Dr. Allen Lycka:

Welcome to "How to Live a Fantastic Life." Today, we have a special guest, Marc Fussell, an expert in mental wellness and founder of the nonprofit Take Two Minutes, a platform designed to enhance mental wellness through positive psychology and technology. Marc has been in IT for 25 years and has a deep passion for improving mental health.

Marc Fussell:

Thank you, Dr. Allen. I appreciate the introduction.

The Birth of "Take Two Minutes"

Dr. Allen Lycka:

Marc, can you share how your passion led to the creation of this platform?

Marc Fussell:

The platform started when my son, Luke, was struggling with mental well-being in high school. I began sending him positive messages daily to lift his spirits, which eventually snowballed into the platform we have today. I leveraged my 29 years of experience in technology to create a system that allowed me to send these messages at appropriate times. The platform grew as more people wanted to receive the messages, and eventually, I collaborated with a psychologist from Duke University to further develop it.

Developing the Platform

Dr. Allen Lycka:

Can you tell us more about the developmental phase?

Marc Fussell:

I initially wrote the messages myself, and over time, counselors and psychologists contributed to the content. The platform now includes a mix of original messages and famous quotes, all designed to promote positivity and mental wellness.

The Importance of Gratitude

Dr. Allen Lycka:

You emphasize gratitude in your platform. Why is it so important?

Marc Fussell:

Gratitude is a powerful tool recommended by many therapists to help people shift their focus to the positive aspects of life. At Take Two Minutes, we have a Gratitude Challenge to help people start a gratitude practice. By recognizing things to be grateful for daily, people can prime their minds to notice positivity more easily, which can help combat negative thought patterns and depression.

Dr. Allen Lycka:

When should one practice gratitude journaling?

Marc Fussell:

We recommend gratitude journaling in the morning to start the day on a positive note. In the evening, we suggest reflecting on "Three Good Things" that happened during the day. This combination helps reinforce positive thinking throughout the day.

BIO:

MARC S. FUSSELL is the visionary founder behind the non-profit Take 2 Minutes, a revolutionary platform designed to enhance mental wellness through positive psychology and technology. With over 25 years of experience in IT, Marc’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for improving mental health have led to creating a suite of tools that leverage daily positive messages, gratitude journaling, meditations, breathing exercises, a grounding exercise, a gratitude challenge, sleep audio, dream journaling, and more to foster happiness and wellbeing. As a dedicated father, his journey into positive psychology was inspired by a personal commitment to support his son’s mental health, evolving into a mission to spread positivity to a broader audience. Marc’s expertise in positive psychology, technology’s role in mental health, and the power of small habits to drive significant life changes make him an inspiring speaker for podcasts focusing on wellness, technology, and personal growth.

Social Media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcfussell/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/take2min/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/take2min/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@take2min