027 Dr. Suzy Green – The Power of Positive Thought - Unstress with Dr Ron Ehrlich

Psychologist and founder of The Positivity Institute, Dr. Suzy Green, joins me to talk about the power of positive thought and her dedication to "a flourishing world". Wouldn't it be nice to focus on using the incredible power of your minds, and more specifically how we thought about things, as a positive force for our health and wellbeing? Not just to talk about it, but with some real strategies about how to approach it. We're familiar with exercising in order to build up strength and endurance, but how about some exercises or strategies for building strength and resilience, mentally and emotionally? Which, in turn, can have very positive effects on our health and wellbeing. Tune in to find out more.
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Dr. Ron Ehrlich:                   Hello, and welcome to Unstress. I'm Dr. Ron Ehrlich. Now, when you mention the word stress, people immediately jump to the emotional aspect of stress, and if you're a regular listener, in fact, I'm sure we all would acknowledge that emotional stress is influenced by so many factors. The other stressors: nutritional, environmental, postural, and yes, dental stress. Or not getting enough of the five pillars. It's all connected. In fact, it's all connected in one way or another, so I guess we're all affected. Environment, food, sleep, movement. I think you get the picture.

But today we wanted to focus on think. Now, our thoughts are things. When you have a thought, your body produces a chemical called a neurotransmitter. Dopamine, pleasure. Adrenaline, fear. Serotonin, mood. As well as our endocrine system, and the hormones that produce influences about how our body is regulated. It's all affected, and all that causes genes to express themselves in one way or another.

Wouldn't it be nice to focus on using the incredible power of your minds, and more specifically how we thought about things, as a positive force for our health and wellbeing? But not just to talk about it, but with some real strategies about how to approach it. We're familiar with exercising in order to build up strength and endurance, but what about some exercises or strategy for building strength and resilience, mentally and emotionally? Which, in turn, can have very positive effects on our health and wellbeing.

My guest today is the wonderful Dr. Suzy Green, a clinical and coaching psychologist, and the founder of the Positivity Institute. She lectures, teaches, writes, is published in the scientific literature, coaches locally and internationally. She's been associated with Sydney University, the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, the University of Melbourne, and is an affiliate of the Institute of Wellness at Cambridge University. In short, when it comes to positive psychology, we are talking today to a world leader.

The Positivity Institute itself, which Suzy founded, is dedicated, get this, to a flourishing world. Now, why wouldn't you be attracted to something like that? In fact, the Institute goes on to describe itself as a positively deviant organization dedicated to the research and science for life, school, and work.

Again, like so many of our episodes, there's just so much here. Suzy mentions things that you can think about, incorporate, and implement straight away. They're powerful. They're simple. They're achievable. They're sustainable. They're things that can make a huge difference to you living a life less stressed. Sorry, couldn't resist that.

I hope you enjoy this conversation I had with Dr. Suzy Green.

Welcome to the show, Suzy.

Dr. Suzy Green:                    Good morning, Ron.

Dr. Ron Ehrlich:                   Good morning, Suzy. Listen, psychology, traditionally, it's looked at problems. It's gone back and looked at traumas, at problems, at our relationships with people past, as a way of unpacking the past and informing the present, and hopefully guiding the future. But positive psychology takes a different approach.