Mental Health Advocates

“Health, Wealth & Happiness” is a compelling theme because it connects the three areas people care most about in life. To be elite and optimize your performance: Train your Body : nutrition, sleep, physical Train your Craft : acquire knowledge Train your Mind : mindfulness, stay in present Health Matters Topic Examples Preventive healthcare Nutrition and healthy eating Exercise and fitness Sleep optimization Stress management: increase cortisol levels, inflammation… Mental health Key Question: "What's one health habit listeners can begin this week that will have the greatest impact over the next year?" – sleep! Performance living: Performance = skill minus interference; Listen-Learn-Heal Your Tactics: T ake time for yourself and lead a peaceful life A lways eat healthy, exercise, and sleep C ontinually self improve and remain coachable T reasure family and friends I choose the day I have C ontrol disappointments and respond positively S mile and laugh Building Wealth Topic Examples Personal finance fundamentals: earn vs spend! Retirement planning: pre-tax dollars investment and larger future return Healthcare costs and financial planning: healthcare more and more expensive… Financial wellness Key Question: "What is one financial decision people should make today that their future self will thank them for?" – make inventory of your assets and liabilities! Prepare is key… The Happiness Factor Topic Examples Purpose and meaning Gratitude practices Relationships Resilience and mindset Work-life integration Personal growth Key Question: "What daily practice contributes most to long-term happiness?" Refirement zone vs retirement: what is your purpose/meaning of life? What brings you joy? Wonder Drug (Drs. Trzeciak & Mazzarelli): 7 scientifically proven ways that serving others is the best medicine for yourself!! Start Small : 16 minutes Rx; give, help, care, and connect more; kind acts, compassion, and selfless service for others Be Thankful : write/send thank you notes as appreciation Be Purposeful : being part of something larger than yourself that can make a difference for others; what can I do to make your day a little better? Find Common Ground : children, sunset, cry, etc See It : see it to feel it Elevate : gravitate toward people who do kind things for others and are happy about it, and you’ll boost your own happiness Know Your Power : using your time, talent, and treasure to serve others; strengthen relationships; decrease chronic stress and systemic inflammation and boost immune system; hope matters and belief in recovery matters The Connection Between Health, Wealth & Happiness Pause, understand the why? Discussion Points Transitions in life How physical health impacts earning potential Financial stress and mental health Purpose-driven living and overall wellness Creating balance in all three areas Key Takeaway: Health creates the energy. Wealth creates the opportunity. Happiness gives it meaning. Transitions cause stress (from high school to college to job to …; pursuing success, achievement, ego-defined self, financial reward, titles, ...): Stress = pushing past one’s perceived limits and then allowing for recovery Stress, anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, debt => impediments to success Expectations to perform, be perfect, be tough… Social media and perfect life… Keep climbing the ladder (each rung closer to success)… Resilience and Well-Being = Balance… Resilience = acquired ability to recover , adapt , and grow from stress Resiliency and well-being by managing stress with coping and self-care skills ? Time management Healthy sleep, eating, exercise habits Learning opportunities to build resilience… Building blocks to success => Turn obstacles into opportunities… Kindness, compassion, love, and respect (for yourself and others) => healthy relationships “You are powerful. Being empathetic, compassionate, grateful, caring, and kind are human being’s greatest strengths.” Weekly Challenge Give one simple action in each area: Health: Walk 20 minutes daily, sleep patterns Wealth: Save $25 this week Happiness: Write down three things you're grateful for

LARRY PFAFF, M.A., Ed.D., LPC Author of Ready, Set, Change: Why Knowing What to Do Isn’t Enough Amazon #1 New Release - Psychology Education and Organizational Change INTERVIEW TOPIC: Why Smart People Stay Stuck (Even When They Know What to Do) After 40 years as a therapist and organizational consultant, Dr. Pfaff heard the same confession thousands of times: "I know what to do. I just don't do it." His book reveals the five stages of psychological readiness that create lasting change—and why most advice only works at one stage. Business/Leadership: Why workplace training fails What companies get wrong about change Matching development to readiness Personal Development: Why resolutions fail | The Contemplation Trap One question that reveals your change stage Mental Health: Why therapists don't apply Stages of Change Matching interventions to client readiness General Interest: Why intelligent people stay stuck The knowing-doing gap Real stories from 21 managers ABOUT DR. PFAFF Larry Pfaff has spent over four decades working with individuals, groups, and organizations in counseling, leadership development, coaching, and organizational consulting. His background includes: ∙ Licensed Professional Counselor since Michigan’s original licensing law in 1990 ∙ 15 years as a Professor of Psychology ∙ Former Dean of Business ∙ Published researcher in leadership and 360-degree feedback assessment ∙ Lifelong member of APA and SIOP ∙ Author of multiple assessment instruments used in organizations ABOUT THE BOOK Ready, Set, Change presents a framework for why people struggle to change even when they know what to do. Based on 40 years of work and a year-long program with 21 managers, it reveals the five stages of psychological readiness and why matching support to stage creates lasting change. CONTACT Larry Pfaff, M.A., Ed.D., LPC 269-370-0083 drlarrypfaff@gmail.com https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX32NPPV

Is it better to have a method, or a system? Is it better to be goal oriented or strictly success/failure. What is the 'Prime Objective', how is it associated with achieving goals? Was Scott Adams correct when he alluded to 'goals are for losers and systems are for winners'? Is that, in fact, true? Of course not, and that was not Scott's intention. Goals are steps in life, in the journey of life, so just be aware and live on!

Danielle Radin is a nationally known expert on the topic of Narcissism and NPD. In this episode we discuss the following- Why do narcissists try to talk to you in the first place? Is there a way to avoid them? What is a boundary? How to talk to narcissists when you have to (grey rock method) Other methods: yellow rock, agree rock How to spot a narcissist

It is the season 15 kickoff show, so that means Dr Debbie is on the program as she has been for our previous many kickoffs! From her boys being in elementary school to now, college life keeps on keeping on, and we all get a little wiser. The author of the fab book "The Mentorship Edge", today we talk about 'Quantifying Your Impact', what does that mean, and how do we positively encourage growth. Small wins, small acts of kindness, they all add up to significance, but how significant? That is the impetus behind the topic of 'Quantifying Your Impact' and "The Legacy Tree".

What a great conversation! Narcissists are EVERYWHERE! What are the nine tendencies? What are the four phases? So much packed into one show, this one is special!! Danielle Radin is an Emmy Award Award-winning journalist, 9-time Author, and Certified Domestic Violence Counselor. She is the founder of the Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Center, which offers low-cost counseling, educational materials, and awareness online to help people leave abusive relationships. She has coached thousands of people worldwide to live healthier and happier lives. Find her on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@danielleradinmmj?si=9EJFj1dchI9qyAg0 Or check out her book “Navigating Narcissists” on Amazon: https://amzn.to/49bRMMF

Dr. Deborah Heiser is back, and we are so stoked to talk about her new book. The Mentorship Edge: Creating Maximum Impact through Lateral and Hierarchical Mentoring  Learn how a mentor relationship can make your life more fulfilling The Mentorship Edge: Creating Maximum Impact through Lateral and Hierarchical Mentoring explores how we connect to others, feel valued, get pleasure from life, and believe our lives have meaning through forming mentor relationships with others. This book covers traditional hierarchical mentorship we're all familiar with, along with lateral mentoring, where you connect with a friend or colleague―someone you can be vulnerable with―whether they work in your department, another department, or outside of your organization entirely. Insight in this book is drawn from The International Association of Top Professionals 2025 Top CEO and Mentor of the Year Deborah Heiser's experience running The Mentor Project, a nonprofit mentoring organization with more than 100 mentors at the absolute top of their fields. In this book, readers will learn about: The proven benefits of mentorship in both work and home life Mentorship in various fields, including business, research, entrepreneurship, and art Classic examples of the power of mentorship, like when Steve Jobs asked Steve Wozniak for engineering help when he was at Atari The Mentorship Edge is an essential guide to demystify the special concept of mentoring and inspire individuals to engage in mentoring naturally, whether hierarchically or laterally, based on their goals and passions.

Dr. Mitch Clionsky is a vast source of knowledge about brain health being a Neuropsychologist who specializes in evaluating and treating patients with cognitive impairment. His book is 'Dementia Prevention' Emily Clionsky, MD, and Mitchell Clionsky, PhD , are physicians and neuropsychologist couple who have cared for their parents with dementia, created a test used by doctors to measure cognitive function, and treated more than 25,000 patients with cognitive impairment. Their 'Dementia Prevention Checklist' is a great starting point for everyone.

For our season 14 kickoff episode we bring in the number one guest regarding appearances we have, Dr. Debbie Heiser. This episode covers topics from previous shows, including Generativity, The Stigma of Mental Health, Imagine Age, Healthy Dependency, Are You Ready to Retire, and Adult Bullying. We also do a quick snapshot of Debbie’s new book, "The Mentorship Edge".