The Happier Life Project

When it comes to improving our mental well-being, practising calm is one of the best places to start. Clarity of mind is extremely important when you are dealing with stress, problems and emotional turmoil. And remaining calm in times of turbulence and chaos, allows us to think more logically and make decisions accordingly. Rebekah Ballagh is the bestselling author and illustrator of 'Note to Self', 'Note to Self Journal', 'Words of Comfort', 'Be Your Best Self', 'Big Feelings' and 'Let's Go, Flo!' She's a qualified counsellor, somatic and nervous system regulation coach, trainer, speaker and the creator of popular Instagram community @journey_to_wellness_ Rebekah’s latest book '101 Ways to Find Calm - How to use your body to soothe your mind', offers simple, powerful tools to teach you how to safely feel and process your emotions, rewire your brain and nervous system, and how to deeply connect with yourself. In this episode of The Happier Life Project Becks shares some of her favourite calming exercises from the book, whilst discussing with host Gabby why so many people around the world struggle with finding calm. Rebekah also talks about why it’s so important to complete the stress response and sit with and digest difficult emotions, in order to come to a more peaceful place in the body. Gabby and Becks also look at the most common reasons why the brain won’t allow us to relax, and what we can do to override or disengage the body’s stress response - when it is unnecessarily activated. To learn more about Rebekah’s courses, book and membership program: www.journeytowellness.online To be part of Rebekah’s Instagram community: @journey_to_wellness_ To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

Hormones are essential for life and your health. They affect everything from blood sugar to blood pressure, growth, fertility, your sex drive, metabolism, and even sleep. Hormones are so important they influence the way we think and act day to day. The menstrual cycle is regulated by hormones. So if we are having irregular periods, bleed between periods, bleed more heavily than usual, or develop severe pain during our period; this could be an indicator our hormones are out of wack. Chlo Hodgkinson is a PT and Coach that has learned and trained to work with hormones and the menstrual cycle after recovering from her own journey with disordered eating and relative energy deficiency. After fully rehabilitating and healing her relationship with food and exercise, Chlo turned to social media to raise awareness on amenorrhea (the absence of menstruation). Then went on to become a coach to help clients get back to training after amenorrhea, as well as staying on track with their recovery and supporting them on that journey. Chlo is passionate in helping females recover from disordered eating, amenorrhea, diet culture and learning to workout with the menstrual cycle. Chlo is also part of The My Possible Self team and creates content for our social channels. Chlo speaks candidly about her journey with disordered eating habits and overtraining and why losing her period was the catalyst towards her seeking help to heal her hormones and regain her menstrual cycle. Chlo shares the signs to look out for your hormones may be imbalanced and what steps you need to take to get the help you need. Chlo and host Gabby also talk about the pressures society puts on females particularly when it comes to what is regarded as a ‘healthy’ body image. And Chlo also explains the significant relationship between anxiety, food and exercise. To follow Chlo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chlohodgkinson/ To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

None of us had a perfect childhood; we are all carrying around wounds and behaviours that don’t serve us. But what if we could break free from unhealthy family patterns to liberate the way we live and love?  As children we observe and absorb everything around us. And we teach ourselves to behave in a way that helps to make us feel safe. But at what cost? Have we developed coping mechanisms and strategies to try to feel more worthy, prioritized, safe, like we belong? Could we have developed trust issues because we witnessed our parents keep secrets? Do we struggle with perfectionism because our caregivers rewarded our good behaviour and achievements, but punished or ignored us when we didn’t live up to their standards?  When we start to unpack the significant impact and deep conditioning that our roots and origin wounds have on our relationship patterns - past and present - we start to recognise our triggers and coping mechanisms that might actually be doing more harm than good. But it doesn’t have to be that way, says licensed marriage and family therapist and author of the best selling book ‘The Origins of You’ Vienna Pharaon. Vienna is a licensed marriage and family therapist and one of New York City’s most sought-after relationship therapists. Vienna has practised therapy for more than fifteen years and is the creator of @mindfulMFT on Instagram where she is helping over 700K people around the world heal their childhood wounds. Vienna shares the five major origin wounds that most struggle with; consciously or subconsciously. She also explains how the healing journey begins by exploring what we have learned as a child - how to relate to others, ourselves, and the world around us. Host Gabby and Vienna also talk about identifying triggers, which could be unresolved wounds trying to get our attention. And how we can shift our patterns and habits to create a new healthier path for ourselves. For more on Vienna Pharaon: https://viennapharaon.com/ To follow Vienna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmft/ To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

Health anxiety is a common condition, diagnosed in 4% to 5% of people. But experts believe that the disorder often goes undiagnosed and may affect more than 10% of the entire population. In this Ask The Expert episode host Gabby puts your questions to ex-health anxiety sufferer.. now relatable health anxiety therapist and social media influencer Cherelle Roberts.  To follow Cherelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherellethinks/ To watch Cherelle's health anxiety videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cherellethinks6398 To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself To email a question for our next expert: podcast@mypossibleself.com

This episode is dedicated to hearing the powerful story of the previous episode's guest.  Victoria Niamh is a female confidence coach, mentor, social media Influencer and the Founder of ‘The Glow Up Project’ which aims to inspire women to understand that the real glow up is an inside job. Vic advocates for body confidence and breaking stigma around mental health and is passionate about empowering women to unconditionally own and love themselves. Vic's passion for helping women stemmed from her own harrowing story battling anorexia nervosa, orthorexia and body dysmorphia as she pushed herself to dangerous degrees to obtain the 'perfect body'. First as a dancer and then as a bikini model.  This conversation contains material of a sensitive and potentially distressing nature involving eating disorders that may be triggering for some individuals. This does not mean the material WILL be triggering; just that it MAY. Please take care of yourself, and don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. To Learn More about The Glow Up Project : https://theglowupproject.co.uk/ To follow The Glow Up project on Instagram: @theglowupproject_ To follow Victoria Niamh on Instagram: @victorianiamh To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

The role of love in mental health is significant.  When people think of love, they usually think of the positive feelings associated with a deep connection. However, love can encompass more than just happiness and radiate in many different ways. We experience love when we interact with others and ourselves. Science shows that love involves multiple neurotransmitters and hormones that affect our physiology and mental health. Loving and stable relationships can help improve a person's ability to manage stress and can help to decrease levels of anxiety and depression. But while love and mental health for the most part are positively related, researchers have found some correlation between love and mental illnesses (or mental health conditions) too. The most common being anxiety, depression, trauma and chronic stress.  Victoria Niamh is a female confidence coach, mentor, social media Influencer and founder of ‘The Glow Up Project’ which aims to inspire women to understand that the real glow up is an inside job. Vic advocates for body confidence and breaking stigma around mental health, and is passionate about empowering women to unconditionally own and love themselves. As this episode arrives during the week in which Valentines Day falls Vic, with host Gabby, look at some of the different reasons people's mental health suffers around Valentines Day; whilst discussing possible solutions to relieve these struggles. Vic also shares how the love and support from her partner Mike was a huge factor to her own self love and body healing journey. The Glow Up Project founder also explains the driving force behind helping women shine from the inside out, without changing anything externally, so they can find inner happiness and peace.  To Learn More about The Glow Up Project : https://theglowupproject.co.uk/ To follow The Glow Up project on Instagram: @theglowupproject_ To follow Victoria Niamh on Instagram: @victorianiamh To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast  To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

'What if I die before I have the chance to exist?' An existential crisis, or existential dread, can be described as persistent negative feelings and emotions linked to questioning the value of your life and how you are spending it. An existential crisis may result from intense feelings of despair as you consider questions like, "What is the point?” or “Why does any of this matter?” And these strong emotions can increase when your questions remain unanswerable.  An existential crisis can happen to anyone, leading many to question their existence, identity and purpose in life. Experiencing an existential crisis may cause you to feel angry, helpless, lost, panicked and is usually accompanied by dread, anxiety, stress and depression; often to such a degree that they disturb your normal functioning in everyday life. But it doesn’t have to be a bad thing or something to fear. Experiencing an existential crisis forces you to examine your life and consider “how can I show up in the world that means something to me?” Dr. Sara Kuburic is an existential psychotherapist, speaker, essayist, columnist, consultant, influencer and author of ‘It's On Me. Accept hard truths, discover your self, and change your life’. IT’S ON ME is a guide to identifying self-loss, and discovering the freedom that comes from taking responsibility for how we live. It offers an enlightening blueprint to find your own answers to the questions “who am I?” and “why am I here?”  Known as the millennial therapist online (with over 1.7 million followers on Instagram), Dr. Sara believes that “in order to be who we truly are, we need to shelve who we are not.”  Dr Sara talks about how her own existential crisis changed the trajectory of her entire life and put her on the path to a life of alignment, authenticity and purpose. Host Gabby and Dr. Sara also talk about the mental health ramifications of not living a life true to your beliefs and values… and how it’s so easy to get lost in the labels and expectations of family, friends, work and society, so you don’t even realise who you have become isn’t who you are supposed to be.  Dr. Sara is a passionate advocate for being the leading character of your own life. She believes we need to stop pretending and choose the truth.  To all who feel lost, it’s never too late to steer yourself home.  For all things Dr. Sara Kuburic: https://www.sara-kuburic.com/ To follow Dr. Sara Kuburic on Instagram: @millennial.therapist To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast  To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

Stress is a natural part of our lives. Bills, work, relationships, life events, health issues… A little bit of stress is inevitable, and sometimes that’s a good thing. Stress helps you meet your daily challenges and motivates you to reach your goals, ultimately making you a smarter, happier and healthier person. But on the flip side. They say stress is the number one killer for a reason. It’s a silent, slow poison which left unmanaged can have catastrophic effects on your physical and mental health. Stress becomes a problem when it starts to take over your life, therefore the key to stress management is identifying the bad stressors in your life and developing healthy ways to deal with them. Today’s guest, Dr Bernadette Dancy, a stress management specialist, knows all the best ways to manage or combat her clients stress levels. We don’t just have to accept we live a hectic, super stressful life, and ‘that’s life’. Meditation, breathing or a warm bath might help, but it really only scratches the surface. Dr Bernadette uses mindset and lifestyle interventions that get to the root of the stress and in today’s Ask The Expert, she’s getting to the crux of yours. For all things Dr Bernadette Dancy: https://www.bernadettedancy.co.uk To follow Dr Bernadette on Instagram: @bernadettedancy_stresscoach To learn more about Stress Ed: https://stress-ed.co.uk To take the Stress Ed test: https://stress-ed.scoreapp.com To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself To email a question for our next expert: podcast@mypossibleself.com

Let’s get curious about our drinking habits! In this episode of The Happier Life Project we are looking at the role alcohol plays in our life; as a comforter, socializing tool, way to relax, blow off steam, or avoid uncomfortable emotions.   Guest Amanda E. White is a licensed therapist and the creator of the popular Instagram account @therapyforwomen Amanda also hosts the podcast “Recovered-ish” and is author of the book “Not Drinking Tonight” and its corresponding workbook. Not Drinking Tonight isn’t a manuscript to help you stop drinking. Not Drinking Tonight is the first book to help you address the root issues that cause you to reach for a drink, while helping you unpack your relationship with alcohol.   Chatting to host Gabby Sanderson, Amanda discusses why you don’t need to hit rock bottom - or label yourself an alcoholic - to review your relationship with booze and make some positive changes to your drinking habits. Amanda also chats with Gabby about some of the most common reasons people turn to the bottle, and why it often tends to be more about the ritual leading up to taking that first sip, such as popping the cork when the girls come over, or kicking back after a long day and pouring yourself a glass, or switching on the match and opening a can, that is the most satisfying part.   Amanda also touches upon the effect alcohol plays on our mental health and addresses the myth that a glass of something a day is actually good for us (spoiler alert, research has since dispelled). Gabby and Amanda talk about the pros and cons of taking part in dry (or damp) January and Amanda explains how by removing alcohol, we have the opportunity to build a life we don’t want to escape from.   “Alcohol is the only drug on earth you have to justify NOT taking.” Annie Grace   Amanda is the founder of the group therapy practice, Therapy for Women Center, based in Philadelphia serving clients across the US. She has been featured in notable publications such as Forbes, Washington Post, Shape, Women’s Health Magazine, and more.   For all things Amanda E White visit: amandaewhite.com To follow Amanda on Instagram: @therapyforwomen To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

Part two of our exploration into orthorexia sees host Gabby Sanderson breakdown with guest Renee McGregor the most common elimination food groups in orthorexia, and how and why doing this can be dangerous on the body. Renee busts more food myths when it comes to things like sugar and refined sugar, pasta made from vegetables or lentils, and the ongoing white versus brown or wholemeal debate. Renee also explains why we need to be cautious with who we follow on social media that use the term ‘professional’ or ‘medic’ when it comes to healthy eating, and wraps up the conversation with how orthorexic's can begin to heal and change their beliefs, by getting to the truth of the dangerous messages they have bought into.  For all things Renee McGregor: https://reneemcgregor.com/  To follow Renee on Instagram: @r_mcgregor  To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast  To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

January is traditionally a time for many when we look at improving our diet. But In our current culture, to which cutting out entire food groups like sugar, fats, carbohydrates and dairy are encouraged and commended, we must stop to question where these recommendations and messages have come from. And should we believe them? Although being aware of and concerned with the nutritional quality of the food we eat isn’t a problem in and of itself, people with orthorexia become so fixated on so-called ‘healthy eating’ or ‘clean eating’ that they actually damage their own well-being and experience health consequences such as malnutrition and/or impairment of psychosocial functioning as a result. Excessive exercise or exercise addiction is also extremely common in orthorexic's.  The term orthorexia nervosa is used to describe the pathological fixation associated with consuming healthy food. In the first of two episodes dedicated to looking at when the obsession to eat healthily goes too far and has the opposite effect, host Gabby talks to Renee McGregor, a leading Sports and Eating disorder specialist dietitian and best selling author, with 20 years experience working in clinical and performance nutrition.  Orthorexia nervosa was first proposed by Dr Stephen Bratman  in the late 1990s, perhaps not coincidentally around the same time as the first social media site was born. And although Orthorexia Nervosa is not currently a clinically recognised eating disorder, this unhealthy obsession with healthy eating is becoming a widespread problem.  Part 1 of this conversation into the pitfalls of obsessive 'health eating', restriction diets and over exercising will help you to understand where orthorexia came from, why eliminating food groups without medical reason is not a healthy choice, and why so called 'wellness guru's', celebrities and influencers have a lot to be accountable for.  For all things Renee McGregor:  https://reneemcgregor.com/ To follow Renee on Instagram: @r_mcgregor To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

Welcome to the first episode of The Happier Life Project 2024!  January is often associated with cold weather and short, dreary days. And there are many reasons why we might struggle. The financial aftermath of all the Christmas costs, if you're self-employed the dreaded tax return, trying to set New Year's resolutions when you're not sure what you want the new year to have in store, the pressure to embark on dry January, the feeling you have to diet after all the Christmas feasting... and the misery of believing you have to set your alarm to get up extra early (when it's still dark!) to hit the gym, or a class, and punish your body for cutting loose in December.  According to the IHRSA, the Global Health & Fitness Association, 12% of all gym sign-ups happen in January, while the rest of the year accounts for an average of 8.3% of sign-ups. And 80% of people who sign up for a gym membership in January will cancel their membership within five months... welcome to the January gym rush! So why do so many of us fall off the workout wagon? Dan Hancock, aka the mental health PT, is pretty confident he knows the answer. Frustrated by the lack of mental health support available for gym goers, Dan took it upon himself to create the world’s first Mental Health & Exercise Coaching Certification for Personal Trainers, which is revitalising the health of millions across the U.K.  In this episode of The Happier Life Project Dan shares why so many people struggle to sustain the abundance of 'new year, new me' fitness and diet plans. Dan also discusses why the gym floor is so cathartic and how exercise plays such a vital role in our mental health. The mental health PT offers tips on how to seek out the right personal trainer to meet your individual needs, and explains why PT's need to be better equipped and educated to help a person with their overall health, including mental and emotional support. And best of all, Dan will get you excited to move! For more on the Mental Health Exercising Coaching program: https://mymhec.com/ To follow Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentalhealthpt/ To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

It’s meant to be a time of good cheer, relaxation and celebration, but for many, Christmas is the opposite. Stressful, depressing, lonely… Many people are unhappy at Christmas and according to the National Institute of Health, they can experience mental health problems. And for those who already struggle with their mental health, they may find these problems worsen.  Dr Claire Plumbly is a clinical psychologist specialising in trauma, anxiety and burnout. Alongside her online therapy practice she creates engaging short-form videos on improving your mental health for social media, plus regularly runs online workshops for overcoming stress, procrastination and unhealthy boundaries. Dr Claire is also currently writing a book on how to recover from burnout, due for release in 2024.  In the second Ask The Expert episode, where listeners and the My Possible Self app users send in their questions for host Gabby to put to a mental health or wellness professional, Dr Claire is on hand to offer advice on all things Christmas related.  Covered in the conversation Dr Claire offers guidance on the following: how to implement financial boundaries to avoid overspending, how to cope with unpredictable family members that might be excessively drinking, how we might honour any lost loved ones and get through the period if we are grieving, ways we might ease social anxiety, addressing a fear of food and overeating, what to do about the stress and pressure of feeling like we have to be happy and jolly all the time... and more.  Dr Claire Plumbly's website: https://www.drclaireplumbly.com/ To follow Dr Claire on Instagram, TikTok, FB, YouTube: @drclaireplumbly To download Dr Claire's FREE Guide to Setting Boundaries: https://www.subscribepage.com/drclaireplumbly_copy2 To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

We’re all familiar with the old saying ‘laughter is the best form of medicine’. Dig a little deeper and scientists and doctors are discovering more and more this to be true - laughter is a strong medicine - for our physical and mental health. When we are highly amused, this has physiological effects; it changes our body chemistry and brain function.  Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Laughter can also help lessen your stress, depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier. Humour helps relieve tension, reassures people, and draws them together. Laughter, like humour, typically sparks from recognizing the incongruities or absurdities of a situation.  In a world plagued by stress, and absurd situations; when we can, surely it’s better to laugh rather than cry? By seeking out more opportunities for humour and laughter, you can improve your emotional health, strengthen your relationships, find greater happiness—and even potentially add years to your life. This is why The Happy Life Project welcomes Josh Johnson who gets paid to make millions of people laugh, to explore this further. Josh Johnson is an Emmy-nominated writer, comedian, actor, podcaster and NAACP award-winner from Louisiana by way of Chicago. He is currently a writer on the prestigious The Daily Show, and is a former writer and performer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he made his late-night debut in 2017. In addition, Johnson is Comedy Central’s ‘most watched comedian ever’ with 40M+ views to date across their platforms. Josh talks to host Gabby about how making people laugh, along with going to therapy, saved his life. He also shares how he uses laughter to process his own feelings, “it’s a way to exhale hurt. Some people cry, scream… I laugh.” Josh discribes the incredible power in people coming together, charged on the currency of laughing out loud at a comedy show and offers suggestions on how we can invite more joy, fun and humour into our life.    For all things Josh Johnson: https://www.joshjohnsoncomedy.com/ To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on instagram: @mypossibleself

Many of us feel uncomfortable in our bodies and skin. A negative body image can cause us to struggle in many ways such as; with depressive and anxiety symptoms, increased risk of suicidal thoughts, low self-esteem, Interpersonal problems, alcohol and drug use and abuse, reduced physical activity, loss of sex drive, stress, social isolation, decreased motivation to seek help, perfectionistic tendencies and repetitive negative thoughts.  Body Liberation is freedom from all outside expectations of how your body should look. It is is the independence from social and political systems of oppression that determine certain bodies as more worthy, healthy and desirable than others. And whilst body liberation is the belief that all bodies are worthy and deserve to exist just as they are; its main mantra is, you are more than your body. Michelle Hopewell is a body empowerment and menstrual wellness content creator and actress, who has done the work to reconnect with her body and come to a place of body neutrality. Eager to see as many people reconnected and in tune with their own bodies, Michelle shares her own experiences as well as information and tips on period health on her Instagram page and blog.  Chatting to host Gabby, Michelle shares her journey from having a disassociated relationship with her body, to coming to a place of neutrality and accepting her body as it is.  Michelle and Gabby discuss the 'beauty standard' that puts immense pressure to look a certain way, and the lengths people will go to to try and achieve it. Michelle reveals how her journey into acting opened her eyes to how just how much body bias there is, and why she pushed back. Gabby and Michelle also look at how some women may still be, without realizing, conforming to the patriarchal 'male gaze'.  “To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh To follow Michelle Hopewell on Instagram: @mybodyliberation To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on instagram: @mypossibleself

Britt Frank, LSCSW, SEP is a human behavior expert, licensed neuropsychotherapist and author of 'The Science of Stuck'. In The Happier Life Project's first Ask The Expert (a new monthly episode dedicated to answering listeners inquiry's on a certain topic), host Gabby puts your questions to Britt on how we can get unstuck from any area's in our life we might be struggling with. Britt answers questions and gives advice on moving forward on in our career, relationships, dating, body hangups, negative thoughts... even screen addiction! If you have a question for our expert email podcast@mypossibleself.com or send us a dm or voice note on Instagram @mypossibleself   To find out more about Britt Frank and The Science of Stuck: https://www.scienceofstuck.com/ To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on instagram: @mypossibleself Plus, check out The Happier Life Project's episode 'How To Get Unstuck with Britt Frank' in season 1 of the podcast to learn more about the subject and advice on how to move forward.

Face yoga is a gentle form of strength training that targets working the 57 muscles in the head, shoulders and neck. Benefits include better circulation, stronger facial muscles, firmer skin and fewer fine lines and wrinkles.  Face yoga exercises aim to tone and lift features, soften fine lines, and even reduce facial asymmetry… all the things we might spend a lot of money getting frequent cosmetic injections for.  But whilst face yoga is a great tool in our face and skincare routine, it's also incredibly good for our wellbeing too.  It eases tension, helps soothe headaches, helps us to relax and feel less anxious and stressed. And by relaxing tensed muscles you find yourself in a calmer, happier state. Plus, by looking better, you will feel better too. Bonus! Danielle Collins is the world leading Face Yoga expert, best selling author, a regular media contributor and has a huge social media following. With over 18 years experience, Danielle has helped millions of people look and feel the best version of themselves using natural techniques to lift the face and boost wellbeing.  The Danielle Collins Face Yoga method consists of 5 key areas: face exercise, face relaxation, face massage, acupressure and wellbeing. In this episode of The Happier Life Project Danielle explains this further. She also discusses with host Gabby how face yoga really works, breaking down both the cosmetic and wellness benefits and sharing some of her favourite exercises to both relax, and smooth out the skin.   You don’t need to be a yogi to practice and benefit from face yoga, and best of all, it’s completely free! For all things The Face Yoga Expert: https://faceyogaexpert.com/ To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on instagram: @mypossibleself

The importance of setting boundaries and saying no, is crucial to good mental health and wellness. It’s all too easy to say yes to everything, neglecting your own needs, especially if you are a people pleaser, and sometimes it feels like the easier option in the moment. However, setting and maintaining healthy boundaries will help you conserve your emotional energy and will put you in a far better mental state.  Michelle Elman, a five-board accredited life coach, author, broadcaster, public speaker and social media influencer has quickly established herself as the Queen of Boundaries. Michelle’s most recent book ‘How To Say No’ marks her debut as a children's author to which Cosmopolitan praised as one of the best books on mental health that everyone should read. It was due to the high demand from Michelle's adult book on boundaries ‘The Joy of Being Selfish’ that this manuscript even exists, highlighting that this is an area many struggle with.  Michelle shares her thoughts with host Gabby, on why so many of us are bad at boundaries, and offers some first steps on how we can start to say no respectfully with kindness and confidence. Michelle also explains why self worth and self esteem are so important when it comes to boundary setting and her reasons why she believes that boundaries are the practice of self love. For more on Michelle Elman, her books, social media accounts and to work with: https://www.michelleelman.com/ To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on instagram: @mypossibleself

To conclude season one of the Happier Life Project host Gabby looks back at some of her favourite most profound and helpful tips and takeaways from some of the guests. Concentrating on the subjects that most seem to really struggle with covering confidence, self love, childhood wounds, negative thoughts, imposter syndrome and a cluttered mind. To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on instagram: @mypossibleself To follow Gabby on instagram: @radiogabby

Low mood is an emotional state characterized by sadness, anxiety & low self-esteem that anyone can suffer from. Symptoms of a general low mood may include feeling: sad, anxious or panicky, more tired than usual or being unable to sleep, angry or frustrated and low on confidence or self-esteem. According to the nhs website. ‘Everyone feels low or down from time to time. It does not always mean something is wrong. Feeling low is common after distressing events or major life changes, but sometimes periods of low mood happen for no obvious reason. If you're still feeling down or no longer get pleasure from things for most of each day and this lasts for several weeks, you may be experiencing depression.’ Guest, Kelly Watkins is a qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT, BABCP accredited) and a HCPC registered Forensic Psychologist. Kelly has over 13 years’ experience in the mental health field and has built up a successful private practice. Kelly wholeheartedly contributes to the movement of ending the stigma around mental health and making a positive difference in this world and has a large social presence which has led her to write and develop a range of e-books and mental wellness products. Kelly explains the different types of triggers for low mood and suggests things we can do to prevent, catch or improve how we are feeling. Kelly also talks about what makes you prone to low mood and why it's helpful to monitor your feelings and mood. Host Gabby asks Kelly about how and why hormones impact mood, her thoughts on the 'mood boosting' supplements and for advice on managing others when they are responsible for dragging down your mood. Kelly and Gabby also share some of their favourite mood boosters for a happier life. For more on Kelly: www.kellywatkins.co.uk To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast