The Happier Life Project

Grief and Loss affects nearly all people at some point in their life. Not only do we have to go through it, we have to experience loved ones go through it too.

The pain and suffering can be excruciating and highly traumatic. And we can grieve in different ways, presenting a variety of symptoms and emotions including: shock and numbness, overwhelming sadness (with lots of crying), tiredness or exhaustion, anger and guilt.

Alex Mammadeeyarov is a psychotherapist from New York who offers therapy for grief, relationships, & personal growth. In this episode of The Happier Life Project Alex offers comfort and advice for the grieving, sharing her expert wisdom as a grief counselor.

Bereavement is the main reason for grief and loss, but there are other reasons we can mourn a loss too, such as; the end of a relationship (romantic or friendship), losing a job or changes in financial security, changes in health, losing someone to addiction… The death of a loved one is the predominant theme in Alex’s conversation with host Gabby, but the other reasons for why we grieve are also discussed too.

Please note, this episode contains content that some listeners may find upsetting due to the subject matter. Please proceed gently and with self-compassion. If you are in need of some professional medical advice, the crisis button on the My Possible Self app offers a directory of expert helplines.

For more on Alex Mammadyarov: https://www.alexmammadyarovtherapy.com/

To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast

We see it on TV, in movies, read about it in books, listen to it in songs… the kind of friendships that stand the test of time, weather all of life's challenges and have each other’s back to the bitter end. But in reality not everyone is lucky enough to have a 'bff' or a circle of close friends, especially as we get older. According to mind.org.uk research suggests that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, sleep problems and increased stress.

But there might be many reasons why people lack friends. Some may want more friends, while others are satisfied with fewer social connections. Some people may stick with friends that aren’t good friends at all... and can end up feeling lonelier than ever as a result.

Lane Moore is an award-winning comedian, writer, actor, and musician. She received a GLAAD award for her groundbreaking work expanding Cosmopolitan's queer coverage when she was the sex and relationships editor. Her rock band “It Was Romance” has been praised everywhere from Pitchfork to Vogue, and The New York Times called her hugely popular comedy show "Tinder Live” ingenious.

Lane’s debut book is the highly praised "How to Be Alone’ If You Want To, and Even If You Don't" and she has just released her second manuscript "You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Friendships as an Adult" which, like her first, is part memoir, part self-help book.

In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Lane shares with host Gabby how difficult she has found it to make deep, solid friendships, which inspired her to write "You Will Find Your People". Lane and Gabby also talk about how you have to put yourself out there if you want to widen your friendship circle and make new friends. Lane shares her advice on ways to meet new people plus how to come up with a common ground icebreaker to get the conversation going. Lane also talks about how society views people who are alone and why dog’s really are a man’s best friend.

For more on Lane Moore and all her work: https://www.lanemoore.org/

To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast

How do you cope mentally with ‘being on a diet’? Especially when most diets fail most of the time? “Chronic dieters consistently report guilt and self-blame, irritability, anxiety and depression, difficulty concentrating and fatigue. Their self-esteem is decreased by continuous feelings of failure related to ‘messing my diet up again’, leading to feelings of lack of control over one’s food choices and further life in general. Diets imply restriction. Psychologically, dietary restraint can lead to greater reactivity to food cues, increased cravings and disinhibition, and overeating and binge eating.” Linder Centre of Hope.

Dr William Li is an internationally renowned physician, researcher, scientist and author of the New York Times bestseller “Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself.” Dr Li's groundbreaking work has led to the development of more than 30 new medical treatments for more than 70 diseases including cancer, diabetes, blindness, heart disease and obesity. And his TED Talk, “Can We Eat to Starve Cancer?” has racked up over 11 million views. In Dr Li’s latest book, “Eat to Beat Your Diet: Burn Fat, Heal Your Metabolism, and Live Longer” he breaks down how to use food to recruit good fat to burn away bad fat, offering 150 metabolism-healing foods to add to your diet.

Psychology is an important aspect of all behaviors, and weight loss is no exception. In this fascinating conversation with host Gabby, Dr Li explains how by eating well and taking back control of your eating window, you can master your cravings, lose harmful fat, increase your lifespan and overall health. Dr Li also shares some groundbreaking new research on metabolism and dispels common food and diet myths.

For more on Dr William Li, his courses and books: https://drwilliamli.com/

To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast

Sleep, or lack of, disturbs the whole family. Parents that are struggling to get, or keep, their child asleep can feel confused, stressed and exhausted … which inevitably the child picks up on. And for children, the effects of sleep deprivation can lead to lifelong problems.

Studies have shown that kids who regularly get an adequate amount of sleep have improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, and overall mental and physical health. Whereas not getting enough sleep can lead to high blood pressure, obesity, depression and learning problems.

Navigating a child's sleeping schedule can be incredibly challenging, but achieving good sleep for both parent and baby is a crucial component of emotional, mental, cognitive and physical health.

Lucy Wolfe, is a leading sleep consultant and author of the best-selling books: The Baby Sleep Solution and All About the Baby Sleep Solution. Lucy works with parents on a one-to-one basis, providing a bespoke sleeping plan, together with quality guidance, support, relational safety, and compassion. Lucy is also the resident sleep contributor on Virgin Media One's breakfast show in Ireland, a regular media contributor and has a strong presence on social media with a large following.

In this episode of The Happier Life project, host Gabby asks Lucy for her thoughts on areas that divide a lot of parents such as co-sleeping, sweet comfort treats before bedtime and whether to let their infant cry themselves to sleep when trying to get down for the night in their own room.

For more on Lucy, her courses and books: https://sleepmatters.ie/

An Anxiety Disorder is one of, if not the, biggest mental health problem in the world. Every human has feelings of anxiety during their life. But when our anxiety gets hyperactive, this anxiety can turn into a disorder and make it a lot more difficult to get through the day. 

Kimberley is passionate about advocating for those with Mental Health Disorders and joining host Gabby assures you can reclaim your life from an anxiety disorder and overcome chronic anxiety. She also shares her personal top 3 non-negotiables that she has in her own anxiety toolkit and explains why self-compassion and self-care is crucial in recovery.

Topics included in this conversation include catastrophizing, fear, panic, our inner critic, internet anxiety, health anxiety, sleep anxiety, when it’s other people that make you anxious… and the tiny shifts we can make to put us on the path to being free from the clutches of anxiety.

To find out more about Kimberley Quinlan: https://kimberleyquinlan-lmft.com/

This is Your Anxiety Toolkit Podcast: https://kimberleyquinlan-lmft.com/podcast-blog/

To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast

According to the school of life.com “Many of us spend a large part of our lives, in one way or another, feeling stuck - that is in a state where a strong desire to move forward on an issue meets with an equally strong compulsion to stay fixed where one is.”

Whether that’s in our career, relationships, friendships, family, ambitions, struggles, addictions, we hit a wall and can’t see past it. Feeling stuck can make us feel frustrated, down, trapped, unmotivated, and we blame and shame ourselves for feeling this way.

Britt Frank is a licensed psychotherapist and trauma expert, speaker, and author of 'The Science of Stuck: Breaking Through Inertia to Find Your Path'. And according to Britt, if you are feeling stuck, the good news is, you’re not lazy, crazy, or unmotivated. Your brain is NOT your enemy... it’s actually on your side!

In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Britt explains how anxiety plays such an important role in stuckness and why it’s so important to differentiate between critical awareness and critical self talk. Britt and host Gabby, also discuss why so many people feel trapped and stuck in the workplace and why boredom could be a sign of burnout.

Britt shares expert advice on how to break through restlessness, along with simple actionable steps on how to get unstuck. She also talks about how unprocessed parts of our childhood could be the reason we find ourselves stuck in adult life, plus why our brains shut down and cause us to procrastinate.

To find out more about Britt Frank and The Science of Stuck: https://www.scienceofstuck.com/

To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast

Have you ever wondered what a yoga retreat is like? Maybe it’s something you’ve always quite fancied but haven’t got round to? Perhaps you’re curious, but with so many to choose from unsure where to start? Or if you’re new to yoga, you might find yourself a little intimidated even though you think it sounds fun!? In this episode of The Happier Life Project we are peeling back the curtain and taking you to India, the holy land of yoga, to go inside Trish Whelan’s 'Soul Medicine' kundalini yoga retreat. 

A yoga retreat is a mind, body, soul vacation where you get to connect with nature, disconnect from technology, have time to reflect on your circumstances, connect with yourself and deeply nourish your body through meditation, workshops, yoga, breathwork, good food and deep sleep. 

Kundalini yoga is a combination of breath, movement, and sound aimed to raise your kundalini energy. The term “Kundalini” comes from the Sanskrit word “kundal,” which means “circular.” It also refers to a coiled snake. As Kundalini energy rises, it’s believed to help balance the chakras and contribute to your spiritual wellness.

Soul Adventure’s Trish Whelan is a renowned kundalini yoga teacher, shamanic healer, reiki practitioner and sound healing therapist, who leads healing retreats and programs around the world. Generously opening up the doors to her popular annual Soul Medicine retreat in Southern Goa, Trish sat down with host Gabby to teach her all about kundalini yoga. Trish share's golden advice on how to make sure you pick the right retreat for you, with an experienced teacher at the helm and they reflect on Gabby's personal journey that week. Also in the episode, Gabby speaks to other retreat goers about why they find a yoga retreat to be such a therapeutic and transformational experience. Plus, to close the episode Trish offers some healing vibrations by playing the gong, under a starlit Indian sky.

To find out more about Soul Adventures, retreats, online workshops and free classes: https://www.souladventures.co.uk/

To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast

Astrology is one of the branches of science that helps a person to go inwards and evaluate the life they are leading. Via the influence from the stars and planets, Astrology guides you in a positive direction by helping you to understand and recognize your moods, temperament, emotions and even lifestyle preferences, according to your birth chart.

Your birth chart is a map of the sky documenting where the planets, luminaries (the sun and moon), and other key celestial points were positioned at the precise moment when you were born. Therefore, a birth chart holds up a mirror to who we are at our core.

The Moon, Mercury and Jupiter are the most important planets responsible for the wellness of our mind's, therefore understanding astrology and our birth chart can help guide us to living better and feeling better.

Cosmic Cures Bex, is a professional astrologer and cosmic coach who helps people align and shine with their own potential via the power of decoding their birth charts. Bex splits her time between the UK and India and has contributed astrology wisdom to Marie Claire, Metro, Vogue India, Glamour and the Independent, also holding moon ceremonies at Lost Village, Latitude and Soho House.

In this episode of The Happier Life Project, host Gabby sits down with Bex in India to learn all about how birth charts work and how we can work with them. Bex explains about the importance of knowing about your ‘big three’ (sun, moon and rising signs) for keeping tabs on our wellbeing. She also talks about how what the planets are doing can affect the choices we make. Plus, shares how getting a good astrology / birth chart reading, can be such a healing experience.

To find out more about Cosmic Cures: https://www.cosmiccures.co.uk/

The Astro-Guide Subscription: https://www.cosmiccures.co.uk/cosmic-store/p/astro-guide-subscription

Oracle Card Readings: https://www.cosmiccures.co.uk/cosmic-store/p/astrology-oracle-card-readings

Mastering the Basics of Astrology workshop: https://www.cosmiccures.co.uk/cosmic-store/p/astrology-workshop

To find Bex on social media: @cosmic_cures

To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast

To mark 2023’s International Women’s Day, host Gabby chats to Rhonda Vetere, globally recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women in Tech, and according to Forbes, 'a role model for business owners everywhere'.

Whether Rhonda is spearheading corporate initiatives around the world, competing in another IRONMAN 70.3 mile triathlon, or in her philanthropy work mentoring students & athletes around the globe, Rhonda is an active and passionate leader that applies the same focus, drive and determination to all of her projects. As International women’s day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, The Happier Life Project wanted to profile a woman who will inspire and motivate; and who has made it her life’s purpose to help others succeed and grow.

You don’t need to listen to this episode on International Women’s Day to find Rhonda’s story compelling and relevant. Rhonda Vetere is a force to be reckoned with and shares helpful practical advice on how to tackle life's challenges and meet head on. The accomplished athlete and C-suite executive is also a Global STEM Ambassador with a biodiversity Park named in her honour for her sustainability work around the globe.

For more on Rhonda Vetere: https://www.rhondavetere.com/

To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast

This Self Love Therapy conversation is in session! To conclude The Happier Life Project’s trilogy of podcasts exploring self love and how we can take practical, compassionate steps to treat ourselves more kindly, accept ourselves fully and put our health and happiness in higher regard, self love therapist Tasha Bailey joins host Gabby.

Tasha is a qualified & accredited psychotherapist (UKCP) and award-winning influencer and content creator specializing in mental health, drawing audiences from around the world wanting to understand trauma and therapy from an intersectional and millennial perspective.

Tasha is also a speaker and advocate presenting in mental health talks, workshops and discussion panels for brands such as Universal Music, Nike and Spotify covering self-love, trauma, confidence and general mental health. She’s also a writer and has contributed to articles for Stylist, Happiful, BBC Bitesize, Refinery29, Popsugar and Vogue. Plus Tasha has her debut self help book “Real Talk: Lessons From Therapy on Healing & Self-Love” due out in September 2023.

In this episode, Tasha offers practical advice on how we can put self-love into practice, destigmatizing a lot of myths around what self love is. She also talks about how creativity can be used in therapy and therapeutic practices and why it’s become her life’s work purpose to make mental health and wellness talk feel relevant, real and inclusive. Plus Tasha offer a fun and effective way for how we can respond to that pesky negative voice that holds us back and puts us down.

For more on Tasha Bailey: https://www.realtalktherapist.co.uk/

To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast