You Are Heroic with Brian Johnson

Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins. Hope you enjoy! Mel Robbins is funny, witty and wise. Her TEDx Talk (called How to stop screwing yourself over) is one of the most popular of all time, with more than 18 million views. This book is also super popular—with over 1,000 Amazon reviews. It's pretty awesome. Actually, the book is REALLY (!) good. In fact, Mel Robbins' 5 Second Rule might just be one of THE most elegantly efficient Tools we can use to close the gap between who we're CAPABLE of being and who we're ACTUALLY being. (Seriously.) Big Ideas we explore include The 5 Second Rule (and how/when to rock it), how to win the game of life (hint: start, stay in, for the long game!), excitement + anxiety (and how they feel the same in the body), managing distractions (today a good day?), and changing your life with one moment of everyday courage. Get The 5 Second Rule on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Second-Rule-Transform-Confidence-Everyday/dp/1682612384 Learn more about Mel Robbins: https://www.optimize.me/authors/mel-robbins/ ► RELATED RESOURCES: Big Idea 1: 5…4…3…2…1… → !!! - +1:The 5 Second Rule | 5… 4 … 3 … 2 … 1 … BLASTOFF! (#788) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-5-second-rule/https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-5-second-rule/ - Why Your Snooze Button Sucks | … the Life out of Your Day (#791) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/why-your-snooze-button-sucks/ - +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: 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/ - Optimus Jet Packs | Strap Yours on Today and GO! (#804) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/optimus-jet-packs/ - +1: +1 or -1 = Destiny Math | What Must YOU be? (#1) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/destiny-math/ Big Idea 2: HOW TO WIN - PN: Art and Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/art-and-fear-david-bayles-ted-orland/ - PN: Originals by Adam Grant → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/originals-adam-grant/ Big Idea 3: ANXIETY → EXCITEMENT - +1: "I'm Excited!" | What to Say to Yourself When You're Feeling Nerves (#27) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/im-excited/ Big Idea 4: FOCUS - +1: WIN! WIN! WIN! | What's Your Next Most Important Thing? (https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/win-win-win/ - +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/ Big Idea 5: ONE MOMENT - +1: Carpe Punctum | You Can't Seize Days—Only Moments (#227) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/carpe-punctum/ ► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL: Get the PhilosophersNote on The 5 Second Rule and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/ ► MORE GOODNESS: - Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/ - Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/ - Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/

As I was prepping for our upcoming Top 3 Most Life-Changing Books series, I realized I could create a little video on my Top 3 favorite teachers. Here it is!

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Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) 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/ ► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL: Get the PhilosophersNote on Stillness Is the Key and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/ ► MORE GOODNESS: - Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/ - Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/ - Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/

Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) 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/ ► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL: Get the PhilosophersNote on The Joy of Movement and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/ ► MORE GOODNESS: - Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/ - Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/ - Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/

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Scott Barry Kaufman is one of the world's leading positive psychologists. We featured one of his earlier books called Wired to Create. So, when a bunch of our Optimizers recommended his new book called Transcend I was eager to get it. (Thank you!! Keep 'em coming, please!) It's FANTASTIC. In short, it's an update on Abraham Maslow's thinking—moving us beyond self-actualizing into the ULTIMATE realm of "transcending" ourselves in service to the world. Or, as Scott puts it in the sub-title to the book: "The New Science of Self-Actualization." It's an important, wise book. If you're into the science of Optimizing and Actualizing, I think you'll love it as much as I did. Check out the Notes, get it, etc. So… I imagine we'll talk about a number of Big Ideas from that book. Today I want to chat about one in particular. Have you ever heard of "The Jonah Complex"? I hadn't before Scott introduced me to it. We meet Jonah in the Old Testament. God has big plans for him. But… Jonah isn't such a big fan of those big plans. So… He tries to hide from God and avoid his destiny. Of course, important detail to the story: You can't hide from God. (Hah!) So, eventually, Jonah accepts his fate and does what he's here's to do. Scott talks about this in a chapter on "Self-Esteem" in which he walks us through a nuanced discussion about what healthy ambition (and pride) looks like vis-a-vis the less healthy expression of ambition and pride that shows up in what psychologists call "vulnerable" and "grandiose narcissism." We'll save that important, nuanced discussion for another time. For now, here's how Scott frames it in Transcend: "Maslow argued that in order to avoid punishment from society, the person 'becomes humble, ingratiating, appeasing, even masochistic. In short, due to fear of punishment for being superior, she becomes inferior and throws away some of her possibilities for humanness. For the sake of safety and security, she cripples and stunts herself. . . . That is, she is evading the task for which she was born, so to speak. She is evading her destiny.' Maslow refers to this as the 'Jonah Complex,' a phenomenon described by the historian Frank Manuel. This phrase is based on the biblical tale of Jonah who, out of fear, tries to run from God's prophecy, but he can find no place to hide. Finally, accepting his fate, he does what he is called to do." He continues by saying: "So let me state this as clearly as possible: you may not be entitled to shine, but you have a right to shine, because you are a worthy human being. Changing your self-limiting narratives about your worthiness, asserting needs in a healthy way, overcoming your avoidance of fearful experiences, and taking responsibility for your behaviors—these actions strengthen and stabilize the vulnerable self. The great irony is that the less you focus on whether you are worthy and competent, and take that as a given, the greater the chances you will consistently accept your inherent worth." That's Today's +1. Are you being called by God or whatever you call that power that's bigger than you? If yes, are you answering the call? If not, are you quieting down long enough to hear that quiet voice? As you've probably picked up by now, I believe we are ALL being called to shine. So… Let's humbly yet powerfully answer that call as we overcome our avoidance of fearful experiences, take responsibility for our behaviors and take it as a given that we are worthy. Then go give our families, communities, and the world all we've got. When? How about TODAY.

Larry King + James Pawelski interview link: https://the.positivevoices.com/live-audience-yes Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!)

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!

Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) 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/ ► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL: Get the PhilosophersNote on Happy Together and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/ ► MORE GOODNESS: - Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/ - Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/ - Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/

Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) 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 |

Not too long ago, I mentioned the virtual Optimize Local Zoom group I joined. It was such an epic hangout. I'm still beaming from the download of Love (and Wisdom + Self-Mastery + Courage + …). Seriously. It VERY MUCH reminded me of the graduation weekend where I got to hang out with 500+ of our inaugural Optimize Coaches—which will always be a highlight of my life. There's just something magical about getting together with people who share your values and are playing the same game with the same intense commitment to play it well. And, of course, as we've discussed many (!) times, the fastest way to Optimize your life ISN'T the Wisdom side of things per se. It's the COMMUNITY side of things. Join a Community with super-high standards and BOOM!—the best you is more likely to join the party. With COVID-19 taking over the world and creating the need for social distancing, we've pressed pause on our offline Optimize Local initiative. But… And I have goosebumps as I type this, we WILL be leaning back into that when the time is right. (I still can't believe we had Optimizers from over 75 countries and 750 cities around the world who raised their hands to get involved.) For now, you can join one of those virtual Optimize Zoom meetups by cruising over here. But… That's not quite the point of this +1. Today I want to chat about one of the little things that came up in our chat. One of our beloved Coaches shared how her fundamentals slipped a bit when COVID hit and she felt it. Then her Optimize Buddy challenged her to get her step count back up. So, she re-started her morning walk-hikes. And it changed her life. Then she wound up walking more and more and pretty soon she was, in her Optimize Buddy's words, kicking his butt—and he loved it! I can't remember the exact number of steps she said she was getting but I do remember the fact that she shared a WEEKLY stat. I was struck by the fact that you could have fun measuring your steps by both the DAY and the WEEK. Of course, it's obvious when I type that out but I always thought of my 10,000+ steps per day and never really thought about it on a weekly basis other than looking at the average daily count over the last week that my Suunto watch shares with me. So… 10,000 is our "go crush this!" target for our Coaches—which of course, is 70,000 steps/week. But, what's a target a little beyond that? I thought: 100,000 steps per week would be a pretty cool goal. Then I wondered: What's 100,000 divided by 7? Answer: 14,285.7 Suunto tells me that my current 7-day average number of steps is 18,794—which is a) pretty ridiculous (lol) and b) a reflection of just how much I love walking on our new Trail multiple times per day—it's the PERFECT oscillating reboot. So… 100,000. Isn't that a beautiful, round number? Wanna go to the next level with your step count and movement throughout the day and join me?! No pressure (seriously) as I know we all have different constraints in our realities and different things that fire us up. AND… Let's remember this wisdom from Kelly McGonigal's The Joy of Movement and make sure we're on the right side of these stats: "In the United States, daily physical activity—as captured by an accelerometer—is correlated with a sense of purpose in life. Real-time tracking also shows that people are happier during moments when they are physically active than when they are sedentary. And on days when people are more active than their usual, they report greater satisfaction with their lives. Other experiments in the U.S. and UK have forced moderately active adults to become sedentary for a period of time, only to watch their well-being wither. Regular exercisers who replace physical activity with a sedentary activity for two weeks become more anxious, tired, and hostile. When adults are randomly assigned to reduce their daily step count, 88 percent become more depressed. Within one week of becoming more sedentary, they report a 31 percent decline in life satisfaction. The average daily step count required to induce feelings of anxiety and depression and decrease satisfaction with life is 5,649. The typical American takes 4,774 steps per day. Across the globe, the average is 4,961." Here's to the Wisdom of knowing that movement matters and the Self-Mastery to go out and practice our philosophy when it matters most… TODAY.

Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) 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/ ► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL: Get the PhilosophersNote on How to Think Like a Roman Emperor and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/ ► MORE GOODNESS: - Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/ - Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/ - Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/

Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!)

Get first week of Optimize Coach FREE here: https://www.optimize.me/coach-module-o/ Note: 10 more days to join us for Class III!

Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) 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/ ► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL: Get the PhilosophersNote on Digital Minimalism and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/ ► MORE GOODNESS: - Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/ - Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/ - Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/

Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) Imagine the absolute best wisdom from 600+ PhilosophersNotes, 1,000+ Optimize +1s, and 50 Optimal Living 101 classes distilled into ONE super-practical, 300-day program to help you fundamentally and permanently change your life. That's what we do in the Optimize Mastery Series + Optimize Coach program. And… September 1st was the first day of Optimize Coach - Class III. (YES!!!) We thought the best way to tell you about it and help you see if it might be a good fit for you was to share the first week's curriculum and invite you to join in. So… Here's Module O! Hope you enjoy!! (You can download the beautiful worksheets and watch the Practice video walking through them at https://www.optimize.me/coach-module-o/) Note: Our program is not just for people who want to become Coaches and/or take their Coaching practices to the next level. In fact, out of the 2,000+ people who have already gone through our program (from 70+ countries around the world!), HALF of them do it "just" to more and more consistently express the best version of themselves and give the world all they've got.

Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) 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? (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 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/ ► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL: Get the PhilosophersNote on It Takes What It Takes and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/ ► MORE GOODNESS: - Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/ - Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/ - Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/

Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) 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/ ► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL: Get the PhilosophersNote on Tiny Habits and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/ ► MORE GOODNESS: - Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/ - Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/ - Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/

Hope | The Best Bridge? (#948) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/despair-hope/\n- +1: The Optimize Compass | And How to Make One (#1128) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-optimize-compass/ \n\nBig Idea 3: PM BOOKEND\n- PM Counts Twice | PM → AM + DAY + PM = #carpediem (#1007) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/pm-counts-twice/\n- +1: AM + PM Bookends | How to Create Masterpiece Days: Start Here! (#78) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/am-pm-bookends/\n- +1: "Shut-Down COMPLETE!" | Not "Shut-Down ALMOST Complete!" (#1171) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/shut-down-complete-2/\n- PNTV: The Sleep Revolution by Arianna Huffington → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/the-sleep-revolution-arianna-huffington/\n- PN: The Sleep Revolution by Arianna Huffington (#390) → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc41NbQoaw0\n- "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti → https://www.optimize.me/authors/jiddu-krishnamurti/\n- +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/\n\nBig Idea 4: #1 TIP = DIGITAL SUNSET\n- +1: Digital Sunset | Bedtime for Your Electronics (#152) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/digital-sunset/ \n\nBig Idea 5: PRO TIP = EATING SUNSET\n- +1: Sleep Curfews | Caffeine + Exercise + Eating + Screens + Work (#917) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/sleep-curfews/\n- +1: Got Glymph? | How to Wash Your Brain (#895) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/got-glymph/\n- PN: The Longevity Paradox by Dr. Steven Gundry → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/the-longevity-paradox-steven-gundry/\n- +1: Glymph for the Win | Crazy Stats from My Oura Ring (#896) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/glymph-for-the-win/\n- #1s: Behind the Scenes → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuDYg_teIIc&list=PLj3yWdMwimwnHBIHfq6smL9JSwrTpU_ge\n\n► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL:\nGet the PhilosophersNote on Why We Sleep and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/\n\n► MORE GOODNESS:\n- Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/\n- Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/\n- Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/\n- Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/\n- Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/"}" data-sheets-userformat= "{"2":897,"3":[null,5,"mmm d, yyyy",1],"10":0,"11":3,"12":0}" data-sheets-formula= "='YT Description builder'!R1C2&'YT Description builder'!R2C2&'PNTV Dashboard'!R[0]C[-3]&'YT Description builder'!R4C2&'PNTV Dashboard'!R[0]C[-2]&'YT Description builder'!R6C2&'Post Titles + Descriptions'!R[0]C[6]&'YT Description builder'!R8C2&'PNTV Dashboard'!R[0]C[-3]&'YT Description builder'!R10C2&'Post Titles + Descriptions'!R[0]C[10]&'YT Description builder'!R12C2&'PNTV Dashboard'!R[0]C[-2]&'YT Description builder'!R14C2&'Post Titles + Descriptions'!R[0]C[9]&'YT Description builder'!R16C2&'Post Titles + Descriptions'!R[0]C[8]&'YT Description builder'!R18C2&'PNTV Dashboard'!R[0]C[-3]&'YT Description builder'!R20C2&'YT Description builder'!R21C2"> Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) 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

Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) 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: Get the PhilosophersNote on Future Visions and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/ ► MORE GOODNESS: - Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/ - Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/ - Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/

In our last +1, we chatted about the fact that your food label might be lying to you by stuffing a few variations of cancer candy (aka sugar) into your jam so "SUGAR" doesn't make its way to the top slot. (Which is one of the reasons you and your Loved ones might be unknowingly consuming A LOT more sugar than you think and, unfortunately, suffering the SIGNIFICANT consequences.) Today I want to chat about some more wisdom from Mark Hyman's great book Food Fix. In our next +1, we'll focus on his #1 tip for Optimizing your personal health AND a powerful way to collectively pull a lever on systemic change. But, first, talk about the sugar = cancer candy theme for another moment. This is a BIG deal and something we want to REALLY get. So… Let's go back to Tom Rath's Eat Move Sleep again. Quick note: Tom is a super-conservative scientist at Gallup. He also has a "rare and catastrophic genetic mutation" that makes him vulnerable to cancer so he's been battling multiple cancers ALL his life—which has forced him to study the subject in depth. Here's what he tells us: "Sugar is a toxin. It fuels diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cancer. At the current dose we consume, more than 150 pounds per person every year, sugar and its derivatives kill more people than cocaine, heroin, or any other controlled substance around. One report aptly describes sugar as 'candy for cancer cells.' It accelerates aging and inflammation in the body and subsequently fuels tumor growth. It is now clear that if you lower your sugar intake, you reduce your odds of developing cancer." So, yah. Reduce your intake of sugar and reduce your odds of developing cancer. It's really not that complicated. Only… You know how some less-than-virtuous executives thought that it was a good idea to confuse us with misleading food labels so we didn't realize SUGAR was the primary ingredient in our jam? Well… Hate to break the news to you but they've ALSO been paying some of their friends to do some junk science to help them sell their junk food. Yep. Researchers are paid to make us think that sugar isn't THAT bad for us. Did you know that the food industry spends more than $12 BILLION a year funding nutrition studies while the National Institute of Health spends only $1 billion? Yep. (Pause and reflect on that stat for a moment. The food industry spends more than $12 BILLION a year funding nutrition studies while the National Institute of Health spends only $1 billion.) And, not surprisingly, as Mark says, "Studies funded by the food industry are eight to fifty times more likely to find a positive outcome for their products." He tells us that all this "junk science" winds up "polluting and diluting independent research, and confusing policy makers, the public, and even most doctors and nutritionists." We'll leave it at that for Today before this becomes a +33. SUGAR. IT DOES NOT DO A BODY GOOD. Period. Got any sugar-laden, ultraprocessed food you might want to throw out and quit buying? Is TODAY a good day to remove the Trigger and take the next step in Optimizing? -1 -1 -1 for the +1 +1 +1 win!!!

After drafting that last +1, I hit my 90-minute mark for my second Deep Work Time Block of the day, which, of course, triggered one of my keystone algorithms. "After 90-minutes of Deep Work, I take a 15-20 minute break." So… I grabbed a little bite to eat and went on a short walk around our property. As I was walking, I contemplated the whole idea of "sin" and missing the mark in our lives. Joseph Campbell (who was also raised Catholic) came to mind. I just love his wisdom on the subject. We featured it in a +1 called "Father, Bless Me." As you may recall, Campbell tells us: "Ramakrishna once said that if all you think of are your sins, then you are a sinner. And when I read that, I thought of my boyhood, going to confession on Saturdays, meditating on all the little sins that I had committed during the week. Now I think one should go and say, 'Bless me, Father, for I have been great, these are the good things I have done this week.' Identify your notion of yourself with the positive, rather than with the negative." That's awesome. Then, my thoughts were interrupted as a deer bounded away from me. She (or was it he?) paused about 50 feet away, stared at me as I stared back for an extended moment. Then she continued on her way. That's awesome. Then my mind floated to Nathaniel Branden. I couldn't remember the precise details of his thoughts on the subject, but I remembered the essence. I remembered he once said something about the fact that there's something worse than "sinning" or missing the target. You know what that might be? … What's your guess? What's WORSE than missing the mark? … I remember that he said NOT HAVING high standards in the first place was, arguably, considerably WORSE than having them but failing to meet them. I reflected on that, finished my walk and came straight to my computer for a quick search to find the precise words he used and to create this +1. Enter: Mac search: "Nathaniel Branden." Result: A couple Notes: The Art of Living Consciously and The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem. I opened The Art of Living Consciously first. That's an AWESOME book and Note but nope. Not there. So, I opened The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem. Aha!! There it is. It's the sixth and final pillar: Integrity. Here's how Nathaniel puts it: "Integrity is the integration of ideals, convictions, standards, beliefs—and behavior. When our behavior is congruent with our professed values, when ideals and practice match up, we have integrity. Observe that before the issue of integrity can even be raised we need principles of behavior—moral convictions about what is and is not appropriate—judgments about right and wrong action. If we do not yet hold standards, we are on too low a developmental rung even to be accused of hypocrisy. In such a case, our problems are too severe to be described merely as lack of integrity." Yep. That's exactly right. And… That's Today's +1. Are YOU living in integrity with your ideals, convictions, standards, and beliefs? And… Remember: That presupposes we HAVE a clear sense of standards. So… What are yours? Let's know them. And, let's live them. As we solidify our intense trust in ourselves by getting better and better at hitting the mark. TODAY.

Optimize: http://optimize.me/ Optimize Coach: https://www.optimize.me/coach Today we have fun talking about dropping into a data-mining Beast Mode of awesome. Hope you enjoy and LET'S DO THIS!!!

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As we've discussed countless times, I start my days with at least a minute or three of journaling. These days it's a super-quick sketch of our Optimize Virtue Compass then a quick trip through the Big 3 x 2 +1. So… The other day I sat down to begin my Deep Work session with the quick sketch of our compass. And… You know what I saw right after I wrote down the four cardinal virtues of Wisdom + Self-Mastery + Courage + Love? A cardinal. Hah! I kid you not. I'm sitting there at my desk in my new outdoor office and glance up from my journaling (right after writing those cardinal virtues!) to see a beautiful red cardinal perch itself on the limb of a tree a couple dozen feet away. And, I thought to myself: Thank you, Optimizing gods. Then it became official. I now have a new favorite bird: The cardinal. Which, of course, led me to Google. Google: "Why are cardinals the bird called cardinals?" (Slightly awkward phrasing but it got the job done. Thank you, Google.) Enter, our first result: "Northern cardinals are named for the males' brilliant red plumage, which reminded European settlers of the rich red vestments of Catholic cardinals in the church hierarchy. The bird's crest is also reminiscent of the headgear of some higher religious officials." Fascinating. Then it was time for a trip to our friendly dictionary for Today's etymological lesson. The Dictionary tells us that the noun form of cardinal can refer to either our friendly bird or Catholic dignitaries. The adjective form means "of the greatest importance; fundamental." As in: "The four cardinal virtues are worth journaling every morning to remind ourselves of the game we're playing and how to play it well." Now for the ancient origins of the word. Let's see… Here it is: Back in the day when Latin was all the rage, the word cardo (from which we get cardinal) meant "hinge." As in, the hinge of a door. Makes sense. Those cardinal virtues? They're the hinges on which the door to our Optimus-best self opens. Let's push that door open. TODAY.

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Today we spend some time with Abraham Maslow and his wisdom on embracing "misery privileges" in our life as we also connect some ideas from Ray Dalio and his mistake-learner's high with the inevitable imperfections of life that give us an opportunity to get a little Wiser! Hope you enjoy and let's do this! -bri

Today we spend some time with Abraham Maslow and his wisdom on embracing "misery privileges" in our life as we also connect some ideas from Ray Dalio and his mistake-learner's high with the inevitable imperfections of life that give us an opportunity to get a little Wiser!

In Today's #1, we go for a little walk on the Trail around our property. lol. Emerson makes a surprise cameo as we give you a little tour of our Trail and pond-turned-puddle along with an invitation to join us for Optimize Coach - Class III—which launches in less than one week!!! Learn more, sign up, etc: https://www.optimize.me/coach Love and let's do this! -bri

This morning we take the quick look at the ol' Oura score and briefly reflect on the imperfect nature of sleep (especially when your wife stops breastfeeding and you sleep in a family bed! lol) then hit a ton of little things I thought might be interesting—ranging from thoughts on my pre-inputs creative process and systems and wrapping up with Being So Good and Energized and Awesome That They Can't Ignore Us but they can Feel Us and Adore Us! Hope you enjoy and Happy Monday. Let's do this!!! -bri

In our last +1, we Optimized our oral posture. Bet you didn't think we'd be talking about that when you signed up for Optimize! (Hah.) I know I didn't but here we are! Recall: We want to turn our S-shaped bodies into a J-shape and then close our lips and gently place our tongues up toward the front of the roof of our mouths. As it turns out, my favorite breathing expert, Patrick McKeown, wrote an awesome kid's book in which he gives us a name for that spot. He calls it "The Magic Spot." So… Teaching ourselves AND our kids how to breathe properly is SUPER important. (As in: WAY more important than we may realize.) Patrick's book is called Always Breathe Correctly. I highly recommend it. The book features a wizard who teaches kids how to breathe. Of course, he teaches us that the nose is for breathing and the mouth is for eating while teaching us to breathe gently into our bellies, etc. And… He teaches us how to find that "Magic Spot"— with our tongues gently touching the area on the roof of our mouth right before our front teeth. When we hit that spot, we automagically close our lips and breathe through our nose. Which is why if I ever see Emerson with a gaping mouth, I'll say, "Magic spot, buddy!" He'll immediately smile, close his lips, and proudly breathe through his nose as I give him a thumbs up and a quick sign-language "Love you, buddy!" So… As you go through the day Today, if you ever happen to find yourself with a mouth gaping open and air going in through the wrong hole, perhaps you can playfully hear me say to you: "Magic spot, buddy!" Then we'll smile together and celebrate our little win as we get our shine on. Together. One breath at a time. TODAY.

This morning (after the 1-2-3!) I spent a few minutes going through the 100+ PhilosophersNotes on which I'll be doing PNTVs soon (YEEHAH!) and then got to work on my PN on Driven by Doug Brackmann. Here are some thoughts on Optimizing in general (Measure! Consistency!) and also on how to harness our drives in particular. Hope you enjoy. Let's do this. TODAY! -bri

Quick one this morning. 1-2-3, PNTVs are coming back—in black and white! lol—and this gem: "A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself he always seems to be doing both. Enough for him that he does it well." ~ Lawrence Pearsall Jacks Hope you enjoy and here's to dissolving the apparent dichotomies between our work and our play! TODAY! -bri

This morning I did the normal 1-2-3 (x2) and celebrated completing the Mastery Series. Then I got to work on reading a book called "Together." It's by Vivek Murthy, who was the 19th Surgeon General of the United States. It's AMAZING. I share a few of my favorite ideas from chapter #1 and also give a little behind-the-scenes look at how I read a book, mark it all up and get ready for a PhilosophersNote. Hope you enjoy and let's make sure we write that social prescription TODAY! Love and high fives, -bri