Paths to wellbeing

Paths to wellbeing

This episode dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of building a "life above zero" – one that’s about flourishing, not just escaping misery. Guided by host Lynne Malcolm, you’ll hear from leading voices in positive psychology and coaching who question whether chasing simple happiness is really the point.

Martin Seligman sets the tone by arguing that "human flourishing, wellbeing is what we can hope for for our future and that it's something well over and above the absence of misery." Anthony Grant then reframes happiness as "really the life well lived", rooted in values, purpose and realistic acceptance of tough times.

He shares practical experiments, like having people write their own obituary, gratitude visits, and forgiveness letters – all simple but demanding exercises shown to lift wellbeing and even shift brain activity and stress hormones. Associate Professor Diane Vella-Broderick brings in hard data, describing structured trials where interventions such as "three good things" consistently enhance wellbeing and reduce depression. Her team’s use of real-time mobile check-ins shows that context matters, and that methods work differently for different people.

The focus then moves to coaching. Sean O’Connor explains how workplace coaching helps staff handle stress, complexity and change, with measurable ripple effects on colleagues’ wellbeing and leadership quality. Talent director Alicia Pertel shares how a coaching culture at Lion supports staff juggling multiple roles, growing resilience and feeling able to "bring the whole of me to work".

To wrap things up, Anthony Grant offers self-coaching tips: step back and evaluate life, take personal responsibility, set flexible values-based goals, break change into small steps, and "pull a bit of positivity back in the world" through tiny everyday acts of kindness. If wellbeing is more than just feeling happy, what’s one small change you’re ready to make towards a more fulfilling, life-above-zero future?