Episode 87

Episode #84 - Happiness Is The Root Of Success: An Interview With Piret

Being able to simply ask the simple question, "Am I Happy?", can be quite challenging to some. It is not enough to be able to go through and intentionally live a life that may have qualities of believing that you are happy, but embodying a fully-developed, fully-conscious definition of what makes you happy to begin with. Today's guest, Piret, has devoted her life to fulfilling that answer to that simple question despite all of the areas in our lives that can contain the antithesis of unhappiness. With the many angles of her life that she can continued to work on, learn how just a simple answer to this question can make all the difference in the purpose-driven decisions you can make in your life to be more fulfilled, more enriched, and more personally (and professionally!) developed in the world.

Guest Bio

Piret is a happiness expert and self proclaimed happiest person in the world. Her goal is to influence everyone to enjoy and celebrate life, to create more joyful energy in our world. In her teachings she uses mixed modalities. Some of them are mindfulness, movement, subliminal conversation and neuro linguistic programming. She is originally from Estonia and has been living in United States, in Florida since 2004. She is also an author of the book "Joyful Life Jumpstart" and host a YouTube channel and podcast Happiness with Piret.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtFsQF_f11fLpw4j3lFf7cA

Website: https://www.bypiret.com/

Visit Our Website: https://speaking-from-the-heart.captivate.fm/

Visit Our Business Website: https://www.yourspeakingvoice.biz

Support The Mission Of The Business! Donate Here: https://speaking-from-the-heart.captivate.fm/support

Intro/Outro By: Michael Dugan, Podcast Host: Voice4Chefs

Transcript
Intro:

Welcome to the podcast where relationships, confidence, and

2

:

determination all converge into

an amazing, heartfelt experience.

3

:

This is Speaking From The Heart.

4

:

Joshua: Welcome back to episode number

84 of Speaking from the Heart, and

5

:

today we have a happiness expert

with us that will be talking about a

6

:

variety of different subjects as it

relates to the concept of being happy.

7

:

Her name is Piret, and as I mentioned,

she is an expert in happiness,

8

:

but also self proclaims herself as

the happiest person in the world.

9

:

Her goal is to influence everyone to

enjoy and celebrate life to create

10

:

more joyful energy in our world.

11

:

In her teachings, she uses mixed

modalities and some of them

12

:

include mindfulness, movement,

subliminal conversation, and

13

:

neuro-linguistic programming.

14

:

She is originally from Estonia and

has been living in the United States,

15

:

in Florida specifically, since 2004.

16

:

She is the author of the book Joyful Life

Jumpstart and also hosts her own YouTube

17

:

channel and podcast called Happiness with

Pirette, which I was fortunate enough

18

:

to also be on her show to talk about

the topic of anxiety, which I will put

19

:

a link in the episode notes if you want

to go and check her out, particularly

20

:

about my episode, along with her other

episodes as well, but what I really

21

:

got out of this conversation more than

anything else is not to make this big

22

:

overproduction of what we need to do to

just figure out what we need to have in

23

:

our lives to be able to understand and

create those best opportunities that

24

:

we continuously talk about on the show.

25

:

This episode really simply talks about

the concept of happiness and how we can

26

:

get ourselves to be there And I think

beyond anything else that we will ever do

27

:

or ever say in our lives If we can just

focus on the happiness aspect of it, we

28

:

can achieve greatness in so many different

ways, which I think you will find our

29

:

conversation not only above and beyond

those lines, but how she got to that

30

:

point of being that happiest person in the

world, because if I was anything like her,

31

:

I would love to be happy all the time, and

I know that I can strive to be that based

32

:

on our conversation that we had today.

33

:

But with that, let's go to the episode.

34

:

Alright, we're here with Piret.

35

:

Piret!

36

:

Thanks for sharing your

heart with us today.

37

:

Piret: Hi Josh.

38

:

Thank you.

39

:

Thank you for having me in your show.

40

:

Joshua: Yeah, absolutely.

41

:

This is really a return favor

because I was recently on your show

42

:

a number of months ago and I really

was excited that I was part of it.

43

:

We connected and we're like, "Hey,

why don't you have me on the show?"

44

:

I'm like, "Perfect.

45

:

Let's do that.", so thanks so much for

taking some time to talk with us today.

46

:

I really want to start with this question

because I already introduced you to the

47

:

audience and many people are probably

scratching their heads when I introduced

48

:

you, saying, "What's a happiness expert?

49

:

I've never heard of such a concept

before.", so, in your own experience,

50

:

in your own words, can you let our

audience know what a happiness expert is?

51

:

Piret: Well, the way I see it as well, and

when I started using that, so I've been a

52

:

happy person since I remember myself, so

it's kind of lucky or, I don't think, I

53

:

don't say it's lucky, but I'm being happy

inside since I remember, but, there were

54

:

points in my life when I saw other people

not having the same feeling, and not being

55

:

able to be the way I was, so, at one point

I started thinking, "Well, how can I teach

56

:

them or help them to feel the same way?",

and why I decided that after learning

57

:

everything, how other people were teaching

happiness and everything, I learned that

58

:

a lot of people who teach happiness, they

actually by themselves, they're not happy.

59

:

They just teach facts, like science

behind the happiness, what to do,

60

:

but then they start talking how, they

themselves, they don't feel it, and that's

61

:

why I was like the way I think I'm an

expert because first of all, I am happy.

62

:

I'm expert because I'm happy.

63

:

Why I can teach others, because I

know how it feels, and I know how to

64

:

teach others what I feel, so I wanted

to share what I have with others.

65

:

I learned how to do it.

66

:

I didn't just start like this.

67

:

I learned also how to teach.

68

:

Joshua: I love that because a lot of

people sometimes go through life feeling

69

:

absolutely miserable, and I can tell

numerous examples to you and even the

70

:

audience, my listeners, about how some

of those people have been a negative

71

:

influence on me because I let their

negativity, their unhappiness, rub

72

:

off on me, but I actually found this

really interesting and I want to let the

73

:

audience know this too again that you

lived in Estonia for a period of time up

74

:

until about 2004; you lived in Florida.

75

:

Why did you move to the United States?

76

:

I'm just curious what

that background story is.

77

:

Piret: Well, I was born in Estonia.

78

:

Actually, I was born when it was

still under Russia, so I was about

79

:

10 years old when we were separated

from Russia again, and when I moved

80

:

here, I kind of had the feeling that

I want to move here since I was 16.

81

:

I don't know why, and then when I

finally moved, I was about 23, and

82

:

it's actually a funny story as well.

83

:

I did a training for

hospitality, and I had a choice.

84

:

We had a really cold winter, but I

had a choice as their hospitality

85

:

trainee to go to my internship,

either in England or in Florida,

86

:

so that was the easy choice there.

87

:

Joshua: Yeah.

88

:

Piret: Do I go to England

after the cold winter?

89

:

Do I go to England to have more cold

or do I go to Florida, so that's

90

:

how I ended up in the United States.

91

:

Joshua: I imagine then you must

have fell in love with being in

92

:

the sunny weather of Florida, which

I've been to Florida a few times.

93

:

I've been to Disney World.

94

:

I have enjoyed it, but it's something

that I love the four seasons, so living

95

:

where I'm at in Pennsylvania is something

that I absolutely don't want to give

96

:

up whatsoever, but is it something

that you enjoy just being down there

97

:

in Florida and enjoying the weather?

98

:

Does that make you happy?

99

:

Piret: Joshua, that's a little bit

different as well, because I do like

100

:

Florida, but I like four seasons as well.

101

:

I actually do prefer four seasons,

but summertime in Florida is really

102

:

hard, because summer is where

everybody else in other places in our

103

:

country, they can go out and play.

104

:

Here it's so hot, you have to sit

inside, so you know like on cold, summer

105

:

cold, like I have people, friends in

Canada, and then in the wintertime

106

:

they pretty much can't go out as much.

107

:

Joshua: Yeah.

108

:

Piret: In the summertime in Florida, we

just go from inside the building to the

109

:

car and then inside the building again

because it's just too hot to be outside.

110

:

Joshua: See, I think it was the opposite

from some people that I've heard,

111

:

but I won't go into that right now.

112

:

Piret: But wintertime, I do like

it in the wintertime when I see on

113

:

the TV that everybody else is in

the snow and I have sunny weather

114

:

outside, that's when I do like it.

115

:

Joshua: I think that we all

have our seasons that we enjoy.

116

:

I enjoy fall so much just because of

the leaves turning and having the cooler

117

:

weather, things of that nature, so I

think there's some people that absolutely

118

:

appreciate it and I guess that's just how

they check into their happiness, which,

119

:

Piret, just getting back to what we were

just talking about, with you being a

120

:

happiness expert, I noticed that you do

a lot of different types of techniques,

121

:

but the one thing that stood out to

me the most when you work with people

122

:

is doing neuro-linguistic programming.

123

:

Can you talk a little bit about your

approach to that, because it's something

124

:

that I'm sure our audience has no

idea or maybe have never heard of it.

125

:

I know I personally have never

heard of it, so I'd love to hear a

126

:

little bit about how you do that.

127

:

Piret: Mm hmm.

128

:

Well, neurolinguistic programming is

pretty much working with the thoughts

129

:

in your head and thoughts that you're

saying to yourself, especially your

130

:

self talk, so we pay attention on what

are we talking inside, listening what

131

:

your thoughts, you tell me what you're

thinking, and we're going to figure

132

:

out what thoughts are positive, what

are negative, what are beneficial for

133

:

you, and what is not beneficial to

you, and then the ones that not good

134

:

for you, we keep them; we anchor them.

135

:

Different neurolinguistics

practitioners, they use different words.

136

:

The word that I use when I want to keep

some thought, I say anchor, and the ones,

137

:

the thoughts that I don't want to keep,

I cancel them, so this way you learn,

138

:

when I talk with you, I learn to keep

your positive thoughts, and I cancel your

139

:

negative thoughts, and after a while,

the client will learn to do the same

140

:

with their own thoughts, so when they

have positive thoughts, they will say

141

:

anchor, and it stays in their mind, and

if some kind of negative thought comes

142

:

to their mind, they will say cancel.

143

:

Joshua: Is there a certain

approach in terms of a certain

144

:

clientele that you use this with?

145

:

In other words, does it work more

effectively with people, like maybe the

146

:

Joe Schmo that comes off the street,

maybe has nothing really serious

147

:

going on in their life, and maybe that

anchoring really helps them to maybe

148

:

feel more focused and more positive,

as opposed to somebody that has been

149

:

through some trauma in their life.

150

:

Do you see a difference with some

people that you've worked with?

151

:

If so, can you talk about

those differences, like how

152

:

impactful they have been?

153

:

Piret: The way I see the people with

trauma and everything, for them it's

154

:

harder and takes longer practice,

because they still have this record

155

:

in their head, and it plays and

it plays and it's hard to stop.

156

:

If somebody who's most things in their

life has been easy, it's easier for them.

157

:

They don't have too many repeating

thoughts, but somebody with trauma,

158

:

they have not just repeating thoughts,

they have repeating images, so good

159

:

thing to include with neuro linguistic

programming is guided meditation where

160

:

they actually visualize the things,

instead of just having this talk and

161

:

thoughts and speaking, they're actually

able to visualize the experience that

162

:

they had and then they work through that.

163

:

Joshua: It's almost like

talking it out loud.

164

:

Is that fair to say, or

is it much more than that?

165

:

Piret: Neurolinguistic programming,

it's more than that because you

166

:

actually change their thoughts.

167

:

With long term practice, you're

actually able to change your thoughts

168

:

so those negative thoughts don't

arise almost never, or very rarely.

169

:

Joshua: That's really interesting in

itself because for me, and Piret, I

170

:

shared this with you on your show and I'll

share it with my listeners just about the

171

:

struggles that I've had with that self

talk because I have these scripts already

172

:

in my head growing up that I need to say

this in order for myself to get to point

173

:

A to point B, but that same script might

not always work in every single situation,

174

:

and it has to change, especially with some

of the circumstances that surround it.

175

:

I mean, obviously it got me into a place

where I realized that if I don't make

176

:

a change pretty soon, I'm going to have

to make some course corrections down

177

:

the road, which obviously I had to in

order to adapt, which speaking of which,

178

:

I noticed on your website, you have a

lot of certifications that talk about

179

:

really your ability to work with others

as a life coach, mental health coach.

180

:

With all those certifications that

you have, does that help you to

181

:

understand getting into other people's

ability to be able to do things like

182

:

neuro-linguistic training and even some

of the other techniques that you use?

183

:

In other words, does this help you

get more engaged with your clients?

184

:

Do you feel that they appreciate

that you've been through all

185

:

these different types of things?

186

:

I mean, I feel that, and feel free to

challenge me on this because I feel that

187

:

nowadays, and I've had this conversation

with other coaches on my show about,

188

:

"Yeah, we could just make a website

tomorrow, call ourselves a coach and we're

189

:

in business", but for many people, they

don't realize that there's a discipline

190

:

and also having to go through different

trials and tribulations, whether in

191

:

life, whether through education, whether

through other means to get to where

192

:

we are so we can provide that advice.

193

:

Do you think that helps

you become more credible?

194

:

Piret: I don't think that helps

me to become more credible,

195

:

but it helps me to know more.

196

:

Joshua: Yeah.

197

:

Piret: So I like those certifications,

and I actually have more, but I have just

198

:

some listed there that I want people to be

aware of, to know what my qualifications

199

:

are, but I learn from everything.

200

:

I learn from books, I learn from

shows, I learn from meeting people.

201

:

I learn all the time.

202

:

Learning is one of my main

things that I love doing.

203

:

Joshua: Absolutely.

204

:

Piret: So, because like you were

saying right now, I just saw really

205

:

funny posting as well, where we're

saying that, everybody can go

206

:

now to your YouTube university.

207

:

There's YouTube university.

208

:

You can just graduate from

there knowing everything.

209

:

Joshua: Yeah.

210

:

I've seen those self proclaimed

individuals and that's why I'm not out

211

:

in the YouTube universe, at least not

yet, and I will laugh at myself later on

212

:

when I'm at episode 184 and say, "Yes,

I finally ventured into that because I

213

:

feel like I have overcome that.", so-

214

:

Piret: Mm-Hmm.

215

:

Joshua: I totally understand that

comment very well, so Piret, I want you

216

:

to tell us a little bit about that big

successful client that you've had or

217

:

somebody that you've worked with, and

I know you work with couples too, so

218

:

that's fair game with this question.

219

:

What would you say has been your

successful individual or individuals

220

:

that you've worked with that have were

on the completely opposite spectrum

221

:

of where they started, and they

got all the way to the other side.

222

:

Of course, I'll ask you to withhold their

names, just for confidentiality, but, I

223

:

was wondering if you could share a little

bit of that success with our audience.

224

:

Piret: Yeah, that's the thing, what I

always keep them really confidential,

225

:

like you said, you're going to be

named it because there's been some

226

:

out there and usually with happiness,

people don't want to show other people

227

:

publicly that they actually unhappy.

228

:

They don't want to know other people know

that they are unhappy, and that's okay.

229

:

For me, that's okay for the client because

they want to present them in one way,

230

:

but they now actually want to feel the

same way inside as well, but like you

231

:

were saying, to have examples, I had

some examples, especially with people

232

:

just finding out that their marriage is

ending, and right in that moment to get

233

:

them really fast to the comfort zone and

figure it out, everything, and I've had

234

:

some people who were previous addicts.

235

:

That's really hard to go with the addict

to keep them going in the road, so in

236

:

the beginning of when I first started

coaching, I remember it was challenging

237

:

in the beginning to learn to work with

them, but after I figured out how to

238

:

work with them, it helped as well, so I

was able to keep them on the right road,

239

:

so I would say that I'm most proud of.

240

:

Joshua: That's awesome in itself,

because marriage and divorce all the

241

:

way to being an addict, recovery,

although somewhat different trends,

242

:

they have some similarities in terms of

how you get to that road of recovery,

243

:

and you brought up something that I'm

actually really curious about now.

244

:

You mentioned that there's been challenges

that you've had to overcome with even

245

:

dealing with some of those clients

and maybe even refining your practice.

246

:

What would you say, especially as you

started out with your practice, what would

247

:

you say is your biggest challenge that

you had, and how did you overcome that?

248

:

Piret: I'm going to be

honest, Josh, with you.

249

:

Biggest challenge for me was to ask money.

250

:

Joshua: Oh yes, I know

that game very well.

251

:

Piret: I know.

252

:

Joshua: Knowing your worth.

253

:

Piret: That's why I was like,

"Should I say the honest answer?"

254

:

Honest answer was to charge money because

I felt like since I've been kind of doing

255

:

it even when I was younger, my friends

and everybody, they came to me for advice,

256

:

so they were actually, my friends, when

I was in high school, they were saying,

257

:

"You should go study psychology", and

everything like that, but I went on

258

:

traveling and doing other things instead,

but they came to me asking for help, so-

259

:

Joshua: Early on in even my business, I

had to learn that it is about charging

260

:

your worth, so even your best friend

that maybe has been with you from

261

:

the get go with whatever you've been

doing is about being able to still

262

:

charge what you're worth, and I had

to learn that lesson the hard way too.

263

:

I think all of us do and it's just a

matter of realizing that we bringing

264

:

value and isn't always about the money.

265

:

I've talked about this.

266

:

I had a coach on here, a sales coach

by the name of Kyle Slaymaker early

267

:

on the program that really has talked

about not only knowing that worth, but

268

:

knowing the fact that it isn't to say

that they are demeaning you or creating

269

:

that opportunity for them to be able to

get the fruits of what you've been doing.

270

:

It's really about learning

something that you have perfected.

271

:

Or something that you have really achieved

that can be shared, and I think there's

272

:

no shame in that, Piret, for sure, because

I learned that the hard way in itself.

273

:

Piret: But actually, when you get over

asking money, ,then it starts feeling

274

:

good when you're actually comfortable

asking the money and people paying you

275

:

that that part already feels good, so when

you overcome that feeling of, "Oh, I'm

276

:

going to ask money", and you finally start

asking the money, that is a good feeling.

277

:

Joshua: It is.

278

:

It's almost as if you're achieving that

value for yourself too, and I know for

279

:

me, it's not just about having people

as clients, or being able to put on a

280

:

workshop and have a number of attendees

or things of that nature, it's really

281

:

about the satisfaction of knowing that my

worth is being radiated across the world

282

:

through those individuals that are going

forth after going through that program,

283

:

or going through that session that we

have together, so it's always important.

284

:

Piret, I want to talk a little bit

about your YouTube channel, which for

285

:

my listeners, I'll put it in the episode

notes so that they can access it, but I

286

:

have obviously been featured on your show.

287

:

I can absolutely leave a link for those

that are interested in checking out when

288

:

I was with you, in which we talked about

really not just getting over anxiety, or

289

:

the biggest topic of them all, because

I have definitely been through the

290

:

gambit of that with my story, but I love

your approach in that you have several

291

:

different topics that you talk about

which relate to happiness, whether it's

292

:

about masculinity, whether it's about

communication, my favorite, which I have

293

:

to go check out because I just noticed it

is about autism, which I have found out

294

:

earlier last year that I was autistic.

295

:

Why all these different types of topics,

because I feel like you could just

296

:

focus on one niche and say, "Yeah,

I'm going to talk about this type of

297

:

happiness and be an expert about it."

298

:

Why so many different topics?

299

:

Are you trying to be able to cover

all those different gambits and try

300

:

to reach as many people as possible?

301

:

I'm just curious about

your thoughts on that.

302

:

Piret: Oh, no.

303

:

It's not about reaching as many people

as possible, for me it's because,

304

:

first, I was planning to do just about

happiness, but I realized there are

305

:

so many people who don't even think

about happiness yet, so I had to find

306

:

some kind of platform for helping them.

307

:

The reason why I did the anxiety

episodes was I was trying to help the

308

:

people with anxiety get to the point

where they can handle their anxiety

309

:

and then move towards happiness, but

they can't just move straight from

310

:

anxiety right to happiness, so I had

to get the issue with happiness first.

311

:

No, issue with anxiety first, and

then go towards happiness, but I

312

:

had another one that I just did, a

new one, what I did after happiness,

313

:

was, if you see the playlist, the

playlist has men's guide to happiness-

314

:

Joshua: Mm-hmm.

315

:

Piret: So that was really

interesting to do because I have

316

:

20 episodes, just with men, about

happiness and men's point of view.

317

:

Joshua: I like that because for so

many different people, it has all

318

:

kinds of different faces, perspectives,

different types of dimensions to it.

319

:

I can completely understand.

320

:

You do something that I don't do, which

is to actually livestream, and I think

321

:

for my fellow listeners that don't know

what that is like to be live streaming

322

:

this, and then being able to have it

published right away, is there a little

323

:

bit of a heightened anxiety in itself,

kind of since we're talking about

324

:

that, to do this sort of episodes live?

325

:

Piret: In the beginning, it could

have been, but what happened,

326

:

what I did, Joshua, what I

did, it's a good story as well.

327

:

The way before I knew that I wanted to

live and podcast on YouTube and video.

328

:

I took a course of online, on video

improv classes, so the goal there is

329

:

you go online, and you have to look as

silly as possible and do all kinds of

330

:

silly things with your face, with your

impressions, talking gibberish, and I did

331

:

all that and I just got comfortable in

front of the camera after doing all the

332

:

silly things, so everybody's wondering

how to learn to be on a camera: go take

333

:

some online improv classes that you have

to be on a camera and doing silly things.

334

:

Joshua: It's just about experimenting

and just getting right into it so

335

:

that you feel a lot more comfortable,

and that's even what I say to my

336

:

public speaking clients is just do it.

337

:

And see where it goes and get the

feedback and start doing it again.

338

:

See what happens, do it again.

339

:

It makes you feel a little

bit better, so I completely

340

:

understand that, and I love that.

341

:

I actually really appreciate you being

so bold enough to do that because

342

:

some people are very afraid of that.

343

:

Glossophobia, the fear of public

speaking, even on a video format, even

344

:

being live stream, can be very scary.

345

:

Piret: Yeah, I think maybe the first

classes when I did that improv, maybe

346

:

I had more anxiety then as well, but

like you're saying, like the more

347

:

you do it, it just goes away, so by

the time I actually started my own

348

:

show, I was already comfortable.

349

:

Joshua: And that's good;

I'm glad to hear that.

350

:

Piret, before we close up, I want

to actually reference the fact that

351

:

you've written a book, and it's

called Joyful Life Jumpstart, and

352

:

I'll also put this in the episode

notes in case anybody's interested.

353

:

It is available on Amazon, on your

Kindle, or even a paperback, but

354

:

why write a book about happiness?

355

:

I will tell you that I've had some

people, I've had a friend of mine, Dr.

356

:

Hector Ortiz, he was recently on the show.

357

:

He shared his books about the fact

that in order to gain the ability to

358

:

professionally grow and even have a

fulfilling life, there is even a component

359

:

of happiness with it, so why write a book

is always my question for my authors.

360

:

Piret: Well, this book, I have another

book that I'm writing now that's more

361

:

about happiness, but that book, Joyful

Life J umpstart was because I wanted

362

:

to give people tools how to get into a

positive mindset, and the way it came

363

:

to me is asking why people have feeling

of start to writing a book it was just

364

:

already writing it in my mind, so it

was writing in my mind by itself and I

365

:

just had to start writing in a paper.

366

:

I had a feeling like just start putting in

a paper, and in a book it actually teaches

367

:

you how to deal with the past, and figure

out what you want for future and figure

368

:

out where you are now and what steps you

have to take to make the future joyful.

369

:

Joshua: I've definitely could have used

that book about three and a half, four

370

:

years ago when I was going through what

I was going through Piret, so I must have

371

:

missed the boat when I saw that book.

372

:

Although I know I see that it was only

published just a few years ago, but

373

:

even then, as I was going through the

midst of it, I would have loved to

374

:

have that kind of book in my hands.

375

:

Piret: Joshua, I wrote it

when there was COVID lockdown.

376

:

Joshua: Okay.

377

:

Piret: That's when I wrote it.

378

:

Joshua: It's so funny to talk to people

that I've had on the show that have

379

:

gone through the COVID shutdown and

they've had this spark of inspiration

380

:

or they have really started something

that they always wanted to do, but they

381

:

never could have the opportunity to do

so, so I always find it fascinating.

382

:

I love the fact that you did

that during the COVID lockdown.

383

:

Piret, we're almost at the end of our

time, but before I let you just share a

384

:

little bit about how people can reach out

to you, I have one last question, and it

385

:

does relate to this overall theme that

we've had to this show about happiness.

386

:

I've talked to a number

of people in my business.

387

:

I've been open for a little

over a year now, and I've have

388

:

encountered many different people

that were either not as fulfilled,

389

:

or not as happy, as they could be.

390

:

They are struggling with finding that

identity of happiness because there's

391

:

been some barriers that have been put

along the way, and that has created a

392

:

lot of things for them to essentially

feel a little trepidation about being

393

:

able to go through and think they

can have a happy, fulfilled life.

394

:

If somebody listening to this would

stumble across this, and they are

395

:

really interested in getting started

on how they can be happy, what would

396

:

you recommend as really that first

step in achieving true happiness?

397

:

What would you say is the

first action item, if you will?

398

:

Obviously, they could go and

call you, but what if they didn't

399

:

have that available to you?

400

:

What would you say to them?

401

:

Piret: Yeah, because my program is

really good, but before we get there,

402

:

I would say if there's somebody who

really, really doesn't know yet,

403

:

they have to take a little paper or

a little notebook and start writing

404

:

out little things that they feel.

405

:

"Oh, I felt happy", and say

like, "Oh, I had this good coffee

406

:

and that made me feel happy."

407

:

Start paying attention on those little

things that make them feel happy, even

408

:

if it's just for a few seconds, few

minutes, but paying attention on things

409

:

that make you feel good and happy, because

if you know what those things are that

410

:

make you feel happy, either they're

activities or just items or things, then

411

:

you can have more of them in your life,

because you're already mentally, you're

412

:

already paying attention that, "Oh.

413

:

Doing this walk in the morning",

or even just watching your favorite

414

:

show, while it feels good, but

you mark down that it feels good.

415

:

Joshua: I love that message because

some people think it's about, "Oh.

416

:

I need to start a new routine", which

I did a whole series of episodes even

417

:

earlier in this new 2024 year about

having to be able to set those goals,

418

:

be able to set those expectations, but

it doesn't mean completely dropping

419

:

everything that you used to do and do

it with two feet and jumping right into

420

:

it, because that will set you up for

disaster, so it's really about being

421

:

intentional and starting with the small

things, and I love that just writing it

422

:

down can be the gateway to creating some

of that, so thanks for sharing that.

423

:

Piret: And even just noticing if you

don't, if you're a person who doesn't

424

:

like to write things down, at least

notice that I am feeling good right now.

425

:

Joshua: Absolutely.

426

:

Piret, thanks so much for doing

this and talking about this subject

427

:

and even some of your experiences.

428

:

If people are interested in reaching

out to you, how can they contact you?

429

:

Do you have a website that

they can reach out to?

430

:

I would love for you to take these last

few minutes and pitch yourself to my

431

:

listeners, because I'm sure that all of

us could use a little bit more happiness,

432

:

and maybe you can be that person for them,

so I'm going to give you the last few

433

:

moments here to go ahead and share that.

434

:

Piret: Mm-hmm, so the best way to

reach me is through my website, which

435

:

is b y, and my name, p i r e t.Com,

and from there, the most popular

436

:

package and the most impactful package

is Access Your Happiness, which

437

:

is a two hour assessment session.

438

:

and with that one, you're already pretty

much setting yourself up for having a...

439

:

happier life or having

happy life for a long time.

440

:

First of all, what we do there is we find

out what is your happiness gatekeeper, so

441

:

what's holding you back from feeling happy

or acknowledging that you're happy and

442

:

then we're going to find out what are the

things that make you happy, and then set

443

:

goals and make a plan how to have more of

those happy things in your life, and how

444

:

to do it, so that's my main package right

now, that's a one on one personal thing.

445

:

That's what I'm promoting right now.

446

:

Joshua: Wow, and I think that

you, my listeners, can definitely

447

:

take advantage of that.

448

:

You take advantage of the fact

that she's written the book.

449

:

You take advantage of the fact that I

was on her show, so I'm going to put

450

:

all those things in the episode notes

again, if you want to check those things

451

:

out, but Piret, I have to tell you

a little girl from Estonia coming to

452

:

the big leagues of the United States.

453

:

I think you're making a big impact with

this important subject because happiness

454

:

is something that we should all be able

to achieve, and I'm so thankful that

455

:

you have this assessment, so thankful

that you're leading that life and

456

:

you're leading that charge, especially

with all the things that you're doing.

457

:

I appreciate you being on this show.

458

:

Thanks for being on

speaking from the heart.

459

:

It really has been a privilege to feel

a little bit happier and a little bit

460

:

more joyful after talking with you today.

461

:

I really mean that.

462

:

Piret: Thank you, Joshua.

463

:

Is there a time for me

to say a few more things?

464

:

Joshua: Go ahead.

465

:

This is your time.

466

:

Piret: Well, one of the things that I

wanted to share as well was because I

467

:

noticed that right now in our society,

being happy is not so acceptable.

468

:

People are looking for more sadness and

everything, so that's why I'm sharing

469

:

this and that's why I'm doing this

because I want to make more people to

470

:

feel that they're allowed to be happy.

471

:

A lot of people holding their back, they

might feel happy, but they feel that

472

:

maybe I should not be feeling happy.

473

:

Society is not looking for

people to be happy yet.

474

:

I think so.

475

:

That's what it looks to me.

476

:

Joshua: It's all about what we are able

to do to achieve not only that happiness,

477

:

but to resist the fact that there

are societal, cultural pressures that

478

:

might be creating some of that, or even

individual pressures for that matter, to

479

:

be able to lead that happiness life, so,

Piret, thanks again for sharing that.

480

:

Thanks again for being part of the show.

481

:

I appreciate it.

482

:

Piret: Yeah.

483

:

Thank you, Joshua.

484

:

Thank you for doing your show.

485

:

It's really important.

486

:

Joshua: I want to thank Piret so much

for allowing me to not only be on her

487

:

show, but allowing me to interview her

for my own podcast, because not only has

488

:

this been a conversation worth diving

into, but it really dives into a simple

489

:

concept in itself, which I mentioned

in the beginning of this episode.

490

:

Are you happy?

491

:

That's it.

492

:

It's as simple as that.

493

:

Can you just be happy with who you

are, or maybe what you want to achieve,

494

:

for that matter, so that you can be

happy in the most simplistic form.

495

:

We don't need to dive into all kinds

of different types of techniques

496

:

in which you can be happy.

497

:

Pierrette's already done that for us, and

I highly encourage you to take a listen

498

:

again to some of those opportunities

that she has mentioned, that maybe You

499

:

have forgotten that could be some of

those simple ways for you to be happy,

500

:

but what thoughts, what self talk do we

really give ourselves, that really puts

501

:

us behind the wheel of whether we're going

to be happy on a particular day or not,

502

:

and I've heard it time and time again.

503

:

If you get up in bed, and before you

even put your two feet on the floor of

504

:

your bed, you have to think about all the

different blessings that you have in your

505

:

life: that you're able to breathe, that

you're able to eat, you'd be able to have

506

:

another day in your life, but regardless

of all those different things, it's just

507

:

about, simply, what are you happy about,

and I think that if we don't keep that

508

:

conversation tone in place about that

happiness aspect, it's going to just take

509

:

longer for what we want to do to achieve

what is ultimately in the cards for us.

510

:

I don't know many of you to really decide

whether I think that you're going to

511

:

be happy if you just simply do that.

512

:

It might be more involved; might be more

intense; it might be more exhilarating

513

:

of a life that you lead, to the

point that you might be asking, "This

514

:

episode is completely out of my league.

515

:

I don't think that I will ever be able

to learn the happiness aspect that Piret

516

:

shared with you today, Josh," but, I think

that you may be missing the mark as to

517

:

what this episode really is all about.

518

:

It isn't always about the things that

we do that might be the happiest of

519

:

moments because let's face it, we

have to do things that don't give us

520

:

great joy or great pleasure, therefore

not contributing to that happiness,

521

:

but it's about what the long term

aspirations of what our intentions are.

522

:

That's what makes us create some

of the best opportunities in our

523

:

lives to either be happy or not.

524

:

It's about the books that we read.

525

:

It's about the television shows

that we might spend time watching.

526

:

It might be some of the close

associations of the people.

527

:

That might all, in cumulation, make

us happy, or make us not happy, but

528

:

you have to address this from the many

different angles that it comes from.

529

:

It isn't just about doing one

thing and thinking that once

530

:

you perfect that you'll be okay.

531

:

It's simply not true.

532

:

There's so much more than what meets

the eye sometimes when it comes to

533

:

being happy, but I think that if you

overindulge into many different things

534

:

that are helping you to make yourself

happy, you might be also missing the

535

:

mark, because it isn't just about

having an underindulgence or having

536

:

an overindulgence of being happy.

537

:

It's about really meeting the balance

of what you can be from not only

538

:

helping others, helping yourself,

but also interacting with the various

539

:

other modalities in life that you

have to interact with, so it's really

540

:

about finding that platform that

makes you really happy to begin with.

541

:

Don't know what I mean?

542

:

Let's break it down in an example.

543

:

Say for me, I wanted to have something

that makes me happy all the time.

544

:

Well, if that was the case, I would be

strapping on my hiking boots, getting

545

:

my sticks out, putting my backpack

together, and be hiking on the Appalachian

546

:

Trail every time something goes wrong,

because I'm so fortunate enough to live

547

:

close to where the Appalachian Trail

connects, and I would be able to hike

548

:

either south or north, it doesn't matter.

549

:

Whatever way I want to go on the

Appalachian Trail, I can do that.

550

:

I have that opportunity, but the

question is, is that really reasonable

551

:

to do every time something goes wrong?

552

:

Absolutely not.

553

:

I have a job; matter of fact, two jobs.

554

:

I have to appease for both of those jobs

in order to create that opportunity that

555

:

I can have down the road if I really

wanted to, to work on the Appalachian

556

:

Trail from the northern point to

the southern point where it ends.

557

:

I can do that, but that isn't balanced.

558

:

That's an overindulgence.

559

:

Now, at the same term, if it was something

that I was reading that I really enjoyed,

560

:

that I wanted to continue reading,

but then I put it to the side and I

561

:

forgot about it, and then after that

amount of time that passes by before I

562

:

realize that I haven't read that book

in a while, that it might be time to

563

:

pick it up again, and then I forgot

where I was even at, does that make me

564

:

happy that I have to start all over?

565

:

Probably not, because that

was a really good reading of

566

:

a book that I had in my hand.

567

:

Now I have a underindulgence.

568

:

The right balance is that I can take

short sprints on the Appalachian Trail

569

:

and continuously have a schedule in

which I read at least 20 to 30 pages

570

:

a day of a book just so that I can

keep abreast of everything that I want

571

:

to do in terms of my time management.

572

:

That would make me happy, but that's just

one platform out of many things that we

573

:

can address to create the opportunities

that we have in our lives to be happy.

574

:

The tools and the concepts that Piret

even mentions about writing things

575

:

out, dealing with the past, helping

you flush out that negativity so that

576

:

you can be happy with who you are, are

just some of the basic building blocks

577

:

that might help you to get started.

578

:

It doesn't mean that you have to know

it all, and it doesn't mean that you

579

:

have to be happy every day, because we

are emotional creatures, and if there's

580

:

anybody that knows who is an emotional

creature, it is me, myself, and I, your

581

:

podcast host, that has struggled from

time and time again of the emotional

582

:

rollercoaster that takes place in my life,

but I think we all have those emotional

583

:

rollercoasters because of the various

things that are demands in our time.

584

:

Not only of our time, but also of our

space, the occupation of the things that

585

:

we need to work on in order to have the

quality that we desire, whether that

586

:

is with our significant other, whether

that's with our children if we have them,

587

:

whether it's even with our mom and dad

that might be still living to this day.

588

:

Regardless of the motivation or even

the technique in which you're trying to

589

:

utilize, it's really about understanding

what those thoughts and perceptions

590

:

are that help to create not just that

happiness that you have, but that

591

:

ability to keep moving forward; to keep

thinking that positive angle in your

592

:

life is really important to maintain.

593

:

It really begs the question: should

I look for sadness, and I think

594

:

this is the antithesis of really

this whole entire conversation.

595

:

Don't take that time to look for sadness

if you're wanting to give it space.

596

:

If you really are trying to give

it a opportunity to grow, you

597

:

don't look out for that sadness.

598

:

You look out for the happiness, and

as much as sadness wants to creep up

599

:

in our hearts and minds from time to

time, especially if we have that as a

600

:

medical condition, which is true with

the things that we have learned in

601

:

the science of depression and anxiety.

602

:

Over the last 10 and 20 years, we know

for a fact that sadness can crawl into

603

:

our brains and make us feel like we

are just sacks of nothingness, but

604

:

we don't have to choose that path.

605

:

We have a constant opportunity to keep

moving forward, and keep choosing the

606

:

things that we want to choose, in order to

create that best value of who we are, so

607

:

the next time that you want to feel sad,

you're allowing it to occupy that space.

608

:

Don't do it.

609

:

You can be a happy person, and

I think Piret demonstrates today

610

:

the importance of being able to

understand that happiness is a choice.

611

:

A very conscious choice, and in

the matter of those choices that

612

:

we have, one thing rings true: we

don't have to sit in that forever.

613

:

We don't have to sit in that happiness

all the time, but it is okay to have

614

:

that perspective of happiness no matter

where we go, but we don't have to

615

:

be part of the group as a whole, not

being happy, because I think happiness

616

:

doesn't just come from what's in the

inside, but what we experience on the

617

:

outside, so next time that you're walking

down the street, or you're walking to

618

:

your office, or you're on that video

chat with someone, give them a smile.

619

:

Make sure it's from cheek to cheek,

and let those people know that you are

620

:

showing that distinguishment of happiness.

621

:

You might not be feeling it, but that

other person might feel it for the

622

:

better, and I think that's what really

matters the most, that we can all be

623

:

happier no matter what we're going

through, because we have that ability

624

:

to project whether we're happy or sad.

625

:

I'd rather be happy more than anything

else, and I'd rather see your happy

626

:

face as I'm walking to my office,

walking to my car, maybe even on that

627

:

video chat the next time I see you,

because happiness is not just a gift.

628

:

It's an honor to receive.

629

:

Thanks for listening to episode

number 84 of Speaking From the

630

:

Heart, and I look forward to

hearing from your heart, very soon.

631

:

Outro: Thanks for listening.

632

:

For more information about our podcast

and future shows, search for Speaking From

633

:

The Heart to subscribe and be notified

wherever you listen to your podcasts.

634

:

Visit us at www.yourspeakingvoice.biz

for more information about potential

635

:

services that can help you create

the best version of yourself.

636

:

See you next time.

About the Podcast

Show artwork for Speaking From The Heart
Speaking From The Heart
Your Speaking Voice LLC's Business Podcast

Listen for free

About your host

Profile picture for Joshua Smith

Joshua Smith

Joshua D. Smith is the Owner and Founder of Your Speaking Voice, a life coaching, business coaching, and public speaking company based in Carlisle, PA. Serving clients across the world, Joshua got his start in personal/professional development and public speaking in April of 2012 through his extensive involvement in an educational non-profit organization called Toastmasters International.

Toastmasters International operates clubs both domestically and internationally that focus on teaching leadership, development, and public speaking skills. Joshua quickly excelled in Toastmasters International and found that he had a passion for leadership and helping others find their confidence and their true "speaking voice". Joshua has held all club officer roles and most District level positions in Toastmasters International and belongs to numerous clubs throughout the organization. Joshua has also been recognized as two-time Distinguished Toastmaster, the highest award the organization bestows for achievement in leadership and communication.

Joshua continues his active role in the community as he serves a Board Member for the Shalom House, an organization located in the Alison Hill section of Harrisburg, PA that provides emergency shelter services to women and children.

Outside of his community involvement, education is something that Joshua has always taken great pride in. His academic achievements include a number of degrees from Alvernia and Shippensburg University. He earned a Bachelor's degree in political science and communications from Alvernia in 2009, a masters of business administration from Alvernia in 2010, and later a masters in public administration from Shippensburg in 2014.

In the professional world, Joshua has held multiple positions with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for over 12 years which includes a variety of data analytics, procurement, budgeting, business process improvement (IT and non-IT), legal compliance, and working with the blind. He has applied his public speaking and development skills in the professional world to tackle numerous public speaking engagements and presentations from all levels of the organization, including executive management.

Support The Show!

Every donation to the show will support the overall mission of Your Speaking Voice LLC, a company geared towards the transformation of individuals and companies by finding the hidden "voice" that is inside all of us.
Click Here To Transform Lives!
M
Melody da Silva $30
Keep up the amazing work, bestie!!
K
Kris Pool $25