Protecting Your Peace: The Art of Curating Your Joy

Why do we allow external forces – from holiday obligations to social media drama – to dictate our moods and steal our joy? We dive into the "passive misery" often accepted during the holiday season and challenge the tradition of staying loyal to situations that no longer serve us. We explore the tools needed to build resilience and choose fulfillment by viewing life through the lens of a curator.

From understanding the "negativity bias" of the brain to shifting the way we view obligation, this episode provides a psychological roadmap for protecting your peace. Learn how to use positive psychology to broaden your awareness and why being highly selective with your energy is the key to building a life you don't need a break from.

Onward and Inward,

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Why are we still doing that?
(01:21) Mind Share: Challenging holiday platitudes and "joy-stealing" advice
(04:02) The holiday stress trap and fractured relationships
(04:59) Evolution of selection: From holiday "running around" to selective travel
(07:42) Living Deliberately: Curating your life like an art exhibit
(10:46) Negativity Bias: Why our brains focus on the cracks
(15:28) Positive Psychology: Flourishing despite the "unpleasant"
(22:51) Worth the Time: The power of a specific gratitude journal

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

You Are the Curator: Your life is a gallery that you have the authority to manage, which involves both "culling" things that diminish your joy and being "additive" by bringing in what fulfills you.
The Cost of Poor Curation: Staying in unhealthy situations out of obligation often perpetuates problems; doing what works for you gives the relationship a better chance of functioning for everyone involved.
Broaden and Build: Positive emotions like joy and gratitude broaden your awareness, making you more creative and better at connecting with others.
The Five-Person Audit: Examine the five people you spend the most time with and prioritize those who leave you feeling better than when you arrived.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

YouFinder Personality and Strengths Assessment
Practice: Gratitude Journaling (focused on specificity)

SUPPORT NO VACATION REQUIRED:

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