We are joined by renowned psychologist and host of the Your Life in Process podcast, Dr. Diana Hill. Listen in as she unpack's new an innovative ways to enhance emotional wellness though the practice of acceptance.

In this episode, you'll learn:

-The number one tip for becoming more aware and focused in daily living....01:10

-Becoming comfortable with discomfort through acceptance...04:20

-Why do we go on autopilot and how does it impact emotional health?...10:02

-Meditation as a stressor and what do about it.....13:00

-Why self-compassion is key to emotional and mental health....17:20

-What is psychological flexibility and how can becoming more psychologically flexible benefit your mental health?....32:34

-Why is acceptance one of the, if not the, most important skill for emotional wellness?...46:10

-Must we accept everything or can this turn into denial?...50:27

-Should we be thinking "happy thoughts?"....57:59

-The necessity for daily reflection and journaling...1:03:24

Resources mentioned:

Your Life in Process Podcast

Dr. Diana's ACT Daily Journal

Dr. Ben Rein, a Stanford University neuroscientist and social media phenom, joins the Hanu Health podcast to discuss the intersection between neuroscience and mental health.

In this episode, you'll learn:

-The funny coincidence of names as it relates to professions....00:00

-How Dr. Ben manages stress as a neuroscientist with a busy schedule....05:15

-Why cramming and "all-nighters" lead to less productivity....08:32

-Dr. Ben's go-to and science-backed stress mitigation techniques....13:07

-Why Dr. Ben started posting on social media and how he uses it to advance the field of neuroscience...20:02

-Dr. Ben's take on misinformation as it relates to science in social media...28:45

-What is empathy?....44:45

-Is there a way to increase empathy?...50:45

-What is Dr. Ben most excited about in the advancement of neuroscience?....1:07:25

-And much more!

Resources mentioned:

Dr. Ben's Website

Dr. Ben's Tik Tok

Dr. Ben's Instagram

In this week's episode, we have an enlightening chat with psychologist Dr. Carissa Gustafson about using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to get a handle on anxiety. Dr. Gustafson provides valuable insights on how a sense of lacking control can drive anxiety. She explains how ACT helps you accept what you can and can't control, and take action focused on the present moment.

We also dive into powerful ACT concepts like mindfulness, cognitive defusion, and connecting behaviors to your core values. Dr. Gustafson emphasizes embracing all your experiences with compassion as opposed to avoiding difficult emotions. She shares extremely practical techniques to become more flexible and committed to the meaningful life you want. Get ready to learn research-backed tools to develop self-awareness, acceptance, and take value-aligned action when anxiety strikes!

Some amazing highlights from our chat:

2:30 - Dr. Gustafson explains how anxiety arises from wanting control to feel safe. She emphasizes accepting what you can and can't control.

7:55 - How mindfulness helps relate to thoughts and feelings with open awareness rather than avoidance.

13:40 - Dr. Gustafson talks about using cognitive defusion to become unstuck from anxious thoughts. She suggests thanking your mind for trying to protect you.

21:15 - Dr. Jay asks about linking behaviors to values to enhance motivation for change. Dr. Gustafson agrees this is key.

31:20 - Dr. Gustafson stresses embracing all experiences, even difficult emotions, with self-compassion rather than judgment.

Buy Dr. Carissa's book Reclaim Your Life: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in 7 Weeks on her website or Amazon.