Many people use reasons like, "I'm too old to start" or "I won't be able to learn it" or "I'm too old, I’ll get hurt" to avoid trying something new. But Steven Kotler says it's especially important to continue using mental and physical abilities as we age. Many people think aging is a long, slow rot, but research shows that our physical and mental skills do not have to decline over time. Our mindset towards aging is a key player in peak performance aging.

Steven is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance.

He is the author of eleven bestsellers (out of fourteen books), including The Art of Impossible, The Future is Faster Than You Think, Stealing Fire, The Rise of Superman, Bold and Abundance, and he has a new book, Gnar Country, coming out at the end of this month. His work has been nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, translated into over 50 languages, and has appeared in over 100 publications, including the New York Times Magazine, Wired, Atlantic Monthly, Wall Street Journal, TIME, and the Harvard Business Review.

He is also the co-founder of The Buddy Sue Hospice Home for Old Dogs, a canine elder care facility, and Rancho de Chihuahua, a dog rescue and sanctuary, with his wife, author Joy Nicholson.

Key Takeaways

• What does it mean to grow older?
• Debunking the long, slow rot theory of aging
• Why mindset towards aging matters
• Being patient while learning incrementally
• Dynamic, deliberate play
• How does flow take care of learning?
• Understanding the optimal amount of fear
• Elements of performance that improve with aging
• Further defining mastery using flow

Links

• Learn more about Steven Kotler
• Learn more about the Flow Research Collective
• Sign up for my weekly newsletter! 

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The Grow the Good Podcast is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.