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On the surface, this episode is all about realizing your strengths and using them to their fullest potential. Underneath, it’s all about a foundational self awareness so you can have relationships, connect, and interact with the world in a productive, fulfilling way.

You get expert insight into using positive psychology to minimize the effects of negativity and keep a realistic perspective of your life and the grand scheme of things. Not only does Corey explain concepts like cognitive dissonance and negativity bias, but he tells us how to discover our top strengths and then gives examples of how to identify when you’re using a strength for good or bad so you can make changes. He gives personal examples from his own life, candidly opening up about about going through anxiety, panic attacks, and depersonalization, and how he recognized what was happening and got help.

Corey also explains the concepts of bottom strengths, shadow strengths, strength blindness, and hot button strengths.

Then, Corey takes us through his journey of working at an inner city school after growing up in rural Kentucky. Using self awareness, an interesting confession and brave admission is that because the culture and atmosphere was different, it made him nervous. As humans, when we’re outside of our normal element, we do get nervous, and that’s okay. The part that’s so important to realize is that opening your mind to new experiences enables you to grow. Your worldview can then expand.

So, Corey’s worldview expanded and is expanding.

Not only is he a great example, but he gives you tangible advice you can apply to your life and you’ll recognize how some of these strengths are playing out in your own life and our society at large.

Episode Highlights

• Getting to know Corey

• Negativity bias and how it impacts our lives and relationships

• 24 character strengths plus shadow strengths

  • I promised to do the character strength questionnaire and post the outcome, so scroll down for my results. Corey and I will be analyzing and discussing these results on his podcast, Corey’s Got Questions. Episode coming this spring.

• The pressure of rumination

• Anxiety and depersonalization

• The difference between pessimism, positive thinking, and positive psychology

• Intentionally playing to strengths to come out of a low point

• The role of self awareness in relationships

• A changed relationship with anxiety

• Panic attacks; fight, flight, or freeze; and cognitive dissonance

• Mindfulness, misconceptions about it, and how it leads to increased empathy

• Living in the present moment to deal with the current world chaos

• Meditation

• Corey’s expanding worldview - going from growing up in rural Kentucky to working in an inner city school

  • Corey describes an epiphany involving the rebel flag being taken down in Ohio while they were still flying on government buildings in Kentucky

• Hot button strengths

• Kindness and self control

Brandi’s 24 Character Strengths

In the episode, I promised to do the character strength questionnaire and post the results, so here they are. Corey and I will be analyzing and discussing these results on his podcast. Episode coming this spring.

About Corey

Corey Hatfield is a psychology specialist known for fostering powerful change in education and communities. He’s an expert at helping others apply strength mindsets, resiliency, choice theory, and full capacity living.

Currently, Corey coaches teachers and administration on how to implement an evidence-based social and emotional program focused on character strengths. He’s a certified K-12 Kentucky school counselor with an M.A. in counseling. He’s also a public speaker, having participated at more than 15 conferences, including one key note appearance.

Corey speaks on topics such as personal potential, positive parenting, effective leadership through awareness and application of personal strengths, the implications of positive psychology on mindset and choice, and living in the present moment.

Corey is the creator of the Corey’s Got Questions podcast. On his podcast, guests bring a topic they’re passionate about and Corey facilitates a discussion through the lens of psychology. Topics have ranged from metal music and street art to mental health misdiagnoses and dad goals.

One of Corey’s top character strengths is curiosity.

Corey is also a partner and dad now living in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Links

• Corey’s Got Questions podcast

• Corey’s Got Questions on Facebook

• Corey’s Got Questions on Instagram

• Free character strength questionnaire: viacharacter.org

• DARE: The New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks by Barry McDonagh

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Credits: Intro and outro music by Ryan Sauls. Sound effects from zapsplat.com. Graphics by Brandi Fleck.