3877: 7 Life Lessons My 1-Year-Old Taught Me While Backpacking Abroad by Adam Baker on Unexpected Wisdom

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 3884: Isaac Morehouse challenges the belief that fulfillment requires prestige or high income, showing how redefining success outside your hometown's expectations can unlock freedom and adventure. Through stories of people flipping pancakes in Ecuador or biking across the U.S., he reminds us that living a life you love may be far more accessible than we think. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://isaacmorehouse.com/2016/03/12/its-much-easier-than-you-think-to-live-the-life-you-want Quotes to ponder: "Oddly, most of the hometown definitions of success have nothing to do with happiness." "It’s a weird habit to measure your success in life only by the revenue side of the equation." “Only you can know what kind of life you want.” Episode references: The World Wanderers Podcast: https://www.theworldwanderers.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 3883: Joshua Becker offers ten simple yet powerful actions to help you step into a more minimalist lifestyle without needing to overhaul your entire life. From decluttering a single surface to evaluating spending habits and embracing more meaningful time, his advice shows how minimalism leads to greater clarity, peace, and purpose. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.becomingminimalist.com/live-like-a-minimalist/ Quotes to ponder: "Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it." "Minimalism isn’t about owning less than you need, it’s about owning exactly what you need." "The greatest thing about minimalism is that it frees money, time, and energy for your greatest passions." Episode references: Americans spend $18,000 a year on non-essentials: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/05/07/americans-spend-thousands-on-nonessentials/39450207/ 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 3882: Colin Wright explores the transformative power of metacognitive exercises, simple yet profound self-inquiries that challenge your default habits, emotional reactions, and behavioral inconsistencies. By pausing to ask why we do what we do, we gain clarity, reduce self-deception, and make choices that better align with the person we aspire to become. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://exilelifestyle.com/metacognitive-exercises/ Quotes to ponder: "Being conscious of the reasons behind our actions isn’t something most of us are taught to make time for." "All of us, in some aspect of our lives, do cognitive gymnastics to justify our bad behaviors." "Our brains are consistently tricking us into mentally adjusting circumstances to favor our behaviors." 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 3881: Sam challenges the popular notion that money can't buy happiness by arguing that both the poor and ultra-wealthy often say this to cope with their own circumstances. He makes the case that financial abundance can significantly reduce stress, increase freedom, and enable joyful experiences, ultimately leading to greater happiness when money is used intentionally. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.financialsamurai.com/only-the-poor-or-super-rich-say-money-cant-buy-happiness/ Quotes to ponder: "Whoever said 'money can’t buy happiness' is either poor, or wealthy beyond their wildest dreams." "The reason why money does buy happiness is because once you have money, you don’t worry about money anymore." "At the end of the day, money is relative. And the more money you can earn and accumulate, the happier you will likely be." 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 3880: Leo Babauta shares seven simple yet powerful habits that can transform your life, starting with foundational practices like positive thinking, single-tasking, and daily exercise. His step-by-step approach to habit formation emphasizes focus, simplicity, and consistency, offering a clear path to lasting personal change. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://zenhabits.net/7-little-habits-that-can-change-your-life-and-how-to-form-them/ Quotes to ponder: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." "Men’s natures are alike, it is their habits that separate them." "If you fail, figure out what went wrong, plan for it, and try again." 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 3879: Jeff Goins challenges the myth that we need more time, clarity, or resources before we can begin. By acting before you're ready, you not only gain momentum but also discover clarity and build courage along the way, proving that transformation starts with simply choosing to go first. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://goinswriter.com/start/ Quotes to ponder: "You don’t wait for clarity before taking action, you act your way into clarity." "The world is changed not by those who have it figured out, but by those willing to begin." "You don’t need to build an empire. You just need to find a few friends who care." 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 3878: Carl Pullein emphasizes the power of unwavering daily disciplines in shaping a purposeful and fulfilling life. He argues that when we consistently protect the habits aligned with our values, despite external pressures or temptations, we gain control, build self-respect, and set an inspiring example for others. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.carlpullein.com/blog/never-let-anyone-take-you-away-from-your-core-daily-disciplines/6/6/2018 Quotes to ponder: "Choosing the easy option is the reason you don’t achieve your goals." "When you allow other people to prevent you from doing what is important to you, you are giving other people control of your life." "You need to develop the strength and discipline to do those daily activities that will move you a step closer each day towards where you want to go." 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 3877: Adam Baker’s journey through Australia and New Zealand with his wife and 1-year-old daughter becomes a masterclass in unexpected wisdom. From embracing uncertainty to rediscovering imagination, his daughter’s innocent perspective reshapes what it means to truly live. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://chrisguillebeau.com/life-lessons-my-1-year-old-taught-me-while-backpacking-abroad/ Quotes to ponder: "She’s not worried about what society will think of her or how she is supposed to act." "I quickly learned that having a baby is a crash course in patience, whether you signed up for it or not." 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 3876: Eric Teplitz invites us to reframe life through two powerful lenses: the possibility that we are inherently safe despite perceived chaos, and the gentle strength of starting over without judgment. By blending introspective philosophy with practical mindfulness, he offers a liberating perspective on how we navigate challenges, both real and imagined, with resilience, compassion, and a playful spirit. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ericteplitz.medium.com/you-are-protected-no-problems-detected-4856ed87f95d & https://ericteplitz.medium.com/begin-again-78462ac2de7b Quotes to ponder: “When you feel you have betrayed yourself in some way by not following through on your higher intentions, gently and lovingly collect yourself, redirect yourself, and… Begin again.” “Compassion and forgiveness can actually be cultivated through silent practice.” “If you knew that it wasn’t ‘real’ (and therefore, didn’t ‘matter’), how seriously would you take it?” 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 3875: Maneesh Sethi explores how eliminating modern distractions and radically shifting his environment unlocked levels of focus he didn’t know he had. By living in a cave without technology, he discovered that productivity, clarity, and purpose aren't about willpower, they're about creating the right context. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://www.theminimalists.com/maneesh/ Quotes to ponder: "Minimalism, at its root, is more than just throwing away everything that you own. It’s about learning to thrive, not survive, but thrive, regardless of your circumstances." "Success isn’t about being 'on' all the time, it’s about focusing for intense bursts of time, and then disengaging." "You have to create a self-reinforcing context that makes it impossible to fail." Episode references: Eben Pagan - The Snacking Society (via GetAltitude archive): https://ebenpagantraining.com Seneca - Letters from a Stoic: https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Stoic-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140442103 Hack The System: https://www.hackthesystem.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices