Joining us today is Michele Wahlder, author of Alphatudes: The Alphabet of Gratitude. We’ll talk to Michele about her work, the book, and her future projects.
CCM: Welcome Michele. It is wonderful to have you with us. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
MW: Thank you for having me!
I am a certified life coach, career counselor, licensed psychotherapist, motivational speaker and gratitude enthusiast. I founded Life Possibilities, LLC, a company that guides people to become the highest vision they hold for themselves in their lives, careers and relationships through the vehicles of coaching, seminars and books. I am devoted to helping my clients discover their strengths, passions and purpose so that their outer lives authentically reflect their hearts’ desires. I hold an MS in Counseling and Development from Texas Woman’s University and a BA in Communications from Tulane University, and have worked with numerous organizations, including Match.com, The Nielsen Company, Lucent Technologies and Girls, Inc., to improve individual performance and organizational effectiveness.
In 2008, I was honored as the Global Spokesperson for Bayer’s Global Multiple Sclerosis Campaign. I am engaged to be married this year and live in Dallas, Texas, with my fiancé Michael, “bonus daughter” Zoe and Portuguese water dog Moses.
CCM: What is positive psychology and how can people use it to improve their lives?
MW: Positive psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive. In the past, psychology has little to say about what makes life most worth living. Positive psychology works to correct this imbalance by focusing on strengths. I believe that people can improve their lives, communities and the world by discovering what their natural strengths are, and appreciating and maximizing those strengths. In Alphatudes, I focus people on the gifts present in their lives and the world, thereby giving an optimistic, well-rounded perspective that counters all of the negative news we are exposed to.
CCM: What can you tell us about Alphatudes?
MW: Alphatudes: The Alphabet of Gratitude—26 Solutions to Life’s Little Challenges, reveals the unexpected and simple secret to living a joyful life: gratitude. In a world obsessed with negativity, we must deliberately choose to focus our attention toward the positive.
The good news is the homework is already done! Alphatudes utilizes your earliest grade school victory—the ABCs—to elicit a sustainable shift in your thinking and outlook on life. This book will help you:
- Heighten your awareness and appreciation of life’s daily gifts
- Attract opportunities with a positive mind-set
- Surmount life’s challenges with a healthy reservoir of gratitude
- Find the hidden blessings in difficult situations
- Free yourself from worry, negativity and resentment
CCM: Where did you find the inspiration for this book?
MW: The inspiration for Alphatudes: The Alphabet of Gratitude, my first book, came to me in a most unlikely way. I wasn’t feeling grateful at all. In fact, I had been going through a period of disrupted sleep and was quite cranky over my inability to sleep soundly. I had tried many different techniques, but none had worked. On one particular night, while lying in bed, the concept of gratitude entered my thoughts. I spontaneously started thinking of things I was grateful for using the structure of the alphabet –it was easy and fun! Counting my blessings instead of counting burdens or sheep, turned out to be a habit that had begun to affect my outlook on life in a productive and positive way. I shared the process with clients and friends and they found the process changed their lives for the better. I wanted to share it with a larger audience and began writing Alphatudes.
CCM: What are some of the lessons you want readers to take away from reading Alphatudes?
MW: My desire in creating Alphatudes is that readers learn to find the wellspring of optimism, serenity and prosperity that comes from the simple practice of gratitude. When we consistently focus on the blessings and the abundance in our lives we are actually able to influence our perspective towards positivity and optimism.
