Show Notes
Summary: On this episode of the Act To Live Podcast, Jaime starts about the episode by talking about a quote that she recently saw on Instagram. The quote, by Erica Layne, brings up the idea of saying 'NO' to things that drain your energy and 'YES' to things that fill you up. Scott and Jaime then discuss the concept of saying 'NO' - something that both of them struggle with at times. The duo then talks about some of the research that exists behind the difficulty and worry associated with saying 'NO,' as well as some of the benefits of learning to say 'NO.' Scott wraps up the episode by sharing some questions we can ask ourselves when we are stuck in those moments of indecision - somewhere between 'YES' and 'NO.' ACTion Event of the Week: When you find yourself struggling with whether to say 'YES' or 'NO' to something, try asking yourself some of the questions below. Will saying yes prevent me from focusing on something that's more important? Does this potential project, opportunity, or activity align with my values, beliefs, and goals? What are my core values, beliefs, and current goals? Will saying yes make me even more tired or burnt out? Will saying yes be good for my mental health? Or will it worsen my symptoms? In the past, when have I said yes and then ended up regretting it? Join us on the next episode of the Act To Live Podcast as we explore the concept of home. References: Guha, A. (2021). How (and why) to say no: Saying no is an essential psychological skill, and one that many struggle with. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prisons-and-pathos/202105/how-and-why-say-no Tartakovsky, M. (2021). How and When to Say No. PsychCentral. https://psychcentral.com/lib/learning-to-say-no
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Summary: On this episode of Act To Live, Jaime begins by sharing a recent conversation with a friend which centered around the idea that some people may be driven by hope while others may be driven by faith. Jaime asks Scott his perspective on the idea and the two then delve into the meaning of both terms and the roles these entities may have in life. The duo arrives at the idea that perhaps these concepts allow us to make sense of, and even find comfort in, the uncertainties and unknowns of life. ACTion Event of the Week: Take some time to explore the concepts of hope and faith. What roles do they play in your life - particularly in more challenging situations. How might you focus on strengthening either of these skill sets? Where do we walk next? Join us on the next episode of Act to Live as we delve into the multifaceted topic of change! References: Unknown (2023). The psychology behind faith. PsychoLogs Magazine. https://www.psychologs.com/the-psychology-behind-faith/ Preston, C. (2021). The Psychology of Hope: Rebuilding in the face of ongoing adversity. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-health-in-the-workplace/202110/the-psychology-of-hope
Quote: "Never help a child with a task that he feels he can succeed." – Maria Montesorri "Development is a series of rebirths." –Maria Montesorri Summary: On this episode of Act To Live, Scott and Jaime are joined by Kirsten Nichter. Kirsten is a special education teacher and parent coach. Through her experiences working with young children, Kirsten realized her passion for helping parents. Kirsten shares her story of becoming a parent coach, as well as guiding Scott and Jaime in exploring topics like self-compassion (as a parent), building resilience within oneself and their children, and more! ACTion Event of the Week: Each day, take a few minutes to answer the following two questions - What was your parenting win today? What is something that you are grateful for? Where do we walk next? Join us on the next episode of Act to Live as we explore HOPE and FAITH! Kirsten links: https://www.connectionsparentcoaching.com/ https://www.instagram.com/connectionsparentcoaching/ https://www.facebook.com/ConnectionsParentCoaching References: Chow, K. (2017). Building Resilience Through Play Based Learning. Housman Institute. Li W, Tan F, Zhou Z, Xue Y, Gu C, Xu X. Parents' Response to Children's Performance and Children's Self-Esteem: Parent-Child Relationship and Friendship Quality as Mediators. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 May 15;19(10):6012. Neff, K. (2015). Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. Siegel, D. and Bryson, T. P. (2019). The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child.
Quote: Trust is "the most effective way of relating to and working with others" and "one of the most powerful forms of motivation and inspiration." -Stephen Covey Summary: On this episode of Act To Live, Scott and Jaime are joined by Dr. James Panico. James guides a thought-provoking discussion about trust. How is it defined? What role can it play in one's life? What happens when trust is harmed? And more!
Summary: On this episode of Act To Live, Scott and Jaime take some time to share pieces of their unique stories. They then delve into the idea of stories - the ways stories differ depending on who's living or viewing them, the ways stories can change (often unexpectedly) over time, and the impact time and space can have on one's ability to tell a story. ACTion Event of the Week: Write YOUR story! Take some time to ponder and reflect. Then, sit down and start writing. Perhaps from the beginning…or maybe you choose to focus on a time or event that stands out most in your mind. Where do we walk next? Join us on the next episode of Act to Live as we explore HOPE and FAITH! References: Dibdin, E. (2022, March). The Mental Health Benefits of Journaling. Psychology Central. https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-health-benefits-of-journaling Dingfelder, S. (2011, January). Our stories, ourselves. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/01/stories McAdams, D.P. (2006). The Redemptive Self: Stories Americans Live by. New York: Oxford University Press. Sutton, J. (2018, May). 5 Benefits of Journaling for Mental health. Positive Psychology. https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-of-journaling/
Summary: On this episode of Act To Live, Scott and Jaime introduce the theme of Season Six - exploration! Each episode will feature a single word meant for listeners to explore right along with the duo. Jaime and Scott begin the episode by defining exploration and the role it plays in their lives currently. They then discuss some ways that we can engage in self-exploration and a few of the benefits. ACTion Event of the Week: Take some time to think about an area of your life in which you'd like to explore. Then, dive in…in any way that feels right to you…write, meditate, talk with family and friends, etc. Where do we walk next? Join us on the next episode of Act to Live as we explore FAITH and HOPE!