You Are Heroic with Brian Johnson

🚀 Start your FREE 7-day trial of Heroic OS:

→ https://go.heroic.us/heroic-os-app

👇 Get my Notes on Building a Life Worth Living for FREE to follow along:

→ https://go.heroic.us/building-a-life-worth-living

Brian is back at the chalkboard with the ultimate playbook for escaping despair and creating a life of deep meaning: Building a Life Worth Living by Marsha Linehan.

Written by the founder of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), this extraordinary memoir reveals how an 18-year-old in suicidal despair made a sacred vow to escape her personal hell and spend the rest of her life helping others do the same. If you are struggling through dark times, fighting emotional overwhelm, or ready to transform your greatest trials into strength, this episode is for you.

Grab the book on Amazon:

→ https://amzn.to/3YTtWTu

⏱️ Chapters:

0:00 — Introduction: Building a Life Worth Living

1:31 — Meet Marsha Linehan: The Heroic Vow & 50 Years Later

4:41 — Idea 1: What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy? (DBT 101)

7:40 — Idea 2: The 4 Core Skills of DBT

10:20 — Idea 3: Opposite Action (Force Yourself to Act)

12:00 — Idea 4: Play the Hand You've Been Dealt & Walk Through the Fire

14:45 — Summary & Plus One: Taking Opposite Action Today

🧠 The big shift: The moment you completely accept reality as it is, you unlock the power to change. Stop waiting for your feelings to align with your values—when fear or self-doubt barks at you, use "opposite action" and force yourself to do what's right anyway.

🚀 Start your FREE 7-day trial of Heroic OS:

→ https://go.heroic.us/heroic-os-app

Today's +1: Pull the burr out.

We all have habits that create little pockets of unnecessary pain, and the longer we leave them alone, the more they can hurt. Identify your #1 metaphorical burr today, stop doing what's not serving you, and carry on.

#Heroic #PlusOne #Habits

🚀 Take Heroic OS for a free 7-day spin, see what changes:

→ https://go.heroic.us/heroic-os-app

Today's +1: Remember the angels who helped make you who you are.

Think of someone who has supported, loved, or shaped you in a meaningful way. Pause to appreciate them, then reach out if they're still here, or simply send some love their way if they're not.

#Heroic #PlusOne #Gratitude

🚀 Start your FREE 7-day trial of Heroic OS:

→ https://go.heroic.us/heroic-os-app

Today's +1: Let little glitches remind you of life's little miracles.

The next time something doesn't work the way you expect, pause before getting frustrated and notice how often that same thing normally works without you giving it a thought. Use the glitch as a cue to appreciate all the mundane miracles you usually take for granted.

#Heroic #PlusOne #Gratitude

🚀 Start your FREE 7-day trial of Heroic OS:

→ https://go.heroic.us/heroic-os-app

👇 Get my Notes on The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins for FREE to follow along:

→ https://go.heroic.us/the-let-them-theory

In this episode of Philosopher's Notes TV, Brian is back at the chalkboard to unpack a viral sensation that is revolutionizing how we handle stress and relationships.

We invite you into the virtual classroom to look inside the Philosopher's Note on The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins.

Subtitled A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About, this book delivers a powerful mental framework for dropping micromanagement and regaining your peace of mind. If you are exhausted from trying to control or change the people around you, this episode outlines a simple two-part philosophy to reclaim your agency, step out of frustration, and focus on what truly matters.

If you are ready to quit wasting energy on things you cannot control, step out of your comfort zone, and go all-in on living your own best life, this episode is your roadmap!

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon here:

→ https://amzn.to/4qWS5Uk

⏱️ Chapters:

0:00 — Introduction: Stop Micromanaging the World Around You[cite: 1, 6]

1:09 — Mel Robbins' Collection & The Prom Night Origin Story

2:58 — Idea 1: Let Them (The Rain, Sneakers, and Taco Stand Origin Story)

4:28 — Idea 2: Let Them as a Tool (Ancient Philosophy & Modern Science)

8:45 — Idea 3: Let Me (Taking Proactive Agency Over Your Own Life)

11:42 — Idea 4: Influence Over Motivation (Being the Change You Want to See)

15:13 — Idea 5: A Love Note (You Are the Hero We've Been Waiting For)

16:38 — Summary & Plus One: Moving from Theory to Practice to Mastery

🧠 Deep Dive: The Core Concepts

Let Them as a Mind Tool: In ancient Sanskrit, the word mantra literally translates to "a tool of the mind." Repeating "let them" acts as an immediate mental circuit-breaker whenever you find yourself trying to control external situations or people. This connects deeply with Stoicism's core rule—focusing exclusively on what is within your direct power—as well as the Buddhist equation that suffering equals pain times resistance.

Let Them + Let Me: The "Let Them" mindset is only the first half of the equation. Once you grant others the freedom to be who they are, you must activate the second part: "Let Me." Rather than staying trapped in criticism or complaining, step into Viktor Frankl's gap between stimulus and response, take proactive agency over your life, and use targeted thinking to define who you aspire to be.

🚀 Start your FREE 7-day trial of Heroic OS:

→ https://go.heroic.us/heroic-os-app

Today's +1: Be efficient with tasks, but effective with people.

Getting things done quickly is great, but relationships aren't tasks to check off a list. Today, notice where you're rushing through an interaction and slow down for a moment to connect, listen, and be genuinely present.

#Heroic #PlusOne #Connection

🚀 Take Heroic OS for a free 7-day spin, see what changes:

→ https://go.heroic.us/heroic-os-app

Today's +1: Let yourself receive celebratory love.

Connection feels even better when we slow down enough to receive it. Put your phone away, step out of your own little cocoon, and find something to genuinely celebrate about another person. You might be surprised by how good it feels to receive that same energy in return.

#Heroic #PlusOne #Connection

🚀 Start your FREE 7-day trial of Heroic OS:

→ https://go.heroic.us/heroic-os-app

👇 Get my Notes on How Life Imitates Chess by Garry Kasparov for FREE to follow along:

→ https://go.heroic.us/how-life-imitates-chess

In this episode of Philosopher's Notes TV, Brian is back at the chalkboard to unpack the ultimate playbook for applying grandmaster strategy directly to your life.

We invite you into the virtual classroom to look inside the Philosopher's Note on How Life Imitates Chess by Garry Kasparov.

Written by the legendary world champion and advisor to Netflix's The Queen's Gambit, this book explores how the deep tactics of the chessboard can help us navigate life's ultimate game. If you are tired of playing on autopilot and ready to learn how to recover your center under intense pressure, refine your personal rating system, and turn setbacks into strategic victories, this episode is for you.

If you are ready to quit waiting for talent to carry you, step out of your comfort zone, and go all-in on a life of deep mastery, this episode is your roadmap!

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon here:

→ https://amzn.to/4amzjA0

⏱️ Chapters:

0:00 — Introduction: Playing the Ultimate Game to Win

1:28 — Garry Kasparov's Legacy & The Johnson Family Chess Addiction

2:41 — Idea 1: Overalls & Effort (Why Talent Only Counts for a Fraction)

7:00 — Idea 2: The Inner Game (Recovering Your Center in Under Five Seconds)

10:24 — Idea 3: Rating Systems (Applying Grandmaster Performance Metrics to Daily Life)

12:43 — Idea 4: The Fastest Way to Improve (Reviewing Your Most Painful Losses)

18:21 — Idea 5: The Ultimate Game (A Heartwarming Ritual on the Drive to Tournaments)

22:00 — Summary & Plus One: Unleashing the Heroic Grandmaster Within

🧠 Deep Dive: The Core Concepts

Overalls and Effort: Thomas Edison famously remarked that opportunity is often missed because it comes dressed in overalls and looks a lot like hard work. When looking at grandmasters or elite performers, we often fall into the trap of assuming their success is entirely due to natural talent. While talent determines the speed at which we pick up a skill, it is effort that translates talent into skill, and further effort that turns skill into outstanding achievement. Effort ultimately counts twice.

The Painful Loss Strategy: If you want to systematically elevate your life, the fastest way to improve is not by adding new habits—it is by identifying and removing your existing mistakes. When working with his grandmaster coach Tamás, the very first homework assignment Emerson was given was to produce his 10 worst, most painful chess losses. By facing our failures directly rather than avoiding them out of shame, we can vacuum up our personal kryptonites and free up immense reserves of human energy.

🚀 Start your FREE 7-day trial of Heroic OS:

→ https://go.heroic.us/heroic-os-app

Today's +1: The rocks hurt, but you're getting stronger.

Life is going to put some wonderfully not-wonderful rocks in your path. Don't pretend they don't hurt, but remember that the challenges you're walking through can also be making you stronger. When things get tough today, remind yourself: we're getting stronger.

#Heroic #PlusOne #Growth

🚀 Ready to build a life you don't need to escape from? Start your FREE 7-day trial of Heroic OS:

→ https://go.heroic.us/heroic-os-app

Today's +1: Be the fire. Wish for the wind.

Challenges can either weaken us or become fuel for growth. Think of one challenge you're facing today and ask yourself: How can I use this to become stronger?

#Heroic #PlusOne #Antifragile