Live Happy Now

This is a time when all of us are thinking about healing and recovery. We have a lot of questions about wellness, and this episode’s guest offers unique insight into healing and well-being. Dr. Jeffrey Rediger is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and medical director of McLean Hospital Southeast adult psychiatric programs. He’s a board-certified psychiatrist with a master’s in divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and his new book, CURED: The Life-Changing Science of Spontaneous Healing, provides a fascinating look into well-being and how changing our beliefs about ourselves can change our outcomes. In this episode, you’ll learn: What the four pillars of healing are and why they’re so critical. How to improve your immune system. The importance of reducing inflammation in your body.

Now that most Americans find themselves self-quarantined, we’re learning to negotiate a completely different daily routine. Whether that includes a roommate, spouse, children or other family members, being in close quarters can create challenges for every relationship. That’s why we talked with CrisMarie Campbell and Susan Clarke, who are therapists and co-authors of the book, The Beauty of Conflict for Couples. They offer some helpful tips for managing relationships and learning how each person can create space for themselves.  In this episode, you’ll learn: Why it’s important to identify what you need from others in the home. How to create time and space for yourself. The importance of taking a dance break … and other secrets to a happier, healthier self-quarantine.

There’s no question that we are experiencing a chaotic time right now, and many people are feeling overwhelmed by situations that are out of their control. We’ve heard so many concerns from people who are worried about COVID-19, about the financial toll it is already taking and what this means for the future. We’re all learning how to manage this new normal that, frankly, doesn’t feel normal at all. This week’s guest, Erin Pickney, is a Nashville-based therapist specializing in recovery from anxiety and depression. She offers a few suggestions on how we can decrease our anxiety and increase our sense of well-being. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to manage some of our current anxiety. How to connect with others while practicing social distancing. How to make the most of time spent in self-quarantine.

This week’s episode looks at something we all know about, we all know we should do … but we often have trouble finding time for in our busy lives. Meditation has incredible healing value for both our mind and body, and this week’s guest is on a mission to get the whole world meditating. Neuroscientist Ariel Garten is a psychotherapist, mom, former fashion designer and the founder of the tech company Muse, which is designed to make meditation easier. She has spoken about the benefits of meditation on stages around the world, ranging from TED talks to MIT to SXSW. This week, she talks about the benefits of meditation, how we can master the art of meditating and how to find ways to fit it into our hectic lives. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why meditation is so important. How to make meditation part of your daily routine. Ways to make meditation easier.

All of us want to discover our purpose in life, but we don’t always know how to do that. For Sebastian Terry, that path began with making a list of 100 things he wanted to do before he died. But what began as a personal list sparked a bestselling book, documentaries, a reality TV show and a movement to spread kindness to others. Sebastian joins us this week to explain how he inadvertently launched a global movement, how each of us can be part of that movement and how we can create a culture of kindness wherever we work, live and play.  In this episode, you’ll learn: How this list changed the lives of others. How to begin making your own list. How to cultivate a culture of kindness.

March 20 is the International Day of Happiness, but at Live Happy Now, we celebrate it all month long. One way we do that is with a little movement we call #HappyActs. This week, Live Happy CEO Deborah Heisz talks about what happy acts are, how you can make them part of your daily routine and how to celebrate the International Day of Happiness with us. In this podcast, you’ll learn: How performing #HappyActs can improve your day Where to get ideas for #HappyActs How to be part of the International Day of Happiness

There’s a lot of discussion today about how social media is harming our mental health, and many experts advise taking a break from it or even unplugging entirely. But what do you do if that’s just not possible? This week’s guest is here to tell us. Erin Pickney is a Nashville-based therapist specializing in recovery from anxiety, depression and religious trauma. She recognizes that while disconnecting entirely from social media isn’t always possible, there are steps you can take to detox your social media to improve your mental and emotional health.     In this episode, you’ll learn: What it means to detox your social media. Simple ways to identify toxic elements in your social media feeds. How parents can help their children decrease toxic interactions.

There’s so much talk today about mindfulness that it sometimes seems the word has lost its meaning. This week, Dr. Shauna Shapiro, a clinical psychologist and internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and self-compassion, explains what is missing from many mindfulness practices. Her new book, Good Morning, I Love You, combines brain science with easy-to-implement practices that will help you get more calm, clarity and joy in your life. Listen now to find out how you can change your brain with these simple practices. In this episode, you'll learn: Why self-compassion is the “secret sauce” of mindfulness practices. The one simple practice you can do every morning to increase self-compassion. How your self-compassion and mindfulness can help heal those around you.

This is the week when you’ll hear a lot of talk about Valentine’s Day and showing those around you how much you love them. But have you thought about being your own valentine this year? Whether you’re single or in a committed relationship, there are things you can do to feel more fulfilled in every area of your life. Leadership expert and bestselling author Karen McGregor joins us this week to talk about how we can change our approach to love and relationships to find greater joy. In this episode, you’ll learn: How the stories we tell ourselves can influence our relationships—for better and for worse. The importance of learning your own “love power.” How to feel more fulfilled every day — regardless of whether or not you’re in a relationship.

With the rise of social media, FOMO, or the fear of missing out, has become a problem that can result in anxiety, depression and other conditions. Now, as an antidote to FOMO, many people are discovering JOMO, or the Joy of Missing Out. This week’s guest, Jessica Misener, literally wrote the guidebook on how to embrace JOMO. Her book, JOMO: Celebrate the Joy of Missing Out, offers more than 350 ways to exchange your FOMO for JOMO. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why FOMO is so harmful. What you can learn from practicing JOMO. Tips on how to implement JOMO at home.

For most of us, “joy” is not the first word that jumps to mind when we think about work. But this week’s guest has made it his mission to find out how we can all change that. Alex Liu is the managing partner and chairman of the global management consulting company Kearney as well as being a huge proponent of finding joy in the workplace. He hosts the Joy at Work podcast and recently spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos on topics related to creating more joy in the workplace. In this episode, you’ll learn: What business leaders can do to create a more joyful work environment. How to bring a joy-filled attitude to work. How finding joy at work can transform your life.

January is National Organization Month, which makes it a great time to get your home in order. But how do you do that when it seems you have more “stuff” than you have places to put it? This episode’s guest is Marla Stone, a psychotherapist turned professional organizer and author of The Clutter Remedy: A Guide to Getting Organized for Those Who Love Their Stuff. She explains how to create a de-cluttering strategy built around less stuff and more satisfaction. In this episode, you’ll learn: How our outside clutter reflects our inner state. Where to start clearing the clutter. How to live a perpetually organized life.

If someone told you there was a simple practice that could lower your stress, improve your health and boost your overall well-being, you might be skeptical. But this week’s guest has a science-based solution that can do all those things … and so much more. Jessica Ortner is a New York Times bestselling author and producer of The Tapping Solution, the breakthrough documentary film on EFT tapping. She’s here today to explain what EFT tapping is, how it works and how you can start using it today to change your life for the better. In this episode, you’ll learn: What tapping is and how to do it. Why tapping is so effective. Different ways tapping can be used to solve challenges.

As we begin a new year and a new decade, many of us have set ambitious resolutions for change. Or maybe we’re still trying to decide what it is that we want and need from the next 12 months. Today’s guest, Dr. Andrea Goeglein, can help. Known as Dr. Success because she helps business leaders learn how to define and reach their goals, Andrea shares those same practices to help you create goals for the coming year, learn how to think differently and how to keep going even when it seems like you’ve gotten off track. In this episode, you’ll learn: Understanding the important difference between a resolution and a goal. How to prepare your mind to reach your goals. Steps to set yourself up for success.

Many of us will start the New Year with a renewed commitment to change or to following a new purpose in life. This week’s guest, Joanne Fink, literally wrote the guidebook to lead us on that journey. As an award-winning designer and author of books on creativity, grief, faith and spirituality, she has created journals that help readers explore their own path in their own time. Her latest book, My Spiritual Journey, is a guided journal that asks the hard questions needed to help you ground yourself in gratitude, find deeper connections and determine your personal purpose. In this episode, you'll learn: How and why your purpose can change throughout your life. Why it’s important to define your purpose. What happens when you begin to live life more intentionally.

With the New Year just around the corner, you might already be thinking about that New Year’s resolution or what you hope to accomplish in 2020. We have some ideas! In this episode, we hear from Deborah Heisz, who is CEO and Co-Founder of Live Happy. But she’s also the driving force behind the global #HappyActs movement and, this week, she tells us how committing to happy acts can help us create a happy New Year—for ourselves and for others. In this episode, you’ll learn: How #HappyActs began and what they are. What you can do to start your own #HappyActs initiatives. Where to find more ideas for performing #HappyActs.

Technology has changed our lives in many ways, but when holiday celebrations are spent with guests on their phones or tablets, it takes away much of the magic of the moment. This episode’s guest is Joe McCormack, who literally wrote the book on how to find focus and human interaction in the midst of technology’s interference. His book, Noise: Living and Leading When Nobody Can Focus, provides tips on surviving in today’s business world, but he sat down to talk with us about how to keep the holidays happier by preventing technology from intruding on our quality time. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to create a technology-free holiday gathering. The benefits of setting aside the noise of our technology for a few hours. Tips to get everyone to (gladly) participate in a tech-free celebration.

After leaving a successful career in the finance industry, Peter Montoya was concerned by the growing anxiety, depression and loneliness that we’re experiencing as a society. To help turn the tide on all of the negativity, he started Thrive Union, an organization whose mission is to help people go from loneliness and isolation to purposeful belonging. His free online videos provide a life school to teach us the things we need to know to have a thriving, happier life. Peter sat down to talk about why we need a life school and how it can help trigger global change. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why community is so important. How sharing your purpose with others can improve your life. What you can learn at “Life School.”

When she wrote the book Simple Abundance 25 years ago, author Sarah Ban Breathnach had no idea that she was about to launch a global movement. Long before gratitude journals were a “thing,” her organic approach to gratitude and a simpler, happier life resonated with readers around the world. Simple Abundance sparked a movement that sold millions of books and changed not just her life, but the lives of countless readers. Now, she has refreshed her book for modern times and sat down to talk to us about her updated edition of Simple Abundance: 365 Days to a Balanced and Joyful Life.

We’ve heard a lot about the power of saying thank you, but what happens when a simple thank you turns into a heartfelt letter? Nancy Davis Kho was at a reflective point in her life when she decided to write one thank-you letter every week for a whole year. In her new book, The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time, she explains why she wanted to embark on this project and what kind of effect it had on her—and those she wrote to. We knew we had to talk about it on the show. And what better time to talk about it than right before Thanksgiving? Nancy is a freelance writer, podcast host and author of The Thank You Project. She talked to me about how the project started, what it taught her, and why each of us can benefit from writing thank you letters. In this episode, you’ll learn: How you can benefit from your own letter-writing project. Why it’s so life-changing to write thank-you letters—even if you never mail them. Some of the surprising letters you’ll want to write—