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 3800:

Tyler Tervooren shares two powerful true stories of individuals who overcame extreme odds by refusing to make excuses, an 11-year-old Ugandan boy who risked everything for an education and a Detroit man who walked 21 miles daily to keep his job. These examples underscore how taking full responsibility, rather than blaming external factors, boosts motivation, resilience, and long-term success.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.riskology.co/making-excuses/

Quotes to ponder:

"Making excuses now has a cascading effect on how you behave in the future."

"When you ask yourself those questions, you feel like you’re still in control of your destiny."

"If you focus on the story you can’t control, you’ll spiral towards failure. But if you focus on the story you can, you’ll spiral towards success."

Episode references:

The Journal of Psychology: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/vjrl20

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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 3799:

Shawna Scafe challenges the conventional, one-size-fits-all idea of success and invites us to redefine it based on what truly fulfills us, not what society expects. By exploring your own gifts, passions, and desires without an audience or external validation, you begin to build a life rooted in authenticity and joy.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://simpleonpurpose.ca/redefine-life-success/

Quotes to ponder:

"Success implies that we are in a great state of life. Therefore, we ‘ought’ to be happy and well-off."

"We work hard to ‘get’ success, and then work hard to maintain it and then get sick of working hard to live a life that we aren’t all that passionate about."

"Success is a quality of living. And living can only be done well when it is done in the way that fulfills you as an individual."

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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 3798:

Brian Gardner explores the emotional toll of people-pleasing, revealing how the desire to be liked often masks deeper fears of rejection and abandonment. By confronting these fears and setting healthy boundaries, we can shift from living reactively to living intentionally and authentically

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nosidebar.com/people-pleasing/

Quotes to ponder:

"People-pleasing isn’t just about being nice, it’s about trying to avoid rejection."

"Many people-pleasers grew up in homes where love was conditional."

"Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously."

Episode references:

Codependent No More: https://www.amazon.com/Codependent-No-More-Controlling-Yourself/dp/0894864025

The Body Keeps the Score: https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748

Set Boundaries, Find Peace: https://www.amazon.com/Set-Boundaries-Find-Peace-Reclaiming/dp/0593192095

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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 3797:

Krista O'Reilly Davi-Dagui invites us to stop seeking answers outside ourselves and start practicing the radical act of self-attunement. By learning to pause, reflect, and listen inwardly, with curiosity and compassion, we access clarity, courage, and a deeper sense of agency in our lives.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.alifeinprogress.ca/learn-to-listen-to-yourself/

Quotes to ponder:

"Do we practice hearing and honoring ourselves first, offering our own person the grace and compassion that we seek from others?"

"We so desperately want to be heard so let us practice hearing ourselves."

"Greater wisdom comes when we first pause, go inward, and learn to listen."

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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 3796:

Marc Chernoff explores the profound power of embracing the present moment without needing to capture or share it. By challenging the modern urge to validate experiences through technology and social media, he reminds us that true peace and fulfillment come from recognizing that right now, just as it is, is enough.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.marcandangel.com/2016/10/30/one-reality-you-must-accept-before-you-can-live-your-best-life/

Quotes to ponder:

"We’re so used to feeling like the present moment isn’t worthy of our full presence!"

"If you worry too much about what could be, and what might have been, you will ignore and overlook the beauty of what is."

"Let go of everything else, and just remind yourself how fortunate you are to be experiencing this moment right here, right now."

Episode references:

Getting Back to Happy: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Back-Happy-Change-Habits/dp/0525542744

The Social Dilemma: https://www.netflix.com/title/81254224

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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 3795:

Jennifer Burger reveals that the path to a simpler life isn’t just about decluttering your home or slowing your schedule, it starts with shifting your mindset. By embracing internal changes like valuing your time, releasing expectations, and defining what truly matters, you can create lasting simplicity and ease from the inside out.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.simplyfiercely.com/mindsets-simple-living/

Quotes to ponder:

"If you want to simplify your life, you must cultivate the confidence and clarity to both define and defend what matters most to you."

"More time equals freedom to live slowly and on your own terms."

"All you need to do is cultivate a mindset of enoughness."

Episode references:

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 3794:

Angelina Lee reflects on the power of choosing intentional, peaceful responses to life’s emotional chaos, drawing from her husband’s grounded approach to adversity. Her insights reveal how shifting from reactive patterns to mindful decisions can cultivate inner peace, healthier relationships, and a more purpose-driven life.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://exploringplanbe.com/choosing-your-response/

Quotes to ponder:

“Choose to hold on to hope as if your future depends on it. Because it does.”

“Choose to see the good in the little, seemingly insignificant happenings in your life.”

“Choose to know that you are enough, just as you are, regardless of what you do, or what you have left undone.”

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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 3793:

Charlotte Hosier shares a powerful journey from chronic people-pleasing to authentic living, revealing how suppressing your needs for approval leads to burnout and self-alienation. By uncovering the root beliefs driving this behavior and replacing them with self-awareness and small acts of honesty, you can begin living a life that feels more true and empowering.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://tinybuddha.com/blog/you-dont-have-to-adjust-who-you-are-to-please-others/

Quotes to ponder:

"Yes, you may feel guilty for being honest at first, but it will get easier."

"You feel in control. You feel comfortable. But until you start to examine the root of your behavior, it’s likely that you’ll continue to constantly want to please others."

"Adjust less to others. Listen more to yourself."

Episode references:

The Work by Byron Katie: https://thework.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 3792:

Stella Grizont shares two powerful reflections on how growth rarely looks graceful, whether you're navigating a child’s meltdown or trying to regain momentum after burnout. Her stories reveal that real strength lies in practicing presence, starting small, and giving ourselves permission to be imperfect.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.stellagrizont.com/blogs/its-not-easy-to-take-my-own-advice &  https://www.stellagrizont.com/blogs/finding-magic-in-the-mundane

Quotes to ponder:

"The 'chores' weren’t chores at all, they were portals to momentum."

"If you’ve been wondering where your energy went, the way back might be through the resistance you’ve been avoiding."

"You can always try again. It doesn't have to be perfect."

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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 3791:

Michael Mehlberg reveals how to transform reading from a passive habit into an active process that strengthens memory and sparks lasting personal growth. Through reflection, repetition, and practical application, he shows how to absorb ideas deeply enough to change the way you think and live.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://michaelmehlberg.com/blog/2015/6/29/reading-to-remember

Quotes to ponder:

"Reading isn’t enough. You need to remember what you read if you want to make a difference in your life."

"Your brain needs to process, connect, and repeat information before it becomes part of your thinking."

"When you learn something new, it doesn’t stick until you use it, reflect on it, and tie it to what you already know."

Episode references:

How to Read a Book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Book-Classic-Intelligent/dp/0671212095

The Power of Habit: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X

Moonwalking with Einstein: https://www.amazon.com/Moonwalking-Einstein-Science-Remembering-Everything/dp/0143120530

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