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The Happiness Formula: Using Your Body to Transform Your Mind with Janice Kaplan

Mar 4, 2025

Janice Kaplan, author of "What Your Body Knows About Happiness," dives into the fascinating mind-body connection. She reveals how simple physical changes, like posture and movement, can transform your mood and overall happiness. Kaplan shares insights on how our environment influences emotions and discusses the healing power of touch and new experiences. Listeners learn about the importance of mindset shifts and how small actions can lead to significant emotional well-being. Discover the surprising ways your body can guide your mind towards joy!

58:45

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Episode guests

Janice Kaplan

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The connection between our physical state and mental well-being suggests that simple changes in posture and movement can enhance happiness.

Engaging in new experiences and altering routines can invigorate daily life and promote a heightened sense of mindfulness.

The mind-body relationship indicates that chronic pain is influenced by emotional and cognitive patterns, allowing for potential relief through reframing perceptions.

Deep dives

Engaging the Senses for Enhanced Experiences

Engaging with new experiences can significantly awaken our senses and shift our perceptions. Trying new fruits at a farmer's market or altering familiar routes can invigorate daily life and prompt mindfulness. Such experiences counteract the brain's tendency to seek familiarity and inattention, spurring a state of heightened awareness. By consciously incorporating novel encounters, individuals can enhance their daily routines and rediscover joy in the ordinary.

Intro

2min

Transforming Mindset Through Action

2min

The Power of Perspective

18min

Streamlining Your Hiring Process with Innovative Solutions

2min

Enhancing Well-Being Through Body and Mind

11min

The Transformative Power of Physical Connections and Reflection

4min

The Influence of Environment on Emotions

6min

Transforming Happiness Through Physicality

2min

Navigating Pain and Perception

13min

10.

Harnessing the Power of Placebo and Daily Actions

7min

In this episode, Janice Kaplan explores the happiness formula and how to use your body to transform your mind. She discusses the powerful connection between our bodies and our minds. Drawing from her latest book, What Your Body Knows About Happiness, Janice shares groundbreaking research on how our physical state directly influences our emotions, thoughts, and overall well-being. You'll discover how simple bodily changes—like posture, movement, and even temperature—can dramatically impact our happiness.

Key Takeaways:

How your body sends signals to your brain that shape your emotions
Why small physical changes (like sitting up straight or smiling) can boost your mood
The surprising ways environment and sensory input influence perception and behavior
How chronic pain can be “rewired” in the brain and why movement is key to relief
The underestimated power of touch and human connection in emotional well-being
Why new experiences—no matter how small—can dramatically improve happiness

For full show notes, click here!

If you enjoyed this episode with Janice Kaplan, check out these other episodes:

Ruth Whippman on the Complexity of Happiness

How to Unleash the Power of Happiness and Success with Emma Seppala

Hope for Healing Chronic Pain with Yoni Ashar

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