Episode 173

How to Defuse From Unhelpful Thoughts

Published on: 20th October, 2025

Are your thoughts holding you back from doing wise effort? In this episode of The Wise Effort Show, Dr. Diana Hill shares how our thoughts can both facilitate and hinder our efforts. Drawing from ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), contemplative science, and her insights from going on a surf trip with her 16-year-old son and three of his buddies, Dr. Hill provides practical strategies for working with your mind so you can run your life, not let your thoughts control it. Learn about the three Cs of cognitive inflexibility—confirmation, coherence, and compliance effects—and discover how shifting perspectives and breaking mental rules can lead to greater cognitive flexibility. This episode is full of insights to help you step back from your busy thoughts and focus on what truly matters.

In This Episode, We Explore:

  • Her Insights from a Surfing Trip
  • Cognitive Flexibility: The Three Cs
  • Breaking the Rules
  • Practical Tips for Cognitive Flexibility

Suggested Next Episode:

Episode 171: Openness Is The New Mindfulness With Jonathan Schooler

Related Resources

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Thanks to the team, Craig and Ashley Hiatt, and Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.

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    About the Podcast

    The Wise Effort Show
    The Science and Practice of Putting Your Energy Where It Matters Most
    The Wise Effort Show with Dr. Diana Hill is a show about how to live wisely.

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    About your host

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    Diana Hill

    Dr. Diana Hill, PhD is a clinical psychologist, executive consultant, and international trainer who helps leaders and teams navigate complexity without precedent. Her Wise Effort Method addresses a problem most high performers recognize immediately: the drive that got them here is now working against them. A leading voice in the evolution of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, she co-leads ACT BootCamp with ACT founder Dr. Steven Hayes, trains the trainers, and serves as an instructor for the University of California's Climate Resilience Initiative. She has led executive retreats and intensives for leadership teams including Deckers Brands, Lightfully Behavioral Health, and YPO. Diana is the author of Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most and three other books, hosts the Wise Effort podcast, and has been featured on NPR, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal. With over 20 years of yoga and meditation practice, she teaches from embodied experience rather than theory alone — her sessions are experiential and transformational.