Time Billionaires: Mindset and Time Management for Work & Life13 Nov 2025

Is It Wrong to Want More?

We're taught that wanting more makes us selfish, that ambition and desire are at odds with being humble or grateful for what we already have. But what if wanting is actually what makes us human?

From childhood, many of us learn to shrink our desires, and be accommodating, humble, and not take up too much space. We confuse contentment with complacency and mistake humility for self-erasure. But research shows that this conditioning often leaves us chasing quick hits of pleasure instead of pursuing what truly fulfills us.

In this episode, Rebecca explores why we feel guilty for wanting things, diving into evolutionary psychology and happiness research to reveal the crucial difference between hedonic happiness (instant gratification) and eudaimonic happiness (lasting fulfillment). You'll discover how to balance both types while breaking free from the guilt that keeps you stuck in cycles of short-term comfort at the expense of long-term growth.

What you'll learn:

Why our hunter-gatherer conditioning makes us think success is a zero-sum game (and why it's not)
The hidden ego behind self-denial and why "being the bigger person" sometimes keeps you small
How to distinguish between what makes you happy vs. what just makes you feel good momentarily
Why the most fulfilling experiences often don't feel pleasant in real time
The research behind two distinct types of happiness and how to balance both
How to rewire your brain to crave meaningful progress over instant gratification

Quick Actions You Can Take Today:

Try the non-dominant hand writing exercise to assess what you actually want beyond surface desires
Identify one area where you've been settling for "good enough" and get honest about what you really want
Next time you reach for a distraction, pause and ask whether you need comfort or growth in that moment
Practice reframing one desire from "selfish" to "human" and notice how it changes your relationship to that want

This episode offers hope for anyone who's been taught to want less, do less, or be less.

Because when you get honest about what actually makes you happy, you expand what's possible, not just for yourself, but for everyone around you.

Follow Time Billionaires wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

For more insights on turning hidden minutes into your greatest asset, connect with Rebecca and follow the podcast on LinkedIn!

Rebecca's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccashaddix/
Podcast Page:

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Time Billionaires
(00:00:57) - Why Do We Feel Guilty About Wanting Things?
(00:08:31) - Reclaiming Your Time With a Micro-Moment

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(55)

4 Science-Backed Ways to Reduce Anxiety in 60 Seconds

This episode of Time Billionaires explores a simple question: how can quick, intentional micromoments reset your focus and creativity, without changing your schedule? Rebecca shares research-backed mi...

12 Aug 4min

Improv Games to Rewire Focus and Confidence with David Westerlund – Part 2

What if a few minutes of improv could lower your anxiety, sharpen your focus, and help you build stronger relationships before your next meeting? In part 2 of this conversation, Rebecca speaks with Da...

29 Juli 15min

6 Improv Principles That Will Boost Your Confidence with David Westerlund — Part 1

Did you know that you can do improv without performing? And there’s surprising research about the ways improv exercises actually improve your focus, reduce overwhelm, and help you make better use of t...

22 Juli 15min

Beyond Willpower: How to Follow Through on Your Intentions with UCLA’s Hal Hershfield — Part 2

What would you do differently today if you could have a conversation with your future self? According to UCLA Anderson School of Management professor Hal Hershfield, probably a lot. This episode expl...

15 Juli 23min

How to Plan Effectively to Protect Your Focus with UCLA’s Hal Hershfield — Part 1

What if the small moments you're rushing through or scrolling away are actually the ones that determine your long-term focus, wellbeing, and productivity? In this episode of Time Billionaires, Rebecca...

9 Juli 18min

How to Prevent Burnout With Better Energy Management with Mollie West Duffy — Part 2

What if the key to getting more done isn't managing your time better—but managing your energy? In this episode of Time Billionaires, Rebecca sits down with Mollie West Duffy, Head of Learning & Develo...

1 Juli 19min

The 3 Types of Burnout and What Your Emotions Are Telling You with Mollie West Duffy — Part 1

Are you burned out — or just overwhelmed? Most people can't tell the difference, and that's exactly the problem. In part 1 of this conversation, Rebecca speaks with Mollie West Duffy, co-author of Big...

24 Juni 20min

How to Stop Overthinking Decisions by Asking Better Questions with Jamie Turner — Part 2

What if the way you talk to yourself is directly shaping your confidence, productivity, and even how you show up at work? In part 2 of this conversation, Rebecca speaks with Jamie Turner: CNN contribu...

17 Juni 21min