A Quest for Well-Being

How about challenging the status quo of our workplace relationships? And how about not just the workplace status quo, but rather, all our relationships? In the episode, Sylvia Lafair explores the hidden emotional mechanisms in the workplace, and the discovery of why people respond the way they do. There is a pattern, or rather, a series of patterns, that underlie behavior. It has been the missing link in understanding the core of office politics, absenteeism, lawsuits, and poor productivity. The idea is to gain understanding of our workplace relationships through some key observations and practices. The goal is to achieve levels of success and satisfaction we never dreamed possible. This statement has been paraphrased based on the information found on CEoptions.com. My conversation today is with Sylvia Lafair about Creative Energy, Behavior Patterns and Transformation. Sylvia is an Author, Executive Coach and a Speaker. She is the president of Creative Energy Options, a global consulting firm. It has been named the Top 30 Global Leadership Gurus in 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019. Sylvia's Total Leadership Connections Program is in the top 10 on HR.com for the past 7 years. Her focus on people skills takes her to companies such as Microsoft, as well as family firms and entrepreneurial businesses. Sylvia Lafair is an award-winning author. She has written" Don't Bring It to Work, Gutsy: How Women Leaders Make Change and Unique: How Story Sparks Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement. She is also a keynote speaker and executive coach. To learn more about Sylvia Lafair please visit https://CEoptions.com/ For intro and ad Free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

Suicide prevention is usually focused on the individual and within the context of mental health illness, which is a very limited approach. The fact that one in six Americans takes a psychiatric drug, is critically important to take note. However, suicide and substance use is also linked. The CDC report shows that among those suicide deaths, which had a toxicology test, almost 80% had one or more substance in their system, with alcohol being the most common. Overall in the US, illicit drug use has been dramatically increasing, Marijuana and Opioid use (especially). Why is there such high demand for these drugs? Perhaps it is the focus on our individuality, on own achievements, successes, failures – the focus on detaching from the pain we feel rather than re-assessing the way we think and the way we live. Perhaps is the focus on solving our own problems alone rather than connecting with others who can help us understand that it's not "my" problem but "our" problem. Part of this statement was written by Monica H. Swahn. My conversation is with Lynn Telford-Sahl about Suicide Prevention. Lynn Telford-Sahl is a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor with holistic specialization. She has been in practice for over 25 years. Lynn teaches specific strategies to cope with stress and the emotional ups and downs of life and addictive behaviors. In fact, she wrote Intentional JOY: How to Turn Stress, Fear & Addiction – from a mind, body, spirit perspective. To learn more about Lynn Telford-Sahl please visit her www.addictionmodesto.com For Intro and Ad Free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

Anger has a lot to teach us, if we listen to it! We operate under a common illusion that the things that make us angry lie outside of ourselves, that they are external to us. Something out there is in opposition to our need for safety and security; it threatens our comfort or position. We feel a need to defend our vulnerable selves. Anger limits us. But if we have the courage to look at our anger and its causes and to learn from it, we can develop an open heart—a heart of genuine compassion. Buddhism works to illuminate the fundamental truth of our self-nature. When anger arises, it is pointing to something. Our anger is a sign of our underlying beliefs about ourselves. It can help to reveal our constructed sense of self-identity. Anger points to fear, and the emotion of fear is an illusion. On the other hand, the feeling of fear which requires no thinking to arise comes from real danger, associated with external events that might threaten to hurt us physically. Part of this statement was written by Jules Shuzen Harris. This conversation is with Kwan Haeng Sunim about the wisdom that can be found in Anger. Kwan Haeng Sunim met Zen Master Seung Sahn in 1986 at the Cambridge Zen Center. He moved to Providence Zen Center in 1987 and work there as House Master. 1997 he went to Korea sat a 90 day retreat. Kwan Haeng Sunim was ordained a novice monk and in 2003 I received Bhikkhu precepts. He stayed in Korea until 2012 holding various temple positions and sitting a 90-day retreat twice a year. In 2012 he moved into Providence Zen Center and become the Head Dharma Teacher. He has been sitting the winter and summer retreats there also as Head Dharma Teacher and leading a Sunday Dharma Practice program." To learn more about Kwan Haeng Sunim please visit https://providencezen.org/ For intro and ad Free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

"Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls." My conversation today is with Aydan Dunnigan-Vickruck about tango dance, sexuality, and spirituality. Aydan writes about Tango dance is an excellent practice for relational dynamics. The idea is to relate what we express and experience on the dance floor to our life relationships. In fact, dancing tango can be translated into how we live, move and relate, both, on and off the dance floor. Aydan Dunnigan-Vickruck is an Author, Blogger and Mental Health Social Worker He is a former Lutheran minister with a Masters degree in theology, Aydan has been Tango dancing for 15 years and he is the author of the book: Trauma to Tango: Dancing Through the Shadows of Sexual Abuse. He is a weekly blogger who explores the connection between mental and relational health, relational dynamics and dancing tango. To learn more about Aydan Dunnigan-Vickruck please visit www.dancingwithpresence.com For intro and ad Free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

Addiction sets up a trap for us while appearing to address a deep need we are drawn to its attractiveness and the promise of feeling complete in some way a replacement for "god" is introduced to rob us of true spirituality. We become spiritually malnourished believing we have found peace, prosperity, and fulfillment in the very thing that will rob us of it. In addiction, we mistake: - Numbness for Peace - Indulgence for Abundance - Gratification for Fulfillment - Intensity for Intimacy - Control for Safety - Perfection for Competence ***This Statement Was Found On The Website Marr Inc.Org - Marr Addiction Treatment Center. My conversation today is with Missy Pollack about addiction and addiction recovery. Missy Pollack works for the American Addiction Centers. She is one of the Alumni Coordinators based at Recovery First Treatment Center located in Hollywood, FL. Part of Missy's job is to work with the graduates of their treatment centers and provide them with any support that they need. She often hosts community events with Alumni, where they give back to their community and participate in raising awareness about addiction and recovery. Learn more about Missy Pollack: www.americanaddictioncenters.org Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

"It took me many years to identify a life of purpose that is unique to me. My sun shines a little brighter each day, and every single day is filled with huge excitement, trust, and so much to look forward to." "We like confidence because it feels good and it gives us a sense of control. The alternative would be constant anxiety. To notice that voice in our head that running assessment we all have as we go about our lives. It's way too critical. We beat ourselves up for every perceived mistake. What if Self-compassion gives us the benefits of self-confidence without the downside of delusion? Self-compassion encourages us to acknowledge our flaws and limitations, allowing us to look at ourselves from a more objective and realistic point of view." - Eric Barker In this episode, Hina Siddiqui talks about "Five Powerful Ways to Build Your self-confidence." Hina is an Author, Blogger, Life Coach, and Communication Trainer. She has written four books and she is the creator of some online courses. Learn more about Hina Siddiqui: https://authorhina.com/ Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

Johann Hari talks about Addiction and how Addiction intervention is usually conducted: Get an addict, all the people in their life, gather them together, confront them with what they're doing, and they say, if you don't shape up, we're going to cut you off. So what they do is they take the connection to the addict, and they threaten it, they make it contingent on the addict behaving the way they want. He says that what he has tried to do, and he can't tell you he does it consistently and also he can't tell anyone that it's easy, is to say to the addicts in our lives that we want to deepen the connection with them, is to say to them, I love you whether you're using or you're not. I love you, whatever state you're in, and if you need me, I'll come and sit with you because I love you and I don't want you to be alone or to feel alone He ends with a profound message: The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection. My conversation is with TOMMY EVANS. Thomas J. Evans is a Former Union President and AA Sponsor for Over 30 years. He struggled with alcoholism for many years of his life before he found help in the AA program to begin his journey of recovery. Today, Tommy gives his support, wisdom and strength to those who walk into the AA rooms such as I did. His life has been marked by tragedies, he lost my son and daughter in car accidents one year apart from one another, he also lost his wife to cancer. Tommy's message is simple yet wise and spiritual, no matter what happens in our lives, we must go on with the strength given by our higher power. Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

"You have to know what you know and why you know it. Be comfortable in your own skin. All of the world's religions are directed toward Love. The issue here on earth is to learn how to love through the ages. We need, we all need, to learn the definition of love that can stand for all humankind. Forget about the dogma your religion has taught you. Forget about the rituals your dogma has taught you. The motivation to Love has a new and different definition. Love is the deep abiding gratitude for and appreciation of the object loved. If we can all do that we will fulfill the admonitions of the world's religions." In this episode, Lawrence McGrath talks about his own definition of love. Lawrence is an 85 year-old author who used to be a marine pilot, college professor, college president, bank president, and a consultant. In his book: A Cry From The Heart – A Personal Essay - he expresses his thoughts about religion, dogma, love, and life. Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

Jesus never called himself God, so why do so many people believe that he was God? Jesus Christ guides us to be forgiving of others; to be generous, to be compassionate and pray for our enemies. Some say Jesus Christ was just a man, or maybe a great teacher. The Bible says Jesus wasn't just some spiritual individual, he was the son of God but some believe Jesus was God himself. My conversation is with Reverend Edward Palmer. He says that Jesus was not God and that God is not just a concept, but rather a living spirit within our hearts. "I was a secular rationalist who was skeptical about all things spiritual. While I did not know God, I accepted the concept of God. At age 32, I found God in what I describe as an epiphany. I joined a charismatic church and actually found myself inside a Christian cult."- Rev. Edward Palmer www.edwardtheapostle.org Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

What is codependency? What is like to recover from co-dependency? Why did it hurt to realize it was time to take care of yourself? My conversation is with Brandy Angel. Brandy is a photographer, a full-time mother who is also the creator of "Be The Change - Brandy Angel Foundation", a foundation that is dedicated to being and inspiring positive change in the world. In this episode, Brandy shares her story of co-pendency and how she found healing. "We have the strength within to make any changes in our lives that we wish to make." "It is so important to understand that you are responsible for your own happiness. Someone else's happiness has nothing to do with you." "We are more than perfection." To learn more about Brandy Angel, please visit: www.bethechangebaf.com Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast