Finding the Throughline with Kate Hanley

If you’ve ever had the thought that you could stand to be a more generous person, I hope today’s episode will show you that there are SO many ways to be giving–well beyond giving money or time–and that something you hear today will get you into the higher energy state of seeking to be of service to others. This episode sponsored by: Better HelpGive online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BETTERPERSON and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you think of what being a better person means, I’m guessing that being generous is one of the first things that pops to mind. BUT, that’s not to say that we have to be 100% selfless, or always put others first, or give until it hurts. So, how do we find that balance? Let’s start by looking at the benefits of being generous–not for the other person, but for you. In today’s episode I’m sharing some cool research findings on the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of giving. This episode sponsored by: Better HelpGive online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BETTERPERSON and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You already know that gratitude is a nice way to appreciate something that has already happened, but did you know that gratitude can also help you create the future you want?Well…it can! Today I’m sharing how to thank yourself for doing something that you haven’t done yet. It sounds a little weird, I get it, but basically, it’s about thinking how much your future self will appreciate the things that you do now, in the present. It’s a cool way to get your butt into gear on doing something that feels hard, scary, or unappealing today. This episode sponsored by: Better HelpNutrafol promo code “BETTER” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know gratitude is good for you–we’ve heard the advice to keep a gratitude journal, and I’ve talked before about reminding yourself of all the things you’re grateful for while you’re lying in bed at night. But there’s something really powerful about actually expressing your thanks outloud. Since it’s Thanksgiving here in the U.S. today, today is a great day to take this idea for a test drive. I’ve got some research to share on the power of telling someone else what you’re grateful for, but first, I’m going to start with a couple of little examples that show you what I mean. Something we have done in our family at Thanksgiving is to go around the table and everyone names one thing that they’re grateful for. You know, it’s not a speech or a big to-do, you’re just naming something, and you can always say something obvious like family or food and there’s absolutely no shame in that. BUT some very meaningful and memorable moments have come out of that exercise. This episode sponsored by: Better HelpNutrafol promo code “BETTER” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi friends. Today I’m replaying an interview from Thanksgiving, 2020 with Polly Campbell about how to practice gratitude even if you’re really busy and lazy and frankly don’t want to be bothered. We’re in a different place than we were in 2020, thankfully, but her advice is still as true as ever. I hope it helps you get in the grateful spirit. Here’s a link to a full transcript of today’s episode. Polly’s podcast, Simply SaidPolly’s websiteThis episode sponsored by: Better HelpNutrafol promo code “BETTER” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yesterday I talked about something you can do in the moment of feeling stressed out during a family gathering that will help you not get your feathers ruffled or your peace disturbed. Today, I’m sharing a stress buster that you can do in advance that will help you stay in a groovy space the day of. This episode sponsored by: Better HelpNutrafol promo code “BETTER” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here’s the thing about family: You love them, and they can drive you crazy. Which makes you react in a way that you wish you hadn’t, and then you feel guilty. It can be a real merry-go-round of unpleasant feelings. And when faced with those unpleasant feelings at a gathering where there is plenty of food and probably alcohol, it may be tempting to try to stuff them down with another piece of pie or glass of Scotch or wine or whatever your family beverage is which might help you forget your upset for a few minutes but then you feel disgustingly stuffed or hungover and ultimately just feel worse.This episode sponsored by: Better HelpNutrafol promo code “BETTER” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve heard me say it before and you’ll hear me say it again, what you focus on grows. If you want more positive behavior, notice it. Call attention to it. We all love to be acknowledged for our efforts to do the decent thing. As a bonus, recognizing someone else doing something good helps you feel better, too. This episode sponsored by: Better Help Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever been telling someone how you feel about something, and they told you to just calm down? Or that you’re over-reacting? Or that you shouldn’t feel that way? It didn’t feel good, right? Today I’m sharing the opposite of that approach–aka, validating–aka, how to help the people you talk to feel seen, heard, and understood. Once you get the hang of this, it’s so fun, because you know what to do to truly help someone feel better. This episode sponsored by: Better Help Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I’m interviewing Colleen Doyle Bryant, author of Rooted in Decency: Finding Inner Peace in a World Gone Sideways because, I mean… a) we need it and b) if that doesn’t fit the theme of being a better person, honestly, I don’t know what does!I asked Colleen, what decency even is, why it feels like it’s on the decline, and what kinds of things each of us can do as individuals to help bring back a culture of respect. She told me about how we all need a “Check Accuracy” light on our mental dashboard, and the power of a tiny little pause to help us connect instead of get disgusted (she also told me why it can feel like someone who sees things differently than you can make you want to squinch up your nose and turn your head away, as if you had just smelled something gross). I learned a lot and you will too when you give us a listen!Colleen Doyle Bryant’s websiteFollow Colleen on InstagramThis episode sponsored by: Better Help Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices