How to 'Thrive' with Agapi Stassinopoulos

The acclaimed author and inspirational speaker invites us on a reflective journey to reconnect with our true selves

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27 May 2016

Nelly Skoufatoglou

Arianna Huffington's best-selling book Thrive has been a game-changer in the personal development field.

Drawing on the book's endorsement, Arianna and her sister Agapi Stassinopoulos developed an in-depth workshop to encourage people to redefine and pursue success. A hit in the US, the workshop has come halfway across the world in Australia for Business Chicks with Agapi, who, apart from penning motivational books and blogging for The Huffington Post, is also an inspiring teacher, conducting seminars worldwide for both men and women.

"The Thrive seminar series was basically intended for corporate America employees," Athens-born and raised Agapi Stassinopoulos tells Neos Kosmos.

"The book is generally aimed to people who have made their work their number one priority, and wish to regain their life."

Through Thrive, Agapi and Arianna redefine the meaning of success and focus on the values that really matter in life, asking people fundamental questions.

"A lot of people are suffering from stress and burnouts on a day-to-day basis, something that is costing companies and countries a lot of money in health insurance," she emphasises.

"It's costing people their health and their well-being and their fulfillment, ultimately. We shouldn't let things get into the track of believing that the more we work, the more we compete and the more we accomplish, the more successful we become. We isolate ourselves, feeling alone, disconnected, and unheard; and in doing so we immobilise our spirit, stifle our authentic expression, and cut off our joy," Agapi says.

Behind the sisters' early success has always been their mother, Elli Stassinopoulos. They learned the essential truths of happiness through the examples of wisdom, caring, playfulness and generosity they witnessed in their surrounds, realising that everyone is born with an open heart, but quickly learn to put conditions on their happiness, with comparisons, judgement, self-doubt and by allowing fear or entitlement or self-righteousness to take hold.

"My mother would often tell us to take care of our 'capital'. She wasn't referring to money or power," she explains.

"For her, the real capital was you, and you had to look after yourself. She would preach about sleep, eating well, exercising, interacting with energising and non-toxic people, and taking time to reflect and reconnect with ourselves. She was adamant about it."

In her own personal quest, Agapi entered the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London at the age of 18 and then moved on to receive her Masters in Psychology from the University of Santa Monica.

Arianna Huffington

While her sister, Arianna Huffington, was doing research for her book about Greek mythology, Agapi's own love for the gods and goddesses led her to pen Greek Archetypes, Conversations with the Goddesses and Gods and Goddesses in Love which were in fact turned into PBS specials. Agapi also co-produced and co-hosted a documentary titled Quest for the Gods, shot on location in Greece.

"What we really value, what defines us, what enhances our well-being, and what really makes us thrive is often out of sync with how we conduct our lives and what we spend our time doing," she reflects.

"These are questions the Greeks asked first. Our philosophers Plato, Socrates analysed the value of having perspective in life thousands of years ago."The sisters realised early on that with revaluation one can reach to the centre of their existence. They delved into the pillars of meditation; a natural way of going into a deeper state.

"Taking baby steps and building keystone habits to create the life we want and replace the life we settle for is essential," Agapi goes on. Creating daily practices that restore us back to ourselves is one of the keys to work-life integration, she says. Implementing new daily habits like getting more sleep, putting our devices down one hour before bed, mindful exercise, prayer, reading, cooking even, help us become more present.

The tendency of constantly being on our devices, especially smartphones, is not allowing the brain to relax and recharge. Getting off social media at least one hour before going to sleep will have a positive impact.

"We are experiencing the addiction of being constantly connected. Our interest must be constantly reciprocated. When something becomes a habit we get withdrawals," Agapi admits.

"This dependency takes us out of our own ability to fall back and think, be creative. We stopped reflecting and reading, we are constantly comparing. We are all in the same boat navigating throughout living, drowning while losing that essential connection with our selves."

Going to bed tired and exhausted and stressed means the next day people are bound to make decisions that are not really supported. Just as a good day starts the night before, the sisters believe that by each seemingly minor action people can create the life they want.

"Everything is possible when we are giving ourselves the opportunity to operate off a surplus instead of a fight or flight mentality. A key-habit activity is a form of meditation.

"Meditating does not mean going quiet but going deeper," Agapi argues. "Inside us we find the strength, the courage and the wisdom, so when we lose contact with our inner self and operate from the surface, our lives become turbulent. Without comprehending, reassessing and reprogramming, we keep repeating the same mistakes."

The Sydney Business Chicks Thrive Workshop with Agapi Stassinopoulos will take place on Tuesday 31 May from 8.45 am to 12 noon at the Hilton Sydney, 488 George Street, Sydney.

For more information on THRIVE seminars, contact agapi@thrivingseminars.com.

Source: How to 'Thrive' with Agapi Stassinopoulos