We all know smart people make dumb decisions. But why? Why do gamblers double down when they should walk away? Why do we check our phones 58 times a day? Why do people micromanage their partners and get confused when they become distant? We are all suckers for the illusion of control. We are convinced that our meddling is needed to achieve our desired outcome. Sadly this misses the important fact that we are causing all our problems. The episode covers all sorts of personal problems from addictions to relationships, investing to anger and how control is at the heart of our problems. Whether you are high on neuroticism or curious about how the mind works we have a tonne of good stuff: Recognize your "control triggers" – situations where your grip tightens and makes things worse Practice intentional surrendering in low-stakes situations to build your letting-go muscles Replace control with curiosity by asking "What happens if I don't try to fix this?" Learn to stop wrestling with life and start dancing with it. Upgrade to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Related Episodes 5 Science-backed ways to stop disappointing yourself - Spotify - Apple The Psychology of Mistakes - 7 types of lazy thinking - Spotify - Apple 4 Hidden fears that sabotage your life - and what to do about them - Spotify - Apple Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: The psychology of control - why your brain overcomplicates everything Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Why Smart People Make Dumb Decisions 00:30 The Science of Control 02:00 Personal Story: The Quad Bike Incident 05:51 The Illusion of Control 07:02 Addiction and Control 09:03 Reactance Theory: Why We Rebel 10:14 Attachment Styles and Control in Relationships 12:32 Paradoxical Intentions: Embracing the Opposite 15:30 Understanding and Managing Anger 18:43 Quieting the Default Mode Network 20:18 The Joy of Surrender 21:09 Show Updates: Embracing Change 22:58 The New Show Concept: The Psychology of Everything 25:25 The Importance of Growth and Change 26:03 Final Thoughts on Control and Surrender Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if misery wasn’t something that happened to you—but something you unknowingly created? We all have habits that screw us over—whether it’s blaming others, scrolling mindlessly on Instagram, or convincing ourselves that “next week” is when we’ll finally start living. In this episode, I’m calling out the seven most toxic habits that keep people stuck in their own misery - they're probably (some) things you’re doing right now. I’ll break down why these habits exist, how society reinforces them, and what you can do to stop being your own worst enemy. Takeaways: Why waiting for “perfect” is the ultimate excuse for staying stuck. How playing the victim robs you of your power (and your future). The brutal truth about self-care—and why it’s not what you think. Ready to ditch the habits holding you back? Dig in =) Upgrade to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Related Episodes 5 Science-backed ways to stop disappointing yourself - Spotify - Apple The Psychology of Mistakes - 7 types of lazy thinking - Spotify - Apple 4 Hidden fears that sabotage your life - and what to do about them - Spotify - Apple Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: 7 habits of highly miserable people Chapters: 00:00 Stop screwing yourself over 01:19 Bad habit #1 - Lying to ourselves 04:22 Bad habit #2 - Procrastination 07:48 Bad habit #3 - Victimhood and avoiding responsibility 10:19 Bad habit #4 - Money 13:26 Bad habit #5 - Isolation 18:04 Bad Habit #6 - Social Media 20:48 Bad habit #7 - Ignoring real self-care 25:15 Bonus Habit - Fixed Mindset and resistant to change 26:42 Send off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever feel like life’s pulling you in a direction you didn’t choose? Like you’re paddling against a current, but the harder you try, the further you drift? From social media algorithms to career paths, we’re all caught in currents we barely notice. They can sweep us toward growth or drag us into chaos. Whether it’s influencers chasing clicks or careers locking us into identities we never wanted, these currents are everywhere. But here’s the good news: just like in the ocean, you can learn to spot them and decide which ones to ride. By the end of this episode, you’ll have the tools to navigate life’s most powerful force—momentum—and steer toward a future you actually want. Takeaways: How small decisions snowball into massive consequences (good or bad). Why blaming “the system” won’t save you—and what will? How to identify the “currents” shaping your decisions and behaviours. Once you see these currents, you’ll never look at your life the same way again. Upgrade to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: Fantastic Boosts and Where to Find Them Chapters: 00:00 Can We Control Our Direction? 01:51 A Near-Death Experience 04:09 Social Media's Fast-Moving Currents 06:03 The Dangers of Extremification 07:53 Radicalization of Creators 09:32 Famous Figures and Extremification 12:07 The Weirding Effect of Content 14:28 Navigating Career Currents 15:30 The Vortex of Unwanted Opportunities 21:31 The Power of Positive Currents 24:13 Choosing Fast-Moving Currents 25:13 Future Career Opportunities 27:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How to boost creativity and productivity with a gentle yet dedicated approach to getting the best of yourself Fun fact: The average person has 6,200 thoughts per day. Most creatives capture zero of them. What if the secret to unleashing your creative potential isn't finding inspiration, but building systems that make creativity inevitable? That’s why we have Jeremy Enns on the show. He's built a system that turns random thoughts into profitable content. Every. Single. Day. We cover: How to stop hoarding mediocre ideas and start executing great ones Why your "perfect" creative routine is killing your productivity The "Marathon Project" framework that makes average creators extraordinary Driven by his creative output, Jeremy’s latest business makes over 100k in profit a year, . On the journey, he’s also started and scrapped over 20 creative projects and coached several hundred clients on improving their creative work. This episode isn't just theory. It's his exact process. The same one that's helped him: Write a daily newsletter Build multiple 6-figure businesses Master sustainable creative productivity No fluff. No "productivity hacks." Just systems that scale. Perfect for: Content creators, creative entrepreneurs, and anyone who's ever stared at a blank page wondering where all their good ideas went. Time to turn your creative chaos into content that converts. Whether you're struggling with creative block, seeking to optimize your productivity workflow, or aiming to develop a sustainable content creation strategy, this episode provides actionable frameworks to enhance your creative output. Premium listeners get access to an exclusive 15-minute segment covering: A deep dive about deep dives Where burnout comes from and what to do about it How to love your creative work Upgrade to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: Systems to unlock your creative genius w/ Jeremy Enns Chapters: 00:00 Creative Productivity - Jeremy Enns 03:29 Where do good ideas come from 07:08 Organising ideas 07:41 Capturing Ideas on the Fly 09:18 Organizing and Searching Ideas 10:21 Daily Writing and Idea Generation 15:25 Rating and Filtering Ideas 19:23 Daily Writing and Publishing 23:35 Marathon Projects and Skill Development 26:46 Habit Systems for Productivity 30:41 The Importance of Identity in Creativity 35:33 Navigating Creative Evolution 35:43 The Myth of Perfect Structure 36:12 Adapting to Change and Staying Relevant 36:27 Pursuing Continuous Improvement 36:50 Reinvigorating Creative Projects 38:40 Self-Awareness and Productivity 40:32 Harnessing Self-Knowledge 43:25 The Joy of Deep Dives 46:58 Balancing Creative Output 46:58 Avoiding Burnout 48:31 The Power of Questions 48:31 Final Thoughts and Reflections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn the 5 laws of creation and how to apply a growth mindset to improving anything you do. The awkward thing about finding our calling. Is that our calling isn’t out there looking for us. It's easy to be stuck in mediocrity waiting for the perfect moment or for that ambiguous feeling that we are totally ready and blessed with pre-ordained approval to start our ideas. These days knowledge is abundant and easily accessible. What's scarce is the willingness to show up, create, and launch our thoughts into the world before we feel ready. In this episode: How the world is changing and the new laws of opportunity Instead of waiting for permission, you can create opportunities for yourself How to stop asking "Am I good enough?" and build a framework to continuously improve at anything you do. Upgrade to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: The Content Games: May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor Chapters: 00:00 Law of creation 02:16 Benefits of Showing Up 03:35 Lessons Documenting and Sharing Your Process 06:07 Harry Stebbings' and 20VC 07:15 Go Niche and Share Your Process and Ideas. 08:32 Accountability and Attracting Opportunities 09:34 How to Know What You're Interested In 10:56 Waiting for Your Calling Won't Work 13:11 What the Law of Creation Means 15:09 Part 2 - Improve anything you work on 15:24 Sharing Ideas 16:44 Product Market Fit 18:25 Mom Test 19:39 Iterating Your Idea 21:31 Feedback is a Gift 22:37 Growing the Growth Mindset Podcast 25:02 If Your Work Isn't Growing, It's Dying 25:33 Biggest Myth in Content Creation 27:11 Don't Feel Any Attachment to Any Ideas You Have 30:48 Lessons from Mr. Beast 32:09 Don't be Insane 35:32 Premium offer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Navigating the great paradoxes of the heart. What if everything we believed about perfect relationships was exactly what held us back from creating meaningful ones? Consider a few classic paradoxes: In our quest for closeness, we often create distance Distance often brings you closer Your partner's annoying habits, might actually be their best qualities.... This episode explores the delicate threads that weave together seemingly contradictory truths in relationships, Key topics: Learn to identify when your "weaknesses" are actually relationship superpowers Stop trying to fix your relationship and start understanding its paradoxes Why being "needy" isn't always bad (and why pretending you're not is worse) Get real about what healthy conflict actually looks like These paradoxes aren't problems to solve, but gateways to understanding the profound complexity of human connection. Time to stop chasing perfection and start building something real. Your next breakthrough in understanding relationships isn't in resolving these paradoxes – it's in learning to dance with them. Upgrade to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: The Matrix of Modern Love: Psychology's Guide to 18 Relationship Mysteries Chapters: 00:00 Strength through vulnerability 02:43 The closest cuts are the Deepest 04:05 Disgusting is Delightful 05:14 Craving for attention vs. repulsing against it 06:54 Distance breeds Closeness 07:44 Unity Needs Conflict 08:36 Accepting vs Growing a Partner 10:17 Imperfect is perfect 11:16 Reality vs Expectations 12:56 Equality and diversity 14:49 Relationships are not easy 15:39 Selfishness to be altruistic 17:14 Nurture Transparency and Privacy 18:45 Paradox of Commitment for Freedom 19:42 Comfort vs passion 20:50 Independence vs Interdependence 21:56 Life is beautiful but cruel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The paradox of loneliness: The more we fear loneliness, the more we scare people away. Connection is our birthright. Yet in our rush to avoid loneliness, we often make things worse. This is a story about the paradox at the heart of human relationships. But it's also a story about possibility. Key takeaways: Practical strategies to build confidence and attract healthy relationships The 7 hidden ways fear of loneliness sabotages relationships Understanding the distinction between solitude and loneliness Building the courage to be authentically seen Creating relationships that enhance rather than complete you We're diving deep into the psychology of fear, relationships, and mindsets. Whether you want stronger relationships romantically, with friends, or at work. This episode will help you learn about the subtle balance of independence, co-dependence and interdependence. Upgrade to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: Relationship Psychology: How to Stop Being Needy and Start Being Magnetic Chapters: 00:00 The dichotomy of friendship 02:51 7 Areas where fear of loneliness will cause us pain 03:36 Pushes us into making poor choices 04:02 Compunding small problems 04:33 Developing weakness in asserting our needs 04:55 Learned helplessness 05:28 Loss of freedom and missed potential connections 05:47 Fundamental disconnection from ourself 06:08 Acceptance of mediocrity 07:12 Forgiveness and evolution in friendships 09:05 The ultimate touchstone is witness 10:22 Adopting a growth mindset 15:41 How to build healthy long-term relationships 16:19 Communication strategies 17:45 Express appreciation more often 18:27 Deepening our understanding 20:11 Creating shared experiences 21:24 Solve companionship by overcoming loneliness 22:03 Trust yourself and take that leap forward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

76% of people regularly break promises to themselves - Why do we keep letting ourselves down? The uncomfortable truth about why your self-improvement efforts keep failing: it's not about motivation. It's about managing the gap between who you are and who you want to be. This episode breaks down the exact psychology behind why we disappoint ourselves (hint: your brain is lying to you) and gives you 5 practical systems to fix it. No fluff. No guru BS. Just actionable frameworks. What you'll learn: How to kill your past self (respectfully) Five counter-intuitive strategies that actually work (backed by science) How to upgrade your mental software without becoming a self-help robot Upgrade to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: 5 Science-Backed Ways to Stop Disappointing Yourself - Live Gracefully Chapters: 00:00 W disappointing yourself 01:09 #1 - Past self vs. present self 02:26 Lesson 1 - Live in reality and change it if you don't like it 04:11 #2 - Future self vs the present 04:37 James Clear's advice 06:17 Lesson 2 - Forget any ideas of your future self that do not align with actions that you want to do in the present 07:28 #3 - Speaking vs. being heard 08:32 If you want to give opinions, it helps if you have authority 11:15 Lesson 3 - Actions are louder than words 11:22 #4 - Taking ownership 13:27 Lesson #4 Don't blame others 15:23 #5 - Expectation vs Reality 17:53 Systems to achieve your goals 20:28 Lessons 5 - Success is about systems, not expectations 20:54 Summary 22:36 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A high IQ isn't useful if you can't make decent life decisions. Drawing from neuroscience and behavioural psychology, this episode delivers practical frameworks for cognitive development. You'll discover: No-nonsense tools to stop overthinking and start actually learning from your mistakes Real-world examples of how reflection beats raw intelligence A simple system for turning life's patterns into practical wisdom Research-basked methods for implementing reflection practices and deliberate learning Backed by real examples and zero fluff, this episode shares timeless principles that work for anyone, regardless of IQ. Perfect for ambitious professionals seeking to optimize their cognitive performance and decision-making capabilities. Upgrade to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Sponsors: 💼 LinkedIn Jobs - The largest professional network in the world Advertise your job for free - LinkedIn.com/growth Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: Intelligence By Design: 10 Ways to Engineer Your Mind For Wisdom Chapters: 00:00 Making more intelligent decisions 01:05 Behaving intelligently 08:31 Spotting patterns in your environment and learning from them 12:27 Experiment and adapt quickly 13:54 Lesson about spotting patterns 16:57 Put more time 18:55 Be an intelligent investor 25:32 Questions that will give a motivational boost if you're feeling lost 27:10 Journaling prompts 29:31 Feedback from peers and friends 32:05 Therapy and coaching 33:40 Deliberate practice 37:10 Send off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ego loves company. But success? Success loves silence. Ever noticed how the loudest person in the room rarely has the most interesting thing to say? There's a reason for that. And it's the same reason why Elizabeth Holmes is in prison while the world's best operators are probably people you've never heard of. In this episode: - The "Washington Protocol": How America's first president used strategic humility to build an empire (and why modern leaders keep missing the point) - Lehman Brothers' $600 billion ego trip: A masterclass in how NOT to handle success - The Blockbuster Effect: When being the best becomes your worst enemy This isn't just another episode about ego. It's a blueprint for building the kind of confidence that whispers instead of shouts. Because real success? It doesn't need a megaphone. Related reading: Ego is the Enemy - Ryan Holiday A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself - Michael Singer Upgrade to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Sponsors: 💼 LinkedIn Jobs - The largest professional network in the world Advertise your job for free - LinkedIn.com/growth Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: Ego and the Prisoner of Success: 3 ways to build silent confidence Chapters: 00:00 Ego as a blocker for growth 03:35 #1 Ego and new starts 08:31 Lesson from George Washington 09:16 5 problems of ego when starting new things 11:12 #2 Ego and success 13:16 5 areas where ego can block you 18:57 #3 Ego and Failure 21:52 5 areas that ego can blind us 24:50 Accepting and learning from your failures 25:59 Wrap up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices