What does it mean to interact in a secure way from a centered, wise space? According to Dr. Ann Kelley, co-author of Secure Relating and co-host of the popular podcast Therapist Uncensored, we all move in and out of secure and insecure patterns in our relationships. Ann’s modern take on attachment theory moves us from rigid categories into a more dynamic, evolving, and systemic look at our relational patterns. Listen and learn: What is the Modern Attachment Regulation SpectrumHow we borrow...

In this real play, Dr. Diana Hill is joined by workshop participant Jennie Nash live from a Blue Spirit Costa Rica retreat. Together, they navigate Jennie Nash’s feelings of being trapped by her own success amidst celebrating significant personal milestones and leading a successful business that trains and certifies book coaches. Through exploring wise effort, values, and the balance of effort in life and work, Jennie discovers the subtle nuances between meaningful engagement and burnout...

According to Dr. Emily Weinstein, head of Harvard’s Center for Digital Thriving, we are going about it wrong regarding kids and screens. We must stop demonizing technology and take a more critical and optimistic look at its benefits and harms. In this episode, you’ll explore: Misconceptions parents and caregivers have about teens and screensWhy the teenage brain is especially vulnerable to the harmful aspects of social mediaHow to start conversations with your kids about values and techHow to...

We often hear that we need to learn to tolerate uncertainty and be comfortable with our feelings. However, it's not always easy to do so. Dr. Diana Hill shares psychology research, personal experiences, and practical strategies that can help you confront and work with difficult emotions. In this episode, Dr. Hill covers the following topics: Two things that can worsen difficult feelingsDistress tolerance skillsThe negative consequences of venting your angerAn ACT-based practice that can help...

According to Ofosu Jones-Quartey, everyone is deserving of their own love and compassion, because in this moment, you are enough. Inner work is the way we begin to change the world for the better. In this episode, Ofosu Jones-Quartey, Born I, explores the intersection of hip hop, mindfulness, compassion, and human vulnerability.  You’ll explore: The power behind the mantra and koan “You are enough”Healing the pain that you didn’t take care ofSelf-compassion as a pathway to belongingSongs by...

Confidence is defined as the feeling or belief that you can rely on someone or something; firm trust. When we're in an uncomfortable conversation with another person, speaking up requires some inner confidence. In this episode, Diana engages in a real play with Jane Chapman, chef and founder of Communal Table, about developing the inner confidence to speak up in groups and live out your values even when it’s uncomfortable. Diana leads Jane in an embodied compassion exercise you can try for...

How do we help our teenagers thrive? World-renown ACT expert Louise Hayes, discusses how parents, caregivers and educators can help teens discover their values, navigate friendships, take healthy risks and manage technology. Dr. Hayes applies her DNA-V model from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a guide we can use in supporting teens navigate their own path to adulthood.  Dr. Louise Hayes shares ideas about: When Should Parents and Caregivers Intervene to Help Their Teen?How Do We Support...

Many of us feel like we don’t have enough time, so we rush through life, feeling scattered and dissatisfied. On the flip side, we put off things that matter to us because we think we have all the time in the world to get to them.  Dr. Diana Hill shares ideas about: What science shows about happiness and free timeWhy giving away time gives you more timeThree cognitive biases getting in the way of you using your time wiselyA simple skill to shift your perception of time and refocus it on the...

What do you really yearn for? According to Steven Hayes and Joseph Ciarrochi, humans have 6 core yearnings that guide our behavior towards or away from psychological flexibility.  In this episode, you will explore: Our natural yearnings, how they shape our behaviors and psychological reflexes, and the insight required to align our actions with our core values. The role of agency and the desire for purpose in our livesOur inherent desire to feel a broad spectrum of emotions, even those...

Sometimes, the biggest barrier to living up to your values is you. In this real play, fitness instructor and CEO of Bond Fitness, Jenny Schatzle, shares her mission to change diet culture and help moms radically accept their bodies. Diana Hill uses ACT and compassion-focused interventions to help uncover and transform the hidden barriers to making Jenny's mission a reality. In this episode, Dr. Diana Hill demonstrates. How to uncover client valuesThe three common barriers to taking committed...

Wise Effort is about putting your energy in places that matter and savoring the good of your life along the way. The Wise Effort show, hosted by Dr. Diana Hill, is for you if you are a high achiever, care about holistic health, believe in science, and are looking for more sustainable and impactful ways of living.  In this episode, Dr. Diana Hill guides you to learn: What is Wise Effort and why it mattersHow this show is designed to fit your lifeWhy Diana was a late adopter to...

How can you use neuroscience to break the habit of eating when you are not hungry? Dr. Jud Brewer shares a three-step method to rewire your brain and relationship with food in this episode.  Dr. Jud’s thoughts on GLP-1 agonistsDr. Jud leads Diana through his three-step modelThe “bigger better offer” than eating when not hungryThe power of self-compassion for changing your eating habits Listen to this episode to learn tips and strategies for breaking eating habits that do not serve your...

Dr. Jenny Etneir is a mom, sports coach, and leading researcher in brain health, cognition, and exercise. In this science-packed, practical, and motivating episode, Dr. Etneir shares What youth sports coaches are doing wrongHow exercise impacts our cognitive performanceWhat to do if you don’t feel like you have enough time to exerciseCutting-edge research on exercise and Alzheimer’s prevention Join us. Whether you're an exercise enthusiast or looking to infuse your routine with more activity,...

Everyone knows that exercise is good for you, so why do only a quarter of Americans meet the CDC’s guidelines for physical activity? In this episode, Diana Hill and ACT researcher Jason Lillis tackle some of the most significant barriers to moving your body, including “there are no sidewalks,” “I don’t have enough time,” “I feel guilty for leaving my kids,” and “I just don’t like to!” Break through the psychological and environmental barriers to movement, and let’s get physical in...

In this special 100th-episode celebration, Diana offers her favorite and most effective tips to energize your health. Dump “junk food,” rest, and learn restorative practices that will heal your body at the cellular level. Break out of your exercise rut and learn to move more nutritiously. Stop counting calories and track this instead, and learn four things you can do to drink alcohol more consciously. With insights from experts such as Elissa Epel, Kimberly Wilson, Emily Sandoz, Pilar...

How can we use what we learned in 2023 to navigate 2024 with greater fortitude and flexibility? In this episode, Diana shares 4 science-backed tips that will make your new year better, including how to stress better, reset your dopamine system, build healthier relationships, and take care of your health. Each of these facets is deeply examined with insights from experts such as Elissa Epel, Alexandra Crossewell, Rick Hanson, Brad Stulberg, Anna Lembke, and others.  Related ResourcesGet...

Give yourself the gift of savoring this holiday season. Diana encourages you to stop running and savor the good in this short meditation. She guides you through savoring practices such as savoring the breath, gratitude, accomplishments, awe, and wisdom. The episode concludes with setting intentions for incorporating savoring into daily life. Related ResourcesGet enhanced show notes for this episodeSubscribe to my free Wise Effort newsletter. Become a Wise Effort member to support the...

Mary Pipher revolutionized our understanding of adolescent girls with her best-selling book Reviving Ophelia. Since then, Mary has been writing about the skills women need to thrive across their lifespans. Drawing from her own experiences and her extensive work, including 'Letters to a Young Therapist' and 'Women Rowing North,' Pipher discusses the impact of cultural contexts on individuals, the necessity of self-discovery, and how to find rest amidst a midlife meltdown. She also encourages...

Family estrangement is more common than you may think. Most of us don’t talk about our family conflict because we feel shame, stigma, and dread the over-simplistic and judgmental advice, “Why don’t you just forgive them and move on?” Yet, research shows that over ¼ of Americans are estranged from their family members. When estranged, it can feel like an open wound that never heals. In this episode, therapist and trauma specialist Giulia Preziuso shares her story of being estranged from her...

Solitude is part of wellbeing. Alone time allows you to ponder good questions, explore creativity, and consider what it means to be a good human. In this episode, Stephen Batchelor, a former Buddhist monk, shares the art of solitude, what it means to be a secular Buddhist, the value of going against the stream, how to live an ethical life, and the intersection between Buddha and Socrates. Find some time to be alone with yourself and take a listen! Related ResourcesGet enhanced show notes for...

Creative Hopelessness is a powerful tool in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to increase motivation to change and evolve new behaviors. In this real play, Rikke Kjelgaard demonstrates the key questions you can ask yourself to start to get unstuck from unhelpful patterns.  Related ResourcesGet enhanced show notes for this episodeSubscribe to my free Wise Effort newsletter. Become a Wise Effort member to support the show. Want to learn more about ACT? Take Diana's on-demand course,...

Elisabet Lahti wants you to learn how to harness your power differently with embodied fortitude, gentleness, and determination. Sisu is a Finnish concept that refers to a unique blend of courage and tenacity, especially in the face of adversity. It’s an inner strength that helps you keep going under extreme pressure. In this episode, Elisabet shares her journey of Sisu, her 1500-mile run across New Zealand, and strategies you can use to build more Gentle Power in your life. Related...

What is it like to be a child of war? How can we transform suffering with the power of compassion? In this episode, ACT psychologist Diana Hill interviews social worker and war refugee Dalya Sarkees about her experience growing up in 3 Iraqi wars, the trauma of finding a new identity in the US, and the inner and ancestral resources she leaned on to make the impossible possible. Many of us feel powerless over the world’s wars that are happening right now, one place to start is to listen to the...

One of our biggest challenges in life is adapting to change. Brad Stulberg, author of the book Master of Change, believes we need to “Be in conversation with change instead of it happening to you. Set appropriate expectations and adjust them when necessary. Cultivate a rugged yet flexible sense of self.” In this episode, Diana and Brad explore how we can thrive amidst change by developing a more fluid sense of self and a stronger connection to our core values.  Related ResourcesGet enhanced...