In today’s episode of The One Program podcast, Kristen Edmiston dives into the question: “What is Real?” We live in a world saturated with deception—from filtered social media highlights to AI-generated content and misleading marketing tactics. These “micro-hits” of fakeness can sap our energy, damage our mental health, and contribute to a pervasive sense of overwhelm.

Kristen guides us through identifying these subtle yet powerful drains on our time and energy and explores how to move toward a simpler, more authentic life. She challenges listeners to question not only the external “fakeness” but also the ways we may unknowingly contribute to it in our lives and businesses.

If you’re ready to take an honest look at what’s real, protect your peace, and build a life of clarity and focus, this episode is for you.

Key Topics:

1) Identifying Fakeness:

• ​ From social media filters and AI content to spam emails and misleading advertising, Kristen highlights the constant stream of “fakeness” in our world and its impact on our mental well-being and sense of clarity.

2) Micro-Hits and the Overwhelm:

• ​ Kristen introduces the concept of “micro-hits”—small, cumulative sources of stress and distraction that add up over time. She explains how these micro-hits contribute to the “overwhelm”, a pervasive feeling of being stuck, unclear, or anxious.

3) Time as Our Most Precious Resource:

• ​ Reflecting on our limited time—an average of 14,000 to 15,000 days left if you’re lucky, Kristen emphasizes the need to protect our time from distractions and meaningless pursuits, encouraging us to spend it on what truly matters.

4) Self-Reflection and Accountability:

• ​ Kristen invites listeners to hold up a mirror and examine the ways we might be tolerating, complicit in, or even contributing to the “fakeness” in our own lives.

4) Real-Life Strategies to Combat the Overwhelm:

• ​ Kristen shares ten actionable strategies to minimize the impact of “fakeness” and protect our mental space, including setting boundaries, choosing relationships carefully, avoiding the comparison trap, and relearning self-worth.

5) The Gift of Real Connection:

• ​ Lastly, Kristen speaks to the value of authentic connections, urging listeners to cherish the trust others place in them and to honor these relationships as sacred spaces of safety and support.

Actionable Takeaways:

- Recognize Micro-Hits: Start noticing small sources of fakeness or deception around you. Be aware of how these impact your energy, mood, and focus.

- Establish Boundaries: Set personal and digital boundaries to protect yourself from the fakeness that drains your time and peace.

- Evaluate Your Online Presence: Assess your relationship with social media and online content. Are you engaging in the comparison trap or seeking validation?

- Relearn Your Worth: Don’t let the filtered realities of others affect your self-worth. Remember that no one’s social media feed shows the whole picture.

- Foster Authentic Relationships: Cherish the people who let you into their real lives, and make an effort to reciprocate by showing up as your true self.

- Let Go of Perfection: Shift your focus from perfection to excellence, understanding that perfection is a myth that often fuels the cycle of overwhelm and inauthenticity.

Join the Conversation:

We want to hear from you! After listening, reflect on these questions:

- What sources of “fakeness” impact you most in daily life?

- How can you start filtering out or limiting these distractions?

- What is one area of your life where you could show up more authentically?

Connect with Kristen and The One Program community on social media or leave a comment to share your thoughts and experiences.

Email: [email protected]