The Happiness Squad Podcast with Ashish Kothari

In today’s episode, Anil and Ashish sit down with Ana Reed to explore the interconnected concepts of courageous leadership, psychological safety, and embracing one's authentic self. These principles hold immense value within organizations, fueling human flourishing and fostering thriving cultures at every level.An experienced CEO and executive advisor, Ana offers valuable insights from her extensive background working with global leaders. Coming from a multicultural Australian community and a sports-oriented family, Ana's journey as a professional athlete fueled her interest in human performance and its correlation with effective leadership.Ana founded Newmanity in 2020, providing transformative solutions to a wide range of industries, including ecommerce, mining, consumer healthcare, CPG, publishing, and sports. Through Newmanity, she assists CEOs and leaders globally, helping them navigate complex challenges and transition towards a more balanced and ethical style of leadership.Throughout the episode, Ana delves into essential principles, emphasizing the significance of business, social, and human values. Drawing from her experience working with leaders across all levels and teams on the frontlines, Ana highlights the importance of heart-centered leadership and how it brings a company's strategy and purpose to life.Moreover, Ana shares practical strategies and tips for cultivating courageous leadership, establishing psychological safety, and creating an environment that encourages individuals to embrace their authentic selves. Listeners will also discover how Ana empowers women in leadership roles and underscores the importance of collaboration between men and women in reshaping the future.Enjoy another enlightening conversation that will help you rewire for happiness!What You’ll Learn in this Show:Joy and suffering are interconnected, and finding meaning in suffering can lead to a more joyful existence.Business, social, and human values are crucial in driving business performance and creating purposeful organizations.The importance of building a supportive and inclusive community within organizations.Courageous leadership involves facing the truth and addressing deeper emotional and human issues within teams.Cultivating awareness is crucial in building psychological safety and fostering open dialogue.And so much more...Resources:Newmanity.co Anamarinovic.com Happinesssquad.com My Happiness Squad InstagramAshish Kothari LinkedInAnil Ramjiani LinkedInHappiness Squad Youtube ChannelBooks:Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best LifeMan's Search for Meaning

Get ready to discover the incredible power of a smile. Go ahead, give it a try—just smile! Take a moment to feel the positive vibes as you reflect on your life. Have you ever had that thought, "Life is just too short to live it half-heartedly"? In today’s episode, Anil and Ashish sit down with Scott White, the author of The Life Is Too Short Guy: Strategies to Make Every Day the Best Day Ever to discuss his book and the principles he shares in it which resonate so much with Ashish's nine practices.Scott is the Chairman and CEO of Invesque, a prominent public real estate investment company specializing in healthcare and senior living properties across North America. He is also the co-founder, partner, and strategic advisor of Spectra Student Living, a rapidly expanding student housing developer, owner, and operator. But what truly sets him apart is his genuine and infectious smile.Throughout the episode, Scott reveals how the principles he discusses in his book can effortlessly transform your life. His unique insights will leave you inspired and ready to share your newfound happiness with both familiar faces and strangers. As an added bonus, Scott shares valuable tips on unlocking those precious minutes in your life, starting today.Join us on this enlightening journey as Anil, Ashish, and Scott help you rewire your minds for happiness and discover the true power of a smile. This episode promises to leave you with a renewed zest for life and a genuine sense of joy.Enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:How people can live a happier life, regardless of their background or circumstances.Attitude is everything: Choosing to have a positive attitude and take life less seriously.Finding humor everywhere, even in difficult moments: How laughter can bring greater happiness.Learn, learn, learn: Why intellectual stimulation is important for finding happiness and gratitude.Three common myths about happiness busted.Why building and maintaining relationships is vital for social health and overall happiness.And so much more...Resources:Happinesssquad.com My Happiness Squad InstagramAshish Kothari LinkedInAnil Ramjiani LinkedInHappiness Squad Youtube ChannelBooks:Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best LifeThe Life Is Too Short Guy: Strategies to Make Every Day the Best Day Ever

In today's episode of the Happiness Squad podcast, Anil and Ashish continue their interview with Jane Dutton and Monica Worline, co-authors of Awakening Compassion at Work. They explore the potential for cultivating thriving cultures and discuss the importance of compassion in organizations.Jane, a dedicated PhD and University Professor, promotes human flourishing through her involvement with the Center for Positive Organization and Compassion Lab. Monica, a PhD holder and Faculty Director at the Center for Positive Organizations, advocates for compassionate practices and is the founder of EnlivenWork.In part one, they discussed Jane's flourishing triangle, a powerful conversation around positive connections, meaning and emotions. In this episode, they delve into the core themes of their book, highlighting the need for organizations to acknowledge and alleviate suffering. Awakening compassion at work means recognizing and responding to suffering with empathy, fostering both individual and organizational well-being.Jane and Monica emphasize the integration of love and compassion into daily practices for organizations to thrive. They share practical tips for facing challenges and stress, including reframing situations with positive intent and developing resilience.Join Anil, Ashish, Jane, and Monica in this enlightening episode as they continue to  explore the transformative power of compassion in organizations, fostering a harmonious and thriving work environment. What You’ll Learn in this Show:Why organizations should awaken their capacity to respond to suffering with compassion to support high performance and alleviate distress.Love and compassion are integral to high-performing organizations and should be integrated into daily practices.Practical tips for facing challenges and stress.Valuable insights into creating harmonious and compassionate work environments that benefit individuals and organizations.And so much more...Resources:Reflectedbestselfexercise.com Awakeningcompassionatwork.com Enlivenwork.com Compassionlab.com Center for Positive OrganizationMonicaworline.com Happinesssquad.com My Happiness Squad InstagramAshish Kothari LinkedInAnil Ramjiani LinkedInHappiness Squad Youtube ChannelBooks:Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best LifeAwakening Compassion at Work: The Quiet Power That Elevates People and OrganizationsHow to Be a Positive Leader: Small Actions, Big Impact

Flourishing within organizations holds the key to unlocking tremendous value. Imagine if you can deliver optimal functioning and enable your team to feel deeply alive and fire on all cylinders. That is a powerful feeling. In today’s episode of the Happiness Squad podcast, Anil and Ashish sit down with two distinguished guests, Jane Dutton and Monica Worline, co-authors of "Awakening Compassion at Work," to explore and unveil the potential for cultivating thriving cultures.Jane, a dedicated PhD and University Professor, is committed to fostering human flourishing at work. As a co-founder of the Center for Positive Organization and a founding member of Compassion Lab, she provides valuable resources for leaders and managers seeking to apply positive organizational scholarship, including her book "How to Be a Positive Leader."Monica, a leading advocate for compassionate practices in organizations, holds a PhD and serves as the Faculty Director for Engaged Learning and Innovation at the Center for Positive Organizations, University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. She is also the Executive Director of Compassion Lab and the founder and CEO of EnlivenWork, an idea incubator that cultivates courageous thinking and compassionate leadership.In this episode, Jane and Monica share profound insights on flourishing and nurturing thriving cultures. They delve into the vital components of positive connections, meaning, and emotions within the workplace. Furthermore, they shed light on the transformative influence of awakening compassion at work, introducing practical tools such as the "reflected best self" exercise for personal development.Tune in to learn how you can unlock the true potential of positive flourishing within your organization! What You’ll Learn in this Show:Jane's flourishing triangle and Monica's “Reflected Best Self” exercise.Stories about how we have impacted others can increase our awareness of our strengths and their impact.How positive connections can be built through short interactions and connections with others.How personal experiences shape our understanding of flourishing, including the power of community and its constraints.Why organizations should awaken their capacity to respond to suffering with compassion to support high performance and alleviate distress.And so much more...Resources:Reflectedbestselfexercise.com Awakeningcompassionatwork.com Enlivenwork.com Compassionlab.com Center for Positive OrganizationMonicaworline.com Happinesssquad.com My Happiness Squad InstagramAshish Kothari LinkedInAnil Ramjiani LinkedInHappiness Squad Youtube ChannelBooks:Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best LifeAwakening Compassion at Work: The Quiet Power That Elevates People and OrganizationsHow to Be a Positive Leader: Small Actions, Big Impact

In today's episode of The Happiness Squad, Ashish and Anil will guide you through another daily practice you can use to lead a more purposeful life. They conclude a three-part series on practice number seven, investing in your well-being, where they address the harmony amongst the mind, body and spirit.Throughout the series, they have highlighted the importance of achieving harmony among the mind, body, and spirit. In the previous two episodes, they have covered body and mind. Today, they will delve into the spirit.Ashish will provide insight into the relationship between nature and spirituality. Did you know that spending time in nature can have profound effects on our spiritual well-being? It's true! Ashish will explain the concept of "forest bathing" and how it can help you connect with nature and find inner peace.For those of you who are stuck in a concrete jungle, wondering how to unlock and explore the power of nature, stay tuned until the end! Ashish will provide several tips that you can easily integrate into your life starting today.Are you ready to learn how to do less and be more? Join Anil and Ashish as they talk through how we can rewire for happiness with another important practice that you can incorporate in your everyday life. Enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:Recognizing that we are part of something bigger makes us happier.Spirituality is an important part of well-being.Ashish’s definition and thoughts around spirituality and the difference between spirituality and religion.We are all connected and interdependent with nature and each other.Tips for exploring the power of nature to unlock and integrate into daily life.Practicing forgiveness, kindness, and compassion can help us live in service and be generous and truthful.How spirituality can protect us against depression.And so much more...Resources:McKinsey Health InstituteHappinesssquad.com @MyHappinessSquad InstagramAshish Kothari LinkedInAnil Ramjiani LinkedInHappiness Squad Youtube ChannelBook:Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best LifeThe Book of JoyThe Awakened Brain: The Psychology of Spirituality

In today's episode of The Happiness Squad,  Anil and Ashish will be walking you through another daily exercise that can assist you in living a more meaningful life: prioritizing your well-being. As part of a three-part series that focuses on the body, mind, and spirit, this second episode will concentrate on the significance of nurturing our mental health in achieving overall wellness.Life can be hectic, and sometimes we may feel off balance. But by investing in our well-being, we can create a solid foundation for ourselves and improve our overall quality of life. Ashish reminds us that even on our toughest days, we should be grateful for the reminders of what it feels like to be off balance. This way, we can learn to recognize the importance of taking care of ourselves to feel good more often.They will be discussing the crucial importance of sleep, will share some natural alternatives to caffeine and practices that can nourish us into a refreshed and recharged day of focus and activity. Ashish also shares a technique called Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR), a particular way of breathing and body scan that can help us restore our energy levels within just 10-15 minutes. He will also talk about how tuning outward and noticing the beauty of the human beings around us can help us create a smile and shift our perspective.Enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:The importance of having enough sleep and how we can optimize the quality of our sleep.How to get some of the benefits that we get from long-term sleep in just 15 to 20 minutes.How you can create energy through your body.Three straightforward techniques to manage a difficult day.Caring for our minds is crucial for a better quality of life as we age and live longer.How the consumption of alcohol and caffeine can impact the quality of our sleep.The side effects of melatonin.And so much more...Resources:McKinsey Health InstituteHappinesssquad.com @MyHappinessSquad InstagramAshish Kothari LinkedInAnil Ramjiani LinkedInHappiness Squad Youtube ChannelBook:Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life

In today's episode of The Happiness Squad, Ashish and Anil guide you through another daily practice you can use to lead a more purposeful life: investing in well-being. In this first episode of a three-part series - that will address the body, mind, and spirit - Ashish and Anil will talk about how taking care of our physical health through movement is essential for overall well-being. They emphasize the importance of taking care of our well-being, as without it, we cannot be happy, flourish, or live our purpose. They discuss the current well-being crisis and why it is important to address it. They also note that people are living longer but not necessarily healthier, and the longer years are filled with suffering.Ashish and Anil share some simple tips and tiny steps that you can take to take care of your well-being, approaching it from a place of compassion for yourself and others. They unpack some essential tips for listeners, highlighting the power of community and the stories we tell ourselves that affect our relationship with well-being. They stress the need to have a growth mindset and avoid putting limitations on our bodies that keep us from reaching our potential. They also share some simple tips on how you can easily integrate movement into your personal and professional life and so much more.Enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:Taking care of our physical health can have positive effects on our mental and emotional well-being.The power of community and the role it can play in supporting our well-being goals.How our limiting beliefs about ourselves can impact our willingness to try new things and take care of ourselves.Focus on taking tiny but mighty steps toward better health and happiness.How to integrate movement into your daily life.And so much more...Resources:Happinesssquad.com @MyHappinessSquad InstagramAshish Kothari LinkedInAnil Ramjiani LinkedInHappiness Squad Youtube ChannelBook:Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life

In today's episode of The Happiness Squad, Ashish and Anil guide you through another daily practice you can use to lead a more purposeful life. Today's exercise is fueling up with compassion. It's incredibly important to acknowledge this, especially at the start of someone's journey into self discovery. There are clear benefits to giving ourselves self permission to make mistakes and grow in the process. This practice begins with you - you stoke the flame of self love and compassion from the moment you wake up till the end of your day. Only through self compassion are you able to offer kindness and generosity to others. The Dalai Lama has said that love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot exist. Ashish and Anil share personal and professional reflections to illustrate how critical this practice is for embracing our inner critic, and taking the advice, but not the abuse.Join Ashish and Anil for this fascinating discussion.What You’ll Learn in this Show:The idea of compassion and why it's important.The concept of imposter syndrome.Why you can’t shun your inner critic.The importance of being our authentic selves.Resources:Happiness Squad WebsiteMyHappinessSquad InstagramAshish Kothari LinkedInAnil Ramjiani LinkedInHappiness Squad Youtube ChannelBooks:Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life

In today's episode of The Happiness Squad, Ashish and Anil guide you through another daily practice you can use to lead a more purposeful life. Today's exercise is all about mastering your emotions. We are all gifted with rich memories and vivid imaginations, but those gifts can sometimes lead to suffering and anxiety. We feel stuck in the past, reliving negative events and obsessing about how we can control our future. These worries can harden our hearts and close us off from growth and joy. Today we'll look at ways that you can incorporate radical acceptance to open your heart and create lightness and new possibilities for your future. We'll focus specifically on anger and resentment. We'll each share personal stories from our past and present to illustrate the practices, and we encourage you to wait till the end, where we'll share three tips that we can follow to achieve mastery of our anger.Join Ashish and Anil for this fascinating discussion.What You’ll Learn in this Show:What it really means to "master" our emotions.The reasons why we instinctively need to act on something that we are averse to.The difference between feeling anger, and associating with anger.The importance of compassion and understanding why the other person is acting the way they are.Resources:Happiness Squad WebsiteMyHappinessSquad InstagramAshish Kothari LinkedInAnil Ramjiani LinkedInHappiness Squad Youtube ChannelBooks:Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life

The power of creating a genuine connection can turn a brief moment into a sacred moment. This may sound easy and straightforward, but is it something that we truly practice daily?In today’s show, Ashish and Anil are going to have a fascinating conversation with professor Amy Young on how she hardwires organizations for human flourishing and connection.Amy Young is on the Business Communications faculty at the Ross School of Business and received her PhD in Psychology from the University of Michigan. She teaches positive business communications at Ross and she also uses science to identify practical solutions for companies and organizations. She has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies in the financial, manufacturing, consumer products, automotive, and healthcare industries.In this episode, Amy is going to talk about her work on translating the science of flourishing into practice and the importance of compassionate leadership. You will find out that leaders and individuals of all levels can integrate compassion and kindness into their daily lives to not only encourage themselves but also others to flourish. And as a result, improve well-being at an organizational and individual level. You will also learn about our Sunflower Model and Amy’s favorite practice to hardwire for happiness.Amy will talk about her experience in helping leaders shape positive working environments where people can thrive, the flourishing triangle and the PERMA model, why compassionate leaders truly stand out and stand apart from the rest and so much more.Listen now and enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:How to shape positive working environments where people can thrive.How can you start to make a difference and create an environment of flourishing around you?The most important things beyond work-life balance for employeesThe importance of feeling valued and connecting meaning to what you're doingAnd so much more...Resources:Happinesssquad.com @MyHappinessSquad InstagramAshish Kothari LinkedInAnil Ramjiani LinkedInHappiness Squad Youtube ChannelBooks:You Are Worth the Work: Moving Forward from Trauma to FaithHardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best LifeThe Joy Choice: How to Finally Achieve Lasting Changes in Eating and ExerciseThe Heart of Business: Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism