What if doing less could actually help you achieve more? This week on the podcast, join Emma Seppälä, a renowned psychologist and author specializing in the Science of Happiness, as she explores the journey to personal and professional sovereignty. As the director of the Women's Leadership Program at Yale School of Management, Emma has empowered thousands, including high-level executives, to enhance their emotional intelligence and resilience.

Discover the surprising benefits of idleness and how embracing stillness can foster greater focus and creativity in our fast-paced world.

“Resilience is in the mind. It has nothing to do with your environment; you can be in a challenging situation and still be incredibly resilient...”

In this episode Andrew and Emma discuss:

2:35 Emma growing up all around the globe, avoiding the Parisian pessimistic mindset while living there and why you should try mindfulness in an age of distractions.

11:55 Why mindfulness doesn’t work for everyone, guided meditations using the Sattva app and the effects Emma feels when she meditates daily.

18:50 CEO example of 10 minutes of mindfulness a day, writing multiple books while hiking and geniuses like Einstein and Salvador Dali using alpha brain waves to be creative.

26:20 Ignoring overly negative news to stay positive, moving meditation and working with veterans with trauma to overcome PTSD with breathing and meditation.

32:00 What is skybreath, the similarity of idleness and daydreaming and staying off your phone to be idle during the day.

35:30 Using alpha waves to relax when you need to so you can upregulate when you need to, downregulating to show up when you need to and intention, innovation and creativity.

44:35 Give kids open ended toys without instructions, why Emma wrote her book Sovereign and the definition of being Sovereign.

51:10 High performers wanting to feel loved, the best way to get love is to give it and the happiest people fill others cups alongside their own.

57:30 How Emma feels Sovereign, being more resilient then ever before and where Emma sees herself 5 years in the future.

1:02:30 Emma’s faith that things will work out, living a life in service to others and where you can find Emma.

You can find Emma at her Website: https://www.emmaseppala.com/
Find Emmas's Courses at: https://www.iamsov.com/
Check out the Sattva app: https://www.sattva.life/
Check out Project Welcome Home Troops: https://projectwelcomehometroops.org/

Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/

Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details.

Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/
Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/

Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/

If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.