Finding the Throughline with Kate Hanley

Worry, angst, malaise, the blahs, questioning--these states overtake all of us at some point, often when we’re navigating some kind of transition, or wondering if it’s time to make one. And while these moments can be uncomfortable–particularly because of the uncertainty that they bring with them–they are key, pivotal times in our lives. You know, the kind of thing you want to be present for, and bring your best thinking to.So today I’m sharing two powerful things to do to help you get some clarity and gain access to your wiser thoughts INSTEAD OF (or before) reaching for your favorite little helper for numbing out. I mean, hey, there’s a time and a place for everything. Do one of these two things and THEN pour yourself a glass of wine. Studies:Review of multiple studies that found an increase in meaning, purpose, and positive affect in the presence of natureStudy that found that exposure to nature (in person or via video) helped people reflect on life problemsStudy that found walking in nature or watching a video of walking in nature to make students more cooperative and better able to see the bigger picture. This episode sponsored by: Better Help – Give online therapy a try and get on your way to being your best selfNextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that marijuana is legal in many states, it’s no longer a sneaky little secret–but does that mean it’s time to go full Cheech & Chong?? Today I’m interviewing Lizzie Post, great-great-granddaughter of American etiquette expert Emily Post, copresident of the Emily Post Institute, cohost of the Awesome Etiquette podcast. and author of the book Higher Etiquette: a Guide to the World of Cannabis.I asked Emily things like:Now that cannabis is legal, what’s the etiquette around using it socially? How do you open up a conversation about cannabis, or should we keep in mind when it comes up among friends, family, co-workers? How about cannabis and kids if you’re a parent? And more!Higher Etiquette bookEmilypost.substack.comAwesome Etiquette podcastThis episode sponsored by: Better Help – Give online therapy a try and get on your way to being your best selfNextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is alcohol good for you or bad for you? Well…it’s both. On one hand, red wine is part of the Mediterranean Diet, widely heralded as one of the healthiest eating styles in the world. On the other, alcohol is a neurotoxin and can be awfully high sugar and carb. Today, I’m sharing three aspects of drinking that, with a little bit of awareness, you can use to minimize the negative effects of drinking. This episode sponsored by: Better Help – Give online therapy a try and get on your way to being your best selfNextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Continuing on the comfort theme, today I’m replaying an interview with award-winning book coach, Lisa Tener, who shares her super cool guided meditation that helps you tap into your wisest, most creative self and get personalized advice for whatever you’d like some support on.I have a friend who listens to this episode multiple times a week, and each time she gets different guidance from a different muse. May we all be able to tap into exactly what we need to hear from the person who knows us best–our inner selves!This episode sponsored by: NextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or moreBetter Help – Give online therapy a try and get on your way to being your best selfSign up for the How to Be a Better Person newsletter and never miss an episode!Got a comment or a question? I'm all ears! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Continuing on this week’s theme of comfort (I’m replaying episodes this as I’m dealing with the aftermath of appendicitis) I’m re-sharing this episode from 2021 where I talk about why we feel so badly about money decisions we wished we’d done differently, and share an exercise to help you process some of that angst and get some good money energy flowing again. This episode sponsored by: NextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or moreBetter Help – Give online therapy a try and get on your way to being your best selfSign up for the How to Be a Better Person newsletter and never miss an episode!Got a comment or a question? I'm all ears! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi! So… I ended up having my appendix out just as my podcast episodes were due. Which is why I’m replaying episodes this week–and in honor of what I’m needing in my life right now, they are the episodes that bring me, and hopefully you, the most comfort. Today’s episode takes a deep dive in to coziness, and why, surprisingly, it is a biological imperative that makes all kinds of wonderful, important things possible. Like, feeling safe. And healing. And dreaming. So get ready to feel better about getting cozy AF!!(And in other news, by now my surgery was over a week ago and I should be laughing, coughing, and sitting up like a champ.)This episode sponsored by: NextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or moreBetter Help – Give online therapy a try and get on your way to being your best selfSign up for the How to Be a Better Person newsletter and never miss an episode!Got a comment or a question? I'm all ears! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s thing to stop doing, is blowing off your self-care, whatever that may be–going to bed at a decent time, getting some movement during the day, or calling your friend and having a mutual venting session.I can just hear you thinking, Kate, you say this week is about doing less but it sounds like today you’re telling me to do more. But really this is about stopping resisting your inspirations around taking better care of yourself. Which frees up a whole bunch of energy–energy you can put into doing those things that make you feel like a better version of yourself. This episode sponsored by: Ritual’s Essential for Women – Save 10% off your first three monthsNextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s thing to do less of is complaining. Complaining is a real slippery slope, because even though it feels constructive–because you’re airing your feelings–it tends to only make things worse because it causes you to really focus on what’s going wrong, and what we pay attention to only gets bigger. Like the tiny little pimple on your nose that you poke at and pick at and it turns in to a big angry red bump. Which is not to say that you need to be a saint, or a martyr, and find a way to not be bothered by anything ever again. This is where venting comes in. Let’s break down the difference. This episode sponsored by: Ritual’s Essential for Women – Save 10% off your first three monthsNextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week is all about things you can stop doing. Because sometimes being a better person isn’t only about the doing, you know? Sometimes it’s about doing less.The first thing you can stop doing is taking things personally. Which just makes whatever has happened about you, when really, everything someone else says or does is about them. So if you’re not going to take it personally, and make it about you, how are you going to take it??Positive psychology talks a lot about lenses–or tools that you can use to color how you see the world. If you’re going to put down the “this is about me” lens, here are three others that you can try on to help you shift out of that personal upset. This episode sponsored by: Ritual’s Essential for Women – Save 10% off your first three monthsNextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know that sometimes, something happens to hijack your day–and your mood. (It happened to me the day before I wrote this episode; I share the details of how my afternoon got hijacked by a call from my son’s vice principal.). Today I’m sharing a three step approach that spells out ARC, which is apt, because these three steps are like a rainbow bridge that can take you from upset to stable. This episode sponsored by: NextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or moreRitual’s Essential for Women – Save 10% off your first three months Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices