Have you ever had someone light the flame of greatness within you? That person who seems to have the magical power of mirroring your strengths back at you even when you cannot see them in yourself? When people remind us of our strengths consistently, we feel confident in who we are.
In this episode of Positive Recovery MD, Dr. Jason Powers and Jamie Demeris chat with Andrew Soren about helping others follow their curiosity and recognize their greatest strengths.
Get to know our guest
Andrew Soren is an ICF-certified coach through the Co-Active Training Institute and the founder and CEO of Eudaimonic by Design, a global network of facilitators, coaches, and advisors who share a passion for well-being and believe organizations must be designed to enable it. Together, they harness the best of scholarship and years of experience to advise organizations and design systems that unlock potential and bring out the best in people.
Applying positive psychology in everyday life
For the past 20 years, Andrew has worked with some of the most recognized brands, non-profits, and public sector teams to co-create values-based cultures, develop positive leadership, and design systems that empower people to be their best. From marketing and human resources to brand revitalization, leadership development, and co-creating a high-performance culture, Andrew has a knack for business leadership and nurturing relationships.
By applying positive psychology and finding gratitude every day, Andrew helps people figure out their own path in life. Who is Andrew at his best? Helping others become their very best.
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Gratitude as a daily practice
It is the little things in life that create the most joy. The steam dancing away as you sip from your favorite coffee mug in the morning. The smell of fresh-cut grass on a warm summer day. The sound of a crackling fire in the fireplace on a frosty winter evening.
Andrew reminds us that it is in these simple yet profound experiences we find the true essence of life's greatest joys. These moments of awe and wonder have the power to ground us in the present, teaching us to savor the richness of each passing second.
When we take a moment to pause, reflect, and find something to be grateful for in our current circumstances, we begin to unlock more awe and wonder in our lives. Gratitude has a way of shifting our focus away from worrying about the past or stressing about the future into the present moment.
Incorporating the W.W.W. (What Went Well) practice
When we are in a season of busyness or facing multiple stressors, it can be easy to lose sight of small daily gifts. Your job may demand more of you during this time, adding more responsibilities and deadlines. Your kid's schedule might be hectic with school and extracurricular activities. Your family may be going through a stressful time during the holiday season.
No matter how challenging it may seem, there is always something we can be grateful for. One simple yet profound question Andrew often asks himself when life feels challenging is: What Went Well?
My job may feel stressful with these added responsibilities, but I enjoy my co-workers and am thankful to have a boss who sees my strengths and believes in me.
Navigating the holidays while practicing sobriety can feel stressful with all the party invites and family gatherings. But many people in recovery report being thankful they get to be there for their family with a clear mind and the ability to hold firm, healthy boundaries.
Choosing to show up today
There are moments in life when it is hard to find joy or something to be grateful for. The clouds feel thick. There is no obvious light at the end of the tunnel. According to Andrew, one of the most powerful decisions we can make is choosing to show up. Some hardships leave us defeated. In those moments, Andrew reminds us to outwardly express the challenge at hand without judgment and say: yes, today is hard. This moment is hard. But I choose to show up today.
By actively standing back up, we choose how we respond to hardship. We may not have control over the situation, but we gain immense power over how we show up. That is a small daily choice that compounds over a year of recovery.
Connect with Andrew
One of Andrew's many strengths is finding the goodness in everyday life. Whether through affirming others, recognizing their strengths, or actively practicing gratitude, Andrew shows everyone he meets that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. If you want to learn more, connect with Andrew on LinkedIn.
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