The Wise Effort Show

Whether we like it or not, we are always changing. To evolve for the better we need to learn how to accept and harness change. In this episode, Dr. Joseph Ciarrochi, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy researcher and co-author of the book What Makes You Stronger shares with us common reasons why we avoid change and Process-based strategies to shift our minds, sense of self, and behavior. Dr. Ciarrochi also gives us a glimpse into the future of more integrated psychology, where we have a common language and step out of academic boxes into a more conciliant view of well-being. Related ResourcesGet enhanced show notes for this episodeOrder my book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most, and receive special bonus gifts.Want to become more psychologically flexible? Take Diana's "Foundations of ACT" course.Diana's EventsReserve your spot in Diana's Costa Rica retreat in 2026!See Diana at an upcoming eventConnecting With DianaSubscribe for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Leave a 5-star review on Apple so people like you can find the show.Sign up for the free Wise Effort Newsletter.Become a Wise Effort member to support the show.Follow Diana on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Diana’s website.Thanks to the team, Craig and Ashley Hiatt, and Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.

When I started the From Striving to Thriving Summit last year, it was because I was looking for a different way of living. On the edge of burnout, I turned to thought leaders, scientists, and spiritual teachers for a fresh perspective. This week, I will launch the From Striving to Thriving 2.0 Summit, a virtual series of discussions with top experts in the fields of compassion, neuroscience, longevity, and mental wellness.Related ResourcesGet enhanced show notes for this episodeOrder my book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most, and receive special bonus gifts.Want to become more psychologically flexible? Take Diana's "Foundations of ACT" course.Diana's EventsReserve your spot in Diana's Costa Rica retreat in 2026!See Diana at an upcoming eventConnecting With DianaSubscribe for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Leave a 5-star review on Apple so people like you can find the show.Sign up for the free Wise Effort Newsletter.Become a Wise Effort member to support the show.Follow Diana on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Diana’s website.Thanks to the team, Craig and Ashley Hiatt, and Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.

Do you refuse to go along with the status quo when it comes to your health? You just might be a healthy deviant! A healthy deviant is someone who defies societal norms in order to achieve a higher-than-average level of vitality and health. In this episode, you’ll learn why it's beneficial and essential to be a healthy deviant and some small things you can do right away to prioritize your health.Related ResourcesGet enhanced show notes for this episodeOrder my book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most, and receive special bonus gifts.Want to become more psychologically flexible? Take Diana's "Foundations of ACT" course.Diana's EventsReserve your spot in Diana's Costa Rica retreat in 2026!See Diana at an upcoming eventConnecting With DianaSubscribe for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Leave a 5-star review on Apple so people like you can find the show.Sign up for the free Wise Effort Newsletter.Become a Wise Effort member to support the show.Follow Diana on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Diana’s website.Thanks to the team, Craig and Ashley Hiatt, and Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.

Please enjoy this breathing in, breathing out meditation by Brother Pháp Hữu to help you connect to the present moment.This bonus meditation accompanies the full discussion with Diana in Episode 37 "The Way Out Is In".Related ResourcesGet enhanced show notes for this episodeOrder my book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most, and receive special bonus gifts.Want to become more psychologically flexible? Take Diana's "Foundations of ACT" course.Diana's EventsReserve your spot in Diana's Costa Rica retreat in 2026!See Diana at an upcoming eventConnecting With DianaSubscribe for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Leave a 5-star review on Apple so people like you can find the show.Sign up for the free Wise Effort Newsletter.Become a Wise Effort member to support the show.Follow Diana on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Diana’s website.Thanks to the team, Craig and Ashley Hiatt, and Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.

How can we find a way out of our suffering by going in? What are some simple practices to address our grief, loneliness, insomnia, and anxiety? Diana Hill is honored to sit down with Zen monk Brother Pháp Hữu to explore how to find peace in your body and mind, even in the face of suffering. Brother Pháp Hữu also shares intimate stories from his 10 years with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Take a seat, take a walk, or take some notes. You won’t want to miss this very special episode.Related ResourcesGet enhanced show notes for this episodeOrder my book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most, and receive special bonus gifts.Want to become more psychologically flexible? Take Diana's "Foundations of ACT" course.Diana's EventsReserve your spot in Diana's Costa Rica retreat in 2026!See Diana at an upcoming eventConnecting With DianaSubscribe for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Leave a 5-star review on Apple so people like you can find the show.Sign up for the free Wise Effort Newsletter.Become a Wise Effort member to support the show.Follow Diana on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Diana’s website.Thanks to the team, Craig and Ashley Hiatt, and Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.

Do we really have a lizard brain? Is serotonin the “happiness” neurotransmitter? Dr. Judson Brewer, our frequent contributor and neuroscientist at Brown University, will clarify some common misconceptions about your brain. Listen in to learn why dopamine isn’t your “pleasure” neurotransmitter and how knowing your brain better can help you be a better person.Related ResourcesGet enhanced show notes for this episodeOrder my book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most, and receive special bonus gifts.Want to become more psychologically flexible? Take Diana's "Foundations of ACT" course.Diana's EventsReserve your spot in Diana's Costa Rica retreat in 2026!See Diana at an upcoming eventConnecting With DianaSubscribe for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Leave a 5-star review on Apple so people like you can find the show.Sign up for the free Wise Effort Newsletter.Become a Wise Effort member to support the show.Follow Diana on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Diana’s website.Thanks to the team, Craig and Ashley Hiatt, and Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.

Do you know how your nervous system works? Polyvagal theory explains how our nervous system evolved and offers insight into why we become activated or shut down during stress. In this episode, Deb Dana helps us understand polyvagal theory and offers strategies to help you shift your nervous system toward connection and safety. Related ResourcesGet enhanced show notes for this episodeOrder my book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most, and receive special bonus gifts.Want to become more psychologically flexible? Take Diana's "Foundations of ACT" course.Diana's EventsReserve your spot in Diana's Costa Rica retreat in 2026!See Diana at an upcoming eventConnecting With DianaSubscribe for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Leave a 5-star review on Apple so people like you can find the show.Sign up for the free Wise Effort Newsletter.Become a Wise Effort member to support the show.Follow Diana on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Diana’s website.Thanks to the team, Craig and Ashley Hiatt, and Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.

Dr. Erin Westgate, a researcher focused on Psychological Richness, shares fascinating insights on living a fulfilling life beyond mere happiness. She emphasizes the importance of engaging in diverse, perspective-shifting experiences and how embracing adversity can enrich our lives. Dr. Westgate also discusses the intriguing concept of productive procrastination and its surprising benefits. Practical strategies to incorporate psychological richness into daily life, like curiosity and variability, offer listeners exciting paths to personal growth and well-being.

Kelly Wilson is the reason why I am an ACT therapist. In this episode, co-founder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Kelly Wilson offers his wisdom on how to be with uncertainty, the messiness of recovery, the secrets of marriage, and how to forgive the unforgivable. This episode is raw, vulnerable, and inspiring. Give yourself time and space to listen. Related ResourcesGet enhanced show notes for this episodeOrder my book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most, and receive special bonus gifts.Want to become more psychologically flexible? Take Diana's "Foundations of ACT" course.Diana's EventsReserve your spot in Diana's Costa Rica retreat in 2026!See Diana at an upcoming eventConnecting With DianaSubscribe for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Leave a 5-star review on Apple so people like you can find the show.Sign up for the free Wise Effort Newsletter.Become a Wise Effort member to support the show.Follow Diana on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Diana’s website.Thanks to the team, Craig and Ashley Hiatt, and Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.

Instead of a cross-country road trip, this summer we took our kids to Plum Village, a Buddhist monastery in southwest France founded by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Zen Master. Faced with pandemic stress, we were on screens too much, taxed by relentless to-dos, and felt increasingly dissatisfied. Teetering on parental burn-out, we were craving peace, time away from devices, and strategies to handle increasingly uncertain times. It’s a stretch to sign up 9-year-old and 12-year-old boys for a week of mindful walking, silent meals, and sitting meditation. We were willing to take the leap if it could reconnect us and help us find our grounding as a family again. In this episode, I share with you 6 lessons and related practices helping us to restore our homeostasis and how you can try them at home.Related ResourcesGet enhanced show notes for this episodeOrder my book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most, and receive special bonus gifts.Want to become more psychologically flexible? Take Diana's "Foundations of ACT" course.Diana's EventsReserve your spot in Diana's Costa Rica retreat in 2026!See Diana at an upcoming eventConnecting With DianaSubscribe for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Leave a 5-star review on Apple so people like you can find the show.Sign up for the free Wise Effort Newsletter.Become a Wise Effort member to support the show.Follow Diana on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Diana’s website.Thanks to the team, Craig and Ashley Hiatt, and Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.