Melissa Bernstein creates all the toys for her company, Melissa & Doug. Melissa also has what she calls "existential" depression. She's discovered a lot of creative people experience this. Fortunately, she's also discovered some things that help her feel better. In this episode, she shares how to know if you have existential depression and the strategies that can help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 19, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 66
The way you respond to feelings of anxiety makes a huge difference in how intense these emotions become and how long they last. There may be some mistakes you’re making that are actually making your anxiety worse. Fortunately, learning about anxiety can help you figure out how to respond to your anxious feelings in a helpful way. On today’s Friday Fix, I share one of my favorite strategies for taming anxiety. It’s a great first step for any time you feel anxious. Learn more about your ad choices...
Apr 16, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 65
“It's so easy to say, ‘Oh, everything happens for a reason.’ But if you don't do the work to figure out the reason, then you're never going to see the purpose in that mistake.” When Craig Grossi was serving in Afghanistan, he befriended a stray dog named Fred. When his deployment was up, he decided to smuggle Fred into the United States with him. The two then took a cross country road trip and documented their adventures in Craig's first book, Craig and Fred. Now, Craig and Fred help train servi...
Apr 12, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 64
Kids need mental strength just as much as adults, especially right now. So I'm thrilled that my first-ever mental strength book for kids has hit the shelves. It's called 13 Things Strong Kids Do. My book teaches kids how to build mental muscle so they can think big, feel good, and act brave. And while my book is written for kids, it’s important for the adults in their lives to reinforce the material. After all, kids often need a coach who is there with them in the moment. So when they’re tempted...
Apr 09, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 63
Mallory couldn’t control her circumstances. But she took control of her attitude. She chose to continue swimming competitively after becoming paralyzed from the waist down. And even though things were a lot different for her after her injury, she chose to keep striving to reach her greatest potential. Some of the things Mallory discusses include the messiness of grief, how to respond to people who try to define your limitations, and how to shift your own beliefs about your capabilities. Learn mo...
Apr 05, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 62
There may be several ways in which you give away your power without even realizing that you’re doing it. You might waste a lot of time thinking about someone you don’t like. This would mean you are giving that person power over your time. Or you might let someone treat you poorly. Perhaps you don’t dare speak up because you don’t want to seem rude—but then you still blame the other person for ruining your day. This means you are giving that person power over your life. Retaining your personal po...
Apr 02, 2021•8 min•Season 1Ep. 61
Even though Kendall shares a lot of inspirational and motivational messages with her followers, she’s open about her own struggles with mental health issues. She makes it clear that while her OCD and depression were treated, she doesn’t consider her journey with mental health over. She continues to make her mental health an ongoing priority in her life, and she shares the strategies that work for her. Some of the things Kendall shares are how to make your mental health a real priority in your li...
Mar 29, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Many well-intentioned people say things like, “Just picture how happy you’ll be when you land that job,” or “Imagine how great you’ll feel when you reach your weight goal!” On the surface, this type of advice seems to make sense. “Keep your eyes on the prize,” and you’ll stay motivated to get there. But visualizing yourself achieving the things you want isn’t actually a good idea. Not only might you waste your time, but studies show that putting something up on your "vision board" could reduce y...
Mar 26, 2021•7 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Personal development coach and international bestselling author Mike Bayer figured out the secret for making decisions easy. He went from battling an addiction to opening to his own treatment center. He's written a book called One Decision. And on today's show, he shares how to live according to your values, how to discover your authentic self, the one decision everyone should make, and much, much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 22, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 58
When you’re faced with a stressful situation, your brain might be quick to remind you of all the ways you’re not equipped to handle the challenge. Whether your bills are piling up or you’re worried about a loved one with a health issue, difficult experiences raise your stress levels. And the more stressed you feel, the less likely you are to cope with the situation in a healthy way. Fortunately, you can take steps to reduce your distress no matter how difficult the situation. On today’s Friday F...
Mar 19, 2021•9 min•Season 1Ep. 57
Jamie Kern Lima is proof that you can conquer self-doubt. Her belief that she could succeed helped her develop a billion-dollar cosmetic company. But she got rejected and turned down many times along the way. In today's episode, she shares how to deal with rejection, how she managed the depression and anxiety she experienced, how to develop a belief in yourself, and much, much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 15, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 56
For most of us, our days revolve around screen time. We stare at our computers to work. We use our phones to socialize. We watch TV for entertainment. But too much screen time can drain our mental strength. Excessive screen time has been linked to everything from relationship issues to increased mental health problems. Screen time can also interfere with sleep, reduce productivity, and take a toll on our physical health. And while there are many recommendations out there about the importance of ...
Mar 12, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Nedra Glover Tawwab is a fellow therapist who specializes in relationships. She helps people manage anxiety and depression that often stem from difficult relationships, and she teaches people how to set boundaries with difficult family members. She shares a lot of tips for self-care and setting boundaries on social media, including on Instagram where she has attracted over 800,000 followers. In today's episode, she talks about the telltale signs that you need better boundaries, how to establish ...
Mar 08, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 54
After 53 episodes of Mentally Strong People, I'm excited to share a huge announcement! We're partnering with Verywell Mind to reach even more people. So starting next week, we're going to look a little different. But we'll keep sharing mental strength tips and strategies that can help you think, feel, and do your best. On today's Friday Fix, I share the deeply personal reason behind why this partnership means so much to me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 05, 2021•7 min•Season 1Ep. 53
“We can manage our minds. Our minds are malleable. It's a skill that we can actually learn. It's not a therapy technique. It's not a little magic trick. This is hardcore science.” Dr. Caroline Leaf is a cognitive neuroscientist who has spent more than 30 years studying the brain. Her research has found that changing the way you think and changing the way you approach problems can physically alter your brain. She shares how her five-step approach to mind management can reduce toxic thinking as we...
Mar 01, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Whether you're terrified of public speaking or you have claustrophobia, fears and phobias can take a toll on your life. And while some people avoid the things that scare them the most, other people go about facing their fears the wrong way. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to overcome your fears. On this Friday Fix, I share a therapist-approved strategy that can help you conquer your fears once and for all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 26, 2021•8 min•Season 1Ep. 51
“I can say, ‘I forgive you and no, you're not allowed to do this.’ That way I can show up more readily with other people in my life and still be kind.” Amy talks to kindness advocate, Houston Kraft. He's reached millions of people with his message that just might change the way you think about kindness. Houston shares why hanging posters that say, "Be Kind," might be doing more harm than good. He also talks about the different types of kindness, how to establish boundaries that help us to become...
Feb 22, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 50
When you’re feeling depressed, your brain will lie to you. It will work hard to convince you to do things that keep you stuck in a depressed state. If you’ve battled depression, you are likely aware of the struggles that come with it. Your thoughts will be negative. You’ll feel bad—both emotionally and physically. And you'll have a hard time trying things that might help you feel better. So on today’s Friday Fix, I describe my favorite exercise for combating depression. It can help you feel bett...
Feb 17, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Steve Francis is a three-time NBA All-Star who played for the Houston Rockets, the Orlando Magic, and the New York Knicks. He was so dominant on the court that he earned the nickname "Franchise." He’s known for his speed, fancy ball-handling skills, and extreme dunks. Steve’s rise to NBA stardom wasn’t an easy one, however. He overcame much adversity in his childhood. Unlike some NBA players who had plenty of money and parental support growing up, Steve grew up in poverty. For a while, he even r...
Feb 15, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 48
The way you talk to yourself matters. Your inner dialogue can either inspire and motivate you to do your best or it can be the one thing that stands between you and living your best life. For some reason, we think harsh self-criticism will help us do better. We’re afraid to cut ourselves some slack or to use kind words after we’ve messed up. We call ourselves names, put ourselves down, and try to talk ourselves out of doing hard things. But a harsh inner critic does more harm than good. Studies ...
Feb 12, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 47
John Tesh is a musician, radio host, TV show host, and author. His impressive resume includes job titles like news anchor and host for the Olympics as well as host of Entertainment Tonight and creator of the NBA theme song. He’s won six Emmys, been nominated for two GRAMMYs, and has four Gold albums. He has also been awarded an Associated Press award for his investigative journalism. He’s written several books, including his most recent one which is called Relentless: Unleashing a Life of Purpos...
Feb 08, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Sometimes a slight shift in the way you establish a goal can greatly increase your chances of success. Setting a goal like, “I’m going to lose three pounds a week,” or “I’m going to pay off $500 in debt this month,” aren’t actually good goals to set. Sure, they’re measurable. But they involve a sort of all-or-nothing mentality. And a "success versus failure" mindset can zap your motivation and cause you to quit. So today I’m going to teach you the science behind goal setting. I’m sharing a secre...
Feb 05, 2021•9 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Felicia "The FeeNom" Spencer is a math teacher turned UFC fighter. After winning the Invicta Featherweight Championship, she went on to continued success in the UFC, taking on some of the elite fighters of all time (including Amanda Nunes and Cris Cyborg). Felicia offers some great tips that can apply to anyone who wants to face challenges, test their limits, and step outside their comfort zones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 01, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 1
