Are you ready to awaken your greatness? On this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times we learn why Darleen Santore – known affectionately as “Coach Dar” – is all about cultivating self-awareness and clarity – not tomorrow, but today! A bestselling author, she mentors professional athletes at the peak of their careers as well as C-suite leaders across a spectrum of Fortune 500 companies. Host Chris Schembra invites Coach Dar to share insights into the 9 Principles that form the basis for her powerful new book, "The Art of Bouncing Back: Find Your Flow to Thrive at Work and in Life -- Any Time You're Off Your Game." We’ve all experienced – and will continue to experience – adversity. That’s just part of the human condition, explains Coach Dar. The question is: Are we willing to do the work and bring the awareness? Do you have the toolkit to ensure “Setbacks don’t define you. Comebacks only refine you.” If not, you’re in luck! You’ll come away from this compelling conversation with actionable ideas to help propel you through even the toughest downturns (which Coach Dar, who has battled back from three strokes, understands very intimately). Based on decades of experience as an occupational therapist, mental strength and conditioning coach, her book is full of scorecards, exercises and a concrete framework to help us find our flow and thrive – even (or especially) when we’re facing hard times! Here’s your invitation to increase mental toughness, resilience and a sense of wellbeing. Embrace your “why” power!

Visit this link if you’d like to order Coach Dar’s empowering book full of tips to shift your mindset and ensure peak performance, "The Art of Bouncing Back: Find Your Flow to Thrive at Work and in Life -- Any Time You're Off Your Game."

If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience or subscribe to our newsletter, please visit this link.

Click here to hear more fascinating conversations with Fortune 500 CEOs, professional athletes and entertainerswho have shared their human stories on Gratitude Through Hard Times.

KEY TOPICS:

• “If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to – that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be? The go-to has to be Dar’s mom, Linny. Even though she’s no longer alive, the inspiration and faith she inspired in her daughter are a living, breathing part of every day.
• Setbacks don’t define you. Comebacks only refine you! About understanding the power of getting back up from our knees, only to do better and be stronger.
• Cultivating Resiliency: What it looks like to use Coach Dar’s tools to develop mental toughness (of the kind she has used in overcoming multiple strokes).
• Raising the Bar: Why human beings have within them the ability to sow seeds of hope and nurture them into powerful advances for the collective good.
• Understanding Principle #6: 
• Activating emotional intelligence – and embracing the full range of human response – is not only empowering but a platform for leadership and connection.
• Learn to take a pause, bringing intentionality to what you’re feeling and then expressing it in a clear, constructive way.
• Reactivity does not serve or enhance communication.
• It’s a balancing act between expression and self-restraint that leaves room enough for meaningful conversation.
• Actionable Advice: How Coach Dar interweaves scorecards, worksheets and other exercises throughout the 9 Principles framework spelled out in her bestseller.
• The Transformational Power of Gratitude:
• Principle #1: Embracing the suck fosters hope.
• Principle #7: Reframing setbacks shifts perspective.
• About the Journey: The message of hope Coach Dar found while recovering from three strokes and how it applies to the lives of professional athletes and the rest of us as well!
• It’s All Waves: Coach Dar reflects on the cycles of challenge we all inevitably face and how we can navigate adversity by marshalling tools like those she offers.
• Words to the Wise:
• Do not do this work alone!
• Our life journeys require communal wisdom and support.
• Never be too proud to work on being better!
• “Why” Power: About the importance of developing a clear understanding of what motivates you and will propel you forward, even when things get tough.
• Remember: Will power dies where “why” power stays lit and lives on!

QUOTABLE

• “It’s all about the impact we make on the community in front of us.” (Coach Dar)

• “When you give someone hope and something to hold onto and look forward to, they’re    going to get up – even when everything is working against them.” (Coach Dar)

• “I can’t take adversity away from you but I can sure as heck help you be stronger when it hits!” (Coach Dar)

• “We connect not through our accolades but through vulnerability. When we behave vulnerably we have a bond that is so beautiful. It’s showing the humanness in us.” (Coach Dar)

• “Feeling emotion is so important. And then what you do with it is equally important ... Feel emotion and then do the right thing with it!” (Coach Dar)

• “When you shift your perspective, you shift your life. If you can go to a place of gratitude, then you can start to see … how obstacles become opportunities.” (Coach Dar)

• “When you love and are grateful for where you are, everything starts to shift.” (Coach Dar)

• “You’re going to leave this world. How you leave it, what people feel around you, the work you put out there – let it be of excellence, service or gratitude.” (Coach Dar)

• “When you live with greater intention, you show up better. And when you show up better, things happen. Let your ‘why’ fuel you!” (Coach Dar)

LINKS/FURTHER RESOURCES:

• More about the Pixar film – heartily recommended – "Inside Out."
• Click here to find out about Kurt Vonnegut’s “Man in the Hole” theory.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Known as “Coach Dar,” Darleen Santore helps individuals gain mental strength, clarity and focus in order to live well, lead well and reach new heights. She believes the key to achieving goals and dreams is to Raise the Bar in our thinking and daily approach to life through customized coaching techniques. Coach Dar has spent the past 24 years as an occupational therapist, personal development, and mental strength & conditioning coach helping thousands reach their fullest potential. Her clients range from Fortune 100 executives, artists, professional athletes to high school and college students as well as large organizations.

FOLLOW COACH DAR:

WEBSITE | LINKEDIN | BOOK

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Chris Schembra is a philosopher, question asker and facilitator. He's a columnist at Rolling Stone magazine, USA Today calls him their "Gratitude Guru" and he's spent the last six years traveling around the world helping people connect in meaningful ways. As the offshoot of his #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling book, "Gratitude Through Hard Times: Finding Positive Benefits Through Our Darkest Hours,"he uses this podcast to blend ancient stoic philosophy and modern-day science to teach how the principles of gratitude can be used to help people get through their hard times.

FOLLOW CHRIS:

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | LINKEDIN | BOOKS