07/22/2020 DianaK

Space in Thursday’s fun class AND Screens for Happiness

SPOTS STILL OPEN FOR TOMORROW’S CLASS
There are still spots open for tomorrow’s Rewire Your Brain class! Saturday’s class was excellent. Lots of laughs and lots of learning. I even got a new gratitude buddy out of it! Details about the class are below. Or you can take the leap (there’s no actual risk. 😉 Suggested donation is $25, but everyone is welcome!) and register HERE.

SCREENS FOR HAPPINESS
In other news, I was re-listening to one of my favorite podcasts, The Happiness Lab this week and came across an episode I’d missed. Score! This episode, Good Screens and Bad Screens, offered an interesting idea (beyond “limit your screen time”) for improving our relationship with screens — which given our need for screens right now seems like a great plan.

Here’s the idea: think of categorizing your screen time as different food groups in a screen time “diet.” There’s “healthy food” screen time — like connecting with loved ones through video chat or watching a show that lifts our spirits. And there’s “junk food” screen time that drains us. (For me, it’s scrolling through countless news articles or repeatedly checking my email).

I so appreciate this novel way of looking at my screen life! Now when I spend time on a screen, I take a minute to think about whether it is nourishing or depleting me. It’s already made a big difference in my sense of well-being. Thanks, cool podcast!

I know the screen time I spend doing tomorrow’s class will fill me up with all sorts of good feelings. It is definitely on MY “healthy foods” screen time list. I hope you’ll join us and get the same kinds of rewards!

However you spend your screen time this week, I hope it nourishes and energizes you!

REWIRE YOUR BRAIN
Appreciation Practices for Challenging Times

Date: Thursday, July 23
Time: 7:00-8:00 pm CDT
Location: Online everywhere
Suggested donation: $25 – OR pay what you like after the class! ️❤️

07/16/202007/22/2020 DianaK

One of those weeks

It’s been one of “those” weeks. Health issues, administrative snags, missing my sister Jeni (who died in 2018), and a bunch of little (and not so little) irritations showed up on my doorstep. I indulged in the requisite wailing and gnashing of teeth.

And I got to appreciate my appreciation muscles for the joy they afforded me.

This week I wanted to honor my sister. I have some of her art hanging up and it makes me feel connected to her. I used one of her paintings as inspiration for my creation. I painted and cried and smiled and felt her all around me. I am lucky she was and is my sister. I love looking at her art (and now mine) hanging in my living room as a testament to that love.

My watercolor (left) & Jeni’s acrylic (right)

I’m excited to share the tools that helped me train my brain to help me find joy even during challenging times. This Saturday I’m offering my first online version of Happiness in Hard Times – the Art of Appreciating (along with a laughter yoga mini-session).

It is gonna be so much fun! If you want to try out some science-based techniques that we can use to improve our lives, health, and relationships — even during a pandemic — use the link below to register.

I look forward to seeing you!

07/13/202007/13/2020 DianaK

I accidentally rediscovered the power of laughter 😆

This morning I accidentally rediscovered the power of laughter.

In my classes and talks, I teach people the power of laughter, appreciation, and a host of other science-based habits that can significantly improve our health and well-being.

And…I sometimes forget to use the tools I teach. Especially when I’m tired and/or health issues are flaring.

It’s been a rough couple weeks for a variety of reasons (beyond the ones we are all facing right now). This morning when my bestie-roomie Sarah & I checked in, we realized that anxiety and depression have been running the show around here lately. So we sat on the couch, leaned our heads together, and held space for how things are.

After a few minutes, because humor is my go-to tool, I said, “Well, we could do some laughter yoga. We would both hate that right now!” And we laughed because it was true.

But then…Ida (Sarah’s 5 year-old) stepped in and changed the game. She overheard me and ran over to us with a big grin on her face. “Laughter yoga?!?” she beamed. “Let’s do laughter yoga!”

And so, even though it really was the last thing either Sarah or I wanted to do, we did laughter yoga.

We only did it for about 10 minutes. Ida loved it. We loved watching Ida love it. And then, um, well, we felt a little better.

Oh, right. Just like I tell people.

And based on that little boost from our mini-session this morning, I decided to add a 10-minute session before each of my upcoming classes!

So if you want to try a little laughter (do it!), join your class 10 minutes early. I’ll be there, laughing and remembering that we are in this together.

Love,
Diana

JULY CLASSES

Happiness in Hard Times
The Art of Appreciating

Date: Tuesday, July 14
Time: 7:00-8:00 pm
Laughter Yoga mini-session: 6:50 pm
Location: Online everywhere
Suggested donation: $25

Date: Saturday, July 18
Time: 2:00-3:00 pm
Laughter Yoga mini-session: 1:50 pm
Location: Online everywhere
Suggested donation: $25

Save me a spot!