Episoder
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Episode 3498:
Michael Mehlberg explores how daily planning helps prevent unnecessary failures, increases productivity, and ensures that obstacles don’t derail progress. By following the habits of successful individuals like Benjamin Franklin and Kenneth Chenault, you can create a simple yet powerful routine that sets you up for success every day.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://michaelmehlberg.com/blog/2019/2/28/30-days-of-daily-planning-for-a-better-life
Quotes to ponder:
"If it’s not on your calendar, it’s not a priority. If you don’t have goals for it, you’re probably not thinking about it. If you’re not thinking about it, then it’s probably falling apart."
"By failing to plan, you are planning to fail."
"Before anything else, preparation is the key to success."
Episode references:
Getting Things Done by David Allen: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0143126563
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Episode 3497:
Elsie explores the difference between joy and happiness, revealing how our consumer-driven mindset tricks us into spending money on things that don’t truly fulfill us. By shifting our focus to the present moment, embracing gratitude, and valuing experiences over possessions, we can cultivate a lasting sense of contentment without spending a dime.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.keepthrifty.com/2016/07/21/spending-on-free.html
Quotes to ponder:
"Happiness and joy cost $0."
"Trying to be happy by accumulating possessions is like trying to satisfy hunger by taping sandwiches all over your body."
"Take hold of your own life. See that the whole existence is celebrating. The trees are not serious, the birds are not serious. The rivers and the oceans are wild, and everywhere there is fun, everywhere there is joy and delight."
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Mangler du episoder?
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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3496:
A minor travel inconvenience turns into a lesson in resilience, adaptability, and financial independence as Mr. Money Mustache navigates a night stranded in Houston. By embracing discomfort, leveraging technology, and maintaining a stoic mindset, he transforms obstacles into opportunities proving that a wealthy life is built not on luxury, but on habits and perspective. His experience serves as a reminder that true freedom comes from mastering challenges rather than avoiding them.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2014/09/22/lessons-in-badassity-from-a-night-in-houston/
Quotes to ponder:
"This may not be my idea of perfect comfort and convenience, but it is infinitely nicer than starving to death (or being eaten), and indeed it is just a tiny blip in a life of incredible good fortune."
"Instead of cursing the humidity, I viewed it as a positive opportunity to work on heat tolerance, which is the world’s most efficient air conditioner."
"A wealthy lifestyle is really built on rich habits. And it doesn’t take much of this change in attitude to completely change your life."
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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3495:
Tonya Lester shares a heartfelt story of a timid rescue cat to illustrate how we instinctively offer patience and kindness to others but struggle to extend the same compassion to ourselves. She challenges the myth that self-criticism drives success, advocating instead for self-soothing practices that foster resilience and clarity. With a simple yet powerful exercise, she encourages us to treat ourselves with the same understanding we’d offer a frightened child or a hesitant pet.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.tonyalester.com/blog/on-self-compassion
Quotes to ponder:
"You can be self-compassionate and still have high standards."
"Having self-compassion does not mean shirking responsibilities or lowering your standards. It is about slowing down and attending to yourself before you move on to necessary action."
"There is zero evidence that beating ourselves up emotionally leads to high performance and great results."
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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3494:
Chloe Kunstler explores how times of transition, though often anxiety-inducing, can also be opportunities for growth and self-discovery. By embracing uncertainty rather than resisting it, we can develop resilience, find clarity, and open ourselves to new possibilities. Shifting our mindset allows change to become a gateway to transformation rather than a source of fear.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://tinybuddha.com/blog/a-reason-to-feel-less-anxious-during-times-of-transition/
Quotes to ponder:
"Transitions are often uncomfortable, but they also hold the potential for growth, clarity, and renewal."
"We don’t have to have all the answers right away. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is take one step at a time and trust that the path will unfold."
"The unknown isn’t just a space of uncertainty; it’s also a space of possibility."
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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3493:
Ellen Burgan shares five powerful self-reflection questions to help you pause, reset, and realign when life feels overwhelming. By taking care of yourself first, connecting with others, and letting go of what no longer serves you, you can cultivate joy and inspire those around you.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ifitbringsyoujoy.com/your-best-self/
Quotes to ponder:
"When and where today can I stop, pause, rest, and heal?"
"You showing up as your best, beautiful self WILL make a difference to the world."
"No matter what has happened in the past, you have the power to change your experience from this point forward."
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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3492:
Angel Chernoff breaks down seven common causes of procrastination and offers practical solutions to overcome each one. From breaking complex tasks into manageable steps to reframing our mindset for motivation, these insights can help us take action instead of putting things off.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.marcandangel.com/2010/11/22/7-common-causes-and-proven-cures-for-procrastination/
Quotes to ponder:
"It's impossible to steer a parked car."
"The best way I’ve found to defeat fear is to stare it down. Connect to your fear, feel it in your body, realize it and steadily address it."
"If you know the job has to be done but it’s not emotionally important to you, find a way to make it important."
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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3491:
Chris Lovett shares how shedding physical and mental clutter led to personal freedom, career transformation, and even life-saving impact. By embracing minimalism in both life and work, we can escape the trap of overconsumption, reduce stress, and focus on what truly matters.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://digitalmag.theceomagazine.com/decluttering-your-life-could-save-your-life/
Quotes to ponder:
"A home, a car, financial security and a respectable job title, plus of course high stress, debt, and loads of ‘stuff’."
"Clutter was masquerading as valuable work and we were all complicit."
"Strategic abandonment, ruthless prioritization, simplification agenda - call it what you will. It’s all about doing less, but better."
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Episode 3490:
Rachel Shanken shares practical steps to help you connect with your emotions, from noticing them without judgment to finding personal ways to process and express them. By welcoming your emotions with curiosity and care, you create space for deeper fulfillment and a more authentic experience of life.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://mindbodywise.com/blog/feeling-the-feelings/
Quotes to ponder:
"See if you can release your judgment about feelings or sensations you are having and let go of what others tell you should or shouldn’t be feeling."
"Try taking a moment to thank your mind and body for doing its job in protecting you and for providing you with information about yourself that allows you to live a fuller, richer experience of yourself and your life."
"It’s less important what you do to connect, than the fact that you are in awareness and receptivity about having your feelings."
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Episode 3489:
Rachel Trotta explains how most of our choices are already made on autopilot - just not always in ways that serve us. By identifying triggers, understanding concerns, and creating a plan for change, we can reprogram our automatic behaviors to align with our goals, making better choices with less effort over time.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://racheltrotta.com/making-the-changes-that-matter/living-autopilot-making-better-decisions-every-time/
Quotes to ponder:
"Having some behaviors on autopilot allows us not to 'sweat the small stuff' and frees up mental bandwidth for the bigger picture of life, relationships, ideas, and personal growth, for starters."
"We think we’re being conscious and intentional, but the reality is that our lives our decisions, our thoughts, and our behaviors follow familiar, predictable grooves that we have essentially programmed into our brains through repetition and socialization."
"Changing your 'outer thinking' the you that you perceive as you is easy."
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Episode 3488:
Tynan shares how an early experience at summer camp shaped his lifelong embrace of being different. From a spontaneous decision to braid his hair to embarking on an unconventional pilgrimage in Japan, he highlights the benefits of questioning the norm and forging a unique path. His story is a compelling reminder that the most fulfilling experiences often lie beyond the beaten path.
Read along with the original article(s) here: http://tynan.com/how-i-became-weird
Quotes to ponder:
"You are really cool. Would you mind if I got my hair braided too?"
"There are massive benefits to living differently. It makes you think about things rather than going through life like a sheep."
"99% of the world and the experiences available in it are off the beaten path. To get to them you have to get off the path too."
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Episode 3487:
Real change isn’t just about willpower - it’s a process backed by science. Lisa Firestone, Ph.D., explores psychologist Dr. John Norcross’s research on the five stages of change, from precontemplation to maintenance, revealing why people self-sabotage and how to break the cycle. By understanding these stages and silencing the “critical inner voice,” you can create lasting, meaningful transformation.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.psychalive.org/scientific-approach-to-changing-your-life/
Quotes to ponder:
"You differentiate from old influences or identities and become your true self."
"Change is rarely linear; there are twists and turns."
"The critical inner voice will initially get louder but, like that witch, the voice will slowly melt away, as they persevere in their goals."
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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 3486:Hope isn’t about a perfect future, it’s about embracing uncertainty and seeing possibilities, just as finding the good in others is about focusing on strengths rather than flaws. Allison Carmen explores how shifting our mindset in both areas can reduce stress, improve relationships, and open us to new opportunities. By letting go of rigid expectations and choosing compassion, we create a life filled with resilience, connection, and hope.Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.allisoncarmen.com/why-hope-isnt-about-a-perfect-future/ & https://www.allisoncarmen.com/finding-the-good-in-people/Quotes to ponder:"Hope is not about guaranteeing a specific future; it’s about believing that something good is possible.""Seeing someone’s potential doesn’t mean ignoring their flaws, it means believing in their ability to grow and change.""When we embrace uncertainty, we give ourselves the freedom to experience life as it unfolds, rather than as we demand it to be."Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3485:
Eric Teplitz explores how our ideal abilities whether time travel, mind reading, or infinite energy reveal deeper desires for connection, purpose, and fulfillment. Instead of chasing the impossible, he suggests practical ways to cultivate these "superpowers" in real life.
Quotes to ponder:
"Have you ever fantasized about having a superpower that would allow you to bypass life's challenges with ease?"
"Perhaps the most compelling superpower of all is the ability to feel a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment in our daily lives."
"The closest thing we have to superpowers are the strengths we cultivate within ourselves patience, resilience, kindness, and courage."
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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3484:
Leo Babauta shares a mindful approach to navigating these tough moments with self-compassion, small intentional actions, and a focus on what truly matters. By embracing discomfort and making space for emotions, it's possible to regain clarity and move forward with purpose.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://zenhabits.net/down/
Quotes to ponder:
"When we feel down or drained, we often want to withdraw, shut down, or turn to distractions. But what if we turned toward the experience instead?"
"The answer isn’t to force ourselves to be productive, but to allow ourselves to be present with what’s happening."
"We can move forward with love, even when we feel down, by taking small, gentle steps and not needing to have it all figured out."
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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3483:
Shawna Scafe from Simple on Purpose explains how embracing minimalism helps clear mental clutter, improve decision-making, and create space for what truly matters. By letting go of excess, you gain clarity, peace, and the freedom to live with more intention.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://simpleonpurpose.ca/why-minimalism-changes-life/
Quotes to ponder:
"Minimalism helps you get rid of the distractions that keep you from seeing what you really want in life."
"Clutter is anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living."
"When you remove the excess, you create space, for peace, for joy, and for the things that truly matter."
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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3482:
Chris Guillebeau explores the inevitability of setbacks and the resilience needed to overcome them. By reframing failure as a learning experience and adopting a mindset of persistence, challenges become stepping stones rather than obstacles. Success isn’t about avoiding failure, it’s about rising every time you fall.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://chrisguillebeau.com/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again
Quotes to ponder:
"Falling down is inevitable. Getting back up is a choice."
"Every failure contains the seeds of a future success if you’re willing to keep going."
"You don’t have to enjoy failure, but you do have to learn from it."
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Episode 3481:
Finding belonging is a lifelong pursuit, and Dr. Kelly Flanagan explores two very different paths to it. Some seek connection through aggression and conformity, while others embrace vulnerability, allowing rejection to refine their circles of belonging. Through powerful stories including one from motivational speaker Nick Santonastasso this piece challenges us to choose authenticity over approval, faith over fear, and true connection over performative acceptance.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://drkellyflanagan.com/how-to-find-belonging-either-beautifully-or-violently/
Quotes to ponder:
"Who do you become in order to attract companionship? What do you do in order to keep your companionship?"
"The other way is to show up as you actually are, with all your countless imperfections and inabilities and insecurities just laid bare, vulnerable, and alone and to allow the rejecting of you to become the thing that purifies your circles of belonging."
"As your sense of belonging grows, your faith in everything else does, too."
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Episode 3480:
Derek Sivers shares insights on the power of relaxation, revealing how a calm mind leads to better decisions, creativity, and happiness. He also explores how small, consistent actions shape identity, emphasizing that who we become is determined by our daily choices rather than grand gestures. By embracing both concepts, we can cultivate a more intentional and fulfilling life.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://sivers.org/relax & https://sivers.org/small-actions-changing-identity
Quotes to ponder:
"Relaxed is smart. Tense is dumb."
"You don’t change yourself by thinking. You change yourself by doing."
"Your actions are votes for the kind of person you want to be."
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Episode 3479:
Briana Harry explores the struggle of confronting and disarming the ego, especially when it resists criticism and personal growth. She reflects on how insecurity can fuel defensiveness, particularly in creative pursuits, and emphasizes the importance of self-honesty, openness to feedback, and doing the work to improve. True confidence isn’t about avoiding critique, it’s about embracing it as a tool for growth.
Read along with the original article(s) here: http://www.yemash.com/writers-corner/the-big-bad-ego
Quotes to ponder:
"I’ve found that I don’t like to be challenged. Which is kind of bad considering as people we should want the other people around us to challenge us in a way that makes us better, right?"
"Your ego is only a big bad monster because it feels the need to protect you from the pain of not being good enough."
"When you know you haven’t put your all into your work, and when you go to show it off and people don’t like it, the pain is not in you not being good enough, it is in you not doing enough."
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