*knock knock* it's your inner child! Did you forget about them? Will you allow them to run free or hold them inside yourself? Have you ever thought about what people mean by "inner child"?  We discuss how powerful it is to hone in on who we were as children and how that plays a role in our daily lives as we mature. Is having an inner child childish? Or is it more important than we realize? 

Have you ever set a goal for yourself, not reach it, and just feel worse about yourself? How do we navigate this world which is all about checking off items on your to-do list? Are you a better, more successful person the more goals you set for yourself? We discuss how we can increase your success in achieving your goals by implementing systems, a process that should not be overlooked! 

"You do not rise to the level of your goal. You fall to the level of your system." 

Books mentioned:

"Atomic Habits" by James Clear

Have you ever felt that you weren't in the driver's seat of your life? Almost as if you don't have full control over where it may take you next or when making some difficult life choices? The old Stoic question of "What are you really in control of?" challenges us to see if we really are the captain of our own ship. We'll talk about what 'control' really means and how we can infuse a sense of "essentialism" into our lives.

Books Mentioned:
"Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown

How many times has someone told you they were "too busy"? Have you ever been the one to say that? The definition of 'busy' has been evolving over the past few years, but does being "busy" mean that you are more productive and important than someone else? Time to look at our calendars and weekly planners and see if we're as busy as we say we are.

Books Mentioned:
"Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less" by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

"Today Matters" by John C. Maxwell

"The 4-Hour Work Week" by Tim Ferriss

"Deep Work" by Cal Newport  

Time for our first interview! Mom Requerme joins the podcast universe with this episode, discussing her journey from her time navigating the politically-intense lands of the Philippines to the unknown areas of America. Reflecting back on her life as a life-long learner, Mary Ann gives some insight into how to embrace the unpredictability of life and the dangers of sticking to tradition, from living a non-linear life herself. Although retired now, she still remains sarcastically optimistic for what else life holds in store.

Have you ever considered yourself a "creative"? What exactly does it mean to be "creative"? And what exactly is "creativity"?  We dive into why creativity plays a bigger role in your life than you might think and how you being creative might just be your superpower. No art skills required. 

Books mentioned:
"Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert

Long time, no hear! It's good to be back and to have you back! Apologies for the quick hiatus, but we're back better than ever! This episode will be addressing the cause of the hiatus and some things that you can do to maximize your energy and happiness on a day-to-day basis using the "mental cup" exercise! You only have so much energy to give in a day but how do you create enough energy to attain the happiness you seek daily?

Is there really a difference between 'being productive' and 'hustling'? How do we define those terms and how can we maximize our productivity? This episode is a little science-heavy, hence the length, but I hope it still provides some insight on what roles productivity and hustle play in our own lives!

Books mentioned:
"Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker, Ph.D.

"Deep Work" by Cal Newport

"Digital Minimalism" by Cal Newport

"A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel in Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)" by Barbara Oakley, Ph.D.

"Go Wild!" by John J. Ratey, MD

Constantly looking to the next big thing, we forget to really live in the moments. "Don't count your days. Make your days count." What does that even mean? What exactly are "small wins" and why are we waiting for the next big thing to happen to us? And who the heck is the host?!

Welcome to the "Sarcastically Optimistic" Podcast! This episode, being the first episode, gives a brief run-down of what the podcast is about, what you can expect from it, and get to know who your host is! We also talk about an important principle from the book "Bending Reality" by Victoria Song that may prove useful when going about your busy day-to-day life! Hope you enjoy it and that we continue on this journey together! 

Books mentioned:
"Bending Reality" by Victoria Song