.com.au LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/ Email: hello@adriennehornby.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Judy Sharp was told by doctors that her son would never communicate or learn to love, she refused to believe it and set about to secure a brilliant life for her neurodivergent son, Tim.Judy's eldest son, Tim, was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old.When Judy was told Tim would never communicate or be able to love she refused to accept those limitations.As a mother, Judy took many risks to secure a good life for both of her sons, including escaping an abusive marriage.Her risks paid off.As a grown man, Tim became a renowned artist and his popularity continues to grow.Laser Beak Man, Tim's cheeky cartoon super-hero, has taken Tim and Judy as far as Broadway, where he was the central figure of a musical.Further informationFirst broadcast in February, 2016.2025 update: Tim and his artwork have been included in the book celebrating 50 years of the Sydney Opera House, about 50 famous Australian artists.Judy is now a sought-after speaker and spends much of her time speaking at conferences. A film based on Judy's memoir is in development, hopefully starting production in 2026. You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.This episode of Conversations explores parenting children with autism, ADHD, neurodivergence, communication, Asperger's, mothers of sons, spousal abuse, brothers, ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Austin.

The Truth About the J6 Capitol Pipe Bomb Culprit is Revealed | Texas House Moves Forward on Killing Freedom of Speech | Virginia Guiffre Death Points to Suicide | What is HHS Secretary RFK Jr Doing with VaccinesDustin Faulkner breaks down current events from a Conservative perspective. Additionally, there is a lot of investigative journalism in exposing what's truly going on in our country... much of which will shock you!As inflation surges and global elites toy with our financial future, My Gold Guy empowers you to safeguard your wealth with physical gold and silver – a real asset for real Americans. Get your FREE Gold & Silver Guide today. https://mygoldguy.com/mbnIn a world where global elites push lab-grown meat and insect-based diets, safeguard your family's health with Prepper All-Naturals' premium freeze-dried beef—100% American, mRNA-free, and boasting a 10-year shelf life. Use code MBN at checkout for a 25% discount and ensure your pantry is stocked with real, nutritious beef amid uncertain times. https://prepperbeef.com/freedomfirstbeefIn an era where government overreach threatens personal health choices, safeguard your autonomy with The Wellness Company's Medical Emergency Kit—featuring essential medications like Ivermectin and Amoxicillin. Use code MBN for 10% off and take control of your health today. https://twc.health/mbnTired of the corporate sludge masquerading as coffee? Supermassive Black Coffee is your defiant alternative, roasting 100% organic beans with Victorian-era fire roasters to deliver a brew that's pure, bold, and breathtakingly smooth. Join the rebellion against mediocrity and savor the difference. Use promo code MBN for 30% off your order. https://supermassiveblackcoffee.com

In a world that has felt weighty in recent times, we shift the discussion towards the pursuit of happiness as Dr Timothy Sharp shares his knowledge on the principles of positive psychology. Tim shares his CHOOSE acronym with our ambassador, Dr Adrian Lopresti, that is designed to support you and your clients to not only reduce stress, anxiety and negative thoughts, but also to elevate their mood and outlook to one of positivity and happiness. Tim describes the importance of optimism based on reality. Find today's transcript and show notes here: https://www.bioceuticals.com.au/education/podcasts/the-power-of-positive-psychology Sign up for our monthly newsletter for the latest exclusive clinical tools, articles, and infographics: https://pages.blackmores.com.au/FXM-signup.html ***DISCLAIMER: The information provided on fx Medicine by BioCeuticals is for educational and informational purposes only. The information provided is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event something you learn here raises questions or concerns regarding your health.***

I've spent much of my career interviewing experts. Doctors, dietitians, psychologists - I've picked hundreds of big brains on almost any topic you can think of when it comes to living a happy, healthy life. Great experts have a couple of things in common that make any journo's job easy. First, they know their stuff. Not at a shallow, Instagram level, but deeply - spending much of their time absorbing themselves in the latest research. Second, they've taught themselves to communicate that knowledge in ways lay people can not just understand, but in ways that light us up, make us feel something or make us want to take some sort of action. Dr Tim Sharp is one such (great) expert. In fact, he might be up there with the greatest I've had the pleasure of interviewing. I've gone ‘on the record' with Tim a number of times over the years, but this interview was different. He was more open, more vulnerable and in some ways I suspect more himself than the ‘Dr Happy' the public has come to love and trust via Tim's extensive work in the media. In this interview, and his new book Lost & Found, he shares what it's like to lose yourself and find yourself again - literally, figuratively and mentally. I grew up feeling not worthy, not good enough, not intelligent enough. And my strategy to beat that was to achieve. So, I'll go and get a university degree. Oh, that's not enough. I'll get a Master's degree. Oh, that's not enough. I'll get a PhD. Oh, that's not enough.  I'll write a book. That's not enough. I'll write seven books. It doesn't work. And this is a common, common mistake we make trying to fill up a hole with achievements where the hole's not from lack of achievement. Dr Tim Sharp Before you tuck into this one, a couple of warnings for you. The first is a trigger warning, we discuss mental ill-health and suicidality or risk of suicide. I also need to drop a language warning here, we're adults discussing adulty things and occasionally we get passionate on the language front. So why should you invest your precious time in this chat? Don't take it from me, here's a sneak peek… And here's the cheat sheet: * [03:30] The power of midlife and how Tim feels about aging, personally and professionally. * [05:45] “I didn't even expect to be alive at this stage of my life.” - Tim lifts the lid on suicidality. * [08:50] From a clinical psych's perspective, what should we be focusing on in midlife for a long, happy, healthy future? * [11:00] Do I stay or do I go? What kept Tim alive in his darkest moments and why we still have work to do when it comes to stigma around suicide and self harm. * [13:10] What if my children inherit my depression or anxiety? How fear almost stopped Tim from becoming a parent. * [14:45] “I've thought about harming myself, is that suicidality?” Tim breaks down the difference between strange/intrusive thoughts, passive and active suicidality. * [19:05] Pack away the cotton wool, how overprotecting kids causes more harm than good, and distraction and avoidance in the short term = problems long term. * [24:45] Learning to tolerate, embrace and even seek out failure because it sits alongside (and mixed in with) success. * [30:57] A dance between grace and gumption. Tim unpacks self compassion and reminds us that simple doesn't mean easy. * [34:30] Three degrees and seven books later, Tim learns the hard way that the ‘hole' can't be filled with achievements (and we already have the antidote). * [41:03] I know family is most important, but I still have big dreams and only one life in which to go after them. How do I balance those competing objectives? * [47:00] Why, when Tim ‘should be at the peak of his career' does he feel like he knows less than ever? * [53:15] Is our pursuit of excessive comfort to blame for our unhappiness? Asking for a friend… Prefer to watch us chat? You can do that here

Dr. Tim Sharp, also known as Dr. Happy, discusses his latest book, Lost and Found, which explores the themes of happiness, embracing failure, and finding oneself through the journey of being lost. He emphasizes the importance of accepting and embracing negative emotions and mistakes as part of life. Dr. Sharp shares his personal experiences with mental health and highlights the significance of discussing topics like suicidality. He also discusses the balance between wandering and being distracted, the value of stepping out of one's comfort zone, and the concept of post-traumatic growth. The book encourages readers to find the lessons and growth opportunities in being lost and recognizes that the journey of self-discovery is ongoing. Episode Takeaways Embrace negative emotions and mistakes as part of life's journey. Accept that it's okay not to have all the answers and to feel lost. Find the lessons and growth opportunities in being lost. Balance wandering with avoiding distraction and apathy. Step out of your comfort zone to experience personal growth. Recognize the value of post-traumatic growth and the strength in surrendering. Stay connected with loved ones and practice self-care. Accept that the journey of self-discovery is ongoing. Episode Chapters 00:00I ntroduction and Welcome 02:25 The Inspiration Behind Lost and Found 04:36 The Importance of Embracing Failure 07:27 Wandering Your Way to a Better Life 09:48 Balancing Wandering and Distraction 13:12 Permission to Be Lost 16:30 Questioning the Journey in Middle Age 18:34 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone 21:37 Recognizing the Signs of Being Lost and Stuck 23:36 The Found Aspect of Lost and Found 29:22 Practices for Happiness and Coping with Dark Moments 31:35 Acceptance and the Ongoing Journey of Self-Discovery 32:46 Conclusion and Call to Action

Tim Sharp talks to Cheryl about self-awareness, learning from experiences, and embracing personal strengths. His latest book Lost & Found is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to a recent conversation with the amazing Dr Tim Sharp. Dr Tim is the Chief Happiness Officer at The Happiness Institute.  An internationally renowned leader in Positive Psychology he is a sought-after Speaker and Facilitator, Consultant and Coach, Writer and Podcaster, Spokesperson and Brand Ambassador. In this episode we talked about his amazing new book Lost and Found, embracing failure and learning from our mistakes and the transformative power of awe. In this conversation, Dr Tim talked about his struggles with mental health and suicide. If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out via https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/services/Pages/default.aspx.     

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Dr Tim Sharp is Australia's very own Dr Happy at the forefront of the positive psychology movement. An internationally renowned leader with three degrees, a PHD and multiple best-selling books, Dr Sharp's primary area of interest is enhancing happiness at work, including building positive cultures, developing positive leadership and boosting resilience and optimism. In his previous work as an academic, Dr Sharp was as an adjunct professor at the School of Management, Faculty of Business at UTS, and the School of Health Sciences at RMIT.  His expertise extends beyond academia across various domains, including executive coaching, authorship, and podcasting. He is also the founder of The Happiness Institute, an organisation dedicated to enhancing happiness in various aspects of life, particularly in the workplace. Dr. Sharp joins us to talk about the launch of his most recent book and first memoir, 'Lost and Found - How to Wander Your Way to a Better Life'. Combining personal stories with the exploration of discomfort and the importance of sitting with discomfort to become more authentic and vulnerable.  Today we discuss the importance of managing expectations, cultivating realistic ones to avoid disappointment and failure, the need for self-compassion as a component of success, embracing discomfort for personal growth, focusing on what can be controlled to maintain work-life balance and building positive relationships. IGNITE YOUR PASSION.   Connect with Dr Happy on LinkedIn and visit Dr Happy for a copy of his latest book. Follow The Uncharted Leader on Linkedin, Instagram and YouTube.  Book a call with Kylee and ask about The Emerging Leaders Program to unlock your potential for unprecedented growth and amplify the impact you have in the world. Podcast proudly sponsored by The Performance Code

In today's episode, I chatted with a leading expert in positive psychology who has dedicated his life to promoting mental health and well-being. I'm excited by this guest because he not only shares valuable insights but also speaks openly about his own experiences with mental illness, aiming to destigmatise these important issues. I like his book because it provides practical strategies for building happiness and resilience, making these concepts accessible to everyone.Episode ContentDestigmatising Mental Illness: We discuss how sharing personal stories can help reduce the stigma around mental health issues.Practical Mental Health Strategies: Learn techniques for improving mental health, similar to building physical strength at the gym.Debunking Happiness Myths: We tackle common misconceptions about happiness, including the idea that it should come naturally or that we should be happy all the time.Positive Psychology: Explore how shifting from traditional clinical psychology to positive psychology can enhance well-being.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Understand the balance between accepting our emotions and committing to positive actions.Toxic Positivity: Discuss the dangers of unrealistic positivity and the importance of acknowledging all emotions.Men's Mental Health: Highlight the unique challenges men face regarding mental health, including how depression can present differently in men and women.Supportive Relationships: Tips on how to be there for someone struggling with mental health without trying to "fix" them.About Dr. Tim Sharp Chief Happiness Officer – The Happiness Institute An internationally renowned leader in the field of Positive Psychology Dr. Tim Sharp (aka Dr. Happy) is a sought after Speaker and Facilitator, Consultant and Coach, Writer and Podcaster, Spokesperson and Brand Ambassador.www.drhappy.com.auhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drtimsharphttps://www.instagram.com/thehappinessinstitutehttps://twitter.com/drhappyhttps://www.facebook.com/TheHappinessInstitute@thehappinessinstutue IG and FB ResourcesR U OK? DayBeyond BlueBlack Dog InstituteFor the full transcript and show notes, please visit the website. Submit a question to the Podcasthttps://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6 Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/

WARNING! This week's show will change your life!  Dr. Tim Sharp, aka Dr. Happy, is the visionary behind The Happiness Institute. Discover how overcoming personal challenges led him to pioneer a holistic approach to mental health. From battling depression to guiding others toward joy, Dr Sharp shares life-changing secrets and practical tips for a happier, healthier life.  Don't miss out: learn habits that promise a brighter existence and the essence of true happiness. 00:01:41 - Introduction 00:02:43 - Dr Happy aka Tim Sharp 00:05:58 - Dealing with Mental Health in Your Twenties 00:07:30 - Near-Death Experience 00:11:33 - Breaking the Stigma 00:17:01 - Career Beginnings 00:18:45 - Helping Others: Tim's Mission to Brighten Lives 00:21:11 - What Does Happiness Mean to You? 00:31:32 - Mental Health SOS: Don't Ignore the Signs! 00:33:16 - Digital Detox: Is It Necessary? 00:36:12 - Coping After Covid 00:38:52 - The Importance of Self-Care 00:45:17 - Inside The Happiness Institute 00:54:41 - Mental Muscle Training 00:57:41 - Where to Find Mental Health Support 01:03:41 - Outro Follow the Podcast: https://linktr.ee/littlefishpod Brought to You By: Little Fish Network - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Townhouse Masterclass™ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Join host Dr. Jodi Richardson on a thought-provoking episode of "Well, Hello Anxiety" as she welcomes a distinguished guest to the show. Dr. Tim Sharp, renowned founder of The Happiness Institute and a pioneer in the positive psychology movement, is our honored guest. With three psychology degrees, including a PhD, and an impressive track record spanning academia, clinical practice, coaching, writing, podcasting, and advocacy, Dr. Tim Sharp, also affectionately known as "Dr. Happy," is dedicated to the pursuit of happiness in individuals, families, and organizations. However, in this engaging conversation, Dr. Tim Sharp shares a facet of his life that defies the happiness he so passionately champions. Dr. Jodi Richardson delves deep into this unexpected revelation, offering listeners a unique and intimate perspective on the man behind the expert. This excerpt from the full podcast highlights the resilience, vulnerability, and wisdom of Dr. Tim Sharp, showcasing his ability to navigate life's challenges while maintaining his commitment to the pursuit of happiness. Join us on this heartfelt journey as we explore the complexities of happiness and well-being with the insightful Dr. Tim Sharp. Tune in to "Well, Hello Anxiety" for this candid and inspiring episode featuring Dr. Tim Sharp, and discover the multifaceted nature of human experience. Thank you for being part of our podcast community. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr Tim Sharp, aka Dr Happy, is a renowned leader in the field of Positive Psychology, a sought-after speaker, consultant, podcaster, spokesperson, author and the founder and Chief Happiness Officer (CHO) of The Happiness Institute. He's achieved unparalleled success in the academic, professional and business worlds, is a proud recipient of the Future Leadership Award and, in 2011, was appointed as Australia Day Ambassador. What makes his success and impact more extraordinary, is that Dr Sharp experiences severe depression and has done most of his adult life. Before he was Dr Happy, he was Dr Miserable. In this episode we talk about speaking out, the dangers of putting on a brave face, the most effective anti-depressant (hint: not a medication), how Dr Happy manages his depression, practical ways to manage insomnia and how, metaphorically speaking, there's a time for snuggling up, and a time for putting on a coat and getting out in the rain. So much wisdom in this episode. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE 'WELL, HELLO SCHOOL ANXIETY' PROGRAMhttps://drjodirichardson.com/school/    ABOUT JODI: Jodi is an anxiety and well-being speaker, educator, and bestselling author. Learn more: https://drjodirichardson.com. Order Jodi's book, “Anxious Mums: How mums can turn their anxiety into strength”: https://drjodirichardson.com/product/anxious-mums/ or https://amzn.to/2YtA3ks. Order Jodi's book, coauthored with Michael Grose, “Anxious Kids: How children can turn their anxiety into resilience”: https://drjodirichardson.com/books/#order or https://amzn.to/3Bzxn3v.   CONNECT WITH JODI: Connect with Jodi on LinkedIn Follow Jodi on InstagramLike Jodi's Facebook page   Well, Hello Anxiety is a Postive Media Podcast.    The information provided on this Podcast is for general educational purposes only, and is to be used at your sole risk. We are not liable for any reliance on this information, and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. We recommend you seek a medical or healthcare professional if you are seeking advice, diagnosis or treatment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This was a fun, relevant and timely conversation about something we all want. But WTF is happiness? Is it the same thing for different people? Is it a smart goal? Or is it the byproduct of a smart goal? Or maybe, something else? What is the relationship between work and happiness? Socialisation happiness? Physical health and happiness? What's the difference between contentment and happiness? Joy and happiness? Do we need to feel sadness to appreciate happiness? Do our genetics impact our capacity for happiness? Can we measure it? All these questions and more are explored in this conversation with Dr Tim Sharp. *Tim is an internationally renowned leader in the field of Positive Psychology, a sought-after Speaker and Facilitator, Consultant and Coach, Writer and Podcaster, Spokesperson and Brand Ambassador. He also has three degrees in psychology (including a Ph.D.) and an impressive record as an academic, clinician and coach. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week is a special episode where we are doubling up the fun with 2 incredible guests, Dr. Tim Sharp and Muffy Churches. Dr. Tim Sharp aka Dr. Happy is an internationally renowned leader in the field of positive psychology. He's a writer, a coach, a keynote speaker, a professor and the founder of The Happiness Institute. Muffy Churches is a leading performance coach, a keynote speaker, an author as well as a mother and a grandmother, who's inspiring us all in her 70s. Di and Nicola get to chat to both Dr. Happy and Muffy about the power of positive thinking and how to make happiness a priority. In this chat, we hear Dr. Happy talk about how it's not about being happy all the time and that it's okay not to be okay. He talks about his own struggles with mental health and how it's important to know that you're never alone. We also hear how he got started in the field of positive psychology and became interested in learning what people can do to live happier lives. Dr. Happy shares his best tips for how you can increase happiness in your life. It's all about choosing to make happiness a priority and he gives us some great ideas for how we can all do that. Most importantly, he says that the biggest factor when it comes to happiness is that other people matter. It really is all about your connections and relationships with others.  We then hear from Muffy Churches with her practical and uplifting coaching tips. Muffy shares what you can do if you're feeling stuck, suffering from glass half-empty syndrome and you're not sure how to move forward. We also get her top tips on how to transfer negative thinking and shift your mindset, which were featured in an article she wrote for Success Magazine.  Both of these guests have so much wisdom and practical tools to share for how you can create a more positive mindset and boost your happiness levels, so you won't want to miss it. We hope you enjoy listening to them as much as we loved having them in the studio with us.  Follow Dr. Happy on IG here , on LinkedIn here and on Facebook here Check out Dr. Happy's website here Follow Muffy Churches on IG here, on LinkedIn here and on Facebook here Buy Muffy Churches Coach Yourself book here Check out Muffy Churches Online Courses here Follow Nicola and Di on IG hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to a stirring dialogue with the internationally acclaimed positive psychology expert, Dr. Tim Sharp, fondly recognized as Dr. Happy. His transition from a clinical academic to the Chief Happiness Officer of the Happiness Institute is one for the books. Together, we debunk the most common misconceptions about happiness, as Dr. Sharp explains why continuous happiness is not the end goal and why recognizing negative life events is crucial.We shift gears to discuss the significance of mentors in personal and professional growth, and how there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution to happiness. Each person must forge their unique combination. We also tackle some widespread myths about happiness and learn that it's not just about feeling good. We examine the role relationships play in our satisfaction, how money contributes to happiness when used appropriately, and how altruism and volunteering can enhance life satisfaction.Rounding off our invigorating chat, we uncover the secret sauce to happiness using the power of CHOOSE, a framework for positive psychology, and the Power of Three, which includes Dr. Sharp's three unique routines for health and well-being. We also dive into his book recommendations on positive psychology and actions happy people frequently take. By the end of this discussion, you'll reframe your understanding of happiness and learn how to weave positivity into your life. Strap in for a life-altering exploration of happiness! Available on all podcast platforms, including, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify

In a world that has felt weighty in recent times, we shift the discussion towards the pursuit of happiness as Dr. Timothy Sharp shares his knowledge on the principles of positive psychology. In our podcast replay this week, Tim discusses his CHOOSE acronym with our ambassador Dr Adrian Lopresti, which is designed to support you and your clients to not only reduce stress, anxiety and negative thoughts, but also to elevate their mood and outlook to one of positivity and happiness. Tim also describes the importance of optimism based on reality. Find today's transcript and show notes here: https://www.fxmedicine.com.au/podcast/replay-power-positive-psychology-dr-adrian-lopresti-and-dr-tim-sharp ***DISCLAIMER: The information provided on FX Medicine is for educational and informational purposes only. The information provided is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event something you learn here raises questions or concerns regarding your health.***

We all just want to be happy. But what is it? Happiness, I mean. Is our interpretation of happiness a life without discomfort? Is it a life where we don't feel the bad emotions or do the hard stuff? Isn't that unrealistic? How do our relationships play into our happiness? When do we know if we need to walk away from certain relationships or when we need to navigate the conflict within them to strengthen them in a healthy way? Dr. Tim Sharp (Dr. Happy) dived into a brilliant conversation with be around all this and more as we meandered through our understanding and interpretation of happiness, resilience, depression and anxiety. I fired hard hitting questions at him and he fired back nuggets of gold when it comes to getting some perspective around our expectations and experiences of happiness as life in 2023 dishes itself up in an ever-evolving way. I loved it, I'll be mighty HAPPY if you do too. (I'm almost certain you will.) SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: www.testartfamilylaw.com.au  DR. TIM SHARP Website: www.drhappy.com.au  TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  https://linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches/ Website: www.rollwiththepunches.com.aud LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/tiffaneecook/ Facebook:  www.facebook.com/rollwiththepunchespodcast/ Instagram:  www.instagram.com/rollwiththepunches_podcast/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/tiffaneeandcoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With special guest: Dr Tim Sharp …in conversation with Bill Kable Our guest in this program is Dr Tim Sharp, also known as Dr Happy. Tim has produced a new book Transformation: Turning tragedy into triumph and he joins us today to spread a little happiness. The book has eleven people making a contribution with a story about themselves or someone close to them. Some of the contributors’ stories are well-known while others tell of living a quiet life before they reached a turning point in their life story. Looking outside themselves brought surprising benefits not only to others but to the contributors as well. Podcast (mp3)

We all know that health and wellbeing isn't just about your training and nutrition. Your mindset and mental state is a big part of the equation, remaining injury free is a big part along with your sleep and ability to maintain your commitments long term. With that being said, today I want to bring in the help of 5 experts on how we can improve our health from a very complete and holistic perspective. In this episode you can expect to learn: How to implement the principles of intuitive eating to set you up for long term nutrition success. Whether you really need 8 hours of sleep and if trying to achieve this is causing more harm than good. And finally how to deal with negative emotions which is exactly where we're going to start. Connect with me on Instagram: @elliothasoon Let's work together: www.ehcoaching.co.uk Get Free Workout Plans: https://bit.ly/EHWorkoutsYT Please rate us 5* on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review if you're enjoying the podcast. Don't forget to subscribe too so that you don't miss any future episodes.

Dr. Sharp has three degrees in psychology (including a Ph.D.) and an impressive record as an academic, clinician and coach. He previously set up and ran one of Sydney's most respected clinical psychology practices, a highly regarded Executive Coaching practice, and is the founder & CHO (Chief Happiness Officer) of The Happiness Institute, Australia's first organisation devoted solely to enhancing happiness in individuals, families and organisations. Dr. Sharp is also a best selling author of “The Happiness Handbook”, "100 Ways to Happiness: a guide for busy people" and "100 Ways to Happy Children: a guide for busy parents" Tim's background What got Dr. Tim into the field of happiness or positive psychology? What is happiness to Tim? Can you be unhappy without being sad or depressed? Is there a recipe for happiness? Are there things we should be doing to achieve happiness as often as possible? How do we manage and deal with negative emotions properly? Is this something we're getting wrong with positive psychology? Are some people prone to feeling less happy Are chemical imbalances real What are some things we can do to start feeling happier and is it and instant thing? Get in contact with Dr. Sharp: Website: https://www.drhappy.com.au/ Instagram: @thehappinessinstitute Youtube: Dr Happy TV You can get in touch with me via the links below: Blogposts:https://eannamcnamara.com/my-blog/ Instagram: @mackasaur TikTok: @mackasaur Get a free 7 Page Recipe Book filled with delicious recipes here (https://mailchi.mp/0c1c00006e07/join-my-email-list)

The final movie for Season 7 of the world famous Bottom of the Stream podcast is here! It's also our super non-scary; non-traditional Halloween special and what better way to celebrate than watching a family based drama/comedy flick. Rainbow Time was released in 2016; written, directed by and starring Linas Phillips; ably supported by Melanie Lynskey and Tim Sharp. Listen in to hear what we thought about this tale of a challenged young man trying to find his place in a confusing world and find out where it ends up in our final Stream Table!    Bottom of the stream is a weekly podcast, hosted by film lovers Adam and Nick, exploring the parts of Netflix that most people don't go to in a bid to find out what hidden gems are lurking down there Every week we rank the films we watch against each other and place them in what we like to call THE STREAM TABLE which can be found on our website  www.bottomofthestream.com Follow us on Twitter, instagram and letterboxed at @bots_podcast  Please consider supporting the show on Patreon, If you do we will give you lots of bonus content including early access to the episodes. Check it out over at www.patreon.com/bottomofthestream   We also now have a discord so join us to hang out https://discord.gg/wJ3Bfqt  

Pam's oldest son Tim joins her on the podcast this week to discuss how we can be first responders.    He also shares how as we become more competent, we gain confidence, which leads to hope.   Navigating Grief: The Power of Connection | Hope Works - YouTubeMental Health (churchofjesuschrist.org)Increasing Hope, Confidence, and Competence (lovelikesam.blogspot.com)

We've had some truly incredible guests so far this year and specifically in the area of mindset. And as we know your mindset can be a huge factor when it comes to achieving your health and fitness goals and just about any goal in your life to be completely honest. So today, I'm going to present you with some of the best tips I've heard this year from our guests on how to improve and transform your mindset this year. Listen To Full Episodes: Michael Anthony: https://apple.co/3R6GWP0 Anthony Walsh: https://apple.co/3cwmok1 Georgie Collinson: https://apple.co/3Q67D4X Dr. Thomas Midgeley: https://apple.co/3R4Ic53 Dr. Tim Sharp: https://apple.co/3Ra8Jya Connect with me on Instagram: @elliothasoon Let's work together: www.ehcoaching.co.uk Watch The Podcast On YouTube: Simply Fit Channel Please rate us 5* on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review if you're enjoying the podcast. Don't forget to subscribe too so that you don't miss any future episodes.

Everything happens for a reason. That's what toxic positivity will tell you, and it's the reason we've not only been focused on dismantling toxic positivity throughout the series so far, but thought we'd dedicate a whole episode to it! It did, after all, take out the Angsty awards in episode one.  So, what is considered toxic positivity? At best, it's misplaced optimism, at worst it's the dismissive statements that minimise or ignore a person's experience. Would you be able to pick the signs when you see or hear it, and can you identify what is more useful instead? Because at the other end of the scale, optimism is something that IS useful, if we can wade out of the toxic positivity.  In this episode, Andy and Louise talk to Australia's Dr Happy, Dr Tim Sharp, from the Happiness Institute, who explores the concept of positive psychology, without the toxic bits, as well as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) expert, Dr Lisa Saulsman from the University of Western Australia, who unpacks some useful approaches to help us not only sit with our uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, but to find a way out of rumination and into action.  Other guests include Chronic Illness Wellness Coach and person living with MS, Teisha Rose; author and CEO consultant, Lucy Bloom; and Director of The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Professor Maree Teesson, who each share their personal experience dealing with Toxic positivity and opting for optimism instead.  Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/reframe-of-mind. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a world that has felt weighty in recent times, we shift the discussion towards the pursuit of happiness as Dr Timothy Sharp shares his knowledge on the principles of positive psychology. Tim shares his CHOOSE acronym with our ambassador, Dr Adrian Lopresti, that is designed to support you and your clients to not only reduce stress, anxiety and negative thoughts, but also to elevate their mood and outlook to one of positivity and happiness. Tim describes the importance of optimism based on reality. Find today's transcript and show notes here: https://www.fxmedicine.com.au/podcast/power-positive-psychology-dr-adrian-lopresti-and-dr-tim-sharp ***DISCLAIMER: The information provided on FX Medicine is for educational and informational purposes only. The information provided is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event something you learn here raises questions or concerns regarding your health.***

Today we spoke with Professor Brendan Kelly - Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and Consultant Psychiatrist at Tallaght University Hospital Dr Brendan Kelly is a medical doctor who has specialised in psychiatry. His research interests include the epidemiology of psychosis, mental health services, the history of psychiatry, and human rights in mental health. He is most interested in the extent to which persons with mental illness participate in civic and social life, and the barriers they and their families face in exercising their rights, including economic and social rights. Brendan contributes frequently to print and broadcast media and writes regularly for the medical press. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Law and Psychiatry and has a new book called 'In Search of Madness: A Psychiatrist's Travels Through the History of Mental Illness', following the success of 'The Science of Happiness: The Six Principles of a Happy Life and the Seven Strategies for Achieving It'; reminds us of our chat with Dr Tim Sharp, #132. Brendan compared psychology and psychiatry for us, and where they compliment each other in practice. We asked why Brendan took this career path...what it is about this profession that stimulates him...and various types of babble! He discussed how psychiatry has evolved globally and in Ireland from the Shutter Island perception of lobotomies to new ways of treating people...and how we are still learning about mental health, neuroscience and mental illness all the time. There are so many questions to be answered! ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Episode Highlights

On this episode of the Lifeworks Living Well podcast, Mark talks with Dr. Reid Robison, Chief Medical Officer for Novamind, about the promise and protocols of the psychedelic revolution. Then, Mark is joined by Dr. Tim Sharp, an Australian psychologist at the forefront of the positive psychology movement and founder of The Happiness Institute. 

In the latest episode of the Simply Fit Podcast, I have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Tim Sharp a.k.a. Dr Happy. Tim is the founder & CHO, yes you heard that right, (Chief Happiness Officer) of The Happiness Institute, A best selling author and public speaker. Tim began his journey in the realm of clinical psychology where had an incredibly successful career helping many of the clients he was working with. He quickly realised that there was no need to stop once he had taken someone from a challenging place to an ok place and has committed himself to ensure those he and his company work with aren't just ok but are fulfilled and thriving. There's so many valuable takeaways from this conversation and you can expect to learn: What does being happy really mean? How we can start engaging with negative emotions in a productive way. And how we can navigate toxic relationships, workplaces and environments that we find ourselves in. Connect with Tim: @thehappinessinstitute Discover more about Tim: https://www.drhappy.com.au/ Connect with me on Instagram: @elliothasoon Let's work together: www.ehcoaching.co.uk Sign up to my weekly newsletter: https://bit.ly/EHCWeekly Please rate us 5* on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review if you're enjoying the podcast. Don't forget to subscribe too so that you don't miss any future episodes.

Dr. Tim Sharp is an author, researcher, conductor, composer, strategist, futurist, and collaborator. From 2007 through 2020, Dr. Sharp was the Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association. Today, Randy and Tim discuss the state of choral music in the spring of 2022.

Artistic director Dr. Tim Sharp is our guest; after 13 years with the baton, tonight's concert will be his last with Tulsa Chorale.

Dr. Tim Sharp is an author, researcher, conductor, composer, strategist, futurist, and collaborator. From 2007 through 2020, Dr. Sharp was the Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association. An outstanding thinker and communicator, Tim joins Randy today in a discussion of effective communication as a crucial component of strong choral leadership.

The confusing state of the union from the teleprompter was pointless. James Carafano from the Heritage Foundation breaks it all down like you have not yet heard. Also, Clay Clark is here from the Thrive time business show to talk about an important event and the great reset.  Best of CPAC 2022 Radio row with Florida House candidate Tim Sharp and Martha Gleason 2022 Candidate for the Anastasia Mosquito Control DistrictSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/thebuffshow) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-buff-show/support

Tim Sharp is the Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Takeda. He has an absolute wealth of experience in agency, internal and on every other side of recruitment you can find. Plus, he is a top bloke. There may be a time when your business decides that an RPO is the right way to go, and in this episode, Tim describes the how's, the why's, and the what's from his expertise. We covered the following: When is an RPO a suitable and worthwhile option for a business? When an RPO is agreed, how should that transition into the business look like? What is the role of internal Talent Acquisition when there is an RPO in place? How can TA make an RPO work for the business? Where do the other responsibilities lie? Where do RPOs go wrong? And lots more! Listen here - Tim Sharp | LinkedIn

Dr Tim Sharp, aka Dr Happy, is a renowned leader in the field of Positive Psychology, a sought-after speaker, consultant, podcaster, spokesperson, author and the founder and Chief Happiness Officer (CHO) of The Happiness Institute. He's achieved unparalleled success in the academic, professional and business worlds, is a proud recipient of the Future Leadership Award and, in 2011, was appointed as Australia Day Ambassador. What makes his success and impact more extraordinary, is that Dr Sharp experiences severe depression and has done most of his adult life. Before he was Dr Happy, he was Dr Miserable. In this episode we talk about speaking out, the dangers of putting on a brave face, the most effective anti-depressant (hint: not a medication), how Dr Happy manages his depression, practical ways to manage insomnia and how, metaphorically speaking, there's a time for snuggling up, and a time for putting on a coat and getting out in the rain. So much wisdom in this episode.https://www.drhappy.com.au/https://www.instagram.com/thehappinessinstitute/https://www.facebook.com/TheHappinessInstitute/Lifeline 13 11 14https://www.lifeline.org.au/Thanks for listening to this episode of “Well, hello anxiety with Dr Jodi Richardson.”Jodi is an anxiety and well-being speaker, educator, and bestselling author. Learn more: https://drjodirichardson.com.The information provided on this Podcast is for general educational purposes only, and is to be used at your sole risk. We are not liable for any reliance on this information, and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. We recommend you seek a medical or healthcare professional if you are seeking advice, diagnosis or treatment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

* Trigger Warning: this episode discusses suicide* "If there's a 'magic bullet', it's finding that balance between allowing myself to feel absolutely shit at times. But then, at an appropriate time, take necessary steps to try and pull myself out of it." Dr Tim Shrap Learn about the effects of depression from acclaimed Positive Psychologist Dr Tim Sharp to live life to your greatest potential. In this riveting episode, Meg Durham chats to Founder of The Happiness Institute and leader in mental health Dr Tim Sharp about the art of getting to know ourselves, taking educated risks with our lives and the nuances of depression. Episode 12 Shownotes - https://openmindeducation.com/episode12/ Connect Dr Tim Sharp - Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook Meg Durham - Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Bookings Links R U OK DAY Batyr Beyond Blue Lifeline 11 13 14

Dr. Sharp has three degrees in psychology (including a Ph.D.) and an impressive record as an academic, clinician and coach.  He is Australia's very own ‘Dr Happy', at the forefront of the positive psychology movement and founder of The Happiness Institute. He has run one of Sydney's most respected clinical psychology practices and is the founder & CHO (Chief Happiness Officer) of The Happiness Institute. Which is  Australia's first organisation devoted solely to enhancing happiness in individuals, families and organisations. In this bitesized episode, we talked about his own struggles with mental health and why so called “negative emotions" such as sadness, worry and anxiety are actually an important part of our lives.  This episode was such an important one and so timely as a result of the current global pandemic. It was so wonderful to speak with Dr Tim, he was so generous with his time.  Just a reminder that if you are struggling you are not alone. Here are some great mental health resources.  https://www.batyr.com.au https://headspace.org.au/ https://mhaustralia.org/ I hope that you enjoy this conversation as much as it did.  The Art of Teaching Podcast resources:  Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/artofteaching Here is the link to the show notes: https://theartofteachingpodcast.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartofteachingpodcast/ New Teacher Resources:  Website: https://imanewteacher.com/ Twitter: @Imanewteacher Instagram: @Imanewteacher

Former Executive Director of The American Choral Directors Association, Dr. Tim Sharp speaks with Adam about his leadership decisions, why he chose to retire, vision, teaching, etc. Leading Change with Adam Christie Instagram: https://instagram.com/thepodcastleadingchange Twitter: https://twitter.com/PodcastLeading Facebook: https://facebook.com/thepodcastleadingchange Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCHmMP9MSsYkZPqG8p5UhrIA Go to our website to watch more episodes at https://LeadingChangePodcast.com If you would like to be a guest, send an email to leadingchangebooking@gmail.com Tim Sharp is the former Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association, the world's largest association of choral conductors, teachers, students, scholars, composers, and choral industry representatives. Dr. Sharp has pursued an aggressive agenda of strategic planning and progressive and innovative initiatives to keep the American Choral Directors Association energized and relevant in the 21st century. He represents choral activity in the United States as a member of the Board of the International Federation for Choral Music, and is Vice-President of Musica International. Sharp appears regularly as guest conductor and clinician throughout the world, with recent performances in Austria, Thailand, Greece, Italy, Ireland, England, and China. Tim is approaching his ninth season as Artistic Director of the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus, Tulsa, OK, where critics characterize his performances as “impressively polished”, and having “stunning power” and “great passion and precision”. In a recent review of the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus' performance of Mozart's Requiem, arts critic James Watts stated, “The Tulsa Oratorio Chorus, prepared by its artistic director Tim Sharp, was in excellent form, summoning up rafter-shaking power…and showing great sensitivity ….” In the summer of 2016, Sharp conducted the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus as the Festival Choir for the 28th International Haydn Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adam-christie0/support

Tim Sharp is the Director of Aerospace and Defence in Western Europe for Sopheon. He is a driven Sales Professional with a passion for understanding and diagnosing customer business needs, and articulating solutions that deliver excellent long-term revenue growth and profitability. He has extensive European, Middle East, and Africa experience shaping sales campaigns [...] The post Unique challenges of innovation in the Aerospace and Defense industry appeared first on Sopheon.

Tim Sharp is the Director of Aerospace and Defence in Western Europe for Sopheon. He is a driven Sales Professional with a passion for understanding and diagnosing customer business needs, and articul

An internationally renowned leader in the field of Positive Psychology Dr. Tim Sharp (aka Dr. Happy) is a sought after Speaker and Facilitator, Consultant and Coach, Writer and Podcaster, Spokesperson and Brand Ambassador

Tim Sharp joins me to discuss his work as Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association, and how he lives and works to make connections with intentionality.

Dr. Timothy Sharp, otherwise known as Dr Happy, has spent decades studying psychology, lecturing & researching aspects of human behavior & emotion. He's currently a Professor of Positive Psychology at two leading universities. He's a founder & chief happiness officer of The Happiness Institute & he explains how emotions are entwined with everything we do. We learn that the way we think about things affects how we feel & behave plus: Why humans are less rational than we think. Is it possible to buy property without emotion? Why it's so hard to keep emotion out of property investment. How planning ahead minimises implications of a property purchase. Social & emotional intelligence & why it is so important. Genetic & biological disposition to happiness, what can you control? Minimalism, even when it comes to property - do you really need it & will it add value to your life? GUEST WEBSITE:https://www.drhappy.com.au/ Dr Happy Downloads:https://www.drhappy.com.au/resources/ Download the Episode Transcript: www.theelephantintheroom.com.au/podcasts/072 Work with Veronica? info@gooddeeds.com.au Work with Chris? hello@wealthful.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest this week Dr. Tim Sharp has three degrees in psychology (including a Ph.D.) and an impressive record as an academic, clinician and coach.  He is the founder & CHO (Chief Happiness Officer) of The Happiness Institute, Australia's first organisation devoted solely to enhancing happiness in individuals, families and organisations.  This week we chat about the science behind happiness and share tips and tools to bring more happiness into our lives.In this esisode, we cover:What is The Happiness Institute?What science tells us about happiness?The steps we can take immediately to bring more happines to our livesWe discuss self sabotage and The Impostor SyndromeThe power of gratitude and thankfullnessComplete this sentence, Happy families do ......what?What is personalised happiness?How to create a happiness plan?How important is facing reality when writing our plans?Key learnings Tim has taken from his work at The Happiness InstituteDaily and weekly rituals    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the wake of the events at the Lindt Cafe in Sydney this week, we thought it important to give our listeners some strategies to get their mojo (and Christmas Spirit) back on track. In this short, 20 minute episode we talk to Tim Sharp, Director of The Happiness Institute who guides us through the essential steps to deal with grief and tips on how to help those in the same situation. As a clinical pschologist Tim Sharp is an expert in helping people deal with their own challenges and in getting them back on track to a happy life.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode of the Greed for Ilm Podcast, author Dr Timothy Sharp, aka Dr. Happy, joins us to talk about his book “100 Ways to Happiness.” Dr. Timothy Sharp holds a masters degree in clinical psychology. In 2003, he established The Happiness Institute, which is devoted to enhancing happiness in as many individuals, families, and organizations as... The post EP 102 – Dr. Tim Sharp On What Is Happiness appeared first on Greed for Ilm.