Making Positive Psychology Work · 2026-01-13 · 36 min
Our bodies have to calm down before our thoughts can follow - and this is the step most of us skip. In this second episode of our special bonus season, hosts Dr Michelle McQuaid and Evie Wright share practical body-based tools you can use anywhere, anytime: in meetings, during difficult conversations, or mid-presentation (without anyone noticing). With guest insights from somatic expert Nahid de Belgeonne , author of Soothed , learn how to think of your nervous system as an inner toddler that needs our compassion and care - not criticism. 00:03 Michelle and Evie welcome listeners back and recap last episode's core insight: our brain is constantly asking "am I safe enough?" - and our nervous system responds accordingly. 05:36 Why trying to "think your way calm" doesn't work - when we're in our protection circuit, we have less blood and oxygen in the thinking part of our brain, so we need to soothe our body first.
BONUS SEASON: The Grief Undercurrent58 / 100BONUS SEASON: The Complexity ConundrumBONUS SEASON: The Change Fatigue ContinuumBONUS SEASON: The Self-Compassion ChallengeBONUS SEASON: Learn To Trust Yourself When Challenged