Show Notes
Summary: On this episode of the Act To Live Podcast, Scott and Jaime begin by talking about the 'act' of being kind to others. The two then explore random acts of kindness and share their experiences both on the giving and receiving end of these acts. Scott then talks a bit about the health and neurological benefits of performing random acts of kindness. The duo wraps up the episode by discussing a few suggestions/ideas for those interested in performing random acts of kindness. ACTion Event of the Week: Try doing at least one random act of kindness for a stranger AND at least one random act of kindness for someone you know this week. What did you notice? What was the experience like? How did you feel the rest of the week? Join us on the next episode of the Act To Live Podcast as we explore the process of developing a flexible mind. References: Carter, C. (2011). Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents. https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B00338QEN8&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_33JJXBTR2W8KEPSRTCNT&tag=mobilea0615b4-20 McCraty R., Barrios-Choplin B., Rozman D., Atkinson M., and Watkins A.D (1998). The impact of a new emotional self-management program on stress, emotions, heart rate variability, DHEA and cortisol. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science. 33(2):151-170. Stoerkel, E. (2020, October). Can Random Acts of Kindness Increase Well-Being? https://positivepsychology.com/random-acts-kindness/ Sweet, J. (2021, February). How Random Acts of Kindness Can Boost Your Health During the Pandemic. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-random-acts-of-kindness-can-boost-your-health-5105301
More from Act to Live
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!