467: How to pivot toward what matters and liberate your mind with Steven C. Hayes PhD
Shann had the pleasure of sharing a conversation with Steven C. Hayes PhD. about his new book, A liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters.
As we all know, life can sometimes throw us a curve ball—or go full throttle and throw us straight towards rock bottom. And, the struggle stems from the problem-solving mind, which tells us to run from what causes us fear and hurt. However, Steven C. Hayes, author of A Liberated Mind encourages us to run towards that fear because what we may not realize is…we hurt where we care.
As a struggler himself, Steven has pioneered a successful approach, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), to help those with mental health disorders feel fully, think freely, and live lives that reflect the qualities they choose. In his book, he reminds us that life is not a problem to be solved by showing us that we can live full and meaningful lives by embracing our vulnerability and turning towards what hurts.
Steven C. Hayes is Nevada Foundation Professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 38 books and more than 540 scientific articles, he has shown in his research how language and thought leads to human suffering, and has developed “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy” a powerful therapy method that is useful in a wide variety of areas.
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Notes from the conversation…
We begin our conversation discussing the essence of psychological flexibility.
We dig into ACT- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - And how it can support those who often struggle with health anxiety and anxiety attacks.
ACT in a nutshell
Notice Thoughts with curiosity
Opening to our emotions
Attending what is in the present
Understanding the art of perspective-taking
Discovering our deepest values
Building habits based on what we deeply want
“Love isn’t everything, its the only thing.” Steven C. Hayes
Enjoy this beautiful poem from the last page of A Liberated Mind.
“Hold Out Your Hand”
by Julia Fehrenbacher
Let’s forget the world for a while
fall back and back
into the hush and holy
of now
are you listening? This breath
invites you
to write the first word
of your new story
your new story begins with this:
You matter
you are needed—empty
and naked
willing to say yes
and yes and yes
Do you see
the sun shines, day after day
whether you have faith
or not
the sparrows continue
to sing their song
even when you forget to sing
yours
stop asking: Am I good enough?
Ask only
Am I showing up
with love?
Life is not a straight line
it’s a downpour of gifts, please—
hold out your hand
That was Steven C. Hayes, professor of psychology, prolific writer and author of “A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters.” A Liberated Mind is full of accessible, mindful tools and techniques to help people overcome their mental hardships—from drug or diet addiction, anxiety, and depression to chronic pain and productivity. He believes by learning how to liberate ourselves, we can live with purpose, along with pain—when there is pain.
You can get a copy of his new book at Amazon or wherever books are sold.
Be sure to visit Steven’s website to claim the free gifts he has for you including an ebook his daughter created to teach you all about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).