Inspiring Women Podcast Episode 56

Forgiveness and the Art of Improv: How to Laugh and Let Go

On this episode of Inspiring Women, host Betty Collins was joined by Andrea Flack-Wetherald, social worker turned comedian, speaker & bestselling author. Andrea shared insights on forgiveness from her book, The Funny Thing About Forgiveness, forgiveness as a leadership skill, the five core principles of mindful, improv thinking, and much more.

Betty’s Show Notes

Andrea Flack-Wetherald shares her insights on forgiveness and the importance of improv in everyday life. According to Andrea, forgiveness is often overlooked as a soft skill, but it is crucial for personal and professional growth. She explores intentional growth from pain rather than absolution, analyzing what causes pain and asking empowering questions rather than perpetuating a story of resentment and shame.

Flack-Wetherald also shares the core five principles of mindful, improv thinking: choosing curiosity instead of judgment, honoring your scene partner, staying in the present moment, listening beyond your comfort zone, and receiving everything as a gift. These principles can be applied to personal and professional relationships to improve communication and understanding.

Andreas’s message of forgiveness and improv thinking is timely and relevant in a world where fear and uncertainty seem to be increasing. By choosing curiosity, staying present, and listening beyond our comfort zones, we can improve our communication and understanding with others, and grow both personally and professionally. As Andrea states, “We are just as much a part of the world we aim to make better as anybody else is.”