Podcast Summary: Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan

Episode Title: Confidence Classic: How Gratitude Will CHANGE Your Life With Chris Schembra USA Today’s “Gratitude Guru” & Rolling Stone Columnist
Release Date: November 27, 2024
Host: Heather Monahan | YAP Media
Guest: Chris Shambra, Best-Selling Author and Gratitude Expert

1. Introduction to Chris Shambra and His Work

Heather Monahan welcomes Chris Shambra, a renowned gratitude expert featured in USA Today as their “Gratitude Guru” and a columnist for Rolling Stone. Chris is also the founder of the 747 Gratitude Experience, an evidence-based framework designed to strengthen client and team relationships. He shares his impressive credentials, including serving Fortune 50 CEOs, Olympians, and Emmy-winning campaigns.

Notable Quote:

Chris Shambra [00:00]: “You can either wake up in the morning and focus too much on what's going wrong and not appreciate all the good things, or you can wake up and you can appreciate all the good things and not really focus on the stuff that's wrong. The difference is gratitude and ingratitude.”

2. Redefining Gratitude

Heather addresses the common perception of gratitude as superficial or overused, especially on social media. Chris explains his unique, science-based approach to gratitude, distancing it from the traditional “airy-fairy” view.

Discussion Highlights:

• Gratitude vs. Ingratitude: Choosing to focus on appreciation versus despair ([00:00]).
• Chris's transformative dinner party experience where genuine, personal gratitude stories surfaced, revealing gratitude's deeper, more impactful dimensions ([07:01]).

Notable Quote:

Chris Shambra [03:13]: “We think that to be grateful is to be grateful to someone. And this journey, our counterintuitive approach to gratitude, the science and psychology approach to gratitude, started...”

3. The Power of Community and Emotional Connection

Chris elaborates on how creating spaces for genuine gratitude fosters deep emotional connections. His approach emphasizes vulnerability and authentic sharing, leading to powerful community bonds.

Discussion Highlights:

• Hosting dinners where attendees share meaningful gratitude stories, often leading to emotional breakthroughs ([09:15]).
• The impact of emotional connections on workplace dynamics and client relationships, supported by Google's Promotion to Emotion study showing increased purchasing likelihood when emotional ties are strong ([10:15]).

Notable Quotes:

Chris Shambra [09:38]: “Everybody crying. I know it sounds silly and crazy and kind of psychotic to say my goal is to make people cry, but it's literally proof that we're doing something right.”

Heather [12:31]: “Did you feel scared?...”

4. Gratitude During the Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Chris recounts how his gratitude-based framework adapted to virtual settings, sustaining community connection amid widespread isolation.

Discussion Highlights:

• Transitioning from in-person dinners to virtual gratitude experiences, maintaining high engagement and emotional impact ([13:40]).
• Serving tens of thousands of people and hundreds of companies through virtual events, demonstrating the scalability and effectiveness of gratitude practices ([18:29]).

Notable Quote:

Chris Shambra [13:40]: “We hosted a virtual gratitude experience for our community. 50 to 100 people came every night. And one day the phone started ringing...”

5. Personal Struggles and Overcoming Adversity

Chris opens up about his personal battles with loneliness, imposter syndrome, and self-harm, illustrating how gratitude helped him navigate these dark times.

Discussion Highlights:

• Chris's descent into despair despite outward success, leading to self-harm and deep personal reflection ([18:29]).
• The pivotal role of gratitude in shifting his perspective from despair to appreciation, inspired by ancient Stoic principles ([24:16]).
• Heather shares her own experiences with shame and overcoming adversity, reinforcing the universal nature of these struggles ([35:09]).

Notable Quotes:

Chris Shambra [18:48]: “Life isn't supposed to look pretty. It's not supposed to be able to be fixed with a filter. It's not supposed to be pretty this and epic that and monumental that. Life is a form of suffering.”

Heather [35:09]: “Shame is my homeboy. It makes me such a stronger, more confident person.”

6. The Role of Stoicism in Gratitude

Chris discusses how Stoic philosophy has influenced his approach to gratitude, emphasizing resilience and the transformative power of adversity.

Discussion Highlights:

• Influence of modern interpreters of Stoicism like Ryan Holiday and Oliver Berkman on Chris's gratitude framework ([30:29]).
• The Stoic principle that “what stands in the way becomes the way,” integrating it with gratitude to transform negative experiences into growth opportunities ([30:29]).

Notable Quote:

Chris Shambra [30:29]: “The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes. The obstacle to our acting, the impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

7. Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Heather and Chris conclude by emphasizing the importance of embracing and transforming adversity through gratitude. They encourage listeners to engage with gratitude practices to unlock personal and professional growth.

Discussion Highlights:

• Encouragement to read Chris's new book, Gratitude Through Hard Times, for practical tools and reflection questions ([37:09]).
• Heather highlights the significance of owning one’s story and transforming shame into strength ([36:31]).

Final Notable Quote:

Chris Shambra [37:09]: “People won't remember what you did. They won't remember what you said, but they'll always remember how you made them feel.”

Key Insights and Conclusions

• Gratitude as a Transformative Tool: Moving beyond superficial expressions, gratitude can profoundly impact personal well-being and business relationships.

• Community and Emotional Safety: Creating spaces for authentic emotional connections fosters deep bonds and enhances team cohesion.

• Resilience Through Adversity: Embracing Stoic principles and gratitude helps individuals navigate and grow from their darkest moments.

• Practical Application: Chris's frameworks and practices provide actionable strategies for integrating gratitude into daily life and professional settings.

Resources and Further Information

• Chris Shambra's Book: Gratitude Through Hard Times – Available on Amazon and major book retailers.
• Rolling Stone Columns: Accessible by searching “Chris Shambra” on Rolling Stone’s website.
• 747 Gratitude Experience: For events and community engagement, visit Chris Shambra’s LinkedIn or Google his professional profiles.

Closing Thoughts: Heather Monahan and Chris Shambra deliver a compelling conversation on the profound impact of a redefined gratitude practice. By intertwining personal narratives with scientific insights, they offer listeners a roadmap to harnessing gratitude for transformative personal and professional growth.