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Living From Happiness

The Happiness Doc, Dr. Melanie Harth, and guests share thought-provoking convos every week on Living From Happiness. From mindfulness and neuroscience to positive psychology and creativity, the show's all about living well in transformational times.
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Now displaying: May, 2021
May 25, 2021

Stuart Ashman, CEO of the International Folk Art Market, one of the largest social entrepreneurship organizations in the world, shares insights and updates in this episode.

Stuart has a long and impressive background as a cultural ambassador. He was the Executive Director & Chief Curator of CCA in Santa Fe; President and CEO of the Museum of Latin American Art; Director of the New Mexico Museum of Art; Executive Director of the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art; and was the Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. He's also served as Expert Consultant for the United States Peace Corps and serves as Vice-Chair of the Richardson Center for Global Engagement.

Stuart and Melanie talk about the innovative adaptations and creative solutions that had to be instituted at the Market in this pandemic era.

The truth is that, for many of the artists, the Market is their only source of income for the year. And many of the artists support their communities through their art.

As the website states, “artist earnings have exceeded $34 million and impacted more than one million lives in the communities they represent.” 

Further, “each of our artists has a story to tell about craft tradition, and a family, village and culture to support.”

Stuart Ashman's response to the importance of art and beauty for a life of happiness and wellbeing may surprise you ... be sure and listen for this in the second half.

The artists of the International Folk Art Market have long held a special place in Melanie's heart. Their enduring dedication to their respective cultures' traditional arts and crafts, the pervasive sense of community support, and the sheer beauty and joy of the myriad offerings shared with the world year after year continue to be a wellspring of inspiration and hope for a better world.

the International Folk Art Market website here

Dr. Melanie Harth, the Santa Fe Therapist, website here

May 18, 2021

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion was an international bestseller when it was first published 25 years ago.

Dr. Robert Cialdini, social psychologist, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Marketing at Arizona State University, president of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, and the recipient of a number of scientific research awards, has updated and revised the book and just published a brand-new edition.

Bob is a charming guest and the definitive expert on the psychology of persuasion and why it behooves us to understand how the mind works. 

Turns out that it's terribly easy to mislead people who don't know how to pay attention to it.

In this episode, Bob shares his insights on the seven principles of the psychology of persuasion, which are:

  • reciprocity
  • liking
  • social proof
  • authority
  • scarcity
  • commitment and consistency
  • unity

He also talks about the cost of mental shortcuts. Bob writes, "I have become impressed by evidence indicating that the form and pace of modern life is not allowing us to make fully thoughtful decisions, even on many personally relevant topics. Sometimes the issues may be so complicated, the time so tight, the distractions so intrusive, the emotional arousal so strong, or the mental fatigue so deep that we are in no cognitive condition to operate mindfully. Important topic or not, we have to take the shortcut."

Bob also uses this quote from Mother Teresa to describe one of his principles: "If we have no peace, it’s because we have forgotten that we belong to one another."

The good news about our minds is that we can learn to manage them, as it were. To think with more conscious awareness, to feel with more empathy and compassion, and to act with more self-confidence.

It's a powerful message that's more timely than ever in these chronically fraught times.

Dr. Robert Cialdini's website here

Dr. Melanie Harth's website here

download Part 1 here

May 10, 2021

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion has been an international hit since it was first published 25 years ago. So much so that Dr. Robert Cialdini, social psychologist, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Marketing at Arizona State University, president of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, and the recipient of a number of scientific research awards, had to update and revise the book and publish a brand-new edition.

Bob provides a glimpse behind the scenes of our minds, helping us better understand cognitive biases and automatic behavior patterns.

As he puts it, "[not understanding our automatic patterns] makes us terribly vulnerable to anyone who does know how they work."

The psychology of getting people to say yes impacts every area of our lives, from how we spend and what we buy, to how we vote.

Bob shares fascinating research data about the power of psychological persuasion including that voting in a church sways Republican, and voting in a school sways Democratic … such a simple research finding that has profound implications.

Some other topics include:

  • the human brain/mind, for all the unbelievable complexity and mystery, can also be somewhat simple in that it thinks it needs to decide things quickly and efficiently, in a sort-of black-and-white way;
  • how to persuade the public to take science seriously regarding Covid-19 vaccinations.

The more we understand our own minds and how to manage the feedback loop of our thoughts, emotions, and actions, the better able we are to live consciously, making intentional choices for ourselves and our community.

We also become more adept at increasing our influence on those things that most matter to us.

This fascinating conversation takes place over two podcasts; be sure and download the 2nd show, as well.

Dr. Robert Cialdini's website here

Dr. Melanie Harth's website here

 

May 3, 2021

How to be happy when the world seems to be falling apart? What's wellbeing? This episode shines a light on all things positive and good and hope-full.

These days it feels as though our well-being is assaulted from every direction. And it could be easy to argue that happiness doesn’t have much of a place in the world as it is these days.

There’s so much that’s breaking our hearts, both collectively, and individually … it can seem just too self-absorbed and narcissistically privileged to even bring up the topic of wellbeing.

Who has time to deal with wellbeing and happiness when the world is falling apart?!

There are millions of people in this country who are desperate to feel something positive and hopeful, something good, to be engaged in focusing their attention on living well, even in the midst of heartbreak and uncertainty.

It's more important than ever before to develop a practice of wellbeing. Yes, many things are falling apart. And yes, much is transforming.

What more effective tool do we have than to seed our future using the 12 keys of wellbeing?

Melanie discusses each of the 12 building blocks of individual and community wellbeing, from the researchers and experts at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. Those building blocks, in alphabetical order, are:

  1. altruism
  2. awe
  3. bridging differences
  4. compassion
  5. diversity
  6. empathy
  7. forgiveness
  8. gratitude
  9. happiness
  10. mindfulness
  11. purpose
  12. social connection

Dr. Melanie Harth, the Santa Fe Therapist, website here

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