Building Psychological Strength

You’ve heard me say it a million times. Your mind can be your most valuable asset or your biggest liability.  

This week, we’re diving into the fundamental mechanisms that set us up to go in either of those directions with one of the world’s leading experts on mind-hacking.  

This week, we’re talking to Sean Webb, author of the book “Mind-Hacking Happiness” and an expert in the tools and techniques that teach us how to create our best life experience by building the psychological strength we need to move through life.  

Over the last 20 years, Sean has become one of the world’s leading experts in how the human mind works, particularly in the area of human emotions. His work is used by universities, companies, and the Navy SEALS to teach emotional intelligence, and his discoveries have proved so effective, that his work is currently being turned into programs to address addiction management and the mitigation of PTSD after early amazing successes within those applications. 

In this episode, we talk about: 

• The 2 different types of happiness and the role they both play in our overall life experience.  
• The adaptive role that our sense of self plays in our life. 
• What meta-awareness is & how you can use it to help you hack your mind and notice when it’s working in your favor and when it’s not. 
• What the equation of emotion is and how it impacts our emotional state from moment to moment and situation to situation. 

 You won’t want to miss Sean’s actionable tips at the end of this episode. They. Will. Change. Your. Life. 

 I’ll warn you, this episode goes a bit off the rails. I can’t tell you how thrilling it is to speak with someone whose mission is so aligned with ours at Peak Mind, and we’re thrilled to partner with Sean Webb for this episode. 

I’m sure you’ve heard about emotional intelligence and how important it is to psychological strength.  

Today, we’re talking to an expert in the domain of emotional intelligence, and I have to say, it was such a deep, actionable conversation.  

Today, we’re talking with Rich Bracken. Rich is a motivational speaker, fellow podcast host, and an expert in the area of emotional intelligence. He travels all over the globe helping people and companies understand what EQ is, why it’s important, and most importantly, how to develop it. 

This is going to be a treat! 

Today’s conversation hit on so many incredible topics, like:  

• What EQ really is. Rich gives the most clear, concise definition I’ve ever heard. 
• How self-awareness is the first step toward developing emotional intelligence 
• What triggers are, how to identify them, and how to “flip” them 
• A word of caution about labeling emotions as “inappropriate” (I really learned something here!) 
• How expressing emotions can deepen our relationships with other people 
• The importance of reflective journaling, music, and setting good boundaries in developing healthy emotional intelligence 

 I absolutely can’t wait for you to hear this episode because EQ is something that impacts every single day of our lives. Enjoy! 

This week is a first on the podcast. This week I’m speaking with a Julliard-trained music composer. 

What does that have to do with psychological strength you ask? 

Well, in addition to being a talented musician, Cheryl B. Engelhardt suffered from monthly panic attacks that would leave her exhausted for days. After learning about the power of a morning routine including gratitude, mindfulness, and meditation, Cheryl decided to use her talents to help others. 

She created her new album “Luminary” as a way to help other people become more present and mindful. This beautiful album of piano and ambient music will help you focus and attain a state of flow. 

As a special gift, Cheryl agreed to allow us to include a full track from her album at the end of this episode. Stay until the end to hear the song “Earthshine.” 

• http://www.iamaluminary.com/
• Episode 147 – Ariel Garten - The Neuroscience of Mindfulness and Meditation 
• Episode 143– Steve Hayes – How to Liberate Your Mind 
• Episode 149 – Sarah McVanel - The Power of Recognition and Acknowledgement 
• Link to April’s favorite journal, The Self Journal 

Have you ever thought about all of the ways you show up as a leader in your life?  

Think about it.  

The most obvious is probably a leadership position at work or in your company. But, how about in your relationships outside of work? How about as a parent? How about as a romantic partner? 

All of these aspects of our lives, and even more than those I mentioned, involve elements of leadership, which is why I am so excited about this week’s episode. 

This week we are speaking with Noelle Cordeaux, CEO and founder of JRNI (pronounced “Journey”). Noelle is an expert in the ways in which Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching intersect to help people show up in a more effective way.  

She holds a Graduate Certificate in Executive & Professional Coaching, and her graduate studies include a Masters in Social Work and a Ph.D. in Human Sexuality. 

During our interview we talk about: 

• The history of the field of Positive Psychology. The history of the field of coaching. 
• Specifically, we have a deep discussion about the booming coaching industry and the difference between:  
  • Scientific coach practitioners 
  • Informed coach practitioners 
  • Pop Psychology practitioners  
• We talk about leadership & the important way our nervous and endocrine systems are involved in our effectiveness. 
• And Noelle highlights countless actionable steps we can take right now to be more effective in our next interactions. 

 One thing I don’t want you to miss are a set of key reflective questions Noelle urges us to ask ourselves: 

• Is that a fact or a feeling? 
• What’s the outcome that you’re looking for? 
• Is this something you want to give your time and energy to right now? 
• Will this matter in 1 year from now? 

This episode is meaty. You might want to grab a pen and a journal for it. I know I took away so much value from Noelle’s expertise, and I hope you will too! 

• Flourish (Positive Psychology book by Martin Seligman) 

If you had to guess what the single, most important factor is in determining your psychological well-being, what would you guess? 

Turns out, it’s social connection and personal relationships. 

Our connections to other people and our social interactions with them are an incredibly protective and powerful factor in developing psychological strength, and this week, and that’s why we’re covering it on this week’s episode. 

This week, we’re talking with Peter Montoya, the CEO of ThriveUnion. ThriveUnion is an organization that is committed to helping people go from meaningless isolation to purposeful belonging. Through their in-person, weekly meet-ups to their Life School, they’re arming people with the information they need to truly thrive in their lives. 

Can you see why I’m so excited?! 

We get into such valuable, actionable information in this episode. Including:  

• The difference between high intensity & low intensity relationships and the degree to which we need each of them. This will blow your mind.
• What are symbolic substitutes, and how are they influencing our ability to form real social connection? 
• What boundaries truly are and more importantly, how to enforce them in a way that strengthens your relationships. 
• The toxicity of being passive-aggressive and what to do instead. 

 I know you’re going to get so much value out of this impactful conversation with Peter Montoya! 

Hey, parents out there, this week’s episode is one you won’t want to miss.  

During a challenging time with your child, have you ever questioned yourself and wondered whether you were doing the right thing? Wondered whether it is better to engage with my child in this moment or ignore them? Wondered whether you’re causing psychological problems or distress when your child is crying or screaming at the top of their lungs.  

This week’s episode is for you.  

This week, we’re speaking with Dr. Karen Cassiday, Clinical Psychologist, former President of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and expert in the area of building psychological strength in children.  

In this episode, we get into some really valuable conversations about: 

• What is the role / responsibility of a parent versus that of the child?  
• The importance of directing yourself toward raising a kid who is a competent adult who can live without you. 
• Why “happy is not a good goal.”  
• The difference between self-esteem and self-worth 
• The science behind temper tantrums and how to handle them.  

I know you’ll get so much value from this conversation with Karen Cassiday! 

This week on the podcast, we're talking to a kindred spirit. Josh Trent is the founder of Wellness Force, a movement to help people improve their lives by helping them find physical and mental intelligence.

Here's the thing. Not only does Josh advocate learning about important topics like gratitude, meditation, mindfulness, the subconscious mind, and decision fatigue, but he advocates embodying this knowledge.

Showing up everyday with the intention of living this wisdom. Putting it into practice, and truly reaping the benefits of it.

Incredible, huh?

In my interview with Josh, we hit so many valuable topics, such as:

• The importance of testing and experimentation and how it can lead you toward building the life you want.
• The power of gratitude
• Cultivating emotional intelligence
• Avoiding decision fatigue
• What the negativity bias is and where it comes from
• The link between the impostor syndrome and the "spotlight effect"

Not only that, but Josh offers up an actionable set of tips about how you can begin to steer your life into alignment, with one simple action: a monthly emotional inventory.

You aren't going to want to miss this valuable and courageous conversation with Josh Trent!

Watch my TEDx Talk here!

Join a webinar here!

If you've been following me at Peak Mind or on social media, you likely know that I recently fulfilled a life-long goal by giving a TEDx Talk. It was an absolutely thrilling day, but there was a long road of hard work, unexpected issues, and tremendous self-doubt to get there.

On today's podcast, I want to take you behind the scenes to talk you through my journey.

Here's the thing: It's so easy to look at the final product of a journey like that and assume that the person just breezed right through the process. It couldn't be further from the truth!

Rather, my journey from application to final talk was one that required me to use every ounce of psychological strength I've built over the years, and I want to point out how it came into play.

I hope by sharing my experience, you gain some practical knowledge about how to move forward in difficult times using some of the techniques that I used. I also hope this episode gives you the motivation and permission to chase after your own giant goals!

If I can do it, anyone can. You've got this!

How many times have you heard people talk about physical health as though it’s separate from mental health? 

Let’s come at this from a different direction. If you stayed up very late for 4 nights in a row, how would you feel, emotionally, afterward? 

That simple example shows how integrated our physical and mental health are, and in Peak Mind we speak about them in that way. 

This week, we’re coming at this holistic approach to health from another perspective, the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine. This week we’re speaking with Senia Tuominen, a certified acupuncturist and Holistic Health Expert.  

Senia treats very complex cases through a combination of Qi (energy) work and acupuncture, among other things. 

This interview blew me away because of the similarities and parallels between the ways in which traditional Chinese medicine thinks about and approaches the way our minds work and the ways in which we approach it from a western Psychology perspective. 

I’m thrilled to bring you this interview to give you a new perspective on how to think about both physical and mental health. 

Each and every one of us have struggled with feelings of anxiety in our lives. Anxiety has become so pervasive and common that people have begun to believe that it’s just a fact of life that can’t be changed. 

This week, we’re debunking that notion. 

This week, you’re going to hear from Ken Goodman, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, author of The Anxiety Solution Series and Break Free from Anxiety, and Board Member Of the American Depression and Anxiety Association. Ken specializes in the treatment of anxiety and OCD, and he is a powerhouse of information and actionable tips.  

In his interview, Ken talks about: 

• The real root cause of anxiety 
• How the feeling of anxiety is actually a good thing and necessary for us to have when we’re trying to reduce anxiety (sounds, crazy, doesn’t it?!) 
• How to recognize feelings of anxiety when they’re so pervasive and what the right mindset is for moving through them. 

This episode is jam-packed with actionable steps you can take TODAY to begin moving past feelings of anxiety in your life. We’re so grateful to Ken for sharing his wisdom and expertise!