Good Life Project || Inspiration | Motivation | Happiness | Meaning | Success

Good Life Riff: Ever wonder why the internet is littered with a bajillion feel-good quotables, when the reality of most people's lives is pretty far from the utopian mumbo-jumbo we so often see hand-lettered all over insta?Ever wonder what might happen if you changed those quotables to something that was a little less aspirational and a little more real? The short answer just might surprise you. That's what we're talking about today.Good Life Science: And, in our Good Life Science segment, we're diving into an eye-opening bit of new research. It's about how we talk to ourselves when we're anxious and under stress. Turns out, we just might get better faster when we do something just a little bit, well, weird. When we shift our self-doubt to the third-person. Details in today's Good Life Science brief. And, as always, for those want to go to the source, here's a link to the full study.Rockstar sponsors:I'm joining Honest Tea in celebrating the lighthearted ways we're less than perfect through the 

Nilofer Merchant is a master at turning seemingly “wild” ideas into powerful new realities and showing the rest of us how we can do the same.Over the years, this has taken the form of books, her top-ranked TED talk, strategic advising for some of the largest, most-innovative companies in the world and game-changing startups, as well as being a member of organizational teams responsible for global impact and billions in product revenue.More recently, though, she's focused her fierce ideation and research lens on a bigger question. Nilofer asks, "do we really each have within us the unique capacity to make a substantial impact?"Her conclusion, indeed we do. And, we're living in times that, maybe for the first time ever, have made it possible for people who've been marginalized, disenfranchised and stripped of power to bring forth and build momentum around ideas that, in her words, are mighty enough to "dent the world." Merchant explores these ideas in her intriguing new book, The Power of Onlynes

We spend so much of life racing from one goal, one task, one agenda item to the next, we end up missing so many opportunities to experience grace and awe.In today's Good Life Dispatch, we're talking about how a simple moment reconnected us with the power of awe. Be sure to listen to understand the picture in the show notes.And, in our Good Life Science segment, we're diving into some interesting new research on something called "positive activity interventions" and how they affect mood, anxiety and depression. As always, here's a link to the full study, for those who'd like to dive deeper.Rockstar sponsors:Get paid online, on-time with Freshbooks! Today's show is supported by FreshBooks, cloud accounting software that makes it insanely easy for freelancers and professionals to get paid online, track expenses and do more of what you love. Get your 1-month free trial, no credit card required, at FreshBooks.com/goodlife (enter The Good Life Project in the “How Did You Hear Abou

Guest: For almost three decades Caroline Adams Miller, MAPP has been a leading voice in applying the science of goal-setting, grit, happiness and success.In 2015, she was named “one of the ten Positive Psychology coaches to follow.” Her latest book is, Getting Grit: The Evidence-Based Approach to Cultivating Passion, Perseverance, and Purpose.Story: A fiercely-competitive athlete and academic even in her youth, Miller was exposed to Bulimia at the age of 14 and turned to it as an outlet and control mechanism. Outwardly successful by every external measure, she eventually attended Harvard, got married and started a family, all the while keeping her disorder secret. Until one day, gripped by the need to control her disorder any more, she began to reveal her secret life and seek help.Fortunately, she heard the right words at the right time during a support group meeting, which helped turn her life into one of purpose. Caroline drew upon this life-changing experience to write a book about bulimia t

GLP Riff: Ever wonder how your work environment affects everything from your mood to your health and even your ability to do your best work? Turns out, it can make a huge difference. And, it's one of those decisions most of us never actually make. It's time to get more intentional about the environment that best supports your ability to rock your work and life. That what today's GLP Riff is all about.Good Life Science Update: Chocolate, it's pretty much proof of the existence of God, in our humble opinion! But, turns out, some fascinating research shows that it may also play a serious role in brain function and memory. Especially as we get a bit further into life. That's what we're talking about in today's Good Life Science update.Rockstar sponsors:Get paid online, on-time with Freshbooks! Today's show is supported by FreshBooks, cloud accounting software that makes it insanely easy for freelancers and professionals to get paid online, track expenses and do more of what you love. Get

Guest: Ryan Holiday is the bestselling author of multiple books, including The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy and Growth Hacker Marketing.His company, Brass Check, has advised companies like Google, Taser and Complex as well as multi-platinum musicians and some of the biggest authors in the world, such as Tim Ferriss, Tony Robbins, and Arianna Huffington. His latest book, Perennial Seller, Ryan reveals to creatives of all stripes—authors, entrepreneurs, musicians, filmmakers, fine artists—how a classic work is made and marketed.Story: The art of making stuff and bringing it to the world. Stuff that lasts. Stuff that is designed to endure the test of time. We dive into his journey of becoming a writer, which was certainly not linear, and he's written some provocative things about what he's learned about the world of media, marketing and manipulation.Big idea: What we're really creating when we create something that we want to matter in the world.You’d never guess: At nineteen&nb

What if we didn't have to wait for tragedy in order to be kind?What if there was no WAY to kindness, but rather, kindness WAS the way? That's what we're talking about in today's GLP Riff, inspired by an awakening during a Broadway show about a powerful true-life story from the town of Gander, Newfoundland.And, be sure to tune in for today's Good Life Science Update, too.We're diving into some new research that shows something just a tiny bit terrifying about how even having a silent smartphone in the room with you might affect your ability to think and perform at the top of your game. For those who want to go deeper, here's a link to the research cited.Rockstar Sponsor:Thrive Market has all the top premium healthy and organic products that I usually get from a grocery store but unlike your typical organic & non-GMO products that are marked up to premium prices, Thrive Market sells the same organic & non-GMO premium products at wholesale prices! To start your FREE 30-day trial, 25% your first purc

Guest: Julie Piatt aka SriMati is a plant-based chef, meditation guide, yoga teacher, musician, and author of This Cheese is Nuts!: Delicious Vegan Cheese at Home.Story: In the midst of a successful career as a designer and business owner, Julie and her husband made radical changes in career. While this set in motion a powerful new path for both, it also led them into a financial collapse that took nearly 7 years to emerge from, all which navigating both their own individual evolutions and parenting four kids.This challenging time, or as Julie calls it “The Sacred Moment,” has not only defined she as a person but also allowed her to become the highest version of her true self and informed her journey as a teacher, creator, life-partner and parent.Big idea(s): Times in our lives that are filled with struggle and pain that bring us to our knees are Sacred Moments that strip us of anything false, show our true nature, and forge us into our highest selvesYou’d never guess: How receiving her spiritual name, SriMat

We're excited to premiere a new segment on today's episode. Along with our weekly Riffs, we'll be bringing you a new weekly Good Life Science Update™ where we share interesting research on a specific topic designed to help you live a better life.And, we'll also be bringing in other fun segments and maybe even a few new voices. So, stay tuned!Today's riff topic.When does it makes sense to go all-in on a new career, business or idea and "burn the ships" so you have to succeed, OR do it on the side and take the "safer" and less-disruptive approach? Hint - anyone who tells you to do one or the other without asking a critical question first...is very likely wrong!Today's Good Life Science Update.We all know that fruits and veggies can make us healthier, improve energy and reduce risk of disease. But, did you know that they also may make you more curious, creative, upbeat and cultivate a deeper sense of purpose? Some very interesting research suggests that veggies just might be power t

Guest: When Agapi Stassinopoulos walks into a room, you know you're in the presence of love. Her name, in fact, translates to "love." She is a sought-after speaker, teacher and a best-selling author of multiple books, the latest being Wake Up to the Joy of You: 52 Meditations and Practices for a Calmer, Happier Life.Story: Training at the Royal Academy of London, Agapi wanted to build a career in performing arts. But it seems the universe conspired to create a different path. Struggling to find her way on the stage and screen, she changed direction and instead pursued a Masters in psychology, seeking to inspire and elevate people not by taking on the persona of other characters, but by taking the stage as herself and sharing her own, very personal stories, ideas and wisdom.Big idea(s): If you’re stuck and you can’t seem to break out of it, help someone else get what they need and you’ll automatically be empowered.You’d never guess: How spontaneously performing Joan of Arc to a stranger on 

We tend to think that once we get to a certain place in life, everything just gets all dreamy.And, that makes us sometimes hold those who we look to as teachers and leaders to a different standard. But, what if we're all just in it together? What if life happens, humanity and all of its stumbles and struggles, highs and lows, grace and grind, no matter how far we get into a path of discovery?Nobody gets to opt out of the human condition.What if leading and living a good life wasn't about learning and practicing our way out of the realities of day-to-day existence, but rather owning the fact that, no matter what may come our way, the essential ingredients for a meaningful existence are here, in front of us, in each moment? Even the hard ones. What if a good life is not a place at which we arrive, but a lens through which we see and create our world?That's what we're talking about in today's GLP Riff. And, as part of that discussion, we offer a question to ask that just might guide better decisions as we tell t

Guest: Robert Thurman is one of the world's foremost Buddhist scholars, a long-time friend of the Dalai Lama, the father of actress Uma Thurman, and a teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and related cultures.He is an eloquent advocate of the relevance of Eastern ideas to our daily lives. In doing so, he has become a leading voice of the value of reason, peace, and compassion. Thurman was named one of TIME magazine’s 25 most influential Americans and has been profiled by The New York Times Magazine and People magazine. He is the author of many books, and played a central role in the new graphic biography, Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet.Story: After losing an eye in an accident at a young age, Thurman was suddenly confronted with impermanence and death. Shortly after, he embarked on a life-changing journey and exploration of Tibetan Buddhism and culture, building a close relationship with the Dalai Lama, and becoming a prominent

Ever have something really important to say to someone? Something you know will help? Some bit of wisdom or advice that can make a big difference. Could be at work, at home, in your personal life.So, what's the best way to "get your point across?" How do you share your idea in a way where the person you most want to get it...gets it? Then, acts on it. Instead of rejecting it out of hand.Turns out, framing your wisdom in the form of a well-told story, rather than a point or moral or bit of advice, demand, order or imperative, can work wonders. It can bypass all the automatic defenses that lead us to reject being "told what to do."That's what today's Good Life Project Riff is all about.Rockstar sponsors:Camp GLP - Register by June 28, 2017 and lock in your $100 discount. After that registration returns to full-price. And, more important, we don't have a lot of spots left, so there is a decent chance we will sell soon and have no spots left at any price. So, come grab your spot now!

Guest: Susan David, Ph.D. is a Psychologist on the faculty of Harvard Medical School; resilience expert, co-founder and co-director of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, CEO of Evidence Based Psychology, and author of Emotional Agility.Story: Growing up in South Africa, Susan lost her father at a young age. During this pivotal time, everyday heroes emerged in her life, helping to guide her through her grief as an experience of resilience and emotional agility. This became the foundation of her quest to understand and improve the human condition.Susan David resilienceBig idea(s): Instead of simply "pushing through" to positivity, there are practical ways that we can be with ourselves and our emotions that begin to activate our readiness potential, goal setting, and capability to make real change in our lives. Our emotions have evolved to help us survive in the world. If we push them aside, we lose our ability to respond effectively. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is being able to notice

A lot of the decisions we make are about tiny tweaks that, in some way, make things better.But, on occasion, life hands us a seeming opportunity to "do something BIG!" Something that holds the potential to profoundly change our lives, the lives of others and maybe even bring into existence a new paradigm, profession, body of work or worldview.Thing about these moments, the always include giant leaps of faith.There is no way to know or prove you'll succeed at something big and new, before you actually do it.In fact, if you could prove it's success in advance, that tells you it's not actually big or new. Because, the only way to do that is if you've already done it before, or if someone else has. Then, it's no longer the revolution you'd hoped it might be.So, when you are faced with the decision to say yes or no, to allocate time, money, energy or resources to something potentially game-changing, where you don't know how it's going to end, how do you make THOSE decisions? On THAT level?Do you trust others? Do y

Guest: Erik Wahl is a tech-executive turned renowned artist, speaker, author and entrepreneur.He is internationally recognized as a thought-provoking graffiti artist and one of the most sought-after presenters on the corporate keynote circuit, where he travels the world opening people's minds with a blend of cinematic stage theatrics, high-speed live-painting and deep wisdom. His latest book is The Spark and the Grind: Ignite the Power of Disciplined CreativityStory: Erik lost everything when the early dot-com bubble burst, then turned to art as a form of healing, expression and a new way to share ideas, with a focus on street art and graffiti. He then taught himself how to paint large-scale street art style images at high-speed and transformed the process into riveting live shows with a powerful message.Big idea: Redefining what it means to be a successful artist.You'd never guess: Why he competed in the world series of poker to enhance creativity and experiential learning, and how he uses game theory as a w

What if you said no to every new idea and opportunity, until whatever you're currently working on is operating at a level of stun?We have so many opportunities come at us all day long. Ideas, projects, products, partnerships and paths that could lead to new experiences, ventures and impact. And fun!It's easy to become dazzled into saying yes to all. Entrepreneurial and career ADD is alive and well.Problem is, with rare exception, saying yes to something new is the wrong call, unless and until the thing you're currently doing is already operating at or near it's true potential. How and why, and what to do about that is what we're talking about on today's GLP Riff.Rockstar sponsors & supporters:Camp GLP - Come spend 3 1/2 days with "your people," make amazing friendships, drop the facade, reignite your vitality and learn powerful strategies and breakthrough business ideas. Learn more & grab your spot now. http://goodlifeproject.com/camp/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Guest: Latham Thomas is a wellness & birth coach/doula and founder of maternity brand, Mama Glow, as well as the author of Mama Glow: A Hip Guide to Your Fabulous Abundant Pregnancy. She’s on a mission to transform maternal wellness.Latham's practice provides support to pre/postnatal women along their journey to motherhood offering culinary and nutritional services, yoga, and birth coaching services.Latham has become the go-to-guru for modern, holistic living for women during pregnancy and beyond! She also serves as the Maternity Wellness expert on the Advisory Board of Yahoo! Health and has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, Good Day NY, CBS News, Fast Company, Black Enterprise, Essence, Fit Pregnancy and so much more.Her forthcoming book, Own Your Glow: A Soulful Guide to Luminous Living and Crowning the Queen Within is available for pre-order now.Rockstar sponsors:Get paid online, on-time with Freshbooks! Today's show is supported by FreshBooks, cloud accounting software that makes it insanely easy for

Happiness. It's what so many of us yearn for. We think it's the center of a good life. And, even though, we're often told otherwise, we believe happiness can be bought, a least a certain amount of happiness.So, what is the truth? What does the research show? Can money buy you happiness? Can it buy you a good life?The answer, it turns out, may surprise you. Today's audio deep-dive is all about happiness, money and life well-lived. And, rather than talking in generalities, we're heading straight into the rich body of research that shows us the truth. We're vaulting past all the happiness and self-help platitudes, the things we wish were truth, and diving into the actual science of happiness, money and the good life.And, you might want to hold onto your seat, because some illusions are about to be shattered. We're doing a bunch of myth-busting and proverb-smashing. Money, it turns out, may well matter more than you think when it comes to happiness, and in ways you didn't realize. Moving beyond money, happiness a

Guest: Max Levi Frieder is the Co-founder and Co-executive director of the international community-based public art organization Artolution.His projects have taken him from Israel and Palestine to the Jordanian-Syrian border, Turkey, India, New Zealand, Australia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba, Peru, Mexico, Canada and throughout the United States.Story: Max has traveled the world facilitating public, collaborative art-projects, working with refugees, hospitals and patients, survivors of abuse and addiction counseling. Through art, trauma relief, reconciliation and conflict resolution, his work focuses on cultivating public engagement through creative facilitation and inspired participation.Big idea: Art can be not only a form of expression but an act of connection, celebration and healing.Current passion project: ArtolutionRockstar sponsors:Camp GLP is, more than anything else, about finding your people. Letting your guard down and, maybe for the first time in years (maybe ever), just being you.