Will Bowen Audio

Hedonic Adaptation explains so many things.

Hedonic Adaptation may also explain why you struggle with being pessimistic.

Hedonic Adaptation, you’ll remember, is a human being’s propensity to adapt to ongoing experiences.

The best example is how the first bite of pizza always tastes better than the last.

You adapt, and so each bite tastes a little less yummy so that you don’t eat unhealthy amounts.

But Hedonic adaptation can ALSO explain pessimism.

In truth, bad things rarely happen as compared to good things.

As a result, we notice the bad things more and give them greater significance in our minds.

As a result, we tend to think that an unending slew of bad things is inevitable.

Today, let’s talk about flipping Hedonic Adaptation on its head by being grateful throughout the day.

The other day as I walked into the gym I looked around and noticed the people who were there.

Over the next hour as I did my exercise, I noticed many of them leaving and others showing up.

What really caught my attention is that between the people who are in good shape as compared to those who are in great shape is only a little difference.

The people who are in great shape tend to spend about 20% longer in the gym and they move about 20% faster between exercises.

They don’t waste time and add just a bit more time, but those differences make ALL the difference.

Today, let’s explore that extra 20% and how you can apply it to relationships, work, career, health, finances, and EVERY area of your life.

I was recently listening to a podcast about Genghis Khan, and I learned some amazing things.

Not a nice guy, ol’ Genghis, but he still offered some suggestions on how we can live and work better.

For example, what do you think Genghis Khan did to an enemy soldier who shot his horse out from under him?

The answer will surprise you and give a tip for making life a little better every day.

Everybody has some level of “learned helplessness.”

When anything having to do with technology comes up, my wife’s mind goes blank and fails to function.

For years, I hired other people to do the bookkeeping for our business even though they were basically letting software programs handle everything.

Why?

I’m not smart enough,” I told myself.

What are YOUR self-imposed limitations?

How do we root out those self-reinforcing beliefs that say, “I can’t?”

Today, learn how to identify and address your “wimpy spots” to maximize your potential and enjoyment of life.

For years, I suffered from severe indigestion.

I was already vegan, so I also cut out gluten, sugar, fried foods, anything I could think of, but every day it felt like someone was slowly sticking a hot poker into my chest.

Doctors prescribed medications, I took supplements -- nothing worked.

However, when I begin to meditate twice a day, every day, the indigestion began to diminish over time.

The old saying, “It’s not what you eat, it’s what’s eating you,“ is very true.

So, how’s YOUR gut?

Could you benefit from releasing things in your mind so that your stomach can digest better?

Today, let’s look at this and how we can practically apply it in our lives.

Would you believe that in many cases guilt and empathy are proportional?

Think about it – – a person who has very little empathy for others also has very little guilt about their impact on others.

I know what you’re thinking and, yes, there is certainly the concept of having “too much guilt“ and that is not healthy.

However, a healthy amount of guilt helps us to stay connected with others.

Today, let’s figure out how to bring into balance empathy and guilt.

One of the more amazing things I have learned recently is how people naturally underestimate their own force and escalate to compensate for the perceived force of others.

Check out this experiment: one person was asked to squeeze another person on the forearm.

That person was then asked to squeeze the first person back on their forearm and to do so with equal pressure.

Get it? One person squeezes. The other person feels squeezes back with equal pressure.

Simple, right?

It NEVER worked.

Why? Because researchers found that each time the squeeze was passed it INCREASED by 40% until, soon, they were squeezing each other 18 times harder than the original squeeze.

AND (this is key) the participants could not perceive the escalation in squeeze pressure.

Cool, yes. AND, more importantly, it’s something we should remember in ALL human interactions -- physical and emotional.

Today, let’s discuss how we can consciously de-escalate situations that are naturally trying to escalate.

Many people complain about the lack of civility on social media these days.

However, our penchant for attacking other people who are perceived to be somewhat removed from us is not a new thing.

All you have to do is look at how drivers treat one another.

One of the things I found most interesting in visiting other countries is the contrast between how we Americans and drivers from other countries use our car horns.

Today, let’s figure out if you’re a “honking idiot” or a “beeping informer” -- relax, it’s not what you’re thinking -- LOL!

To feel happier, safer, and less stressed, let’s learn to see past our metal shells into the very real person within.

Here is one of the most interesting studies I have read.

In an attempt to understand people‘s motives, behavioral scientists found that the crimes we as individuals commit we consider to be “justifiable and forgivable.“

When it comes to the crimes of other people, however, we consider those to be “unprovoked and grievous.”

This explains a lot of our problems in interpersonal relationships.

When we are in an argument, we consider the things that we say to be “justifiable and forgivable;” whereas, we consider the hurtful things other people say to be “unprovoked and grievous.“

And the argument spins out of control like an ever-expanding tornado.

Each person UNDERestimates the impact of their words and deeds while they OVERestimate the impact (and negative motivations) of the other person.

How do we reset this natural tendency to make everything look askew?

Let’s talk about it, today.

What the HECK was going on?

It looked like kids had snuck up to my house and burned streaks onto the exterior.

Not only that, the burn marks on the house were happening more frequently and huge scorches were appearing every day or so.

The weird thing is that my security cameras weren’t catching anyone.

One day I noticed that not only were there scorch marks, the actual wall of my house was ON FIRE and in that moment, I figured out who was doing it.

In today’s message, I unveil the identity of the neighborhood pyromaniac, and I explain why he was so hard to catch.

And, most importantly, how to use his technique to dramatically improve every aspect of your life -- seriously.

Remember to post your questions and comments -- I respond to them all personally.

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Thanks!