Stanford Psychologist: 7 Small Things That Make a Huge Difference in How You Feel

You don’t have to wait for your life to get easier to start enjoying it.

Today, Mel sits down with Dr. Kelly McGonigal, a renowned health psychologist, award-winning Stanford University lecturer, and bestselling author whose work focuses on stress, resilience, and joy.

She’s here to show you how to feel more alive again by making 7 small shifts.

And you already have everything you need to get started.

Dr. McGonigal will walk you through your body and brain’s built-in resources for joy, connection, hope, and courage, and show you how to put them to work.

Your muscles, for example, are like a pharmacy inside your body, releasing “hope molecules” when you move. And you don’t have to crush a workout to get started. A walk with your dog or a little dancing in your kitchen counts.

One of Dr. McGonigal’s biggest insights: You need joy precisely because life can be hard. Those moments of laughter, closeness, and pleasure give you reasons to keep going, and you can learn how to create more of them.

And you can practice these mood-boosting shifts on your next walk, between errands, or while spending time with someone you love. 

You’ll learn:

–What joy really does for you and why your brain needs it 

–How your muscles can make hope – seriously

–How to make stress your friend and use it to your advantage 

–How to use a favorite song to shift your mood and get yourself going 

–How to turn a meaningful memory into courage you can use today 

–How to train your attention to notice more of the good around you 

–3 research-backed sources of hope you can tap into when you need a lift 

You have not lost your ability to feel joy. And you don’t have to wait for it to find you. 

You’ll leave this conversation with small things you can do today to feel more like yourself, connect with people, and get more enjoyment out of the life you’re living.

For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page.  

If you liked this episode, listen to this one next: How to Stop Negative Thoughts & Reset Your Mind for Positive Thinking. 

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