How to Feel Good in a Challenging World: Finding Joy Beyond Circumstances

In this episode of the Learning Love podcast, Dr. Mark A Hicks explores the complexities of feeling good in a world filled with challenges. He emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between happiness and joy, advocating for the ability to experience multiple emotions simultaneously. The conversation delves into strategies for staying present, managing negative thoughts, and finding serenity amidst life's difficulties, all while reinforcing the idea that love is the key to thriving relationships and emotional well-being.

Takeaways

• We can always find something that is going wrong in the world.
• Feeling good is what brings us into relationships.
• There are no shoulds; things just happen sometimes.
• Happiness is dependent on circumstances, while joy is deeper.
• You can feel good in the midst of the bad.
• We have the capacity to experience two things simultaneously.
• Stay in the moment and don't get too far ahead in life.
• Use the Serenity Prayer to find peace in challenges.
• Love is the answer to life's difficulties.
• Building healthy relationships leads to deeper joy.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Learning Love

02:52 Understanding Happiness vs. Joy

05:45 Experiencing Dual Emotions

12:02 Staying Present and Managing Imagination

14:56 Finding Serenity in Life's Challenges

Dr. Mark A. Hicks, author of the book 'Learning Love,' provides tangible, real-life insights on how to build healthy, happy, thriving relationships, even if you come from a dysfunctional family background, have been through a divorce, or struggled with relationships in the past. Love isn't about fate. Love is a skill set, and this is the place to learn that skill set as we spend some time learning love.

Pre-Order "Learning Love: Building a Life that Matters and Healthy Relationships that Last": https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/learning-love-mark-a-hicks/1146412363?ean=9781636985954

Visit Dr. Mark A. Hicks online: https://www.markahicks.com/