003: Embracing Your Emotions with Randy Taran

We live in a culture that often doesn't allow for sadness. It's so important that you learn to fully embrace all of your emotions, even the difficult ones such as guilt or sadness as it can be the fuel that you need to craft a life you love. Today I am joined by Randy Taran, Founder and CEO of Project Happiness, an organization dedicated to reaching at least 10 million people with their message of kindness, happiness and empathy. Randy's entire business and career are centered around one of the most vital ingredients for a fulfilling life: happiness. Randy and I chat about embracing emotions, how it can help your creativity and learning to honor and move past negative emotions. We also discuss her new book, Emotional Advantage and her favorite part about writing it.   What's in this episode: What inspired Randy to start Project Happiness The process of writing her book, Emotional Advantage Allowing yourself to feel through emotions How to shift past negative emotions and be fully present Applying the 5-second rule Learning to honor sadness Being mindful of how you are feeling Moving past limiting beliefs The 4 Questions that will change your life from Byron Katie Randy's favorite part of writing her book Allowing yourself to feel and savor joy Randy's current morning routine The mantra that she lives by   About Randy: Randy is the founder and CEO of Project Happiness. When her own child was suffering from stress and depression, this ignited a passion to share the best resources to help others facing similar challenges. She is the co-author of the Project Happiness Handbook, bringing the best of positive psychology, neuroscience and mindfulness to youth. This book has become the backbone for our leading social and emotional learning curriculum, serving students, teachers, counselors and coaches in every state and over 120 countries.   Randy produced the award-winning documentary "Project Happiness" which brought together young people from three continents to ask one question – "What is the nature of lasting happiness?" They interviewed George Lucas, Richard Gere, neuroscientist Richard Davidson and ultimately, in Dharamsala, India, had an unforgettable private audience with the Dalai Lama.   Through Project Happiness, Randy's dream of empowering people with the resources to create greater happiness within themselves and the world is coming to life. With a following of over 2.5 million people on social media alone, messages of hope and science-based strategies for greater well-being are reaching people when they need it most. In these stressful times, enhancing and tapping into our inner resources is more important than ever.   Randy, who is thrilled to be doing this work, speaks regularly on well-being and living your best life, areas she covers on her regular blogs in the Huffington Post, and in weekly videos on Facebook Live. She lives near Palo Alto, California with her family and well-loved dogs. Randy is a Yoga Alliance certified teacher who holds her MBA in International Business and Marketing from New York University. She knows deeply that greater happiness is possible and everything you need is inside of you.   Connect with Randy: Website | Project Happiness | Facebook | Instagram   Links: Emotional Advantage Loving What Is by Byron Katie Insight Timer App City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert   I would love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram or on my website. If you enjoyed this podcast and you haven't already, I'd like to encourage you to subscribe that way you won't miss a single update. Craft a Life You Love by taking a small step toward turning happiness and fulfillment by embracing and understanding all of your feelings, even the negative ones.