The Next Level

For the full show notes visit http://jeffa.co/088

There's no doubt that the mindful use of language can be soothing for our emotional state and those we speak with. My guest today began to synthesize her system of Conscious Communications with one major goal at her collection agency... to have the person on the other end of the phone happier.

Mary Shores tested this system in an environment where people naturally get defensive and emotional. This really speaks to the effectiveness of Conscious Communications in helping diffuse potentially charged conversations.

Mary Shores is the founder and CEO of a multi-million dollar business, one of the most unique collection agencies in the country. Recognized as a leader of innovative thought, Mary has spent over a decade teaching businesses and individuals how to inspire others, create new ways of thinking, identify and achieve their goals, and take action to create truly meaningful results. She is the revolutionary founder of the groundbreaking Conscious Communications system, which produces positive results through positive action.

Today we'll unpack the system and dive into Mary's new Hay House published book, Conscious Communications: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Harnessing the Power of Your Words to Change Your Mind, Your Choices, and Your Life.

In this episode you'll learn

• How we can experience a new reality by shifting our internal dialogue.
• The daily habits that rewire our neural pathways for greater success.
• How to create more alignment between our desires, thoughts, and actions.
• Ways to invoke deeper states of relaxation, and limit our stress response.
• How to embrace and appreciate our value and self-worth.
• Strategies to ensure we don't talk ourselves out of the things we truly want to accomplish.
• How we can frame our language to create more effective affirmations.
• and so much MORE…

For the full show notes visit http://jeffa.co/087

My guest today, through decades of research, her lab work, and peer reviewed publications, has presented a new theory of emotion in her most recent book How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain.

Lisa Feldman Barrett, PhD, is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University, with appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. In addition to the book How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain, Dr. Barrett has published over 200 peer-reviewed, scientific papers appearing in Science, Nature Neuroscience, and other top journals in psychology and cognitive neuroscience, as well as six academic volumes published by Guilford Press.

Dr. Barrett received a National Institutes of Health Director’s Pioneer Award for her revolutionary research on emotion in the brain. These highly competitive, multimillion dollar awards are given to scientists of exceptional creativity who are expected to transform biomedical and behavioral research.

Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Barrett has testified before Congress, presented her research to the FBI, consulted to the National Cancer Institute, appeared on Through The Wormhole with Morgan Freeman, and been a featured guest on public television and worldwide radio programs. She is also an elected fellow of Canada’s most prestigious national organization of scholars, the Royal Society of Canada (analogous to the National Academy in the United States).

Today we'll dive into her book How Emotions Are Made and what these new findings could mean in relationships, personal change, and so much more.

In this episode you'll learn

• The new theory that our emotions are less of a hardwired response, and actually created in the moment.
• How to break down emotions into smaller parts, and give new meaning to those sensations.
• The ways that beliefs can impact and alter our perception.
• How we can stop emotions from overtaking our thoughts and actions.
• Why the brain lives in a perpetual state of guessing and predicting... and how this affects learning and processing information.
• How we can construct our current reality by rewriting our past experiences.
• and so much MORE…

For the full show notes visit http://jeffa.co/086 

Could there be a potential down side to positive thinking? If you've tuned into the show before, you've heard me have many conversations with leaders and authors on the benefits of positive thinking, imagination, and other methods characteristic of the self-help and positive psychology movement.

On some level I think we know that pushing away or even suppressing seemingly negative emotions is counterproductive. All the while we get mixed messages, from social media etc., that always staying positive is the way to be.

In this interview, I sat down with Oliver Burkeman to chat about all things positive psychology and his book, The Antidote...

Oliver Burkeman is a columnist for the Guardian and the author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking.

I see this book and Oliver's work as a bit of a holistic approach to the mind and emotions. These concepts helped me see the terrain of the human experience on an all inclusive level. Where we can be positive, have a positive outlook on life, and integrate and potentially transform some of those seemingly negative feelings and thoughts.

In this episode you'll learn

• About the negative side effects that come from too much positive thinking.
• Why it's important to experience our negative emotions.
• How always having to strive and push ourselves takes us away from the present moment.
• Why we shouldn't wait until we FEEL motivated before taking action.
• How to move past the planning stage and take action.
• How we can use unfavorable emotions as warning signs.
• Why always having to “get into the right mindset”, can cause us to procrastinate.
• Learn strategies to tolerate uncertainty and anxiety.
• And so much MORE…

For the full show notes visit https://jeffagostinelli.com/085 

If you have spent any time in the personal development space at all, you've heard about this place... your comfort zone and all the magical benefits of getting out of it.

Yes, as you'll hear my guest talk about today, there are the benefits of growth and learning (among others) that come with stretching beyond what we think is possible, but there's a little more to it than that.

Andy Molinsky is a Professor at Brandeis University’s International Business School, with a joint appointment in the Department of Psychology.  Andy received his Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and M.A. in Psychology from Harvard University. He also holds a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a B.A. in International Affairs from Brown University.

Andy’s work helps people develop the insights and courage necessary to act outside their personal and cultural comfort zones when doing important, but challenging, tasks in work and life.

His research and writing has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Inc. Magazine, Psychology Today, the Financial Times, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, NPR and Voice of America. Andy was awarded as a Top Voice for LinkedIn for his work in education.

His first book, Global Dexterity (Harvard Business Review Press, 2013), received the Axiom Award (Silver Medal) for Best Business Book in International Business & Globalization and has been used widely in organizations around the world, including Boeing, AIG, the US Air Force Academy, and the Clinton Foundation, among others. His new book Reach was published with Penguin Random House in January 2017.  He teaches, consults, and lectures widely to university and corporate audiences.

Today we'll talk about his book Reach: A New Strategy to Help You Step Outside Your Comfort Zone, Rise to the Challenge and Build Confidence and much more...

In this episode you'll learn

• Ways we can get prepared to take a leap outside of our comfort zone.
• How to manage internal conflict and move forward with courage.
• How to find the balance between over planning and rushing into action.
• Why we shouldn’t over-glorify taking a leap, but treat it as a process of learning and self-discovery.
• How to embrace the unknown by developing curiosity and excitement.
• Why sometimes it's beneficial and appropriate to stay inside of our comfort zone.
• How to make progress in spite of fear and anxiety.
• Learn attributes we can develop to better navigate uncomfortable situations.
• and so much MORE…

For the full show notes visit http://jeffa.co/084 

Brian Piergrossi is the author of The Wow of the Now & The Big Glow, international life coach & renowned non-dual teacher. For over 10 years, through personal coaching sessions, retreats, workshops, classes, FB live videos & online courses, using direct inquiry, authentic relating & meditation exercises, Brian has inspired hundreds of thousands around the world to explore the truths within as a gateway to freedom, love, inner peace and empowerment. His latest project is The Secret Glow Online Community

At the age of 20 years old, Brian was suddenly struck by a mysterious, debilitating illness, later labeled chronic fatigue syndrome, that lasted for years, leaving him in intense, daily, physical pain and too weak to effectively function in society. When no medical or other authority figure could explain the suffering that was happening to him, Brian made it his life commitment to inquire into human suffering.

What began was over 11 years of committed, serious inquiry, study and personal application into the fields of spirituality, religion, psychology, sociology, cosmology, ecology, health, arts, science, yoga, as well as the core of the enlightenment and self-realization teachings.

After leading a quiet, simple life for over a decade, Brian felt a passionate calling to share his straight forward, timeless, insights for the 21st Century in a modern context with those who are ready and interested.

Since that time, Brian has dedicated himself full time, professionally, and privately, to supporting the path of transformation, self-realization and self-actualization in individuals, families and communities around the world.

Today we'll chat about one of Brian's books, The Wow of The Now , and more...

In this episode you'll learn

• How to identify opportunities for evolving into higher consciousness.
• Why detaching from an outcome can bring feelings of clarity and liberation.
• How to increase present moment awareness to help us develop our intuition.
• Techniques for asking ourselves questions that can reveal our true purpose.
• The benefits of accessing the intelligence of our hearts, before delving into the mind.
• Why curiosity will lead to greater self-awareness.
• Tips for developing our internal sense of direction.
• and so much MORE…

My guest today has a deep fascination with human behavior and why we do what we do. Over the past 20 years, through his private practice and clinical work, Dr. Kevin Gilliland has distilled some important distinctions on how to develop a quiet mind and what it means to struggle well AND live well.

Dr. Kevin Gilliland, Psy.D., is an expert in mental health, depression and addiction. After working more than two decades in healthcare as a clinical psychologist, Kevin became a pioneer of outpatient treatment as the CEO and Executive Director of Innovation 360, a treatment center for alcohol & drug addiction, depression, anxiety, bipolar, family therapy and life development.

Realizing the low success rates of typical addiction programs, Kevin created Innovation360 (i360) to solve the gaps in the current system by creating a unique customized treatment for each patient. i360 specializes in finding balance of insight and change within their clients, instead of the standard “quick fix” programs, they provide one-on-one support to transition clients from the therapy office and into their homes, back into their daily life.

His debut book, Struggle Well Live Well: 60 Ways to Navigate Life’s Good, Bad, and In-Between tackles Kevin’s approach on life – which aligns with his approach and advice for friends, family and his clients! It serves as a roadmap to navigating through life’s inevitable struggles and how to over come the simplest of obstacles, such as work/life balance, to heavier issues, mental illness or addiction.

Today we are going to dive into Kevin's new book and unpack some key distinctions that make it unique.

In this episode you'll learn

• Why an active mind isn't a bad thing, if we can learn to use it effectively, and turn it off when necessary.
• How to interrupt thought patterns that don’t serve our greater purpose.
• The benefits of developing curiosity around our emotions.
• How to maintain tranquility as demands and external stress increase.
• The importance of considering our values before taking action.
• How alternative medicine and health practices can reduce anxiety.
• How to align our thoughts and actions with our ultimate vision.
• The benefits of adding gratitude into your meditation practice.
• and so much MORE…

For the full show notes visit http://jeffa.co/082 

I remember when I came across Bruce Lipton's first book, The Biology of Belief. Before diving into natural foods, Macrobiotics, and all the like, I was on the path to medical school. This book was A HUGE confirmation and re-working of everything I thought to be utterly and completely true about biology and the human brain.

Dr. Bruce Lipton began his scientific career as a cell biologist. His discoveries, which ran counter to the established scientific view that life is controlled by the genes, presaged one of today’s most important fields of study, the science of epigenetics.

Epigenetics is an absolutely fascinating field of science that literally means "above the gene." In a very basic sense it says that our gene's do not control expression, but the proteins, our environment, and many other factors do.

Bruce H. Lipton, PhD is an internationally recognized leader in bridging science and spirit. He is a bestselling author of The Biology of Belief as well as two other cutting edge books, The Honeymoon Effect and Spontaneous Evolution.

Today we talk about the changing paradigms in biology (and what that actual means on a practical level), the power of belief, and so much more.

In this episode you'll learn

• About the old belief in biology... that our genes will have the ultimate control over our lives and what that means.
• Why we are not victims of our DNA, and how we can have more control over our genetic expression.
• Why changing our consciousness will have massive impact on our physical world.
• How to uncover subconscious habits/patterns that were programmed inside us from an early age.
• How to re-wire your subconscious, for a happier and more abundant mindset.
• Ways to turn off incessant thought and stop perpetuating the cycles of self sabotage.
• Newtonian and quantum physics, and how energy fields affect physical matter.
• How to install support programs in your subconscious mind that will take you in a positive direction,
• Discover how the unconscious realm controls our behavior.
• and so much MORE…

For the full show notes for this episode visit http://jeffa.co/081 

Having the right skill set to navigate life's disappointments can be the key factor in our story hindering or helping forward progress. Being able to understand and grow from hardship is essential.

My guest today talks about these times when life doesn't meet our expectations as Expectation Hangovers. You gotta love the frame on that one!

Christine Hassler is the best-selling author of three books, most recently Expectation Hangover: Free Yourself From Your Past, Change your Present and Get What you Really Want. She left her successful job as a Hollywood agent to pursue a life she could be passionate about. For over a decade, as a keynote speaker, retreat facilitator, spiritual psychologist and life coach, and host of the top-rated podcast “Over it and On With It”, she has been teaching and inspiring people around the world. Christine believes once we get out of our own way, we can show up to make the meaningful impact we are here to make.

Today we'll unpack Christine's book Expectation Hangover and so much more.

In this episode you'll learn

What an Expectation Hangover is and why they happen.

• The new skill-sets needed in our modern world, to create healthy and meaningful relationships.
• How to deal with our feelings, when life doesn't meet our expectations.
• The importance of giving ourselves space to feel, and the reasons why we resist.
• How to bridge the gap between spirituality and personal development.
• The benefits of taking the time to examine and understand our emotional triggers.
• and so much MORE…

For the full show notes for this episode visit http://jeffa.co/080 

I sat down with Josh to talk about how Failure Breeds Success and Scaling Yourself with Your Company back on episode 10 and he's back to dive into his new book, Balance is BULLSH*T: How to Successfully Integrate Work & Life.

Joshua B. Lee is a strategic growth coach helping individuals to scale themselves with their company so they do not scale themselves out of their company. He's the Founder and President of the multi-media agency LF Media, inc. which over the last decade has launched many brands.

To connect with like minded entrepreneurs, Josh founded aa high level networking group for entrepreneurs, Monstapreneur where they connect monthly to help “Relax, Reset, and Refocus” through epic adventures and experiences.

Josh has been featured in some of the biggest media outlets like Fox Business, CNN, Inc. Magazine, USA Today, The Verge, ABC, CNN, NBC and many more.

Today we'll unpack Josh's new book and so much more.

In this episode you'll learn

• Why Joshua gave away almost everything he owned and closed down 12 companies so he could get in touch with his vision and find his happiness.
• Why work/life balance is a myth, and how we can move from balance to integration, and be our true selves 100% of the time.
• Learn the biggest pitfalls that stop people from developing their vision.
• Why tactics and strategies lose their power when you don't first develop the mindset for implementation.
• How meditation can provide the groundwork to understand who we really are, and what we really need.
• The benefits of journaling right after you meditate, and the interesting impact of writing with your non-dominant hand.
• Learn methods of visualization that will engage more of your senses, and evoke stronger emotions.
• and so much MORE…

For the full show notes visit http://jeffa.co/079

In an ever changing professional landscape, understanding how to leverage your unique skills and values can be a huge advantage for planning your next move.

Jenny Blake is an author, career and business strategist and international speaker who helps people organize their brain, move beyond burnout, and build sustainable, dynamic careers they love. She is the author of PIVOT: The Only Move That Matters is Your Next One, which recently won an award for Axiom Best Business Book in the careers category, and Life After College.

After two years at a technology start-up followed by five years at Google in Training and Career Development, Jenny moved to New York City in 2011 where she has been running her own consulting business in the years since. Jenny combines her love of technology with her superpower of simplifying complexity to help clients pivot their career or business. Her motto: if change is the only constant, let's get better at it.

In her book PIVOT, Jenny details her process called The Pivot Method which is a practical approach to understanding your values, strengths, clarifying your vision, what skills to cultivate, testing your ideas, and so much more. I found this approach really useful for looking at my own strenghts and gaining clarity around my vision, and I hope you do to.

In this episode you'll learn

• How to find the intrinsic motivation to successfully navigate a pivot or major change in your life or career.
• Why performing an assessment of your values, can help ensure that you pivot in the right direction.
• How to decipher if you should make an internal pivot within your current job, or if it’s time to move on completely.
• The importance of building on what is already working, in order to get to what is next.
• The ways that you can optimize your business projects, for “revenue AND joy”
• The reasons to build a portfolio of your skillsets, and not let one job or company be the sole provider for your identity.
• and so much MORE…