Most of us have been told, at some point or another, to just be happy. Just let it go. Just choose joy. And if you've tried that and found it completely unhelpful, you are in very good company. Dr. Peggy DeLong is back on the podcast for her third visit, and what she shares in this episode about how to increase your capacity for happiness is not what most people are teaching. It's not about ignoring what's hard. It's not about thinking positively until the feeling kicks in. And it has nothing to do with luck or your current circumstances. Peggy discovered the power of gratitude while sitting by her fiancé's side as he was dying from an aggressive cancer. She was 26. She didn't push the grief away. She felt it — and that turned out to be the beginning of everything she now teaches. If you've ever been told to just cheer up and wanted to throw something, this one is for you. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why pushing emotional pain aside actually makes it harder to access real happiness — and what to do instead How your capacity for joy is in direct proportion to your capacity to feel pain What collective effervescence is and why it matters more than we think How human connection with complete strangers predicts happiness just as much as our closest relationships What the three Ps — present, pleasure, and purpose — have to do with breaking the high-achieving cycle Peggy's four Ps for building positive mental health: prioritize, plan, practice, prosper DR. PEGGY'S FREE GIFTS FOR GAME ON GIRLFRIEND® LISTENERS Free: The Grateful Day — a Five Day Challenge with simple practices to build gratitude into daily life. Grab it here: https://drpeggydelong.com/thegratefulday/ 20% off Your Happy Second Half group coaching program. Use code mas at checkout: https://drpeggydelong.thinkific.com/courses/happy-second-half CONNECT WITH DR. PEGGY DELONG Website: https://drpeggydelong.com/ Your Happy Second Half: https://yourhappysecondhalf.com/ Love in a Bracelet: https://loveinabracelet.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drpeggydelong/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.gratitude.psychologist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpeggydelongthegratitudepsychologist/ ABOUT DR. PEGGY DELONG Dr. Peggy DeLong, known as The Gratitude Psychologist™, is an internationally recognized expert in gratitude, positive psychology, mental health, and personal development. She helps individuals and organizations cultivate greater peace, joy, and fulfillment. With a Doctorate in Psychology and over 30 years of experience — including her work as a forensic psychologist conducting more than 4,000 evaluations — she brings a rare depth of insight, credibility, and practical wisdom to her work. She has partnered with leading institutions such as Princeton, Penn State, Rutgers, and major healthcare and corporate organizations to deliver transformational programs and experiences. As a speaker, author, therapist, and coach, Peggy is the creator of The Grateful Day™ and The Prioritize P.E.A.C.E. Method™, empowering people to move from overwhelm to clarity and emotional well-being. She is also the founder of multiple community-based initiatives and the Your Happy Second Half™ program, where she supports high-achievers in building meaningful connections, rediscovering joy, and living with renewed purpose. READY TO BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE? There's a reason we talk about mindset and mental health on this podcast — because what's happening on the inside shows up directly in your business results. If this episode got you thinking and you're ready to look at what might be holding your business back, I'd love to spend 30 minutes with you. As my free gift to Girlfriends, I offer a 30-minute discovery call. We'll talk about where you are right now, what you want to build, and what might be getting in the way. Book here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=13047670&appointmentType=2244195 FREE GIFT FROM SARAH Get Sarah's Freedom Calculator and discover how much your business needs to make to finally be free. Download at https://sarahwalton.com/freedom LEARN FROM SARAH Explore Sarah's online courses and free resources to start building your business with confidence. Online Courses: https://sarahwalton.com/online-courses Free Resources: https://sarahwalton.com/free-resources CONNECT WITH SARAH Website: https://sarahwalton.com/podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSarahWalton Instagram: https://instagram.com/thesarahwalton ABOUT SARAH WALTON Sarah Walton is a wealth consciousness coach, strategic advisor, podcast host, and mentor who helps women entrepreneurs build businesses they love. Her mission is simple: to put more money in the hands of more women. She's the creator of the Abundance Academy, The Art of Receiving, and the Game On Girlfriend® podcast. Sarah teaches authentic, heart-centered business strategies because when women have more financial power, they don't just keep it — they use it to take care of their families, support their communities, and build something bigger than themselves. RELATED GAME ON GIRLFRIEND® EPISODES YOU'LL LOVE Episode 45: Feeling Good with Dr. Peggy DeLong — https://sarahwalton.com/dr-peggy Episode 201: What It Means to Be an Adversity Warrior with Robin Osborn — https://sarahwalton.com/adversity-warrior/ Episode 293: Detours Are Inevitable, Suffering Is Not — https://sarahwalton.com/teenagers-taught-me-joy-doesnt-require-perfect-circumstances LOVE THE SHOW? LEAVE US A REVIEW! Thank you so much for listening. I'm honored that you're here, and I'd be grateful if you could leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts by clicking here, scrolling to the bottom, and clicking "Write a review." Your reviews help other women entrepreneurs find the show and get the support they need to build businesses they love. Thank you for being part of the Game On Girlfriend® community! (If you're not sure how to leave a review, you can watch this quick tutorial.)
