Episode 145

How to stay happy even in unsupportive environments

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Have you ever worked hard to generate happiness in the mornings, but seem to lose grasp of it throughout the day? Tune in to discover how your brain is wired to mimic your environment and how you can turn that around!

Maintaining happiness in unsupportive environments can be challenging, but it is not impossible. Here are some tips to help you stay happy and positive despite the negativity around you:

  1. Make a list of "Happy Activities": Write down 5 or 6 things you can do when you feel yourself falling off your "happy horse." Looking at pictures, standing in the sun, listening to uplifting music are a few I've used. This list helps prepare you for the moments when happiness begins to feel hard to reach.
  2. Practice gratitude: Taking the time to reflect on what you're grateful for can help shift your focus away from negative experiences and towards the positive aspects of your life.
  3. Focus on self-care: Feel the warm glow of happiness in your heart and imagine carrying it with you throughout the day. Let the glow shine from the inside out and imagine it spreading to those around you.
  4. Set boundaries: It is important to set boundaries with people who bring negativity into your life. This could mean limiting your time spent with them or communicating your expectations for how they treat you when you can.
  5. Cultivate resilience: Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity. By developing resilience skills, you can better handle the stress and negativity in your environment.
  6. Create a support system: Have a joy buddy at the office or on via phone. Set it up to intentionally send happy memes and texts to each other throughout the day to help keep the vibe going.

Remember that happiness is a choice, and it is possible to find it even in unsupportive environments. By focusing on positivity, self-care, and building resilience, you can maintain your happiness and well-being.

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About your host

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Lindsay Sutherland

Lindsay Sutherland is a business consultant, speaker, and entrepreneur dedicated to helping business owners build companies that run with freedom, purpose, and profit. With over 20 years of leadership and sales experience in the automotive industry, Lindsay understands the challenges of growing a business that feels more like a burden than a blessing. After leaving corporate life, she co-founded Biz in a Box Solutions, a CRM and automation company that empowers small service-based businesses to streamline their operations and reclaim their time.

Her signature consulting program, The Clockwork Method, guides overwhelmed business owners through the process of systemizing, scaling, and stepping back into the true role of visionary leader. Lindsay’s approach blends practical business systems with faith-led alignment, helping entrepreneurs not only make more money but also create a business that supports their life — not the other way around.

As the host of The Freedom Entrepreneur Podcast, Lindsay shares strategies, stories, and mindset shifts that challenge conventional thinking and inspire business owners to grow without burning out. She also co-owned Off Grid Unlimited Installations, an electrical and renewable energy company in Idaho, where she lives with her husband and four children on their family farm.

Passionate about redefining success beyond hustle culture, Lindsay helps leaders build businesses rooted in clarity, sustainability, and freedom. Whether she’s speaking on stage, consulting with executives, or mentoring faith-led entrepreneurs, her mission is the same: to help people transform their business into a vehicle for purpose, profit, and lasting impact.