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 3686:

Anthony Ongaro explores the surprising value of doing things without a defined purpose, revealing how playfulness and curiosity can boost creativity, reduce burnout, and generate eustress, the good kind of stress. His reflections challenge the productivity-obsessed mindset, encouraging a return to simple joy, exploration, and intentional downtime.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.breakthetwitch.com/this-can-help-2/

Quotes to ponder:

"Doing things for seemingly no purpose doesn’t mean it’s pointless."

"Eustress being released into your body feels like pure excitement about being alive."

"By assigning a purpose to everything you do, you risk losing enjoyment in those things."

Episode references:

Play (Stuart Brown TED Talk): https://www.ted.com/talks/stuart_brown_play_is_more_than_just_fun

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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 3685:

Antonia Collins shares a practical yet nurturing approach to staying grounded during a hectic week with 10 simple questions designed to bring awareness, calm, and clarity. Whether you’re a meticulous planner or prefer a more spontaneous rhythm, this gentle mid-week check-in encourages meaningful self-reflection to help you reset and realign your intentions with your current reality.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://balancethroughsimplicity.com/mid-week-check-in/

Quotes to ponder:

"Sometimes problems need to be addressed now so that they don’t get bigger."

"A mid-week check in is also helpful if you’re trying to meet a goal or target and need to evaluate how you’re doing."

"You don’t have to be a big planner to get the benefit of that."

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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 3684:

Ryan Holiday reveals how the smallest decisions shape our identity and long-term success, emphasizing that discipline in daily routines carries into every area of life. By mastering how we approach anything from chores to challenges, we set the standard for everything we do.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ryanholiday.net/how-you-do-anything-is-how-you-do-everything/

Quotes to ponder:

"How you do anything is how you do everything."

"If you’re sloppy with the small things, you’ll be sloppy with the big ones too."

"You can’t be great at the big things if you’re not great at the little things."

Episode references:

Ego Is the Enemy: https://www.amazon.com/Ego-Enemy-Ryan-Holiday/dp/1591847818

Daily Stoic: https://dailystoic.com

The Obstacle Is the Way: https://www.amazon.com/Obstacle-Way-Timeless-Turning-Triumph/dp/1591846358

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 3683:

Catherine Beard shares how mindfulness helped her move beyond the surface-level calm of minimalism to cultivate true inner peace. By living in the present, she’s learned to prioritize what matters, make more intuitive decisions, and feel deeply content with what she already has offering practical insight for anyone seeking simplicity on a deeper level.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.simplyfiercely.com/3-ways-mindfulness-simplifies-life/

Quotes to ponder:

"Though my life looked calm and clutter-free on the outside, I was still overwhelmed and anxious on the inside."

"Mindfulness helps me to clearly see what’s important."

"I’ve become a lot more content with what I already have in my life."

Episode references:

Un-Fancy by Caroline Rector: https://www.un-fancy.com

Marie Kondo (KonMari Method): https://konmari.com

The Blissful Mind: https://theblissfulmind.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 3682:

Ali Cornish unpacks the paralyzing nature of overthinking and how it subtly sabotages progress and peace of mind. By encouraging conscious action, presence, and a release from mental loops, she offers a grounded path toward mental clarity and purposeful living.

Read along with the original article(s) here: http://everthrive.org/blog/2016/5/25/stop-overthinking

Quotes to ponder:

"Overthinking leads to paralysis. We become immobilized by our thoughts, and we don’t move forward."

"When we are present, we don’t worry about what has happened or what will happen. We just are."

"Stop thinking. Start doing. Live purposefully. Live deliberately."

Episode references:

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown: https://www.amazon.com/Gifts-Imperfection-Think-Supposed-Embrace/dp/159285849X

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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 3681:

Rog Law explores how embracing fear, rather than avoiding it, can unlock a richer, more authentic life. By sharing personal stories and insights, he encourages you to step boldly into discomfort, recognizing fear as a compass pointing toward your deepest growth.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://roglawfitness.com/facing-your-fears-living-life-in-the-key-of-awesome/

Quotes to ponder:

"Fear isn’t going anywhere, so instead of trying to banish it, why not use it as a compass?"

"When you feel fear, it means you’re on the edge of something meaningful."

"Growth and comfort rarely ride in the same car."

Episode references:

The Artist’s Way: https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-25th-Anniversary/dp/0143129252

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway: https://www.amazon.com/Feel-Fear-Do-Anyway/dp/0345487427

The War of Art: https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/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 3680:

Benjamin Hardy explores the profound impact of relationships on our health, happiness, and personal growth, drawing from a 75-year Harvard study and other compelling research. You'll discover how love, gratitude, and living for something beyond yourself can be powerful drivers of resilience, purpose, and emotional well-being.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/thrive-global/this-75-year-harvard-study-reveals-the-secret-to-happiness-and-success-3cf0002510fe

Quotes to ponder:

“The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.”

“The biggest predictor of your happiness and fulfillment overall in life is, basically, love.”

“You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.”

Episode references:

Meta-Analysis on Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316

Dr. Gabor Maté Official Website: https://drgabormate.com

John Wooden Quotes: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_wooden_104927

Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning: https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/0807014273

What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness – Robert Waldinger TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness

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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 3679:

Cal Newport explores a minimalist yet effective approach to personal productivity by combining structured systems with intuitive freedom. Drawing on insights from top performers, he outlines how to balance organization without over-planning, helping you maintain momentum and avoid burnout.

Read along with the original article(s) here: http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/02/freestyle-productivity-balancing-systems-and-simplicity-when-organizing-your-life/

Quotes to ponder:

"Most people exist somewhere in between: they crave the structure of a system, but become frustrated if it grows too complicated."

"Freestyle productivity is about finding the right level of organization to enable your work, not get in its way."

"You want your systems to be like a fine-tuned guitar: always there to help you produce something beautiful, but never stealing the spotlight."

Episode references:

Getting Things Done: https://gettingthingsdone.com

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: https://www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits/

Scott Young’s Study Hacks: https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/

Zen To Done: https://zenhabits.net/zen-to-done-ztd-the-ultimate-simple-productivity-system/

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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 3678:

Krista O’Reilly-Davi-Digui reflects on a quietly profound moment shared with her dying mother, discovering that hope can exist alongside grief. Through birdsong, sunlight, and presence, she finds that beauty and suffering are not opposites but companions, offering solace in the midst of heartbreak.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.alifeinprogress.ca/hope-the-thing-with-feathers/

Quotes to ponder:

"Joy and pain can coexist."

"It is possible to feel happiness as someone you love is dying."

"The Waxwings brought it to me. They pretended they were only there to eat the berries. But I saw it, the stroke of vibrant yellow brushed boldly along the tips of their otherwise somber tails."

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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 3677:

Derek Sivers shares two compact yet profound reflections: one on the paradox of chasing goals and the other on handling hatred. In the first, he reminds us that striving too hard can backfire, sometimes what we want only comes when we stop chasing. In the second, he offers a liberating reframe: you don’t need to hate something just because it’s not for you.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://sive.rs/fish & https://sive.rs/hatenot

Quotes to ponder:

"If you chase a fish, it will swim away. But if you go about your business calmly, it may come to you out of curiosity."

"Not liking something doesn’t mean you have to hate it."

"It’s a relief to realize you don’t have to fight everything that’s not for you."

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