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What is the difference between atomic habits and wise habits? Why does remembering impermanence clearly reveal your values to you? How can you make better energetic choices throughout your day?
In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok speaks about how to use your energy more wisely with Dr. Diana Hill.
Podcast Sponsor: Headway
I want to thank Headway for sponsoring this episode. If you run a group practice, you know that accepting insurance can be overwhelming. Between credentialing, billing, and payroll, the admin side can easily take over your week. Headway was built to help you handle this — and they’re the only platform designed specifically for in-network group practices.
Whether you’re growing your team or running an established practice, Headway makes the business side easier with faster credentialing, higher per-session rates, and biweekly payments your team can count on.
They work with therapy, psychiatric, and hybrid groups — and there are no subscription fees. Just the support you need to run your practice with ease.
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Meet Dr. Diana Hill
Dr. Diana Hill is a clinical psychologist, leadership coach, and founder of the Wise Effort framework—a science-backed approach to living with purpose and vitality. Blending modern psychology with contemplative wisdom, she helps people lead with integrity, stay grounded in values, and take meaningful action.
On her podcast, Diana shares tools for emotional resilience, mindful leadership, and personal growth through honest conversations and practical insights. Whether guiding retreats or coaching individuals, her work invites listeners to do less of what drains them and more of what matters.
Visit Dr. Hill’s website, connect on Instagram, and listen to her podcast.
In This Podcast
- What is the Wise method?
- How to use the Wise Energy Method
- The power of impermanence in finding your values
- The difference between atomic habits and wise habits
- Dr. Diana Hill’s advice to private practitioners
What is the Wise method?
Wise effort has to do with how you are using your energy. (Dr. Diana Hill)
Dr. Hill’s work draws a little from Buddhism, but more so from psychological science, which illustrates how people can unwittingly disperse their energy, leaving them feeling depleted and more easily burnt out.
While energy is something that you can give out, it is also something that can come back and energize you! Dr. Hill’s Wise method is designed to teach you how to do this.
First, you can … ask yourself: “What example came to you about unwise effort?” You know what unwise effort was before [I] defined it, and then, “When was a moment this past week that felt like it was wise effort? What was different about that moment?” (Dr. Diana Hill)
How to use the Wise Energy Method
1 – Get curious about what is pulling you off track
2 – Examine why you are engaging in these behaviors, and which stories you are listening to that encourage you to use your energy unwisely
3 – Remember your values: how do you want to show up?
4 – Get curious again: what reinvigorates you? What adds energy back into your inner world?
Unwise effort would be to enter that [situation] without curiosity, but the nature of curiosity is that it is non-judgmental. (Dr. Diana Hill)
Respond to tough situations with your values and engaged curiosity as a co-created, wise effort.
The power of impermanence in finding your values
Remembering impermanence can help you identify what your real values are.
Remember what matters most in this moment, remembering the impermanence of these children, they’re not going to be here forever. There will be a time when my house is perfect … so I can ground in that, because I do believe that impermanence is a beeline to our values. (Dr. Diana Hill)
Every moment is a choice-point that shows up all over in your day. In them, you can choose the direction and type of energy that you will be using to respond to these situations. Will this energy be wise or unwise?
The difference between atomic habits and wise habits
I think there’s a difference between atomic habits and wise habits. Wise habits are expansive and flexible, and driven by your values, and they have the intrinsic motivator of when I engage in this habit, it feeds back to me. (Dr. Diana Hill)
Dr. Hill makes a clear distinction between atomic habits that are beneficial for others and wise habits, which directly replenish your energy pool and energize you.
They are both necessary practices for building a good life for yourself and those around you, a life that is based on your values.
Dr. Diana Hill’s advice to private practitioners
When it comes to working with clients during a session, it doesn’t have to be so one-way. There is wisdom in the room, and an interplay between the two of you. Allow the energetic flow to run, and ground it in love.
Books mentioned in this episode:
Dr. Diana Hill – Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most
Dr. Diana Hill & Dr. Debbie Sorensen – ACT Daily Journal: Get Unstuck and Live Fully with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
James Clear – Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Francis Weller – In the Absence of the Ordinary: Soul Work for Times of Uncertainty–Essays on Grief, Change, and Sacred Transitions
Sponsors Mentioned in this Episode:
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Useful links mentioned in this episode:
- Check out our Practice Academy!
- Sign Up to the Group Practice Boss Conference!
- Visit Dr. Hill’s website, connect on Instagram, and listen to her podcast.
Check out these additional resources:
GPBC25: Demystifying W2s with Andrew Burdette | POP 1269
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Meet Joe Sanok
Joe Sanok helps counselors to create thriving practices that are the envy of other counselors. He has helped counselors to grow their businesses by 50-500% and is proud of all the private practice owners who are growing their income, influence, and impact on the world. Click here to explore consulting with Joe.
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