Pursuing the Excellent Life

Episodes

The PAC model of stress management

June 5, 2023

In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, host Craig introduces the PAC model of stress management. Stress is an inevitable part of life, but it can be effectively managed by following three main approaches: preparation, av…

Coping with stress: Adaptive and maladaptive strategies (5MF)

May 31, 2023

Are you ready to conquer stress and reclaim your well-being? In this captivating episode of Live Well and Flourish, we dive deep into the world of stress coping strategies. Stress is an inevitable part of life, but you CAN l…

Stress Trifecta: Uncertainty, Isolation, and Overload

May 24, 2023

Stress can literally kill you ... if it's not managed well. In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig shares his insights on the three main causes of stress: uncertainty, isolation, and overload. He discusses how each…

Seven Pillars of Well-Being (Five-Minute Flourishing)

May 17, 2023

Join Craig as he delves into the fundamental components that contribute to your well-being. In the episode, he introduces the concept of the seven pillars of well-being and offers insights into each one. Be sure to check out…

What if? Counterfactual thinking and a trip to the ER

May 10, 2023

In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig delves into the fascinating subject of counterfactual thinking. He explores both the advantages and disadvantages of this thought process and offers practical tips on how to m…

Building Your Resilience Inventory (Five-Minute Flourishing)

May 3, 2023

In this Five-Minute Flourishing episode, Craig dives into the concept of resilience and introduces the idea of a resilience inventory. He highlights the benefits of having and using a resilience inventory to help you deal wi…

Stress, Good and Bad: How Eustress Can Help You Flourish

April 26, 2023

On this episode of Live Well and Flourish, we'll be talking about the power of stress and how it can impact our lives in positive and negative ways. We'll dive into the concept of Eustress and how it can lead to increased pr…

Fueling Your Purpose with Passion: A Guide to Living a Fulfilling Life (Five-Minute Flourishing)

April 19, 2023

In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig dives into the relationship between purpose and passion, and why they are both crucial components of a fulfilling life. He explains why purpose is the foundation of a flourish…

Embracing impermanence with wabi-sabi: Lessons from nature

April 12, 2023

In this episode, Craig explores the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of wabi-sabi and how it can help individuals not only accept but embrace the impermanence of life to improve their mental health and overall well-being. Drawi…

Using negative visualization to accept impermanence

April 5, 2023

In this episode, Craig discusses the concept of impermanence and how to accept and embrace it as a natural part of life. Through his own personal experiences, he delves into the role of impermanence in various religious and …

Self-compassion as a moral duty - Why being kind to yourself is a virtue

March 29, 2023

Are you hard on yourself? Do you struggle with negative self-talk and self-criticism? If so, this episode is for you. Join host Craig as he delves into the fascinating topic of self-compassion and why he believes it is not o…

Why are people so angry (Five Minute Flourishing)

March 22, 2023

It seems like people are very angry these days. Everywhere you turn, airports (even airplanes!), restaurants, stores, traffic, social media ... anger just seems endless. Why is this so? In this episode, Craig discusses the a…

Practical Wisdom and Living a Flourishing Life

March 15, 2023

Practical wisdom isn’t some esoteric, abstract concept, it’s eminently practical, and it’s critical to living a flourishing life. In this episode, Craig discusses what practical wisdom is, and how you can start cultivating a…

Mindful Habits: Using Habits to Overcome Weakness of Will

March 8, 2023

In episode 53 of "Live Well and Flourish," host Craig discusses how to use mindful habits to overcome weakness of will. He explains that habits can hinder your ability to flourish, but developing virtuous habits can help you…

Overcoming weakness of will

Feb. 28, 2023

Do you find yourself struggling to follow through on your goals and commitments, even when you know they are important? Do you ever feel like you lack the willpower to make lasting changes in your life? If so, you may be exp…

Hedonic treadmill: The dulling of shiny new things (5MF)

Feb. 22, 2023

Uncover a Secret to Long-Term Happiness with Craig on Five-Minute Flourishing! Learn about the phenomenon of hedonic adaptation and how it affects our satisfaction with new things over time. Craig shares expert insights and …

Finding Fulfillment through Self-Determination

Feb. 15, 2023

Much of your well-being is determined by satisfying three basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In this episode, Craig discusses the theory behind this thinking, self-determination theory, and how…

Annoying people (Five Minute Flourishing)

Feb. 8, 2023

Life makes it pretty much impossible to completely avoid potentially annoying people and events. But, we don't have to be annoyed, that's a choice we make. In this short episode, Craig discusses how to avoid becoming unneces…

Social comparison

Feb. 1, 2023

Evaluating ourselves is an innate human behavior, but when you evaluate yourself by making comparisons to others, it can be misleading and harmful to your flourishing. In this episode, Craig discusses the pros and cons of so…

Positive and negative cues (Five Minute Flourishing)

Jan. 25, 2023

One way to take control of your life, is to take care of your environment. In this Five Minute Flourishing episode, Craig discusses how you can shape your environment in a way that enhances your flourishing by adding positiv…

Losing weight without speed

Jan. 18, 2023

Making big changes is scary, but doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I discuss my formula for taking control and making big changes through finding the right motivation, setting the right goals, and taking small steps. Whet…

Comfort is the enemy (Five-Minute Flourishing)

Jan. 9, 2023

We all want to be comfortable, but in some ways comfort is the enemy of progress in growth. In this short episode, Craig discusses why becoming too comfortable can actually hinder your flourishing. ------ Live Well and Flour…

Possibilities, not limitations

Jan. 4, 2023

Life is full of roadblocks and impediments. If you pay too much attention to these, it seems like you can never make progress. In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig discusses how to focus on the endless possibilit…

Happy Holidays?

Nov. 23, 2022

Holidays are widely seen as a time for joy and happiness, but the reality is that many people find the holiday season to be a time of depression and loneliness. In this episode, Craig discusses the holiday blues and what can…