Pursuing the Excellent Life

Season 2

Aug. 21, 2023

Silencing Contrary Voices and the Chilling Effect (5 Minute Flourishing)

There's a pernicious trend in society, punishing the free expression of contrary ideas. Using a recent incident from academia, Craig discusses the dangers silencing free expression poses for a free society. Drawing insights…
Aug. 14, 2023

When to Eat the Marshmallow: Finding the Golden Mean of Self-Discipline

Ever thought about whether you're going too far with your self-discipline ? Today's today grapples with the issue of finding the delicate balance between self-restraint and indulgence, between being too strict or too lenien…
Aug. 7, 2023

The Paradox of Guilt

What if guilt, an emotion that often makes us squirm, could instead be a tool for personal growth and happiness? This episode of Live Well and Flourish is dedicated to transforming our perceptions of guilt, and employing it …
July 31, 2023

Self-Awareness: The Ultimate Life "Hack"?

Ever wondered what the secret to living a flourishing life is? The answer lies within you, in the form of self-awareness. Join me, Craig Van Slyke, as we untangle the web of self-awareness and how it irrevocably links to per…
July 24, 2023

The Paradox of Creativity and Constraints

Ever wondered how limitations could actually set you free? Join me, Craig Van Slyke, as I reveal the surprising connection between constraints and creativity. I'll take you on an engaging journey, from the witty realm of imp…
July 17, 2023

The Emotional Labor of Managing Multiple Identities

Ever felt overwhelmed juggling your various identities in different settings? You're not alone. Join me as I share my personal experience navigating this challenging aspect of life, exploring the differences between personal…
July 10, 2023

The Slippery Slope of 'Just This Once' (5MF)

Are you unknowingly making it harder to live an excellent life? In this thought-provoking episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig discusses the unfortunate trend of students using AI tools like ChatGPT to cheat on their pap…
July 3, 2023

The Art of Saying No: A Guide to Graceful Refusals

Do you find yourself constantly agreeing to tasks and requests, even when you're already swamped? It's time to break this habit and master the art of saying no gracefully and effectively. We're here to explore the reasons be…
June 26, 2023

Coping with Stress by Taking Control (Five-Minute Flourishing)

Diving into the turbulent waters of stress and control, Craig shares transformative insights in this episode of "Live Well and Flourish". Through personal stories, he illustrates how the daunting feeling of being out of con…
June 19, 2023

The Vicious Cycle of Stress and Anger

Stress and anger mutually reinforce each other in a vicious cycle of negative emotion. Being stressed makes you more prone to anger and the emotional labor of dealing with anger makes you more stressed. In this episode, Crai…
June 12, 2023

The Duality of Venting to Cope with Stress (5MF)

We all feel the need to vent sometimes, we just need to share our negative emotions with someone. Although venting is often seen as a maladaptive response to stress, it can hold surprising benefits in some situations. Craig …
June 5, 2023

The PAC model of stress management

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…
May 31, 2023

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

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…
May 24, 2023

Stress Trifecta: Uncertainty, Isolation, and Overload

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…
May 17, 2023

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

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…
May 10, 2023

What if? Counterfactual thinking and a trip to the ER

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…
May 3, 2023

Building Your Resilience Inventory (Five-Minute Flourishing)

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…
April 26, 2023

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

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…
April 19, 2023

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

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…
April 12, 2023

Embracing impermanence with wabi-sabi: Lessons from nature

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…
April 5, 2023

Using negative visualization to accept impermanence (Five Minute Flourishing)

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 …
March 29, 2023

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

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…
March 22, 2023

Why are people so angry (Five Minute Flourishing)

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…
March 15, 2023

Practical Wisdom and Living a Flourishing Life

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…