Do you ever get caught up in what I will casually call “the race”? The experience of moving from one thing to the nextSwept up in the to-do listFeeling an internal push to keep accomplishing, achieving, and making things happenConstantly in a mode of “doing.” Is this relatable?While neither good or bad I would invite you to consider the following:At what points is this beneficial (in your experience)? When might it become detrimental?Today’s practice will invite you to consider these questions, to step out of the race, and to let go of “doing” as you are guided through a simple process for finding a few moments of rest in the midst of a busy day.Did you find today's practice valuable? Remember, courage is contagious. If you know someone who would benefit from today’s practice please share. All practices can be found for free in our Practice Library. Access the library here: https://www.practicingcourage.com/join-libraryInterested in taking a deeper dive into practices that support greater calm, clarity, courage, and meaningful connection?In an effort to create a delightful and seamless on-demand practice experience we created The Practice Pass, an annual membership that gives you access to all of this dynamic original content including both live and on-demand learning experiences.If you sign up up for the Practice Pass you’ll receive:Existing on-demand meditation challenges:◦ The Practicing Courage Challenge◦ The 5-Day Transforming Stress Challenge3 NEW live challenges each year. Future topics may include: finding purpose, building new habits, courageous conversations, authentic living, navigating transitions, letting go, and finding ease in challenging times. ◦Any LIVE challenge during a year will be made available on-demand afterward which you will have access to as a Practice Pass member.Learn more and register for the pass here: https://www.practicingcourage.com/signup-practice-passCurious to explore this topic further? Here are some conversations on the podcast we think you'll love:How Mindfulness Rewires Your Brain For Calm, Clarity and Joy - Dr. Shauna ShapiroLetting Go of Perfectionism and Finding Happiness - Tal Ben-ShaharLearning Self-Acceptance and Finding Real Happiness - Alison CanavanTil next time,-JoshuaSupport the show

What happens when you begin to shift your attention outwardly to the ways in which we are connected and support one another? This in itself can be a question to explore and experiment with over time. Today’s practice will invite you to use your imagination to foster a mindset of connection and interdependence.For many, a shift to focusing on connection can bring with it numerous benefits.  Here’s a couple of points that highlight this:When we over-focus on ourselves it narrows our possibilities, our perspective, and can often lead to isolation, pain, and sufferingWhen we feel connected it expands possibilities, our perspective, and we often experience wellbeing. And this sense of connection, and interconnection is something that we can access through practice.Did you find today's practice valuable? Remember, courage is contagious. If you know someone who would benefit from today’s practice please share. All practices can be found for free in our Practice Library. Access the library here: https://www.practicingcourage.com/join-libraryInterested in taking a deeper dive into practices that support greater calm, clarity, courage, and meaningful connection?In an effort to create a delightful and seamless on-demand practice experience we created The Practice Pass, an annual membership that gives you access to all of this dynamic original content including both live and on-demand learning experiences.If you sign up up for the Practice Pass you’ll receive:Existing on-demand meditation challenges: The Practicing Courage ChallengeThe 5-Day Transforming Stress Challenge3 NEW live challenges each year. Future topics may include: finding purpose, building new habits, courageous conversations, authentic living, navigating transitions, letting go, and finding ease in challenging times. Any LIVE challenge during a year will be made available on-demand afterward which you will have access to as a Practice Pass member.Learn more and register for the pass here: https://www.practicingcourage.com/signup-practice-passCurious to explore this topic further? Here are some conversations on the podcast we think you'll love:Sharon Salzberg and Barbara Fredrickson - The Key to Resilience, Growth, and PossibilityDr. Jeffrey Hull - The Art & Science of Leadership in a Changing WorldRick Hanson - Solving Conflicts, Building Connections, and Fostering LoveTill next time,-JoshuaSupport the show

Today’s guest is Dr. Mylien Duong, Senior Director of Research at The Constructive Dialogue Institute, where they define Constructive dialogue as a form of conversation in which people who have different values, beliefs, and perspectives seek to build new ways to understand and interact with each other, even as they sustain commitments to their own principles and perspectives. The format is ideal for discussing important, complicated issues that can divide people.Mylien helps to build out evidence-based content for having constructive dialogues, and oversees measuring the efficacy and effectiveness of the programming and learning content that the Institute puts out.  So far programming offered by the Institute: Has impacted over 50K learners Is being leveraged by 900+ Institutions Shows that 86% of learners improved communication across differenceAnd, 95% of educators recommend their programmingTheir work has been featured in Time Magazine, Forbes, The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Oprah Magazine, Psychology Today and moreIn today's conversation we are going to dive deep into the topic of how to have constructive dialogues including: Part of Mylien’s story about how she came to this workThe 5 principles of Constructive Dialogue that the Institute has establishedThe role of curiosityThe power of storytelling, and witnessing people’s storiesThe importance of humility, self-worth, and feeling that you matterWhat role emotion intelligence and nervous system regulation playsAnd more!More about Mylien: Dr. Mylien Duong has deep expertise in developing scalable behavioral interventions. Trained as a clinical psychologist, she was previously a senior research scientist at the Committee for Children, where she led the research to develop a social-emotional learning program for teachers in K-12 schools. Prior to that, she was faculty at the University of Washington, where conducted federally funded research studies to develop and test behavioral interventions for children and youth in school and juvenile justice settings. A researcher through and through, she has received over $17 million in grant funding and published over 40 scientific articles and book chapters. For more on the Constructive Dialogue Institute please check out https://constructivedialogue.org/Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are more conversations we think you'll love:Dr. Marc Brackett - Permission to Feel: The Power of Emotional IntelligenceDr. Daryl Van Tongeren - The Transformative Power of HumilityDr. Kelly McGonigal - Finding the Hope, Connection, and Courage to TransformEnjoying the show? Please rate it on Apple Podcasts!Thanks for listening!Support the show

Are there habitual ways of thinking or behaving that if you were to let go of, would bring more ease, wellbeing, and fulfillment? Today's practice will introduce you to the work of Dr. Jud Brewer and explore how we can leverage knowledge of how our brains work, the latest science of habit change, as well as a powerful blend of curiosity and kindness, to ultimately let go of ways of thinking and behaving that no are no longer helpful or beneficial in the pursuit of what we care about most.Thanks for practicing with us!Did you find today's practice valuable? Remember, courage is contagious. If you know someone who would benefit from today’s practice please share. All practices can be found for free in our Practice Library. Access the library here: https://www.practicingcourage.com/join-libraryInterested in taking a deeper dive into practices that support greater calm, clarity, courage, and meaningful connection?In an effort to create a delightful and seamless on-demand practice experience we created The Practice Pass, an annual membership that gives you access to all of this dynamic original content including both live and on-demand learning experiences.If you sign up up for the Practice Pass you’ll receive:Existing on-demand meditation challenges: The Practicing Courage ChallengeThe 5-Day Transforming Stress Challenge3 NEW live challenges each year. Future topics may include: finding purpose, building new habits, courageous conversations, authentic living, navigating transitions, letting go, and finding ease in challenging times. Any LIVE challenge during a year will be made available on-demand afterward which you will have access to as a Practice Pass member.Learn more and register for the pass here: https://www.practicingcourage.com/signup-practice-passCurious to explore this topic further? Here are some conversations on the podcast we think you'll love:Dr. Jud Brewer - Is Curiosity a Superpower?Dr. Jud Brewer - Harnessing Neuroscience to Change Habits and Find HappinessDr. Leah Weiss and Jerry Colonna - The Future of Work: Love, Safety, and BelongingTil next Tuesday,-JoshuaSupport the show

Today's guest is Shane O'Sullivan – an Executive, Leadership and Performance Coach at Inspiring Excellence, a company that focuses on empowering organizations and their people to achieve sustainable high performance. Shane has worked with some of the best in the world, training high performance principles and mindset skills essential to revealing one’s potential. Some of Shane’s clients include Fortune 50 Leaders, Multinational Corporations, CEO’s and Professional Athletes. In addition to his work as a performance coach he competed at the highest level of Ireland's national sport of Hurling for 20 years. Throughout his storied career he won numerous national honors and competed in Ireland’s most iconic sporting events, the All-Ireland Hurling Finals.  Today we’ll dive into some of the things he’s learned about performance, excellence, and success both on and off the field. In this wide ranging and heartfelt conversation Shane will share:Key insights for performing at a high levelSome of his favorite coaching techniques for unlocking the potential of his clientsThe types of mindsets and beliefs that can foster success and fulfillmentWhat he learned from his dad during the time he was alive, and in his death, about living well and what really mattersThe role of compassion and kindness in high performance environmentsKeys to resilience in the face of challenges and adversityFinding the courage to live an authentic life, true to one's selfAnd more!More about Shane O'SullivanShane’s work as a coach focuses on the principles of high performance and mindset training with Inspiring Excellence, the organization he leads. Inspiring Excellence has conducted work across 5 continents, in over 30 of the worlds major cities and with some of the worlds leading organizations. You can learn more about Shane’s work at inspiringexcellence.ie or you can connect by following him on LinkedIn.Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are more conversations we think you'll love:Steph Labbé - The Courage to Become Your Best SelfDr. E. Elisbaet Lahti - Shifting the Way We Define True StrengthEnjoying the show! Please rate it on Apple Podcasts!Interested in joining the Practicing Courage Community? You can learn more and join for free here!Thanks for listening!Support the show

When your heart begins to close, how can you find ways to open it again? First offered by Mark Nepo in our conversation from 2018, this has become a central question I've been exploring on the Courageous Life for years. Today's practice will invite you to pause, reflect, and explore this question as you move forward through your week and beyond.As you listen you'll be invited to engage in a brief guided practice, and you'll be exposed to intriguing findings from neuroscientists and leading emotion researchers. Additionally, you'll gain insights that I've distilled from the podcast for opening the heart and mind, and ultimately moving from contracted states to more expansive ones. Some of which include:Opening to learning, possibility, and growth (vs. closing off or shutting down)Responding from a place of choice (vs. reactivity)And moving from fear to loveThanks for practicing with us!And remember, courage is contagious. If you know someone who would benefit from today’s practice or the FREE practice library please share. The practice library is here: https://www.practicingcourage.com/join-librarySupport the show

Welcome back to the Practicing Courage Community - a space where we are dedicated to exploring what it means to live well, and engaging in practices that support finding the courage to do so. To support your own exploration of these deep and personal questions, once-a-week I will be offering you a brief practice that will infuse storytelling, research, and tips for making the most of whatever tool or practice may be offered. Today's practice: The Keys to ResiliencePart of the journey of living well is gaining clarity about what really matters to you, and then pursuing a life that is in greater alignment with whatever that may look like.In that pursuit there will inevitably be times where one stumbles, falls, or fails.Today’s practice is about these moments, and how we can meet them in ways that give rise to resilience, and the courage to keep going.You'll be be invited to explore a multi-step process of bringing awareness, curiosity, reframing, and compassion to moments where you may fall short, stumble, or fail.When meeting moments in these ways, you may notice more energy to push forward, more courage to get up and try again, and greater satisfaction when you succeed.Ready to dive in? Let's begin. Thanks for practicing with us!Did you find today's practice valuable? Remember, courage is contagious. If you know someone who would benefit from today’s practice please share. All practices can be found for free in our Practice Library. Access the library here: https://www.practicingcourage.com/join-libraryInterested in taking a deeper dive into practices that support greater calm, clarity, courage, and meaningful connection?In an effort to create a delightful and seamless on-demand practice experience we created The Practice Pass, an annual membership that gives you access to all of this dynamic original content including both live and on-demand learning experiences.If you sign up up for the Practice Pass you’ll receive:Existing on-demand meditation challenges: The Practicing Courage ChallengeThe 5-Day Transforming Stress Challenge3 NEW live challenges each year. Future topics may include: finding purpose, building new habits, courageous conversations, authentic living, navigating transitions, letting go, and finding ease in challenging times. Any LIVE challenge during a year will be made available on-demand afterward which you will have access to as a Practice Pass member.Learn more and register for the pass here: https://www.practicingcourage.com/signup-practice-pass-JoshuaSupport the show

Today’s guest is Kelli Harding - a medical and public health doctor based in New York City whose goal is to make the world a kinder and healthier place for everybody. She wrote a critically acclaimed book about social connection and health, The Rabbit Effect: Live Longer, Happier, and Healthier with the Groundbreaking Science of Kindness. As a medical doctor Kelli believes everybody deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and kindness while receiving the best evidence-based medical care. She is Board-certified in Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, and trained in psychiatry and research at Columbia University, where she continues to teach. She also has a degree in public health from Columbia University.  Kelli's work has been featured across media outlets including on Today, Good Morning America, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Medscape, BBC World, Oprah.com, The World Economic Forum, LA Times, Parents Magazine, and Prevention. She’s also the co-founder of Our Kind of Club, a global, inclusive, action-oriented kindness movement—you can learn more and sign up at kellihardingmd.comKelli shares:  "All my years of education and research have taught me that the best care comes down to treating every person with kindness."In today’s episode we dive deep into Kelli's work around kindness, including: Kelli’s journey in medicine, how she found kindness, and why it’s become a central focus in her work, and everything she doesThe health implications of kindnessPractices for incorporating kindness into the busyness of everyday lifeKelli’s incredible story of meeting a Nobel Peace Prize winner and what she learned from her about kindness and compassionKelli’s thoughts about kindness as a form of courage, including responding to harsh circumstances and adversity with an open heartKelli’s views on whether kindness has a role in high performance cultures in healthcare and beyondThe role of kindness in a life well lived and why kindness may be what matters most at the end of lifeDid you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you’ll love:Kelly McGonigal: Finding the Hope, Courage, and Connection to TransformShauna Shapiro: How Mindfulness Rewires Your Brain for Calm, Clarity, and JoyThe Practicing Courage Community launched last week. This is a free space where we are dedicated to exploring what it means to live well, and engaging in practices that support finding the courage to do so. In less than a week hundreds of people around the world have already joined the community. If you’re a part of it, thank you for joining. If you haven’t joined yet, but are curious about it you can find all the details and sign up for free at practicing courage.com/join-communityPlease rate the show on iTunes!Thanks for listening!Support the show

Welcome to Practicing Courage - a space where we are dedicated to exploring what it means to live well, and engaging in practices that support finding the courage to do so. To support your own exploration of these deep and personal questions, once-a-week I will be offering you a brief practice that will infuse storytelling, research, and tips for making the most of whatever tool or practice may be offered. You’ll be able to find all of these recordings here on the Courageous Life podcast feed under the mini episodes that have “Practicing Courage” in the title, or at https://www.practicingcourage.com/join-library, which is a free space where we are housing all of the practices over time. The hope being that are able to choose to access them in whatever way is easiest and most preferable for you.The micro-practices will vary widely in content coming from my own experiences of exploring these questions over my career - including conversations on The Courageous Life, teaching positive psychology and mindfulness, and my work as a coach.Today, we are kicking things off with:An introduction to this communityThe intention of offering a space like thisHighlights from the science of courageAn inspiring clip from a conversation with Amy EdmondsonAnd a simple 3-part practice for finding more courage in the midst of our busy day-to-day experiences as well as tips for how to make the most of it.Thanks for practicing with us!Find out more at https://www.practicingcourage.com/join-libraryAnd remember, courage is contagious. If you know someone who would benefit from today’s practice please share!Support the show

There is a metaphor that comes out of ancient wisdom traditions of a bird. One wing of the bird represents wisdom and the other represents compassion. In order to fly the bird needs both wings. Like the bird, as people and leaders, cultivating wisdom and compassion in our lives, and in our organizations may help us to realize our potential. This metaphor serves as the centerpiece of our conversation today as Dr. Leah Weiss and Jerry Colonna dive deep into the power of compassion at work.This episode is the third installment of a 4-part series showcasing leading researchers and practitioners who are exploring themes related to compassion, courage, and living with a more open, kind, and loving stance toward the world. The first two episodes featured Sharon Salzberg and Barbara Fredrickson, as well as James Doty and Jacinta Jiménez. In this deep and inspiring conversation Leah and Jerry share: Why they have infused compassion and mindfulness so centrally in their work with leaders and organizationsWhy empathy, safety, love, and belonging may be the most important qualities for leaders to focus onThe role of suffering and a broken heart in compassionate leadershipUsing work as a crucible for realizing our potentialThe power of asking open questions, slowing down, and listening deeplyHow to navigate anger in organizationsReflections and insights on opening the heart in difficult conversationsThe importance of kinship and recognizing our shared common humanity**Please note: In this conversation Jerry and Leah share past experiences related to acute mental health issues and suicide. There is a possibility that some may find parts of this episode triggering. Please listen at your own discretion and in a caring and supportive way for you. Additionally, if you or someone you know is experiencing mental health issues, including those related to suicide please reach out for help. The International Association for Suicide Prevention is one organization that offers lots of free support, helplines, and resources globally. You can find them at https://www.iasp.info/ **More about Jerry:Jerry Colonna is the CEO, and co-founder, of Reboot.io, an executive coaching and leadership development firm whose coaches and facilitators are committed to the notion that better humans make better leaders. For nearly 20 years, he has used the knowledge gained as an investor, an executive, and a board member for more than 100 organizations to help entrepreneurs and others to lead with humanity, resilience, and equanimity. Previous to his career as a coach he was a partner with JPMorgan Partners (JPMP), the private equity arm of JP Morgan Chase. He joined JPMP from Flatiron Partners. For more on Jerry please visit reboot.ioMore about Leah:Dr. Leah Weiss is a researcher, lecturer, consultant, and author. She teaches Compassionate Leadership at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She is a founding faculty member of Stanford’s Compassion Cultivation Program. In 2019, she co-founded Skylyte, a company that specializes in using the latest neuroscience and behavior change to empower high-performing leaders and managers to prevent burnout for themselves and their teams. Leah has taught and spoken in over 75 organizations across sectors. Her work has been covered by news outlets around the world, including BBC, the New York Times, TED, the Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, and countless others. For more about Leah visit: https://leahweissphd.com/Support the show