To Have Effortless Resilience You Need Effortful Practice

03/01/22 • 10 min

1 Listener

“Baseball is 90% mental, and the other half is physical.”

Even if you aren’t a baseball fan, you’ve at least heard the name of the ‘comedian’ who said it: Yogi Berra.

Yogi was entertaining, both on the field as one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, and off the field because of his Yogi-isms—the unique and witty observations he became famous for.

And, let's be honest, we love to be entertained! Part of the joy of entertainment is that we can benefit from the fruits of someone else's labor without having to do the work ourselves! I can enjoy baseball without having to practice and sweat every day. I can enjoy a world class guitar player without having to spend 8 hours a day making my fingers bleed. I can enjoy a martial arts competitions without getting punched or kicked or thrown around.

But ... there is a dark side to all this entertainment.

In many ways, we’ve come to believe that world-class athletes, performers, etc. simply HAVE talent, and we forget the blood, sweat, and tears it took to develop their excellence. And when it comes to developing our resilience in life, that mindset really matters.

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Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast!

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Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into a short-form (5-10 minutes) motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will literally change your life.

Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more!

You can also connect with me via

“Baseball is 90% mental, and the other half is physical.”

Even if you aren’t a baseball fan, you’ve at least heard the name of the ‘comedian’ who said it: Yogi Berra.

Yogi was entertaining, both on the field as one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, and off the field because of his Yogi-isms—the unique and witty observations he became famous for.

But ... there is a dark side to all this entertainment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more!

You can also connect with me via

Previous Episode

The Brain Process That Can Build or Destroy Resilience

You may not realize it, but there is a very sophisticated factory in your brain, and it has the ability to help build your resilience ... or even destroy it.

I’m going to attempt to explain, in the fastest, simplest terms possible, how that works and why it matters for us both today and for the future. Of course, I am NOT a neuroscientist ... although I DO play one on TV.

Just kidding. I only accept acting roles that allow me to dramatize the life and times of the Bee Gees.

Also kidding. I never act. I was, however, an original member of the Bee Gees, just behind little brother Andy Gibb’s guest appearances. I was the 5th Bee Gee—not to be confused with the 5th Beatle, a distinction belonging entirely to Clarence Walker.

Jokes aside, I’ve created a simple visual of this brain process—as I understand it—that you can view here. If you can think of a way that I can make the visual more clear or more in line with Dr. Barrett's research, let me know!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more!

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Next Episode

GRIT - Four Ways We Use Resilience

Here’s the hard news: More than 50 years of scientific research has demonstrated that where you and I fall on the resilience curve—our natural reserves of resilience—affects practically everything.

But here’s the good news: With practice, anyone can grow resilience. And if you increase your resilience, you can overcome pretty much anything life throws at you.

Generally speaking, there are FOUR “ways” we NEED and USE resilience. To make them a little easier to remember, I’m calling these four ways G.R.I.T.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please take a few seconds to answer the super brief Better Mind, Better Life Listener Feedback survey. Your feedback will help me to continue improving the Better Mind, Better Life podcast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every week on Better Mind, Better Life, I combine insights from psychology, theology, and more into an easy to digest, bite-sized, 10-minute motivational podcast to give you practical, useful tips that will not just change the way you think, but that will give you the tools and strategies you need to literally change your life.

Never miss an episode and follow Better Mind, Better Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon, Podchaser, and more!

You can also connect with me via