A Decided Difference

Positive change without positive thinking with LouAnn Clark. Learn to tinker with your own thinker and get more out of life.

The bitter with the sweet 11/01/2021

The bitter with the sweet If you are going to live, you have to somehow deal with the whole package life delivers to you. The bad comes with the good, the sorrow with the joy. When you know you can handle whatever comes your way, you find peace. LouAnn Clark wraps up the Decided Difference podcast series with reminders of how to make that happen. The podcast episodes from January, 2018 forward will remain available online for at least one more year. You can find them at decideddifference.libsyn.com. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/20979812

Preparing for the dark days ahead 10/25/2021

Preparing for the dark days ahead As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, you may find your mood falling with the leaves. In this week’s podcast from A Decided Difference, LouAnn has ideas for keeping spirits bright, even during the darkest days. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/20909879

Finding the light of your life 10/18/2021

Finding the light of your life If you aren’t enjoying your life, you may be in danger of falling into depression, if you aren’t already there. And the shorter, colder days of winter are not going to help. It might be a good idea to get some light going in your life before it gets any darker. In this week’s podcast, LouAnn has suggestions for ways to light up your life. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/20836376

Just when you thought it was over… 10/11/2021

Just when you thought it was over… Habits help us manage our day-to-day lives with more ease and enjoyment, but bad habits can interfere with reaching our goals. Habits have an impact on health, relationships, work, finances, and more. In this week’s podcast, LouAnn explores how to strengthen the habits that serve you, even in the face of challenges. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/20762978

The pleasure of planning 10/04/2021

The pleasure of planning Does planning sound like drudgery to you? Do you resist sticking to a plan because you don’t like feeling boxed in? What if you knew planning could help reduce depression and anxiety and help you to feel more in control of your life? In this week’s podcast episode, learn how to plan to make A Decided Difference for yourself. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/20691452

Choosing to keep on keeping on 09/27/2021

Choosing to keep on keeping on When the change you want isn’t coming, or isn’t happening fast enough, you can persist. Yes, you can, even through a pandemic. Find encouragement in this week’s Decided Difference podcast. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/20520971

The critic or the witness? 09/20/2021

The critic or the witness? Who doesn’t want to manage stress, to feel more centered, or to find more inner peace? If If you have ever tried to practice mindfulness, but failed, this week’s podcast from A Decided Difference is for you. You know the inner Critic. Now, meet the Witness. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/20520983

Better thinking for better results 09/13/2021

Better thinking for better results Your brain is not exactly like a computer, but what you put into it largely determines what you get out. In this week’s podcast from A Decided Difference, LouAnn explores the processes that turn information into emotion. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/20446592

When DIY isn't getting it done 09/06/2021

When DIY isn't getting it done You can’t learn everything on your own, and every single one of us needs help from time to time. When you get stuck, or confused, or discouraged, it’s perfectly all right to ask for help. When DIY isn’t working, a consultation with a pro may be all you need to get back on track. More in this week’s podcast from A Decided Difference. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/20369528

Minding the body 08/30/2021

Minding the body Your mind and your body are not disconnected; they are intertwined in a never-ending circle of wholeness. Changing one changes the other, for better or for worse. In this week’s podcast from A Decided Difference, LouAnn explores ways to lift your spirits by enlisting the help of your body. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/20299124

It isn't always in your head 08/23/2021

It isn't always in your head What is making you feel sad, down, or discouraged? Do you need to adjust your mindset, or do you need to deal with a real physical or external problem? Improving your thinking skills can help you solve all kinds of problems more easily. Learn more in this week’s podcast from A Decided Difference. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/20221790

Creating the good life 08/16/2021

Creating the good life How can you create the good life for yourself? Even in the midst of grief and loss, joy and beauty are all around us. It is up to us to choose to notice them and to celebrate them. In this week’s podcast from A Decided Difference, LouAnn explores little ways to make a big difference. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/20103254

Face it to fix it 08/09/2021

Face it to fix it To solve problems, we must first face them, but that can lead to pain we would prefer to avoid. In this week's podcast from A Decided Difference, LouAnn has suggestions on how to stop procrastinating and face pain in the short term for better long-term outcomes. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/20065643

The ride of your life 08/02/2021

The ride of your life Life can be like a roller coaster ride, with ups and downs, twists and turns. We are not always in control of what happens to us, but we can choose how we think about the events of our lives. This is how we create more happiness and success for ourselves. Learn more in this new podcast episode from A Decided Difference. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/19986950

Asking for help 07/26/2021

Asking for help How could asking for help be a skill that helps you to be stronger? Far from being a sign of weakness, asking for help might be one of the best skills you can develop. Learn more in this week’s podcast from A Decided Difference. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/19573166

Healthy thinking for the rest of your life 07/19/2021

Healthy thinking for the rest of your life You can choose to live happily! You can also learn the skills and habits to keep it up for a lifetime. This week’s Decided Difference podcast wraps up a series about change with encouragement to build the happiness you deserve for the rest of your life. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/19573106

How to hang in there when the going gets tough 07/12/2021

How to hang in there when the going gets tough Significant change often takes more time, action, and effort than we wish. It isn’t always easy to stay the course or to decide what to do when you are not getting the results you want. This week’s Decided Difference podcast episode offers ideas for coping when the going gets tough. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/19573031

Beginning the process of change 07/05/2021

Beginning the process of change The process of change begins with deciding which change you will make. Decisions can sometimes lead to feelings of being imprisoned by your own choices, but not always. Making a decision, cutting off all other options, can be the very thing that sets you free. Learn more in this week’s podcast episode. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/19572833

Getting clear on where to go from here 06/28/2021

Getting clear on where to go from here Deciding to change begins with dreaming of change, and capturing your dreams can be the first step toward making them reality. This week’s Decided Difference podcast is all about imagining what your life could be if you open yourself to possibilities. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/19572743

Starting over 06/21/2021

Starting over Change is an inevitable part of life. Whether you dread or welcome opportunities to start over, you will have to deal with them as long as you live. The way you look at your situation will determine how you feel about it and how well you cope with the change. Learn more in this week’s Decided Difference podcast. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/19531730

I "should" have known better 06/14/2021

I "should" have known better Would you like to feel better and stronger right away? Try removing just one specific word from your vocabulary and watch the change happen. It isn't magic. It's a Decided Difference. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/19450622

Where your joy is 06/07/2021

Where your joy is When you do things that make you happy, you have more energy to do all kinds of things. Building joyfulness into your schedule gives you something to look forward to and makes life worth living. This week’s podcast from A Decided Difference will help you find your own personal happiness. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/19362110

Getting back to normal. Or not. 05/31/2021

Getting back to normal. Or not. The world is beginning to return to “normal,” but that doesn’t mean you have to go back to the way things used to be. Change can be your choice. This is the last new podcast episode for two months, as LouAnn takes a sabbatical. She will present a “best of” series through the months of June and July. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/19287677

Environ"mental" concerns 05/24/2021

Environ"mental" concerns Your mind may be full of pollutants deposited there by other people, by your own interpretation of past events, or by expectations you don’t even know you have. Like polluted air and water, polluted thoughts can make you sick. Fortunately, also like polluted air and water, polluted thoughts can be filtered to remove the bad stuff. Learn how to create a healthier mental environment in this week’s podcast from A Decided Difference. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/19208993

Environmental protection (not that kind) 05/17/2021

Environmental protection (not that kind) Your surroundings can help make or break your mood, so why not take control of them as much as you can? In this week’s podcast from A Decided Difference, LouAnn has thoughts about environment and how to use it to your advantage. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/19112696

Strength through stories 05/10/2021

Strength through stories The stories that run in the background of your mind can have a profound impact on the choices you make and how satisfied you feel with your life. Uncovering your foundational stories can change the way you think, and that can be literally life-changing. Learn to tell yourself better stories in this week’s podcast from A Decided Difference. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/19027517

What it means to fail 05/03/2021

What it means to fail What does it mean to fail? How you view failure may determine not just how you feel, but what you do in the future. In this week's podcast, LouAnn explores the BS surrounding failure and offers some ideas for healthy thinking about an event that happens to all of us. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/18920417

What to do when you feel blue 04/26/2021

What to do when you feel blue The times when you feel least like doing anything may be the most important times to do something. When you are feeling blue, taking any action, even a small one, can help lift your mood. Hear more in this week’s podcast from A Decided Difference. For links to the book and TED Talk, please visit http://decideddifference.com/blog/ /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/18845168

Making guiding decisions 04/19/2021

Making guiding decisions Not every decision will carry life-altering weight, but a few of them will. When it comes to basic decisions about who you are and how you want to live, you belong at the top of the list of priorities. After all, you are the one who has to live your life. Please, don’t let yourself down. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/18754868

The power of decision 04/12/2021

The power of decision When I named this endeavor A Decided Difference, I believed that making big decisions and allowing them to guide your choices was very important. Now, eight years later, I believe it more than ever. In this podcast episode, I examine the power of deciding. /episode/index/show/decideddifference/id/18669791

A Decided Difference

TOPICS