Ego Lab

In this episode, Tony and Brian discuss:
Is free will an illusion?
How one small change in your mindset can reduce Anxiety and Worry
Why new decision making strategies can have a major impact on your life
The superpower of letting go
Are negative experiences the most important?
The impact of indecision and how to move past it
Why biases are limiting you
How to stop spending time on things you don't care about
What to do if I regret my career choice?
Timestamps

(1:05) Do we have free will?

(4:31) Neuroplasticity and our brains are like a computer. There is hardware - our genetics, and software - the experiences we load onto it.

(7:14) Can you get over anxiety?

(9:00) Do you use worry as a tool?

(10:20) How to identify what decisions are worth paying attention to

(12:42) The story of the farmer taking life in stride

(14:47) What is the right decision?

(17:10) How do I make big decisions feel more manageable?

(18:27) How do I know my decisions are good ones?

(20:23) Are some decisions more important than others?

(22:50) How do I manage opportunities and the number of decisions I have to make?

(27:11) How do biases impact my decisions?

Show notes ep 7 decisions

We didn’t pick our parents, we didn’t pick our life experiences, so there’s an element of chance in all aspects of your life. There is a lot of biases and beliefs that come preloaded on us because of nature and nurture.

Our brains are like computers. We have hardware that makes us who we are. Our tendencies to act and feel certain ways. Then we have the software, which is our learned experiences. Software is all of the parts of our lives that shape how the hardware operates.

Neuroplasticity is like walking in a forest. Just like when we walk through a forest and have to make new paths, our brains do the same with learning. The more we walk down certain paths the more defined they become.

Changing our thought process from “I have anxiety” to “there is anxiety present” makes the feeling something impermanent. It allows us to move past that feeling of anxiousness instead of believing it’s a part of everything we do.

If you’re not careful you might be using worry as a tool. Worry allows us to feel a false sense of control over one’s future. Think about it like trying to worry about all the outcomes that could potentially happen, so you won’t be surprised.

You can use simple strategies to help you identify what you want to be putting your attention on. Exercises that help us identify what we can and can’t control can be very helpful. Click here for the worksheet that can help you with that.

We tend to see things in the moment as “good” and “bad”. But when we look back on our experiences it’s often the case that a “good” experience didn’t turn out like we hoped and sometimes our “bad” experiences are the most important instructors.

Every choice comes with an opportunity cost. When we make a choice in the moment it comes with pros and cons. We’re going to gain and lose from every decision but it’s important to make a decision and live with the consequences.

When you begin down a new path, try to begin with small steps. It’s much easier to climb a 100-foot ladder when the steps are one foot apart than it is to climb a 100-foot ladder when the steps are 10 feet apart.

“The Secret to getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and starting on the first one.” - Mark Twain

A lot of life is being open to new experiences. If you’re someone who believes that the world is black and white, you will miss out

Join us as we discuss our favorite strategies and philosophies around anxiety and depression.
Can you be addicted to anxiety?
We use Judson Brewer's book Unwinding Anxiety and Johann Hari's book Lost Connections as a guide to navigating depression, anxiety, and more. Here are the seven of the root causes and solutions discussed in the episode:
Disconnection from:

1. Meaningful work
2. Other people
3. Meaningful values
4. Childhood trauma
5. Status and respect
6. Disconnection from the natural world
7. Hopeful or secure future

In this episode, Tony and Brian interview Lexi and Nico about their experience thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. They discuss how their dream became a reality as well as:
How to Pursue a Passion

Learning from Obstacles and setbacks

How to persevere in situations where most people quit

How to find balance in times of stress

How to find a community even when you’re in the middle of the woods

The importance of finding others who will push you to reach your goals

How long does it take to hike the entire Appalachian Trail?

Are there any dangerous animals on the Appalachian Trail?

How to deal with sleeping on the ground for long periods of time

Prepare for take-off with Anthony and Brian! Does your life sometimes feel like a sailboat adrift in vast, turbulent seas without a clear destination? Welcome, dear listeners, as we navigate together towards defining our personal destinations and discovering the journey to get there. We'll look at how to embrace the present, align decisions with core values, and manage the different aspects of our lives, much like a sailor handling a boat.
Hold tight as we sail further into the ocean of life, uncovering how to create a meaningful array of experiences while setting achievable goals. We'll venture from the shores of fear, anchoring ourselves in love and focusing on learning. We'll craft an individual roadmap, balancing knowledge with experience, and using that compass to guide us to our desired destination.
Setting a course is crucial, but so is regularly checking and adjusting that course. We'll unravel the SMART framework for goal setting, highlighting the importance of challenging yet fulfilling goals. We also recognize and appreciate life's blessings like family, friends, and opportunities. We'll cherish the strength we derive from past mistakes, and the invaluable support we receive from loved ones. So, hoist the sails, adjust the rudder, and join us in this journey of sailing through life's ups and downs.
(0:00) - Intro

(1:00) - How do you know what your destination is?

(2:31) - Setting value-based goals

(5:10) - How to think about 6-month goals

(6:33) - How to set goals across all aspects of life

(7:57) - How to set goals that aren’t dictated by society

(9:52) - How to use fear and love to help assess your decision making

(18:20) - How to use SMART Goals to achieve results you actually want.

(24:13) - How to overcome the patterns that are holding you back

(26:50) - How asking yourself “why” too much can hinder your goals

(29:20) - How to overcome the fear of heading to your destination.

In this episode, Anthony and Brian discuss how hope is one of the fundamental emotions giving us purpose in life, how to cultivate hope through positivity, Brian’s experience with hope and cancer, tools to build positivity and hope, and how to live a long and fulfilling life, and many other gems throughout the episode.Show Notes:
https://www.egolab.us/podcast/show-notes-e4-what-makes-us-human-use-hope-to-build-a-fulfilling-lifeEpisode Summary:
We all grapple with life's complexities, yearning for a beacon of hope to guide us. Ever wondered how harnessing hope and optimism can power our dreams, infuse joy and empower us to conquer life's daunting challenges? We're taking you on a deep-dive into this extraordinary force, with profound insights drawn from Victor Frankel’s 'Man’s Search for Meaning' and an exploration of the potent placebo effect of optimism and hope.
Our journey takes us through the critical role of community and support systems in nurturing hope, the stark contrast between solitude and loneliness, and the power of self-compassion, self-love, and gratitude in framing a new perspective on hope. You'll get a peek into the intriguing concept of a 'happiness thermostat' as proposed by Jonathan Haight, and an examination of the lifestyle choices contributing to the impressive longevity of the Okinawan culture.
This episode is not just an exploration of hope, but also a testament to its power - as seen in Brian's personal battle with cancer. Learn how Brian embraced positivity to ride through this challenging phase and gain insights from his experience on nurturing hope and living a long, meaningful life. We've got handpicked book recommendations, guided worksheets, and reflective questions to bolster your journey of embracing hope and optimism. So come aboard, and let's illuminate our paths together, with hope as our guiding light.Timestamps

(0:00) Intro

(0:42) Hope and Finding Your Why

(3:43) The Placebo Effect and Hope

(6:30) Hope and Communities, Fighting Cancer, Finding The Will to Live, Friendship, and Impermanence

(16:33) How to Use Positivity to Cultivate Hope

(20:48) Creating a community of Hope within yourself

(25:02) Tools for developing Hope, Gratitude, and Optimism

(27:30) Is Being Optimistic an Inherent Trait or Can We Develop it?

(31:37) Ikigai and Hope - Do Optimistic People Live Longer?

(34:13) What If I don’t Want To Be Hopeful?