Big Happy Life

"Our outer world of form and experience is a reflection of our inner world of thought and feelings." - John Randolph Price

If your inner world is in turmoil, one of the easiest places to start is by getting your outer world in order. In this podcast episode, best-selling author and professional organiser, Louise Simpson, shares her tips and advice to help us manage our space a bit better so we can manage our lives a bit better.

Louise is currently offering 50% off virtual sessions. Visit the show notes page for more information. 

In this episode, I talk about the inspiration for Big Happy Life.

It's a short episode where I share a bit about an exercise we did during our pre-adoption training. It was such a profound exercise that it stayed with me for years and has become the foundation for my business.

It's a way to look at life where you see yourself at the centre of everything you're attached to. For some, those attachments are nurturing and rewarding. For others, they're demanding and exhausting - and a whole host of other things too. 

When we can see our lives this way, we can start to figure out what "the pulls" are and, where they don't feel good, we can figure out what needs to change.

In this episode of the Big Happy Book Club series, I talked to Biomechanics and Injury Movement Specialist, Ellie Williams about her choice of life-changing book, 'What the Foot' by Gary Ward.

The fascinating insights she shares - both from the book and from her own experience - will have you questioning many of the things you've come to believe about how the body works.

Hear her take on "No pain, no gain" and find out whether it's really a good idea to stabilise your core...

Links mentioned in the podcast:

To buy the book:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/what-the-foot/gary-ward/9781907261084

£34.99 - Out of Stock at the time of publishing this post but possibly available now.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Foot-Game-Changing-Philosophy-Eliminate/dp/1907261087/ref=sr_1_1?crid=17M9X7VTM91D9&dchild=1&keywords=gary+ward+what+the+foot&qid=1611860489&sprefix=gary+Ward+%2Caps%2C188&sr=8-1

£89.47 - Pricey, but at what price your vitality?

To stay in touch with Ellie:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/movefrompain/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movewellwithelliewilliams/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe5q2dgdouLLA_v49z_zj0A

Shownotes available at www.bighappylife.co.uk

 

 

Sometimes we cost ourselves our happiness by holding onto things we'd do better to let go of.

Underneath many of our challenges is the hidden expectation that a happy life is a trouble-free life or that a happy life requires a certain amount of wealth and success. Letting go of these two beliefs can free you to see your life in new ways and find happiness despite its challenges.

To comment or ask a question, visit the show notes page or the Big Happy Life Facebook Page.

One of my favourite books (I talk about it quite a lot in this episode) is Solve for Happy by Mo Gawdat.

From this book, I learned about the link between expectations and happiness and that's what led to today's tip. 

When you understand the expectations driving your experiences, you're better able to challenge and question them - and when you do that, you're better able to shape your thinking towards feeling happier.

To comment, visit the show notes page or the Big Happy Life Facebook page.

 

We're accustomed to referring to negative and positive emotions but what if they're nothing of the sort? 

What if they're just comfortable or uncomfortable? 

Our ability to experience happiness is determined - at least in part - by our ability to make best use of all other emotions in the spectrum. 

Inspired by Dr Joan Rosenberg's book, "90 Seconds to a life you love", this episode explores 3 steps you can take when you experience uncomfortable emotions so you're able to make best use of the experience.

Visit the show notes page or the Big Happy Life Facebook page to comment or ask questions. 

Today's tip is all about paying attention to the thoughts that drive your behaviour.

When we're playing "shark music" in the background, we end up stressed, make poor choices and end up regretting those choices or judging ourselves harshly - which limits our ability to experience happiness.

This episode explores the patterns in 'shark music thoughts' and what to do when we experience them. 

To comment or ask questions, visit the show notes or the Big Happy Life Facebook page.

Happiness can be approached from two perspectives. The first is to 'big up the positive'. That's what fattening the good is all about. The second is remove the things that make you unhappy. During this 5-day challenge, we cover both perspectives and offer tips for achieving happiness via both routes.

The Day 1 Tip is to Fatten the Good.

It is so easy to become overwhelmed by the stressful events in our lives and the things that are outside our control but, in doing so, we make ourselves feel smaller, 'less than' and unable to cope. By consciously making an effort to pay attention to the small wins, the little things within our control and the everyday things we can be grateful for, we can change perspective, shift focus, see ourselves differently and get better results.

This episode shares ideas on how to achieve these results. 

If you'd like to comment or ask questions, visit the Big Happy Life Facebook Page or comment on the show notes page.

 

Looking for your next life-changing read?

In this episode, Nicke Abraham - founder of The Winning Attitude Training Consultancy - talks about the book that changed her life: The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan.

Hear about how she went from being a workaholic to giving equal focus to all areas of her life.

Packed with great tips and advice, this episode provides not only a review of a fantastic book but stories of how to apply its lessons and stay on track until you achieve your goals.

Visit the show notes page to access all links mentioned during the conversation.

Taking control of your emotions is difficult. I'm still learning how to do it.

In this episode, I share the 5 skills I practice in my efforts to manage emotions, particularly when I feel anxious or overwhelmed.

Find show notes at bighappylife.co.uk