The importance of mental fortitude in the journey toward personal and professional achievements cannot be understated. It operates like a silent pillar, bolstering our resilience, shaping our decisions, and propelling us through life’s various challenges and opportunities. Comparable to the stamina needed for physical exertion, cultivating mental strength isn’t automatic. Instead, it demands regular exercise and mindful practice, as if one is training for an intellectual marathon.

The Importance Of Mental Strength

Individuals endowed with mental strength can effectively harness their mental energies to weave an impenetrable fabric of resilience that readily confronts adversity without surrendering to its formidable presence. Their mental agility, hardened by experience and a deliberate learning mindset, transforms every situation into a teacher and every experience into a lesson.

Self-awareness forms the cornerstone of mental strength. It equates to knowing yourself: understanding your feelings, motives, responses, and actions. More importantly, it involves understanding how these aspects impact others around you.

Cultivating Self Awareness: Key Habit Of Mentally Strong People

Mentally strong people reflect regularly. They take time out from the hustle and bustle of life to meditate, journal, or sit quietly. This practice offers opportunities to analyze past actions, learn from successes and failures, and gain insights into how they might improve. As a result, they make decisions more confidently, understand their emotional triggers, and manage their reactions effectively.

Change remains a constant in life. People who adapt readily to new circumstances demonstrate a higher mental strength. They view change not as a threat but as an opportunity for growth.Mentally strong individuals accept the inevitability of change and prepare themselves for it. They remain flexible in their plans and expectations, allowing them to respond quickly when unforeseen circumstances occur. Instead of resisting new situations, they invest their energy in understanding the implications and identifying ways to move forward.

Embracing Change: The Power Of Adaptability 

Mental strength and persistence go hand in hand. Life presents many challenges, but mentally strong people do not let setbacks deter them. They persevere, focusing on their goals and continuing to progress, however slow. In situations where others may give up, mentally strong individuals push forward. They understand that setbacks and failures form part of the journey and serve as vital learning opportunities. They maintain an unwavering belief in their capabilities, which fuels their determination to succeed.

Persistence: The Art Of Resilience And Perseverance

A positive outlook forms another essential habit of mentally strong individuals. Positivity is not about ignoring the difficulties of life. Instead, it involves acknowledging challenges and focusing on the bright side of situations. Mentally strong people cultivate an attitude of gratitude. They focus on the good in their lives, which boosts their mood, enhances their energy levels, and reduces stress. This outlook also empowers them to see opportunities where others might see obstacles, driving them toward their goals.

Maintaining A Positive Outlook: The Role Of Optimism 

Finally, no discussion of mental strength is complete without touching on self-care. Mentally strong individuals understand that their mental and physical health are intertwined. They recognize the importance of regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and restful leisure activities. Self-care also extends to setting boundaries in relationships and responsibilities, ensuring they do not overextend themselves. It involves regularly checking in with themselves, managing stress levels, and seeking support when needed.

The Importance Of Self-Care In Mental Strength 

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.

productivity

Productivity

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

health

Health

strategy

Strategy

mentalhealth

Mental Health

5 Habits of Mentally Strong People

Apprenticeship is essential for laying the groundwork. Find a master who can observe and correct you. Practice the basics until they become second nature through repetition. Develop stamina by training for hours with single-minded focus.

Chapter 1 - Apprenticeship 

Cultivate emotional detachment to persevere through difficulties. Do not seek constant approval or validation that could undermine your drive. Foster a mindset of true apathy towards praise and criticism. Develop mindfulness to calm your emotional reactivity.

Chapter 2 - Creative Apathy

An all-encompassing obsession is required to sustain long-term mastery. Fixate on a higher purpose or mission that elevates the work beyond yourself. Make small choices that feed your obsession. Keep a journal to record inspirations and fuel your fire.

Chapter 3 - Obsession 

Push yourself during growth periods with intensity of effort. Block off large stretches of time for undistracted work. Develop a daily routine and strict discipline. Challenge and pressure yourself continuously.

Chapter 4 - Sprinting

Face difficulties that reveal and strengthen weaknesses. Overcome self-imposed restrictions and doubt through struggle. Build mental and emotional fortitude through confrontations and setbacks.

Chapter 5 - Rites Of Passage 

Retreat periodically for recharging. Spend time in nature to reflect, gain clarity and come up with new ideas. Silence technology for undistracted contemplation. Gain a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

Chapter 6 - Solitude

Learn from failures, which are an inevitable part of the path to mastery. Analyze mistakes dispassionately to understand what went wrong and what to fix. Rapidly adjust and resume work with even greater intensity. View failures as necessary steps in a long journey. The key is to find the right balance between these forces - apprenticeship, detachment, obsession, intensity, overcoming resistance, solitude and learning from mistakes - and persist for years with passion, focus and resilience.

Chapter 7 - Stumbling

From the bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power and The Laws of Human Nature, a vital work revealing that the secret to mastery is already within you. Each one of us has within us the potential to be a Master. Learn the secrets of the field you have chosen, submit to a rigorous apprenticeship, absorb the hidden knowledge possessed by those with years of experience, surge past competitors to surpass them in brilliance, and explode established patterns from within. Study the behaviors of Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Leonardo da Vinci and the nine contemporary Masters interviewed for this book.  The bestseller author of The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, and The 33 Strategies of War, Robert Greene has spent a lifetime studying the laws of power. Now, he shares the secret path to greatness. With this seminal text as a guide, readers will learn how to unlock the passion within and become masters.

entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

books

Books

leadershipandmanagement

Leadership & Management

Robert Greene is an American author of books on strategy, power, and seduction. He has written six international bestsellers, including The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, The 50th Law, Mastery, and The Laws of Human Nature.

Robert Greene

Mastery

The book introduces the idea of creating an alter ego—a separate identity or persona—that embodies the qualities and strengths you need to excel in a particular area of your life, such as career, sports, or personal goals.

1. Alter Ego Concept

Alter egos help individuals overcome self-doubt, fear, and limiting beliefs by allowing them to distance themselves from their insecurities and tap into their hidden potential.

2. Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

By psychologically separating their everyday self from their alter ego, people can access untapped confidence, determination, and abilities.

3. Psychological Separation

The alter ego can serve as a powerful tool to improve performance and achieve peak states, especially during challenging situations where one's true self may be held back by anxiety or self-imposed limitations.

4. **Performance Enhancement

The book provides practical techniques for creating and embracing an alter ego through visualization, role-playing, and adopting certain behaviors associated with the alter ego.

5. Visualization and Role-Playing

Todd Herman shares real-life examples of famous individuals who have effectively used alter egos, such as athletes, actors, and entrepreneurs, to achieve greatness and success in their respective fields.

6. Examples of Successful Alter Egos

Although the alter ego is a separate persona, the book emphasizes the importance of integrating its strengths and qualities with one's core identity to maintain authenticity and ethical behavior.

7. Integration with Identity

"The Alter Ego Effect" guides readers on how to implement their alter egos in various aspects of life, from professional endeavors to personal growth, in order to consistently perform at their best.

8. **Application in Daily Life

The book encourages readers to continuously evolve their alter egos as they grow and face new challenges, adapting their personas to match their changing aspirations and circumstances.

9. Continuous Evolution

Ultimately, the book promotes self-reflection and empowers individuals to take control of their mindset and performance, using the alter ego as a tool for personal growth and achievement.Remember, the alter ego is not about creating a false identity but rather about tapping into the potential that already exists within you. By embracing your alter ego, you can break through mental barriers and achieve higher levels of success in various areas of life.

10. Self-Reflection and Empowerment

"The Alter Ego Effect" by Todd Herman is a self-help book that introduces the concept of using alter egos to enhance performance and overcome obstacles. Here are some key points to remember about the book:

Now a Wall Street Journal bestseller.What if the games we played as children were the greatest gift to helping us achieve more today?Before stage fright, impostor syndrome, emotional baggage, and the other dubious gifts of adulthood, everyone pretended to be a superhero, a favorite athlete, an inspiring entertainer, a nurse, a firefighter, a lion, or whatever else captured our imaginations. And yet, that natural creativity is slowly squeezed out of us because we think it’s childish or it’s “time to grow up.” Now Todd Herman—backed by scientific research and countless stories from the real world—will show us how to tap into the human imagination  to unleash new versions of ourselves, ready-made to kick ass.    Herman has been coaching champions in every field for over twenty years, and he’s helped them bring out their Heroic Self to transcend the forces pulling them into the Ordinary World.            Anyone attempting ambitious things faces adversity, resistance, and challenges, but Herman confronts these obstacles with a question: Who or what needs to show up to make success inevitable?  In The Alter Ego Effect, Herman presents countless stories from salespeople, executives, entertainers, athletes, entrepreneurs, creatives, and historical figures to illustrate how to activate the Heroic Self already nested inside each of us. And he reveals that we may not be using those traits in the moments when we need them the most. From the creative entrepreneur who resisted their craft, to the accomplished military officer who wanted to be a warmer dad at home, Todd Herman’s clients have discovered there is no end to the parts of their lives they could improve by using Alter Egos.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

Todd Herman

The Alter Ego Effect

“If unconditional love and genuine enthusiasm are present, praise isn't necessary. If they're absent, praise won't help.”

Why you should be careful in giving rewards.

Let us begin with a real-life example. In order to make George develop a good reading habit, his mother set up an incentive plan for him: he would receive two dollars every time he successfully finished a book. At first, George was very enthusiastic and devoted to reading. But after a while, George gradually lost his interest and patience. Until one day, George took out four dollars and gave them to his mother: “You can have these four dollars. I don't want to read for these two days.” Since then, no matter what, George wouldn't touch those books. His mother’s incentive plan ultimately failed

Rewards may have negative impacts if you're not careful.

We have all tried rewards in life in order to improve people’s productivity or have been ourselves rewarded like this. But things usually do not work out that way: rewards only have a temporary effect and ultimately fail. What reason leads to the ultimate failure of rewards? Next, we will analyze for you the five reasons behind the failure of reward-based approaches.

5 Reasons Why Rewards Ultimately Fail

Psychologist points out: rewards are the enemy of exploration. When people have rewards in front of them, they will not venture to take on more meaningful challenges because they feel safe in receiving rewards. They tend to do things that are likely to quickly succeed. Only by doing this can that person be quickly rewarded. When a reward is offered, people’s objective is no longer to finish their mission in a high-quality manner, but to get the reward as soon as possible. The extrinsic motivator of rewards makes people desire quick wins, and so they are unwilling to spend time on exploration.

#1. They impede adventurism and creativity.

The ultimate goal of rewards is to make other people act according to your own will. You rewarded them because you want them to keep doing a certain thing. But a problem arises from this: when a man feels that he’s being manipulated, it is unlikely for him to do this thing willingly.Don't get it wrong. Rewards are good. But give rewards WISELY. Don't misuse it.

#2. Rewards make people feel manipulated.

People are influenced by two motivators when they do something: extrinsic and internal motivators. A reward is a temptation external to the job itself and thus functions as an extrinsic motivator. Contrary to this, the pleasure we gain from the thing itself is the internal motivator.Example: Kids enjoy drawing with color markers. This enjoyment is their internal motivation.Researchers found out that giving rewards to children if they complete drawings will lead to the kid's performance plummeting because he no longer enjoys drawing solely, but instead is doing it just for the reward.

#3. Rewards impair people’s internal motivators.

Usually, people compete for tempting rewards, which causes envy and conflict. Such competition will surely do damage to relationships among people.For example, a teacher might say, “if we keep behaving, we can have an ice cream party after school today.” Hearing this news, every student becomes super joyful and actively performs their schoolwork. But when school is over, the teacher says: “Class, because Maria did not behave well, I am sorry to announce that the ice cream part is canceled!” At this point, every child would be disappointed and even angry. They will vent their anger on Maria.

#4. Rewards can break personal relationships.

Rewards are about solving the issue at hand quickly and would ignore the deep reason behind the issue.When a child is unwilling to eat obediently, parents immediately use rewards: “Come and finish your dinner, and you can be rewarded with cartoons later.” By doing so, parents convey that they only want their child to finish his dinner at this very moment. But they remain ignorant as to the reason behind the child’s unwillingness to eat.

#5. Rewards make people ignore the root cause of problem.

Rewards can heal or hurt. Make or break.Rewards are good when you know how to give them.Stay tuned!Next post will be about<ol><li>How To Give Rewards</li><li>What To Consider When Giving Rewards</li></ol>

Be Careful. Rewards are a double-edged sword.

In this study, an experienced classroom teacher takes us into her fifth-grade maths class through the course of a year and shows how classroom dynamics - the complex relationship of teacher, student and content - are critical in improving student performance. Magdalene Lampert offers an original model of teaching practice that casts new light on the ways teachers can successfully deal with teaching problems.

parenting

Parenting

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

Alfie Kohn

Punished by Rewards

Burnout should not be considered a disease but as a symptom, with 3 main causes: <ol><li>permanent on-call: mainly due to always on email & chat.</li><li>broken steering: feeling your actions at work have no impact & that ultimately "you don't matter"</li><li>mission doubt: you get to ask "Why am I doing this work at all?"</li></ol>If you find yourself feeling “burnout”, it can be good to consider which of these might be the cause. The solution to permanent on-call is more vacation and time-off. But that can actually make broken steering worse, where you need to instead increase your impact per unit work.

The 3 core causes for burnout

The founder of Twitch posted his analysis of burnout and it resonated with my experiences. How about you?

career

Career

Burnout according to the Twitch founder

When we see something we are remembering the object, more than experiencing it. It's why we can not ... not read a word once we see it. Or not understand speech once we learned a language. It's impossible to put understanding on pause. This leads us to the realization that our perception is actually a narrative building exercise more than a real & authentic investigation of reality. Peterson is heavily influenced by Jungian ideas of narrative, but similar conclusions come from Buddhism, Taoism or Zen.

Regular Perception is Memory

Interesting how Peterson arrived at a very Eastern tradition by studying Jung. 

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson is a clinical psychologist, the author of several best-selling books, among them "12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos," and "Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life," and the host of "The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast." www.jordanbpeterson.com

mindfulness

Mindfulness

podcasts

Podcasts

videos

Videos

The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan. Follow The Joe Rogan Clips show page for some of the best moments from the episodes.

The Joe Rogan Experience

#1933 - Jordan Peterson

Jordan Peterson on how memory works

Welcome back, dear readers! It brings me joy to witness your unwavering passion for my stash. Please be assured that I'm not invading your privacy; it's simply an inexplicable connection that allows me to ponder upon the thoughts racing through your minds. Today, I present a departure from my usual posts—a profound exploration of karma. Join me as we delve into the depths of karma and destiny, learning how to manifest success and much more.

Karma Unleashed | Life Lessons from Bhagavad Gita  

Before we proceed, I must say that the insights shared in this article originate from the soul of Shree Krishna, as conveyed in the Bhagavad Gita. This exceptional literary work has garnered admiration from countless great personalities. Although Shree Bhagavad Gita is an ancient Hindu religious text, it transcends religious boundaries. Personally, I hold great reverence for Shree Bhagavad Gita and encourage everyone reading this article to explore this extraordinary masterpiece when seeking direction in life.

The Soul of Shree Krishna's Wisdom: 

For many of my Indian readers, the significance of karma in shaping our lives is well-known. In our ancient Santan history, Shree Krishna imparted the lesson of karma to Arjuna. Arjuna, a warrior, found himself torn between his family and his true purpose in the midst of war. It was at this juncture that Shree Krishna guided Arjuna, reorienting him on his path and reminding him of his life's true purpose.

Understanding Karma:

Speaking of life's purpose, I implore all of you to read this article in its entirety. Discover your own purpose and do not leave yourself adrift. Take this opportunity to explore and find your true calling.

Karma refers to the daily tasks and rituals that we undertake. Whether it's eating food, relaxing on the couch, or working in the office, every action we perform is a reflection of our karma.

Karma: Actions and Rituals:

Exploring the Types of Karma:Karma can be classified into two types: good and bad. Acts of goodness constitute our good karma, while acts that are detrimental are labeled as bad karma. The intriguing aspect is that every action, whether good or bad, eventually finds its way back to us. If we engage in negative behavior, we will face the consequences in our present life. Similarly, positive actions are rewarded by the divine.

It is essential to understand that the effects of our past actions manifest in our present lives. This is the fundamental principle of Santan Dharma. Our lives are shaped by the interplay between karma and destiny.

The Interplay Between Karma and Destiny:

In the Bhagavad Gita, Shree Krishna imparts a profound message to the youth: "Karmaṇyevādhikāraste mā phaleṣhu kadāchana; Mā karma-phala-hetur-bhūr mā te saṅgo 'stvakarmaṇi." This verse encourages individuals to focus on their actions rather than being attached to the outcomes. It teaches the importance of wholeheartedly dedicating oneself to duties, without being driven solely by the desire for rewards.

Shree Krishna's Message on Karma:

Shree Krishna emphasizes that our control lies solely in performing our dutes and working towards our goals. The outcomes, whether success or failure, are not within our grasp. We must wholeheartedly focus on our work, our primary goals.

The Essence of Karma: Work Diligently:

The concept of karma is universal and you can't escape out from it but you can make your life better by just doing some simple things. We have written an article for you on karma and everything that you must know, so make your life better by checking out this amazing piece of content on karma. Read now 👉<a href="https://inspirationalblogs45.blogspot.com/2023/06/unleashing-karma-destiny-bhagavad-gita.html">Unleash karma </a> 👈

Conclusion 

Understand the concept of karma in detail and find out one of the finest ways to make your life better ...

Being inspired is a very tough task . But not the impossible one , introducing you the best and evergreen blog that will make you inspired everyday .we will provide you the quality of content just for free

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

habits

Habits

education

Learning & Education

Karma Unleashed | Life Lessons from Bhagavad Gita

Happiness is hard to put into words, but science has uncovered some interesting facts about it. Here are a few to keep in mind:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Language cannot fully capture the feeling of happiness, so just enjoy it when you feel it.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Hormones called dopamine and serotonin play a big role in making us happy.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Engaging in creative activities, exercising and getting enough sleep can all boost happiness levels.</li></ul>

Some Facts About Happiness

A study by Harvard showed that income doesn't relate to happiness. Money cannot buy happiness but it can buffer stress!Social interactions that don't aquire that much money are better than high cost social interactions.Happiness is also not generated by working to gain money, but meaningful work surely makes us happy.

Money, Work And Happiness

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">People who opt to have no children are happier or as happy as people who have children (which might be the case because they have more time for themselves etc.).</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Smokers, people that are in a smoking environment or people that drink alcohol are less happy.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">One year after experiencing trauma, people are often just as happy as they were before the traumatic event took place.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The same is the case with one year after winning the lottery.</li></ul>

Happiness And Special Conditions

Natural happiness: It requires no effort, as it is the case when receiving a gift.Synthesized happiness: It requires some special effort.This shows us that our environment can be modified to increase our happiness:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">It can be modified using plants, windows, music etc.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Music with uptones can increase happiness.</li></ul>

Types Of Happiness

Social interactions and connections are essential for happiness.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Seeing faces, even with no talking, gives us a sense of connection; daily interactions help us stay present and happy.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Giving and receiving something increases happiness for both of the people involved, especially if the other person benefits from it.</li></ul>

Social Connections

Presence & eye contact: We take turns when talking, we share information and look at each other. This makes our attention peak. When we look away, our attention decreases again. Therefore, social interaction is a series of focusing on and off, of ramping attention and breaking attention.Physical touch & allogrooming: Light touch increases oxytocin and therefore bonds the people involved. When taking care of a pet it is also considered as allogrooming which as a result increases happiness.

The Components Of Connection

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">An ongoing set of choices decreases happiness. Less choices are better.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">When we are forced to stick to the choices, we are happier than if we were able change them (this can be explained with Leon Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance).</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The prefrontal cortex is responsable for decision making, creating meaning, evaluating choices and focusing intensively. It impacts the reward circutry of the brain.</li></ul>

Decision Making And Happiness

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">No single chemical is associated with happiness.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Meaning and connection are important.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Be present and fully focused. The ability to attend and focus equates to happiness.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">By sticking to the choices you made, you increase your happiness.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Meditation can be extremely helpful.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Sleeping good is essential.</li></ul>

The Happiness Toolkit - Summary

Dr. Andrew Huberman shares a toolkit for increasing happiness and talks about the science of happiness.

I explain the science of happiness, including the different types of happiness and how our actions, circumstances and mindset control them. While it is difficult to standardize happiness from one person to the next, I outline a structured framework of what is critical to increasing your innate “natural happiness,” including financial security, purposeful work and relationships, and I explain specific tools to increase internal happiness (so-called “synthetic happiness”). I review how specific types of human connection and attention to our choices (or lack thereof) can increase or undermine our level of happiness. I also discuss the importance of certain types of physical contact, gratitude, financial choices and volunteer contributions that research shows can maximize happiness. And I discuss how factors such as children, pets, physical well-being, substance use, prior traumas and life-phase milestones affect our quest for and depth of happiness. #HubermanLab #Science Thank you to our sponsors Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/huberman Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Huberman Lab Premium https://hubermanlab.com/premium Social & Website Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Twitter: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network Articles Spending Money on Others Promotes Happiness: http://bit.ly/3X3k71V A Wandering Mind Is an Unhappy Mind: https://bit.ly/3sMP64B Eye contact marks the rise and fall of shared attention in conversation: http://bit.ly/3hy04IF The Influence of Interactions with Dogs on Affect, Anxiety, and Arousal in Children: http://bit.ly/3htjBdh Books Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence: https://amzn.to/3A9S4UY The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity―and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race: https://amzn.to/3E3Und5 Timestamps 00:00:00 Happiness 00:06:27 Tool: Light Exposure Timing & Brightness Timing 00:14:14 Thesis, InsideTracker, Helix Sleep 00:17:51 Imprecise Language for Happiness 00:20:26 Happiness: Neuromodulators & Neurotransmitters 00:26:32 Harvard Happiness Project 00:29:22 Income & Happiness; Social Interactions & Peer Group 00:37:20 Work, Sense of Meaning & Happiness 00:40:13 Toolkit for General Wellbeing 00:43:06 Happiness Across the Lifespan, Does Having Children Make Us Happier? 00:47:33 AG1 (Athletic Greens) 00:50:20 Birthdays & Evaluated Happiness 00:52:45 Smoking, Alcohol & Happiness 00:54:23 Trauma & Happiness, Lottery Winner vs. Paraplegic Accident 01:05:05 Synthesizing Happiness 01:09:18 Natural Happiness & Synthetic Happiness; Music 01:13:45 Tool: Synthesizing Happiness: Effort, Environment & Gratitude 01:24:50 Tool: Pro-Social Spending/Effort, Happiness 01:31:55 Tool: Focus, Wandering Mind & Meditation 01:39:40 Tool: Quality Social Connection 01:41:28 Brief Social Connection, Facial Recognition & Predictability 01:46:33 Deep Social Connection, Presence & Eye Contact 01:54:00 Physical Contact & Social Connection, Allogrooming, Pets 02:03:00 Freedom & Choice; Synthetic Happiness 02:11:57 Happiness Toolkit 02:22:00 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media Huberman Lab is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com

I explain the science of happiness, including the different types of happiness and how our actions, circumstances and mindset control them. While it is difficult to standardize happiness from one person to the next, I outline a structured framework of what is critical to increasing your innate “natural happiness,” including financial security, purposeful work and relationships, and I explain specific tools to increase internal happiness (so-called “synthetic happiness”). I review how specific types of human connection and attention to our choices (or lack thereof) can increase or undermine our level of happiness. I also discuss the importance of certain types of physical contact, gratitude, financial choices and volunteer contributions that research shows can maximize happiness. And I discuss how factors such as children, pets, physical well-being, substance use, prior traumas and life-phase milestones affect our quest for and depth of happiness.

#HubermanLab #Science 

Thank you to our sponsors
Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman
Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman
InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/huberman
Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman

Supplements from Momentous
https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Huberman Lab Premium
https://hubermanlab.com/premium

Social & Website
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman
Website: https://hubermanlab.com 
Newsletter: https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network

Articles
Spending Money on Others Promotes Happiness: http://bit.ly/3X3k71V
A Wandering Mind Is an Unhappy Mind: https://bit.ly/3sMP64B
Eye contact marks the rise and fall of shared attention in conversation: http://bit.ly/3hy04IF
The Influence of Interactions with Dogs on Affect, Anxiety, and Arousal in Children: http://bit.ly/3htjBdh

Books
Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence: https://amzn.to/3A9S4UY
The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity―and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race: https://amzn.to/3E3Und5

Timestamps
00:00:00 Happiness
00:06:27 Tool: Light Exposure Timing & Brightness Timing
00:14:14 Thesis, InsideTracker, Helix Sleep
00:17:51 Imprecise Language for Happiness
00:20:26 Happiness: Neuromodulators & Neurotransmitters 
00:26:32 Harvard Happiness Project 
00:29:22 Income & Happiness; Social Interactions & Peer Group 
00:37:20 Work, Sense of Meaning & Happiness
00:40:13 Toolkit for General Wellbeing
00:43:06 Happiness Across the Lifespan, Does Having Children Make Us Happier?
00:47:33 AG1 (Athletic Greens)
00:50:20 Birthdays & Evaluated Happiness
00:52:45 Smoking, Alcohol & Happiness
00:54:23 Trauma & Happiness, Lottery Winner vs. Paraplegic Accident
01:05:05 Synthesizing Happiness
01:09:18 Natural Happiness & Synthetic Happiness; Music
01:13:45 Tool: Synthesizing Happiness: Effort, Environment & Gratitude
01:24:50 Tool: Pro-Social Spending/Effort, Happiness
01:31:55 Tool: Focus, Wandering Mind & Meditation 
01:39:40 Tool: Quality Social Connection
01:41:28 Brief Social Connection, Facial Recognition & Predictability
01:46:33 Deep Social Connection, Presence & Eye Contact
01:54:00 Physical Contact & Social Connection, Allogrooming, Pets
02:03:00 Freedom & Choice; Synthetic Happiness
02:11:57 Happiness Toolkit
02:22:00 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media

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Welcome to the official Huberman Lab YouTube channel. 

The Huberman Lab podcast is hosted by Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist and tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. The podcast discusses neuroscience and science-based tools, including how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health, as well as existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works.

Huberman Lab is frequently ranked in the Top 15 of all podcasts globally and is often ranked #1 in the categories of science, education, and health and fitness.


Andrew Huberman

Science-Based Tools for Increasing Happiness | Huberman Lab Podcast #98

On your journey to success, it's easy to look at the successful person and judge how easy success is. But you don't consider the fact that thousands of people just like you are also persuing the same thing. How many of them actually made it till the end?

Why You Should Visit Cemeteries 

Be it a musician, a writer, or anything you aspire to become, you will only come accross the names of people who succeeded in their lives. But you'll never come across the burial grounds which houses 10,000 times more aspirants who couldn't make it to the finish line.

The media is not interested in digging around in the graveyards of the unsuccessful. Nor is this it's job. To elude the Survivorship bias, you must do the digging yourself.

In daily life, because triumph is made more visible than failure, you systematically overestimate your chances of succeeding. As an outsider, you succumb to an illusion, and you mistake how minuscule the probability of success really is

Survivorship bias means this : people systematically overestimate their chances of success. Guard against it by frequently visiting the graves of once-promising projects, investments and careers.It's a sad walk, but one that should clear your mind

Rolf Dobelli talks here about Survivorship Bias, how it affects our decision making and actual percentage of success.

Have you ever . . .<ul> <li> Invested time in something that, in hindsight, just wasn't worth it?</li> <li> Paid too much in an eBay auction?</li> <li> Continued to do something you knew was bad for you?</li> <li> Sold stocks too late, or too early?</li> <li> Taken credit for success, but blamed failure on external circumstances?</li> <li> Backed the wrong horse?</li></ul>These are examples of what the author calls cognitive biases, simple errors all of us make in day-to-day thinking. But by knowing what they are and how to identify them, we can avoid them and make better choices: whether in dealing with personal problems or business negotiations, trying to save money or earn profits, or merely working out what we really want in life—and strategizing the best way to get it.Already an international bestseller, The Art of Thinking Clearly distills cutting-edge research from behavioral economics, psychology, and neuroscience into a clever, practical guide for anyone who's ever wanted to be wiser and make better decisions. A novelist, thinker, and entrepreneur, Rolf Dobelli deftly shows that in order to lead happier, more prosperous lives, we don't need extra cunning, new ideas, shiny gadgets, or more frantic hyperactivity—all we need is less irrationality.Simple, clear, and always surprising, this indispensable book will change the way you think and transform your decision making—at work, at home, every day. From why you shouldn't accept a free drink to why you should walk out of a movie you don't like, from why it's so hard to predict the future to why you shouldn't watch the news, The Art of Thinking Clearly helps solve the puzzle of human reasoning.

philosophy

Philosophy

A world-class thinker counts the 100 ways in which humans behave irrationally, showing us what we can do to recognize and minimize these “thinking errors” to make better decisions and have a better life Despite the best of intentions, humans are notoriously bad—that is, irrational—when it comes to making decisions and assessing risks and tradeoffs. Psychologists and neuroscientists refer to these distinctly human foibles, biases, and thinking traps as “cognitive errors.” Cognitive errors are systematic deviances from rationality, from optimized, logical, rational thinking and behavior. We make these errors all the time, in all sorts of situations, for problems big and small: whether to choose the apple or the cupcake; whether to keep retirement funds in the stock market when the Dow tanks, or whether to take the advice of a friend over a stranger. The “behavioral turn” in neuroscience and economics in the past twenty years has increased our understanding of how we think and how we make decisions. It shows how systematic errors mar our thinking and under which conditions our thought processes work best and worst. Evolutionary psychology delivers convincing theories about why our thinking is, in fact, marred. The neurosciences can pinpoint with increasing precision what exactly happens when we think clearly and when we don’t.Drawing on this wide body of research, The Art of Thinking Clearly is an entertaining presentation of these known systematic thinking errors--offering guidance and insight into everything why you shouldn’t accept a free drink to why you SHOULD walk out of a movie you don’t like it to why it’s so hard to predict the future to why shouldn’t watch the news. The book is organized into 100 short chapters, each covering a single cognitive error, bias, or heuristic. Examples of these concepts include: Reciprocity, Confirmation Bias, The It-Gets-Better-Before-It-Gets-Worse Trap, and the Man-With-A-Hammer Tendency. In engaging prose and with real-world examples and anecdotes, The Art of Thinking Clearly helps solve the puzzle of human reasoning.

Rolf Dobelli is a Swiss author and businessman. He began his writing career as a novelist in 2002, but he is best known internationally for his bestselling non-fiction The Art of Thinking Clearly (2011, English 2013), for which The Times has called him "the self-help guru the Germans love".

Rolf Dobelli

The Art of Thinking Clearly

How to Be a Stoic teaches you how to apply the ancient philosophies of Socrates, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius to modern life. So, how can you embrace this powerful mindset? It’s simple! Follow these three key steps:— Develop emotional resilience— Cultivate courage— Strengthen your character

How to Be a Stoic Using Ancient Philosophy 

Massimo Pigliucci is an Italian-American philosopher, evolutionary biologist, and writer. He is a professor of philosophy at the City College of New York. Pigliucci researches the connection between science and philosophy, focusing on evolution and genetics. He is the author of several books and articles about these topics and a frequent speaker on science and philosophy.

About Massimo Pigliucci

Have you ever wondered how to live a fulfilling life when faced with life’s inevitable difficulties?  You’re not alone! Throughout human history, religions & philosophies have tackled this big existential question. Even science has gotten into the business of addressing these issues. Most people think that this philosophy makes Stoics avoid being involved in society and public activities. But Stoicism encourages love for all humankind & nature. Death and personal extinction were important to the original Stoics. They believed that life is an ongoing project and that death is nothing special‌.

1. Develop Moral Character with Stoicism 

Stoicism is a philosophy, not a type of therapy, and everyone needs a philosophy of life. But it has played a huge role in modern psychological therapies. Stoicism has inspired Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy and Albert Ellis’s rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). What makes Stoicism unique? It focuses on building moral character, rather than chasing wealth or education. There are connections between Stoicism and other worldviews, religions, and even secular humanism.

"Stoicism is a Philosophy for Everyone"

It offers an attractive alternative for those seeking a religious outlook beyond fundamentalism. At its core, Stoicism seeks to answer one essential question: how should we live our lives? The ancient Stoics might have been a bit too optimistic about our ability to control our thoughts. Cognitive science has shown that we’re often susceptible to biases and delusions. But don’t let that discourage you! Stoicism still offers valuable lessons and tools for personal growth.

Stoicism didn’t come out of nowhere. Previous philosophical schools and thinkers influenced Stoicism’s development. Stoicism is a practical philosophy based on the idea that to live a good life, you have to understand the nature of the world and human reasoning. A student of Stoicism in ancient times would have explored subjects like physics, logic, and ethics. They believed that developing moral character required this kind of knowledge. It was this holistic approach to learning that made their philosophy so powerful and enduring.

A Road Map for the Journey

Epictetus believed that some things are within our control, such as our opinions, impulses, desires, and aversions, while our bodies, possessions, and reputations are not. We can take care of them to the best of our ability, but external factors can still impact them. It is important to focus on what is within our control and not become too attached to external outcomes.

2. Tap Into Your Inner Strengths with Stoic Philosophy

Epictetus’s example shows that the Stoic dichotomy of control comprises three levels of influence over the world:  we make choiceswe can influence some thingswe cannot influence others Epictetus says we should focus on what we can control and let the universe take its course. This will save us energy and worry.

“One of the first lessons from Stoicism, then, is to focus our attention and efforts where we have the most power and then let the universe run as it will. This will save us both a lot of energy and a lot of worry.” —

Here is an excellent Stoic metaphor: An archer can only control the arrow until they release it from the bow. After that, hitting the target is out of their hands. The Stoic archer accepts that other variables might cause them to miss their target. They also accept that they have done the best they can to achieve the goal. The Stoic dichotomy of control applies throughout our lives. A Stoic mindset allows you to sleep peacefully and wake up confident to deal with whatever comes your way.

a practical guide to ancient philosophy in modern life, covering the principles Socrates, Epictetus, and Cato followed in the three disciplines of desire, action, and assent.

A philosopher asks how ancient Stoicism can help us flourish today Whenever we worry about what to eat, how to love, or simply how to be happy, we are worrying about how to lead a good life. No goal is more elusive. In How to Be a Stoic, philosopher Massimo Pigliucci offers Stoicism, the ancient philosophy that inspired the great emperor Marcus Aurelius, as the best way to attain it. Stoicism is a pragmatic philosophy that focuses our attention on what is possible and gives us perspective on what is unimportant. By understanding Stoicism, we can learn to answer crucial questions: Should we get married or divorced? How should we handle our money in a world nearly destroyed by a financial crisis? How can we survive great personal tragedy? Whoever we are, Stoicism has something for us—and How to Be a Stoic is the essential guide.

How to Be a Stoic

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Science-Based Tools for Increasing Happiness | Huberman Lab Podcast #98

The Art of Thinking Clearly

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