36. The Trap of ”When, Then” Thinking and the Tool That Set Me Free (My Story of Living Abroad)

2025-08-24

Thanks for listening to Episode 36 of The Take Action Toolkit. The Take Action Toolkit 4 Week Group Coaching Program is OPEN!!! Sign up here: https://stan.store/sarahlovecoaching/p/the-take-action-toolkit This episode is for you if... You find yourself thinking “I’ll be happy when…” and struggle to feel content right now. You’ve achieved goals or milestones but the satisfaction never seems to last. You’re curious about how to feel more grounded and present in your everyday life.

Thanks for listening to Episode 36 of The Take Action Toolkit.

The Take Action Toolkit 4 Week Group Coaching Program is OPEN!!! Sign up here: https://stan.store/sarahlovecoaching/p/the-take-action-toolkit

This episode is for you if...

You find yourself thinking “I’ll be happy when…” and struggle to feel content right now.
You’ve achieved goals or milestones but the satisfaction never seems to last.
You’re curious about how to feel more grounded and present in your everyday life.
You want a simple positive psychology tool to help you enjoy the moment more deeply.

In this episode, we dive into...

Living abroad and being addicted to travel, to now being happy in my daily life
The trap of “when, then” thinking
A personal turning point that shifted everything
The benefits of savouring
3 simple tools to help you savour more

Research and theories mentioned:

3 Good Things:

Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress. American Psychologist, 60, 410–421. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.60.5.410

The benefits of developing an increased savouring ability:

Camgoz, S. M. (2014). The role of savoring in work–family conflict. Social Behavior and Personality, 42, 177–188. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2014.42.2.177

Bryant, F. B., & Veroff, J. (2007). Savoring: A new model of positive experience. Erlbaum Associates.

Bryant, F. B. (2003). Savoring Beliefs Inventory (SBI): A scale for measuring beliefs about savouring. Journal of Mental Health, 12, 175–196. https://doi.org/10.1080/0963823031000103489

Smith, J. L., & Hollinger-Smith, L. (2015). Savoring, resilience, and psychological well-being in older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 19(3), 192–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2014.986647

Eisner, L. R., Johnson, S. L., & Carver, C. S. (2009). Positive affect regulation in anxiety disorders. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 23(5), 645–649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2009.02.001

Quoidbach, J., Wood, A., & Hansenne, M. (2009). Back to the future: The effect of daily practice of mental time travel into the future on happiness and anxiety. Journal of Positive Psychology, 4, 349–355. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760902992365

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