Teaching Humanity Remotely with Dr. Mindy Shaw

In this episode, Dr. Shaw addresses what to do when you are stuck in an emotional loop, especially a negative one. This discussion was in part inspired by her 10-year-old granddaughter who, when reflecting on being in a state of agitation and exhibiting a bit of a tantrum, said that she felt like when she was in that state she wanted to stay there for a little while. Dr. Shaw theorizes that that state of being in that loop can be comfortable and comforting. She also says there are choices to be made when stuck in that state... one can re-calibrate, or one can feel the feelings as they make their way through it. She reminds us that the first phase of any transition is seeing and observing what is going on. Then be gentle with yourself and try to use your energy in a more productive way. We may think it's helpful to be in that state, but ultimately it may be harming us.

In this brief but impactful episode, Dr. Shaw tackles the subject of what to do when someone disappoints you. She is not referring to someone who falls short results-wise perhaps at work or while playing a sport... she's talking about when you are in close contact with someone who may not be the kind of person you want to have in your life. These are people who might be unkind or manipulative or gossipy, and they can be challenging when you choose to life your own with integrity. She discusses how to treat that person with respect, but to also be observant and to keep your distance. The fact is that a person who challenges us in this way also provides learning lessons for us. You must remember to know your own aim, to avoid negative behavior and to have someone you trust to be your buddy when you might be in a hostile environment. Be engaged without lowering yourself, and of course, be present. PLEASE LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE #betterlife #lifecoach #education #parenting #selfhelp

In this brief but insightful episode, Dr. Shaw presents one of her most common themes in her own study of human behavior, and that premise is that behavior equals need. When you see certain behaviors from people, and in her educational experience that means children, those behaviors stem from a need that is unfulfilled. She discuss how a child that is throwing a tantrum is learning the exact wrong lesson if that tantrum is silenced or satisfied by giving the child what they want in that moment. At the same time, no two people or two children are the same or come from the same experience, so there can be differentiation between how you respond to a child expressing a need via misbehaving. If behavior equals need ... Dr. Shaw says "let's own it and get our needs fulfilled so we can behave appropriately."

In this brief but powerful episode, Dr. Shaw begins (and ends) by urging the listener to take responsibility for the choices that we make in our lives. Sometimes it will take someone else to open our eyes to a bad situation... sometimes, and hopefully more often, we can see the road map that we've laid out for ourselves and take control of where we are in life. When it's someone else guiding us, it might be because we have a blind spot about a certain person or situation. Her advice is to pay attention to that other pair of eyes. The other option is to observe ourselves over and over and over because our awareness and the learning gained from observation can steer us to the best possible choice. Your choices are up to you... your children's choices are up to them... sometimes it may not feel that way, but that's the reality. Be motived to make the right choices.

In this brief but insightful episode, Dr. Shaw talks about the concept of how we label ourselves and how it impacts our life. A "label" could be that you say you have anxiety or that you're phobic about something or any number of things. When we label ourselves we can often limit our options and limit our growth in life. Dr. Shaw talks here using illustrative examples and she discusses how to move past the limits that our own self-labels might create for ourselves.

In this brief but fascinating episode, Dr. Shaw connects the dots between the way we all suffer as human beings and the way that we all have preferences. Some of our preferences get satisfied and others don't, and when we suffer disappointment we suffer in life. Her suggestion here, using some illustrative examples, is to be more neutral about our preferences... not to the point of living a boring life, but in a way that neutralizes our suffering. It's a lesson for adults and for our children, and it will take some practice, but it's an approach that can truly eliminate much of our emotional pain.

In this meaningful episode, Dr. Shaw walks us through the importance of not just showing up, but HOW we show up... and more importantly, it's important we we remain open and not be reactionary to what's said to us. We all have the tendency to defend our actions or defend our position in interpersonal relationships. But perception is reality, and what someone feels is all that matters. We must respond to circumstances in a way that correctly matches the understanding of others, and checking for understanding is an important principle in getting that done. It's all about knowing your audience, noting and marking the common reality of the situation and paying attention to that which allows us to learn and evolve.

In this very personal episode, Dr. Shaw shares one of the topics that is very important to her in manifesting her own personal growth, and that topic is the process involved in breaking away from old habits and developing a new "muscle" in order to evolve. She describes the process as it works for her, and that process begins with self-observation. In observing ourselves, we see how we are and we can in turn compare that to how we want to be. That re-set in our mind is so valuable in creating the path to betterment. Then, in the course of this podcast, Dr. Shaw outlines the road map for personal transformation.... it begins with intention, focuses on attention, and then we can recalibrate if our old patterns that we observe and that we hold onto don't serve us any longer.

In this brief but very powerful episode, Dr. Shaw coaches us on how to have confidence and also that by being confident, we can manifest our best life. She begins by acknowledging that confidence is not about having swagger, nor is it about one-upmanship... it's about having a strong belief in oneself. By valuing yourself, the world will meet you as someone of value. She shares some of her own goals, and by doing so Dr. Shaw illustrates how meeting your goals gives you self-worth which in turn improves your station in life. We all have an old belief system in which we don't believe in ourselves, but when we see that, we simply need to recalibrate and move ahead. And again, having confidence does not mean that you need to outshine others.... in fact by shining light on others even more light reflects back on us.

In this fascinating episode, Dr. Shaw put forth the notion that SINCERITY leads to greater fulfillment. On the surface that may seem like a leap, but as she discusses and illustrates how it works, and it comes together as a smart, interesting and very true theory. She begins by talking about the power of the word, and specifically, she talks about words of affirmation. For example, if words of affirmation are offered without sincerity, they won't have the power. The same thing goes for actions in addition to words... actions that should be sincere but are not will not be as fulfilling as actions offered and received with sincerity. As with all of Dr. Shaw's teaching and podcasts, listen and ponder, and watch the puzzle pieces of life fit together.

This episode in this series presents a highly personal point of view while at the same time is completely a "must-listen" for teachers and educators. Here, Dr. Shaw discusses her recent return to classroom teaching, and in doing so she dissects her motivations, her own insecurities and her strategies for success. She talks about her self-examination and her implementation of intention. She points out that we need to recalibrate when we see ourselves going in the wrong direction and that we should demonstrate to our children what those actions look like. She discusses her own challenges, perspectives and resiliency in a way that can provide a roadmap for all of us on how to live a better professional life.

Once again, Dr. Shaw takes us on a journey through the power of positive thinking. Early in the this episode she states that "We are what we think about," and she follows that up with the philosophy that she is trying to treat people as they ought to be and not as they are. That attitude allows us to see everyone we encounter in the most positive light, and by doing that, we also create self-respect. It's a philosophy that can extend easily to our children but it is also applicable in any adult's life. One key habit to break is focusing on the negative... by marking and noting and celebration the good things that come along, no matter how small they may seem, that attention paid to the good stuff will only bring more good stuff.

In this brief episode, Dr. Shaw explores her philosophy that we should all live the life that we love, and that we should teach our children to do the same. It starts by identifying what you love. Dr. Shaw is a contributor right now at a Montessori School and she shares some of the wonderful experiences she is having there. She also mentions her children's book called "Time Out is Time In" which postulates that when a child is getting a time out they are really give the opportunity to reflect and to check in on themselves. Learning how to navigate the world is an important ingredient to learning what you love. Dr. Shaw talks about having quality relationships, and the bottom line for this topic is that the first quality relationship we need to have is with ourselves.

In this ultra helpful episode, Dr. Shaw shares the eight (8) key principles that guide her life, and she shares these in order to provide help and guidance to anyone who hears these. So many of us are looking for answers and trying to figure out what we are doing incorrectly in our lives. As Dr. Shaw says, in some ways her list of principles are obvious and common sense, but by listing them out and offering a bit of explanation for each, she really does provide a remarkable roadmap for a fulfilling life.

In this brief but timely episode, Dr. Shaw takes advantage of the turning of the page of the calendar year in order to put forth a key tenet of her philosophy.... and that is that we should treat others as they ought to be, not as they are. That practice of treating others as they ought to be puts the focus on helping and improving, and there is no better quality to a relationship than to be capable of lifting each other up. Also, the gift is remembering in the moment what that intention looks like. Wishing a Happy and Healthy and Fulfilled New Year (2026) to you and yours!

In this fascinating and reflective episode, Dr. Shaw dives into the aspect of human nature by which we DON'T learn from our own mistakes. We are often presented with an answer or an opportunity or a gift of sorts, and we reject it because we either don't recognize it or because we are so caught up in our own baggage. Here, she relays an example via a story from the life of a friend of hers, and with that situation as a launching point, Dr. Shaw dives into an examination of how we need to do our own self-examination and how if our eyes and ears and spirits are open, we should be better at recognizing our own invitations. Then, when we as adults know how to do that, we can set examples for our children and teach them how to do it as well.

In this very brief but important episode, Dr. Shaw offers advice on how to disarm a situation in which your child, or even an adult, is suddenly facing anxiety. It's quite common, and her guidance is spot on. Essentially she says to validate the person's feelings who is experiencing anxiety, and then support them. There is also a quick discussion on strategies to implement in this situation, but truly, the "validate and support" model is the answer offered here.

In this brief but very helpful episode, Dr. Shaw gives us some solid guidance on dealing with the ups and downs of our emotions and feelings. She begins by acknowledging that we all have ever-changing feelings based on the news that we receive or the experiences that we have. That conversation then leads into her discussion about responding to children who are not in a good state of mind based on either simple disappointment or worse, when they are having a tantrum. She offers great perspective and guidance regarding setting boundaries for our children based on their behavior and their personalities and she also incorporates and shares strategies for parents and teachers who need to handle those kinds of emotional fluctuations and possibly exercise some discipline.

In this episode, Dr. Shaw shares an illustrative example of how she and a friend separately and for different reasons changed their personal stories about certain situations and that change of story change the outcome of the situation. She begins by relating some perspective on her podcast series and what each week's audio is about, and then the discussion evolves into some real world examples of how adult behavior can be altered by altering our perception about a situation. She also shares how some of these seemingly adult topics can have a bearing on how and what we teach our children. In simple terms, Dr. Shaw believes that if you hold a vision that you are not deserving of the best that life has to offer, you will manifest that result... so change your story and change your life!

In this episode, Dr. Shaw continues her look at the way in which we teach and use certain words with our children, but this time around the focus is primarily on the difference between "trying" and "doing." Dr. Shaw explains her misgivings about the use of the word "trying" and she provides a number of illustrative examples of why that word can be not just confusing but damaging to a child's own expectations.

In this episode, Dr. Shaw continues to examine the ways in which we trap ourselves into a layer of negativity because the feeling we may be having is labeled as negative. She examines words like "disappointment" or "melancholy" and explains that while we all have feelings that come from negatively stimuli, we need to transform ourselves out of that negativity through self-examination and the motivation to do better. She also points out that this kind of training begins between parents and their children. The way we react to a child who is sad can either keep them in their negative space or move them forward with a healthy attitude about whatever had made them sad. Just like with making a mistake, the negative moment is an invitation to learn as it presents the opportunity to see and transform your feelings.

In this week's episode, Dr. Shaw picks up where she left off in the last episode by continuing to discuss how to release the negativity in many of our interactions. Specifically, she looks at how we use certain words and hold their definitions as inherently negative... words like punishment or mistake or disappointment. She also discusses how when we praise someone, particularly our children, and our praise is insincere, what are we teaching our children and ourselves? She uses some concrete examples of how this works and what better strategies might be, including being sincere and going one step further by being specific. And regarding the negative words, Dr. Shaw questions why we have such trouble agreeing to disagree and not putting blame on anyone since "blame" carries its own negative thread as a word. Then, with the word "disappointment" in the forefront, she explains how to turn a situation where your child is disappointed. She recommends honoring the disappointment and then putting your energy into positive movement away from the negative.

In this brief but direct episode, Dr. Shaw reiterates one of her favorite themes and that is to not be the cause of your own suffering. Often when we are disappointed, we accept the outcome. Instead, she recommends that when you encounter a response to something that runs counter to the result you want, look at the situation as an invitation to let go of your attachments and explore another avenue. That exploration can be exciting and inspiring, and is far better than the negativity of disappointment.

In this episode Dr. Shaw takes a look at our lives that are filled with excuses, and those excuses are born out of our preferences. She admits that she is always assigning meaning to things, and she wonders aloud what life would be like without our preferences. She uses a friend and her daughter as an illustrative example... the friend's daughter says she has a condition that makes her behave in a certain way, and that may very well be, but having a condition doesn't (or shouldn't) permit someone to be disrespectful or act in another anti-social way. Yes, people might have a disability or labeled conditions... Dr. Shaw likes to call that being "differently abled"... but that different ability doesn't prevent someone from being successful in the world. There is a different between learned behavior and behavior guided by a condition. To have our children grow up to be respectful, that has to be taught, and if we have a condition, we have to learn how to navigate the world and have the self worth to do so. Don't allow your "label" dictate how you are in the world, especially if that label is not in your best interest.

In this episode, Dr. Shaw begins by describing a scenario in which a teen or an adolescent is being provocative and looking to bait you into a fight. When you are baited in this manner, the way you stop yourself from over-reacting or reacting too quickly, she recommends that you pause and ask yourself, "Does this serve me?" The answer is probably not because you don't want to answer confrontation with more confrontation. At the same time, never responding doesn't provide anyone with closure or a learning lesson. Dr. Shaw's recommendation is that, later, when there is a peaceful moment, you reflect and discuss what happened earlier. If you change the way you respond to someone in a situation like this, there needs to be a time when it's discussed, and NOT in the moment of provocation. We need to stop our habitual responses when they don't serve us anymore.

In this personal episode, Dr. Shaw shares the tale of a recent family vacation that taught here a lesson or two. One of the key things learned from this experience was that a family dynamic is infinitely better when everyone is on board so to speak. If someone doesn't want to be there or doesn't pull their weight whatever that happens to be, it upsets the entire dynamic and forces others to do an unfair share. During Dr. Shaw's family vacation, she witnessed a perfect sharing of responsibilities and a shared desire to make the most of the experience. While it was a winning personal moment for her, the story and the lessons can be useful to all.

In this brief episode, Dr. Shaw explores what it really means to ask for what we want in life. She begins with some clear and simple examples of what it's like to ask for what we need, and more importantly, she points out that we need to be prepared for the consequence of not getting what we ask for. She shares that personally, she didn't ask her family for anything growing up because she was too concerned that it would be hurtful to be rejected. We also manifest what we expect... if we don't have a high expectation for ourselves, we won't reach the heights that we might truly want. Also, with our children, we need to not only teach them to strive for what they want, but it's also important for them to know that even when you ask for something, you may not get it, and there is learning in that process. Asking, however, is the place the process must begin.

In this brief but fascinating episode, Dr. Shaw examines what happens when we experience fear in a social situation. She begins by sharing that when she personally feels the most amount of fear, that's when she needs to have the most control... and when she's not afraid she needs the least control. She feels that it's a natural tendency for all of us, and she shares some real life examples of how and why that occurs. She also discusses how we can monitor ourselves and stop and note our behavior and stop acting habitually.

In this somewhat pointed podcast, Dr. Shaw addresses the questions she's been receiving lately about allowing children an abundance or an over-abundance of "screen time." Our kids are on iPads and cell phones and computers and other gadgets, and precisely because they are provided these devices, they are taught by us rely on them... we must teach our children what we want them to learn.

In this episode, Dr. Shaw takes a quick look at how it plays out when a relationship is perhaps coming to an end. She begins by sharing some advice that she had shared with friends of hers who were struggling in their relationship. She leans of personal experience in order to lay the ground work for recognizing that sometimes relationships simply have an expiration date, and when we force a relationship to last longer than it should, it does more damage than good. If we can assign and honor the best possible point of view of the relationship's history and de-tangle the relationship by taking the high road, that's a great way to transform the relationship into the future.

Dr. Shaw begins by outlining her motivation for creating this particular podcast, and that rationale is to examine how we are when we feel our feelings. It begins with the fact that we are taught from a very early age that we should have only happy feelings and that life is filled with happy endings. Dr. Shaw feels that it's wrong action to think that way, and that what we need to strive for is the realization that feelings come and go. She encourages a type of neutrality or objectivity about feelings. Yes, it can feel better to be happy, but we should also not feel sad or shameful or vulnerable when we have a so-called negative feeling.... those are real feelings. The goal she encourages for herself and for others is to have contentment in life. Sometimes we have bad or ordinary moments... sometimes we have wonderful peak experiences... it's ALL ok... it's just the human condition.

In this brief episode, Dr. Shaw examines the emotional rollercoaster that can occur when we respond negatively to a situation. Her world view incorporates the notion that nothing is simply one way... there are (at least) two sides to everything... and that it's important that we teach that approach to our children. Our children can often face disappointments, but they need to understand, even at a young age, that the negative situation shall pass. This is not to negate feeling a negative emotion, but the fact is that when, for example we get bad news, the immediate feeling of negativity actually discharges the energy of that negativity and that discharge allows us to move on with a more positive point of view.

In this very brief but energized episode, Dr. Shaw uses a personal story and experience to once again illustrate that our children are listening to us, even when we think they are not. Her story is a cute one revealing her passion for saving 5-dollar bills. As it happens, a youngster around age 7 heard her talk about her strong belief in saving 5's, and he is now doing the same thing. Why? Because our children do listen and respond to what they hear. If you are impatient and swearing in traffic and your children are in the car, they are hearing you. If you are gossiping or speaking negatively about someone and they are with you, they are picking up your bad habit of gossip and negativity. As Dr. Shaw ALWAYS says, be present and be aware.

In this very personal episode, Dr. Shaw examines what happens when we have a negative reaction. She shares a situation when she experienced a moment of internal panic. She points out that the moment passed quickly, and that occurred because she let the emotions flow. The negativity was discharged by simply letting it go. A major strategy that allowed the moment to pass was that she allowed herself to fully react without suppressing the feelings. Because the emotions were turned loose, they didn't linger and fester. When parenting, it's important to have our children's feelings be allowed to come out for the same reason. There are ways to have "the crazies" come out in a productive and not a destructive way. Another important strategy to get through a negative situation is self-observation because watching ourselves gives us the power to overcome the negativity.

In this important episode, Dr. Shaw tackles the feeling of FEAR and how it can impact our reactions and take us down a road that's not in our best interest. She begins with her own personal point of view by saying, "Everything that limits me comes from fear." People have all sorts of fears, and those fears only promote negativity. Dr. Shaw goes on to describe a fear-filled reaction and then suggests putting a strategy in place in order to get past it. She also uses a personal story as an illustrative example. She also explains how to demonstrate and pass this philosophy along to our children including lessons of how to be resilient and not give up too easily. It's all about observing ourselves and understanding our reactions, and also understanding when life presents a simple learning lesson and when it's something bigger than that.

In this episode, Dr. Shaw passionately examines the concept and the saying that TIMING IS EVERYTHING. She begins by pointing that this is a concept that might be difficult for children to wrap their heads around. She then continues by sharing examples of how sometimes adults express regret or a sense of missed opportunity when reviewing certain incidents in their lives. Meanwhile, the reality is that we all have to go through everything that we go through in order to arrive at where we are now. If you've reached the point where you are living your best life, you should have gratitude and not regret. Appreciate your learning lessons, and with our children, when they feel disappointment, explain to them that these moments serve a purpose.

In this brief but insightful episode, Dr. Shaw examines the ways in which we can create more stress than necessary with those who are the closest to us, especially when we live with someone. What happens is that rather than take a deep breath and let it pass when something stressful happens, we can often have a tendency to bring our own baggage to the relationship and elevate the stress of the situation in a way that really could have been avoided. The most important strategy is to simply not take any one moment too seriously. Yes, there are some people in our lives who are such quality people that time spent with them is automatically fulfilling... but the work is in exercising the muscle of restraint and not to over-react.

In this episode, Dr. Shaw re-visits one of her favorite topics and that is how to avoid being the cause of your own suffering. At first, one might think "how am I the cause of my own suffering?" but Dr. Shaw walks us through some clear and simple examples of how our own quick over-reactions can lead us down a path where we meet failure instead of success. It's really another sign that how we show up is what matters. The facts and events of our lives are what they are, but it's how we address what happens that makes all the difference. Later in the podcast, Dr. Shaw points to a parenting application for this same topic.

In this brief but insightful podcast, Dr. Shaw examines some simple ways to improve communication with others, especially others that have a different point of view. She offers clear advice to ways to communicate that avoid bullying or accusations. When we make each other wrong, that doesn't create peace, it creates a battle. When we have respect for other opinions than our own, that makes peace. We need to know when to speak, when to listen and when to agree to disagree.

In this brief but insightful episode, Dr. Shaw discusses how to be energy efficient when it comes to speaking with others. We are not going to speak the same with long-time close friends as we would with casual acquaintances. If you're observing a situation and knowing your audience, you will end up behaving and reacting the way the situation dictates... and that's not being insincere... it's just reality. Knowing when to stay silent, even when you have a lot to say, it's a practice of discernment. When teaching, Dr. Shaw always discouraged tattling as when a child tattles, they are focused on the negative and not the positive. If you are communicating with someone, you need to notice how receptive the other person is. If you are both open and receptive you will have an honest exchange. If you can't say what you want to say, it may just be not the right time to share it. You can agree to disagree... or you can remain open to learning from the other person. In turn, teaching your children how to navigate difficult moments in conversation would be very helpful in their growth and learning. If we can economize our words, we will be better communicators.

In this brief but fascinating episode, Dr. Shaw shares a checklist of things you can do to feel good about yourself on a daily basis. Her list includes: - Volunteer your time for a cause - Connect with nature - Compliment somebody - Express your creativity .....and more. Show yourself that you matter, and the rest shall follow.

Dr. Shaw often uses the expression, "We are what we pay attention to," and in this brief episode, Dr. Shaw cites examples of how that actually works. Whether you are trying to sell your home or keep calm in a challenging situation or whatever it is, the power of thought can truly sway or influence the outcome. As a result, it is important that we model for our children that it can be helpful to understand that our attention and our focus can help us to manifest the results we want. We should discuss and point out for our children that it's best to pay attention to the experiences that fulfill them rather than what defeats them

In this podcast episode, Dr. Shaw addresses the notion of teaching our children good citizenship. She notes that it is similar to good sportsmanship wherein knowing how to lose and to win graciously may be the most important part of playing a game. Teaching good citizenship can start with simple tasks like cleaning the environment, but it can also be demonstrated in so many ways... kindness being an example or showing honesty or respect. Especially now when bullying and (politically) authoritarianism seems to be on the rise, it's important to teach positive behavior socially. Additionally, teaching humanity should not be tied to a material reward. Rewards should be intrinsic, and that needs to be modeled for our children by parents and educators. Also, learning should be about the process and not a product.

In this episode, Dr. Shaw examines the concept of self-doubt. She begins with a reference to one of her favorite books, The Four Agreements, and she talks about a featured notion of that book which is to be impeccable with your words. Her interpretation of that is to not go against yourself, because if you do, with your perception pf self-doubt you may have a self-fulfilling prophecy on your hands. She puts forth that the way to rectify self-doubt is to have self-compassion when having doubt and then practice not having doubt. You can practice not having low self-esteem by marking and noting those moments when you succeed in something. Doubt in and of itself isn't always negative... it can give you caution and help you avoid a dangerous situation. With our children, we are sharing our life lessons and being their mentors, and if we can put them on the best path by having them avoid self-doubt, their journey might just be smoother.

In this highly personal episode, Dr. Shaw reacts to a message that came to her from an acquaintance... the message was supposed to positive, but because the message was rooted in bad sportsmanship and over-zealous pride it triggered a reaction in Dr. Shaw that made her want to remind everyone of the inclusiveness that America was built upon. There are lessons for us all in what she shares here, including for parents raising children in today's divisive culture.