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This week, Kate and Sarah delve into the research behind gratitude practices and discuss how a regular gratitude practice can contribute to an ongoing sense of optimism and a healthier life! They also discuss their own gratitude practices [surprise: Sarah uses guilt-based gratitude to motivate her!], common pitfalls in the practice, and give some tips on how to avoid the basic-girl-bullet-journal-yoga-gratitude practice, just in case that’s not your thing. Your hosts waded through a ton of gratitude research, but drew most of their information from these two sources:   https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/in-praise-of-gratitude https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201511/how-gratitude-leads-happier-life  

Sarah and Kate spent a few weeks walking for happiness. In today's episode, they talk about what held them back and about why it worked! Find our source article here: https://www.fastcompany.com/3025957/what-happens-to-our-brains-when-we-exercise-and-how-it-makes-us-happier Also, please rate and review!!

Sarah and Kate try a Laughter Yoga class! Listen to their journey from completely uncomfortable to feeling marginally okay about it, including clips from the class!

Today we are talking to Tiffany and Ashley! They share with us their secrets to happiness which include engaging in friendly competition, nurturing an adventurous spirit, and almost getting killed by a bear? We really enjoyed this conversation and hope you do too!

As winter starts to creep upon us, we’re loving the idea of curling up next to a crackling fire with big socks, a steaming hot beverage, and someone you love! Join Sarah and Kate as we experiment with hygge, the Danish concept of hominess and coziness. We relied on the expertise of Meik Wiking and his book “The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well” (http://bit.ly/2zHBL0v). Do you hygge? Let us know! Email us at choosehappypodcast@gmail.com, find us on twitter @choosehappypod, or find us on Facebook at Choose Happy Podcast! We look forward to hearing from you!

Does it matter where you’re going, or does it matter where you are right now? This week, Kate and Sarah take Josh Pantalleresco’s Happiness Homework to heart and answer his five questions. Sarah realizes that her sense of identity is tied so much to her work as a teacher. Kate reveals the exact moment in history where she realized she was happy. Huge thanks to Josh for giving us such a thought provoking and revealing assignment! Did you like this episode? Please rate and review on iTunes?

Josh Pantalleresco of “Just Joshing” Podcast chats with Kate and Sarah about his Five Questions to Happiness while also managing to tackle Zen and Christian philosophies all in the same breath. Josh has learned and refined his own version of happiness through significant life lessons and hardship, and is coming out the other end of these life lessons with what he calls “Enlightened Self Interest.” Find his podcast “Just Joshing” on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/just-joshing-podcast/id1199328015?mt=2# Find him on twitter and Instagram @jpantalleresco Read his blog at https://jpantalleresco.wordpress.com/ Here’s his author page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Joshua-Pantalleresco/e/B00N8SYGEW Also! Kate and Sarah apologize about the audio quality in this episode. We’re experimenting with new software and it’s affecting mic volume. It will definitely be fixed for next time around! As always, please rate and review us on iTunes!

Sarah and Kate completed Amie's Happiness Homework - to recreate a favourite childhood memory - and discuss the process and their findings. Are we happier actually recreating those memories, or are we happier to simply reflect on them? Where does the nostalgia factor fit in?    

This week we tried a meditation class! Tune in to see if it made us happier, and if we'd do it again! Plus, a special announcement about upcoming episodes. Interested in a meditation class of your own and live in the Calgary Area? Check out http://www.modernandmindful.com/ Some of our favourite meditation apps: - Buddhify - Relax Melodies - Mindful - Headspace And there are so many more!

Kate and Sarah discuss what they discovered from their happiness homework which was to reflect on the foundational stones of their happiness. This week Sarah and Kate are joined by Amie! They discuss the important lessons she has learned about happiness from some difficult life experiences, and she shares some helpful strategies for avoiding stress in the workplace and at home. We’d love to hear from you! Let us know how your happiness homework is going! choosehappypodcast@gmail.com

Kate surprises Sarah by interviewing Katelyn, Sarah's daughter! Then, they speak with their friend Kim about happiness approaching 30, being happy while single, and bringing a sense of authentic self to a new relationship. Pour yourself your favourite beverage and join Choose Happy!

Kate and Sarah check in with each other about Michael’s Happiness Homework: to write one hundred words every day. One of them did the homework, and the other… not so much! Then, they talk to newlyweds Jen and Jordan about staying sane and happy when planning a wedding, their top three pieces of advice for those about to get married, and practices to stay happy after that special day.

Sarah and Kate give a Happiness Homework check in, then they talk about mindfulness and How to Have a Brain like Buddha’s, According to Neuroscience (follow along here: http://thepowerofideas.ideapod.com/brain-like-buddhas-according-neuroscience/). Then, they talk to Michael. He’s 65, retired, single, and very prepared! He came to the interview with pages and pages of preparatory writing. Michael, a self proclaimed “very happy person,” has transitioned from the busy life of a teacher to the life of someone who fills his time doing what he loves, and he has a lot to say about it!

Kate and Sarah savor their last homework assignment, discuss a blog post about the impact of busyness of our lives, and debate the importance of looking at trees. This week’s guest, the compassionate and inspiring Kata, teaches us about goal-setting, designing a life that works for you, and the power of forgiveness.   Find Maria Popova’s blog post from Brainpickings here: https://www.brainpickings.org/2017/03/06/hermann-hesse-little-joys-my-belief/

Sarah and Kate dish on what it’s like to embrace the discomfort and update everyone on Elijha’s Happiness Homework from last episode. They take mushrooms and talk about the effects. Then, they talk to Calgary’s mushroom expert Malcolm Saunders! Malcolm has carved out a niche for himself in the world as a business owner, adventurer, and as an incredible coach who helps people redefine their relationship to food. He discusses the benefits of nature, of nutrition, and of finding happiness through the freedom to forge one’s own path.  Find Malcolm online at http://malcolmsaunders.com and The Light Cellar at https://thelightcellar.ca/ As always, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts!

Sarah gets a speeding ticket. Kate and Sarah discuss the impact of Whitney’s Happiness Homework! Sarah updates us on “The Love Dare.” Kate got her stars read. And the ladies briefly discuss social-media induced rage. They interview the engaging charismatic ELIJHA! He’s a polyamorous pain junkie, a traditional Chinese medicine student, and a philosopher with a deep understanding of suffering. Elijha discusses conditioning oneself to pain with the overall intention of understanding – and thereby eliminating – suffering.

Sarah discusses beginning “The Love Dare” with her husband. Kate needs a dream interpreted. This episode’s guest is the wonderful and wise WHITNEY! Whitney discusses her journey from an unhealthy, wine-soaked life in early adulthood to the intentional life that she leads now. Her life experience – living in multiple cities, coping with the death of a partner, and seeking the life she wants to live – has created in Whitney a deep and gentle wisdom that leads her to ask, “what if guilt is actually disappointment?”