Do you find yourself constantly agreeing to tasks and requests, even when you're already swamped? It's time to break this habit and master the art of saying no gracefully and effectively. We're here to explore the reasons behind this common challenge – from the fear of damaging relationships and reputations, to unclear personal boundaries and the genuine care for the task at hand. Discover how your perceptions, rather than objective reality, often drive your reluctance to say no and learn how to...
Jul 03, 2023•18 min•Season 2Ep. 70
Diving into the turbulent waters of stress and control, Craig shares transformative insights in this episode of "Live Well and Flourish". Through personal stories, he illustrates how the daunting feeling of being out of control can amplify stress. Craig suggests a manageable solution: distinguishing what's within your control and what is not, then taking action on what IS in your control. Taking control, even over something as simple as filling a dog treat jar, can help relieve some of your stre...
Jun 26, 2023•5 min•Season 2Ep. 69
Stress and anger mutually reinforce each other in a vicious cycle of negative emotion. Being stressed makes you more prone to anger and the emotional labor of dealing with anger makes you more stressed. In this episode, Craig discusses this vicious cycle and what you can do to prevent it. He also explains the concept of emotional labor and how it affects the relationship between stress and anger. Links: Stress Trifecta: Uncertainty, Isolation, and Overload https://www.livewellandflourish.com/str...
Jun 19, 2023•16 min•Season 2Ep. 68
We all feel the need to vent sometimes, we just need to share our negative emotions with someone. Although venting is often seen as a maladaptive response to stress, it can hold surprising benefits in some situations. Craig explores this duality, highlighting the potential pitfalls of rumination and negative feedback loops, but also emphasizing the benefits of venting, especially in transitory stressful situations like traffic jams or technical glitches. Craig also discusses how to vent in the m...
Jun 12, 2023•6 min•Season 2Ep. 67
In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, host Craig introduces the PAC model of stress management. Stress is an inevitable part of life, but it can be effectively managed by following three main approaches: preparation, avoidance, and coping. Craig explores each approach, offering practical wisdom and insights for dealing with stressors. Discover how to proactively prepare, make wise choices, and develop effective coping strategies using the PAC model. Take control of your stress and live a fl...
Jun 05, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 66
Are you ready to conquer stress and reclaim your well-being? In this captivating episode of Live Well and Flourish, we dive deep into the world of stress coping strategies. Stress is an inevitable part of life, but you CAN learn how to effectively cope with life's inevitable stressors. Join Craig as he explores two categories of coping responses: adaptive and maladaptive. Adaptive strategies not only provide short-term relief but also address the root causes of stress. Discover practical techniq...
May 31, 2023•5 min•Season 2Ep. 65
Stress can literally kill you ... if it's not managed well. In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig shares his insights on the three main causes of stress: uncertainty, isolation, and overload. He discusses how each of these factors can bring about stress and offers suggestions on how to prepare for better managing your stress through reflection and performing an uncertainty inventory. Can a Hermit Flourish? https://www.livewellandflourish.com/can-a-hermit-flourish/ ------ Live Well and...
May 24, 2023•14 min•Season 2Ep. 64
Join Craig as he delves into the fundamental components that contribute to your well-being. In the episode, he introduces the concept of the seven pillars of well-being and offers insights into each one. Be sure to check out the back catalog of Live Well and Flourish at https://www.livewellandflourish.com/ for episodes related to many of the pillars. Seven Pillars of Well Being Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Purpose and meaning, Accomplishment and achievement, Physical well-being,...
May 17, 2023•5 min•Season 2Ep. 63
In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig delves into the fascinating subject of counterfactual thinking. He explores both the advantages and disadvantages of this thought process and offers practical tips on how to manage and effectively leverage it for personal growth. Listeners will hear real-life examples from the Craig’s life, including a recent trip to the emergency room. He also highlights how negative counterfactual thinking can lead to regret and rumination. Finally, Craig offer ...
May 10, 2023•14 min•Season 2Ep. 62
In this Five-Minute Flourishing episode, Craig dives into the concept of resilience and introduces the idea of a resilience inventory. He highlights the benefits of having and using a resilience inventory to help you deal with life's inevitable adversities. Craig provides a step-by-step guide for creating your resilience inventory, starting with a non-critical self-assessment of the skills, abilities and resources you possess that can help you cope with challenging times. Jordan Harbinger's Six-...
May 03, 2023•6 min•Season 2Ep. 61
On this episode of Live Well and Flourish, we'll be talking about the power of stress and how it can impact our lives in positive and negative ways. We'll dive into the concept of Eustress and how it can lead to increased productivity, resilience, and adaptability. We'll look at how our perception of stress can affect our overall wellbeing and explore the ways in which we can reframe stress to see it as an opportunity for growth. Plus, we'll discuss practical strategies for building resilience a...
Apr 26, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 60
In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig dives into the relationship between purpose and passion, and why they are both crucial components of a fulfilling life. He explains why purpose is the foundation of a flourishing life, and how it requires deep reflection and introspection to uncover. However, Craig also acknowledges that passion is a powerful force that can drive us towards great things, but it must be balanced with reason and aligned with our purpose. Craig provides practical gui...
Apr 19, 2023•5 min•Season 2Ep. 59
In this episode, Craig explores the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of wabi-sabi and how it can help individuals not only accept but embrace the impermanence of life to improve their mental health and overall well-being. Drawing inspiration from nature, Craig discusses how imperfections and aging can add to the beauty of the world and how spending time in nature can cultivate a deeper understanding of wabi-sabi principles. The episode concludes with three practical tips for listeners to develop a ...
Apr 12, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 58
In this episode, Craig discusses the concept of impermanence and how to accept and embrace it as a natural part of life. Through his own personal experiences, he delves into the role of impermanence in various religious and philosophical beliefs, including Buddhism, Christianity, Stoicism, Hinduism, and Epicureanism. He also explores the benefits of the Stoic practice of negative visualization and shares how it has helped him appreciate life and those around him. Join Craig on this thought-provo...
Apr 05, 2023•6 min•Season 2Ep. 57
Are you hard on yourself? Do you struggle with negative self-talk and self-criticism? If so, this episode is for you. Join host Craig as he delves into the fascinating topic of self-compassion and why he believes it is not only a good idea but a moral duty. Drawing on insights from various philosophical and religious traditions, Craig makes a compelling case for extending compassion to ourselves and treating ourselves with the same kindness, understanding, and dignity that we show to others. He ...
Mar 29, 2023•13 min•Season 2Ep. 56
It seems like people are very angry these days. Everywhere you turn, airports (even airplanes!), restaurants, stores, traffic, social media ... anger just seems endless. Why is this so? In this episode, Craig discusses the anger phenomenon and what you can do about it. ------ Live Well and Flourish website: https://www.livewellandflourish.com/ The theme music for Live Well and Flourish was written by Hazel Crossler, hazel.crossler@gmail.com. Production assistant - Paul Robert...
Mar 22, 2023•6 min•Season 2Ep. 55
Practical wisdom isn’t some esoteric, abstract concept, it’s eminently practical, and it’s critical to living a flourishing life. In this episode, Craig discusses what practical wisdom is, and how you can start cultivating and practicing practical wisdom in your daily life. Practicing practical wisdom will help you live a life that's better aligned with your values and purpose, and with the virtues you seek. Craig offers some specific practices that can help you develop your practical wisdom thr...
Mar 15, 2023•13 min•Season 2Ep. 54
In episode 53 of "Live Well and Flourish," host Craig discusses how to use mindful habits to overcome weakness of will. He explains that habits can hinder your ability to flourish, but developing virtuous habits can help you act automatically according to your values. To develop virtuous habits, Craig recommends developing mindful habits and suggests taking a deep breath before carrying out a daily habit to increase awareness. He also recommends picking one virtue to practice habitually and star...
Mar 08, 2023•5 min•Season 2Ep. 53
Do you find yourself struggling to follow through on your goals and commitments, even when you know they are important? Do you ever feel like you lack the willpower to make lasting changes in your life? If so, you may be experiencing akrasia, or the weakness of will. In this episode, Craig explores the causes of akrasia and provide practical strategies for overcoming this common challenge. Drawing on insights from psychology, philosophy, and personal experience he discusses the causes and cures ...
Feb 28, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Uncover a Secret to Long-Term Happiness with Craig on Five-Minute Flourishing! Learn about the phenomenon of hedonic adaptation and how it affects our satisfaction with new things over time. Craig shares expert insights and practical tips to help you break free from the hedonic treadmill and achieve lasting happiness. ------ Live Well and Flourish website: https://www.livewellandflourish.com/ The theme music for Live Well and Flourish was written by Hazel Crossler, hazel.crossler@gmail.com. Prod...
Feb 22, 2023•5 min•Season 2Ep. 51
Much of your well-being is determined by satisfying three basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In this episode, Craig discusses the theory behind this thinking, self-determination theory, and how you can use its ideas to move towards living a fulfilled and flourishing life. Practice, Habit and Being: https://www.livewellandflourish.com/practice-habit-and-being/ Can a Hermit Flourish?: https://www.livewellandflourish.com/can-a-hermit-flourish/ ------ Live Well and Flo...
Feb 15, 2023•14 min•Season 2Ep. 50
Life makes it pretty much impossible to completely avoid potentially annoying people and events. But, we don't have to be annoyed, that's a choice we make. In this short episode, Craig discusses how to avoid becoming unnecessarily annoyed, irritated, or otherwise upset by situations and people. By avoiding minor annoyances, you can be calmer, happier, more productive, and life a more satisfying life. You'll also be a force for good in the world just by setting a calming example. https://www.live...
Feb 08, 2023•6 min•Season 2Ep. 49
Evaluating ourselves is an innate human behavior, but when you evaluate yourself by making comparisons to others, it can be misleading and harmful to your flourishing. In this episode, Craig discusses the pros and cons of social comparison and how social media can make the problems of social comparison worse. Positive and negative cues: https://www.livewellandflourish.com/positive-and-negative-cues-five-minute-flourishing/ ------ Live Well and Flourish website: https://www.livewellandflourish.co...
Feb 01, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 48
One way to take control of your life, is to take care of your environment. In this Five Minute Flourishing episode, Craig discusses how you can shape your environment in a way that enhances your flourishing by adding positive cues (elements of your environment that encourage productive behaviors) and removing negative cues (parts of your environment that are associated with unproductive behaviors). ------ Live Well and Flourish website: https://www.livewellandflourish.com/ The theme music for Li...
Jan 25, 2023•4 min•Season 2Ep. 47
Making big changes is scary, but doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I discuss my formula for taking control and making big changes through finding the right motivation, setting the right goals, and taking small steps. Whether you want to lose weight, improve your health, build better relationships, you can apply this simple, but powerful formula to take control and make big changes in your life. (Note: The title of this episode is borrowed from a line in Jimmy Buffett’s song, Cheeseburger in P...
Jan 18, 2023•13 min•Season 2Ep. 46
We all want to be comfortable, but in some ways comfort is the enemy of progress in growth. In this short episode, Craig discusses why becoming too comfortable can actually hinder your flourishing. ------ Live Well and Flourish website: https://www.livewellandflourish.com/ The theme music for Live Well and Flourish was written by Hazel Crossler, hazel.crossler@gmail.com. Production assistant - Paul Robert...
Jan 09, 2023•5 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Life is full of roadblocks and impediments. If you pay too much attention to these, it seems like you can never make progress. In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig discusses how to focus on the endless possibilities you have, not the limitations you face. Taking Control of Your Life: https://www.livewellandflourish.com/taking-control-of-your-life/ Living a Life of Purpose: https://www.livewellandflourish.com/living-a-life-of-purpose/ Live Well and Flourish website: https://www.livewe...
Jan 04, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Holidays are widely seen as a time for joy and happiness, but the reality is that many people find the holiday season to be a time of depression and loneliness. In this episode, Craig discusses the holiday blues and what can be done to overcome them. If you, or someone you know, is suffering the holiday blues, please listen or share this episode with them. Listening might just help. --- Craig’s email address: livewellandflourish@pm.me Some information on the holiday blues: https://www.umms.org/u...
Nov 23, 2022•13 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Conflict is a part of human relationships, and relationships are critical to flourishing. So, knowing how to effectively manage these inevitable conflicts is an important aspect of living a good life. In this episode, Craig discusses four important conflict management approaches based on the importance you place on relationships and task outcomes. He also gives some general tips for managing conflict well. --- Emotional contagion: https://www.livewellandflourish.com/emotional-contagion/ Emotiona...
Nov 09, 2022•14 min•Season 2Ep. 42
Conflict is an inevitable part of life. (Well, maybe not if you're a hermit, but otherwise ...) So, effectively dealing with conflict is important to your flourishing. In this episode, Craig talks about the how diversity causes conflict and discusses the relationship between different types of diversity and collective outcomes. The Problem with Generalizations: https://www.livewellandflourish.com/the-problem-with-generalizations/ ------ Live Well and Flourish website: https://www.livewellandflou...
Oct 26, 2022•16 min•Season 2Ep. 41
