From Angst to Awe: The Power of Life-Enhancing Anxiety with Kirk J. Schneider PhD
Original Air Date Wednesday, April 12, 2023
As a human certain anxieties are a natural part of life. But, in our current culture, lack of alone time, screens that pummel us with non-stop data, and expectations of instant results and quick fixes, how do we have time to appreciate the awe that is our existence?
To take a deep dive into how we can repair trauma and restore vitality to our lives, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Psychologist and Author, Kirk J. Scheider about how to enhance life through anxiety. In his book, Life-Enhancing Anxiety: Key to a Sane World, he shares the experience of how a therapist provided him a sense of safety after a childhood trauma by bearing witness and being present. Kirk now assists others in utilizing fear as a mobilizer to enhance their lives.
Kirk J Schneider — The Power of Life-Enhancing Anxiety:
- After an extreme family disruption, at age six, Kirk found solace and peace by speaking with a psychoanalyst. [2:18]
- Kirk speaks of the skyrocketing rates of anxiety in our culture, what may be at the root of it, and the healing power of having a witness. [9:13]
- Kirk J Schneider shares his thoughts about the primal anxiety of birth and how it can play out in human life. [16:42]
- How to apply life-enhancing anxiety to the process of repairing or restoring vitality. [20:49]
- Ways to cultivate the life-enhancing anxiety of awe. [23:45]
Kirk J. Schneider, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and leading spokesperson for contemporary existential-humanistic and existential-integrative psychology. Dr. Schneider is a past editor of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, adjunct faculty at Saybrook University and Teachers College, Columbia University, and president of the Existential-Humanistic Institute (EHI), He is also a Fellow of five divisions of the American Psychological Association (Humanistic, Psychotherapy, Clinical, Theoretical and Philosophical, and Independent Practice) as well as a frequent speaker at conferences and in the media.
Book: Life-Enhancing Anxiety: Key to a Sane World
Kirk J.Schneider
@kschneider56 on Twitter
Kirk Schneider on Facebook
@Kirk4prezapa on Instagram
This podcast episode of Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio about anxiety and awe is sponsored by:
Are We Happy Yet? Eight Keys to Unlocking a Joyful Life — A boot camp manual for greater emotional fitness. Happiness waits for no one and sometimes we all need support. What is getting in the way of your happiness right now?
H–Factor: Where is Your Heart? — Lisa’s documentary film explores the journey of human happiness. Emotions are contagious and happiness is a universally desired state. We tend to forget we all have the freedom to be happy or the liberty to be miserable each day.
“When somebody really listens to us... it is a powerful sensation that is love. Click To Tweet“Contemporary society and life do not often make space for time alone.” @LisaKamen on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“I learned how to be more present to myself and to others through the rock-solid presence of this analyst.” @kschneider56 on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“Fear and almost all the so-called negative emotions have paradoxical sides.” @kschneider56 on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“We don't face and grapple with the deeper and more substance anxieties earlier on in our developmental years because our culture is so focused on the quick-fix, instant results model.” @kschneider56 on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“Life-enhancing anxiety is the level of anxiety that enables us to live with and make the best of the depth and mystery of existence.” @kschneider56 on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“At some core bottom line level, as a human being, you are amazing and you are part of something amazing.” @kschneider56 on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“One needs to develop a fuller capacity to be present.” @kschneider56 on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet“We can learn a great deal from taking stock of our lives and how we really want to live.” @kschneider56 on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet “We are participating in something much greater than ourselves.” @kschneider56 on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet
CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY
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