Donna Ashworth | The Art of Being Easily Pleased

What if being easily pleased is a strength - and one we can learn? Bestselling poet Donna Ashworth joins Michelle Ford to talk about her latest book, The Art of Being Easily Pleased, and finding magic in the minutiae: those small, everyday moments we can so easily miss. In a warm and thought-provoking conversation, we explore how to loosen the grip of our inner critic, question the labels we were given as children and make more room for gratitude, wonder and joy. Being called “quiet”, “wilful” or “difficult” needn’t define who we become. Donna shares her perspective on attention and the “red car” principle - how we start noticing more of what we’re looking for - and how that idea informs her approach to changing negative thought patterns. We also ask how we can welcome happiness when the world feels overwhelming, and whether we were ever equipped to carry so much news, worry and suffering. Along the way, Donna reads poems from her new book, including reflections on stardust, ancestry and the connections that reach far beyond our own lives. Could thinking about the generations before us help us feel a little less alone? In this episode: Finding everyday joy without pretending life is always easy. Letting go of childhood labels and allowing yourself to change. Gratitude, attention and interrupting toxic thought loops. Donna’s thoughts on the reticular activating system and noticing the good. Protecting your capacity for joy amid an overwhelming news cycle. Poetry, the power of opening a book at random and finding words when you need them. Karmic Tracks, The Moment Is You, and our connections to the universe and one another. The comfort of imagining a loving army of ancestors walking beside you. An uplifting conversation about paying attention, feeling connected and allowing small pleasures to matter. The Art of Being Easily Pleased by Donna Ashworth is Donna's latest book - a manifesto on finding joy and pleasure in everyday life. Enjoyed listening? Follow Michelle Ford Interviews for more honest, inspiring conversations about life, confidence and reinvention - plus Book Club episodes with the authors behind your next great read. Share this episode with someone who could use a little more wonder in their day. 💬 Connect with Us: Follow Michelle Ford for more author interviews, book recommendations, radio and podcast content, and conversations about books, life, confidence and everything in between. 📸 Instagram: @michellefordofficial @michellefordinterviewspod 🎙️ Podcast: Michelle Ford Interviews 📺 YouTube: @michellefordinterviews 🌟 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellefordofficial ✉️ Email: [email protected] 🛜 Website: michellefordinterviews.com ✍️ Media/brand enquiries: @kindlingtalent Produced by: Tindall Productions 👉 Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and share it with a friend who could use a little midlife magic. Explore the 'midlife library' at www.twowomenchatting.com Connect with Michelle at [email protected] for collaborations, ideas, and comments! Remember to rate, review, and share our show to join the laughter-filled conversation about midlife empowerment and beyond... Follow Michelle on Instagram at @michellefordofficial or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.