Big Happy Life

In this episode, we explore the art of cultivating better feeling thoughts using a practice I call the "60-Minute Retreat".   This practice helps develop positive habits for managing everyday stresses and strains. Be feeling better, it's easier to do better - and that cycle creates more good stuff.   In this episode, I explain what the 60-Minute Retreat is and talk about how and why it works.   Find the show notes at: Bighappylife.co.uk or bighappylife.blog   Links to earlier episodes also referenced in this episode:   How Habits Form   The Power of Keystone Habits    

This episode is about whether you do things for yourself or against yourself - whether you aim to move forward but your thoughts lie in wait for you, unseen, ready to pull you under when you're at your weakest. Additional information and space for comments and questions can be found on the show notes page (bighappylife.blog). You can also visit @bighappylifepage on Facebook to comment or ask a question.  

In this episode, I explore one of the most valuable life lessons I've learned. It's helping me stay focused, reduce stress and make better choices. Books referenced in this episode: Playing the Matrix - Mike Dooley The thriving child - Dr William Stirred and Ned Johnson

Why do we have habits and what is happening in our brains when we perform habitual acts? This episode answers these questions and explains why these things matter when it comes to changing an old habit or starting a new one. Click here to access the show notes page.

It's easy to learn the theory of what will make us happy but difficult to put it into practice. This week's episode examines Jonathan Haidt's metaphor of the Rider and the Elephant when describing the logical and emotional parts of our minds. Visit the show notes page here   

This week's episode looks at the Hedonic and Eudaimonic approaches to happiness. Which is most likely to lead to greater happiness and why? Visit the show notes page here 

It's my 49th birthday today and I was reflecting on the most useful skills I've learned - and still need to learn - in my efforts to live joyfully.

This week, I had to re-learn a lesson about not over-complicating things. If you are stuck and going in circles, this episode might offer a new perspective and some simple options to find a way forward. If you have questions or would like to comment, visit nataliebritt.substack.com - you can subscribe there too and receive episodes and show notes direct to your inbox.

In this episode, I share 8 ways to think like an Optimist.

Why haven't we evolved to be eternally optimistic if optimistic thinking is so much better? The answer, like all things in nature, is that nothing is inherently good or bad, and the trick is to learn balance and have the ability to make best use of these different ways of thinking, depending on the requirements of the situation. This week I explore the benefits of Pessimistic Thinking (and offer a recap of that means for those who missed the last two episodes). If you have a natural tendency towards pessimistic thinking, this episode may help you harness the power that comes with it and build greater resilience for the moments when you need to take big leaps into the unknown in your efforts to achieve your biggest goals. If you'd like the episode AND the show notes delivered directly to your inbox each week, subscribe for my weekly email at nataliebritt.substack.com 

Welcome to another episode of the Big Happy Life podcast where Natalie Britt, your hypnotherapist and host, takes you on an insightful journey of understanding and overcoming a "pessimistic explanatory style". Learn from her personal struggle with negative thought patterns and how she unmasked her pessimistic explanatory style, transforming it into a driving force for success. In this episode, Natalie shares her experiences as both a hypnotherapist and mindset coach, illuminating the often overlooked impact pessimism can have, even when encountering good events. She offers crucial insights into the markers of a pessimistic thought process and how it varies from an optimistic approach. This episode is particularly beneficial for those grappling with recurring negative thinking, depression, and self-doubt. Here, you will discover the profound impact your thoughts can have in fostering resilience and driving you towards long-term goals. Natalie invites listeners to reflect on their thought patterns and grasp their narratives for success, and finishes with a resounding message of belief in one’s ability to shape thought patterns that empower and promote success. Step into a journey that enables an optimistic outlook to elevate both personal and professional life. For more on this topic, visit Natalie's Substack page or find the shownotes for this episode at www.bighappylife.co.uk

Rubber cement is a type of adhesive. It's composed of rubber and is known for its ability to form flexible bonds before the bond becomes permanent. If you're feeling stuck in your efforts to achieve your health, wealth or business goals, this episode is for you.  I don't want to give away too much so you'll need to listen to find out more, but during the episode, I invite you to take an assessment before proceeding to listen to the rest of the show. Click here to access the official assessment at "Authentic Happiness" on the University of Pennsylvania website.  

"Joy is not something you quest for. It is something you allow. It is in your nature." - Tess Vergara My guest today is Tess Vergara, a Soul Powered Executive Coach who addresses the conflicts many executives face between mind and heart, soul and ego so they can be more productive, creative, abundant and successful.  In this episode, Tess helps explore the idea that fulfilment and joy require us to accept all parts of ourselves - including the parts we've been taught were "bad".  If you've every worried about being "selfish" or thought any part of you was "bad" or somehow "not good enough", this episode could help bring you greater acceptance and open you up to a life that feels more joyful and fulfilling. At the end of the episode, Tess also talks about the freebie she has on offer at the moment. You can find all the links you need to connect with Tess and download the freebie on the show notes page at bighappylife.co.uk   

I'm on a bit of a personal quest right now - exploring what it means to live life as an expression of joy rather than in the pursuit of happiness. In this episode, I talk to the wonderful Tanya Hackney, author of "Leaving the Safe Harbor: The risks and rewards of raising a family on a boat".  This is one of the deepest, most thought provoking conversations I've had on the podcast as Tanya and I explore life, death, God, the universe and, of course, what it means to live life as an expression of joy. Tanya's faith is a huge part of her ability to do this, and she shares that with us, along with many beautiful stories, experiences and lessons. I hope you'll enjoy this conversation and take as much from it as I did. Tanya's book is available from all good book shops and on Amazon as well. Show notes for the episode are available at bighappylife.co.uk

In this episode, I talk about 4 routes to wellness: 1. Neuroscience 2. Nutrition 3. Habits 4. Healing These form the four routes to wellness that I live by - the same four routes I teach. This is the final episode of the series before the podcast takes a break for the summer. Be sure to listen to the end if these 4 routes to wellness resonate with you as there's a fantastic offer available to those of you who want to delve in a bit further. Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk

This week I revisit an old episode (25) - originally titled "Happiness and the Brain". Our understanding of both 'happiness' and 'the brain' is expanding all the time and cool new science is constantly emerging on both subjects. I've learned so much in the years since recording the original episode so this week I pull out the old episode, dusted it off and added a bit of polish in the form of new information and current tips and advice that could help you improve mood and reduce symptoms of mental ill health.   Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk. Resources I mention during the episode: Dr Mindy Pelz book: Fast like a Girl Dr Mindy Pelz YouTube Video about Dopamine Fasting Big Happy Life Podcast Episode - Getting Gut Healthy with Hannah Richards

My journey to greater mental wellness required me to focus on 4 key areas. In this episode I share a brief overview of each one. They are: Neuroscience Nutrition Habits Healing   During the episode, I make reference to resources I've found helpful. These include - under the heading of Neuroscience - 2 books: "Change your Brain, Change your Life" by Dr Daniel Amen "You, Happier" by Dr Daniel Amen The above are affiliate links.   Under the heading of Nutrition: Hair Mineral Testing The above is NOT an affiliate link.

This week I had the pleasure of talking to Body Mind Intelligence Therapist, Raj Lehl. Raj works with multiple healing modalities to support individuals suffering with their physical and mental health. She is a Trustee of the Craniosacral Therapy Association and an academic tutor for the Centre for Homeopathic Education. She is also a single mum to two children. Raj and I came up with the title of this episode together because, as mums whose children's needs pushed us to our limits - beyond our limits really - we both experienced what it was like to have to grow beyond those limits and become the people we needed to be for our children to thrive (we're both still working on this growth and neither of us expects to ever be "done"). We've both seen miraculous shifts in our children that have correlated with the work we've done on ourselves and we've both experienced first hand how those shifts have changed the way we parent. In this episode we talk about some of our experiences and Raj explains her work. She also offers some brilliant tips for how anyone who is just starting out on their mind-body connection journey. After talking to her, I'm definitely keen to book a session! If you are too, here are her details: email: raj@rajlehl.com Website: www.rajlehl.com LinkedIn Resources mentioned on the podcast The body keeps the Score - by Bessel Van Der Kolk A huge range of books by Gabor Mate   Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk  

Do you still have the same fridge you were using in the 80's or 90's? Probably not. You probably replaced it with something you liked more or something that worked better. We do this with products all the time but we don't tend to do it with emotions. Instead, we leave old emotional patterns in place for years, letting them wreak havoc long after they've served their usefulness. This week, I talk about one way our emotional patterns take hold and offer some ideas to help you get started if you have emotional patterns that are no longer serving you.  

If you're someone who judges yourself harshly and says things like, "I just don't have any willpower", or "I can't stick with anything for long enough to make it work" then this episode is for you. There's so much more to behaviour than meets the eye and it's easy to think we're at fault when can't stick with behaviours until they become habit. What few of us realise is that all of our habits developed in the context of our environments - so they're shaped by how we were raised, what we were taught, how we learned to fit in and belong, how we learned to manage our emotions...and a thousand other things. Not only that but our current environment changes how we feel about the behaviour in the moment of deciding whether or not to do it. When I'm working to help my clients change their behaviour in order to be happier, healthier and more productive, I teach them my B=SET behaviour change model to help them understand the many factors at play in driving their behavioural choices. I touch on the model briefly in this episode. B=SET It stands for Behaviour = State + Environment + Time State - How you're thinking and feeling in that moment Environment - Everything and everyone around you. Time - Your history with that behaviour and where you're focusing your attention (in the past, present or future) Much more on this model in later episodes! Environment This week I talk about how, if you want to live a healthier, happier life, you're almost definitely going to have to "swim against the tide" of your environment. This is exhausting and requires enormous willpower - which is a finite resource. The key to behaviour change, therefore, lies is your ability to either disconnect from your environmental influences or shape them in your favour.   For more on B=SET and more tips for a happier, healthier life, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Show notes available at bighappylife.co.uk