Pursue What Matters

Welcome to my book review for January 2022! To start the year off strong, I wanted to continue my deep dive into thoughts and their effect on each of us. This month I'm reviewing Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks, a fantastic workbook by Seth J. Gillihan focused on helping you banish destructive thought processes.   This discussion will help you: Understand what CBT is Apply principles of CBT to your daily life  Challenge cognitive distortions for greater well-being    Connect on Instagram @dr.melissasmith Don't miss out on weekly podcast episodes. Subscribe here to receive new episode drops in your inbox each week. Show notes available at: https://drmelissasmith.com/144-retrainyourbrain/

The stories we tell ourselves are usually chock full of cognitive distortions, which are inaccurate thoughts, perceptions, or beliefs that are characterized by negativity. This week I want to help you identify, understand, and rewrite the stories that may not be serving you.   This discussion will help you: Understand what cognitive distortions are Learn how cognitive distortions may be outsmarting you Identify what you can do to identify and challenge cognitive distortions Connect on Instagram @dr.melissasmith Don't miss out on weekly podcast episodes. Subscribe here to receive new episode drops in your inbox each week.  Show notes available at: https://drmelissasmith.com/143-outsmartdistortions/

This episode is about banishing those miserable thoughts, learning to sort through the good and the bad in your thought process, and staying off the path of misery. This podcast episode will help you: Learn the role of thoughts Understand the cognitive triad of self, world, and future Get out of your own way Connect on Instagram @dr.melissasmith Don't miss out on weekly podcast episodes. Subscribe here to receive new episode drops in your inbox each week. Show notes available at: www.drmelissasmith.com/142-triadofmisery  

This week I'm introducing my new, limited-time course, Stress is Not the Problem. This exclusive, brand-new course will teach you how to overcome the misunderstandings of stress many of us have and use a proper understanding of stress as a launchpad to greater growth and well-being. I hope you'll join me on this episode as I discuss why this is the case and what this short course can do to help you fulfill your full potential.  This podcast episode will help you:  Identify your beliefs about stress  Learn the truth about stress Harness stress for greater growth Stress is not the Problem is only open for a limited time. Enrollment closes on January 15th so don’t miss this opportunity to prioritize your coping. Learn more here! Connect on Instagram @dr.melissasmith Don't miss out on weekly podcast episodes. Subscribe here to receive new episode drops in your inbox each week. Show notes available at: www.drmelissasmith.com/141-courselaunch/   

Did you know that your beliefs about stress can significantly alter the impact stress has on your body? Stress can lead to health-protective benefits or health-destructive costs for you. The very cool thing about this is that you get to choose your outcome.  So many of us get stress totally wrong and then are surprised when it threatens to take us down. I am committed to helping you understand the truth about stress so you can reap the many benefits of stress (yes, you read that right) while thriving in your life.  This podcast episode will help you: - Identify three stress myths and how they threaten to take you down  - Learn the truth about stress - Identify specific ways to challenge the stress myths with coping skills that work  Don't let stress be a trap for you any longer, listen and learn how you can change your relationship with stress so that it no longer holds you back from pursuing what truly matters.  Stress is not the problem, is open for enrollment for two weeks only! It's time to prioritize you. You can dive deeper into learning skills to thrive in your stress. Learn more here! Connect on Instagram @dr.melissasmith Don't miss out on weekly podcast episodes. Subscribe here to receive new episode drops in your inbox each week. Show notes available at: https://drmelissasmith.com/140-stressmyths/

Self-compassion is about learning to give yourself some grace while holding yourself accountable to the realities of life. It’s learning to be kind to yourself instead of critical, realizing that self-compassion is actually the path to greater achievement and happiness. Plus, it feels a lot better than always being the target of that critical voice.  This week, I’m reviewing the excellent book Self Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Dr. Kristin Neff.  This podcast episode will help you: -   Define self-compassion -   Challenge the self-critical voice that may be holding you back -   Learn how self-compassion leads to greater success, achievement, happiness, and well-being  Stress is not the problem launches Jan 1st - Jan 15th, 2022. Join the waitlist here! Connect on Instagram @dr.melissasmith Don't miss out on weekly podcast episodes. Subscribe here to receive new episode drops in your inbox each week. Show notes available at: https://drmelissasmith.com/139-selfcompassion/

This is a busy time of year and if you’re not careful, all the good things of love and work will distract you from taking care of your most important asset: you. With this episode, I want to encourage you to take some time to realign your commitment to caring for yourself. I hope this episode will help you reflect on the past year and look forward to the coming year with a focus on leveling up your self-care.   This podcast episode will help you: -  Reflect on goals, lessons, and challenges of the past year -  Commit to self-care as your secret weapon for success and well-being -  Learn the 3 R’s of self care to help you thrive in the new year   You are your most important asset and I’m excited to share a new resource to help you thrive. Stress is not the problem launches Jan 1st - Jan 15th, 2022. Join the waitlist here! Connect on Instagram @dr.melissasmith  Don't miss out on weekly podcast episodes. Subscribe here to receive new episode drops in your inbox each week. Show notes available at: https://drmelissasmith.com/138-realignment/

Working hard only to feel undone by stress and overwhelm is one of the worst feelings, but unfortunately, one of the most common. In this episode, I want to help you understand what might trip you up. I’ll be sharing two common traps that get people stuck in stress and overwhelm, and I’ll give you some great solutions to help you avoid the traps and see your hard work turn into success. This podcast episode will help you: Identify what’s keeping you stressed and overwhelmed Learn to two traps and how to overcome them  Banish overwhelm with practical solutions  Grab your FREE Debunking Stress Resource here, learn to thrive despite stress.  Connect on Instagram @dr.melissasmith Don't miss out on weekly podcast episodes. Subscribe here to receive new episode drops in your inbox each week.  Show notes available at: https://drmelissasmith.com/137-stresstraps/

This week I want to help you answer the question of ambitious goals and if you’ve got what it takes to achieve them.  This discussion will help you : Reassess what success looks like Plan and Prepare for big goals Implement solutions that will help you stay on the path of success I hope you’ll join me as I share the secret sauce of achieving ambitious, even lofty, goals. Show notes available at: https://drmelissasmith.com/136-ambitiousgoals/

Too many of us spend our lives looking left and right to define success and then wonder why we’re unhappy. This week I’m inviting you to define success for yourself. I’ll help you cut through the overwhelm of comparison and focus on what truly matters to you. This discussion will help you: Consider what success means to you Reconcile your values and desire for success  Learn skills to help you banish overwhelm I hope you'll join me on the podcast for this topic that will help you to be happier, healthier, and more focused on pursuing what really matters.  Connect on Instagram @dr.melissasmith Grab your FREE Debunking Stress Resource here, learn to thrive despite stress.