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Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday. Hope you enjoy!
This is our fourth Note on one of Ryan Holiday’s books. Ryan is one of my absolute favorite writers. One of the testimonials in the front of the book perfectly captures my sentiment. Screenwriter and director Brian Koppelman (Rounders, Ocean’s Thirteen and Billions) puts it this way: “I don’t have many rules in life, but one I never break is: If Ryan Holiday writes a book, I read it as soon as I can get my hands on it.” (btw: Cal Newport’s the first testimonial. He says: “Some authors give advice. Ryan Holiday distills wisdom. This book is a must read.”) Penguin Random House sent me an advance copy of this book. As I knew it would be: It’s fantastic. Of course, the book’s packed with Big Ideas and I’m excited to share some of my favorites so let’s jump straight in!
Get Stillness Is the Key on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stillness-Key-Ryan-Holiday/dp/0525538585
Learn more about Ryan Holiday: https://www.optimize.me/authors/ryan-holiday/
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Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from The Joy of Movement by Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D.. Hope you enjoy!
I’m a big fan of Kelly McGonigal and her ability to help us apply scientific wisdom to our lives. We’ve covered two of her earlier books: The Willpower Instinct and The Upside of Stress. So... When I got this book, knew I’d enjoy it. But, I didn’t anticipate JUST how much I’d love it. We have some great Notes on Movement (Spark, Spartan Up and No Sweat among my favorites), but Kelly’s book will be our new go-to for the science of WHY exercise/movement is so essential to our well-being. It’s PHENOMENAL. Reading about the SCIENCE behind stories of transformation (and how, as per the sub-title of her book: “Exercise Helps Us Find Happiness, Hope, Connection, and Courage”) also made me that much more clear on the power of what we’re doing with all of our work and the importance of focusing so much on Energy (especially with our Mastery and Coach programs). Big Ideas we explore include: Hope Molecules (and how to create them), persistence highs (and how to create them), collective effervescence (and why it's so awesome), how we endure (hint: TOGETHER!), and OMMS!!! (Obstacles (literally!) Make Me Stronger!).
Get The Joy of Movement on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Movement-exercise-happiness-connection/dp/0525534105
Learn more about Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D.: https://www.optimize.me/authors/kelly-mcgonigal/
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From Notes on Jim Afremow's Champion's Mind: https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/the-champions-mind-jim-afremow/https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-...
“Take a minute right now to think about your performance when you did not believe a good or respectable outcome was possible but you still found a way to make it happen. There is beauty in being ugly but effective (UBE) or having a good bad day (GBD) while you are not at your finest. Keep your head in the game and grind it out.”
There’s a powerful beauty in being ugly but effective and having good bad days. UBE + GBD. This is big. If we want to cultivate truly intense trust in ourselves, we need to know that we can pull it together when things start falling apart. Jack Nicklaus called it playing poorly well. Afremow tells us Rory McIlroy calls it “scrappy golf.”
Step #1 to making that happen is to KNOW that you will have x bad shots per round. It’s the unhealthy perfectionists among us (*waving to my old self!*) who struggle with this the most— thinking they should be able to get thru the day P.E.R.F.E.C.T.L.Y. (but only every day) and that if they don’t, it’s a sign of something being inherently wrong with them. (Hah.)
We need to hold our high standards of excellence while embracing the constraints of reality that (tragically!) we will *never* be perfect. Then... when the inevitable bad shot comes along, rather than beating ourselves up, we simply say, “Aha! There’s a bad shot. I knew you’d sneak in at some point. No big deal. Back to work.”
So... How’s your ugly? Here’s to being ugly but effective and having good bad days! #UBE + #GBD!
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Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from Happy Together by Suzann Pileggi Pawelski and James Pawelski. Hope you enjoy!
Suzie and James Pawelski are two of the world's leading positive psychologists. James cofounded the Master of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania with Martin Seligman while Suzie is a graduate of the program and a leading freelance writer and consultant. Together they've written an incredible book on "Using the Science of Positive Psychology to Build Love That Lasts." I’ve been waiting for a very long time for the book that would make me say: “READ THIS BOOK if you want to figure out how to integrate Ancient Wisdom + Modern Science + Practical Tools to Optimize your relationship.” And, well, THIS book is it. I HIGHLY recommend it. In fact, it's not only my #1 Love book recommendation, it's also cracked the Top 10 all-time greatest list. Big Ideas we explore include The Relationship Gym (hit it!), Aristotelian Lovers (the REAL Soul Mates), SNAP (James geniuses x2), Know Thy... (self and thy partner!), and Love Is an Action Verb (let's commit to flourishing together TODAY!).
Get Happy Together on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143130595
Learn more about Suzann Pileggi Pawelski and James Pawelski: https://www.optimize.me/authors/suzann-pileggi-pawelski-mapp/ https://www.optimize.me/authors/james-o-pawelski-ph-d/
► RELATED RESOURCES:
Big Idea 1: RELATIONSHIP GYM
- Coping with COVID interview series via Positive Voices → https://www.positivevoices.com/copingwithcovid/
- +1: Falling in Love vs. STANDING in Love | One’s a Lot Easier than the Other (#134) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/falling-in-love-vs-standing-in-love/
- +1: Fortify Your Pertinacity | Seneca Says: “Until the Will to Good Becomes a Disposition to Good” (#864) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/fortify-your-pertinacity/
- +1: Work or Play? | Masters in the Art of Living Dissolve the (Apparent) Dichotomy (#525) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/work-or-play/
- #1: Happy Playbor Day! (I'll be celebrating with some Playbor! Lol) (#35) → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTeT11AzLe0&t=221s
Big Idea 2: ARISTOTELIAN LOVERS
- PN: The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/the-nicomachean-ethics-aristotle/
- PNTV: The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWExd__bC7A
- +1: How to High Five Your Inner Daimon | My Philosophy in One Word (#3) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-high-five-your-inner-daimon/
- +1: Eudaimonism vs. Hedonism | Don’t Want to Be Depressed? Science Says… (#1166) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/eudaimonism-vs-hedonism/
Big Idea 3: SNAP
- +1: Commitments: 100% Is a Breeze | 99%? Not So Much. (#46) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/commitments-100-is-a-breeze/
- +1: Antifragile Confidence | ← = Agency Squared (#796) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/antifragile-confidence/
Big Idea 4: KNOW THY…
- VIA Character Strengths Survey → http://www.viacharacter.org/www/
- Happy Together website → https://www.buildhappytogether.com/
- +1: What's Your #1 Self-Care Habit? | Perhaps the Most Important Question We Can Ask Ourselves (#129) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/whats-your-1-self-care-habit/
- +1: What's Your Partner’s #1 Self-Care Habit? | Another VERY Important Question (#130) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/whats-your-partners-1-self-care-habit/
Big Idea 5: LOVE = ACTION VERB
- How to Journal Carpe Diem Style! → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFMOrHcrGWU&t=4s
- +1: How to Carpe Diem Journal (v2) | Let’s Seize the Day → TODAY! (#1118) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-carpe-diem-journal-v2/
- +1: Soul Mates 2.0 | How to Find One and How to Be One (#1119) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/soul-mates-2-0/
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Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from The Courage Quotient by Robert Biswas-Diener. Hope you enjoy!
Robert Biswas-Diener is known as the “Indiana Jones of positive psychology.” As per his bio, “his research has taken him to such far-flung places as Greenland, India, Kenya and Israel.” And, important note: “He is afraid of quicksand and snakes.” :) Robert is also the son of one of the leading positive psychology researchers: Ed Diener. We covered a book they wrote together called Happiness. This is basically the ONLY book on science of courage. It's fantastic. Big Ideas we explore include defining the numerator and denominator of our Courage Quotient (hint: Increase your "willingness to act" and "ability to control fear"), courage's two flavors (general + personal), courage blindness (and how to heal it), the power of playing our roles well (choose a courageous one!), being willing to fail and playing to win.
Get The Courage Quotient on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Quotient-Science-Make-Braver/dp/0470917423
Learn more about Robert Biswas-Diener: https://www.optimize.me/authors/robert-biswas-diener/
► RELATED RESOURCES:
Big Idea 1: THE QUOTIENT
- +1: How to Flourish | Science Says: PERMA (#280) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-flourish/
- +1: Courage | How to Pump Energy to Your Virtues (#159) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/courage/
- +1: The Courage Quotient | How’s Yours? (#1132) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-courage-quotient/
- +1: Aristotle’s Virtuous Mean | Versus the Vices of Excess + Deficiency (#247) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/aristotles-virtuous-mean/
- +1: Aristotle’s Doctrine of the (Virtuous) Mean | vs. The Vices of Excess and Deficiency (#466) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/aristotles-doctrine-of-the-virtuous-mean/
- PN: The Power of Agency by Paul Napper and Anthony Rao → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/the-power-of-agency-paul-napper-anthony-rao-ph-d/
- +1: "I'm Excited!" | What to Say to Yourself When You’re Feeling Nerves (#27) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/im-excited/
- +1: Your Infinite Potential | And Where to Find It (#4) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/your-infinite-potential/
- +1: Now What Needs to Be Done? | Remember: Feelings Follow Behavior (#72) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/now-what-needs-to-be-done/
- PN: Constructive Living by David Reynolds → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/constructive-living-david-reynolds/
Big Idea 2: BLINDNESS
- +1: Idiosyncratic Optimizing | Creating Your Own Unique Mixture of Awesome (#207) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/idiosyncratic-optimizing/
- FINDING JOE | Full Movie (HD) → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8nFACrLxr0
- +1: Hero Bars | Your Fuel for Fear Doors (#699) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/hero-bars/
- +1: Navy SEAL Cookie Jars | David Goggins on Becoming Superman (#661) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/navy-seal-cookie-jars/
- David Goggins → https://www.optimize.me/authors/david-goggins/
- PN: It Takes What it Takes by Trevor Moawad → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/it-takes-what-it-takes-trevor-moawad/
- #1: How do you start your day? Here’s how I start mine. (Breakfast of Champions + Oura 1-2-3+!) (#5) → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLO3HrC6-hU
Big Idea 3: ROLES
- How to Act Boldly | Choose Courageous Roles (#1134) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-act-boldly/
- PNTV: How to Think Like a Roman Emperor → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHObPl342XU
- Ellen Langer → https://www.optimize.me/authors/ellen-langer/
- PN: Counter-Clockwise by Ellen Langer → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/counterclockwise-ellen-langer/
- +1: You, Batman & Dora the Explorer | Time to Put on Your Heroic Costume? (#964) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/you-batman-dora-the-explorer/
- PN: The Alter Ego Effect by Todd Herman → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/the-alter-ego-effect-todd-herman/
Big Idea 4: FAILURE: ACCEPT
- +1: Be Willing to Fail | Edison, Churchill and YOU! (#1135) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/be-willing-to-fail/
- +1: Creating Your Life Documentary | Note: It’s All an Important Part of the Process (#1136) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/creating-your-life-documentary/
- +1: Mistakes? They’re Just Mis-takes | You As the Director of Your Life (#59) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/mistakes-theyre-just-mis-takes/
- +1: A New Take on Mis-takes | Using Them as Fuel for Our Antifragile Fires (#1137) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/a-new-take-on-mis-takes/
- +1: Win or Learn | Three Questions to Ask after a Disappointing Performance (#96) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/win-or-learn/
- +1: Batting .300 | Is Hall of Fame Material (in Life + Baseball) (#499) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/batting-300/
Big Idea 5: PLAY TO WIN
- +1: Playing to Win | vs. Playing Not to Lose (#1138) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/playing-to-win/
- +1: The Psychology of Hope | Goals + Willpower + Waypower (#325) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-psychology-of-hope/
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Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson. Hope you enjoy!
Donald Robertson is one of the world’s leading thinkers, writers AND practitioners of Stoic philosophy. He’s also a therapist who integrates Stoicism into his work with individuals. This is our second Note on one of his great books. The first Note was on The Philosophy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in which he connects the philosophical underpinnings of CBT (one of the most empirically-validated, effective modern therapies) to ancient Stoicism. This book is part biography and part philosophy. It’s all awesome. If you want to know how to think like a Roman emperor, start here. I think you’ll enjoy the book as much as I did.
Get How to Think Like a Roman Emperor on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/How-Think-Like-Roman-Emperor/dp/1250196620
Learn more about Donald Robertson: https://www.optimize.me/authors/donald-robertson/
► RELATED RESOURCES:
Big Idea 1: GOAL OF LIFE
- PN: The Philosophy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by Donald Robertson → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/the-philosophy-of-cognitive-behavioural-therapy-donald-robertson/
- Stoicism 101 → https://www.optimize.me/stoicism/
- +1: Warriors vs. Librarians | Let’s Not Just Catalogue these +1s, Let’s LIVE Them (#66) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/warriors-vs-librarians/
- +1: The Cardinal Virtues | Of Stoicism + Science + Optimize (#1004) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-cardinal-virtues/
- +1: The Optimize Compass | And How to Make One (#1128) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-optimize-compass/
- +1: How to High Five Your Inner Daimon | My Philosophy in One Word (#3) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-high-five-your-inner-daimon/
Big Idea 2: IDEAL SAGE (+ YOU)
- How to Journal Carpe Diem Style! → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFMOrHcrGWU&t
-+1: What’s Your 0? | Let’s Turn It Into a φ (#1249) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/whats-your-0/
-+1: Pythagoras’s PM Review | Via His Golden Verses (#1019) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/pythagorass-pm-review/
Big Idea 3: STOIC JOY
- +1: The #1 Key to Happiness + Flourishing | Hint: Become BFFs with your Inner Soul (#2) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-1-key-to-happiness-flourishing/
- +1: The 5 (Greek) Keys to Optimizing | Areté + Eudaimonia + en*theos + Hērōs + Euthymia (#200) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-5-greek-keys-to-optimizing/
- +1: Aristotle’s “Happiness” | Isn’t Quite What You Think (#464) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/aristotles-happiness/
- +1: Scaffolding | Constructing Your Destiny (#174) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/scaffolding/
Big Idea 4: TIME PROJECTION
- +1: Disaster = | Virtue’s Opportunity (#1152) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/disaster/
Big Idea 5: CHOICE OF HERCULES
- +1: The Choice of Hercules | Vice Dressed up as Virtue (#1036) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-choice-of-hercules/
- 500+ Optimize Coaches Conquer a Spartan Race → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrGspQzbzf0
- +1: +1 or -1 = Destiny Math | What Must YOU be? (#1) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/destiny-math/
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Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. Hope you enjoy!
Cal Newport is one of my favorite thinkers. He got his Ph.D. in Computer Science from MIT and is now a Professor at Georgetown. He’s also a bestselling author of a number of books. Given the fact that the fastest way to Optimize your life is to STOP doing things that are sub-optimal AND the fact that (for nearly all of us) our use of technology is the #1 thing that “Needs work!,” it’s SUPER important for us to figure out how to best use all the technology available to us WITHOUT becoming lost in a tsunami of inputs. Enter: Our new philosophy of technology use: Digital Minimalism. Enter: My SUPER strong recommendation of the book and my ALL IN commitment to helping create a movement around the ideas in the book. As you know, I rarely say a book is a must read but this book is as close as it gets. Big Ideas we explore include the fact that your soul is engaged in a lopsided arms race, a definition + overview of digital minimalism, the importance of spending time alone (and the consequences of *not* spending adequate time alone), reclaiming leisure (get active!) and joining the Attention Resistance. Here's to Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World!
Get Digital Minimalism on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Minimalism-Choosing-Focused-Noisy/dp/0525536515
Learn more about Cal Newport: https://www.optimize.me/authors/cal-newport/
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Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from It Takes What It Takes by Trevor Moawad. Hope you enjoy!
Trevor Moawad is a mental conditioning coach to elite performers. He is well known for being the mental coach to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and has worked closely with prestigious NCAA football programs and coaches, the US Special Operations community, Major League Baseball, and the NBA. This book is, as per the sub-title, all about “How to Think Neutrally and Gain Control of Your Life.” I loved it and, if you’re also equally fired up by the mental toughness in sports and life genre, I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. Big Ideas we explore include neutral thinking (much better than positive or negative), goats and G.O.A.T.s, the law of substitution (focus!), the illusion of choice (if you’re REALLY ALL IN, there is no choice), and drawing a line in the dirt (and getting to it… again and again and again!).
Get It Takes What It Takes on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Takes-What-Think-Neutrally-Control/dp/0062947125
Learn more about Trevor Moawad: https://www.optimize.me/authors/trevor-moawad/
► RELATED RESOURCES:
Big Idea 1: NEUTRAL THINKING
- PN: Rethinking Positive Thinking by Gabriele Oettingen → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/rethinking-positive-thinking-gabriele-oettingen/
- +1: Etiology vs. Teleology | Freud vs. Adler (and Campbell and Me and…) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/etiology-vs-teleology/
- +1: First Things First | Second Things? Not at All (#275) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/first-things-first/
- +1: What’s Important Now? (Part 2) | How to Win 28 Olympic Medals (#276) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/whats-important-now-part-2/
- +1: WIN! WIN! WIN! | What’s Your Next Most Important Thing? (<- Crush That. Repeat.) (#421) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/win-win-win/
Big Idea 2: GOATS + G.O.A.T.S.
- +1: Goeswith | Our New Wisdom Word (Thanks, Alan Watts!) (#639) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/goeswith/
Big Idea 3: LAW OF SUBSTITUTION
- +1: A Wandering Mind | Is an Unhappy Mind (#1234) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/a-wandering-mind/
Big Idea 4: ILLUSION OF CHOICE
- +1: Commitments: 100% Is a Breeze | 99%? Not So Much. (#46) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/commitments-100-is-a-breeze/
- +1: Proving Yourself Right | vs. “I Hope This Works Out Alright” (#215) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/proving-yourself-right/
- +1: Sacrifices vs. Decisions | There’s a Big Difference Between the Two (#65) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/sacrifices-vs-decisions/
- +1: Deciding vs. Wishing | 3 Steps on How to Get What You Want (#101) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/deciding-vs-wishing/
Big Idea 5: DRAWING YOUR LINE
- Joe De Sena → https://www.optimize.me/authors/joe-de-sena/
- +1: The Paradox of Choice | Maximizer vs. Satisficer <- Which Are You? (#416) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-paradox-of-choice/
- PN: The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/the-paradox-of-choice-why-more-is-less-barry-schwartz/
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Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg. Hope you enjoy!
BJ Fogg founded the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University. He is one of the world’s leading authorities on the science of behavior change. In this book, he introduces us to the core elements of his Fogg Behavior Model as we learn that habit change doesn’t need to be as hard as we make it. As BJ tells us: “We are not the problem. Our approach to change is. It’s a design flaw—not a personal flaw.” Big Ideas we explore include the three elements that drive behavior (B = MAP!), the ABCs of Tiny Habits (Anchor + (Tiny) Behavior + Celebration!), the power of anchor prompts (After I (ANCHOR), I will (NEW HABIT), and the power of celebration (get your Shine on!).
Get Tiny Habits on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Habits-Changes-Change-Everything/dp/0358003326/
Learn more about BJ Fogg: https://www.optimize.me/authors/b-j-fogg/
► RELATED RESOURCES:
Big Idea 1: B = MAP
- Optimal Living 101 classes → https://www.optimize.me/master-classes/
- +1: B = MAP | The Behavior Design Equation (#1198) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/b-map/
- +1: How to Delete a Behavior | Remove the Prompt and Make It Hard! (#1199) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-delete-a-behavior/
- +1: How to Delete a Bad Habit (Again!) | One Way: Make It Harder (#1233) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-delete-a-bad-habit-again/
- PN: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/digital-minimalism-cal-newport/
- +1: Character Flaws vs. Design Flaws | Note: There’s a BIG Difference (#1214) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/character-flaws-vs-design-flaws/
Big Idea 2: ABCs
- +1: The ABCs of Tiny Habits | Anchor + Behavior + Celebration (#1205) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-abcs-of-tiny-habits/
- Celebration | As Powerful as Mindfulness and Gratitude? (#1206) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/celebration/
Big Idea 3: SHINE!
- +1: Shine | The Result of Skillfully Celebrating our Successes (#1209) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/shine/
- +1: The Neuroscience of Seneca | Pleasant + Honorable = The Same (#1208) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-neuroscience-of-seneca/
Big Idea 4: INSTALL
- +1: How to Celebrate | Hint: IMMEDIATELY + INTENSELY (#1207) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-celebrate/
- PN: Mini Habits by Stephen Guise → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/mini-habits-stephen-guise/
- +1: The Weed | A Case Study in Habit Creation (#1213) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-weed/
- +1: How to Build a Good Habit | Easy as 1, 2, 3 (#657) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-build-a-good-habit/
Big Idea 5: DELETE
- +1: How to Delete a Behavior | Remove the Prompt and Make It Hard! (#1199) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-delete-a-behavior/
- The Fastest Way to Delete a Bad Habit | Hint: Remove the Prompt (#1211) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-fastest-way-to-delete-a-bad-habit/
- Prompt Begone! | No Behavior Happens Without a Prompt (#1212) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/prompt-begone/
- +1: Mistake-Learner’s High | Enjoy It as You Pursue Audacious Goals and Endlessly Evolve (#370) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/mistake-learners-high/
- +1: How to +3 It | When -1 → +1 = +3 (#1232) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-3-it/
-#1: Let’s take a walk! (Visit the Johnson Trail. lol) (#15) → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg9SlllpG6c
- +1: Energizers vs. Enervators | The Art & Science of How to Take a Good Break (#181) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/energizers-vs-enervators/
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Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. Hope you enjoy!
Matthew Walker is one of the world’s leading neuroscientists and sleep experts. He’s a professor at UC Berkeley (and former professor at Harvard) who has spent decades studying why we sleep and how to, as per the sub-title of this book, unlock the power of sleep and dreams. As you know if you’ve been following along, I’m a HUGE advocate of Optimizing our sleep as a fundamental practice in Optimizing our lives. This book has made me EVEN MORE bullish about the power of sleep. The consequences of chronically depriving ourselves of the sleep we need? Well, they’re astonishingly devastating—dramatically increasing the odds of having everything from mood disorders to cancer (and everything else we don’t want). Big Ideas we explore include the fact that you're more likely to get struck by lightning than have the gene that let's you get by on less than the recommended sleep, the universality of sleep (even worms sleep!!), resetting baselines, the iPad effect (did you know how much using one before sleep messes w/your melatonin?), and some tips to Optimize your sleep TONIGHT!!
Get Why We Sleep on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501144324
Learn more about Matthew Walker: https://www.optimize.me/authors/matthew-walker-phd/
► RELATED RESOURCES:
Big Idea 1: FOUNDATION VS. PILLAR
- PNTV: Future Visions by Abraham Maslow (#391) → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncur6rCM2-0
- PN: Future Visions by Abraham Maslow → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/future-visions-edward-hoffman/
- +1: Sleep: Even Worms Do It | Plus: One-Eyed-/Half-Brained-Bird Sleep (#744) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/sleep-even-worms-do-it/
- +1: Sleep: Before + After Edison | Know How Much Your Great Grandparents Slept? (#217) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/sleep-before-after-edison/
- +1: A Brief History of (Blue) Light | Save It for the Daytime (#915) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/a-brief-history-of-blue-light/
- +1: Digging Foundations | What the World’s Tallest Building Can Teach Us about Building the World’s Tallest You (#58) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/digging-foundations/
- +1: Foundation vs. Pillars | Our #1 Fundie? Sleep! (#911) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/foundation-vs-pillars/
- Oura Ring → https://ouraring.com/
- +1: Sleep Efficiency | Want 8 Hours? Be in Bed for 9! (#913) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/sleep-efficiency/
- +1: Think You Can Get By on Little Sleep? | Science Says: Think Again (Struck by Lightning Lately?) (#742) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/think-you-can-get-by-on-little-sleep/
- +1: Seneca: The Worse a Person Is the Less He Feels It | Aurelius: Don’t Like Yourself? Why Would I Care Whether or Not You Like Me? (#381) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/seneca-the-worse-a-person-is-the-less-he-feels-it/
- +1: Sleep: Crazy Stats | To Make Your Heart Skip a Beat (#747) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/sleep-crazy-stats/
Big Idea 2: THE BRIDGE FROM DESPAIR → HOPE
- +1: Despair --> Hope | The Best Bridge? (#948) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/despair-hope/
- +1: The Optimize Compass | And How to Make One (#1128) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-optimize-compass/
Big Idea 3: PM BOOKEND
- PM Counts Twice | PM → AM + DAY + PM = #carpediem (#1007) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/pm-counts-twice/
- +1: AM + PM Bookends | How to Create Masterpiece Days: Start Here! (#78) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/am-pm-bookends/
- +1: “Shut-Down COMPLETE!” | Not “Shut-Down ALMOST Complete!” (#1171) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/shut-down-complete-2/
- PNTV: The Sleep Revolution by Arianna Huffington → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/the-sleep-revolution-arianna-huffington/
- PN: The Sleep Revolution by Arianna Huffington (#390) → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc41NbQoaw0
- “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti → https://www.optimize.me/authors/jiddu-krishnamurti/
- +1: Sleep Q: How Little Light Is Too Much? | A: Not a Lot! (#741) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/sleep-q-how-little-light-is-too-much/
Big Idea 4: #1 TIP = DIGITAL SUNSET
- +1: Digital Sunset | Bedtime for Your Electronics (#152) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/digital-sunset/
Big Idea 5: PRO TIP = EATING SUNSET
- +1: Sleep Curfews | Caffeine + Exercise + Eating + Screens + Work (#917) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/sleep-curfews/
- +1: Got Glymph? | How to Wash Your Brain (#895) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/got-glymph/
- PN: The Longevity Paradox by Dr. Steven Gundry → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/the-longevity-paradox-steven-gundry/
- +1: Glymph for the Win | Crazy Stats from My Oura Ring (#896) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/glymph-for-the-win/
- #1s: Behind the Scenes → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuDYg_teIIc&list=PLj3yWdMwimwnHBIHfq6smL9JSwrTpU_ge
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Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from Future Visions by Abraham Maslow. Hope you enjoy!
As you know if you’ve been following along, I love Abraham Maslow and feel a deep kinship to him and his work. We have featured two of the books he published during his lifetime: Toward a Psychology of Being and Motivation and Personality. Although this book has only ONE review on Amazon and I could only buy a used copy of it, I knew I’d love it. And, although I had already been deeply influenced by Maslow and his thinking, there was something about reading his unpublished essays and journal thoughts that made me feel that much more connected to this great man. Big Ideas we explore include Maslow’s thoughts on the “eupsychian ideal” (aka: the “eudaemonic ideal”!), the psychology of happiness (eudaimonology!!), Stoic philosophy (Maslow was a fan), vicious cultural influences (Maslow was NOT a fan!), and the Jonah Complex (ANSWER YOUR HEROIC CALL, already!!).
Get Future Visions on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Future-Visions-Unpublished-Papers-Abraham/dp/0761900500
Learn more about Abraham Maslow: https://optimize.me/authors/abraham-maslow
► RELATED RESOURCES:
- All PhilosophersNotes TV episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj3yWdMwimwmSz4DXwtJkCeQ958RHnOfj
- PN: Motivation and Personality by Abraham Maslow → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/motivation-and-personality-abraham-maslow/
- PN: Toward a Psychology of Being by Abraham Maslow → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/toward-a-psychology-of-being-abraham-maslow/
- +1: Eudaimōnology | The Study of a Good Soul (#997) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/eudaimonology/
- The Optimize Coach program → https://optimize.me/coach/
- Martin Seligman → https://www.optimize.me/authors/martin-seligman/
- PN: Flourish | A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being by Martin Seligman → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/flourish-martin-seligman/
- +1: The #1 Key to Happiness + Flourishing | Hint: Become BFFs with your Inner Soul → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-1-key-to-happiness-flourishing/
- +1: How to High Five Your Inner Daimon | My Philosophy in One Word (#3) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-high-five-your-inner-daimon/
- +1: The 5 (Greek) Keys to Optimizing | Areté + Eudaimonia + en*theos + Hērōs + Euthymia (#200) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-5-greek-keys-to-optimizing/
- +1: Put Your Virtues in Action | How to Flex Your Flourishing Muscles → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/put-your-virtues-in-action/
- +1: How to Flourish | Science Says: PERMA (#280) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-flourish/
- +1: Mediocrity vs. Excellence | How to Avoid Getting Stuck in the Middle of a Rugged Mountain (#95) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/mediocrity-vs-excellence/
- +1: Hedonic Eudaimonia | A Close Relative of Flow Junkies (#908) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/hedonic-eudaimonia/
- 14-Day Free Optimize Trial Membership → https://optimize.me/trial/
- +1: +1 or -1 = Destiny Math | What Must YOU be? (#1)
- Ellen Langer → https://www.optimize.me/authors/ellen-langer/
- +1: The Psychology of Possibility | Celebrating with 300 Burpees (#1009) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-psychology-of-possibility/
- +1: Prior Best = New Baseline | Your Best Days? That’s Your New Normal (#264) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/prior-best-new-baseline/
- +1: Capacities Clamoring to Be Used | Answering Your Soul’s Cries (#403) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/capacities-clamoring-to-be-used/
- +1: Optimize = Optimus | = The Best Version of You (#367) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/optimize-optimus/
- Hērō = protector
- +1: The Optimize Compass | And How to Make One (#1128) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-optimize-compass/
- +1: Hērōs | Building Strength for 2 (#107) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/heros/
► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL:
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