Smiling makes us feel better. It’s a scientific fact. Chantal and Matthew explore the subject and science of smiles, how they make us feel better and how smiling more can support our emotional fitness and mental health. **[ Episode links To stay connected and up to date about our work, join our 5th Place community: https://5th.place/ Being emotionally fit positively impacts your mental alertness, decision making ability, leadership capability and relational competence. Become emotionally fitter by regularly attending an online free mental health class: https://emotionalfitnessclass.com/ Build your emotional fitness by taking our mini audio-course: How to Master Your Emotions. https://courses.5th.place/courses/how-to-master-your-emotions **[ Pay it forward If you got value from this episode, we invite you to match this value by making a donation or paying what you want. This will enable us to take our work into places that can’t afford it. https://5th.place/value **[ Credits Music - Corporate Happy (Long) - Daddy’s Music https://pixabay.com/music/corporate-corporate-happy-long-9348/

After introducing the five pillars of emotional fitness a few weeks ago, Matthew and Chantal delve deeper into the second pillar of Emotional Fitness, Moving. Humans tend to be very sedentary beings when they were built to move! Everyone knows that exercise is important for physical fitness but did you know that movement is vital for ongoing emotional fitness too? This episode explores why. **[ Episode links To stay connected and up to date about our work, join our 5th Place community: https://5th.place/ Being emotionally fit positively impacts your mental alertness, decision making ability, leadership capability and relational competence. Become emotionally fitter by regularly attending an online free mental health class: https://emotionalfitnessclass.com/ Build your emotional fitness by taking our mini audio-course: How to Master Your Emotions. https://courses.5th.place/courses/how-to-master-your-emotions **[ Pay it forward If you got value from this episode, we invite you to match this value by making a donation or paying what you want. This will enable us to take our work into places that can’t afford it. https://5th.place/value **[ Credits Swinging Web by SergeQuadrado https://pixabay.com/music/main-title-swinging-web-20926/

Workplace bullying can be difficult to deal with while it has serious long reaching health and wellbeing consequences. It often flies under the radar because of its verbal and psychological tactics. In this podcast, the first of Season 3, Chantal and Matthew explore what workplace bullying can look like, who bullies and who gets bullied and what to do about it. **[ Episode links To stay connected and up to date about our work, join our 5th Place community: https://5th.place/ Being emotionally fit positively impacts your mental alertness, decision making ability, leadership capability and relational competence. Become emotionally fitter by regularly attending a **FREE** Emotional Fitness Class: https://emotionalfitnessclass.com/ Learn more about Shape of Emotion, our tool for emotion regulation, on our Master your Emotions mini audio-course: https://courses.5th.place/courses/how-to-master-your-emotionsns **[ Pay it forward If you got value from this episode, we invite you to match this value by making a donation or paying what you want. This will enable us to take our work into places that can’t afford it or who have limited access to data and technology. https://5th.place/value **[ Music credits Summer Surf by AudioCoffee https://pixabay.com/id/music/pukulan-yg-tdk-keras-summer-surf-120252/

Who hasn’t wanted more peace in their lives? Matthew and Chantal explore how driven to aggression and division we tend to be, and how Hollywood seems to seed a heavily conflict oriented approach to solving problems. The place to start is always with ourselves, finding more peace in ourselves is the first step to finding more peace out in the world. **[ Links of interest Imagine - John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkgkThdzX-8 Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivWY9wn5ps Give Peace a Chance - John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3_0GqPvr4U **[ Episode links To stay connected and up to date about our work, join our 5th Place community: https://5th.place/ Being emotionally fit positively impacts your mental alertness, decision making ability, leadership capability and relational competence. Become emotionally fitter by regularly attending an Emotional Fitness Class: https://emotionalfitnessclass.com/ Learn more about Shape of Emotion, our tool for emotion regulation, on our Master your Emotions mini audio-course: https://courses.5th.place/courses/how-to-master-your-emotionsns **[ Pay it forward If you got value from this episode, we invite you to match this value by making a donation or paying what you want. This will enable us to take our work into places that can’t afford it or who have limited access to data and technology. https://5th.place/value **[ Music credits Motivational Day by AudioCoffee https://pixabay.com/id/music/perusahaan-motivational-day-112790/

After introducing the five pillars of emotional fitness a few weeks ago, Matthew and Chantal delve deeper into the first pillar of Emotional Fitness, Thinking. They explore the pillar and what it means in the context of building emotional fitness and why it is important for our overall wellbeing. **[ Episode links To stay connected and up to date about our work, join our 5th Place community: https://5th.place/ Being emotionally fit positively impacts your mental alertness, decision making ability, leadership capability and relational competence. Become emotionally fitter by regularly attending an Emotional Fitness Class: https://emotionalfitnessclass.com/ Build your emotional fitness by taking our mini audio-course: How to Master Your Emotions. https://courses.5th.place/courses/how-to-master-your-emotions **[ Pay it forward If you got value from this episode, we invite you to match this value by making a donation or paying what you want. This will enable us to take our work into places that can’t afford it. https://5th.place/value **[ Credits Music: Save Me by Liborio Conti https://www.no-copyright-music.com/

With World Suicide Prevention Day coming up on 10 September, Chantal and Matthew talk about the subject that no-one wants to really talk about - Suicide. A hard subject to deal with but that makes it all the more necessary to face it and talk about it. Matthew shares his lived experience of suicide ideation and attempts and the learning that has come out of that very dark time in his past. **[ Episode links To stay connected and up to date about our work, join our 5th Place community: https://5th.place/ Being emotionally fit positively impacts your mental alertness, decision making ability, leadership capability and relational competence. Become emotionally fitter by regularly attending an Emotional Fitness Class: https://emotionalfitnessclass.com/ Build your emotional fitness by taking our mini audio-course: How to Master Your Emotions. https://courses.5th.place/courses/how-to-master-your-emotions **[ Pay it forward If you got value from this episode, we invite you to match this value by making a donation or paying what you want. This will enable us to take our work into places that can’t afford it. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=AYHEQ32SC63LN **[ Global suicide and crisis hotlines If you or someone you know is suicidal, please use one of the numbers for your country in the link below. If someone is in immediate danger, please call your local emergency number (e.g. 911 in the US, 999 in the UK and 10111 in South Africa). https://5th.place/contact-us/who-to-call-for-emergency-mental-health/ **[ Credits Music: Music by DaddysMusic from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/id/users/daddysmusic-22836301

A fascinating conversation with Ben Ahrens who is a chronic illness recovery expert, TEDx Speaker, Neuroplasticity coach, and Co-founder of Re-origin. In this episode Matthew and Chantal have a conversation with him about his passion for healing and recovery, by using the basics of neuroplasticity to rewire the brain for optimal health and functioning. **[ Episode links Visit re-origin and discover a science-based, self-directed neuroplasticity training program for people who suffer from chronic conditions such as anxiety, depression and much more: https://re-origin.com/ To stay connected and up to date about our work, join our 5th Place community: https://5th.place/ Being emotionally fit positively impacts your mental alertness, decision making ability, leadership capability and relational competence. Become emotionally fitter by regularly attending an Emotional Fitness Class: https://emotionalfitnessclass.com/ Learn more about Shape of Emotion on our Master your Emotions mini audio-course: https://courses.5th.place/courses/how-to-master-your-emotions **[ Pay it forward If you got value from this episode, we invite you to match this value by making a donation or paying what you want. This will enable us to take our work into places that can’t afford it. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=AYHEQ32SC63LN **[ Credits Music: AudioCoffee from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/id/users/audiocoffee-27005420/ Image: Masaru Emoto ’love and gratitude’ crystal image https://masaru-emoto.net/en/crystal-2/

Having been reminded that emotion regulation is key for overall emotional and mental wellbeing, Chantal and Matthew explore the seven elements of the model of emotional fitness that emerge out of the working definition of emotional fitness. They then cover the five pillars of emotional fitness that underpin their practical, holistic and multifaceted approach to becoming and remaining emotionally fit. Music: Life is Strange by MADiRFAN Poem: Solitude by Ella Wheeler Wilcox **[ Episode links To stay connected and up to date about our work, join the 5th Place mailing list: https://5th.place/ Being emotionally fit positively impacts your mental alertness, decision making ability, leadership capability and relational competence. Become emotionally fitter by regularly attending an Emotional Fitness Class: https://emotionalfitnessclass.com/ Learn more about Shape of Emotion on our Master your Emotions mini audio-course: https://courses.5th.place/courses/how-to-master-your-emotions **[ Pay it forward If you got value from this episode, we invite you to match this value by making a donation or paying what you want. This will enable us to take our work into places that can’t afford it. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=AYHEQ32SC63LN

The importance of building emotional fitness in the youth of today is made even more urgent by some scary global and local statistics regarding their mental and emotional wellbeing. Chantal and Matthew interrogate the current situation and the impact that lockdowns, social media and ongoing stigma have had. They explore the drive to find alternative, non-medicinal approaches to attend to depression and anxiety in youth and in the process discover an amazing correlation with their work. Music: Milk Shake by Coma-Media Poem: Stay strong by Leah Carr ** Pay it forward If you got value from this episode, we invite you to match this value by making a donation or paying what you want. This will enable us to take our work into places that can’t afford it. **Episode links To stay connected and up to date about our work, join the 5th Place mailing list: https://5th.place/ Being emotionally fit positively impacts your mental alertness, decision making ability, leadership capability and relational competence. Become emotionally fitter by regularly attending an Emotional Fitness Class: https://courses.5th.place/courses/emotional-fitness-class Learn more about Shape of Emotion on our Master your Emotions mini audio-course: https://courses.5th.place/courses/how-to-master-your-emotions

National Women’s Day in South Africa inspired Matthew and Chantal to focus on and celebrate women and  how being emotionally fit is of particular importance for women. They consider what is needed to start the journey, some particular challenges and how important it is for women to support women in this drive for equality and acceptance. **Music credit Liborio Conti - Amazing ** Pay it forward If you got value from this episode, we invite you to match this value by making a donation or paying what you want. This will enable us to take our work into places that can’t afford it. ** Episode links To stay connected and up to date about our work, join the 5th Place mailing list: https://5th.place/ Being emotionally fit positively impacts your mental alertness, decision making ability, leadership capability and relational competence. Become emotionally fitter by regularly attending an Emotional Fitness Class: https://courses.5th.place/courses/emotional-fitness-class Learn more about Shape of Emotion on our Master your Emotions mini audio-course: https://courses.5th.place/courses/how-to-master-your-emotions

International Day of Friendship inspired a conversation about friends and how good for our emotional fitness having good friends is. Chantal and Matthew talk about what makes a good friend, how friends can come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime, and that it takes conscious intentional effort to build and maintain a network of good friends.

James Smith is the VP for an innovative job platform for healthcare workers in Canada called Caring Support. An advocate of emotional intelligence, James absolutely loves to network, be active in the community, and build genuine relationships. In this podcast episode Chantal & Matthew have a connecting conversation with James about his passion and drives.

In the week of International Nelson Mandela Day, Chantal and Matthew explore the lessons from Nelson Mandela’s life as told in his book ”Long Walk to Freedom”. Nelson Mandela characterised enormous emotional resilience and was a great example of being emotionally fit. Events and quotes are picked out and discussed as examples of his leadership, wisdom and resonance with the work that Chantal and Matthew do.

Conversations connect us. Inspired by the inaugural New Conversations Day started by Awkward Silence, an Australian company that advocates for more meaningful, inspiring conversations, Chantal and Matthew have a conversation about what inspires them, what makes for a great conversation and what to do when conversations become difficult.

In recognition of Global Forgiveness Day Matthew and Chantal consider what forgiveness is, why it is important and how to take the, sometimes difficult, steps to be more forgiving by reviewing the work of Robert Enright, psychologist and professor of educational psychology and long time researcher of forgiveness. Considering that their country was saved through forgiveness, they honour, too, the man that modelled that quality for all of us: Nelson Mandela.

For this the twelfth and final episode of the first season of Emotions Matter. Really! Chantal and Matthew explore the C of their ABC of life teachings. Choose love, always. In line with their theme for the year - It starts with me - they delve deeper into what it means to love yourself.

During a visit to the Big Tree in Hoekwil, South Africa, Chantal and Matthew drew inspiration to develop the Act like a Tree principles and the ABC of life teachings that grew out of that. This week they explore the B of the ABC - Bring the light. What they mean by bringing the light, why it is important and how everyone can do it.

Last year we (Chantal and Matthew) went on a road trip to George, a town, in the Southern Coast of South Africa, to visit Tristan, Matthew’s son who he had not seen for over a year. The trip was full of learning and discovery and reconnection. On the last day they met the Big Tree. This meeting was important and impactful. It led to the Act like a Tree principles as well as the ABC’s of Life. A year later, Matthew is back in George with Tristan. Chantal and Matthew use this opportunity to reflect on that trip, the learning and growing that has happened over this time in relation to the Act like a Tree principles and the ABC of Life. Tristan joins them for this episode.

Burnout has seen an alarming increase and although it may appear that burnout is a 21st century ailment, it actually has ancient roots. Chantal and Matthew look at where the concept of burnout has originated from, what the symptoms of burnout are and what causes it. Some essential strategies to avoid as well as recover from burnout are discussed.

It is Freedom Day in South Africa, a public holiday that commemorates the first democratic elections held in 1994. Matthew and Chantal consider what freedom means to them and what not having freedom can do to one’s mental and emotional wellbeing. They look at different freedoms and the responsibilities they come with. Finally they address how one can be free from one’s own self imposed limitations and beliefs.