The Verywell Mind Podcast

Mindfulness is about learning how to live in the present moment. That’s hard to do in today’s world, though.So often, we miss out on things because our minds are wandering.We don’t pay attention to someone who is talking to us because we’re thinking about all those things on our to-do list. Or we miss what’s going on in our kids’ basketball games because we’re so worried about whether we offended someone in a conversation we had yesterday. The list of distractions is endless. When we become mindful, however, we learn to focus on what is happening right now. And when we do, we become fully present in our lives.Not only might that help us feel better, but it may also have a great positive impact on our relationships. It takes practice to get there though. And in today’s Friday Fix, I share four simple strategies that can help you start practicing mindfulness right now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The conversations you have with yourself matter. If you beat yourself up, call yourself names, or tear yourself down, you'll struggle to feel good and perform well.That's why self-compassion is so important. But self-compassion isn't just about using nice words. Sometimes, it involves taking action.On this episode, Kristin Neff, a pioneer in self-compassion research, explains how to practice fierce self-compassion. Some of the things she talks about is why suppressing emotions doesn't work, the difference between tender self-compassion and fierce self-compassion, and how to start changing your inner dialogue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s tough to know how you’re doing unless you have someone to compare yourself with. Do you earn a lot of money? Are you tall? Are you a good basketball player? It all depends on who you’re comparing yourself to.But comparisons can be harmful to your psychological well-being. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help you stop comparing yourself to other people. In this Friday Fix episode, I share how to recognize when you’re comparing yourself to others, why it’s bad for your mental health, and the five things you can do to put an end to unhelpful comparisons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez opens up about how she found the courage to face depression. She discusses how she discovered she was depressed, the steps she took to get treatment, and the strategies she uses to stay mentally strong. Just five days prior to this interview, she injured her knee and learned that she would not be able to compete in the 2021 Olympics. But you'll see how her positive attitude shines through and helps her deal with the disappointment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you’re feeling nervous about something at work or you’re feeling down for no reason at all, well-timed kind words from someone else can help you feel better.But, there won’t always be someone available with helpful words at just the right moment. And in those moments, it’s tough to remind yourself of the kind things you could say to yourself.That’s why writing yourself a kind letter can be so powerful. Then, you’ll always have some reassuring words at your fingertips. So in today’s Friday Fix, I explain how to write yourself a kind letter and I share an example from my own life as well as from my therapy office.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Burns is the CEO of TB12, the wellness company founded by Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. John shares what it takes to develop the mindset of a champion.Some of the things he talks about are realistic optimism, redefining your limits, and focusing on the things you can control.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everyone experiences grief. Yet we rarely talk about our experiences.Grief is the process by which we heal. And staying strong through grief isn’t about not crying or not feeling sad. It’s about allowing yourself to work through uncomfortable emotions so you can heal. On today’s Friday Fix, I clear up some of the biggest misconceptions about grief. I also share how to stay mentally strong when you’re working through grief.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jillian Michaels is a fitness expert and renowned life coach. Her fitness videos and apps have helped hundreds of millions of people get in shape around the globe.She is best known for her role as a coach on the TV show, The Biggest Loser, where she helped people lose weight week after week. She’s also a New York Times bestselling author and the host of a popular podcast called, “Keeping It Real.”Some of the things she shares on today's show include how to motivate yourself when you don't feel like it, how to set other people up for success, and how to get back on track when you've messed up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether you said something out of anger and hurt your partner’s feelings or you completely forgot about a deadline for work, your next move is critical.Saying, “I’m sorry,” doesn’t automatically make things better. Apologies often fall short—or even make things worse. But there is a way to make an apology effective. In fact, when an apology is delivered well, you might make things better than they were before you messed up.So on today’s Friday Fix, I share the exact things you should say to increase the chances that your apology will be accepted.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you ever have unhelpful thoughts that run through your head, this episode is for you. I talk to bestselling author Jon Acuff about how to replace the the broken soundtracks in your head. Some of the things he shares are how to tell when you're overthinking, how to replace unhelpful soundtracks with healthier ones, how to shift your mindset, and much much more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices