467: How to pivot toward what matters and liberate your mind with Steven C. Hayes PhD

Steven C. Hayes Revised.png

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).