The OptimalWork Podcast

#122: The classic example of a courageous person is one who can approach the possibility of death in battle. But this case has little to do with work in the modern world. Is courage, then, irrelevant? In this episode, we discuss what courage means in a modern work context and why it is not just relevant, but essential for thriving.

#121: As you start to develop a new habit, you may meet internal resistance. Far from being a sign that you’re failing to build a virtuous cycle, facing internal resistance is actually a sign that you’re on the verge of real progress. Resistance is necessary in order to build true and lasting momentum and connect your new habits to deeper and more meaningful motives. Find more at https://www. Opti...

#120: Whenever we do something repeatedly, we’ll tend eventually to do it in a rote, automatic way. This even applies to OptimalWork’s core practices: reframing, mindfulness, and challenge. In this episode we show how curiosity can help you overcome this tendency and bring a sense of newness to every challenge you face. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#119: This episode is a deep dive into the relationship between Internal Family Systems (IFS), a growing method of psychotherapy, and OptimalWork. We can view friction in life as different parts of us locked in conflict, ultimately seeking to avoid a painful emotion. Through work — and the practice of reframing, mindfulness, and challenge — we can learn to redirect the energy that powers these par...

#118: If you think you waste too much time—for example, on social media, internet, and entertainment—there is likely some part of you that is urging you to do better. In this episode, we show how to redirect the energy of these different “parts” of you—the one seeking entertainment, and the one criticizing your time wasting—in order to integrate them and achieve inner harmony. Find more at https:/...

#117: What is the appropriate attitude toward your career? At one extreme, some treat it as merely a way of getting a paycheck. At the other, some place all hopes for fulfillment in life in their career. In this episode, we discuss how to approach your career in a way that brings out the best in you, but doesn’t make an idol of success. We want to give credit to Terry Trespicio, whose excellent Te...

#116: In the world of work, many counsel that you should build on your strengths and depend on others to shore up your weaknesses. Is this prudent advice, or just another version of fixed mindset? In this episode, we discuss the evaluation of strengths and weaknesses, and what practical conclusions to draw from this type of analysis. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#115: In this episode, we discuss how scary movies can give you all the practice you need in accepting anxiety. Watching scary movies may be the easiest way to learn to turn fear into excitement and enjoyment. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#114: Last episode, we discussed the framework of givers and takers developed by Adam Grant. Surprisingly, givers tend to cluster at the bottom and the top of organizations, while takers occupy the middle. In this episode, we discuss how to be a successful giver: through flexibility and bringing out the best in others. A successful giver helps those around him or her become givers too. Find more a...

#113: We often emphasize generosity as a crowning ideal: a key character quality to strive for. But this raises some questions. Should you just give everything to everyone? What are the limits? What if people start to take advantage of your generosity? In this episode, we discuss how to set boundaries that will help you maximize your generosity by making it sustainable. Find more at https://www. O...

#112: Optimism is a belief that things will improve in the future. Sometimes it doesn’t always seem that way. As we struggle to improve, we may get discouraged and think that things will always be difficult. However, the science of habits and habituation teaches us that as we challenge ourselves, things do in fact get easier and more enjoyable as our body adjusts to the new behaviors. Find more at...

#111: You may have a goal of achieving a high level of performance with no difficulty, no inner turmoil whatsoever. In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss approaching challenges in a different way: not aiming for effortless success, but rather for acceptance of difficulty and perseverance — what Dr. Majeres calls aiming for silver, rather than gold. Find more at https://www. Optimal...

#110: Many people think that they and others work best under extreme external pressure: impending deadlines, demanding bosses, etc. In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif Younes discuss better ways to achieve intensity. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#109: Is self-love always selfish? In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Rashad Badr discuss why true self-love is actually a necessary step for being able to love others. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#108: Join Dr. Kevin Majeres and Rashad Badr for a discussion on narcissism, an attachment to one's self-image, and how to attain true self-knowledge through humility. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#107: Do you think you have a bad memory? Do you think summer goes by too fast? It turns out, there’s one solution for both problems. In this episode, we discuss strategies that can both improve your memory and enrich your experiences, which can apply to making your summer more fruitful and making it seem longer. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#106: Do you have any anxiety that you feel might be holding you back? In fact, anxiety is like a forge that you can use to shape yourself according to your highest ideals. In this episode, we show you how to find the challenge at the root of your anxiety and engage it as a unique opportunity. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#105: Have you ever worked with great intensity and lost track of time, only to realize later that it was all a waste? You had fallen for the trap of hyperfocus. In this episode, we’ll distinguish between hyperfocus and true flow, and show you how to always attain the latter. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#104: Does mindfulness present a paradox between self-referential thoughts and the ability to focus intensely on our work? Does mindfulness lead us to be overly focused on ourselves or lead us to forget ourselves? Can it help us to deal with a frenetic workplace? The answer to this seeming paradox and these questions gives a clear insight into OptimalWork’s theory and measure of growth. Find more...

#103: Do you ever find that you don’t have enough time to accomplish all the things you’d like to? Small blocks of time may seem inconsequential, but they add up. Making wise use of these blocks can increase your productivity by 20% — the difference between getting ahead and falling behind. How to do it? That’s the topic of today’s episode. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#102: Negative feedback is a part of life. It’s also essential in helping us identify our biggest opportunities for growth. In this episode, we discuss how to give and receive negative feedback and the role it plays in the social dimension of growth. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#101: Reframing means seeing the opportunity in any challenge. But is that always a good thing? Is it possible that reframing could make us more likely to put up with bad situations? In this episode we’ll address this possible objection to reframing. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#100: You may think that memory is a fixed trait: sure, some people may have a great memory, but yours is not so good. Well, the great masters of learning didn’t rely on natural talent — they all used strategies and techniques to memorize important texts, ideas, and arguments. In this episode, we discuss how they did it, so that you can learn to as well. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#99: We often put off big challenges — a large project, a different career path, a new hobby, etc. — because we don’t know how precisely to get started. Well, there’s a virtue for that! Study: the keen application of your mind to its proper object. In this episode, we discuss how to fruitfully engage challenges — new and old — with study. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .

#98: Is competition a good motivating force? Why are some people more competitive than others? Is being competitive a virtue or a vice, and can it be compatible with living a life of high ideals? These questions and more in today’s episode. Find more at https://www. OptimalWork.com .