3643: 3 Tips for How to “Let Go” of the Little Things by Ellen Burgan of If It Brings You Joy on Reducing 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 3651: Kerri Richardson invites us to reflect on how clutter and excess can act as shields from vulnerability, and how letting go, even temporarily, can help uncover our true values and emotional blocks. This thought-provoking exploration challenges us to reassess priorities and discover the power hidden in simplicity. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://kerririchardson.com/stripped/ Quotes to ponder: "I have no choice but to feel all the emotions I usually distract myself from." "The clutter is actually your resistance, not the emotions." "When you clear out that which no longer serves you, you open yourself to powerful insight while making space to welcome in that which you desire." 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 3650: Josie Michelle Davis shares five simple habits that have significantly improved her productivity, mindset, and well-being over time. Her reflections offer practical encouragement for anyone looking to build sustainable routines that support a calmer, more intentional life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://josiemichelledavis.com/blog/2019/03/22/2019-3-20-5-habits-im-glad-i-stuck-with/ Quotes to ponder: "Small changes add up to big results." "Even if I didn’t feel like I was doing much at the time, I can look back now and see how far I’ve come." "Doing yoga daily has been the single most important thing I’ve done for my mental health." Episode references: The Artist's Way: https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-25th-Anniversary/dp/0143129252 Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com The Five Minute Journal: https://www.intelligentchange.com/products/the-five-minute-journal Yoga with Adriene: https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene 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 3649: Danny Coleman unpacks the emotional impact of criticism and lays out a grounded, four-step process to handle it with clarity and maturity. Learn how to transform feedback, no matter how painful, into powerful self-awareness and personal growth by balancing emotional detachment with honest reflection. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://jillfit.com/2016/06/22/4-ways-criticism/ Quotes to ponder: "Above all other stresses, the feeling of being personally criticized takes the biggest tolls on our bodies and on our ability to think clearly." "Just because somebody shares what they think, doesn’t necessarily make it true, and it doesn’t mean we have to do anything with it." "When you’re emotionally charged up, there’s a good chance somebody is tapping into some truth or insecurities of yours." Episode references: Be Excellent at Anything: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Excellent-Anything-Transforming-Performance/dp/1451610262 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 3648: Jay Harrington highlights how reclaiming your weekends with intentional planning and “microadventures” can replicate the restorative benefits of a vacation without ever leaving town. By shifting your mindset and embracing simple, local experiences, you can boost happiness, reduce stress, and start each week more refreshed and energized. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.lifeandwhim.com/first-moments-blog/2019/plan-microadventures Quotes to ponder: "Rather than waiting all year for a two-week vacation to roll around, why not realize these benefits during the two-day vacation that’s waiting for you every weekend?" "Those who treated the weekend as if it was a vacation were significantly happier when Monday arrived than those that didn’t." "Something different, something exciting, but cheap, simple, short, and on your doorstep." Episode references: Boston Consulting Group productivity research (via Harvard Business Review): https://hbr.org/2009/10/making-time-off-predictable-and-required Alastair Humphreys’ Microadventures Blog: https://alastairhumphreys.com/microadventures 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 3647: Mark Fisher explores how the words we use can shape and reshape our mindset, suggesting three common words to eliminate for a more empowered, open, and constructive inner dialogue. By swapping out “problem,” “mistake,” and “no” for more proactive alternatives, we can build stronger beliefs, reduce stress, and deepen connection with others. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://markfisherfitness.com/3-words-to-delete-from-your-vocabulary-why-words-matter/ Quotes to ponder: "But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought." "Every single word is a reflection of how we perceive the world around us." “Saying ‘Yes - and - ’ tells the other party that you are listening and agree with at least part of what they’re saying.” Episode references: 1984 by George Orwell: https://www.amazon.com/1984-Signet-Classics-George-Orwell/dp/0451524934 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 3646: David Cain invites readers to confront the unsettling realization that much of life is spent mentally elsewhere. By illuminating how often our thoughts drift from the present moment, he offers simple yet powerful strategies to reclaim awareness and fully inhabit our lived experience. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.raptitude.com/?s=where+is+your+mind Quotes to ponder: "You’re almost never thinking about what you’re actually doing." "Life only happens here, in the place where your body is." "When you are thinking about something else, you are only dimly aware that you are here." Episode references: 10% Happier: https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works/dp/0062265431 Wherever You Go, There You Are:  https://www.amazon.com/Wherever-You-There-Are-Mindfulness/dp/1401307787 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 3645: Adam M. Lowenstein explores the fine line between meaningful self-improvement and self-indulgence, challenging us to examine whether our personal growth truly serves others or just ourselves. Through thoughtful reflection, he reveals how cultivating balance and embracing the discomfort of that tension is essential to living a more intentional, connected life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.adaml.blog/life-and-news/are-you-working-on-self-improvement-or-self-indulgence Quotes to ponder: "To make yourself a better person is to make the world a better place." "At a certain point, the worthy undertaking of self-improvement has become self-indulgence." "Life is, and should be, a constant calibration and recalibration." Episode references: In Love with the World: https://www.amazon.com/Love-World-Journey-Through-Bardos/dp/0525512535 Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Zebras-Dont-Ulcers-Third/dp/0805073698 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 3644: Nir Eyal and Stuart Luman explore how the ancient fear of being left out has been supercharged by modern technology, leading to a constant state of distraction and anxiety. By embracing the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO), they show how we can shift from reactive behavior to intentional living. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.nirandfar.com/2015/01/fomo.html Quotes to ponder: "FOMO is an ancient fear, lodged deep in our brains, that we might be left out or left behind." "Technology didn’t create the problem; it just made it more visible and pervasive." "JOMO comes when you stop looking at what you may be missing and start appreciating what you have." Episode references: Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products: https://www.amazon.com/Hooked-How-Build-Habit-Forming-Products/dp/1591847788 Drive by Daniel Pink: https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Surprising-Truth-About-Motivates/dp/1594484805 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 3643: Ellen Burgan offers a powerful reminder to stop sweating the small stuff and reclaim your peace of mind by shifting perspective. By learning to let go of irritations and focusing on what truly matters, you'll create space for more joy and less stress in everyday life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ifitbringsyoujoy.com/let-go-of-the-little-things/ Quotes to ponder: "Choose to make peace of mind a top priority, even above being right." "Letting go of the little things is a gift to yourself." "It’s your choice to hold on to anger or frustration, or to let it go." Episode references: The Work by Byron Katie: https://thework.com Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender: https://www.amazon.com/Letting-Go-Pathway-David-Hawkins/dp/1401945015 Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Sweat-Small-Stuff-Irritating/dp/0786881852 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 3642: Shana Olmstead reframes anxiety not as a flaw to fix but as a spiritual signal, a gentle (or not-so-gentle) nudge toward alignment, authenticity, and inner truth. Through practices like mindfulness and meditation, anxiety becomes a guide that reveals ego patterns, highlights necessary life changes, and supports conscious evolution. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://shanaolmstead.com/2019/04/30/anxiety-into-awakening/ Quotes to ponder: "Anxiety is a call to wake up. To connect with your deeper wisdom. To stop doing things that are creating misalignment internally and start doing things that bring you closer to your truth." "This anxiety you feel is your higher self letting you know that some things need to change. You didn’t do anything wrong, you were just unconscious of your truth." "Without this gift of anxiety we would go through life numb and asleep, never becoming aware of the discomfort that can lead us to transformation and expansion." Episode references: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday: https://dailystoic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices