Emotions Matter. Really!

The science of smiling

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 10:50:53 +0200

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.

Music: Corporate Happy (Long) - Daddy’s Music

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 that builds your emotional fitness.

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 or who have limited access to data and technology.

Building Emotional Fitness (Pillar 2 - Moving)

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 12:27:17 +0200

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.

Music: Swinging Web by SergeQuadrado

Episode links

To stay connected and up to date about our work, join our 5th Place community: https://5th.place/

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

Workplace bullying and what to do about it

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 17:10:02 +0200

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.

Music: Summer Surf by AudioCoffee

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-emotions

Pay it forward

Give peace a chance

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 11:10:24 +0200

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.

Music: Motivational Day by AudioCoffee

Links of interest

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-emotions

Pay it forward

Building Emotional Fitness (Pillar 1 - Thinking)

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 10:52:14 +0200

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.

Music: Save Me by Liborio Conti

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 on our Master your Emotions mini audio-course: https://courses.5th.place/courses/how-to-master-your-emotions

Pay it forward

Suicide prevention: A personal story

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 10:05:00 +0200

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.

Music: Music by DaddysMusic from Pixabay

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 on our Master your Emotions mini audio-course: https://courses.5th.place/courses/how-to-master-your-emotions

Pay it forward

Global suicide and crisis hotlines

If you or someone you know is suicidal, please use one of the numbers for your country. 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).

Rewiring your brain for better health

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 12:40:17 +0200

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.

Music: AudioCoffee from Pixabay
Credit: Masaru Emoto 'love and gratitude' crystal image

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.

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

The five pillars of emotional fitness

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 16:01:02 +0200

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

Youth and emotional fitness

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 11:08:56 +0200

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

Celebrating women and emotional fitness

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:58:54 +0200

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: 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

The importance of friendship for emotional fitness

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 14:01:14 +0200

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.

Music credit: Warm Memories by Keys of Moon

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.

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

Connecting to build genuine relationships

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 12:23:04 +0200

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.

Music credit: Liborio Conti - Wonder

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.

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

Taking a leaf out of Mandela’s book

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 18:23:03 +0200

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.

Music credit: Liborio Conti - Africa

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.

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

Connecting through new conversations

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 11:43:16 +0200

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.

Music credit: madiRFAN - Both of Us via Pixabay

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.

Links of interest

Awkward Silence: https://awkwardsilence.com.au/about

Episode links

To stay connected and up to date about our work, join the 5th Place mailing list: https://5th.place/

Being emotionally unfit 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

Forgiveness and emotional fitness

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 18:11:31 +0200

Hello! Hello! Chantal and Matthew are back with their second season of Emotions Matter. Really!

In recognition of Global Forgiveness Day, they 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.

Music credit: Desitalk from Pixabay, Life is strange

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.

Episode links

To stay connected and up to date about our work, join the 5th Place mailing list: https://5th.place/

To experience a recorded 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

Choose love, always

Tue, 24 May 2022 12:00:32 +0200

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.

Music credit: Olexy from Pixabay, Morning garden acoustic chill

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.

Episode links

To stay connected and up to date about our work, join the 5th Place mailing list: https://5th.place/

To experience a recorded 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

Bring the light

Tue, 17 May 2022 12:40:23 +0200

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.

Music credit: Lesfm, Pixabay

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.

Episode links

To stay connected and up to date about our work, join the 5th Place mailing list: https://5th.place/

To experience a recorded 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/

Act like a tree

Tue, 10 May 2022 10:00:00 +0200

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.

Music credit: CeeaDidIt, Pixabay

Act like a tree principles

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.

Episode links

To stay connected and up to date about our work, join the 5th Place mailing list: https://5th.place/

To experience a recorded 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/

Battling burnout in an always-on work life

Tue, 03 May 2022 10:28:24 +0200

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.

Music credit: John Kensy Music, Pixabay

Pay it forward

If you got value from this episode, we invite you to match this value b y making a donation or paying what you want.

Links of interest

The End of Burnout - a book by Jonathan Malesic.

Episode links

To stay connected and up to date about our work, join the 5th Place mailing list: https://5th.place/

To experience an online 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/

Freedom and emotional fitness

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0200

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.

Music credit: Liborio Conti - Inspire

Links of interest

And Still I Rise - A Book of Poems by Maya Angelou

Episode links

To experience a live Emotional Fitness Class visit https://5th.place/5th-place-offerings/emotional-fitness-class/emotional-fitness-class-on-insight-timer/

To purchase a video version of an Emotional Fitness Class visit https://courses.5th.place/courses/emotional-fitness-class.

Stay connected with Matthew & Chantal by visiting https://5th.place/.

Poetry, creativity and emotional fitness

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0200

Here at 5th Place we do love poetry and being creative. In this podcast Chantal and Matthew look at what poets themselves have said about poetry, how poetry and poems can support emotional fitness, creativity and the concept of flow. They discuss how poetry has impacted them as people and they share a few of their favourite poems.

Links of interest

Book: Poetry Rx: How Fifty Inspiring Poems Can Heal and Bring Joy to Your Life

Episode links

To experience an Emotional Fitness Class: https://5th.place/5th-place-offerings/emotional-fitness-class/emotional-fitness-class-on-insight-timer/

To stay connected with Matthew & Chantal join the 5th Place mailing list. Go to: https://5th.place/ to do so.

Our planet, our emotional health

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 11:41:19 +0200

World Health Day was last week. The theme for 2022 is Our World, Our Health. We are all part of the environment, nature is key to our emotional wellbeing. In this episode Chantal and Matthew explore why looking after our planet is key to our emotional health. They look at how climate change and environmental concerns are fueling our mental health concerns and share what small things can be done to make ourselves feel better about this apparently huge and overwhelming problem that faces humanity.

Links of interest

"The Parting of the Plastic Sea" - An installation made from 168,000 used plastic straws.
What is an eco-brick?

Want to try worm composting or bokashi?

Episode links

To experience Shape of Emotion or to let go of your eco-anxiety feelings, find out more about an Emotional Fitness Class, what it is and when the next one is being held.

We also invite you to stay to stay connected with us, Matthew & Chantal from 5th Place.

Let’s talk about stress, baby

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0200

April is International Stress Awareness Month. We are all so stressed out but do we actually register that fact or has this thing called stress become such a part of who we are we don’t even notice it any more? Chantal and Matthew explore just what stress actually is, how it affects us and some strategies to attend to our stress, especially if we have perfectionist, over-achieving, superwoman, rescuer or boundary challenges.

The episode is once again closed out with the reciting of a poem by Chantal.

Episode links

For more ways to manage your stress try out our mini audio-course called How to Master your Emotions and develop your emotional fitness.

To let go of anything stressing you out, find out more about an Emotional Fitness Class, what it is and when the next one is being held.

And we invite you to stay to stay connected with Matthew & Chantal from 5th Place.

Come back to your body

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0200

Although we all have a body, we tend to either take it for granted, see it as a vehicle for our superior brains or denigrate it as not being up to some societal or self imposed standard.

In this episode Chantal and Matthew explore why bodyfulness and coming back and reconnecting to the intelligence of your body is so necessary to feel better, live better and make the world a better place.

Find out more about how to experience an Emotional Fitness Class, what it is and when the next one is being held.

To stay connected with Matthew & Chantal from 5th Place, visit their website.

If you want to learn How to Master your Emotions and develop your emotional fitness, take our mini audio-course. It comprises 10 modules where you will learn about the science of how emotions are made, the importance of being able to regulate how you feel and a way to work with emotions that is both easy to learn and easy to use called Shape of Emotion.

References

This podcast episode references the following research papers(s) and or books(s).

Books about coming back to your body

Do you BAN?

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0200

In this episode of Emotions Matter. Really! we are going to look at what we mean by the acronym BAN, and what it has to do with emotions. We explore the multitude of ways we BAN as well as some of the more resourceful ways we deal with the way we feel.

Find out more about how to experience an Emotional Fitness Class, what it is and when the next one is being held.

To stay connected with Matthew & Chantal from 5th Place, visit our website.

Sleep is important, duh!

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0200

It’s International Sleep Awareness Week and Chantal and Matthew explore sleep, why it has been treated so badly, how it affects us when we don’t get enough, what it takes to get back on the good sleep track and how to sleep better at night naturally.

To stay connected with what we do at 5th Place, join our mailing list called The Week That Was.

To experience a free, self-paced Emotional Fitness Class or to find out more, visit our dedicated Emotional Fitness Class webpage that explains what they are about and how you can join the next one.

References

This podcast episode references the following research papers(s) and or books(s).

Book: Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker

Why do emotions matter?

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0200

In a world where we have been convinced that being emotional is a bad thing and expressing how we feel is viewed as mostly a minefield of messiness and not done, do emotions really matter? Or would it be better to be more like a robot, unfeeling, calculating and precise?

Matthew and Chantal talk about their exploration into emotions, why they started out on this journey in the first place and what they came to discover on the way.

Introducing Emotion’s Matter. Really! with Matthew & Chantal of 5th Place

Sat, 05 Mar 2022 14:04:55 +0200

Matthew Green and Chantal Dawtrey introduce you to their podcast about all things emotions, building emotional resilience and why it is so important.