3966: The Habit Ladder: How To Make A New Routine Stick by Tyler Tervooren of Riskology on Building Habits Gradually

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3966: Tyler Tervooren reveals how lasting routines aren’t built on discipline alone, but on sequencing behaviors so each action naturally triggers the next. By understanding the habit loop and stacking cues, routines, and rewards, you can turn effortful changes into automatic progress. Listen to discover how small, strategic shifts in order can make success feel almost effortless. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.riskology.co/habit-ladder/ Quotes to ponder: "When one good habit triggers another, the speed of success doubles." "The trick isn’t so much in what you do, but the order you do them in." "If you’re working to cement new habits but having a hard time, it could have less to do with the habits themselves and more to do with how they’re arranged." Episode references: The Power of Habit: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3965: Nir Eyal explores how traditional dieting fails and reveals a more effective approach rooted in behavioral economics, using high-stakes commitments to break bad habits. By leveraging loss aversion, identity-based language, and accountability, he shows how lasting change becomes far more achievable. This perspective offers a powerful framework for anyone struggling to finally stick to their goals. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.nirandfar.com/2015/05/behavioral-economics-diet-the-science-of-killing-a-bad-habit.html Quotes to ponder: "People are typically more motivated to avoid losses than to seek gains." "Commitment contracts have proven to be effective at changing behavior because they make us accountable to our future selves." "People are notoriously bad at predicting their behavior due to a phenomenon called “time inconsistency.”" Episode references: Nudge - Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness: https://www.amazon.com/Nudge-Improving-Decisions-Health-Happiness/dp/014311526X stickK: https://www.stickk.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3964: Cylon George challenges the deeply ingrained need for certainty, revealing how it quietly fuels frustration, missed opportunities, and strained relationships. By exposing the flawed assumptions behind our desire for predictable outcomes, he invites listeners to embrace uncertainty as a path to creativity, resilience, and genuine fulfillment. Letting go of rigid expectations may be the key to experiencing life more fully with far less misery. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.spirituallivingforbusypeople.com/certainty Quotes to ponder: “The more fearful you are to have your ideas challenged, the more you should scrutinize them.” “Be willing to listen, to grow, and in some cases, even change your mind.” “Life is unpredictable. But unpredictable doesn’t necessarily mean unsafe.” Episode references: Lewis Howes & Mike Posner Interview: https://lewishowes.com/podcast/mike-posner/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3963: Melissa Camara Wilkins explores how confidence becomes the foundation for a simpler, more intentional life, allowing you to stop comparing and start trusting your own path. By understanding who you are and why you make your choices, you can cut through external noise and live with greater clarity, purpose, and ease. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nosidebar.com/confidence/ Quotes to ponder: "You don’t have to become someone else to be enough. You are already enough, and you can have confidence in who you are." "Your confidence grows when you know two things: who you are, and why you do what you do." "Mistakes are part of the process, not something that should chip away at your confidence." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3962: Karl Staib highlights how easily we waste our lives through habitual complaining and disengagement, even in the smallest everyday moments. By shifting toward gratitude, he explains, we unlock energy, resilience, and clarity that help us recognize and create meaningful opportunities. Choosing appreciation over negativity becomes the driving force behind a more purposeful and fulfilling life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://digtofly.com/dont-waste-your-best-opportunities/ Quotes to ponder: "You could complain, but it doesn’t help. It only perpetuates the negative mindset." "Gratitude helps you settle yourself when you feel overwhelmed. It helps you reduce your stress. It helps you pause to savor the small moments." "What actions are you most grateful for and how can you do more of them?" Episode references: Emotional Success - The Power of Gratitude, Compassion, and Pride by David DeSteno: https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Success-Power-Gratitude-Compassion/dp/0544703103 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3961: Keith Wilson draws a sharp, practical distinction between guilt and shame, showing how one leads to growth while the other traps you in avoidance and self-attack. Guilt focuses on actions and invites repair, honesty, and empathy, while shame targets identity and fuels denial, hiding, and conflict. Understanding the difference can help you respond to mistakes in a way that strengthens relationships and personal responsibility. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://keithwilsoncounseling.com/2017/01/06/guilt-and-shame-good-and-bad-ways-to-feel-bad/ Quotes to ponder: "Guilt moves you to repair. Guilt is a truth you tell. Shame is a lie you swallow." "Guilt identifies a problem and gives you a reason to change, so you’ll do better next time. Shame prevents change." "If you’re tempted to hide, to lie, to argue, or to judge, then shame is showing you the way. Get a new guide. Look for someone called guilt." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3960: Allison Carmen reflects on a frustrating airline experience to reveal how easily people justify small acts of self-interest without considering their broader impact. Through a story rooted in Buddhist awareness, she invites us to notice these subtle moments and choose kindness, patience, and shared humanity instead. Listening offers a powerful shift in perspective that can transform everyday interactions into opportunities for compassion. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://www.allisoncarmen.com/what-would-buddha-do-on-southwest-airlines-2/ Quotes to ponder: "Sometimes the way we tend to put ourselves first is invisible to us." "Maybe we can make the invisible visible to ourselves, and in so doing contribute to a more caring and compassionate society." "We can all identify areas in our lives where we can slow down and be kinder to those around us." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3959: Mike Blankenship reframes lack of motivation as something you gently rebuild, not force, using simple, doable actions that restore momentum and control. By starting with small physical and mental shifts, you can gradually reignite your energy and confidence. These approachable steps show how even the smallest wins can spark a meaningful turnaround. Quotes to ponder: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” “Motion creates emotion.” “The only goal is to do the best that you can do, every day.” Episode references: WebMD - Dehydration: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/dehydration-adults Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3958: Marc Chernoff breaks down how to stop overcomplicating happiness by focusing on what truly matters, meaningful work, intentional thinking, and authentic connection. By shifting perspective, letting go of comparison, and aligning daily actions with personal values, a simpler and more fulfilling life becomes attainable. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.marcandangel.com/2013/01/07/8-ways-to-simplify-the-pursuit-of-happiness/ Quotes to ponder: "Sometimes we make life more complicated than it is." "Your thoughts create your reality: A positive context leads to positive actions, thoughts, and feelings, which gradually lead to positive results." "Happiness is spending your life in your own way." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3957: Greg Audino challenges you to question whether what you miss is rooted in love or in fear, illusion, or ego. By examining “invisible anchors,” selective memory, and the desire for do-overs, he reveals how nostalgia can distort reality. This reflection helps you gain clarity, reclaim personal power, and move forward with healthier intentions. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/invisible-illness/what-do-you-miss-c4bf17c2c95f Quotes to ponder: "We crave things that we think we will always be able to count on, because they provide the illusion of beating the unbearable, spontaneous nature of life." "Attachment to them is removal of one's own power." "Are you missing specks of good times that truthfully existed in a sea of bad times?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices