Dr. UnStuck Podcast — Get Out of Your Head. Get Into Your Life.

We tend to zip around like gerbils on crack, walking from room to room while we are brushing our teeth, simultaneously doing whatever else we can to "multitask" and save time. Multitasking is actually a myth, as the brain is only capable of doing one thing at a time, so attempting this just leads to us becoming neurotic. Even worse, this prevents us from enjoying our valuable life-minutes.

#serentity #innerpeace #happiness

Dr. Scott Stevens joins us in leading a discussion on the newly pioneered concept of a “Metaverse” and the potential detriments to our well-being, with specific concern for teens and young adults. Dr. Stevens begins by defining the Metaverse as the coming together of the virtual world (social media, gaming platforms, online marketplaces, etc.), and the reality of the physical world as we know it. He then continues to explain that we are already knee deep in the Metaverse, literally able to interact with thousands of people from our living rooms. This has caused us to spend much of our time online, and Dr. Stevens states that, “the harmful effects of living online are just beginning to be understood.” Add to the mix the two years of global isolation induced by the pandemic, and we may postulate that the detrimental effects of online living have likely been exacerbated.  Further, he addresses the notion that each generation has scared and confused the previous generation, with the older generation perceived as overreacting. Dr. Stevens leaves us with some sobering insight and advice when he says, “Things are different now. Parents do indeed have something to worry about,” and that we need to become more aware of technological governance as well as ideas for limiting this damage.

Scott Stevens is a Professor of Mathematics and Dean of the Information Technology and Sciences Division at Champlain College.

#Metaverse #socialmediaaddiction #teendepression

Many people walk around spewing negativity into the atmosphere like second-hand smoke. Whining and complaining not only gets us nowhere but affects those around us. Like anything else this can be improved with practice, and this practice is one of shifting our attention to what is going well in our lives. A grateful heart does not have room for anxiety, self-deprecation, or whoa-is-me thinking. An attitude of gratitude also attracts more good things from the Universe. Now is the time to make a change.

#attitudeofgratitude #stopcomplainingnow #happiness

Lisa Mazzariello entertains a discussion with us on learning to become your own biggest fan. Mazz explains that one of the key components to this is acknowledging the self-talk rolling through the mind. By paying attention to this internal conversation, we can then work towards minimizing any negative dialogue preventing us from living our best lives. As Mazz works directly with young adult students, she is all too aware of how they often set the bar at “perfection” and beat themselves up when they feel they don’t measure up. “They are very tough on themselves,” says Mazz, and she explains that we need to educate and support our young adults in learning to go easier on themselves. We need to teach them about self-compassion, and what it means to wrap around yourself with warmth and empathy, to treat yourself with the same kindness that you would show to a best friend.

Lisa Mazzariello is the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, Diversity and Inclusion at Champlain College. She has more than 25 years of experience in student affairs, working closely with student engagement, crisis and emergency protocol, new student programs and LGBTQ, women, diversity and inclusion programming.  Lisa Mazz recognizes that being your own biggest fan and taking care of one's wellbeing is a work in progress, and hopes that this podcast will help others appreciate their journey in finding love and appreciation for yourself.

#Selfacceptance #Selflove #Selfcompassion

Learning to reside in the totality of who we are is key to living our very best lives. We cannot truly be happy if we do not accept ourselves as is. And, we cannot accept other people very easily if we do not accept ourselves as a whole and complete package. Perfectionists can be so incredibly hard on themselves, often not realizing the toll it can take on self-esteem and the ability to fully enjoy one's life minutes.

#perfectionism #selfacceptance #happiness #authenticity

Often people will approach us at work or wherever with their drama and may say something like, "So and so is driving me nuts and they did this and that. What do you think I should do?" Then, we respond right away which gets us hooked into a conversation that is not worthy of our valuable life-minutes. This is because we have been conditioned to "catch the ball" and we have become disconnected from the idea that this is, in fact, a choice. We can politely step out of this current, thereby reducing our own stress and navigating our day in a more positive direction. It's ok to drop the ball.

#stressreduction #anxietyreduction #healthyboundaries #Champlaincollege #Stmichaelscollege

Dr. Thomas Myers shares with us his insight and wisdom on the topic of synchronicity, when the internal psyche connects with the external world in a way that often seems like a strange or mystical “coincidence.” Have you ever had the experience of thinking of someone and then “coincidentally” bumped into them? Or, you managed to be in just the right place at just the right time for something good to happen? Dr. Myers fills us in on some basic components of synchronicity which are consistently found in these very personal and meaningful experiences, and how we can benefit from learning to recognize these “greenlights” coming from the Universe or Divine Source that connects us all. Dr. Myers then winds up by explaining the importance of becoming more in tune with this synchronistic connection, as it often serves to guide us in the direction of our life’s purpose and living the highest version of ourselves.

#synchronicity #acausalconnectingprinciple #meaningfulconnections #meaningfulcoincidences #purpose #employeeengagement #workfulfillment #greenlights #authenticpower #DavidCooperridercenter #StillerSchoolBusiness #Champlaincollege #Stmichaelscollege

Thomas E. Myers, Ph.D.

Research on Synchronicity: The Synchronicity Principle: Seeing the Connections

Links to other podcasts:  

The Positivity Strategist: Synchronicity

Overflow: The Engagement Collective

Tom received his B.A. in Economics from St. Lawrence University (1985), his M.A. in Positive Psychology from the Union Institute & University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Twente (The Netherlands). His doctoral research included the Jungian Theory of Synchronicity and its application in personal and professional life. In 2021, Tom left higher education after 20 years as a professor, and is now Co-Founder of The Engagement Collective, a management consulting group with a focus on strengths-based approaches to employee engagement. Tom enjoys biking, birding, cooking, fly fishing, coral restoration work, technical scuba diving, and social science research. He lives with his wife, Julie, in Jericho, Vermont.

Sometimes we can be pulled in by the success of others, wanting what they have and wondering how they got there. We might even be annoyed or jealous that success seems to come so much easier to others than it does to us. We try and try, yet sometimes we find ourselves spinning our wheels, leaving us feeling tired and defeated.

#authentichappiness #happinessfirst #bestlife22 #positivepsychology

Our lives are like a symphony of notes, beautiful individual moments running together to create the melody which is our life's storybook. In order to appreciate these individual moments we must learn to appreciate the pauses in between.

#lifebalance #authenticity #happiness #positivepsychology

For many of us, it is loads easier to forgive others than it is to forgive ourselves. We a hold a high and stiff bar when it comes to cutting ourselves any slack and letting go of old mistakes. But why? Listen and find out. Understanding what gets in the way is a big step it making it easier to make peace with our past mistakes and to move on with a new vigor for life.

No Need to Fix Me: I'm Not Broken | Kimberly Quinn | TEDxUStreetWomen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbgtvdsINMs&t=1s

#selfforgiveness #selflove #selfacceptance #Mindcraft #resilience #positivepsychology #happiness #Champlaincollege #Stmichaelscollege