Episode 2: Creating Happiness

October 2, 2022

Where to Listen:

Orange Arrow@4x
Calmer+Conversations with Cecelia Mandryk

Episode Summary: 

Many of us have been taught to surrender our power over how we feel to other people and what’s happening in the world around us. But, the reality is that we’re entirely responsible for neutralizing our thoughts and reactions. On today’s episode, I dive into where happiness and other emotional states come from and share ways to practice non-judgmental curiosity about your feelings. 

Show Notes:

Many of us have been taught to surrender our power over how we feel to other people and what’s happening in the world around us. But, the reality is that we’re entirely responsible for neutralizing our thoughts and reactions. On today’s episode, I dive into where happiness and other emotional states come from and share ways to practice non-judgmental curiosity about your feelings. 

Brain chemistry and a propensity to happiness play a large role in our emotions, but it’s just one piece of a very large puzzle. Learning how to step into what’s available for your emotional wellbeing is a challenging, yet extremely empowering process. We usually attribute our feelings to our environment, but what’s really happening is that we have a thought about people or their actions, which creates a feeling in our body that our brain translates to mean something. 

For example, when someone cuts you in line at the supermarket, you’ve been conditioned to think that cutting the line is wrong, so it feels like a personal attack. Your thoughts jump to feeling frustrated, provoked, and annoyed. The good news is, there’s a lot of work that can be done to neutralize those thoughts and own your emotions. Listen in to learn more about that process and how to get started on your self-study journey. 

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform. 

Topics Covered:

  • Debunking the myth that outside circumstances determine how you feel

  • Recognizing when and why you’re trying to control other people and the world around you 

  • Being honest with yourself about the thoughts and beliefs that you hold around people’s behaviors 

  • Undoing the subconscious training that we have around imposter syndrome and people-pleasing tendencies 

  • Questions to help guide your reflections around your emotions and reactions

Special Offer: 

Follow Me:

CMandrykHS

About Your Host

I’m Cecelia, and I am passionate about helping people live the life they want to live and feel how they want to feel in their life. We do this together using mindset tools, nervous system regulation, and curious inquiry. I know that enjoying your life, feeling calm and even joyful is available to you.

If you’re ready to start right now, grab a recent workshop replay here on creating momentum.

Personally, I manifest in many ways- partner, mother, coach, sister, friend, daughter, citizen, feminist. I live with my husband and children way downeast Maine on a little bridge-connected island (after spending my first 35 years in cities). It’s beautiful here with the ocean and the wind.

I help my clients make big and small changes in life one step at a time.

No matter what’s happening in your life right now, I know you can feel different. I know that by working with your brain and nervous system, you can feel calm, content, joyful, AND you can still go after the big and small goals in your life (getting there will just feel different).

This process is simple and approachable.

You’re probably thinking- but it won’t work for me. I’ve tried it all or I was recently diagnosed with ADHD or I’m too old. But I promise, if you’re open to it, this work is not only transformative but suited for so many different kinds of people and brains.

Recent Episodes of Calmer Conversations:

Episode 13: Two Things You (probably) Do

January 24, 2023

13. Two Things You (Probably) Do Episode Summary:  There are two things that you probably do that are keeping your experience of happiness smaller than maybe it could be in your life. The first one is engaging with thoughts and beliefs that don’t serve you and the second one is being unwilling to feel certain…

Tune In

Episode 12: The Foundation of Happiness

January 24, 2023

12. The Foundation of Happiness Episode Summary:  I consider the relationship you have with yourself to be the foundation of happiness. It determines everything that you create in your life and how you approach the world. In today’s episode, I break down what it might look like if your self-concept leaves you feeling stuck or…

Tune In

Episode 11: Happiness is a Feeling

January 24, 2023

Happiness is a Feeling Episode Summary:  Happiness is a feeling that stems from the beliefs that you have in your life. We often think that how we feel is related to outside circumstances, but the truth is that the thought that occurs between an external event and our feeling about it is responsible for our…

Tune In

Episode 10: Happiness doesn’t come from Being Perfect

January 24, 2023

10. Happiness Doesn’t Come From Being Perfect Episode Summary:  Striving for perfection is a behavior that is entirely possible to unlearn, and I’m living proof of it. Perfectionism is related to the thought and belief that you must execute your life flawlessly to be happy, lovable, worthy, or even a good and acceptable person. So…

Tune In

Episode 9: Don’t Listen to Everything Your Brain Tells You

January 24, 2023

9. Don’t Listen to Everything Your Brain Tells You Episode Summary:  The first thought you have is not the most true thoughtーit’s just the thought you’re used to having. On today’s episode, I explain how the different parts of your brain work together to keep you safe, but how that doesn’t always lead to truth…

Tune In

Episode 8: How People Pleasing Gets in the Way of Happiness

January 24, 2023

8. How People Pleasing Gets in the Way of Happiness Episode Summary:  The term “people-pleasing” is pretty ironic because at the end of the day, it’s more about trying to manipulate other people and control how they act or what they think about you. It’s our primitive brain’s way of staying safe and avoiding tough…

Tune In

Episode 7: How to be Happy in your Relationships

January 24, 2023

How to be Happy in Your Relationships Episode Summary:  Where are you requiring that people act in certain ways so that you can feel happy and secure about your relationship? Join me on today’s episode as I dig into how to build healthier, happier connections.  Show Notes: Where are you requiring that people act in…

Tune In

Episode 6: Imposter Syndrome

January 24, 2023

6. Imposter Syndrome Episode Summary:  On today’s episode, I share the story of how I stumbled into the field of geology and struggled with severe imposter syndrome for many years. I discovered that we already contain everything we need to change our belief systems and rewrite the story of belonging. It’s entirely possible to feel…

Tune In

Episode 5: Why Positive Thinking Doesn’t work (for most of us)

January 24, 2023

5. Why Positive Thinking Doesn’t Work (For Most Of Us) Episode Summary:  Happiness is often on the same playing field as positivity, but positive thinking usually leads to feelings of shame or disappointment. What I like to practice instead is shifting to a place of neutrality in an effort to take away the inherent judgment…

Tune In

Episode 4: How your self concept impacts your happiness

January 24, 2023

4. How your self concept impacts your happiness Episode Summary:  Self concept is who you are, how you feel, and how you act in the world. It helps shape your daily life and plays a major role in your lived experience. In today’s episode, I explain how your self-concept contributes to your overall happiness, how…

Tune In