Life Habits Podcast

In this episode, Karel and Judy Wilkins-Smith discuss how to uncover and maximize your superpowers. They explore the concept of superpowers as the unique skills and qualities that individuals possess and how they can be developed and amplified. They also delve into the importance of understanding and acknowledging the emotional inheritance from our ancestors and how it shapes our behaviors and beliefs. Judy shares practical steps for listeners to identify their superpowers and work towards their goals.

Paige is taking a much needed break for health reasons. We wish her a restful and restorative break. Paige did find and schedule our amazing guest for today’s episode, Paul Osincup, a speaker and positive workplace strategist, and the author of “The Humor Habit”. 

Karel interviews Paul about his book 'The Humor Habit.' They discuss the power of humor in the workplace and in life, and how humor can be learned and developed as a habit. They also explore the health benefits of humor, such as reducing stress and increasing happiness. Paul shares practical tips and exercises for incorporating humor into daily life, including immersing oneself in humor, practicing a 'yes and' mentality, and finding levity in difficult situations.

Key Takeaways:

Humor is a habit that can be learned and developed.

Humor has numerous health benefits, including reducing stress and increasing happiness.

Immersing oneself in humor and seeking out funny content can help cultivate a sense of humor.

Practicing a 'yes and' mentality can help build resilience and find humor in difficult situations.

Finding levity in everyday life and incorporating humor into the workplace can improve well-being and foster connection.

In this episode, Amy Weinland Daughters shares her transformative journey of writing handwritten letters to all 580 of her Facebook friends, revealing the profound impact it had on her relationships and understanding of connection. She delves into the importance of being untroubled by failure and untouched by triumph, urging us to listen to our instincts, even when they defy logic. Amy also introduces her simple yet powerful framework for deeply connecting with others, which involves sitting in a quiet space, reflecting on the person, and writing from the heart. Whether through handwritten letters, digital messages, or other personal gestures, Amy encourages us all to reach out and foster meaningful connections.

Quotes from this episode:

“I would love to go through life being untroubled by failure and untouched by triumph.” — Carol Burnett

“There will be a few times in your life when all your instincts will tell you to do something, something that defies logic, upsets your plans, and may seem crazy to others. When that happens, you do it. Listen to your instincts and ignore everything else. Ignore logic, ignore the odds, ignore the complications, and just go for it.” — Judith McNaught

Key Takeaways:

Embrace Resilience: Be untroubled by failure and untouched by triumph, continuing to pursue your goals despite the ups and downs.

Trust Your Instincts: Listen to your instincts, even when they go against logic, odds, or complications. Sometimes, what seems crazy to others can lead to profound outcomes.

Focus on Connection: Connect with others on a deeper level by focusing on what unites you rather than what sets you apart.

Express Your Thoughts: Write letters or notes to express support, gratitude, or concern, reminding yourself that small gestures can make a big difference in the world.

Reach Out Personally: Take the time to reach out to people individually, whether through handwritten letters, digital messages, or other means, and offer your support to strengthen your relationships.

Tip Jar
Support the Podcast
Episode Resources

Please note: This podcast does not provide medical advice, only personal experiences, so please consult your doctor.

In this episode, Karel and Paige sit down with Dan Ram, an event MC, TEDx speaker, and executive coach, to discuss the topic of adaptability. Dan shares his personal journey of growing up as the son of an Indian ambassador, constantly moving around the world and having to adapt to change. He outlines three stages for improving adaptability: letting go of the past, engaging with the present, and positioning oneself for the future. Dan provides advice on how to pursue new hobbies or passions and offers insights on habits that lead to personal growth and success. He encourages listeners to say yes to themselves, start now and start simple, and approach others with love and kindness.

Quotes from this episode:

“Start now, start simple.” — Dan Ram

“You cannot project what you don't possess.” — Dan Ram

Tip Jar
Support the Podcast
Episode Resources

Key Takeaways:

Letting Go of the Past: Involves grieving what was and expressing gratitude for the experiences and opportunities that shaped us.

Engage with the Present: Means being curious, learning, and dreaming. It's about exploring new options, trying out different hobbies or passions, and keeping things simple.

Position Yourself for the Future: Requires saying yes to opportunities, starting now, and starting simple. It's about taking small steps towards a goal and being open to new possibilities.

Saying Yes to Yourself: Give yourself permission to pursue new opportunities and start now, taking small steps towards your goals.

Starting Simple: Begin with small, manageable steps towards your goals and be open to new possibilities.

Approaching with Kindness: Approach others with love, trust, compassion, and kindness to build meaningful connections.

Embracing Curiosity: Embrace curiosity, learning, and dreaming to discover your passion and purpose, and engage with the present by exploring new options and hobbies.

Having Faith: Have faith, ask questions, and be open to different perspectives to foster adaptability and a fulfilling life.

Celebrating the Journey: Celebrate the seed, the first step, and the journey rather than just focusing on the end result, recognizing the importance of each stage in your progress.

Please note: This podcast does not provide medical advice, only personal experiences, so please consult your doctor.

In this episode, Karel and Paige continue their conversation with certified Habit Finder coach, author, and CEO Amy Kemp. They dive deep into Amy’s strategies for overcoming overworking through setting boundaries and shifting thought habits to achieve success and wealth. She emphasizes the need to let go of limiting beliefs about money and to embrace the idea that money is a renewable resource. Amy also highlights the challenges women face in achieving success, particularly the burden of unpaid labor and societal pressure to do it all. She shares success stories from her coaching business, showcasing the transformative power of changing thought habits. Amy underscores the slow and lifelong nature of personal growth.

Quote from this episode:

“Money is a renewable resource. It comes and goes. It ebbs and flows. It's meant to move. When we're cheap about spending it or weird about receiving it, we block its natural course. We put ourselves in a place of lack instead of abundance. And our energy becomes, riches interrupt us. — Jen Sincero

Key Takeaways:

Money as a Renewable Resource: Embrace the mindset that money is meant to move and should not be clung to for a sense of security.

Setting Boundaries: Establishing and maintaining effective boundaries in personal and professional life is crucial for healthy interactions and avoiding overworking.

Rethinking Hard Work: Success and wealth do not necessarily require working more hours. It’s essential to shift thought habits and adopt smarter, more efficient strategies.

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs: Challenge the belief that more work equals more success by focusing on leveraging natural abilities and valuing one’s contributions appropriately.

Unpaid Labor and Gender Roles: Acknowledge the disproportionate amount of unpaid labor women handle and the societal pressures that perpetuate this imbalance.

Slow and Incremental Change: Sustainable change in thought habits is a slow, ongoing process requiring commitment and humility. There are no quick fixes for lasting transformation.

Empowerment Through Lifelong Learning: Continually invest in personal growth through reading, listening to podcasts, and engaging in meaningful conversations to change thinking and seize opportunities.

Practical Steps for Boundary Setting: Implement small, manageable boundaries in daily routines to protect personal time and reduce overwork.

Encouragement for Women: Women should feel empowered to share responsibilities, seek support, and recognize their worth in both professional and personal spheres.

Accessible Resources: Utilize available resources like Amy’s book, “I See You,” and the Habit Finder assessment to begin the journey towards better thought habits and achieving goals without overworking.

Tip Jar
Support the Podcast
Episode Resources

In this episode, Karel and Paige sit down with Amy Kemp, a certified habit finder coach and author of the book ‘I See You!’ They discuss the importance of guilt-free play, the power of imperfect progress, and the impact of deeply rooted thought habits on our success. Amy shares her journey of becoming a habit finder coach and CEO, and explains the concept of natural genius and how to recognize and leverage our unique talents. They also explore the challenges of determining the value of our natural genius and overcoming self-esteem issues related to money.

Quotes from this episode:

“A firm commitment to guilt-free play will recharge your batteries, creating renewed motivation, creativity and energy for all the other areas of your life. Knowing that work will not deprive you of enjoying the good things of life, you can more easily tackle a large task without the fear of having it rule your life. Knowing that work on a large task will be interrupted by commitments to friends, to exercise, and to free time, you can approach the task with less fear of being overwhelmed.” — From ‘The Now Habit’ by Neil Fiore

“Imperfect progress is better than perfect procrastination.” — Unknown

Key Takeaways:

Guilt-Free Play: Prioritizing guilt-free play can recharge your batteries, enhancing creativity, motivation, and energy for other areas of life.

Imperfect Progress: Embrace the concept that imperfect progress is better than perfect procrastination. Striving for perfection can be a trap that hinders progress and leads to unhealthy outcomes.

Journey to Habit Finder Coaching: Amy’s transition from a high school teacher to a successful entrepreneur and Habit Finder coach highlights the importance of recognizing when it’s time for a change and following your passion.

Power of Thought Habits: Deeply rooted thought habits, especially those operating at the subconscious level, can limit our success. Becoming aware of these habits is crucial for making positive changes.

Fantasy and Catastrophe Thinking: Our brains often flip between idealized futures and worst-case scenarios, which can rob us of being present. Recognizing and addressing these thought patterns can improve our mental well-being.

Role of Laughter and Conversation: Laughter and talking out loud can disrupt negative thought patterns and bring subconscious thoughts to the surface, helping to reframe and challenge them.

Identifying Natural Genius: Natural genius often shows up early in life and feels easy to us. It’s important to recognize and value these talents, which can be harnessed to serve others and create value.

Overcoming Undervaluation: Women, in particular, are often taught to undervalue themselves. Overcoming this requires acknowledging and embracing one’s natural genius and gradually increasing self-worth and value.

Relationship with Money: Our relationship with money often reflects our self-esteem and self-worth. Recognizing and addressing limiting beliefs about money is key to achieving financial success.

Tip Jar
Support the Podcast
Episode Resources

Please note: This podcast does not provide medical advice, only personal experiences, so please consult your doctor.

In this episode, Karel and Paige sit down with Dr. Shaan Patel, founder of Prep Expert SAT and ACT, as he shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings in Las Vegas to achieving meteoric success as a Shark Tank winner, bestselling author, and board-certified dermatologist. Shaan discusses his commitment to education, the importance of self-control, the development of good habits, and his latest book, “Prep Expert Digital SAT Playbook,” which offers strategies for success on the new digital SAT and beyond.

Quotes from this episode:

“Success is a progressive realization of a worthy ideal.” — Earl Nightingale 

“Management is the development of people, not the direction of things.” — Bob Proctor 

“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” — Henry David Thoreau

Key Takeaways:

Self-control is crucial for success: Developing self-control helps in academics and life, allowing you to manage distractions and focus on your goals.

Standardized tests are essential: Tests like the SAT and ACT play a vital role in college admissions, providing a common metric for comparing students.

Education's impact: Dr. Patel’s success story underscores the importance of education and the role it plays in achieving one's dreams.

Morning power hour: Start your day with an uninterrupted hour dedicated to the most important and mentally demanding tasks.

Turn off the tech: To improve productivity, eliminate distractions by turning off technology when working on critical tasks.

Tip Jar
Support the Podcast
Episode Resources

Please note: This podcast does not provide medical advice, only personal experiences, so please consult your doctor.

In the final episode of this series, Eve Turow-Paul discusses the impact of food choices on climate change and shares insights from her organization, Food for Climate League. She explains the importance of perception change, behavior change, and systems change in creating a sustainable food future. Eve provides examples of successful projects that have influenced food choices, such as making a cafeteria station plant-based by default and creating a program to inspire chefs to offer plant-forward menus. She emphasizes the need for individuals to explore more plant-based options, reduce food waste, and be mindful of their food choices. Eve envisions a future with a diverse and resilient food system that embraces cultural diversity and honors the origins of food.

Key Takeaways:

Perception, Behavior, and Systems Change: Creating a sustainable food future requires a comprehensive approach involving perception change, behavior change, and systems change.

Influential Projects: Initiatives like making a cafeteria station plant-based by default can significantly impact reducing greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging more sustainable food choices.

Individual Actions: Individuals can contribute to the climate change movement by exploring more plant-based options, reducing food waste, and being mindful of their food habits.

Future Vision: Envisioning a future with a diverse and resilient food system that embraces cultural diversity and honors the origins of food is essential for sustainability.

Tip Jar
Support the Podcast
Episode Resources

Please note: This podcast does not provide medical advice, only personal experiences, so please consult your doctor.