Episode 4

full
Published on:

22nd Jan 2020

4 How to be Happier: Taking Steps to Wellbeing

The science of wellbeing, Positive Psychology is an academic sub-discipline that can directly help us improve our lives and be happier! We delve a little bit into some concrete ways to improve our lives, and it's all based on research! And then we will also discuss a product some say makes them happier. We are walking a positive path here!

LET'S TALK THE WALK!

SOURCES and RESOURCES

On Positive Psychology

thehappymovie.com

Dan Gilbert's TED talk

Laurie Santos Yale class on Coursera

"The Difference Between Positive Thinking and Positive Psychology," www.psychologyofwellbeing.com

"If We Are So Rich, Why Aren't We Happy?" Semantic Scholar, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

"Positive Psychology," Harvard Health Publishing.

"A Simple Exercise to Increase Well-Being and Lower Depression," brainpickings.org.

"Changing World Happiness," The World Happiness Report.

"What is Positive Psychology, and What Is It Not?" Christopher Peterson, Psychology Today.

"Exploring the Concept of Positive Health," The Robert J. Wood Foundation.

"What is Positive Psychology and Why is it Important?" positivepsychology.com

Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment, Tal Ben-Shahar (good intro to positive psychology).

The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale (recall that this is about positive thinking, not positive psychology).

Fred Rogers' Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech, 1997.

Light Therapy

"Q and A on Bright Light Therapy," columbia.edu

"Seasonal Affective Disorder Treatment: Choosing a Light Therapy Box," mayoclinic.org

Verilux HappyLight Therapy Lamp

DISCLAIMER

Neither I nor my podcast guests are doctors or healthcare professionals of any kind, and nothing on this podcast or associated content should be considered medical advice. The information provided by Wellness While Walking Podcast and associated material, by Whole Life Workshop and by Bermuda Road Wellness LLC is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment, and before undertaking a new health care regimen, including walking.

Some links may be affiliate links.

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About the Podcast

Wellness While Walking
Small Steps to Big Health
Welcome! Each episode of Wellness While Walking addresses the real health concerns you're facing:

• metabolism shifts and blood sugar spikes/weight gain
• establishing sustainable habits despite crazy-busy schedules
• adapting movement regimens (featuring walking!*) to work for you… in a fun way!
• implementing doable nutrition approaches that work with your midlife body and life

Hi, I'm Carolyn, a Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach of almost 20 years.

I was a health-rejectionist! I didn't think it mattered what our lifestyles were like – I even doubled down on this approach, working in the ultra-processed foods industry for a decade (and gained a lot of weight and was fatigued all the time, but I didn't connect the dots!) But then I got very sick. And my young children did, too. I started to open up to the idea that what we ate, how (if!) we moved, how we slept and more – how it did matter! I "walked back" my chronic disease diagnoses and my kids healed.

After over a decade of health coaching people in their midlife years, I also noticed another trend – that of extremes! Folks rejected things like walking and eating largely whole foods for their more intense counterparts, like running and "eating clean." I knew that I needed to fight this, because there are lots of health-conferring points in between on the spectrum, and I'm all about capitalizing on the low hanging fruit by taking small steps that we'll actually do and enjoy!

I do think we need to fight societal norms that leave us unhealthy – we call that "walking against traffic" – but this can be a moderate, doable, fun and effective path! Getting this word out to the wider audience beyond my clientele led me to introduce the Wellness While Walking Podcast in January of 2020, and we've been going strong since!

I hope you'll join me, Health Coach Carolyn, for Wellness While Walking—your 30-minute movement companion that delivers research-backed strategies for weight management, metabolic health, healing chronic conditions and extending your healthspan in a motivating, compassionate format!
Whether you're seeking accountability for consistent action, clarity on conflicting health advice, or gentle guidance for aging vibrantly, Wellness While Walking meets you where you are with understanding and actionable solutions.

By the end of each episode, you'll feel physically energized, mentally renewed, and equipped with clear next steps—having moved, learned, laughed, and found the motivation to take the next meaningful step on your health journey! (*Did I mention that we play a beep halfway through so you know when to turn around if you're walking while listening?!)

Today is a terrific day to start so press "Follow" and then "Play," and let's do this, together!

About your host

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Carolyn Cohen