Flourishing Friday (FF) Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you flourish.  In these episodes, we look at the real-life application of Positive Psychology while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life.

In this episode Emiliya addresses a question submitted by one of our Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) students about how affirmations work. Affirmations are positive statements that individuals repeat to themselves to rewire their thought patterns and beliefs and that ultimately lead to behavior change.

Listen to this episode as Emiliya tackles how affirmations work and the role of attention bias in their effectiveness.

This episode is sponsored by Lift, our daily behavioral mastery program using the science of happiness. Sign up now and choose from live classes every weekday!

 

Coach’s Corner (CC) - Welcome to the Coach’s Corner, where you get to witness positive psychology-based coaching with master-level certified coaching. Discover positive psychology in action through real-life coaching sessions with Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, who holds a Master Coach Certificate (MCC) from the International Coach Federation ICF.

In this session Emiliya coaches Blake, a rock climber and athlete who wants to explore a call to be motivated and driven as she emerges from a period of ease and softness in her life. 

Together Emiliya and Blake use metaphor and imagery to navigate the space between these seemingly dualistic but equally powerful energies so that Blake can come away with her own model for drive.

This episode is sponsored by The Flourishing Center's Applied Positive Psychology Coaching (APPC) Certification. For full show notes visit the website. 

https://theflourishingcenter.com/podcast/

EPISODE 88: Business With Conviction and Accomplishment- Coaches Corner

Coaches Corner (CC) - Welcome to the Coaches Corner, where you get to witness Positive Psychology-based coaching with master-level certified coaching. Discover to positive psychology in action through real-life coaching sessions with Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, who holds a Master Coach Certificate (MCC) from the International Coach Federation ICF.

Listen in on this session with Emiliya as she uses the positive psychology coaching model to help her client Jen to navigate discovery of conviction and accomplishment in her recently launched business. 

In this episode, Emiliya coaches Jen, a consultant who recently left her employment of 22 years to launch her own business. Together Emiliya and Jen work through growing, learning, and processing the emotions that come up freeing Jen to break through, get energized, recognize her existing strengths and successes, and move her forward towards the next phase of her career.

This episode is sponsored by The Flourishing Center's Applied Positive Psychology Coaching (APPC) Certification. For full show notes visit the website. 

https://theflourishingcenter.com/podcast/

In this Flourishing Friday episode, Emiliya sits down to talk with Louie Schwartzberg, an award-winning cinematographer, director and producer who tells inspiring stories that celebrate life. Join in this joyful conversation about Louie’s career, the link between his work and positive psychology, his latest film Gratitude Revealed and more…

This episode is sponsored by the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Program. Celebrating it’s 10 year anniversary, with over 1700 practitioners in 55 countries, CAPP is the world’s premier practitioner training in positive psychology. Discover more about CAPP at https://theflourishingcenter.com/capp

In this Science Says episode Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, CEO & Founder of The Flourishing Center, shares what The Flourishing Center has been up to for the past year. She also dives into the opportunities brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic for pause and pivot and shares a recently published study on how positive psychology has played a role in helping people cope with Covid. Plus 9 strategies that can help you rebuild now!

During the pandemic The Flourishing Center created programs and training to help people use positive psychology to cope with the challenges. Check out the Lift Program, a joyful journey of daily positive psychology practice.

EPISODE 85: IMPROV AND POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY- Nancy Watt-Practitioner Profile

Practitioner Profiler (PP)- Welcome to our Positive Psychology Practitioner Profiler, where we highlight ordinary people doing extraordinary things! Each practitioner is one of our graduates of the Certificate in Positive Psychology Program. Please find out the exciting ways people are putting the science into practice within their Communities, Organizations and Lives. 

In this episode, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, CEO & Founder of The Flourishing Center, highlights Nancy Watt. 

A Writer, Actor, Improviser & Speaker. A wife, mother, community activist & board member. A dog owner, voracious reader, marathon runner and eternal optimist. Nancy delivers dynamic and interactive workshops on Positive Psychology, Social Psychology, Bridging the Gender Communication Gap, Organization Development, Neuroscience of Resiliency, Leadership and the Study of Creative Problem Solving. 

For full show notes visit the website. 

https://theflourishingcenter.com/podcast/

 

EPISODE 84

STRENGTH SPOTTING AND ACTS OF KINDNESS: Flourishing Friday

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you flourish.  In these episodes, we look at the real-life application of Positive Psychology while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life. 

Today’s podcast is about how you can take two research-based interventions for improving your well-being and combine them into one. Performing an act of kindness and spotting strengths

Research shows that performing acts of kindness for others boosts the giver’s well-being as much as it promotes the recipient’s well-being, if not more.

Sometimes, the mere thought of performing an act of kindness is enough to boost our happiness and well-being by giving us a dose of positivity.

The reason being is that for most of us, when we imagine ourselves doing something, our brain and body respond as though we’re doing it, and imagining doing it, we put ourselves in the shoes of the person about to receive it.

The second intervention is about noticing strengths. One of the pillars of positive psychology is taking a strengths approach. We’re not just trying to shore up weaknesses - we want to recognize and build the positive.

For the full show notes visit our website.

https://theflourishingcenter.com/podcast/

 

EPISODE 81: FRIENDSHIP MATTERS: Karen Riddell-Practitioner Profile

Practitioner Profiler (PP)- Welcome to our Positive Psychology Practitioner Profiler, where we highlight ordinary people doing extraordinary things! Each practitioner is one of our graduates of the Certificate in Positive Psychology Program. Please find out the exciting ways people are putting the science into practice within their Communities, Organizations and Lives. 

In this episode, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, CEO & Founder of The Flourishing Center, highlights Karen Riddell, Coach, Speaker and Author. 

After earning her undergraduate and law degrees from The University of North Carolina, she discovered friendship and its power to positively impact a woman’s life personally and professionally, emotionally and physically. Following her mission to spread this message, Karen became a friendship blogger on Psychology Today’s website and began speaking to women’s groups about friendship. She loves to share both the scientific research on friendship as well as the spiritual gifts of shared connections.

Karen’s interest in friendship led her to become certified in both applied positive psychology and life coaching. In her practice, she works with groups and individuals to find the sweet spot where their strengths, purpose and passions align. Karen partners with clients to clearly conceptualize their goals, envision the possibilities, and map out a concrete action plan for thriving. Karen’s practice centers on positivity, engagement, connection, purpose, and vitality.

In December 2020, with the world deep in a pandemic, Karen published Friendship Matters, a book extolling the miraculous power of friendship to transform your life.

Listen in and discover how Karen is integrating Positive Psychology into her life.

You can reach Karen Riddell

https://karenriddell.com

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer:

visit The Flourishing Center at www.theflourishingcenter.com

Show Link:

EPISODE 82: CRISITUNITY-TURN CRISIS INTO OPPORTUNITY: Flourishing Friday

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you flourish.  In these episodes, we look at the real-life application of Positive Psychology while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life. 

Shout out to Dan Trommater CAPPster from Canada in our recent Better Than Before COVID 19 programs.

We were talking about how to turn obstacles and crisis into gifts or opportunities.

He said, in typical animated Dan fashion, You mean, a crisitunity! 

I thought he was friggin brilliant, then he told me it wasn't his, it was Homer!

It turns out in a Simpsons episode, and daughter, Lisa Simpson, says, "dad, did you know that the Chinese have the same word for crisis as they do opportunity?"

And homer exclaims, "Crisitunity!"

The word they're referring to is both a Chinese and a Japanese word called Kiki. It's made up of two characters. 

The first symbol represents dangerous, while the second one means opportunity: Aka, a crisitunity.

Yes, a crisis may be scary, it may be dangerous, but it also forces the chance for change, and with that chance, a doorway to opportunity.

This, of course, with the pandemic, is on the minds of many of the people that I work with and corporations that I support. People are asking how do we pivot? How do we become resilient? Since the pandemic started, I've been running a low-cost online program called Better Than Before COVID-19. We've had over 1,500 people go through the program in the past nine months, all united around a shared vision of learning positive psychology skills to be better after the pandemic than you were going into it.

That's why I'm in love with the word crisitunity. 

1. A mindset shift that the moments of crisis can be a gift can be an opportunity. It makes me think of the first principle of Anusara yoga, a yoga style that I used to teach. The first principle is "open to grace.
2. Accept the past - check out last week's Flourishing Friday episode on psychic masochism and how to stop beating up on yourself about the past. 
3. Ask yourself - how can I learn from this? How can I grow? How can I view this as a contrast? Meaning what I'm experiencing is what I don't want. How can I use this to create something I do want?
4.  Asking yourself, what are my options? What can I do? All these things get us out of problem focus into solution focus. 

Food for thought. What crisis have you turned into an opportunity?

EPISODE 81: Annemarie Brogan- Practitioner Profile

Practitioner Profiler (PP)- Welcome to our Positive Psychology Practitioner Profiler, where we highlight ordinary people doing extraordinary things! Each practitioner is one of our graduates of the Certificate in Positive Psychology Program. Please find out the exciting ways people are putting the science into practice within their Communities, Organizations and Lives. 

In this episode, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, CEO & Founder, The Flourishing Center, highlights Annmarie Brogan, professional organizer, certified life coach and resilience trainer.

As an Applied Positive Psychology Practitioner, she brings the science and evidence-based resources of positive psychology to her work as a professional organizer, certified life coach and resilience trainer.  But before all that, I worked in Corporate America. 

She is the co-author of Beyond Tidy: Declutter Your Mind and Discover the Magic of Organized Living, from Skyhorse Publishing, merges her top 8 organizing principles with the science of positive psychology. Each principle saves you time, money, space and energy, giving you more to spend on family and activities you love!

Listen in and discover how Annmarie is integrating Positive Psychology into her life.

You can reach Annmarie Brogan at

https://organizemeny.com

www.annmariebrogan.com.

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer:

visit The Flourishing Center at www.theflourishingcenter.com

Show Link:

EPISODE 80: SHOULDA WOULDA COULDA- STOP PSYCHIC MASOCHISM: Flourishing Friday

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you flourish.  In these episodes, we look at the real-life application of Positive Psychology while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life. 

This week Emiliya worked with a coaching client who came to her because he wanted more happiness and positivity in his life. His wife, the love of his life and high school sweetheart died of a brain aneurysm 5 years ago. COVID has led to a lot of alone time and a lot of time to ruminate on what could have should have and would have.  She calls this self-talk: psychic masochism. It hurts to say these things to ourselves, yet it’s like wiggling a loose tooth, it hurts, but it feels good. 

Emililya shares how she thinks there’s an evolutionary role in why we beat ourselves up over the past. Most of the time, we’re facing something that was entirely out of our control. Autonomy and having a locus of control are highly coveted human needs, but it’s rarely something we truly have. And when it comes to the past… we have no control over changing the past. The only control we have is what we do with it in the future.

When you imagine the should have, could have, would have… you imagine a different past… you’re imagining yourself actually having control. 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

EPISODE 79: GRACE FUELED WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Coaches Corner (CC)- Welcome to the Coaches Corner, where you get to witness Positive Psychology-based coaching in action with master-level certified coaching. Listen to positive psychology in action through real-life coaching sessions with Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, who holds a Master Coach Certificate (MCC) from the International Coach Federation ICF.

Listen in on this session to hear coaching in action. Emiliya uses the positive psychology coaching model to help her client, Grace. Through this process, she can reveal what she desires to be FUELED WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE. Through this session, you can hear she wants to move forward but feels frustrated and stuck. Listen to how coach Emiliya helps her discover how to tap into her resourcefulness. Emiliya uses paraphrasing, metaphor and curious questions to help support her on her journey. She helps her tap into her own wisdom, and she lets her lead the dance of the coaching session to help her client overcome her difficult challenges. Emiliya holds the space for Grace effectively that allows her to go from feeling stuck to liberated. 

A Return to Battle. 

Grace feels initially like she is fighting an endless battle, and through this coaching session, she can challenge her own thinking patterns and gain a clearer direction.  She expresses her many feelings and how she feels and sees many obstacles. About midway through this session, Emiliya asked Grace, “What needs to change? This powerful question broadens her thinking and allows her to consider her options and tap into what she really needs. 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

Coach’s Corner (CC) - Welcome to the Coach’s Corner, where you get to witness Positive Psychology-based coaching with master-level certified coaching. Discover positive psychology in action through real-life coaching sessions with Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, who holds a Master Coach Certificate (MCC) from the International Coach Federation ICF.

In this episode Emiliya coaches Sara, a non-profit CEO who is about to embark on her own journey into a private practice of coaching and consulting. As Sara enters the liminal space between an ending and a new beginning, she wants to offer herself space to reflect and decompress, something she’s never had in the past as a busy executive. Emilya coaches her through identifying where she’s at and what she needs, patience, in order to find balance during this liminal time.

This episode is sponsored by The Flourishing Center's Applied Positive Psychology Coaching (APPC) Certification. For full show notes visit the website: https://theflourishingcenter.com/

EPISODE 78: HOW TO GRIEVE- The Science of Coping: Flourishing Friday

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you flourish.  In these episodes, we look at the real-life application of Positive Psychology while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life. 

Emiliya provides thoughtful words to strengthen, inspire, and comfort those who have suffered the loss of a loved one in this episode. If you love, you will grieve—and nothing is more mysteriously central to being fully human.

When a loved one dies, the pain of loss can feel unbearable—especially in the case of a traumatizing death that leaves us shouting, “NO!” with every part of our body.  Emiliya offers science and personal experience-backed support to help guide you through the process of learning how to grieve. 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

EPISODE 77: Daily Emotional Wellness During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Science Says

Wisdom Wednesday is when we offer some fun positive psychology wisdom into your day! 

Science Says (SS)- Welcome to Science Says, where every episode highlights a research study that has come out in the field of positive psychology. LISTEN to discover the science of human flourishing while Emiliya Zhivotovskaya teaches you how to put this new knowledge into action… because science says! 

In this episode, Emiliya draws from the research findings in the British Psychological Society on daily emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study highlights the importance of:

Spending time outdoors: Spending time outdoors was associated with markedly raised positive affect and reduced negative emotions. Exercising, going for walks, gardening, pursuing hobbies, and taking care of children were the activities associated with the greatest affective benefits.

Limiting exposure to COVID- 19 Media: The importance of setting limits for exposure to COVID-19-related media coverage.

Avoid time spent alone: Time spent alone, engaged in social media use, and caring for children have been associated with reduced emotional well-being. 

Bottom line: Time spent outdoors; Exercising; Going for a walk; Gardening; Taking care of children; and Engaging in in-person social interactions with friends, is good for our emotional well-being. This study emphasis the importance of daily activities, awareness of time spent indoors/outdoors, and social interaction. 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

THE POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY OF PIXAR'S SOUL: Flourishing Friday

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you to flourish.  In these episodes we look at real life application of Positive Psychology, while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life. 

This episode was inspired by the Pixar’s Movie, Soul. In this episode your will discover three really powerful positive psychology lessons that you can take away from the Pixar's movie Soul. We look at how you can use the information in you life. Emiliya walks you through concepts such as: 

-Learning how to savour.

-Discovering how to differential between purpose and passion. 

-Identifying how to get more flow in your life. 

Listen In to discover more!

For full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

SHOW LINK:

EPISODE 73: NO SHINING KNIGHT IS COMING TO SAVE YOU

Practitioner Profiler (PP)- Welcome to our Positive Psychology Practitioner Profiler  where we highlight ordinary people that are doing extra ordinary things! Each practitioner is one of our graduates of the CertifIcate in Positive Psychology Program. Find out the exciting ways people are putting the science into practice within their Communities, Organizations and Lives. 

In this episode, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya CEO & Founder, The Flourishing Center highlights Shiri Rosenblat,  executive coach and positive psychology practitioner and the creator of the company Start in Point. 

NO SHINING KNIGHT IS COMING TO SAVE YOU 

Listen in and discover how Shiri is integrating Positive Psychology and sharing skills with teenagers and parents. She talks about the idea that you have the strength and you know what you need to do. There is no one coming to save you. In this episode they talk about Purna, a Sanskrit word which means Wholeness, Complete, Full, Perfect. Fulfilled, Satisfied. Listen in how Shiri integrates the mindset that we are complete and whole. She teaches her clients that they have everything they need they have and every thing they have they need. 

She teaches and shares with the world the Loving-kindness meditation (sometimes called “metta” meditation) and how it is a great way to cultivate our propensity for kindness. It involves mentally sending goodwill, kindness, and warmth towards others by silently repeating a series of mantras. She is passionate about providing safe and supportive containers for teens to learn and grow. 

Shiri discovered that you can face challenge with grace. Empathy and self-compassion have been very powerful in Shiri’s life. Listen how she brings in all emotions and embraces the healing process. Using positive psychology to live an optimal life and Shiri’s favourite integration is the idea, OTHER PEOPLE MATTER. 

You can reach Shiri Rosenblat https://bit.ly/2BGNyOV

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer:

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

Show Link:

EPISODE 72: POST TRAUMATIC GROWTH IN PRACTICE

Practitioner Profiler (PP)- Welcome to our Positive Psychology Practitioner Profiler  where we highlight ordinary people that are doing extra ordinary things! Each practitioner is one of our graduates of the CertifIcate in Positive Psychology Program. Find out the exciting ways people are putting the science into practice within their Communities, Organizations and Lives. 

In this episode, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya CEO & Founder, The Flourishing Center highlights Dr. Shenell Evans. Dr. Shenell is a Brooklyn-based clinical psychologist who specializes in creating sacred, evidence-based space for adults, particularly those living with chronic health conditions and the accompanying biopsychosocial-spiritual byproducts. 

Grow after trauma using post traumatic growth. 

Listen in how beautifully Dr. Shenell Evans defines Post traumatic growth. Regardless of where people fall on the illness—wellness continuum, chronic conditions evoke many issues: sense of grief/loss, sadness, anxiety, anger/frustration, physical/functional limitations, strained relationships, insurance dilemmas, treatment decisions, and, at times, treatment fatigue. For people who wish to reclaim their time will need support as they grieve, regroup, and recreate their lives in order to foster life satisfaction and meaning DESPITE CHRONIC ILLNESS. 

Dr. Shenell Evans infuses positive psychology into her practice. Her training in Applied positive psychology allows her to emphasize the sense of thriving and flourishing. She helps her clients tap into the values to help them pull themselves forward. She helps get people back to base line and then she draws from positive psychology to help with patient care. She emphasizes optimizing our human experience. She taps into the wealth of knowledge to tap into positive neuro-science to help establish habit and routine. She wants to show up as authentically for her patients, for herself, for her family. She emphasizes showing up the best we can to optimize our human experience. 

You can reach Dr. Shenell Evans at: https://www.drshenell.com

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer:

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

Show Link:

EPISODE 71: UNITY MINDSET TO SHIFT ENVY AND JEALOUSY 

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you to flourish.  In these episodes we look at real life application of Positive Psychology, while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life. 

What if we rejoiced in each other’s success, triumphs, gifts, beauty as much as our own. Wouldn’t we ask “what’s good”? What are you celebrating? Thinking and saying “That’s amazing!” 

Compersion not comparison. Wikipedia defines it as “an empathetic state of happiness and joy experienced when another individual experiences happiness and joy.”  Started off as a term used in the polyamory comparison. Opposite of jealousy and envy.  Importance of savouring what’s good with others.

Jealousy is the fear that someone is going to take what you have. Envy is the desire for what other people have. Both feelings come from a scarcity mindset. 

This word exists in other languages. “Mudita,” in Sanskrit, means “the pleasure that comes from delighting in other people’s well-being.” “Unne,” in Norwegian means “to be happy on someone else’s behalf.”

A pre-requisite for compersion is an abundance mindset and  a unity mindset.

Someone else winning doesn’t mean we have to lose. 

Emiliya shows us the exciting concept of Unity and benefits of experiences happiness and joy for others. It is powerful to hold the mindset that we are connected to human beings and we are all one. It is this mindset that can shift our way of being. This shift in mindset from envy and jealousy to compersion can allow for a feeling of experiences happiness and joy.  In positive psychology this idea is called active constructive responding. It is about getting excited and happy for others when they are celebrating! Asking for more positive moments and sharing good news is a form of savouring. 

Read more about Compersion in Melanie Ginsburg article https://bit.ly/32HwqV5

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

EPISODE 70: MENTAL TUG AND WAR- HOLDING SPACE

Coaches Corner (CC)- Welcome to the Coaches Corner, where you get to witness Positive Psychology-based coaching in action with master-level certified coaching. Listen to positive psychology in action through real-life coaching sessions with Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, who holds a Master Coach Certificate (MCC) from the International Coach Federation ICF.

Listen in on this session to hear coaching in action. Emiliya uses the positive psychology coaching model to help her client, Raj. Through this process, he can reveal what he desires to birth in his life. Through this session, you can hear he wants to move forward but feels frustrated and stuck. Listen to how coach Emiliya helps him discover how to tap into his resourcefulness. Emiliya uses paraphrasing, metaphor and curious questions to help support him on his journey. She helps him tap into his wisdom, and she lets him lead the dance of the coaching session to help her client overcome some difficult challenges. Emiliya holds the space for Raj effectively that allows him to go from feeling stuck to liberated. 

A game of Tug and War. 

Raj feels initially like he is being pulled in two directions, and through this coaching session, he can challenge his own thinking patterns and gain a clearer direction.  He expresses his many options and how he feels and sees many obstacles. About midway through this session, Emiliya asked Raj, “How do you want to think’? This powerful question challenges his thinking and allows him to consider his thinking and tap into what he really needs. 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

EPISODE 69: BREATHE TO ENHANCE WELL-BEING

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you to flourish.  In these episodes we look at real life application of Positive Psychology, while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life. 

Your body breathes on autopilot—so why worry about how to inhale and exhale? Scientific research is showing that mindful breathing, paying attention to your breath and learning how to manipulate it, is one of the most effective ways to lower everyday stress levels and improve your well-being. Despite the inherently automatic nature of breathing, most people can really benefit from taking control of our breathing. There is a very direct relationship between breath rate, mood state, and autonomic nervous system state. Listen in to Emiliya teaches us how we can use breath control to self-regulate. 

In this episode she also talks about Heart rate variability as a new way to enhance your well-being. HRV is simply a measure of the variation in time between each heartbeat. This variation is controlled by a primitive part of the nervous system called the autonomic nervous system. It works regardless of our desire and regulates, among other things, our heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and digestion. People who have a high HRV may have greater cardiovascular fitness and be more resilient to stress. Overall breathing appears to play an important role in the positive effect of heart rate variability. Paced breathing has been shown to enhance HRV. 

Consciously use your breathing patterns to take charge of your health and well-being.

You can calm with with your breath or energize with your breath: 

Calming Breath: INHALE FOR THREE EXHALE FOR SIX COUNTS 

Energizing Breath: INHALE FOR SIX COUNTS EXHALE FOR THREE COUNTS 

Increase Heart Rate Variability: SLOW DOWN OVERALL BREATH INHALE FOR SIX COUNTS AND OUT FOR SIX COUNTS 

Make Breathing a conscious tool that you can use daily. 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

SHOW LINK: 

EPISODE 68: THE EFFECT OF INTENTION ON PHYSICAL THINGS

Science Says (SS)- Welcome to Science Says, where every episode highlights a research study that has come out in the field of positive psychology. LISTEN to discover the science of human flourishing while Emiliya Zhivotovskaya teaches you how to put this new knowledge into action… because science says!

What does it mean to set an intention and how much impact can it really have? 

Setting an intention is activating a part of your receptivity. If you were to go out in the day, and not have set any intention or created any type of prayer or manifestation of how you want the day to go, then you're getting on a bike with no direction. Is the power of intention an amazing and often untapped resource in our lives? Emiliya takes us through some scientific studies that confirm the impact of intention. 

By now, we all recognize and accept that human consciousness has an effect on everything from the molecular structure of water to the well-being of humankind, but we often question the science behind intention. Imagine the changes that can take place within your body as you begin to consciously give intention to positive choices. And it doesn't stop with you, since your energy has an impact on those around you. 

Setting intentions can make you more effective. Setting intentions will help you to get out of your head. Setting intentions opens your eyes to things you may have otherwise missed. Setting intentions can even make our food and water more beneficial for our health. Setting intentions can influence your actual experience and science has backed up this claim. 

Since we have discovered the power of intentions you might want to create your won. Create your own intentions and discover how they can enhance your life. Perhaps create a mantra, share your intentions, verbally pray, create ritual, mediate, practice gratitude, remind yourself daily to create intention. 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

SHOW LINK: 

67. STOP DESERVING LOVE: Flourishing Friday

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you to flourish.  In these episodes we look at real life application of Positive Psychology, while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life. 

You don’t need to DO something to be loved. We all hold internal conversations as we go through our days. Psychologists have identified these inner monologues as “self-talk,” in which you provide opinions and evaluations on what you’re doing as you're doing it. It is this inner voice. We can actually “hear” what your own self-talk is saying. However, when the voice is critical and harsh, the effect can be emotionally crippling.

Discover how Emiliya suggest you let go of some of your shadows. Deep down inside we have an “ouchy” experience that we hear and absorb. Consider what happens after you’ve done something embarrassing. This destructive type of self-talk causes you to question yourself and your worthiness of deserving love. 

What is something you say to yourself that hurts us. Think of this as a statement.

Let’s turn the situation around now:

What is a statement that you say to yourself? What else is a statement if someone would say to you that would hurt? Self statements such as I am not… Not pretty enough, good enough, man enough, etc. I am useless. 

Listen to this episode to discover how you can psychological reprogram and shift your prospective around deserving love. 

Bottom line, these are just a thought not my truth… We are NOT undeserving of love. We are love. So we need to stop de-serving-love. Go inside yourself. Discover what that is. Be with that statement. How does it make you feel like you are not deserving of love. Work through hearing and receiving your statement. 

You are love! 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

SHOW LINK:

Flourishing Friday (FF) Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you flourish.  In these episodes, we look at the real-life application of Positive Psychology while giving you tips and strategies to put it into use in all areas of your life.

What if there was one question you could ask every week, month or year that could make a remarkable impact on your wellbeing? In this episode, Emiliya explores the question: If I were watching the movie of my life right now, would I be applauding who and how I am? This question illustrates positive psychology principles like compassion, growth mindset, and the story-telling function of the brain. And the answer to this question can be the difference between thriving and languishing. Listen in to hear more and ask yourself this fascinating question for a flourishing Friday. 

This episode is sponsored by Lift, our daily behavioral mastery program using the science of happiness. Sign up now and choose from live classes every weekday! For full show notes visit the website. 

https://theflourishingcenter.com/podcast/

EPISODE 66: A BRIGHTER PURPOSE

Practitioner Profiler (PP)- Welcome to our Positive Psychology Practitioner Profiler  where we highlight ordinary people that are doing extra ordinary things! Each practitioner is one of our graduates of the CertifIcate in Positive Psychology Program. Find out the exciting ways people are putting the science into practice within their Communities, Organizations and Lives. 

In this episode, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya CEO & Founder, The Flourishing Center highlights Kelly Miller, the creator of a Brighter Purpose.  A Brighter Purpose was ignited to create a movement of humans moving toward flourishing lives. After the loss of a dear family member, Kelly Miller has made it her mission to help as many as she can to understand how malleable we are as humans, and how powerful our minds can be. With more people thriving with the benefits of accurate, intentional, and resilient thinking, the better our world will become.

Kelly teaches people about the science of Positive Psychology, which is the study of optimal human functioning. It aims to discover and promote the factors that allow individuals and communities to thrive. Positive psychology is about helping people move “north of neutral” (Seligman, 2002). It is about building what is right, not just fixing what is wrong. Practitioners of positive psychology live approach based lives (Peterson, 2003). 

Kelly shares her personal experience with her daughters anxiety. “When I witnessed my daughter’s first panic attack (over a pair of pants), I really didn’t know what to do. She was very obviously in pain. My mothering skills were simply not enough to help her and it was agonizing for both of us.” This is why she created the book, Jane’s Worry Elephant. She created it so that other parents know what science has shown can help children. So that other kids experiencing anxiety can have some tools of their own. Anxiety is painful. She wants to help ease the pain, and to let other families know that they are not alone.

Listen how Kelly uses Positive Psychology copings skills to make changes in the world. Her go to positive psychology tool as a mother is the 54321 technique. Which is where you acknowledge: 5 things around you, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you hear, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste. Worry Box is another tool that helps open up conversation and allows worry to be placed on the box. 

You can reach Kelly Miller: https://abrighterpurposecoach.com

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer:

EPISODE 65: SHIFTING GEARS WITH GRACE 

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you to flourish.  In these episodes we look at real life application of Positive Psychology, while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life. 

Productivity doesn’t happen by accident. Accomplishing all the things you need and want to do requires forethought and planning, along with a continuous supply of motivation and focus. Do you ever think how amazing it would be to do everything you set out to do each day and do it with ease and grace? However, we often face a mountain of work, situations and feel a sense of overwhelmed as the demands of the day make us feel defeated. 

Take charge of your time and energy, and learn what to focus on and what to let go. In this episode Emiliya shares with us her personal secrets that contribute to her success. She shed’s some light on what helps her shift gears with grace and ease. How effectively do you shift from one thing to another? Think about the last time you were all over the place, full of a free floating anxiety, bouncing from one task to another, reacting to people and situations emotionally.  

Emiliya answers the questions How do I get back to my center? How do I ground myself? Staying grounded requires daily attention and effort.Asking yourself “What do I see, hear, taste, smell, touch?” to ground and center your being. Being centered in order to shift gears effectively. Emiliya says, “When I’m centered it’s easier to respond to people, to catch the nuances of their attention, and to let inspiration flow through me.” She also emphasizes the importance of Mindfulness and how it also improves our productivity and allows us to shift gears with grace by helping us produce better work.

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

SHOW LINK: 

 

EPISODE 64:  POSSIBILITY TO HEAL

Real-time Resilience (RR)- Welcome to Real-time Resilience (RR), where we look at real people being resilient in real time. Be ready to discover and learn skills to help you bounce back better. Listen in to bounce back stories that are sure to inspire and encourage you through any struggle. 

Life isn’t perfect, so it is exciting to witness real people, with real stories, practicing real-time resilience. Listen in to Bounce Back stories that are sure to inspire and encourage you through any struggle. 

Healing starts with the belief that you can! 

Shauna Streich, a Rehabilitation Consultant, founded The Possibility Centre to assist people who are recovering from injury and illness, providing support through the ups and downs of the recovery process. The consultant became the patient when Shauna was placed in a medically-induced coma from complications related to severe bilateral pneumonia and septic shock. She required intubation and mechanical ventilation for 17 days. When she finally awoke she could barely speak, couldn’t walk or even feed herself. 

From this experience, Shauna knows that recovery can leave you feeling frustrated, vulnerable, and scared. She also knows that it can be difficult to find help during this time of uncertainty. Shauna’s personal journey, her passion about the healing process plus her 20 years of experience in rehabilitation and disability management provides a unique perspective when assisting people.

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

You can reach Shauna Streich at the possibility centre at: http://thepossibilitycentre.com

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

Show Link:

EPISODE 63: SUGAR CRAVINGS BEGONE 

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you to flourish.  In these episodes we look at real life application of Positive Psychology, while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life. 

Fill your life with sweetness that is not necessarily sweetness. Research says that our brains are hardwired for pleasure and sugar works like many addictive drugs. Sugar affects our brain pathways just like addictive drugs, and most of us don't realize how much we're eating.

Using sugar to numb out feelings? Sugar Detox: Hype or Hope? A sugar detox diet promises to end your craving for sweets and help you lose weight. But does it work? Some people use sugary foods in ways that aren't healthy, even though it may not be an actual addiction. Some signs: You crave sugar, lose control, and eat more than you planned. Your brain also sees sugar as a reward, which makes you keep wanting more of it. If you often eat a lot of sugar, you're reinforcing that reward, which can make it tough to break the habit. 

SUGAR CRAVINGS BEGONE

Can you beat your sugar habit by quitting cold turkey? Some sugar detox plans urge you to avoid all sweets. That means all fruit, dairy, and refined grains. The idea is to purge your system of sugar. 

Do you frequently numb out with food, television, social media or drama? Stop numbing your feelings with sugar. Like any addiction, the main underlying cause of sugar eating is limiting beliefs and emotions—both conscious and unconscious—around not feeling loved, safe or secure. Listen to Emiliya’s perspective on sugar cravings and consumption along with her tips to detox off sugar. 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

EPISODE 62: GRIEF WITH GRATITUDE 

Coaches Corner (CC)- Welcome to the Coaches Corner where you get to witness Positive Psychology based coaching in action with master level certified coaching. Listen to positive psychology in action through real life coaching sessions with Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, who holds a Master Coach Certificate (MCC) from the International Coach Federation ICF. 

Grieving the loss of a loved one is a challenge like no other.  Grief is the normal and expected response to death. The giving process is different for everyone. Listen how Emiliya coaches Venessa, through processing the loss of her father. 

“I wish he were here. When am I going to get over it? Maybe I just have to get through it.” Grief can be deeply painful and complex, but it’s a completely natural reaction for those who have lost something or someone. 

Discover how Venessa discovers that there is nothing wrong with her for grieving. Although "getting over it" might be a well-meaning thought, she discovers a much more realistic goal for her grief is resilience and gratitude. She discovers this doesn't mean getting back to who you used to be, but learning and growing from your experiences. Everyone deals with grief differently, but acceptance, support, and expression through gratitude and journalling resonated with Venessa. She also decided that celebrating the life of her loved one can be one of the best ways to support her healing. 

Exploring the feeling and processing! Grief and gratitude simultaneously. 

Through the coaching process she decides to not judge herself as she grieves, and give yourself time to experience her feelings. She discovers she can experience gratitude by exploring the many different ways in which she can honour her dad’s life. 

Allow memories and experiences to be a positive thing for her. 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

SHOW LINK:

EPISODE 59: SLEEPING HEALTH FROM NASAL BREATHING

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you to flourish.  In these episodes we look at real life application of Positive Psychology, while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life. 

Healthier while you sleep!! Improve energy, vitality, mood and clear headed. 

Tap your mouth shut when your are sleeping! Sounds crazy, right?

Science has shown that nostril breathing is healthier. Mouth breathing is meant to be a back up system. Mouth breathing is associated with stress. Nasal breathing (as opposed to mouth breathing) increases circulating blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, slows the breathing rate and improves overall lung volumes. The nose also adds moisture and warmth to inhaled air for smoother entry to the lungs. Nasal breathing, as opposed to mouth breathing, has another important advantage, especially for effective and efficient exercise: It can allow for more oxygen to get to active tissues. 

Listen while Emiliya backs up this claim with scientific research. She teaches us about  the Buteyko Method. The Buteyko method emphasizes the importance of nasal breathing, which protects the airways by humidifying, warming, and cleaning the air entering the lungs. Expected benefits include easier breathing, deeper sleep, more energy, reduced asthma and nasal congestion along with increased feeling of calm.

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

EPISODE 60: LIVING OUT LOUDER 

Practitioner Profiler (PP)- Welcome to our Positive Psychology Practitioner Profiler  where we highlight ordinary people that are doing extra ordinary things! Each practitioner is one of our graduates of the CertifIcate in Positive Psychology Program. Find out the exciting ways people are putting the science into practice within their Communities, Organizations and Lives. 

In this episode, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya CEO & Founder, The Flourishing Center highlights Lizzie LaRock, a writer/photographer/coach based in Colorado. 

She teaches online and in-person creativity courses and workshops using photography, creative writing, mindfulness and applied positive psychology tools. 

She created a fascinating program called The Life Feast Online Experience. What is The Life Feast? The Life Feast is the online experience where you will savor, swoon and sincerely fall in love with life's little moments. You'll use photography, a smidge of mindfulness and the science of positive psychology to shake up your usual routine, amplify what's working and experience life through a different lens. 

Most of us live our lives rushing our kids to every enrichment experience under the sun. Our own creative wellbeing is on the backburner (or not even on the stove!). This is like trying to nourish ourselves with a cardboard tasting meal replacement shake rather than treating ourselves to a 6-course full on decadent feast every once in a while. But don't worry, this course is full of flavor with ZERO calories ... more nourishing than paleo, more fun than spin class … 

You do need curiosity ... and a smidge of playfulness won't hurt.

Lizzie teaches the power in the ability to Pause and see the things around us that are beautiful, to take notice what is around you, to observe and enjoy what you see! 

We get better what we focus on!!

You can reach Lizzie at: https://www.larockstarcreative.com

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer:

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

EPISODE 59: BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you to flourish.  In these episodes we look at real life application of Positive Psychology, while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life. 

In this episode Emiliya takes inspiration from the book, How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving by David Richo. She builds on last weeks Flourishing Friday and how we can turn the learning into a form of self care. 

I see myself, I value myself, I accept myself, I love myself, I trust myself

When deeply understood and applied, these five simple concepts–what Richo calls the five A’s–form the basis of mature love. They help us to move away from judgment, fear, and blame to a position of openness, compassion, and realism about life and relationships. By giving and receiving these five A’s, relationships with ourselves become deeper and more meaningful, and they become a ground for personal transformation.

David Richo, offers a fresh perspective on love and relationships. Drawing on the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, in this episode Emiliya helps us explores five hallmarks of mindful loving and how they play a key role in our relationships with ourselves. 

1. Attention to the present moment; observing, listening, and noticing all the feelings at play in our relationships. It is important to give yourself attention. What am I thinking, feeling and needing. 
2. Acceptance of ourselves and others just as we are. This is about accepting where you are at in the moment. 
3. Appreciation of all our gifts, our limits, our longings, and our poignant human predicament. We can think about what do we value about ourselves. Basking and savouring in yourself. 
4. Affection shown through holding and touching in respectful ways. Being able to give yourself affection through self care, time, sleep, food. 
5. Allowing life and love to be just as they are, with all their ecstasy and ache, without trying to take control. This is about building trust with yourself and allowing yourself to be human. 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

SHOW LINK: 

EPISODE 58: IT’S HARD TO READ THE LABEL WHEN YOU’RE INSIDE THE JAR

Coaches Corner (CC)- Welcome to the Coaches Corner where you get to witness Positive Psychology based coaching in action with master level certified coaching. Listen to positive psychology in action through real life coaching sessions with Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, who holds a Master Coach Certificate (MCC) from the International Coach Federation ICF. 

"IT’S HARD TO READ THE LABEL WHEN YOU’RE INSIDE THE JAR” Charlie Gilkey from Productive Flourishing 

Discover how Emiliya coaches her client from a place of where she is to where she wants to be. Emiliya takes Nicole through a gentle, patient process of helping her to move out of her jar and see the label. 

Nicole went from stuck in relationship dating patterns to taking power her back. Using experience to get greater clarity. Through the process of coaching Nicole was able to gain back her power and allow her to positively approach the dating process. Relationship and dating challenges Nicole is faced with, allows for a moment of growth and clarity.  Through the coaching model, the clients discovers the benefit of having clarity of what she is needing. 

Our wounds make us stronger! 

Self-care is what she discovers she is needing. As soon as she discovers her own needs Nicole feels light and free. She becomes liberated and gains a sense of freedom. She uses some positive psychology techniques like talking to her brain, “Thank you brain this isn’t helpful right now.” Redirecting and pull back brain to more useful thinking. She feels empowered to turn her focus inward on self-care. 

For Full show notes & to apply to be coached with Emiliya:

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

Show Link:

EPISODE 57: HOW TO BE AN ADULT IN RELATIONSHIPS

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you to flourish.  In these episodes we look at real life application of Positive Psychology, while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life. 

In this episode Emiliya takes inspiration from the book, How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving by David Richo. 

"Most people think of love as a feeling," says David Richo, "but love is not so much a feeling as a way of being present." In this book, Richo offers a fresh perspective on love and relationships- one that focuses not on finding an ideal mate, but on becoming a more loving and realistic person. Drawing on the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, How to Be an Adult in Relationships explores five hallmarks of mindful loving and how they play a key role in our relationships throughout life:

1. Attention to the present moment; observing, listening, and noticing all the feelings at play in our relationships.
2. Acceptance of ourselves and others just as we are.
3. Appreciation of all our gifts, our limits, our longings, and our poignant human predicament.
4. Affection shown through holding and touching in respectful ways.
5. Allowing life and love to be just as they are, with all their ecstasy and ache, without trying to take control.

Affirm: I see you, I value you, I accept you, I love you, I trust you 

When deeply understood and applied, these five simple concepts–what Richo calls the five A’s–form the basis of mature love. They help us to move away from judgment, fear, and blame to a position of openness, compassion, and realism about life and relationships. By giving and receiving these five A’s, relationships become deeper and more meaningful, and they become a ground for personal transformation. 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

Welcome to Real-time Resilience (RR), where we share the journeys of real people being resilient in real time. Tune in to discover and learn skills to help you recover better from any challenge. Listen to bounce back stories that are sure to inspire and encourage you through any struggle.

In this episode, Emiliya speaks with Laurie, a mother and positive psychology change agent who shares how she used real-time resilience to get her through a parent’s worst nightmare, supporting her family during the aftermath of her son’s mountain biking accident. Laurie found that staying in the present moment, choosing her mindset and other resilience skills were the keys to managing the crisis.  

This episode is sponsored by The Flourishing Center’s Bounce Back Better (B3)® Resilience Trainer Certification. For full show notes visit the website. 

https://theflourishingcenter.com/podcast/

EPISODE 56:  RE-IMAGINE AND RE-INVENT 

Practitioner Profiler (PP)- Welcome to our Positive Psychology Practitioner Profiler  where we highlight ordinary people that are doing extra ordinary things! Each practitioner is one of our graduates of the CertifIcate in Positive Psychology Program. Find out the exciting ways people are putting the science into practice within their Communities, Organizations and Lives. 

In this episode, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya CEO & Founder, The Flourishing Center highlights Shelley Tupper a certified Professional Coach and Practitioner in Positive Psychology. She is a trained MasterMind and Resilience Training Facilitator. Her leadership coaching experience began from her first course in public speaking and professional development with Dale Carnegie and became 15+ years of supporting executives. 

Think about a time you needed advice, a sounding board, a bit of guidance. Seeking perspective, you consulted your inner circle - your partner, family member, friend, colleague, or boss. We have all needed this person at one time or another – a personal champion, advisor, or advocate. Shelley, For years, listened to executives and individuals yearning for support. Sometimes they can get it from their inner circle, but often they want an ‘outside’ ear, an objective sounding board. The more she listened, the more she began reimagining her own role as a coach and she thought about how she could better support those coming to her for guidance. Shelley’s aim is to give individuals the tools to help them to become the best version of themselves. Some questions she addresses are;  What ignites and inspires you? How do you see your future self? 

It is never too late to reimagine and redesign your future. If you’ve come to a crossroads, a middle road, or can't see the road, Positive Psychology, coaching and resilience training can help guide you to your better future self. Listen in on how Shelley Tupper integrates positive psychology into her career. She offers workshops, coaching, masterminds, resilience training, and podcast called Shellcast. 

Stop your mind and look at what is possible!! 

You can reach Shelley at: https://www.shelleytuppercoaching.com 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer:

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

EPISODE 55: STEP UP TO SUPPORT OTHER WOMEN

Flourishing Friday (FF)-Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you to flourish.  In these episodes we look at real life application of Positive Psychology, while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life.

Thriving Women Thriving World. Discover how goals and grit expert, speaker, educator and author, Caroline Adams Miller, gets more grit, achieve goals and find happiness. Caroline is an appreciative Inquiry innovator and she helps us to explore how positive psychology and strength based approaches can bring out the best in women and create organizations and communities of thriving women capable of leading and evolving global well-being.

Thriving women, thriving world… we can all play a role. We must get more resilient, get grittier and step up to support women to thrive!

Discover the Secret formula through an appreciative inquiry approach to help a thriving women and thriving world.  Imagine if…  You are in a time travelling elevator that takes you to the future. It is positive, safe, and proactive. As you walk the streets of this world… what’s happening? What is different? How are people acting? 

What lights you up? Let’s make that happen! Step up to support other women. 

As a form of real time resilience, Caroline encourages a simple invitation to connect with other women and support one another, amplify others successes, and shine light on other women. Become a role model of supporting other women. She believes the simple assumption: when women thrive, so too does the world.
What does a thriving world mean to you?  How can you help women embrace their strengths and how can you play a role in supporting other women? 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

EPISODE 54:  FROM VICTIM TO VICTOR 

Real-time Resilience (RR)- Welcome to Real-time Resilience (RR), where we look at real people being resilient in real time. Be ready to discover and learn skills to help you bounce back better. Listen in to bounce back stories that are sure to inspire and encourage you through any struggle. 

Life isn’t perfect, so it is exciting to witness real people, with real stories, practicing real-time resilience. Listen in to Bounce Back stories that are sure to inspire and encourage you through any struggle. 

“Transformative power of positive psychology is very freeing.” 

Discover how Kate Ingrim from Riverside New Jersey. Kate a positive psychology infuser. She changed her life from a victim mentality to victor. She uses positive psychology continually throughout her journey of growth. She decided to take ownership and responsibility for her own needs and wants, while practicing self compassion. She was able to look at herself and stop blaming outside sources, and view herself in the light of self compassion. Practicing gratitude and focusing on empowerment and building up herself daily allowed for growth. 

“Be kind to yourself, and practice self-compassion.” 

Kate was able to shift her life away from anxiety and depression. Meditation, physical movement doing pilates, yoga and walking, all contributed to her feeling of empowerment. Mindfulness as a practice has helped her develop gratitude, savouring, and forgiveness.  Community also played a role in healing and connecting along the way. Typically isolation and disconnect is where Kate would go when depressed. She now reaches out and draws on her community to feel accepted and a part of her support system. 

You can’t control what happens to you in life, but we can control whether you receive it as a victim or a victor. Positive Psychology for overcoming symptoms of depression. Multi-faceted approach to battling with depression allowed Kate to go from Victim to Victor.

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

EPISODE 53: NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR CRYING

Flourishing Friday (FF)- Welcome to Flourishing Fridays, where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology based life hack that will help you to flourish…  We look at real life application of positive psychology, while giving you different strategies, tips and steps to put Positive Psychology into all areas of your life.

Do we apologize for laughing? Do we apologize for feeling excited? Where, oh where, did we learn to apologize for crying? Many of us grew up with the very clear message that crying wasn't welcome or even tolerable. We have become programmed to view pain through the lens of shame that likely was absorbed when you were a child. So the message of shame is passed down through the generations

We all cried when we were babies. But as we become adults, many of us often try to hold back our tears. Tears serve a function. We feel a sense of sadness, grief and loss and crying is like a release valve. Crying releases cortisol (stress hormones). Emotional tears allow stress to move out of the body. E-motion is energy in motion. Emotions are meant to move. Having a good cry can sometimes be just what we need. Science has shown that emotional tears have found to have higher levels of stress hormones. Emotional teats also contain more mood-regulating manganese. 

Never, apologize for your tears. Your pain is your strength. Let those waters flow! It is how we heal, and it is how we stay balanced and is good for our well-being. Crying is not only a human response to sorrow and frustration, it is healthy. It is a natural way to reduce your stress and allows for a release of the negative physical effects on the body. 

Hold space for tears in others and yourself. THIS TOO SHALL PASS!

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

EPISODE 52: INTEGRATING GRIT & GRACE  

Practitioner Profiler (PP)- Welcome to our Positive Psychology Practitioner Profiler  where we highlight ordinary people that are doing extra ordinary things! Each practitioner is one of our graduates of the CertifIcate in Positive Psychology Program. Find out the exciting ways people are putting the science into practice within their Communities, Organizations and Lives. 

In this episode, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya CEO & Founder, The Flourishing Center highlights Abigail A. Sites, THE FIRST POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY BASED DANCE STUDIO!

Discover how business owner Abigail A. Sites, integrates Positive Psychology into her dance studio. 

Abigail gets the pleasure of waking up every morning knowing her 6 year old self would be incredibly proud of what she does for a living. As the founder, owner, and director of Abundance Academy of Dance, she works night and day to create a positive experience for the entire AAD family. 

Using Positive Psychology, Abigail integrates positive interventions into her programming, things like gratitude practice, growth mindset, inclusivity, kindness, daily dozen, power of yet, and strengths integration to inspire participants to flourish! Abigail integrates a positive learning environment that builds character and challenges each participant. She believes that self-confidence and self-respect can be built by dedicating one’s self to learning the art of dance.

She is setting the bar for what is possible in integrating art with movement and human flourishing. Each class she focusses on a different character strength. She teaches grit, resilience, self regulation, creativity, curiosity, love of learning, honesty, Zest, gratitude, team work, and hope. 

http://abundanceacademyofdance.com

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer:

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

EPISODE 51: AWARENESS, ACCESS, AND ABILITY

Flourishing Friday (FF)- Welcome to Flourishing Fridays, where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology based life hack that will help you to flourish…  We look at real life application of positive psychology, while giving you different strategies, tips and steps to put Positive Psychology into all areas of your life.

Life crisis upward difficult journey turns into miracle of a story. 

Awareness, Access and Ability! A Story of inspiration during times of challenge. Gaining the tools, awareness and resources to flourish. 

3 Keys to Flourishing: 

Awareness- Involves being able to learn about things that support your mind, body and spirit. Knowledge of self-care and what you might need to support yourself. 

Access- Ability to receive and access to types of support people. People like professionals, life coaches, yoga teachers. 

Ability- Having the means to support flourishing. Resources to support your flourishing. Having the financial means to support yourself. Being able bodied to do something. 

We have the capabilities to build our 3 keys towards flourishing. Juggle the three A’s and let it help you to flourish. Exercise gratitude and saviour the things in life where you do have Awareness, Access and Ability. It will help you to recognize what you already have going towards your ability to flourish. Gain your awareness, by learning and gaining knowledge. Gain access to professionals and support. Gain your ability to do things by building your able body and celebrate what you have ability to do. 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

SHOW LINK: 

EPISODE 50: FROM BURNOUT TO EMPOWERED

Coaches Corner (CC)- Welcome to the Coaches Corner where you get to witness Positive Psychology based coaching in action with master level certified coaching. Listen to positive psychology in action through real life coaching sessions with Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, who holds a Master Coach Certificate (MCC) from the International Coach Federation ICF. 

ARE YOU AREADY TO GET FROM WHERE YOU ARE TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE?

Listen in to the POWERFUL AND POSITIVE CHANGE

Life coaching has grown to be a hugely successful form of talking therapy, to the extent that it has helped turn people's lives around. A life coach is someone that looks to empower others by helping them make, meet and exceed goals in both their personal and professional lives. One of the main reasons clients invest in a life coach is to help them meet their goals. Whether personal or professional, many people don't achieve their goals because they are missing someone who will hold them accountable. A certified Life Coach is trained in this powerful process. 

Listen in and witness a really life session as Emiliya coaches a client. You might relate with the client and gain some idea’s, inspiration and insight. Since the coaching process   helps clients tap into their full potential and define/achieve their goals for who they want to be and what they want to do. 

You can dIscover through listening in on a Positive Psychology Coaching session and see how it is a scientifically-rooted approach to helping clients increase well-being, enhance and apply strengths, improve performance, and achieve valued goals. 

From Burn Out to Empowered!

In this session, listen how Emiliya takes her client through the process from the feeling of overwhelm and stress. She is seeking a plan to create more structure and balance in her life to have greater boundaries. It is a wonderful discovery of taking her time through the process of making a plan for work. She also decided that part of the structure she will can create a schedule that involves balance for work and life. 

For Full show notes & to apply to be coached with Emiliya:

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

EPISODE 49: UPWARD SPIRALS OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

Practitioner Profiler (PP)- Welcome to our Positive Psychology Practitioner Profiler  where we highlight ordinary people that are doing extra ordinary things! Each practitioner is one of our graduates of the CertifIcate in Positive Psychology Program. Find out the exciting ways people are putting the science into practice within their Communities, Organizations and Lives. 

In this episode, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya CEO & Founder, The Flourishing Center highlights Andy Proctor Happiness Activist. 

Andy Proctor is a happiness activist and the host of the More Happy Life Podcast. He’s a published author and a social media professional. His writings on mindfulness, happiness and life purpose have been featured in both academic and religious publications. He has built and managed social media pages that have reached hundreds of millions of eyes. He is on a mission to help you have a more happy life.  How you ask? Well, he wants to inspire you to take action for your own happiness and then be inspired to become a happiness activist as well! He believes that together we can make the world a more happy place to live.

“We must drink what we pour!”

Listen how Andy teaches people how to make their life measurably happier with science-backed strategies. He is one of the top Positive Psychology broadcaster and have taught thousands of live students about the science of happiness. Listen in to find out about his power positive routines! Dance on your trampoline! Writing prompts 

Today would be great if… I am looking forward to …. today.  I commit to doing …today… What positive mark will I leave today?  One thing you will do today that will make you feel happy. 

You can reach Andy Proctor at http://www.andrewscotproctor.com

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer:

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

 

EPISODE 48: MEDITATION IS LKE MENTAL FLOSSING

Flourishing Friday (FF)- Welcome to Flourishing Fridays, where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology based life hack that will help you to flourish…  We look at real life application of positive psychology, while giving you different strategies, tips and steps to put Positive Psychology into all areas of your life.

There are thousands of studies that have shown mindfulness meditation can positively impact mental and physical health. Meditation is a mind-body practice that offers many health benefits that include relief from stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, to name a few. 

We all know we would benefit from meditation. How can we make it a habit? 

• How to do it daily? 
• Commit to just a few minutes to start at day. Start simply. 
• Pick a time and trigger. 
• Don’t stress if your mind wonders, bring it back. 
• Meditation is like training a muscle. 
• Training yourself to focus. 
• So long as you find new ways to come back to meditation. 
• Explore the process of habit formation. 
• Make a plan, what makes it stick. 
• Set implementation intention. 
• Create a system. 
• Every time you practice you will be forming a new habit.
• See the benefit of meditation and see it as “mental Flossing.” 
• Accountability partner. 
• 30 day challenge. 

KEEP COMING BACK TO IT!! 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

EPISODE 47: GOOD CONVERSATION RESULTS IN MIND MELD

Wisdom Wednesday is when we offer some fun positive psychology wisdom into your day! 

Science Says (SS)- Welcome to Science Says, where every episode highlights a research study that has come out in the field of positive psychology. LISTEN to discover the science of human flourishing while Emiliya Zhivotovskaya teaches you how to put this new knowledge into action… because science says! 

Researchers studying human conversation have discovered the brains of listeners and speakers become synchronized, and this "neural coupling" makes for effective communication. In essence, the participants’ brains connect in a kind of "mind meld.” 

Speaker–listener neural coupling underlies successful communication. Verbal communication is a joint activity; however, speech production and comprehension have primarily been analyzed as independent processes within the boundaries of individual brains. Communication is a shared activity resulting in a transfer of information across brains. Simply put, good conversation results in a 'mind meld’.

Natural communication unfolds through collective participation of speaker and listener: speakers construct grammatical sentences based on thoughts, convert these to motor plans, and execute the plans to produce vocal sounds; listeners analyze the sounds, build phonemes into words and sentences, and ultimately decode sound patterns into meaning. In our study, we observed significant speaker–listener temporal coupling only during successful verbal communication. When communication was blocked (i.e., during listening to a foreign, incomprehensible language), the synchronization was lost. As expected, this synchronization was present in a temporally shifted time course of the speaker’s brain activity relative to the moment of vocalization. Hence, listeners’ brain activity mirrors the speaker’s brain activity with a delay. 

Paying attention and listening helps foster successful communication and help us to synchronize with others on a deeper more effective level. 

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

Welcome to Flourishing Fridays (FF), where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology-based life hack that will help you flourish.  In these episodes, we look at the real-life application of Positive Psychology while giving you tips and strategies to put Positive Psychology into use in all areas of your life.

In today’s Flourishing Friday episode, listen in as Emiliya talks about the athletics of life.  Every athlete knows that the best way to build their fitness is to train their recovery. But recovering from cognitive strain is a lot harder than recovering from physical strain. Because we are constantly "on", it's more difficult to disengage the mind. Listen in as Emiliya shares three simple practices to recover from cognitive strain so you can come back feeling even stronger. 

This episode is sponsored by the 5i Change Agent model. Curious what type of Change Agent you are? Take this brief assessment to find out now. 

For full show notes visit the website.  https://theflourishingcenter.com/podcast/

EPISODE 46: WHAT’S NOT WORKING VS WHAT IS WORKING

Practitioner Profiler (PP)- Welcome to our Positive Psychology Practitioner Profiler  where we highlight ordinary people that are doing extra ordinary things! Each practitioner is one of our graduates of the CertifIcate in Positive Psychology Program. Find out the exciting ways people are putting the science into practice within their Communities, Organizations and Lives. 

In this episode, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya CEO & Founder, The Flourishing Center highlights Anne Marie Messier Straightline Management Solutions. Anne Marie uses positive psychology to uncover fresh ideas, new approaches and smart moves for entrepreneurs and pivotal work teams.

Whether you are flying solo, on a team of two or a hundred and two, Anne Marie helps to build easy to implement moves that will clear the way for achieving big steps. She is passionate about finding simplicity among the chaos and moving your next idea, project or business challenge in a way that people might never have thought possible. She acts as a sounding board and thought partner. Her company can help people get clear on what makes them different and leverage that for the next big move. She helps move your best ideas to the forefront and put a game plan in place to give those ideas momentum and make things happen. 

Helping teams and emerging entrepreneurs get unstuck and on their way

In today’s dynamic business climate, even how companies change is changing. Today’s work experiences require a focused, ‘Straightline’ mindset within a climate of open, honest communication, cutting edge creativity and focused, streamlined problem solving.  We don’t have time for much else. The Straightline team recognizes that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.  Carried over into your work, the Straightline mindset challenges old patterns of thinking and seeks to discover new skills and insights to move forward with a solution that will make an impact on your team and your business.

You can reach Anne Marie Messier at http://www.straightlinegroup.com

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer:

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

EPISODE 45: CHILDREN STRUGGLING WELL 

Flourishing Friday (FF)- Welcome to Flourishing Fridays, where every Friday we bring you a Positive Psychology based life hack that will help you to flourish…  We look at real life application of positive psychology, while giving you different strategies, tips and steps to put Positive Psychology into all areas of your life.

What is snowplough or lawnmower parenting? All of us want our children to be happy, successful and have opportunities but could we be taking away opportunities for growing resilience and strength. 

It can be hard for parents to give their child the freedom to fail in life – but could it harm them in the long run? This style of parenting is when moms and dads remove any difficulty from their child’s path – similar to pushing snow out of a path. Some parents adopt this style as they think their child is exceptional and they want to ensure they succeed. It appears the term was first coined by former high school teacher David McCullough in 2015. He wrote a book called You Are Not Special where he explored the importance of letting kids fail.

Also called Lawnmower parents (also known as bulldozer parents) are easily willing to drop everything to fulfill their child's wants and demands no matter how small. These patents often have good intentions and are motivated by not wanting their children to experience struggle. 

“Help children digest their life experiences. Work with emotions and embrace vulnerability.”

Embrace freedom, autonomy, and self-efficacy to help children to thrive! The snowplough or lawnmower patenting can take the important lessons away from our children. 

In this episode, Emiliya offers some wonderful tips to help you FLOURISH. 

Let our children struggle well!

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

EPISODE 44:  THRIVING WOMEN THRIVING WORLD

Real-time Resilience (RR)- Welcome to Real-time Resilience, where we look at Real people being resilient in real time. Be ready to discover and learn skills to help you bounce back better. 

Life isn’t perfect, so it is exciting to witness real people, with real stories, practicing real-time resilience. Listen in to Bounce Back stories that are sure to inspire and encourage you through any struggle. 

Discover how goals and grit expert, speaker, educator and author, Caroline Adams Miller, gets more grit, achieve goals and find happiness. Caroline is one of the world’s leading experts on the science behind successful goal setting and the use of ‘good grit’ to achieve hard things. A Harvard graduate with a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, she has authored six books including Creating Your Best Life and Getting Grit, and teaches at Wharton Business School’s Executive Education program. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC, NPR, and CNN.

Thriving women, thriving world… we can all play a role. We must get more resilient, get grittier and step up to support women to thrive!

 #thrivingwomen 

Caroline is one of the world’s leading experts on the science behind successful goal setting and the use of ‘good grit’ to achieve hard things. For more than 30 years, she’s been sharing her research-backed, actionable strategies to help people cultivate more grit and dig deeper to clarify and achieve their toughest goals.

“Achieving hard goals is one of the most rewarding things we can do in both our personal and professional lives.”

As a form of real time resilience, Caroline encourages a simple invitation to connect with other women and support one another, amplify others successes, and shine light on other women. Become a role model of supporting other women. 

You can reach Caroline Adams Miller at: https://www.carolinemiller.com/coach/

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer, 

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com

EPISODE 43: THREE BIG REASONS TO DO WELL

Practitioner Profiler (PP)- Welcome to our Positive Psychology Practitioner Profiler  where we highlight ordinary people that are doing extra ordinary things! Each practitioner is one of our graduates of the CertifIcate in Positive Psychology Program. Find out the exciting ways people are putting the science into practice within their Communities, Organizations and Lives. 

In this episode, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya CEO & Founder, The Flourishing Center highlights Alice Giarrusso an Academic Coach and Author. 

"Be Intentional and mindful about what you are doing." 

"Everything you are doing really does matter."

Alice Giarrusso is a career educator and high school academic coach, with a passion for helping students in their quest for school success. With over 30 years of classroom teaching, degrees in education and counselling, and a certification in positive psychology, she believes that the journey to school success should be engaging, enjoyable and meaningful, while firmly within the grasp of all those willing to work for it. 

Alice is the author of The Learning Curve; Navigating the Road to High School Success. She started with a big picture question. Why do well? Many students start high school knowing that they should do well, and feeling that they want to do well, but stop short of identifying exactly why doing well is so beneficial. By identifying the why, it is easier to become more motivated and more committed to the time and effort it takes to succeed. Alice have identified 3 big reasons to do well, which Alice calls

 

The Three Big Reasons to Do Well 

1. You Get to Take All You Learn With You 

2.  Doing Well Increases Your Options and Makes You More Marketable

3. You’re Practicing the Skills You Need to Be Successful in School and Beyond 

Listen in and discover how this practitioners is spreading Positive Psychology into the world! 

You can reach Alice Giarrusso at https://thelearningcurvecoach.com

For Full show notes & more information on what we have to offer:

visit The Flourishing Center at:  www.theflourishingcenter.com