We are often told we are the product of the 5 people we spend the most time with. This episode explores the cases where this isn't true and what we can learn from examining the relationships we have.  We learn that actually, the most significant effect is from those that prevent us from being ourselves. Otherwise, we are free to choose the qualities we are inspired by regardless of how much time we spend with people.

  Questions to reflect on What are my strengths? When do I feel like I am being myself?

I am putting my energy directly into the thing I want to do or is it postponed for some reason?
Is there a faster way to reach the lifestyle I want?

Who are my idols? Why do I look up to them? Could I have better idols?
Who are 5 cool but very different friends to me, what would they tell me to do?

 Connect with Sam:  Join the conversation on the social podcast app - Podvine
Sam's newsletter on creativity and entrepreneurship - Explosive Thinking 
Sam's podcast on books - Wiser Than Yesterday 
Support the Show - Patreon    If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it. And of course, share with your friends!

  Timestamps 
00:00 - What is a growth mindset
00:20 - You are not the 5 people you spend time with
01:00 - Be yourself
01:23 - The skier parable
04:08 - Don't be blocked from being yourself
04:40 - Best friends
06:30 - Opposite can work
08:50 - Choose your inspiration
09:36 - Small encounters can have butterfly effects
10:53 - Prioritise healthy relationships
11:30 - Avoid being generic groups/cliques
12:08 - Sahil Lavingia and GumRoad
13:53 - Variety is the spice of life
14:53 - Questions to journal on (see above)
16:05 - Life tips

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Own how others affect you

Explore the Psychology of peak performance across all spheres of life. Dive headlong into the wonderful world of dissecting mental models, mindsets and mastery.
Armed with a stack of science and a boatload of curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of the mind.
Understand: “What”, “How”, and “Why” it does what it does.
Learn to build resilience and a Growth Mindset.
With over 8 million downloads this is your informative and entertaining hub for psychology and the science of self-improvement.

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Self-Improvement

Practical Psychology for navigating life's challenges and cultivating joy. Sam Webster Harris explores the concept of life as a series of games, blending psychological insights with practical wisdom. He discusses how every aspect of life involves some form of gameplay, from professional networks like LinkedIn to personal decisions and social interactions.  We dig into the intersection of Philosophy and Psychology to understand the experiencing self and how we navigate our moments. Sam emphasizes the importance of understanding the different 'modes' of approaching life's games—machine, intelligent, and zen. He advocates for living authentically, focusing on self-amusement, and challenging societal norms. Learn to apply some of the more surreal and abstract concepts of the mind into real life:
How to understand what game you are playing?
Establish what is really at stake
Define the rules for yourself to play your own game
Have more fun

 The episode encourages listeners to reassess their motivations and redefine what winning means in their personal game of life. 
 Further reading:

Godel, Escher, Bach - Douglas R. Hofstedter

Finite and Infinite Games - James P. Carse

The Infinite Game - Simon Sinek

The Way of Zen - The Taboo of Knowing Who You Are - Alan Watts

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 Meet Sam
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Growth Mindset pod:Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)


Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com

Insta - SamJam.zen


Newsletter - Expansive Thinking


 Chapters: 00:00 The Concept of Life as a Game 01:28 The Rules of Life's Games 03:17 The Games of LinkedIn and Appearance 06:30 Life Lessons - Philosophy for fun and success 11:36 Your Point of View is First Player 14:03 The Three Modes for Playing Games 15:00 Applying the Modes to Social Media, News and Health 17:00 Final Thoughts 18:00 Housekeeping and Recommendations 
 Topics:
understanding life games and personal growth
how to play life games on your own terms
mastering life games for more fun and success
psychological models for better life decisions
navigating life's games with mental models
building mental strength through understanding games
enhancing life strategies with cognitive psychology
applying psychology to everyday life games
tips for playing life's psychological games
dealing with societal expectations psychologically
philisophical insights into life's hidden games
developing self-awareness in life's games
practical psychology for navigating life's challenges
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Life's Infinite Games: Understanding Our Roles and Choices to Play On Our Terms

What is the source of anger and how do we learn from everything in life? This episode explores how to investigate our assumptions and find a deeper understanding of the world around us. We use psychology to investigate our curiosities and find unexpected and useful lessons for life whilst having fun. Cool moments coming up:
The difference between Intrinsic load, Extrinsic Load and Germane Load
How Expectation violation is the worst thing ever
Where does anger come from?
Which is Sam's favourite nation on the planet

 Further reading:

What's Our Problem - Tim Urban -  UK Book - US Book


Tiny Habits - BJ Fogg - UK Book - US Book


Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely- UK Book - US Book


 Sponsors: Cozy Earth: Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them. 35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com 
 SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day. 20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk 
 ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas. FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology 
 Meet Sam
Free Call - Schedule Link

Influence the Show
Feedback - Request and Ideas Form

Growth Mindset podSam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)


Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com

Insta - SamJam.zen


Newsletter - Explosive Thinking


 Chapters: 00:00 Curious Investigation and Sam's Newsletter Mishap 03:37 Understanding Cognitive Load Theory 03:48 Intrinsic and Extrinsic Load Explained 05:00 Germane Load and Tangents 07:41 Applying Cognitive Load Theory to Newsletters 09:27 Expectation Violation and Perceived Control 11:56 Reactance Theory and Personal Freedom 14:23 Overwhelm and Habits 15:08 Embracing Curiosity over Anger 19:10 Innovative Ideas for Blog Consumption 21:25 Book Recommendations and Book Club 22:48 Final Thoughts and Recommendations 
 Topics:
applying psychology to solve everyday problems
understanding cognitive load theory in daily life
strategies to manage intrinsic and germane load
how expectation violation affects decision-making and anger
exploring reactance theory in personal relationships
practical tips for managing anger effectively
building sustainable habits using psychological principles
cultivating curiosity for personal growth
implementing a growth mindset in daily activities
using psychology to enhance problem-solving skills
cognitive strategies to reduce daily stress
learning to handle emotional reactions with psychology
techniques for fostering curiosity and innovation
the role of cognitive load in learning new skills
overcoming barriers to personal development with psychology
psychological approaches to habit formation
mastering emotional self-regulation through psychology
insights into reactance theory and personal freedom
practical psychology to improve mental resilience
transforming mindset for better life outcomes
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Cognitive Load, Expectation Violation and Freedom

The secret to unparalleled success is not enduring endless misery. In fact, it's the opposite. We learn how to amplify our abilities in any domain by making the process more enjoyable and actionable. The brain is like a muscle analogy is a harmful myth. It is based on some half-truths that on the surface make sense. Learn:
Why we fail at doing hard things
The differences between brain and muscle training
How to train the brain for success
The biggest misunderstanding of Stoicism.

 Further reading:

Feel Good Productivity - Ali Abdaal -  UK Book - US Book


Slow Productivity - Cal Newport - UK Book - US Book


The Art of Learning - Josh Waitzkin- UK Book - US Book


 Sponsors: Cozy Earth: Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them. 35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com 
 SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day. 20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk 
 ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas. FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology 
 Journal Prompts
Free prompts - Make Hard Things Fun

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Meet Sam - Free call


Feedback - Request and Ideas Form


Growth Mindset podSam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)


Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com

Insta - SamJam.zen


Newsletter - Explosive Thinking


 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: The Value of Time 01:00 Challenging Conventional Wisdom 01:55 The Mind vs. Muscle Debate 02:54 Memory and Creativity 04:22 Analogies and Insights 07:21 Differences Between Brain and Muscle 11:06 The Role of Stress and Play 14:53 Finding Enjoyment in Learning 15:30How to enjoy learning an instrument 19:24 Why Alexander the Great Achieved so Much 23:42 The Big Conclusion 28:33 Final Thoughts and Community Engagement 
 Topics: training the brain vs muscle growth how to effectively train your brain differences between brain and muscle training stress effects on brain vs muscle career change for personal enjoyment and growth entertaining the mind for enhanced learning cognitive training vs physical exercise best practices for cognitive enhancement learning an instrument brain training The secret to Alexander the Great's success how stress impacts brain functionality improving brain function without stress using entertainment to boost brain power practical tips for brain training understanding brain health and physical fitness innovative methods to train the brain cognitive development through entertainment effective brain workouts for professionals   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How To Train Your Mind (Tip: It is NOT a muscle)

How cognitive biases distort reality that leads to both good and bad results. Today a fun experiment where we combine Psychology and History. We learn about the 7 perception-based illusions of cognitive biases whilst applying them to the life of Napoleon. We understand how biases can be useful for us and lead us to greatness and how they can also be our downfall. Cognitive biases covered:
Selective Perception - Why we see things how we want to see them
Exposure Effect - How repetition makes us likes stuff
Baader-Meinhof Effect - Why we notice our car everywhere after we buy it
Placebo Effect - How to make your leg being cut off less awful
Illusion of Control - Why you can't roll dice
Clustering Illusion - How we spot patterns that don't exist
Contrast Effect - Why comparison makes things awful but also wonderful

 Further reading:

Napoleon The Great - Andrew Roberts -  UK Book - US Book


Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman - UK Book - US Book


Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely - UK Book - US Book


 Sponsors: Cozy Earth: Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them. 35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com 
 SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day. 20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk 
 ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas. FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology 
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Meet me - Free call


Feedback - Request and Ideas Form


Growth Mindset podSam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)


Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com

Insta - SamJam.zen


Newsletter - Explosive Thinking


 Chapters: 00:00 Princeton Vs. Dartmouth 01:34 Selective Perception in Politics 02:26 Reality Distortion Fields 04:13 Napoleon's Rise and Fall 05:57 The Exposure Effect 09:06 The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon 11:24 The Placebo Effect 15:53 The Illusion of Control 18:59 Napoleon's Russian Campaign 21:25 The Clustering Illusion 25:29 The Contrast Effect 30:00 Reflections on Cognitive Biases 33:11 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action 
 
 
 Topics: overcoming selective perception for personal growth using the mere exposure effect to build positive habits Baader-Meinhof phenomenon and mindfulness practices applying the placebo effect to boost self-confidence illusion of control and decision making strategies clustering illusion impact on personal finance contrast effect in daily life and productivity psychology of mindset and cognitive biases cognitive biases and personal development improving decision making through understanding cognitive biases Napoleon cognitive biases analysis how Napoleon's decisions were influenced by biases cognitive biases in historical figures psychological analysis of Napoleon Bonaparte cognitive biases experiments and examples Napoleon Bonaparte decision making impact of cognitive biases on leadership psychological insights into Napoleon's strategies contrast effect in Napoleon's campaigns illusion of control in historical decisions mere exposure effect examples in history Baader-Meinhof phenomenon historical examples selective perception in Napoleon's battles clustering illusion and military strategy placebo effect in leadership confidence   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Napoleon and the 7 Illusions of Perception - [Cog Biases pt.4]

How to break down complexity and build true understanding. Richard Feynman is a Nobel Prize-winning Physicist and is widely considered one of the greatest teachers ever. He invented the razor "If someone uses a lot of complexity and Jargon to explain something, they probably don’t understand it." His 4-step technique uncovers the gaps lurking in our knowledge so we can truly master something. 
 Further Reading

Biography: Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman - UK Book - US Book


6 Easy Pieces: Feynman's Physics Essentials - UK Book - US Book


Feynman's Lectures: Box set - UK Series - US Series


 Sponsors: Cozy Earth: Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them. 35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com 
 SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day. 20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk 
 ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas. FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology 
Influence the Show

Meet me - Free call


Feedback - Request and Ideas Form


Growth Mindset podSam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)


Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com

Insta - SamJam.zen


Newsletter - Explosive Thinking


 
 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: The Power of Emotions in Learning 00:55 The Learning Pyramid: Retention Rates 01:21 Effective Learning Methods 02:05 The Role of Emotions in Teaching 03:51 Introduction to Richard Feynman 04:06 Feynman's Contributions to Physics 05:18 Feynman's Teaching Technique 06:35 Step 1: Go Wide and Then Deep 07:26 Step 2: Explain Like You're Teaching a 5-Year-Old 09:02 Step 3: Feedback, Assessment, and Restudying 10:54 Step 4: Organize, Convey, and Review 14:15 Conclusion: The Importance of Simplicity 
 
 Topics Richard Feynman's teaching techniques explained Understanding the learning pyramid and memory retention How to master anything with the Feynman technique Richard Feynman's coolest experiments and insights Learning pyramid and retention rates comparison Feynman's method for effective learning and teaching Richard Feynman’s approach to mastering subjects Discussion and teaching methods in the learning pyramid Audio-visual learning vs reading retention rates Richard Feynman’s impact on education and teaching Effective study techniques inspired by Richard Feynman Mastering complex subjects with the Feynman method Richard Feynman’s contributions to science education Learning retention: discussion vs teaching methods Feynman’s experiments and their educational value   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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