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

There is a Tibetan word, Shenpa, that many of us can relate to. Shenpa is the root of all aggression and reactive craving. It is that all too familiar feeling of wanting to "bite the hook" when someone criticizes or judges us, or they simply say something snarky that catches us off guard. Shenpa is that volcanic urge underneath that wants to react, to be right, or to put someone in their place who has wronged us. Shenpa is the voice of the ego. Shenpa awareness is key for the authentic self to prosper. 

#ego #egoawareness #authenticity #selfawareness #selfdiscovery #shenpa #resilience #emotionalintelligence #executivefunction #impulsecontrol #champlaincollege #stmichaelscollege

Many of us have a tendency to take life and ourselves way too seriously. We wake up on any given day expecting to have things be smooth with the ride into work, with getting the kids off to school, with meetings ending on time, getting that project completed, and remembering to take the chicken out of the freezer in the morning. When these things do not turn out as we expect, we often land at DEFCON Four rather than taking a few deep breaths over a longer day, a late project, and ordering a pizza. When we let go of expectations, we are better able to lighten up and enjoy our very valuable (and limited) life-minutes.

Put Yourself Out There

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxWuaNJk74A&t=2s

#lightenup #overseriousness #enjoylife #authenticity #authenticself #selfvalue #fun #playatwork #workplay #happiness #happinessadvantage #positivepsychology #education #stressreduction #anxiety #reduceanxiety #mindfulness #presentmoment #Champlaincollege #Stmichaelscollege

Jared Cadrette, Director of Student Engagement at Champlain College, speaks to us about the importance of putting yourself out there. In this enjoyable, very lively interview, Jared discusses the importance of bringing your authentic self into everything you do, even (or especially) at work. Being anyone other than ourselves is acting and exhausting, Jared tells us, and letting your inner child out to play lightens up the atmosphere wherever you go. Play brings out the best in people. Being fun and goofy makes us relatable and approachable. Jared suggests that we let go of any fear of judgment and to just "put yourself out there." Putting ourselves out there leads to connection, the very essence of what it means to be human and the super-glue that bonds us together.

#authenticself #authenticity #play #funatwork #workfun #playatwork #importanceofplay #innerchild #happiness #positivepsychology #joy #enjoylife #higherself #liveyourbestlife #keepitreal #originalworthiness #studentengagement #highereducation #psychology #Champlaincollege

Warren Sides, a professor of mathematics at Champlain College, speaks with us about the importance of connection. He is a firm believer that a solid relationship with the professor provides the foundation for learning to take place, as when a student feels comfortable and safe to explore new ideas and ways of thinking is when it all comes together. Professor Sides shares with us the different ways he empowers his students both in the classroom as well as with assignments. By bringing flexibility into the classroom, Professor Sides believes that he is role-modeling resilience, a skill set that students will benefit from long after they graduate. Many of our seasoned listeners out there may remember the rather old school "skill and drill" method of teaching math, outdated textbooks, worksheets, and red pens. Professor Sides cleverly merges his interest in positive psychology and the importance of mindset into his own "less is more" method of teaching math, setting students up for lifelong success.

#resilience #mathstigma #relationships #happinessincollege #classroomsuccess #positivepsychology #positiveeducation #mathsuccess #Champlaincollege #StMichaelscollege #bestprofessors #studentsuccess #highereducation #statisticsmadesimple #mathisfun #learnedoptimism #happiness #postpandemicsuccess #highereducation

Many of us do not realize that our own worst enemy is often inside ourselves, the ego within. We can get wrapped up in people-pleasing and rescuing, continually seeking out external approval and admiration with our actions in a desperate attempt to feel "enough." Some of us become "emotional runners" with an ultra-busy schedule, preventing ourselves from feeling and looking at what keeps us away from getting to know our real selves. Why? Because we are afraid of what we might find. It might be too painful, so we keep filling these "soul holes" with temporary fixes (alcohol, shopping, etc.), as well as the endless hunt for external approval to replace what is missing inside.  The ego is the evil twin of the authentic self. Become an ego-slayer and watch your authentic self slide back into the driver's seat. There are not words to describe how it feels when your authentic self returns to power. 

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbgtvdsINMs&t=10s

#authenticself #authenticity #realself #selfvalue #originalworthiness #authentichappiness #ego #slayyourego #happiness #positivepsychology #education #positivity #mindset #Champlaincollege #StMichaelscollege #Mindcraft

We have been going full-tilt for nearly two years. Now, as the pandemic continues to play with us, just as a cat tosses around a wounded mouse, we question our recovery and if we will ever truly have rest. Much of this is also physiological, as the fight-or-flight response is meant to be temporary. When this becomes a chronic, everyday state of mind, we become desensitized to the cortisol running wildly through our veins, as well as the hypervigilance that accompanies it. The result is brain fog and a diminished ability for us to allow ourselves to fully relax, as our minds know that we need to keep one eye open just in case there is a new threat. 

#postpandemicrecovery #resilience #happiness #limbicsystem #brainfog #fightorflight #Champlaincollege #Stmichaelscollege #psychology #education

Is it hard for you to accept a compliment? Ever thought of why? Many of us have become conditioned to break eye contact and tap dance around the awkward moments surrounding a genuine compliment, as it often comes up as an "error message" to our minds. By learning how to invite this soul food into our hard drive, we can lean into a "cognitive reboot" which will recognize our new programming. In doing so, we allow ourselves to expand with our own value as it is mirrored for us. 

#originalworthiness #selfworth #selfvalue #compliments #authenticity #authenticself #authenticjourney #keepitreal #authentichappiness #beyourself #goodselfesteem #positiveselfimage #happiness #positivity #Champlaincollege #StMichaelscollege

Jean-Marie Severance, MS, an Operations Manager for the academic divisions of EHS (Education & Human Studies) and SSB (Stiller School of Business), speaks to us about the importance of cultivating a culture of well-being in the workplace. She explains that employees bring their whole selves to work with them. The parts of them that were all up night with a sick child are here, the parts dealing with an aging parent during a pandemic, as well as the parts that woke up to a broken (and very costly) hot water heater.  Jean-Marie discusses the importance of bringing humanness into leadership, meaning to refrain from blame and to encourage "falling up" from mistakes and failures by viewing these as something to be learned from. She also emphasizes the importance of true community, "breaking bread" with much needed organized lunches just to hang out with colleagues, as well as the idea that we all need to be seen and heard. When it comes down to it, we all need to feel valued. Valued employees are happy employees, and happy employees are productive employees.

#appreciativeinquiry #positivepsychology #wellbeingintheworkplace #highereducation #positiveleadership #positiveworkenvironment #wellbeing #wellness #industrialorganizationalpsychology #positiveorganizationaldesign #martinseligman #Champlaincollege #StMichaelscollege

Ironically, we often hear, "They look at life through rose colored glasses" as if this is a negative thing. We see this as something false and enormously annoying, stemming from the Pollyanna mentality of sugar-coating a bleeding wound while trudging forth pretending it isn't happening.  Positive psychology is not "happy-ology," but rather a choice. Similar to "catch and release" fishing, it is about grabbing hold, feeling the slimy thing (our pain), and then releasing it back into the deep end of a vast body of water (the universe). Choosing to see life through rose colored specs is a daily choice and the gift that keeps on giving.  Allow yourself to be fabulously annoying with positivity and take note of the changes in how you (and those around you) feel with your new zest for life!

#learnedoptimism #positivepsychology #zestforlife #martinseligman #Champlaincollege #StMichaelscollege #selfworth #selfvalue #resilience #positivepsychology #positiveeducation #happiness #letitgo #Mindcraft #authenticity #liveyourbestlife

It can be so much easier to take care of and be compassionate towards other people, yet when we attempt to care for ourselves we often land at a hard stop. We rationalize, making one excuse after the other for not prioritizing our own mental and physical health. We tell ourselves we do not have the time today for that 15 minute walk, lunch with a friend, or to start reading that new book. Then this day runs into the next until we find ourselves drained and sapped of all energy, as we have allowed ourselves to be run into the ground. This can lead to burn out, accompanied by a deep sense of regret and resentment for all we have given that has gone unnoticed and unappreciated. 

#codependency #burnout #selfcare #prioritizeselfcare #Prioritizeyou #takecareofyou #selfcompassion #authenticity #authenticself #selflove #selfacceptance #happiness #joy #positivity #psychology #education #wellbeing #wellness #Champlaincollege #StMichaelscollege #Mindcraft