Harvesting Happiness

The effects of trauma for those who endure it vary widely from person to person. Why are some able to use their traumatic experiences as a springboard for personal growth to lead fulfilling lives, and others become trapped by the injustice and are unable to escape the emotional, physical, and spiritual weight of it? To discover more about the aspects of post-traumatic growth and how it can offer a...

From birth, our self is created by other people. We inherently carry intergenerational baggage from our ancestors, then the process of constructing our ‘self’ comes from feedback about who we are from the time, culture, and society we grow up in. Do we truly have any control over who we are and who we will become? To discover the social construction behind what we consider our sense of self, Harve...

How do you feel on Mother’s Day? Is it a day when you turn away from social media because you don’t have a flattering Mother’s Day meme you want to share? Do you spend time reflecting on your relationship with your mother and wish it would have been or will be different? Many people, including mothers, have a mother wound. To uncover ways we can heal our primal mother wound and be our true authent...

Look around your home. Notice what catches your eye that causes you stress and what things make you happy. More often than not, a pet or a photo of a family outing brings a moment of happiness, a new appliance or pair of shoes probably not as much. As the old adage says, money can’t buy happiness. So what can be done in and around the home to provide small bits of day-to-day joy? To find out, Harv...

Do you wish your partner understood you better? Have you considered that they may not be wired to? Biology and chemistry are important factors in why we communicate the way we do. Testosterone and Estrogen play a major role in social behaviors from a very young age. To empathetically examine what places men and women on opposite sides of the communication spectrum, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Hos...

How would you define the American Dream? For some, it means hard work pays off, and for others, it represents a period of time in their lives. Some believe that time has come to a close. What makes different groups perceive things differently? To find out how culture impacts people’s perception of success and what hope has to do with it, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks wi...

Most teenagers’ default setting is mimetic desire. Before online technologies were ubiquitous, teens would mimic the behavior of familial or social influences to shape their morality and conduct. During times of quiet reflection, they indulged in self-assessment. But with social media algorithms designed to manipulate the mind through wasted time, there are entire age groups that are becoming exte...

As a human certain anxieties are a natural part of life. But, in our current culture, lack of alone time, screens that pummel us with non-stop data, and expectations of instant results and quick fixes, how do we have time to appreciate the awe that is our existence? To take a deep dive into how we can repair trauma and restore vitality to our lives, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Ka...

What comes to mind when you think of retirement? Do you picture yourself lounging in a hammock on an island surrounded by aqua-blue water? Or, are you considering a job you can do to fill your time? To discover how we can best design our wisdom years, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with long-time Los Angeles Times columnist, four-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and best-s...

When you look around your space, what do you see? Is there a corner that seems a bit overcrowded? Is there a pile you’ve been meaning to tackle but can’t find the right time? Would you perhaps enjoy parking your car in the garage for extra comfort on cold or rainy days? To discover the art of lightening the load to uncover happiness, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with...

Did you know that 80% of heart disease and 70% of cancers can be prevented through diet and lifestyle changes? And that starting some monthly supplements before allergy season can keep you breathing freely? For an in-depth look at the environmental toxins that impact our health, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Aaron Hartman MD , the founder of Richmond Integrative a...

A medical doctor often diagnoses physical ailments through a series of lab tests, x-rays, observations, and data analysis. There are multiple proven guidelines and resources in place for the treatment of disease, fractures, organ failure, and other physical illnesses. But, for mental health diagnoses, one book, currently in its fifth revision, is the go-to manual for all mental health professional...

For those who suffer from chronic pain, depression, or burn-out many physicians turn to pharmaceuticals as treatment. While pharmaceuticals may offer the temporary relief of symptoms, most have unpleasant side effects and never treat the root cause of an illness. Researchers are discovering that mindfulness and meditation practices are important factors in improving physical and mental health for...

The inability to focus on the task at hand plagues all of us, sometimes. But there are times when distractions such as our phones, long to-do lists, and multiple people wanting our attention can be more mentally taxing than others. So, what can we do to build our mental resilience, improve memory, reduce stress, and live longer happier lives? To help clear out the cognition clutter, Harvesting Hap...

Many people criticize their abilities. Whether it is taming an instrument or their voice, they judge themselves in lieu of experiencing the joy of the music they aspire to create. Exploring the peaceful space within and de-noising our minds offers the gift of sweet silence to those who find themselves distorted. To help us quell the constrictions of the mind and realize harmony, Harvesting Happine...

A sense of belonging is essential to human existence. Our ancestors needed to be part of a social group to be safe and provided for. Our need for acceptance still drives us. As an example, being ostracized in today’s ‘cancel’ culture has been referred to as a type of death. To better understand how the human mind has evolved to deal with the pressures of 24-hour access to social media and more, Ha...

Yoga studios have become ubiquitous in cities all over the US, and sales of yoga clothes and accessories are projected to grow by over 8% by 2029. But what does yoga’s popularity have to do with a personal yoga practice? To illuminate the real impacts of yoga beyond the mat, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Deepak Chopra’s private instructor and co-founder of ISHTA Y...

Age-related memory loss is a natural part of the aging process. Some people experience a more deeply-rooted memory issue, such as Alzheimer’s, and become deeply forgetful.. Deeply forgetful people often need caregivers for what used to be normal activities. While every case is different, there are some general guidelines on how to restore dignity and selfhood to those afflicted with dementia.. To...

Socrates is credited with saying, “the unexamined life is not worth living”. Yet, our contemporary world of results-driven work leaves us very little time for ponderance. To unearth the benefits of growing our inner worlds through examination and contemplation, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with author and founder of the Catherine Project, Zena Hitz . Zena shares examp...

Can you remember the last time you woke up feeling completely refreshed and ready to start the new day with bright eyes? If not, you may be like the millions of other people around the world who suffer from some form of sleep deprivation. To discover the keys to more restful sleep and how to eliminate the distractions that keep us from fading into all stages of sleep, Harvesting Happiness Podcast...

Every person’s experience in life is different. From a very young age, we learn what actions help us get what we need to survive and thrive. All of these learnings eventually form our belief system, our story. When our beliefs are challenged we are hard-wired to defend ourselves or flee. To find out if these early evolutionary patterns help us in modern-day society or are an outdated response we h...

In western cultures, many people have been led to believe that if we consume, share, or do the right things, happiness is right around the corner. But, how many of us have turned the corner only to find boredom or loneliness? To unpack the secret to finding joy in everyday activities, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with organizational psychologist and behavioral scienti...

These days, more often than not, financial market headlines include the terms ‘market crash’, ‘bubble bursting’, ‘inflation’, or ‘downturn’. What do these terms mean for long-term investors or for those who don’t invest but are impacted by job loss or economic hardship? How can everyday Americans attain enough financial security to be happy? To get expert advice about staying financially healthy,...

The widely-used adage ‘you can’t pick your family’ generally translates into making the best of what you have when you have no choice in the matter. People rarely have the option to choose who provides their mental and physical nourishment, especially children. How we handle relationships with relatives once we reach adulthood is up to us. But, if we have been subject to years of gaslighting or me...

Think about all the times you felt angry today. Were you in traffic and someone using their phone cut you off? Did your teenager shout at you because you told them they couldn’t do something after school? How did you respond? Calmly or did you get defensive? &nbsp To gain a better understanding of some specific tools we can use to de-escalate tense situations and have better communication with our...