Ana Regina Cardoso Models Anxiety Management Through Meaningful Living

10/07/24 • 24 min

In this episode, we move from theory to practice. Where recent episodes focused on the theory of finding your "why," this episode explores application: an interview with Ana Regina Cardoso is presented as a form of modeling, offering listeners a concrete example of how “finding your why” can be applied in real life. She shares her experiences of caring for her sick mother at a young age and how these early responsibilities shaped her concept of a life purpose. From coordinating community aid during the pandemic to supporting the elderly through art projects, Ana’s story is a powerful testament to how hardship can be transformed into a life of purpose and service.
[00:00:00] - Introduction: How Looking to Models Can Help You Find Your Why.
[00:05:56] - Interview with Ana Regina Cardoso Begins: Early Life and Caring for Her Mother.
[00:09:47] - Transition to a Life of Service: From Personal Struggles to Community Support.
[00:11:04] - The Garage of Goodness: Organizing Pandemic Relief Efforts.
[00:14:46] - Expanding Her Mission: Continuing to Help Families Post-Pandemic.
[00:20:33] - The Power of Modeling: Inspiring Others Through Positive Actions.
[00:22:00] - Reflections: How Ana Turned Sadness into a Strength and Found Her "Why."
[00:23:38] - Conclusion: The Ongoing Impact of Ana’s Work and Her Commitment to Helping Others.

For full show notes, including resources mentioned, go to:
www.calmyourcaveman.com.

For full show notes, including resources mentioned, go to:
www.calmyourcaveman.com.

Previous Episode

Dr. Thomas Nielsen Part II: Embracing Self-Compassion for a Meaningful Life

In the second part of our enlightening conversation with Dr. Thomas W. Nielsen, we delve deeper into the concept of meaningful happiness. Dr. Nielsen shares profound insights on the practical application of self-care principles, encapsulated in the acronym "SELF CARE AIMS."
This episode explores the importance of balancing self-care and compassion with giving to others, emphasizing the role of self-compassion over mere self-esteem. Dr. Nielsen discusses the significance of autonomy, environment, achievement, and more, providing actionable advice on nurturing these areas to enhance overall well-being. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to cultivate a fulfilling, purpose-driven life, and “find their why” as a foundational starting point for anxiety management.
[00:00:00] - Introduction to the episode
Recap of the first part and setting the stage for a deeper discussion on self-compassion and self-esteem.
[00:02:30] - Self Care AIMS: A comprehensive tool
Dr. Nielsen introduces the Self Care AIMS acronym and explains how it serves as a practical guide for self-care.
[00:07:00] - The difference between self-esteem and self-compassion
Exploration of how these two concepts differ and the benefits of fostering self-compassion.
[00:12:00] - Applying Self Care AIMS in daily life
Practical advice on how to implement the acronym in everyday routines, emphasizing the need for customization.
[00:16:00] - Compassion as a pathway to meaningful happiness
Discussion on how compassion for oneself and others can lead to a more meaningful and happy life.
[00:18:30] - The importance of self-compassion over self-esteem
Dr. Nielsen explains why self-compassion is a more stable foundation for well-being than self-esteem, citing research and personal anecdotes.
[00:21:00] - Final thoughts and takeaways
Reflecting on the key messages from the series and encouraging listeners to practice self-compassion in their daily lives.
For full show notes, including resources mentioned, go to:
www.calmyourcaveman.com.

Next Episode

Know Your Context: Foundational Anxiety Management Strategies (Part III)

In this episode, Dr. Twitchell discusses the second foundational strategy for anxiety mastery, which is understanding and knowing your context. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing different levels of emotional distress and matching appropriate strategies to those levels. The episode explores how high cognitive load strategies can be practiced during low anxiety periods and how strategies can become automatic through practice. Dr. Twitchell also introduces concepts from Veilleux et al. and Dr. James Gross, discussing automatic appraisals and the need to practice strategies proactively.
Key Points Covered:
1. Understanding Context and Emotional Intensity (1:31 - 4:30)
- Explanation of how different strategies are suitable for different contexts.
- Importance of understanding the level of your emotional distress.
2. Cognitive and Physical Response Strategies (6:01 - 7:30)
- Overview of cognitive reappraisal and physical response strategies.
- Introduction to the concept of the "thinking threshold."
3. Practical Applications and Strategy Selection (7:31 - 12:00)
- How to select strategies based on your emotional intensity.
- Importance of practicing strategies during low-stress times to make them automatic.
4. Diagram and Concept Review (18:01 - 24:00)
- Explanation of a diagram illustrating emotional distress levels and appropriate strategies.
- Recap of key concepts: emotional intensity, strategy selection, and practice.
[00:00:00] - Introduction and Recap
[00:01:16] - Understanding Your Context
[00:04:05] - The Thinking Threshold
[00:08:08] - Appraisal and Practice
[00:13:34] - Diagram and Practical Strategies
[00:21:53] - Conclusion and Upcoming Topics
For full show notes, including resources mentioned, go to:
www.calmyourcaveman.com.

Calm Your Caveman - Ana Regina Cardoso Models Anxiety Management Through Meaningful Living

Transcript

Hi, everybody. Welcome again. Today we get to do something a little bit different. We have been focusing mostly on theory up until now. We've been talking about theories and strategies and what it might look like to apply those. But today we're actually going to get into practice. We're going to move from theory to practice. We are going to have an interview with someone who has put specifically this strategy that we have been focusing on, this foundational strategy of finding your why, into