Becoming unbreakable, with Dr Nic Hooper

What pulls us away from acting in line with our values? Difficult thoughts and feelings showing up, causing us discomfort and leading us to avoid doing things in line with our values. Drinking too much, eating three tubs of ice cream, skipping classes or party invitations – all this avoidance helps us avoid discomfort in the short term, but takes us further away from a meaningful life.

In this episode, I speak to Dr Nic Hooper about how this dance between avoidance and willingness shows up students. If you’re not a student or a parent of a student, this episode is still for you, as Nic shares principles around how us humans can build a thriving life and become unbreakable.

Dr Nic Hooper is an expert in clinical psychology and a senior lecturer at the University of the West of England in Bristol. Nic is also a co-director of Connect, which is an organisation that offers a psychological wellbeing curriculum for primary school children. In 2017, inspired by his students, Nic began to write a book of life advice to his son, Max, which was to be given to him on his eighteenth birthday. Over time, that book slowly transformed into The Unbreakable Student.

We cover:

Writing a book in a vulnerable way
Therapists as human beings facing suffering
The power of sharing personal stories
The six ways to wellbeing
- Exercise
- Challenge self
- Connect with others
- Give to others
- Self-care
- Embrace the moment
Thoughts/feelings stopping us from doing wellbeing behaviour
External validation and being liked
Values as a guide for behaviour
Receiving criticism and trusting self
Ways of managing unwanted thoughts and feelings
Becoming familiar with discomfort
Messing up and gentle returns
Leaving a legacy behind