031: 10 Ways to Simplify Your Budget by Leo Babauta of ZenHabits.net

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 3488: Tynan shares how an early experience at summer camp shaped his lifelong embrace of being different. From a spontaneous decision to braid his hair to embarking on an unconventional pilgrimage in Japan, he highlights the benefits of questioning the norm and forging a unique path. His story is a compelling reminder that the most fulfilling experiences often lie beyond the beaten path. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://tynan.com/how-i-became-weird Quotes to ponder: "You are really cool. Would you mind if I got my hair braided too?" "There are massive benefits to living differently. It makes you think about things rather than going through life like a sheep." "99% of the world and the experiences available in it are off the beaten path. To get to them you have to get off the path too." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8 Feb 9min

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 3487: Real change isn’t just about willpower - it’s a process backed by science. Lisa Firestone, Ph.D., explores psychologist Dr. John Norcross’s research on the five stages of change, from precontemplation to maintenance, revealing why people self-sabotage and how to break the cycle. By understanding these stages and silencing the “critical inner voice,” you can create lasting, meaningful transformation. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.psychalive.org/scientific-approach-to-changing-your-life/ Quotes to ponder: "You differentiate from old influences or identities and become your true self." "Change is rarely linear; there are twists and turns." "The critical inner voice will initially get louder but, like that witch, the voice will slowly melt away, as they persevere in their goals." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7 Feb 9min

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 3486: Hope isn’t about a perfect future, it’s about embracing uncertainty and seeing possibilities, just as finding the good in others is about focusing on strengths rather than flaws. Allison Carmen explores how shifting our mindset in both areas can reduce stress, improve relationships, and open us to new opportunities. By letting go of rigid expectations and choosing compassion, we create a life filled with resilience, connection, and hope. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.allisoncarmen.com/why-hope-isnt-about-a-perfect-future/ & https://www.allisoncarmen.com/finding-the-good-in-people/ Quotes to ponder: "Hope is not about guaranteeing a specific future; it’s about believing that something good is possible." "Seeing someone’s potential doesn’t mean ignoring their flaws, it means believing in their ability to grow and change." "When we embrace uncertainty, we give ourselves the freedom to experience life as it unfolds, rather than as we demand it to be." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 Feb 11min

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 3485: Eric Teplitz explores how our ideal abilities whether time travel, mind reading, or infinite energy reveal deeper desires for connection, purpose, and fulfillment. Instead of chasing the impossible, he suggests practical ways to cultivate these "superpowers" in real life. Quotes to ponder: "Have you ever fantasized about having a superpower that would allow you to bypass life's challenges with ease?" "Perhaps the most compelling superpower of all is the ability to feel a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment in our daily lives." "The closest thing we have to superpowers are the strengths we cultivate within ourselves patience, resilience, kindness, and courage." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 Feb 12min

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 3484: Leo Babauta shares a mindful approach to navigating these tough moments with self-compassion, small intentional actions, and a focus on what truly matters. By embracing discomfort and making space for emotions, it's possible to regain clarity and move forward with purpose. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://zenhabits.net/down/ Quotes to ponder: "When we feel down or drained, we often want to withdraw, shut down, or turn to distractions. But what if we turned toward the experience instead?" "The answer isn’t to force ourselves to be productive, but to allow ourselves to be present with what’s happening." "We can move forward with love, even when we feel down, by taking small, gentle steps and not needing to have it all figured out." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Feb 9min

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 3483: Shawna Scafe from Simple on Purpose explains how embracing minimalism helps clear mental clutter, improve decision-making, and create space for what truly matters. By letting go of excess, you gain clarity, peace, and the freedom to live with more intention. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://simpleonpurpose.ca/why-minimalism-changes-life/ Quotes to ponder: "Minimalism helps you get rid of the distractions that keep you from seeing what you really want in life." "Clutter is anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living." "When you remove the excess, you create space, for peace, for joy, and for the things that truly matter." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3 Feb 10min

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 3482: Chris Guillebeau explores the inevitability of setbacks and the resilience needed to overcome them. By reframing failure as a learning experience and adopting a mindset of persistence, challenges become stepping stones rather than obstacles. Success isn’t about avoiding failure, it’s about rising every time you fall. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://chrisguillebeau.com/how-to-fall-down-and-get-back-up-again Quotes to ponder: "Falling down is inevitable. Getting back up is a choice." "Every failure contains the seeds of a future success if you’re willing to keep going." "You don’t have to enjoy failure, but you do have to learn from it." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Feb 9min

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 3481: Finding belonging is a lifelong pursuit, and Dr. Kelly Flanagan explores two very different paths to it. Some seek connection through aggression and conformity, while others embrace vulnerability, allowing rejection to refine their circles of belonging. Through powerful stories including one from motivational speaker Nick Santonastasso this piece challenges us to choose authenticity over approval, faith over fear, and true connection over performative acceptance. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://drkellyflanagan.com/how-to-find-belonging-either-beautifully-or-violently/ Quotes to ponder: "Who do you become in order to attract companionship? What do you do in order to keep your companionship?" "The other way is to show up as you actually are, with all your countless imperfections and inabilities and insecurities just laid bare, vulnerable, and alone and to allow the rejecting of you to become the thing that purifies your circles of belonging." "As your sense of belonging grows, your faith in everything else does, too." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Feb 8min