Practicing Forgiveness for the Holiday Season With Barbara J. Hunt

This year, as you’re shopping for the perfect holiday gift, why not put forgiveness on your list? It’s always the perfect size, never goes out of style, and it’s also like giving a gift to yourself. This week, host Paula Felps talks with Barbara J. Hunt, a forgiveness specialist, speaker, workshop leader, and bestselling author of Forgiveness Made Easy. Barbara explains how forgiveness is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves and how we can use forgiveness as a practice to help us navigate those often-tricky holiday gatherings. In this episode, you'll learn: Why forgiveness feels so hard. What forgiveness really is — and what it isn’t. How forgiveness can transform relationships. Links and Resources Websites: https://www.forgivenessmadeasy.co.uk & http://www.evolutionarycoaching.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbara_j_hunt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-j-hunt Twitter: https://twitter.com/barbara_j_hunt YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barbara_j_hunt FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/barbara.j.hunt.forgiveness Check out Barbara’s book, Forgiveness Made Easy, and download the first two chapters for free. Find out more about The Festive Season Forgiveness Field Masterclass to help practice forgiveness this season. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:           
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Maintaining Optimism Throughout the Holiday Season With Dr. Emily Bashah

Studies show that our world is becoming less optimistic, but this week’s guest believes we can change that — and we can start this holiday season. Dr. Emily Bashah is a psychologist whose private practice specializes in mental illness, collective trauma, grief, and relationship dynamics. She’s also co-host of The Optimistic American podcast, where she and Paul Johnson create space for a positive and hopeful view of America and help us feel more optimistic about the future. In this episode, she shares how we can regain our optimism by changing how we think. In this episode, you'll learn: Why we’re feeling less optimistic these days. How to overcome your innate negativity bias and find your optimism. What to keep in mind this holiday season to boost optimism. Links and Resources Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/optamerican Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optamerican/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/optamerican TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@optamerican YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjt-SVOzbjq7dRGijBIHc-A Websites: https://www.optamerican.com & https://www.bashahpsychological.com/ Check out Emily’s book, Addictive Ideologies: Finding Meaning and Agency When Politics Fail You. Download free self-improvement worksheets here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:           
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Managing Holiday Anxiety With Dr. David Rosmarin

For many people, the holiday season marks an increase in anxiety. But this week’s guest explains why that’s not always a bad thing! Dr. David Rosmarin is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, program director at McLean Hospital, and founder of the Center for Anxiety. He’s also author of the new book, Thriving with Anxiety: 9 Tools to Make Your Anxiety Work for You, and in this episode he talks about why the holidays cause so much anxiety and offers tips for thriving throughout the season (and beyond!). In this episode, you'll learn: The difference between stress and anxiety. How to identify your anxiety triggers so you can manage them. The importance of self-care — especially during times of stress — to reduce anxiety. Links and Resources Instagram: @dhrosmarin X: @dhrosmarin Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/david-h-rosmarin-a019a310 Tiktok: @dhrosmarin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidHRosmarin Download David’s free guide on changing your relationship with anxiety here. Follow along with this episode’s transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:           
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Rethinking Gratitude With Casey Johnson

 November is National Gratitude Month, and this year, we decided to look at gratitude through a new lens. Host Paula Felps and Social Media Marketing Manager Casey Johnson went on a quest to find fresh new ways to practice gratitude, and in this episode, they share several unique ways to bring gratitude into your life. They’re here to talk about what they found and how these new practices can help improve your well-being — and they even share ways to get the whole family involved. In this episode, you'll learn: Why finding a new way to practice gratitude is a great way to change your daily routine. How to turn gratitude into a game the whole family can play. How to participate in the Live Happy Gratitude Challenge. Links and Resources Facebook: @livehappy Instagram: @mylivehappy Twitter: @livehappy Be sure to visit the Live Happy Store and take 30% off everything when you enter the code GRATITUDE30. Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter. Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:           
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Defeating SAD With Dr. Norman Rosenthal

 Now that we’ve turned back our clocks, it’s time for shorter days — and for many, that also means the onset of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. This week, host Paula Felps sits down with world-renowned researcher and psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal, the doctor who was instrumental in identifying SAD and also pioneered light therapy as treatment. His new book, Defeating SAD: A Guide to Health and Happiness Through All Seasons, provides a roadmap for beating this disorder and in this episode, he explains how we can better prepare for the next few months. In this episode, you'll learn: How Dr. Norm’s own experiences with seasonal affective disorder inspired him to research it. The role that light plays in seasonal affective disorder. Simple steps you can take to minimize the effects of SAD. Links and Resources Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/normanrosenthal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doctornorman YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/normanrosenthal Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DoctorNorman Website: https://www.normanrosenthal.com Do you have SAD? Take Dr. Norm’s free quiz to find out! Download a free chapter of Defeating SAD: A Guide to Health and Happiness Through All Seasons book here. Password: defeatsad Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:           
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Discovering the Happiness Essentials With Maria Baltazzi

 When you’re going on a trip, it’s important to make sure you pack all the essentials. And when you’re starting a journey to well-being, you need to pack the happiness essentials. This week, host Paula Felps talks with Emmy Award-winning television producer, well-being teacher, and author Maria Baltazzi about her new book, Take A Shot at Happiness: How to Write, Direct and Produce the Life You Want. A world traveler who has developed and produced TV shows around the globe, including the hit reality show Survivor, Maria has truly used the planet as an extraordinary classroom. Her book explores the eight happiness essentials she’s discovered and teaches us how we can use them to improve well-being. In this episode, you'll learn: What she considers her three most important Happiness Essentials. Why she created a practice of photo journaling and how to use it for greater well-being. How her work on “Survivor” changed the way she looks at the world. Links and Resources Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariabaltazzi Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariabaltazzi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariabaltazzi/ InsightTimer: https://insighttimer.com/sojournwholebeing Website: https://mariabaltazzi.com/ Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:           
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Finding Happiness in Hard Times with Rabbi Matt Derrenbacher

The world is experiencing an extremely difficult time right now, and sometimes that can leave us wondering if it’s selfish — or even possible — to pursue happiness in such a chaotic time. This week host Paula Felps sits down with Matt Derrenbacher, Solo Rabbi for Congregation Beth Shalom in Columbia, Missouri, to talk about why searching for happiness right now is so important and how we can find — and offer — comfort in the face of so much uncertainty. In this episode, you'll learn: What we can do for others when we’re not sure what to say. Why it’s important to look for ways to pursue happiness during hard times. Tips for managing anxiety and/or feelings of being overwhelmed by the news. Links and Resources Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.derrenbacher.98/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dbach/ Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:           
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Overcoming Unhappiness at Work With Greg Kettner

If you don’t love your life at work, you’re not alone. New research shows that workers are the unhappiest they’ve been in years, so this week host, Paula Felps sits down with Greg Kettner, founder of the organization Work Happy and an expert in workplace well-being. They’re here to talk about what’s making us so unhappy on the job and what we can do about it. In this episode, you'll learn: Why workers are less satisfied now than during the pandemic. What unhappiness on the job is doing to our mental health. How finding your purpose can change how you view your job. Links and Resources LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkettner/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gregory.kettner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregkettner/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregkettner Podcast: https://www.gregkettner.com/podcast Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:           
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Tap Out Anxiety With Brad Yates

If you’ve ever wished there was a magic way to make anxiety disappear, this week’s guest has the next best thing! Brad Yates is an expert in emotional freedom tapping, also known as EFT or tapping. This practice combines the principles of acupuncture and positive psychology to help people overcome fears, relieve stress, and enjoy greater well-being. In this episode, Brad — author of the best-selling children’s book The Wizard’s Wish and co-author of the book Freedom at your Fingertips — explains how tapping works, some of the different ways to use it, and how to get started. In this episode, you'll learn: The science behind tapping and why it works How tapping can help in stressful situations Simple ways to start a tapping practice Links and Resources Facebook: @TapWithBrad Instagram: @tapwithbrad Twitter: @tapwithbrad TikTok: @tapwithbrad YouTube: @tapwithbrad Get a FREE five-day tapping course to enhance confidence and self-esteem: tapwithbrad.com/bestself Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:           
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Celebrating 10 Years of Happiness With Deborah K. Heisz

 Ten years ago, the happiness movement was just beginning to gain a global presence – and that paved the way for the birth of a company called Live Happy. This week, host Paula Felps talks with Deborah Heisz, CEO and co-founder of Live Happy LLC, to look back on 10 years of sharing happiness. Deb explains how her work in personal development led to discovering positive psychology and how that opened the door to launching a company that remains committed to sharing the many ways we can discover greater well-being and lead more fulfilling lives. In this episode, you'll learn: How Live Happy began and why it was so important to be rooted in science How the Live Happy mission has evolved over the past decade What to expect from the next 10 years Links and Resources Facebook: @livehappy Instagram: @mylivehappy Twitter: @livehappy Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter. Check out the book Live Happy: Ten Practices for Choosing Joy Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:           
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