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 3646:

David Cain invites readers to confront the unsettling realization that much of life is spent mentally elsewhere. By illuminating how often our thoughts drift from the present moment, he offers simple yet powerful strategies to reclaim awareness and fully inhabit our lived experience.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.raptitude.com/?s=where+is+your+mind

Quotes to ponder:

"You’re almost never thinking about what you’re actually doing."

"Life only happens here, in the place where your body is."

"When you are thinking about something else, you are only dimly aware that you are here."

Episode references:

10% Happier: https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works/dp/0062265431

Wherever You Go, There You Are:  https://www.amazon.com/Wherever-You-There-Are-Mindfulness/dp/1401307787

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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 3645:

Adam M. Lowenstein explores the fine line between meaningful self-improvement and self-indulgence, challenging us to examine whether our personal growth truly serves others or just ourselves. Through thoughtful reflection, he reveals how cultivating balance and embracing the discomfort of that tension is essential to living a more intentional, connected life.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.adaml.blog/life-and-news/are-you-working-on-self-improvement-or-self-indulgence

Quotes to ponder:

"To make yourself a better person is to make the world a better place."

"At a certain point, the worthy undertaking of self-improvement has become self-indulgence."

"Life is, and should be, a constant calibration and recalibration."

Episode references:

In Love with the World: https://www.amazon.com/Love-World-Journey-Through-Bardos/dp/0525512535

Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Zebras-Dont-Ulcers-Third/dp/0805073698

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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 3644:

Nir Eyal and Stuart Luman explore how the ancient fear of being left out has been supercharged by modern technology, leading to a constant state of distraction and anxiety. By embracing the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO), they show how we can shift from reactive behavior to intentional living.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.nirandfar.com/2015/01/fomo.html

Quotes to ponder:

"FOMO is an ancient fear, lodged deep in our brains, that we might be left out or left behind."

"Technology didn’t create the problem; it just made it more visible and pervasive."

"JOMO comes when you stop looking at what you may be missing and start appreciating what you have."

Episode references:

Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products: https://www.amazon.com/Hooked-How-Build-Habit-Forming-Products/dp/1591847788

Drive by Daniel Pink: https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Surprising-Truth-About-Motivates/dp/1594484805

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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 3643:

Ellen Burgan offers a powerful reminder to stop sweating the small stuff and reclaim your peace of mind by shifting perspective. By learning to let go of irritations and focusing on what truly matters, you'll create space for more joy and less stress in everyday life.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ifitbringsyoujoy.com/let-go-of-the-little-things/

Quotes to ponder:

"Choose to make peace of mind a top priority, even above being right."

"Letting go of the little things is a gift to yourself."

"It’s your choice to hold on to anger or frustration, or to let it go."

Episode references:

The Work by Byron Katie: https://thework.com

Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender: https://www.amazon.com/Letting-Go-Pathway-David-Hawkins/dp/1401945015

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Sweat-Small-Stuff-Irritating/dp/0786881852

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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 3642:

Shana Olmstead reframes anxiety not as a flaw to fix but as a spiritual signal, a gentle (or not-so-gentle) nudge toward alignment, authenticity, and inner truth. Through practices like mindfulness and meditation, anxiety becomes a guide that reveals ego patterns, highlights necessary life changes, and supports conscious evolution.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://shanaolmstead.com/2019/04/30/anxiety-into-awakening/

Quotes to ponder:

"Anxiety is a call to wake up. To connect with your deeper wisdom. To stop doing things that are creating misalignment internally and start doing things that bring you closer to your truth."

"This anxiety you feel is your higher self letting you know that some things need to change. You didn’t do anything wrong, you were just unconscious of your truth."

"Without this gift of anxiety we would go through life numb and asleep, never becoming aware of the discomfort that can lead us to transformation and expansion."

Episode references:

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday: https://dailystoic.com

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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 3641:

April Dykman examines the internal conflict between overindulging and over-restricting with money, offering a deeply personal look at how both behaviors can sabotage financial peace. Her reflections encourage listeners to pursue a balanced approach that aligns spending with their core values rather than emotional reactions.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.getrichslowly.org/the-balance-between-splurger-and-miser/

Quotes to ponder:

"I don’t like how I feel when I spend money, but I don’t like how I feel when I don’t spend money either."

"I’m constantly searching for balance between being a miser and a splurger."

"I’ve begun to see that spending in alignment with my values can lead to greater happiness."

Episode references:

The Millionaire Next Door: https://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Next-Door-Thomas-Stanley/dp/1589795474

Early Retirement Extreme: https://www.amazon.com/Early-Retirement-Extreme-Philosophical-Advanced/dp/145360121X

Your Money or Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Life-Transforming-Relationship/dp/0143115766

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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 3640:

Cal Newport challenges the popular “write every day” mantra by revealing how it can backfire for ambitious, cognitively demanding projects. Instead, he advocates for a more strategic approach, optimizing your schedule to make space for deep work while managing motivational psychology with intentionality and clarity.

Read along with the original article(s) here: http://calnewport.com/blog/2013/01/13/write-every-day-is-bad-advice-hacking-the-psychology-of-big-projects/

Quotes to ponder:

"Big projects are psychologically daunting. We fear them."

"Working consistently, but not necessarily every day, ensures you preserve the psychological connection to the project."

"When you do work, work deeply. Depth generates value faster than shallow repetition."

Episode references:

The War of Art: https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/1936891026

Deep Work: https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/dp/1455586692

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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 3639:

Isaac Morehouse urges readers to reject the trap of learning for validation and instead align their learning directly with real-world goals. He explains how shifting focus from tests and credentials to task-based learning accelerates growth, deepens understanding, and builds confidence through authentic achievement.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://isaacmorehouse.com/2016/12/19/rules-of-ascendancy-learn-to-the-task-not-the-test/

Quotes to ponder:

"Learn to the task, not the test."

"The only learning worth anything is that which gets you closer to your goal."

"You'll never be confident in your ability if your ability is always measured by someone else’s standards."

Episode references:

Drive by Daniel Pink: https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Surprising-Truth-About-Motivates/dp/1594484805

The War of Art: https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Steven-Pressfield/dp/1936891026

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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 3638:

Ryan Holiday reflects on the brutal yet transformative experience of pushing the body beyond exhaustion to reveal the true seat of strength, the mind. Through pain, struggle, and a complete physical breakdown, he uncovers clarity, emotional peace, and the subtle triumph of inner resilience.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ryanholiday.net/the-manifestation-of-inner-strength/

Quotes to ponder:

"The work I do on my body is not about looks or health. A sculpted body to me is the sign of a sculpted mind."

"I promised myself that I would win, that I would finish."

"There was no glory in it, I felt awful; worse even than I had in each lap prior."

Episode references:

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/048629823X

The Daily Stoic: https://dailystoic.com/podcast

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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 3637:

Shawna Scafe shares a powerful wake-up call about how easy it is to slip into autopilot living, avoiding discomfort in the name of convenience, only to end up feeling disconnected and unfulfilled. She challenges us to choose the discomfort that leads to growth and authenticity, rather than the one that keeps us stuck in habits that quietly drain our lives.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://simpleonpurpose.ca/discomfort/

Quotes to ponder:

"You can stay where you are, and that is uncomfortable. Or you can make a change, and that is uncomfortable. So choose your discomfort."

"When we live by default we will spend our daily life in a cycle of avoiding pain and seeking pleasure."

"Living a life that fulfils us, feels authentic, and feels life-giving is an uncomfortable thing to get."

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