4099: How to Let Go of the Guilt of Letting Go by Courtney Carver of Be More With Less on Emotional Freedom

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today’s episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I’ll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It’s packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: ⁠⁠https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join⁠ 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 4099: Courtney Carver explores how guilt often keeps us holding on to clutter, unwanted possessions, and even unhealthy habits long after they've stopped serving us. She explains that by acknowledging guilt, choosing to release it, and making room for joy instead, we can create more space for purpose, love, and a simpler life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://bemorewithless.com/go-guilt/ Quotes to ponder: "What you may have forgotten though is that it is your choice to carry the burden of feeling guilty about what’s in your closet, or other areas of your home. It’s your choice." "What I didn’t know is that the guilt was weighing me down with absolutely no purpose. The guilt wasn’t serving me in any way." "What’s interesting about the guilt of letting go, is the guilt doesn’t usually come from letting go. It comes from holding on." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today’s episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I’ll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It’s packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: ⁠⁠https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join⁠ 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 4098: Angel Chernoff explains that gratitude is more than a positive mindset, it's a daily practice supported by positive psychology research that can measurably increase happiness and life satisfaction. Through three simple habits, he shows how appreciating both major milestones and the small blessings of everyday life can cultivate lasting contentment and a healthier perspective. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.marcandangel.com/2019/11/26/3-great-ways-to-force-yourself-to-be-more-grateful-and-a-little-happier/ Quotes to ponder: "At the end of the day, before you close your eyes, breathe deeply, appreciate where you are, and be grateful for what you have. Life is good." "Truly, the richest human isn’t the one who has the most, but the one who needs less. Wealth is a mindset. Want less and appreciate more today." "Most of us have amazing family members, friends, and other loved ones who love us back. Learn to appreciate what a gift that is." Episode references: 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently: https://www.amazon.com/1000-Little-Things-Happy-Successful/dp/0143132784 Authentic Happiness: https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Happiness-Positive-Psychology-Realize/dp/0743222989 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today’s episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I’ll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It’s packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: ⁠⁠https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join⁠ 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 4097: Mr. Money Mustache uses the metaphor of surfing a wave to illustrate how debt, financial stability, and investing place people in very different financial positions, even when their lifestyles look the same. By encouraging readers to move from financing consumption to building investments, he shows how intentional money habits can create lasting freedom and reduce financial stress. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/05/25/which-part-of-the-money-wave-do-you-surf/ Quotes to ponder: "The struggling person has debt. It’s an absolutely destructive and useless thing to bring into your life, unless done on an investment basis with a calculator firmly in hand." "By the time you get rich enough to afford such a thing, you will have freed yourself from the desire to buy it. Which makes you end up even richer." "You only live once, and what good is money if you don’t spend it on yourself, you can’t take it with you!" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today’s episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I’ll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It’s packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: ⁠⁠https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join⁠ 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 4096: Krista O’Reilly-Davi-Digui reflects on the life-changing decisions that helped her embrace each day with greater presence, self-compassion, and courage. Through deeply personal stories and ten practical commitments, she shows how choosing authenticity, forgiveness, curiosity, and connection can help us move beyond survival and into a richer, more meaningful life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.alifeinprogress.ca/decide-to-live/ Quotes to ponder: "Deciding to live is also about showing up each day awake and aware, willing to taste what comes your way: the joy, the anxiety, the exasperation, the delight; the wins, the struggle, the sunshine, and long nights." "There is no failure, only showing up and growing and becoming." "Control is an illusion anyway and despite the valleys, life has turned out better than I could have imagined." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today’s episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I’ll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It’s packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: ⁠⁠https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join⁠ 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 4095: Leo Babauta explores how adopting a beginner’s mind can dissolve many everyday struggles while making ordinary moments feel richer, more meaningful, and more joyful. By letting go of expectations and meeting each experience with curiosity, openness, and gratitude, he shows how this simple practice can improve relationships, reduce anxiety and procrastination, and help us become more present. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://zenhabits.net/beginner/ Quotes to ponder: "Empty yourself so you can see what’s actually in front of you." "As you can see, the practice of beginner’s mind can transform any activity, get rid of a lot of our difficulties, allow us to be more flexible, open, curious, grateful, present." "Beginner’s mind is what we practice in meditation." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today’s episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I’ll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It’s packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: ⁠⁠https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join⁠ 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 4094: Michael Mehlberg argues that the fastest, deepest learning comes from actively doing rather than passively consuming information. Using the story of a first flying lesson, he shows how combining reading, watching, listening, teaching, and hands-on experience leads to lasting understanding and encourages you to take control of your own learning. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://michaelmehlberg.com/blog/2015/11/10/learn-how-to-learn-yes-theres-a-best-way Quotes to ponder: "Experience is the mother of learning. Experience teaches us in a primal, direct way that no other type of learning can reproduce." "They got out there and experienced all they could about their professions early and often... their degrees and certificates came later." "When you read something new, write about it in your own words after." Episode references: Study Guides and Strategies – Metacognition: https://www.studygs.net/metacognition.htm John Adams Heritage – Early Life & Education: https://www.john-adams-heritage.com/early-life-education/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today’s episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I’ll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It’s packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: ⁠⁠https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join⁠ 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 4093: Danae Smith reflects on how wonder isn't reserved for extraordinary moments, it can be cultivated in the familiar through intentional practices of stillness, presence, and gratitude. Her thoughtful perspective offers a gentle reminder that slowing down and appreciating everyday life can help quiet comparison, deepen contentment, and rediscover beauty that's already around us. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://thiswondrouslife.com/twl/3-ways-to-sit-with-wonder Quotes to ponder: "When we quiet down and lean in, I feel wonder meets us there." "I have full permission to keep some things sacred and close to me." "When we choose to be present, there is so much we get to see and experience with fresh eyes and open hearts." Episode references: New Oxford American Dictionary: https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780195392883.001.0001/acref-9780195392883 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today’s episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I’ll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It’s packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: ⁠⁠https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join⁠ 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 4092: Josie Michelle Davis shares a funny yet thought-provoking story about an unexpected encounter with a chatty hiker that becomes a reminder of how easily technology can pull our attention away from the beauty right in front of us. Through humor and self-reflection, she encourages us to enjoy the present moment, disconnect when it matters, and appreciate the experiences we might otherwise miss. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://josiemichelledavis.com/blog/2019/01/18/2019-1-17-kfbuxno36o6nmsvwsgeipm9a1kpac1/ Quotes to ponder: "I mostly find rain storms charming and even calming, and was perfectly happy to stand with my husbands arms wrapped around me, watching the rain until it slowed." "I did what I always do in awkward social situations, and promptly pretended I’m deaf and mute and have no way of communicating with other humans, so I might as well just face the opposite direction and watch the rain some more and hope you don’t insist on talking to me." "I am not someone who thinks technology is evil, quite the opposite in fact." Episode references: Epcot: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/epcot/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today’s episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I’ll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It’s packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: ⁠⁠https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join⁠ 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 4091: Rebecca Crespo explains why investing in experiences often leads to greater happiness, stronger relationships, and more meaningful personal growth than accumulating material possessions. From creating lasting memories to learning new skills and putting people first, her insights offer a compelling case for prioritizing moments that enrich your life long after the purchase is forgotten. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/experiences-over-things/ Quotes to ponder: "There is always a story behind experiences and reliving those moments gives us an opportunity to reflect on and appreciate that time in our lives. That is something material things simply cannot provide." "Whatever you do, make sure it puts people first, family, friends, colleagues, etc., and less emphasis on things. It’ll be worth it." "People who splurge on experiences, whether it’s a day at a spa or tickets to a show tend to be happier than those who only buy material items." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today’s episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I’ll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It’s packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: ⁠⁠https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join⁠ 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 4090: J. Money shares how a simple walk with his young son helped him realize he was heading toward burnout and inspired a practical framework for deciding which projects are truly worth keeping. By evaluating every commitment through the lenses of time, money, and enjoyment, and pairing that with Derek Sivers' "Hell Yeah or No" philosophy, he offers a powerful way to reclaim focus, reduce overwhelm, and make more room for what matters most. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://www.budgetsaresexy.com/the-triad-of-hustling Quotes to ponder: "When deciding whether to do something, if you feel anything less than “Wow! That would be amazing! Absolutely! Hell yeah!” then say “no.”" "Three out of three, and you’ve found a DREAM hustle. Two out of three and it’s still pretty solid as not all projects can be dreams. One out of three and it’s probably time to reconsider or try switching things up." "We’re all busy. We’ve all taken on too much. Saying yes to less is the way out." Episode references: Keep Thrifty: https://thrifty.keepthrifty.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices