Stoic Wellbeing

It’s that time of year when we encourage each other to slow down, appreciate what we have, and be present with others. But how do we stay in the moment when our minds keep drifting to what’s happening next week, or what occurred 10 years ago? That’s what this episode is about.

Sarahmikutel.com

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Chocolate. Lots of us love it. Where does it come from? Who makes it? And how can we be ethical consumers of chocolate? 

I want the answer to be easy — like, just by such-and-such chocolate bar. But the answer is more complicated than that. 

Today I’m speaking with cocoa and chocolate scholar (and lover of chocolate) Dr. Kristy Leissle, an American who now lives in South Africa.

Kristy, aka Dr. Chocolate, wrote the book Cocoa and has spent her career studying the politics, economics, and cultures of the cocoa-chocolate trade in Africa, Europe, and North America. 

She also co-founded the Cocoapreneurship Institute of Ghana, which supports entrepreneurs working at any stage of the cocoa value chain in West Africa.

I absolutely love the stories Kristy shares in this episode about how travel and learning from and befriending people from other nations and cultures led her to becoming Dr. Chocolate. 

So, can we be virtuous consumers of chocolate? What does that even mean? Kristy and I get into it. 

P.S. If you’re in an English-speaking country, it’s pronounced co-co, not ca-cow. So the next time you’re in a snobby artisanal shop and they start talking about ca-cow, you can correct them and say, “Actually, Dr. Chocolate says it’s cocoa and she has a PhD in the matter.”

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Chances are this holiday season you'll have to talk to at least one person who drives you bananas. 

But what if this doesn't have to stress you out? What if you could have a good conversation? What if this could be your least angst-filled holiday yet? 

It can be!

Here are five ancient Stoic techniques (backed up by modern psychology) to manage your anger and anxiety when talking to people you think are difficult. 

sarahmikutel.com

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

On a recent trip, I learned that the last so-called witch to be executed in Scotland died in 1727.


Of course, there are still people being tortured, killed, and scapegoated around the world today. 

But we’re more likely to be involved in hanging people on social media.

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

On a recent trip to Scotland, I ate well, I drank well -- didn’t so much sleep well. But I enjoyed just the right amount of indulgence for me on a trip. 

This kind of happiness is hedonia. Hedonic pleasure is about, well, pleasure. Comfort. Satisfaction. What feels good in the moment. Pleasure coming from external things. A massage after a long day. A bite of flourless chocolate cake. Sprawling out on your beach towel and doing nothing.  

These pleasures are fun and worthwhile and should be savored in the moment. Hedonic pleasures are also temporary. 

You may have heard of the hedonic treadmill. This is the idea that we chase hedonic pleasures, we get them, and then that becomes our new baseline. 

You get the promotion you want, but that’s no longer enough money. You want more. You move into a ‘starter’ home that you love, but one month in you’re wishing you’re already in your ‘forever’ home, one that will be much bigger and perfect and you’ll finally be satisfied then. This kind of happiness is tied to external pleasure. Moving toward pleasure and away from pain.

There are two ways we can extend hedonic happiness: 1) by expressing gratitude for and savoring these moments and 2) by abstaining from these pleasures for awhile. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and reminds you to appreciate what you have. 

There’s a second kind of happiness that’s long lasting: eudaimonia. We achieve this by living as our highest selves. By being people of good character and being good to ourselves. This includes being disciplined enough to do what's best for us and those around us.

Enjoy this episode on how to learn to love doing the hard thing through Stoic discipline.

Hello! I'm your host, Sarah Mikutel. But the real question is, who are you? Where are you now and where do you want to be? Can I help you get there?

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Fundraiser for Ukraine
 
Life feels pretty chaotic right now for many people. 

It's not just the war in Ukraine or Covid. The world these days seems too fast-paced and full of rage. You might feel...

• afraid to say anything online (or IRL)
• so overwhelmed by all you want to do, you don't do anything
• paralyzed and frustrated by your perfectionist procrastination

These are all totally normal thoughts and feelings. And you don't have to stay stuck here.

In  the Calm the Chaos audio course I created for you, I blend Stoic wisdom with modern psychology to help you:  

• feel less anxious in your mind and body
• be more present for friends and family – and yourself
• live with more intention and less regret
• stop worrying what others think

 All course profits made between now and May 28 will go to Nova Ukraine, an organization providing humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees.
 

Go to sarahmikutel.com/calmthechaos to access the audio course via donation today. Once again, donations must be made by May 28. Thank you 🙏 🇺🇦

The end of the year is a time for reflection: What went right? What went wrong? What could I have handled better? Questions that Stoics ask themselves every evening.

It’s also the time of year that we see round ups of popular news stories, though 2020 often felt like we heard of nothing other than Covid-19 and the U.S. presidential election, and sometimes Brexit. 

Many stories slipped through the cracks, including the 75th anniversary of the end of World War 2.


We throw around the word nazi so casually now -- grammar nazi, soup nazi -- but in our grandparents’ time, nazi nazis were taking over Europe in a murderous rampage. 

Mark Twain is often quoted as saying, “History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes.” There’s no evidence he said that, but the sentiment stands: Never forget. We need to look back so we can understand the present and plan for a better future. 

Due to the pandemic, end-of-the-war commemorations were canceled around the world this year. I think the remembrance of what happened 75 years ago deserved a lot more coverage, and so this episode is my tribute to the men and women who fought the good fight. 

I recorded this episode a year and a half ago for my travel podcast, the Postcard Academy, around the anniversary of D-Day. I discuss several ways in which we can honor the sacrifices made by the Greatest Generation. At one point, I talk about the importance of traveling more. Here’s hoping that wish comes true for all of us in 2021.



I wish you a happy, healthy, and safe New Year.


Visit sarahmikutel.com to get in touch about how we can work one-on-one together to help you achieve more peace, happiness, and positive transformation in your life.

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What are the life skills that really matter?

In this episode, you’ll hear specifics on how to live a good life. A simple life. One that will give you more energy and inner peace. 

I’m joined by Stephen Warley, fellow Stoicism lover and host of the Life Skills That Matter podcast. This interview originally aired on my other podcast, LIVE Without Borders, a year or so ago. I think you’ll get a lot out of it, so I’m sharing it with you here.

Our interview was a two-parter. In part one, Stephen and I discussed the future of work and life skills that will enable you to live a more freedom-filled, location independent life. If that interests you, you can head over to LIVE Without Borders and listen to the episode: “Life Skills That Matter for Aspiring Solopreneurs.”

This is part 2, where Stephen and I talk about energy, digital detoxing, designing your ideal day and more. 

We’ll be jumping right into the conversation, where Stephen and I time travel to our younger years, and share where we started out in our careers. Enjoy!

 Hello! I'm your host, Sarah Mikutel. But the real question is, who are you? Where are you now and where do you want to be? Can I help you get there?

 Visit sarahmikutel.com to learn how we can work together to help you achieve more peace, happiness, and positive transformation in your life.

Book your Enneagram typing session by going to sarahmikutel.com/typingsession

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

You know when you’re traveling and you see families fuming in the airport or no longer speaking to each other at dinner? 

Chances are, one of them, or multiple people, blew something out of proportion and are still reacting to it. 

Why does this happen? How can we be more emotionally resilient, that is, more Stoic, and enjoy a more smoothly flowing life? 

Let’s dive into why things don’t have to upset us with an AirBnB story…

 Hello! I'm your host, Sarah Mikutel. But the real question is, who are you? Where are you now and where do you want to be? Can I help you get there?

 Visit sarahmikutel.com to learn how we can work together to help you achieve more peace, happiness, and positive transformation in your life.

Book your Enneagram typing session by going to sarahmikutel.com/typingsession

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Note: I recorded this awhile ago. With everything happening in Ukraine, this information is more important than ever. 

 ***

Where do these emotions come from? What are emotions? How can we cultivate healthy emotions that improve our own wellbeing, and thereby our positive impact on the world? 

That’s what I want to talk about today.
 
 Here's a little taste...
 
 Most people think emotions run their lives, but, in her popular Ted Talk, Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, says that, “Emotions are not what we think they are...They are not hardwired brain reactions that are uncontrollable...emotions are guesses...Your brain is predicting. It's using past experience based on similar situations to try to make meaning.”

When you’re confronted with a situation, your mind and body will try to make sense of it by reading your body’s automatic physical response, and running through past thoughts/feelings. This happens instantly and automatically to give you an initial understanding of the situation. 

The Stoics called this initial impression phantasia. They believed that your emotions are a result of value judgements you’re making about what’s happening, and it seems that they were right. As Epictetus said, “It’s not things that upset us but our judgments about things.”

Visit sarahmikutel.com for full show notes.
 
Enjoy the episode!

❤️
 
 Hello! I'm your host, Sarah Mikutel. But the real question is, who are you? Where are you now and where do you want to be? Can I help you get there?

 Visit sarahmikutel.com to learn how we can work together to help you achieve more peace, happiness, and positive transformation in your life.

Book your Enneagram typing session by going to sarahmikutel.com/typingsession

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.