Life Slowed Down

As funny as it is to say, this marks 50 episodes of Life Slowed Down. It's been quite the journey with plenty of ups and downs, and the trial by fire I've experienced in quite a while, but I wouldn't give it up for the world.

The question I aim to answer today is simple: what have these past 50 episodes taught me? What piece of wisdom have I uncovered in this endeavor that has had the greatest impact? The answer is simple, but the lesson is profound, and I hope you find as much value in this wisdom as I have.

As always, and with an especially grateful and humble heart on this 50th episode: thank you so much for listening, it really does mean the world to me

-TJ

In a world full of such differing opinions, it can sometimes be difficult to respect those around us, especially when we deem them "unworthy" of that respect. Today I make the case that it is always worth offering our respect to others, even when they don't deserve it.

I share my reasoning, attempting to take a more self-serving approach to the "why" behind this idea, and offer a couple practical examples of what showing that respect might look like. I close by sharing the story of someone who I believe is the perfect example of this idea, and how his humble offering of respect changed lives for the better.

Thanks for listening, it means the world

-TJ

There's something about finding meaning through suffering that has gripped me so for many years now, and I've wondered how people can accomplish such a feat against all odds. In today's episode, I discuss exactly that.

I share parts of Victor Frankl's story, a man who survived Nazi Germany's concentration camps and came out on the other end as someone not crippled by grief or misery, but rather as someone who rose above their suffering and created meaning from it. I share three ways in which he created meaning during his time in subjugation which I believe can and should be applied to help us rise above the suffering of our lives.

Thank you so much for listening, it really does mean the world

-TJ

In maintaining the theme of addressing the isolationist lie that seems to be making its rounds in our society, today's episode is focused on the idea of asking for help.

There are a multitude of reasons we might find ourselves hesitant to reach out for help from others. Be it pride, stubbornness, or a desire to prove ourselves, there's an idea of ourselves that we're trying to maintain. But today's quote offers a different perspective on asking for help, one that suggests doing so is an act of strength rather than weakness.

As I discuss this idea, I share examples from fictional characters and one of my own experiences of the effects of a stubborn refusal to reach out to someone. I discuss the benefits of swallowing that stubbornness through these examples, and implore listeners to give this new perspective of asking for help a shot.

Thanks for listening, it means the world

-TJ

There's a lie that's been growing in our society, one that is especially prevalent among the youth in each rising generation. The lie is this: that the only person we can count on is ourselves, so we might as well resolve to "make it" on our own.

It is this lie that I endeavor to address in today's episode. I attempt to answer the question of "why?" behind our need for involvement from others, and offer a personal example of how this involvement has changed my motivations.

Thanks for listening, it means the world

-TJ

An enticing trap that many of us fall into is the belief that we can simply delay our decision, our action, without incurring a cost. The truth is that there is always a price for our inaction, and it's that cost that is the focus of today's episode.

I discuss tangible examples of this in the form of compound interest and the story of the tortoise and the hare, and endeavor to address the more philosophical price through a popular story from The Bible.

Thanks for listening, it means the world

-TJ

They say that nostalgia is one helluva drug, but do they ever really tell us why that's the case? And is there something we can learn from our dopamine infused trips down memory lane? These are the questions I aim to answer in today's episode.

I use a character from a popular TV show as a case study in why nostalgia can be so dangerous, and share my thoughts on what can be learned from the idea of Rose-Colored Glasses. Finally, I discuss the less discussed, but equally dangerous trap of nostalgia for the future (anticipation, perhaps?) and share some personal experiences that have taught me the importance of living in the present.

Thanks for listening, it means the world

-TJ

A couple years ago, I was listening to a finance podcast when the host, Anthony O'Neal, asked an interesting question about why we buy the things we buy. In a consumerist economy like the U.S. it can become easy to deceive ourselves into buying something we say we want or need when the true reason behind the purchase is because we want to influence the way others perceive us. This is the issue I'll be tackling in today's episode.

I discuss the danger of purchasing something for the sake of our image through a painful example from my time as a loan officer, and relate this idea to the way we choose to live our lives. I offer a personal experience of how I've chosen to live someone else's ideal and the lesson I learned as a result.

Just as our bank accounts don't deserve the pressure of putting on a show for others, life is too short to be preoccupied with the way others see us. So, make sure you're spending it the way you want to spend it, not the way that others think you should.

Thanks for listening, it means the world

-TJ

I hadn't ever thought of stubbornness as a good thing until meeting Aaron at the top of a lookout on the Wasatch Mountain Range. In today's episode, I endeavor to make the case for stubbornness as a virtue.

I share examples of stubbornness in the context of marriage, and share its positive purpose in the niche sport of long-distance swimming. I use this sport as a metaphor for our lives, and encourage those listening to visualize their own long-distance swim and the importance of exercising stubbornness in the pursuit of that destination.

Thanks for listening, it means the world

-TJ

Leadership has always been a hot topic with thousands of books, podcasts, articles, and opinion-pieces on the subject. In this episode I'll be adding my own thoughts to that pile in conjunction with the author of today's quote.

I discuss what "Me" and "We" leadership look like, and offer an example of those ideas from the creator of some of our favorite fuzzy friends. I offer my own thoughts on how we might contradict our own beliefs in what makes a leader "good," and end with a challenge to acknowledge those contradictions and resolve to seek out "We" leadership both as leaders ourselves and as the ones being led.

Thanks for listening, it means the world

-TJ