In this deeply personal and long-awaited episode, we offer an update on our lives since our last regular PAWsitive Choices content. 

We share our journey navigating two profound family challenges that began almost simultaneously last year: my mother-in-law, Julie, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and just three months later, my husband and co-host, Thomas, was diagnosed with leukemia. Julie embraced her role as our "Cancer Club President," walking alongside us in solidarity until her passing in September.

We realized that the resilience, growth mindset, and brain-based strategies we taught through PAWsitive Choices became our absolute lifeline. This immediate need for coping tools led us to launch our new show, The Brain It On! Podcast, where we continue to share these strategies through cancer treatment and beyond. 

To give you the full story, we are sharing the first episode of The Brain it On! Podcast, recorded live from Thomas's hospital room. At the time of this original recording, Thomas' mother was still with us. Julie has since passed away from pancreatic cancer. This episode captures the beginning of our journeys through cancer. 

📺 Watch the video version of this special episode on our PAWsitive Choices YouTube Channel.

📢 The Future of Pawsitive Choices

We want to assure you that The PAWsitive Choices Podcast is NOT ending. While The Brain It On! Podcast is updated more frequently, we are still committed to sharing PAWsitive Choices content. Thank you for your incredible patience and support. 

➡️ Please Join Our New Community!

You can find our most frequent and current episodes on our new platform. Please follow our ongoing journey and advice on building resilience together: 

• Subscribe to The Brain It On! Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. (This is where you'll find frequent new episodes!) 
• Subscribe to The Brain It On! YouTube Channel for video updates!

Connect with us on Instagram @thebrainitonpodcast📱 and thank you for being the most supportive community we could ask for.

If this episode helped you, please leave us a review and share it with someone who is navigating a hard season. ❤️

When was the last time you felt a deep sense of joy? Perhaps you were hugging a loved one, watching your child play, or walking outside on a beautiful day. While joy can give birth to beauty, meaning, and happiness, joy can also remind us of the uncertainty and fragility of our lives. In this episode we explore how leaning into gratitude helps us embrace both joy and uncertainty. We'll find that when we choose gratitude, we are less likely to take things for granted and more likely to appreciate life's wonderful moments. And when a beautiful season comes to an end, we can cry because it's over and smile because it happened. 

You can learn more gratitude research by reading this Harvard Health Article and listening to our past podcast episode about gratitude practices. Learn more about foreboding joy in Brené Brown's Atlas of The Heart and watch Susan Cain's TED Talk about the hidden power of sad songs and rainy days.

You can find PAWsitive Choices books at https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/books. Follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and Facebook and join our mailing list to stay up to date on our new books, freebies, and upcoming events. 

Store: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store
Check out our other resources and freebies: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/links 
© 2014-2022 PAWsitive Choices, LLC 

Asking for what we need is essential to cultivating healthy relationships. The problem is, we don't always know how to identify our needs and ask for them in ways that are effective.  In this episode, we'll explore how you can be clear about your expectations and desires while also being kind and responsive to those around you.

You can learn more about asking for what you need in Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman's book, The Love Prescription and watch Brené Brown's The Call to Courage on Netflix.

You can find PAWsitive Choices books at https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/books. Follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and Facebook and join our mailing list to stay up to date on our new books, freebies, and upcoming events. 

Store: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store
Check out our other resources and freebies: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/links 
© 2014-2022 PAWsitive Choices, LLC 

Have you ever found yourself imagining the worst case scenario? Have you jumped to conclusions about what someone thinks of your choices before asking them? These common thoughts, known as cognitive distortions, can contribute to the stories we make up about what's happening in our lives. In this episode we'll explore how you can identify unhelpful thoughts and shift to healthier patterns of thinking. We'll also examine the research on Theory of Mind and find ways to support children through this important developmental process.

You can learn more about unhelpful thinking patterns in this Harvard Health article and find more information on the function of emotions in Susan David's Emotional Agility website.

You can find PAWsitive Choices books at https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/books. Follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and Facebook and join our mailing list to stay up to date on our new books, freebies, and upcoming events. 

Store: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store
Check out our other resources and freebies: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/links 
© 2014-2022 PAWsitive Choices, LLC 

In Bob Goff's book, Everybody Always,  he says, "We're all rough drafts of the people we're still becoming." This simple, yet profound idea is foundational to way we view ourselves and others. In this episode we review the work of Tina Payne Bryson, Ross Greene, Becky Kennedy, Bob Goff, and Brené Brown to answer the question, "Are people doing the best they can?" We explore the value of having the most generous assumption of others while maintaining healthy boundaries.

You can find PAWsitive Choices books at https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/books. Follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and Facebook and join our mailing list to stay up to date on our new books, freebies, and upcoming events. 

Store: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store
Check out our other resources and freebies: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/links 
© 2014-2022 PAWsitive Choices, LLC 

Compassion is vitally important to our relationships, but what should we do when caring for others takes a toll on our wellbeing? In this episode, we'll explore the difference between cognitive and affective empathy and ways you can care for others while maintaining healthy boundaries.

You can learn more about empathy in Brené Brown's Atlas of the Heart book and find more information on the function of emotions in Susan David's Emotional Agility website.

You can find PAWsitive Choices books at https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/books. Follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and Facebook and join our mailing list to stay up to date on our new books, freebies, and upcoming events. 

Store: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store
Check out our other resources and freebies: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/links 
© 2014-2022 PAWsitive Choices, LLC 

The content of this episode is available in video form via The PAWsitive Choices YouTube Channel. Check out our channel to watch the video recording of the podcast and subscribe so you never miss a video! 

In this episode, we'll explore ways you can become a more compassionate coach for yourself and others when mistakes are made. We'll learn what the science says about self-compassion and discuss practical steps you can take to treat yourself and others with kindness as you navigate setbacks.

Click here to take the Self-Compassion Test and check out Kristin Neff's Self-Compassion TED Talk here.

Our newest book, Bear Takes a Brain Break,  is now available on Amazon! You can find our other new Amazon books at https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/books. Follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and Facebook and join our mailing list to stay up to date on our new books and upcoming events. 

Store: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store
Check out our other resources and freebies: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/links 
© 2014-2022 PAWsitive Choices, LLC 

The content of this episode is available in video form via The PAWsitive Choices YouTube Channel. Check out our channel to watch the video recording of the podcast and subscribe so you never miss a video! 

In this episode, we'll explore ways to build the courage to learn new things. Whether you're starting a new school year, a new job, or a new relationship, change can feel daunting. We'll learn what the science says about ways people learn and discuss practical steps you can take to help your brain cope with stressful transitions so you can thrive in the face of change.

Our newest book, Bear Takes a Brain Break,  is now available on Amazon! You can find our other new Amazon books at https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/books. Follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and Facebook and join our mailing list to stay up to date on our new books and upcoming events.

Click here to learn more about Brené Brown's new book, Atlas of The Heart. 

Store: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store
Check out our other resources and freebies: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/links 
© 2014-2021 PAWsitive Choices, LLC 

The content of this episode is available in video form via The PAWsitive Choices YouTube Channel. Check out our channel to watch the video recording of the podcast and subscribe so you never miss a video!  In this episode we explore ADHD, trauma, and ways to love your brain with Dr. Hokehe Eko. Dr. Eko is a board certified pediatrician, the host of Brain Power TV, and the founder of Kits of Hope.  You can email her at [email protected]. 

We are taking a break from podcasting this winter and will return with new episodes in the spring! 

Our newest book, Bear Takes a Brain Break,  is now available on Amazon! You can find our other new books at https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/books. Follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and Facebook and join our mailing list to stay up to date on our new books and upcoming events.
Store: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store
Check out our other resources and freebies: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/links 
© 2014-2021 PAWsitive Choices, LLC 

The content of this episode is available in video form via The PAWsitive Choices YouTube Channel. Check out our channel to watch the video recording of the podcast and subscribe so you never miss a video! 

“What will people think?” When it comes to tasks like taking a test, playing a sporting game, and giving a speech, these four words often get in the way of learning. This common question can also be the driving force behind a perfectionist mindset. In today's episode, we’ll talk about how to approach performance tasks with curiosity, rather than perfectionism, for optimal growth and well-being.

Our newest book, Bear Takes a Brain Break,  is now available on Amazon! You can find our other new Amazon books at https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/books. Follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and Facebook or join our mailing list to stay up to date on our new books and upcoming events.

Click here to learn more about Brené Brown's new book, Atlas of The Heart. 

Store: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store
Check out our other resources and freebies: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/links 
© 2014-2021 PAWsitive Choices, LLC