Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement

Learn the economics of satisfaction, according to psychology.

Our earliest lessons in life include that money can't buy happiness. But is that completely correct?

We explore tactics to change your spending that can boost your mood on both a daily level and additionally build a longer-term sense of content satisfaction. Learning how to escape the nudges of advertising and society's expectations of spending and instead live in line with your values and priorities.

Everyone has different needs and is operating on different levels. These rules help you learn to experiment to find what will work for you and build your own answers to important questions that can improve the quality of your life.

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Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 The Debate: Can Money Buy Happiness?

02:19 Exploring the Psychology of Money and Happiness

04:25 #1: Spend on Experiences, Not Things

08:09 #2: Invest in Relationships

10:15 #3: Prioritize Health

12:30 #4: Buy Time to Reduce Stress

15:41 # 5: Make Smaller, Frequent Purchases

18:27 #6 Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

21:35 #7 Delaying Gratification to Build Anticipation

24:06 #8 Investing in Yourself

25:53 #9 Spending on Enabling Activities

27:30 #10 Give Back to Others & Charity

29:49 #Bonus - Exploring Novel & Weird Spending Habits

33:43 Note - The Influence of Personal History and Social Dynamics

35:19 Conclusion - Aligning Spending with Values

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From deciding what to work on to overcoming blockers - All the questions from August were answered in the Ask Me Anything of the month.

Free listeners will only have access to the first 20 minutes. Premium subscribers can listen to the whole episode and be able to submit their own questions for future episodes.

Questions answered in this episode:

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Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Today's AMA Questions Overview

02:23 #1 What makes someone resistant to learning?

03:22 Energy and Learning

04:33 Ego and Social Pressure

06:52 Fear of Failure and Asking for Help

11:11 #2 Differentiating Your Podcast

14:00 Don't be the best, be the only

18:37 #3 What criteria do you use to tell if an idea is worth pursuing?

20:30 Wrap up

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How to take the best shots in life and enjoy the process.

In this episode of the Growth Mindset Psychology podcast, Sam Webster Harris delves into the psychology behind creating and seizing life's opportunities and overcoming the scarcity mindset.

We are surrounded by pressures to achieve and plenty of people selling us the way, yet find ourselves going nowhere.

Sam outlines practical steps you can take from any point in life to build a system around discovering opportunities and building a life we can be proud of on our own terms.

Reduce anxiety about perfection and our rush to make it instantly and learn to build a much larger and inevitable success that comes through enjoyment and small daily actions.

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Recommended Episodes

Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapter

00:00 Take better shots

00:00 Introduction: Eminem's Scarcity Mindset

00:15 The Psychology of Taking Shots

00:58 Economic Choices and Financial Wisdom

01:47 Welcome to the Growth Mindset Psychology Podcast

02:01 Big Announcement: Growth Mindset Premium Feed

02:36 Exclusive Content and Community Benefits

04:43 Listener Question: Career Change and Anxiety

06:12 Understanding Your 'Why'

09:48 The Importance of Small Steps

11:15 Finding Your Passion and Enjoying the Process

17:16 The Art of Taking Multiple Shots

19:30 Sustainable Risk-Taking

24:11 The MVP Mindset

26:57 Testing Ideas and Customer Feedback

28:03 Dating Ideas: A Personal Story

30:32 The Importance of Not Quitting

32:20 Reframing Failure as a Positive

34:05 Finding Purpose and Passion

35:12 The Reality of Difficult Achievements

39:17 Conclusion: Infinite Games and Personal Success

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Expand your perception of experience and build more flow and joy into your daily life.

Many people hate time, it is a constant enemy we fight against. Yet it is simply a continuous element of the Universe that we can't change.

However, like illusions that can make a straight line seem bent in our minds, we can use our own mind to bend time for ourselves.

This episode expands on several psychological phenomena to help you build a better relationship with time:

It's an absolute favourite topic of Sam's and an episode he is sure you'll love.

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Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Bending time in physics vs. our mind

00:48 Intro to the episode

02:48 Tiktok as an example of bending time

03:52 Stimulated to do new things

04:58 Making new memories

05:36 Do new stuff

07:15 Memory is like a notepad

09:35 Ride that edge like a surfer rides a wave

12:37 Reframing feelings

13:23 Public speaking example of reframing fear

14:16 Vippassana example of reframing feelings

15:08 Fasting to reframe your relationship with food and hunger

16:37 Savor those slow moments

17:40 Nir Eyal quote

18:13 Bob Dylan quote

18:20 Outro

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Channel productivity or creativity on-demand - experience more progress, positivity, and freedom using the power of your environment.

In this episode of the Growth Mindset Psychology Podcast, we explore the significant impact of our environment on our overall mindset and actions.

Delve into lesser-known productivity tips from neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy and the actionable take-homes you can directly apply to your own life.

Key insights explained:

Learn how your environment can be a game-changer in achieving a life well-lived, along with practical tips and personal anecdotes to build a productive and creative space around you.

[Note - This archived episode was recorded two years ago while Sam was cycling around Europe - Obviously he was not on his bike at the time...]

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Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Environment Design for Unblocking Ourselves

04:49 #1 Cathedral effect: Creativity vs Productivity

07:18 #2 The Movement Effect: Positivity and Progress

11:11 #3 Intentional Laptoping: Focus and Freedom

15:36 Bonus laptop and work tips

17:55 Summary of Environment Design

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3 ways to stay dedicated to what is important in life, in a noisy world (and with a noisy mind).

We are immersed in infinite options and distractions of alluring things we could be doing. Naturally we often find ourselves wanting to do all the things.

A holiday in the Mediterranean, surfing in Bali or visiting pyramids - Why choose?

Pursuing a career in finance, running a YouTube about cars, or becoming a teacher - Frustrating huh...

Leaning into philosophy and the inner workings of our psychology we explore three lessons and mental models to help us calm our frenetic obsessions and build peace. We'll learn how to build an ability to focus on what matters, ignore passing surface desires and invest deeply in ourselves

Some outcomes of this episode:

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Recommended Episodes

Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 The Infinite Directions and Endless Cycle of Decisions in Life

02:07 Navigating Modern Choices and the Opportunity Costs of Commitments

03:20 Cross-Pollinating Ideas and Breaking Barriers

05:08 The Impact of Clothing on Personality

09:51 The Dilemma of Choosing One Path When You Hold Multiple Interests

13:43 The Importance of Focus to Achieve Results

16:47 The Reality of Multitasking, Mental Masturbation, & Being Ahead of Ourselves

18:33 Exceptions to the Rule: Taylor Swift's Dress Changes

21:39 Embracing Change & Growth Through Our Life

27:05 Finding Creativity to Expand the Interest Potential Of Any Domain

28:28 Conclusion: Embrace Curiosity and Keep Growing

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Live a life well lived by exploring the depths of Psychology and Polyvagal Theory with Dr. Stephen Porges.

Join host Sam Webster on the Growth Mindset Psychology Show as he engages in a deep and enlightening conversation with Dr. Stephen Porges, the renowned researcher behind polyvagal theory.

This episode delves into fundamental truths about psychology, societal norms, and personal growth. Dr. Porges shares insights on the body's physiological reactions to safety and threat, how they impact our behavior, and how understanding these can help us lead fulfilling lives.

Tune in to explore the science of self-improvement and the importance of curiosity, all while unravelling the complexities of human existence.

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Stephen W. Porges, PhD

Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Curiosity, Safety and Mindset

02:15 Basics of PolyVagal Theory and Episode Outline

05:51 The Rubik's Cube of Psychology

06:45 Primitive Organisms and Threat Response

07:31 Creating a Safe Learning Environment

08:43 Polyvagal Theory and Personal Reactions

11:06 Intuition vs. Neural Reflex

12:31 The Role of Voice and Intonation

15:50 Social Pressure and Authenticity

18:18 The Physiology of Safety and Stress

20:27 Dealing with Constant Threat - Academic and Professional Challenges

23:55 Stephen's Personal Journey and Academic Frustrations

30:10 Curiosity, Creativity, and Personal Fulfillment

41:45 The Zen of Loading the Dishwasher

41:54 The Power of Focus

43:18 Polyvagal Music: Healing Through Sound

46:11 The Importance of Physiological State and Co-Regulation

46:56 The Role of Rhythm in Well-being

48:46 Exploring the History of Psychology

50:15 The Intersection of Technology and Research

52:55 Final Remarks

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How to manage stress, build a calmer state of mind and create a foundation for growth and autonomy.

Polyvagal Theory is an intriguing sounding term that holds a lot of answers to how the body perceives threats and gives a surprising amount of actionable take homes that we can use in our everyday lives.

Join Sam Webster in this episode of the Growth Mindset Psychology Podcast as he dives deep into the fascinating world of fear, security, emotional intelligence and neuroscience.

There are three main states in which our nervous system operates:

They impact our reactions, mental health, and ability to engage with the world.

We'll learn how the body controls itself without conscious control and how to build techniques that give us the freedom to choose our own state and outcomes.

This is essential listening for anyone with experience of trauma or attachment injuries but it is also fundamental for creating the security we need to have a growth mindset.

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Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Polyvagal Theory and the Growth Mindset Connection

04:32 Understanding the Vagus Nerve

06:03 Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic Systems (fight and flight vs relax and digest)

09:55 The Dorsal Vagal State (shutdown and detach)

15:07 Neuroception: Your Body's Spidey Sense

19:57 Controlling our nervous system

20:53 #1 Breathing Techniques for Calmness

24:59 #2 Managing Stress with Lifestyle Changes

27:55 The Importance of Vagal Tone

29:02 #3 Exercise and Stress Management

30:57 The Neuroscience Behind Exercise and Stress Reduction

32:34 Understanding Trauma and Its Effects on Neuroception

34:07 The Importance of Attachment in Early Development

35:09 #4 Healing from Past Trauma

37:05 #5 The Role of Pets in Co-Regulation

38:23 The Science of Human Connection and Attachment

41:40 Polyvagal Theory in Education and Fostering Growth Mindset

44:05 Applying Polyvagal Theory at Work to Build Productivity

46:57 Strengthening Relationships Through Polyvagal Theory

52:10 Personal Growth, Overcoming Challenges & Practical Tips for a Balanced Life

56:15 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

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Principles to enhance learning, independent thinking, and problem-solving, whilst reducing the feeling of being lost.

Ever feel like you're constantly consuming information but losing touch with your own thoughts?

This episode takes you on a journey back to the essential skill of listening to yourself.

We'll explore the impact of continuous content on our ability to think independently and how it can dilute our personal insight. Hear expert advice on creating the mental space necessary for profound self-dialogue and reflection.

By the end, you’ll learn how to balance input from the world with your own inner wisdom, transforming how you learn, solve problems, and engage with the world.

Takeaways:

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Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

04:34 Entertainment, Edutainment and Accessibility of Content

06:26 Downside of Constant Learning, Capitalism and the Knowledge Economy

07:32 The Balance Between Learning and Thinking for yourself

08:47 Creativity, Brain Function, and Importance of Mental Downtime

09:11 The Pitfalls of Over-Optimization and Finding the Right Balance

11:08 The Value of Reflection when Adapting to Different Situations

12:51 Embracing the Unknown

13:35 Talking to Yourself and Organizing Your Thoughts

15:45 Practical Tips for Self-Dialogue

16:56 Overcoming Social Stigma and art of not giving a f###

17:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Developing the freedom to choose how you respond to situations in life is a core part of building a growth mindset.

A fixed mindset approach leaves you at the mercy of events in life that will make you angry or sad and blame your circumstances with no control from you.

A growth mindset allows you to build the space to determine how you react in any situation and be the person you want to be rather than the person the world pushes you to be.

To achieve that we examine:

This episode touches on some very important concepts deep in the fabric of our experiencing self as a human being. By understanding internal processes we can better control our actions and outcomes in life.

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Books

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Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Personal Growth and Free Will

01:59 Understanding Fixed and Growth Mindsets

02:08 The Complexity of Psychology and Mindsets

03:34 Episode plan - Diving into Consciousness and Free Will

05:12 Habits and conscious and unconscious behaviour

06:44 Case Study: The Sleepwalking Killer + The Compulsive Gambler

11:44 Understanding the Limits of Free Will

15:35 The Role of Desires and External Influences

18:24 Conscious vs Subconscious thoughts and memories

21:50 Building Free Will and Autonomy and issues with Fixed mindset

25:38 Victor Frankl's Insights on building Free Will in everyday life

28:17 Understanding Emotional Triggers

30:25 David Foster Wallace on Thinking and Free Will

33:10 The Psychology of Revenge

38:33 Pain and Free Will - How meditation helps us control our reactions

45:29 Applying Free Will in Daily Life

47:02 Conclusion and Further Reading

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