3583: Finding Zen In Everyday Life by Melani Schweder of A Brighter Wild on How to Reduce Stress

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 3584: Shana Olmstead shares a powerful mantra from her 98-year-old great aunt: AFGO, "another f*ing growth opportunity," reminding us that every challenge is a chance to expand our consciousness and evolve. With practical advice on cultivating awareness, reframing challenges, and trusting the universe’s plan, Shana invites us to see life not as a series of problems, but as an ongoing, loving curriculum for personal growth. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://shanaolmstead.com/2018/09/11/afgo-the-best-personal-growth-mantra-of-all-time/ Quotes to ponder: "Every annoying person or long line or painful experience, it’s all here to teach us and help us grow." "There are no problems, I am not a victim, life is a teacher, and I am a student." "Surrender, surrender, surrender. When you feel you’ve surrendered enough, keep surrendering." Episode references: The Power of Now: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Now-Guide-Spiritual-Enlightenment/dp/1577314808 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 3583: Melani Schwayder explores how we can reclaim peace and purpose by infusing our chaotic, fast-paced lives with the principles of zen. From single-tasking to mindful decluttering, this piece offers practical steps to create spaciousness, reduce stress, and reconnect with the calm that already resides within us. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.abrighterwild.com/blog/zen-in-everyday-life Quotes to ponder: "When eating, eat. When walking, walk." "Zen cannot exist where there is clutter." "You see, zen is something that already exists innately within us. We are born in perfect peace, at ease with our world and with ourselves." 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 3582: Kathy Robinson explores the transformative power of paradoxical thinking as a tool for navigating today’s complex, often divisive world. By embracing a both/and mindset instead of binary either/or thinking, we open ourselves to deeper understanding, reduced emotional reactivity, and more peaceful, creative decision-making. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://athenawellness.com/blog/2022/4/1/the-art-of-holding-paradox Quotes to ponder: "The practice of considering a both/and view doesn’t ask that we agree with opposing views, but it does ask us to allow the space for multiple experiences, opinions, and possibilities." "Paradoxical thinking gives us the opportunity to approach our challenges from different angles instead of one perspective for a deeper understanding and more inclusive resolution." "What we find when we hold a paradox is that what’s on the other side is insight." 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 3581: Greg Audino redefines what it means to be responsible by blending real-life growth stages with mind-bending concepts from Robert Scheinfeld’s Busting Loose From the Money Game. By challenging conventional thinking and viewing life as a personal video game of cause and effect, Audino makes the case for radical responsibility as a path to freedom, empowerment, and deeper self-awareness. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/invisible-illness/life-invaders-3-return-of-responsibility-fbb9d06baa9e Quotes to ponder: "Responsibility is one of those concepts whose meaning changes drastically as life goes on." "You see, we like responsibility within reason. It feels nice to tell ourselves we’re responsible. But transcending that is not what most people sign up for." "Taking deliberate responsibility for things that aren’t a part of your plan gets you comfortable with the uncomfortable." Episode references: The Egg - A Short Story (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6fcK_fRYaI The Martian by Andy Weir: https://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/0553418025 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 3580: Chris Guillebeau explores the often-overlooked power of intentional rest as a crucial element of productivity and long-term success. By reframing rest as a proactive strategy rather than a reward or weakness, he offers a refreshing approach to avoiding burnout and sustaining creative energy. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://chrisguillebeau.com/rest-and-recovery/ Quotes to ponder: "Rest is not a reward for hard work; it’s part of the work itself." "When we plan for rest and recovery in advance, we make better decisions and live better lives." "Rest is a strategy. It’s a way to gain clarity, increase your creative energy, and avoid burnout." Episode references: Essentialism: https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits 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 3579: Rachel Jones offers a refreshingly simple approach to beginning a minimalist lifestyle by asking one essential question: “Is this stuff helping you live the life you want to live?” Her practical advice cuts through guilt and indecision, empowering you to clear the clutter and free your mind, one intentional choice at a time. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nourishingminimalism.com/simple-tricks-begin-minimalist-lifestyle/ Quotes to ponder: "Is this stuff helping you live the life you want to live?" "You can’t organize your way out of a clutter problem: you need to eliminate most of the items." "When the clutter is gone, it’s easy to organize what’s left." Episode references: Mini Habits: https://www.amazon.com/Mini-Habits-Smaller-Bigger-Results/dp/1494882272 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 3578: J.D. Roth shares how reclaiming control over your time is the key to living with intention. By understanding where your hours go and aligning your actions with your values, you can craft a more meaningful, less reactive life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.getrichslowly.org/taking-control-of-time-and-life/ Quotes to ponder: "Time is your most valuable resource. You can always make more money, but once time is gone, it's gone." "I wasn't choosing how to spend my time. I was letting life happen to me, and reacting to it." "Freedom comes when your choices align with your values." Episode references: Your Money or Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Life-Transforming-Relationship/dp/0143115766 The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin: https://gretchenrubin.com/books/the-four-tendencies/ RescueTime: https://www.rescuetime.com/ Toggl: https://toggl.com/ 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam: https://www.amazon.com/168-Hours-You-Have-Time/dp/159184410X 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 3577: Leo Babauta explores the root of our self-dissatisfaction and challenges the common belief that unhappiness with ourselves is necessary for growth. Instead, he offers a compassionate alternative, embracing self-love as a more sustainable and powerful motivator for change, with practices like mindfulness and daily reflection helping to build a genuine friendship with oneself. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://zenhabits.net/dissatisfied/ Quotes to ponder: "You can do work out of love for the people, it will help." "Each time we have these feelings, we can pause and just notice." "There is a basic goodness beneath all of our difficulties, and we just need to stay and notice this goodness." 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 3576: Kate Hesse explores the tension between burnout and underperformance, offering a compassionate look at how our energy levels naturally ebb and flow. By addressing night owl habits, the pros and cons of routines, and how rest might not be laziness but necessary recovery, she empowers readers to find a more sustainable rhythm rooted in self-awareness and nature's cycles. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nourishnestbreathe.com/struggle-doing-too-much-or-too-little/ Quotes to ponder: "Staying up late isn’t an issue unless you find yourself chronically tired, rushing each morning in a panic because you’re running late for work." "Periods where we’re more productive, and periods where we’re more introspective are natural and normal." "Doing less isn’t lazy, it’s resting up for the next round." 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 3575: Stephen Guise challenges the common belief that overwhelm is caused by having too much to do. Instead, he reveals it’s more about how we interpret our responsibilities, and shows that slowing down, not speeding up, is the unexpected path to clarity and productivity. Learn how doing nothing for a moment can shift your mindset and help you regain control, one calm breath at a time. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://minihabits.com/the-weird-way-to-fight-overwhelm/ Quotes to ponder: "Taking a moment proves that overwhelm is only in the mind." "When I begin to sense overwhelm, I will sit down on the couch or even lie down. This reaffirms to me that no figurative or real alligator is chasing me." "The best way to blow it in a clutch situation in sports is to think about how important the situation is. None of that has anything to do with your ability to execute!" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices