Whatever Works Podcast
Rare is the person who can get through a day without feeling as if nothing could have been improved. Perhaps rare is overstating it. It seems everyone has something, often many things, in their life that they wish were better in some way. Sometimes it’s the little things that bother us—like a phone distracting us with beeps, dings, or lighting up while we’re trying to have a face-to-face conversation. At other times, it’s a larger problem, like the inability to resolve a conflict with our partner. And then there are all the things in between, whether that’s wishing we were in better shape, wanting our memory to be sharper, that our sleep was more refreshing, or even feeling that there is something missing in our lives and desiring to feel a connection to something bigger than ourselves. There are all sorts of ways we could improve our lives… if only we had the tools to do so. None of us is perfect; we are all works in progress, evolving in our own way and direction. The tools in this podcast are simply here to help when we want our progress to be better or more structured. Join our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1128406027690175 https://www.reddit.com/r/WhateverWorksTools/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ripper234/
Episodes
One of the first principles most of us are taught as children is not to lie. But how many of us still practice complete honesty as we get older? When you want to live freely, openly, and at ease, without tension created by maintaining falsehoods, radical honesty is your answer.
It’s time to discuss therapy again. More specifically, discussing therapy while in therapy. Do you openly discuss your thoughts and feelings about therapy and your therapist with them during sessions? You should.
In both your personal and professional lives, a default to openness can improve your communications dramatically. Most people default to a superficial communication style and only share what’s truly on their minds with one or two close friends or colleagues. Flipping this philosophy means choosing transparency by default and trusting and sharing with others unless they demonstrate that they are not to be trusted.
If you ever find yourself struggling to regulate your emotions, simply take a break. It’s a small reminder that can help a lot. Sometimes conversations touch on sensitive topics, leading one or more participants to become emotionally triggered. It can be helpful to take a pause and allow that person’s nervous system an opportunity to calm down and reorganize.
Disagreements are a part of life. It’s how we handle them that matters—a “post mortem” after an argument can be incredibly beneficial. All you have to do is independently evaluate what you, personally, could have done differently. After an argument, there is a natural tendency to forget about it and try to go back to normal. If this is done too quickly—without taking the time to learn and grow—the same issues may resurface at a l...
Therapy is precious, so do everything you can to protect that time. Treat it like you would an important job interview, work appointment, or personal holiday. You’re in therapy for a reason. Time spent in sessions is special and important for your process. You’re investing a lot of money, time, and emotional energy in therapy, so why not make the most of it?
Sometimes taking a breath before launching into your next problem is the best way to come up with a solution. You have to reconnect with the reasons why you are doing what you’re doing–I call this “pausing and asking why.”
How has your New Year begun? Are you getting everything done that you need to in order to set yourself up for success this year? There’s a way to be productive and still stress-free, says David Allen, called the Getting Things Done (GTD) method.
“Active listening” is probably the concept that, of all these tools, most of you may be familiar with, or have heard of in passing. But it isn't just for children, therapy, or school. It can be used at work, within relationships, and in almost every conversation you're part of. Listening with full intent instead of waiting to speak is a practice that all people should take more care to employ.
Something on your mind lately? Let's talk about how Mind Mapping can help you organize tasks large and small. Our minds are always buzzing with ideas, concepts, and potential solutions to problems. Sometimes, though, we have so much happening in our heads that we cannot find or make sense of these thoughts when we need them. You can clarify your thoughts and break large goals into workable pieces by pouring ideas into a mind map.
...I believe that Meditation is one of the pillars for life, and it's simpler to put into practice than you might think. These days, meditation is gaining mainstream popularity, from dozens of meditation apps to the Netflix show Headspace, as well as through tens of thousands of academic papers on meditation. Meditation can reduce stress, provide health benefits, and help you be more aware and in control. Just focus on paying attenti...
We all need to take a step back sometimes and cultivate an appreciation for the things we have. It’s a practice called gratitude, and it can completely change the way you see your life. Recognizing and acknowledging people, events, and material things for which you’re grateful can alleviate feelings of sadness, depression, and anxiety and bring positive feelings into your life. Most of us have a negativity bias, and gratitude is ef...
It doesn’t matter how serious your psychological and emotional issues are. We all have them, and we can all benefit from therapy. It’s time to talk about it.
A challenge that many of us face is needing constant socialization to feel satisfied. But sometimes, silence is valuable. Sometimes, it’s useful to let awkward silences happen. Try it out in your conversations and see how people respond. You might be surprised how effective your communication becomes.
In today's digital world, it can be hard to disconnect, but it's also essential for our daily health. Take time to disengage from your electronic devices and other external interruptions, giving your mind a chance to rest or focus. https://www.facebook.com/WhateverWorksMe
Welcome to the Whatever Works community. This is a place for people who are into self-development, and want to learn, discuss and share ideas for tools to life. Everyone has to start somewhere, and this first tool is designed for easy adoption by all. Meet the Meta Tool.
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