Making Positive Psychology Work

Kathleen Cator is a clinical psychologist and former nurse with over 20 years' experience as a health professional. Kathleen leads self-compassion and mindfulness based training and therapies in public, education, and health care settings.

Self-compassion is about treating yourself during difficult or challenging times as you would a good friend - with kindness, understanding and encouragement. While it's easy to believe that by being critical of your faults and failings you are more likely to be motivated to make changes, however this has actually been found to undermine your progress. However, when you practice self-compassion you are more likely to learn from your mistakes, and improve your motivation, performance, and wellbeing.

Connect with Kathleen Cator

Website: http://mettahp.com.au/

• [01:24] - Kathleen explains how you can use the same principles of showing compassion to others, to be compassionate to yourself.
• [02:43] – Research has found that self-compassion improves your emotional and physical wellbeing, your relationships, and can help you make positive changes.
• [06:45] - Your brain has evolved to make you safe, and so focuses on possible threats. You can use mindfulness to choose a more self-compassionate response.
• [07:48] - Kathleen describes the three steps in practicing self-compassion.
• [09:50] - Kathleen shares some simple self-compassion practices that you can try in the workplace.
• [12:44] - Kathleen explains the relationship between self-compassion and mindfulness.
• [14:23] - Kathleen discusses how leaders can encourage the practice of self-compassion.
• [15:54] – Kathleen raises the challenges of introducing self-compassion into workplaces.
• [17:03] - The Lightning Round with Kathleen Cator

The Museum of Modern Love - by Heather RoseMetta Learning Tools

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.

Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free!

Special thanks to Kathleen for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Kathleen Cator is a clinical psychologist and former nurse with over 20 years’ experience as a health professional. Kathleen leads self-compassion and mindfulness based training and therapies in public, education, and health care settings.

Self-compassion is about treating yourself during difficult or challenging times as you would a good friend - with kindness, understanding and encouragement. While it’s easy to believe that by being critical of your faults and failings you are more likely to be motivated to make changes, however this has actually been found to undermine your progress. However, when you practice self-compassion you are more likely to learn from your mistakes, and improve your motivation, performance, and wellbeing.

Connect with Kathleen Cator

Website:  http://mettahp.com.au/

• [01:24] - Kathleen explains how you can use the same principles of showing compassion to others, to be compassionate to yourself.
• [02:43] – Research has found that self-compassion improves your emotional and physical wellbeing, your relationships, and can help you make positive changes.
•  [06:45] - Your brain has evolved to make you safe, and so focuses on possible threats. You can use mindfulness to choose a more self-compassionate response.
•  [07:48] - Kathleen describes the three steps in practicing self-compassion.
• [09:50] - Kathleen shares some simple self-compassion practices that you can try in the workplace.
• [12:44] - Kathleen explains the relationship between self-compassion and mindfulness.
• [14:23] - Kathleen discusses how leaders can encourage the practice of self-compassion.  
• [15:54] – Kathleen raises the challenges of introducing self-compassion into workplaces.  
• [17:03] - The Lightning Round with Kathleen Cator

The Museum of Modern Love - by Heather Rose
Metta Learning Tools

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

Special thanks to Kathleen for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Louisa Jewell is a speaker, author, facilitator, and wellbeing teacher who has inspired thousands of people worldwide to be more confident. She founded the Canadian Positive Psychology Association and her work has been featured in numerous publications.

In this conversation, you will hear Louisa share her thoughts on developing more confidence, to help you and your organization become more innovative. Louisa believes confidence is finding the courage to act in the moment you want to put a great idea forward. While some self-doubt can be motivating, too much self-doubt and self-questioning can stop you in your tracks and undermine your wellbeing.

Connect with Louisa Jewell

• Website - http://positivitymatters.com
• Twitter - @LouisaJewell

• [01:48] - Louisa talks about the importance of innovation in today's business-world, and to be innovative organizations need people with the confidence to speak up about their great ideas.
• [04:05] - Louisa shares how confidence means having the courage to act in that moment when you have a great idea .
• [06:08] - Wile some self-doubt can motivate you to be better prepared as you move forward, you need to let go of chronic self-doubt.
• [08:20] - "Fail fast, fail often" is a popular motto right now, but to make this work Louisa suggests organizations need structures to make it safe to fail.
• [15:36] - Louisa believes leaders should consider how they can encourage small steps to success, and build problem-solving muscles within their teams.
• [19:35] - Louisa shares some advice if you feel that your organization isn't a confidence-enabling environment.
• [21:30] - Failure does not feel good and Louisa talks about how you can become comfortable with failure.
• [24:36] - The Lightning Round with Louisa Jewell

• Your Strengths Blueprint: How to be Engaged, Energized, and Happy at Work - Michelle McQuaid and Erin Law
• The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business - Charles Duhigg
• Charles Duhigg Resources

Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.

Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free!

Special thanks to Louisa for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Louisa Jewell is a speaker, author, facilitator, and wellbeing teacher who has inspired thousands of people worldwide to be more confident.  She founded the Canadian Positive Psychology Association and her work has been featured in numerous publications.

In this conversation, you will hear Louisa share her thoughts on developing more confidence, to help you and your organization become more innovative.  Louisa believes confidence is finding the courage to act in the moment you want to put a great idea forward.  While some self-doubt can be motivating, too much self-doubt and self-questioning can stop you in your tracks and undermine your wellbeing.

Connect with Louisa Jewell

• Website - http://positivitymatters.com
• Twitter - @LouisaJewell

• [01:48] - Louisa talks about the importance of innovation in today’s business-world, and to be innovative organizations need people with the confidence to speak up about their great ideas.
  
• [04:05] - Louisa shares how confidence means having the courage to act in that moment when you have a great idea .
• [06:08] - Wile some self-doubt can motivate you to be better prepared as you move forward, you need to let go of chronic self-doubt.
• [08:20] - “Fail fast, fail often” is a popular motto right now, but to make this work Louisa suggests organizations  need structures to make it safe to fail.  
• [15:36] - Louisa believes leaders should consider how they can encourage small steps to success, and build  problem-solving muscles within their teams.
  
• [19:35] - Louisa shares some advice if you feel that your organization isn't a confidence-enabling environment.  
• [21:30] - Failure does not feel good and Louisa talks about how you can become comfortable with failure.
• [24:36] - The Lightning Round with Louisa Jewell

• Your Strengths Blueprint: How to be Engaged, Energized, and Happy at Work - Michelle McQuaid and Erin Law
• The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business - Charles Duhigg
• Charles Duhigg Resources

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

Special thanks to Louisa for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Dr. Barbara Fredrickson is a distinguished professor of psychology and neuroscience. She is the director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With 140 peer-reviewed articles published and translated into a dozen languages, her research is funded by the US National Institute of Health.

"Positive psychology is not just for when things are going well." This conversation may be exactly what some of you need in these times of global political uncertainty and fear. Barbara talks about maintaining positivity and functioning or flourishing in times of negativity.

Connect with Barbara Fredrickson

Barbara Fredrickson's page on the Social Psychology Network

• [01:50] - As 2016 concludes, there is a lot of uncertainty and fear in the world due to political changes. Barbara talks about the role of positive psychology in these times.
• [03:35] - Barbara shares her thoughts on maintaining positivity in the face of fear.
• [05:40] - Barbara talks about functioning and flourishing during periods of negativity.
• [06:35] - Some negativity is recycled and Barbara talks about approaching those situations.
• [10:55] - Barbara talks about reaching out with positivity to those that you have ideological differences with.
• [13:11] - A lot of Barbara's research is on love and positivity resonance between people. She talks about aspects of her research that are more important now, in these times.
• [15:35] - Barbara talks about the value of meditation in times of negative emotional state.
• [18:48] - I have found Barbara's tool on tracking positivity ratio to be very valuable. She talks about this tool and how it can be used.
• [20:11] - Barbara shares her thoughts on how leaders of organizations can help others balance these feelings.
• [22:25] - The Lightning Round with Barbara Fredrickson.

President Obama - our positive psychologist-in-chief (by Sonja Lyubomirsky)

Positivity Ratio

Awakening Compassion at Work: The Quiet Power That Elevates People and Organizations - Monica Worline and Jane E. Dutton

Stories of You Life and Others - Ted Chiang

Positivity Resonance

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.

Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free!

Special thanks to Barbara for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Dr. Barbara Fredrickson is a distinguished professor of psychology and neuroscience.  She is the director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  With 140 peer-reviewed articles published and translated into a dozen languages, her research is funded by the US National Institute of Health.  

“Positive psychology is not just for when things are going well.”  This conversation may be exactly what some of you need in these times of global political uncertainty and fear.  Barbara talks about maintaining positivity and functioning or flourishing in times of negativity.  

Connect with Barbara Fredrickson

Barbara Fredrickson’s page on the Social Psychology Network

• [01:50] - As 2016 concludes, there is a lot of uncertainty and fear in the world due to political changes.  Barbara talks about the role of positive psychology in these times.
• [03:35] - Barbara shares her thoughts on maintaining positivity in the face of fear.
• [05:40] - Barbara talks about functioning and flourishing during periods of negativity.
• [06:35] - Some negativity is recycled and Barbara talks about approaching those situations.
• [10:55] - Barbara talks about reaching out with positivity to those that you have ideological differences with.
• [13:11] - A lot of Barbara’s research is on love and positivity resonance between people.  She talks about aspects of her research that are more important now, in these times.
• [15:35] - Barbara talks about the value of meditation in times of negative emotional state.
• [18:48] - I have found Barbara’s tool on tracking positivity ratio to be very valuable.  She talks about this tool and how it can be used.
• [20:11] - Barbara shares her thoughts on how leaders of organizations can help others balance these feelings.
• [22:25] - The Lightning Round with Barbara Fredrickson.

President Obama - our positive psychologist-in-chief  (by Sonja Lyubomirsky)

Positivity Ratio

Awakening Compassion at Work: The Quiet Power That Elevates People and Organizations - Monica Worline and Jane E. Dutton

Stories of You Life and Others - Ted Chiang

Positivity Resonance

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

Special thanks to Barbara for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Monica Worline is an organizational psychologist, speaker, author, and the founder and CEO of Alive and Work, an organization that teaches businesses how to tap into courageous thinking, compassionate leadership, and the curiosity to bring their best work to life.

In this conversation, you will hear Monica Worline describe the importance of compassion, specifically within organizations. Monica shares components of her personal blueprint for compassion that she explains, in-depth in her upcoming book, Awakening Compassion at Work.

Business leaders may resist compassion in their organization because it's perceived as "soft", but Monica shares that research shows that embracing compassion can positively impact the business financially. Monica also describes the dilemmas that organization leaders can face when embracing compassion in the workplace.

Connect with Monica Worline

Website - MonicaWorline.com or TheCompassionLab.comTwitter - @monicaworline

You'll Learn:

• [02:02] - Monica talks about compassion and shares how compassion is different than empathy.
• [03:52] - Business leaders often feel that compassion is too soft to be relevant to their bottom line and Monica explains how research shows that compassion impacts the things that cost businesses money.
• [06:34] - Monica describes the personal blueprint for compassion.
• [12:06] - Monica talks about how organizations can implement compassion into the system.
• [17:43] - Monica talks about the fears that leaders experience when considering compassion.
• [19:04] - Monica shares how stories can help build compassionate workplaces.
• [21:00] - Monica recently worked with an organization to help them create a more compassionate environment and she talks about working with them through stories.
• [22:51] - Monica explains how practitioners and researchers need to realize that compassion is not fast or easy in workplaces. She explains that it leads to many dilemmas for leaders.
• [25:40] - The Lightning Round with Monica Worline

Your Resources:

Awakening Compassion at Work: The Quiet Power That Elevates People and Organizations - Monica Worline and Jane E Dutton

Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfuilling Life - Todd B. Kashdan

Talk of Love: How Culture Matters - Ann Swindler

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.

Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free!

Special thanks to Monica for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Monica Worline is an organizational psychologist, speaker, author, and the founder and CEO of Alive and Work, an organization that teaches businesses how to tap into courageous thinking, compassionate leadership, and the curiosity to bring their best work to life.

In this conversation, you will hear Monica Worline describe the importance of compassion, specifically within organizations.  Monica shares components of her personal blueprint for compassion that she explains, in-depth in her upcoming book, Awakening Compassion at Work.  

Business leaders may resist compassion in their organization because it’s perceived as “soft”, but Monica shares that research shows that embracing compassion can positively impact the business financially.  Monica also describes the dilemmas that organization leaders can face when embracing compassion in the workplace.

Connect with Monica Worline

Website - MonicaWorline.com or TheCompassionLab.com
Twitter - @monicaworline

You’ll Learn:

• [02:02] - Monica talks about compassion and shares how compassion is different than empathy.
• [03:52] - Business leaders often feel that compassion is too soft to be relevant to their bottom line and Monica explains how research shows that compassion impacts the things that cost businesses money.
• [06:34] -  Monica describes the personal blueprint for compassion.
• [12:06] - Monica talks about how organizations can implement compassion into the system.
• [17:43] - Monica talks about the fears that leaders experience when considering compassion.
• [19:04] - Monica shares how stories can help build compassionate workplaces.
• [21:00] - Monica recently worked with an organization to help them create a more compassionate environment and she talks about working with them through stories.
• [22:51] - Monica explains how practitioners and researchers need to realize that compassion is not fast or easy in workplaces. She explains that it leads to many dilemmas for leaders.
• [25:40] - The Lightning Round with Monica Worline

Your Resources:

Awakening Compassion at Work: The Quiet Power That Elevates People and Organizations - Monica Worline and Jane E Dutton

Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfuilling Life - Todd B. Kashdan

Talk of Love: How Culture Matters - Ann Swindler

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

Special thanks to Monica for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Robert Biswas-Diener, is a leading researcher on culture, wellbeing, positive psychology coaching and author of several wonderful books including the The Upside of Your Dark Side.

With recent political changes in the United States and the UK leaving many feeling fearful and apprehensive about the future, Robert shares his insights on how to become comfortable with these uncomfortable feelings. He suggests rather than trying to whitewash them, by accepting them, and seeing them as signals that something isn't right, you can then decide on a constructive response to what's unfolding. You can also apply this in workplaces when looming mergers or restructures stir up similar feelings of uncertainty and fear.

Connect with Robert Biswas-Diener

Robert's Website - RobertDiener.com PositiveAcorn.com IntentionalHappiness.com

You'll Learn:

• [01:37] - Robert talks about how emotions are like signals giving us a mental thumbs-up or thumbs-down about the quality of our life.
• [05:35] - If you are fearful, it's telling you that something you care about may be under threat, and you may need to protect it.
• [07:54] - Robert explains when you can be comfortably uncomfortable with your negative emotions, instead of feeling overwhelmed, you can act constructively.
• [11:05] - Robert explains one important step in tolerating these emotions, is to specifically label the emotion to help understand what message it may be telling you.
• [13:54] – When people are experiencing incredible change in workplaces and feeling very negative, Robert talks about how leaders can build capacity in their employees.
• [16:20] - Robert says sometimes leaders need to challenge apprehension and other times it's ok to validate concerns.
• [17:49] - Robert believes happiness and wellbeing doesn't have to be a mandate at work.
• [20:30] –To be a whole person you need to experience and draw on the full range of positive and negative emotions.
• [21:35] - Robert explains why "you never want cheerful optimists in the control tower, directing flight traffic."
• [22:18] - The Lightning Round with Robert Biswas-Diener

Your Resources:

The Upside of Your Dark Side: Why Being Your Whole Self--Not Just Your "Good" Self--Drives Success and Fulfillment - Robert Biswas-Diener & Todd Kashdan View all of Robert Biswas-Diener's books on Amazon Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success - Adam Grant Love at Goon Park: Harry Harlow and the Science of Affection - Deborah Blum

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.

Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free!

Special thanks to Robert for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Robert Biswas-Diener, is a leading researcher on culture, wellbeing, positive psychology coaching and author of several wonderful books including the The Upside of Your Dark Side. 

With recent political changes in the United States and the UK leaving many feeling fearful and apprehensive about the future, Robert shares his insights on how to become comfortable with these uncomfortable feelings.  He suggests rather than trying to whitewash them, by accepting them, and seeing them as signals that something isn’t right, you can then decide on a constructive response to what’s unfolding.  You can also apply this in workplaces when looming mergers or restructures stir up similar feelings of uncertainty and fear.

Connect with Robert Biswas-Diener

Robert’s Website - RobertDiener.com
PositiveAcorn.com
IntentionalHappiness.com

You’ll Learn:

• [01:37] - Robert talks about how emotions are like signals giving us a mental thumbs-up or thumbs-down about the quality of our life.  
• [05:35] - If you are fearful, it’s telling you that something you care about may be under threat, and you may need to protect it.   
• [07:54] - Robert explains when you can be comfortably uncomfortable with your negative emotions, instead of feeling overwhelmed, you can act constructively.
• [11:05] - Robert explains one important step in tolerating these emotions, is to specifically label the emotion to help understand what message it may be telling you.
• [13:54] – When people are experiencing incredible change in workplaces and feeling very negative, Robert talks about how leaders can build capacity in their employees.
• [16:20] - Robert says sometimes leaders need to challenge apprehension and other times it’s ok to validate concerns.
• [17:49] - Robert believes happiness and wellbeing doesn’t have to be a mandate at work.  
• [20:30] –To be a whole person you need to experience and draw on the full range of positive and negative emotions.
• [21:35] - Robert explains why “you never want cheerful optimists in the control tower, directing flight traffic.”
• [22:18] - The Lightning Round with Robert Biswas-Diener

Your Resources:

The Upside of Your Dark Side: Why Being Your Whole Self--Not Just Your “Good” Self--Drives Success and Fulfillment - Robert Biswas-Diener & Todd Kashdan
View all of Robert Biswas-Diener’s books on Amazon
Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success - Adam Grant
Love at Goon Park: Harry Harlow and the Science of Affection - Deborah Blum

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

Special thanks to Robert for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!