You Are Heroic with Brian Johnson

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PNTV: Food Fix by Mark Hyman, MD (#411) Sep 21, 2020

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Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from Food Fix by Mark Hyman, MD. Hope you enjoy! Mark Hyman, MD, is head of strategy for the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine and board president for the Institute for Functional Medicine. He is also the bestselling author of a number of books, including Eat Fat, Get Thin. This is a very important and equally sobering book. As Mark says: "If we were to identify one big lever to pull to improve global health, create economic abundance, reduce social injustice and mental illness, restore environmental health, and reverse climate change, it would be transforming our entire food system. That is the most important work of our time—work that must begin now." In the Note we take a quick look at the dysfunction of the food system and how to fix it while talking about the #1 thing YOU can do TODAY to address it. We also chat about the fact that your food label may be lying to you, the ENORMOUS amount of money the junk food industry spends on junk science (think: $12 BILLION) and the social justice issues of food. Get Food Fix on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Food-Fix-Economy-Communities-Planet-One/dp/031645317X Learn more about Mark Hyman, MD: https://www.optimize.me/authors/mark-hyman/ ► RELATED RESOURCES: Big Idea 1: THE BROKEN SYSTEM - Mark Hyman → https://www.optimize.me/authors/mark-hyman/ Big Idea 2: #1 FIX = RULE #1 - +1: Don't Drink Sugar | "The Single-Biggest Thing You Can Do to Improve Your Health" (#1247) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/dont-drink-sugar/ - +1: Cancer Candy (Aka Sugar) | And All It's Secret Identities (#1177) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/cancer-candy-aka-sugar/ +1: The Case Against Sugar | Is Very Strong (#685) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-case-against-sugar/ Big Idea 3: LYING LABELS - +1: Your Food Label | Is It Lying to You? (#1244) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/your-food-label/ Big Idea 4: JUNK SCIENCE - +1: Junk Food's Junk Science | Did You Know…? (#1245) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/junk-foods-junk-science/ - +1: Sugar Math | It Adds Up. Fast! (#1178) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/sugar-math/ - Optimal Weight 101 | How to Optimize our Metabolism to Easily Sculpt our Ideal Bodies while Energizing to Actualize → https://www.optimize.me/weight/ Big Idea 5: FOOD Rx - +1: Cancer's Roots & Leaves | Modern Medicine: Strengths + Weaknesses → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/cancers-roots-and-leaves/ - Tom Rath → https://www.optimize.me/authors/tom-rath/ ► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL: Get the PhilosophersNote on Food Fix and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/ ► MORE GOODNESS: - Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/ - Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/ - Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/

#1: A Handbook for the Modern Hero + Surveillance Capitalism + Roman Masterpiece Days (#47) Sep 20, 2020

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Today we tap into some insights after a good night of sleep, chat briefly about Surveillance Capitalism (and Digital Minimalism) before I share the first steps in my new book: OPTIMIZE - A Handbook for the Modern Hero.

PNTV: Breath by James Nestor (#410) Sep 20, 2020

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Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from Breath by James Nestor. Hope you enjoy! Breath. It's the missing pillar in health. We've been talking about this for years and we've included breathing among our fundamentals since I first read Patrick McKeown's The Oxygen Advantage. And, I just LOVE the way James captures the importance of breathing in this book. The first words on the inside flap of the book deliver the point with a sledgehammer: "No matter what you eat, how much you exercise, how skinny or young or strong you are, none of it matters if you're not breathing properly." Big Ideas we explore include how to breathe optimally and why it's so important, the #1 tip, oral posture (how's yours?) and the perfect breath (think 5.5 + 5.5 for 5.5!). Get Breath on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Breath-New-Science-Lost-Art/dp/0735213615 Learn more about James Nestor: https://www.optimize.me/authors/james-nestor/ ► RELATED RESOURCES: Big Idea 1: MOUTH vs. NOSE - Breathing 101 → https://www.optimize.me/breathing - PN: The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick McKeown → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/the-oxygen-advantage-patrick-mckeown/ Big Idea 2: CO2 - +1: Breathe Less | To Breathe Right (#1231) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/breathe-less/ Big Idea 3: #1 TIP - +1: The Rules of Breathing | The Big 3: Nose + Belly + Exhale (#485) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-rules-of-breathing/ Big Idea 4: ORAL POSTURE - +1: Oral Posture ← How's Yours? | High Fiving the Magic Spot in Our Mouths (#1229) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/oral-posture-hows-yours/ - +1: The Thread Thru Your Head | Pull It Up for Poise and Relaxed Power (#462) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-thread-thru-your-head/ - +1: The Magic Spot in Our Mouths | High Five It and Shine! (#1230) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-magic-spot-in-our-mouths/ Big Idea 5: PERFECT BREATH - +1: The Perfect Breath | 5.5 + 5.5 + 5.5 (#1228) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-perfect-breath/ - +1: The Greatest Predictor of Longevity | Genetics? Diet? Exercise? Nope… Try: Lung Capacity! (#1227) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-greatest-predictor-of-longevity/ ► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL: Get the PhilosophersNote on Breath and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/ ► MORE GOODNESS: - Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/ - Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/ - Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/

#1: Friends, meet Optimize Compass. Compass, Friends. (#46) Sep 19, 2020

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Today we have fun meeting the new Optimize (Hero) (Virtue) Compass and I share some interesting HRV and RHR data over last three days looking at effects of last meal, ice baths, etc.

PNTV: Life's Great Question by Tom Rath (#409) Sep 19, 2020

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Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from Life's Great Question by Tom Rath. Hope you enjoy! I'm a big fan of Tom Rath and his work. And... I'm not alone. His 10 books have sold over 10 million copies. Dan Pink (author of Drive and When) calls him "One of the most successful nonfiction writers of his generation." We featured two of his earlier books: Eat Move Sleep and Are You Fully Charged? Plus: His children's book called The Rechargeables remains one of my all-time favorites. "Life's Great Question" that beckons all of us ("What can I contribute?") is beautifully framed by the Martin Luther King, Jr. quote that kicks off the book: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" This book is a field manual to help us go about answering that question so we can, as per the subtitle of the book: "Discover How You Contribute to the World." Big Ideas we explore include creating a sense of urgency in life, Purpose 2.0, connecting what we do to those we serve, undivided attention (our new secret weapon), and creating the energy to be our best. Get Life's Great Question on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Great-Question-Discover-Contribute/dp/1939714176 Learn more about Tom Rath: https://www.optimize.me/authors/tom-rath/ ► RELATED RESOURCES: Big Idea 2: PURPOSE 2.0 - +1: Purpose 2.0 | Time for a Purpose Upgrade? (#1094) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/purpose-2-0/ - +1: Life's Great Question | Can You Guess What It Is? (#1093) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/lifes-great-question/ - PNTV: The Courage Quotient → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/the-courage-quotient-robert-biswas-diener/ - +1: Love 2.0 (vs. Love 1.0) | Ready to Upgrade Today? (401) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/love-20-vs-love-10/ Big Idea 3: CONNECTING - +1: How to Meaningify Your Work | In One Simple Step… (#1095) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/how-to-meaningify-your-work/ Big Idea 4: UNDIVIDED - PN: Deep Work by Cal Newport → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/deep-work-cal-newport/ - +1: Deep Work | How to Escape Shallowville and Go Deep (#36) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/deep-work/ - PNTV: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/digital-minimalism-cal-newport/ Big Idea 5: ENERGY - PN: Are You Fully Charged? by Tom Rath → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/are-you-fully-charged-tom-rath/ - PNTV: The Upward Spiral by Alex Korb, PhD → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/the-upward-spiral-alex-korb/ - +1 Make the Connection | What's Working? What Needs Work? (#374) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/make-the-connection/ ► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL: Get the PhilosophersNote on Life's Great Question and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/ ► MORE GOODNESS: - Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/ - Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/ - Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/

PNTV: The Practicing Stoic by Ward Farnsworth (#408) Sep 18, 2020

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Optimize: https://optimize.me/ (← Get Free Stuff + Free 2-Week Trial!) Optimize Coach: https://optimize.me/coach (← Join 2,000+ Optimizers from 70+ Countries!) Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from The Practicing Stoic by Ward Farnsworth. Hope you enjoy! Ward Farnsworth is the Dean of the University of Texas School of Law. As you can imagine, he brings a logical precision to his discussion of Stoicism that is distinct and powerful. (Seriously. It's actually ASTONISHINGLY powerful.) I really enjoyed the book and I highly recommend it for the aspiring Practicing Stoic. Big Ideas we explore include Principle #1 of practical Stoicism (Judgment!), the good life vs. the good mood (virtue for the win!), what others think (<- pro tip: ignore it), preferred indifference (committed but not attached), and using adversity as fuel for our Optimizing (use Hermes' magic wand!). Get The Practicing Stoic on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Stoic-Philosophical-Users-Manual/dp/1567926118/ Learn more about Ward Farnsworth: https://www.optimize.me/authors/ward-farnsworth/ ► RELATED RESOURCES: Big Idea 1: PRINCIPLE #1 - Stoicism 101 → https://Optimize.me/stocisim - +1: The Space | Between Stimulus and Response (#452) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-space/ Big Idea 2: THE GOOD LIFE VS. THE GOOD MOOD - +1: The Good Life | vs. The Good Mood (#1126) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/the-good-life/ - +1: Don't Aim at Success | Dedicate Yourself to a Cause Bigger Than Yourself (#1040) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/dont-aim-at-success/ Big Idea 3: WHAT OTHERS THINK - +1: Euthymia | How to Live with Energized Tranquility (#100) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/euthymia/ - PN: Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/self-reliance-ralph-waldo-emerson/ - +1: Trust Thyself | Every Heart Vibrates to that Iron String (#614) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/trust-thyself/ Big Idea 4: PREF'D INDIFFERENCE - +1: Arrows and Our Friend Apollo | A Handy Tool for Rocking It (#199) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/arrows-and-our-friend-apollo/ - Donald Robertson → https://www.optimize.me/authors/donald-robertson/ - PN: How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Roberton → https://www.optimize.me/philosophers-notes/how-to-think-like-a-roman-emperor-donald-robertson/ Big Idea 5: ADVERSITY = FUEL - +1: Your Secret Weapon | Thank You, Epictetus and Hermes (#1129) → https://www.optimize.me/plus-one/your-secret-weapon/ - Behind-the-Scenes at Optimize Coach Graduation Weekend: OMMS → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUw5E1gRf0U ► FREE 14-DAY TRIAL: Get the PhilosophersNote on The Practicing Stoic and 600+ other books by starting a Free 14-Day trial membership to Optimize: https://www.optimize.me/trial/ ► MORE GOODNESS: - Get the Optimize App for iPhone & iPad: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Get the Optimize App for Android: https://www.optimize.me/apps/ - Subscribe to the Optimize Podcast: https://optimize.me/podcast/ - Follow Optimize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriantheOptimizer/ - Follow Optimize on Instagram: https://instagram.com/optimize.me/

#1: "I'm back." (Missed you + The Social Dilemma + Wonderfully bad data +) (#45) Sep 18, 2020

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After a very brief retirement, I'm back. lol. Missed you. Let's goooo! As always: Get instant (free) access to all 600+ PhilosophersNotes AND all 50 Optimal Living 101

+1: The Flat Tire | And the Ultimate Question: What Do You Want? (#1261) Sep 17, 2020

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In our last couple +1s, we've been chatting about Trevor Moawad's wisdom on what he calls "neutral thinking." We started by hanging out with Russell Wilson en route to winning a Super Bowl. Then we visited the Johnson Ranch to discuss my relationship with our new chickens and their poop. (Yes, I can't get enough of those emojis…) So… The morning after that chat I had with Emerson about how to approach the chicken situation either negatively, positively, or neutrally, we were doing our family workout—which currently features me chasing the kids on their bikes as we have fun going around the 1/2-mile Trail-loop we created around our property. Only… This morning, Emerson's bike had a flat tire. He immediately started crying—super bummed he wouldn't be able to ride his epic lime green (lol) bike around the Trail as planned. So… I cruised over and said, "Buddy! Your tire's flat. That's a bummer. I get it. And.. Remember that chat we had last night about neutral thinking?" Emerson: "Yah." Me: "Well…. Let's get neutral! WHAT DO YOU WANT?" He said, "To ride my bike." I said, "Exactly. So what can we do to make that happen?" He said, "Get the bike pump and fill up the tire." I said, "Exactly." We cruised into the barn, found it. Pumped up the tire. The air surprisingly held. <- Boom. Done. Tire was filled. He was off to the Trail races. And, that's Today's +1. Got any metaphorical flat tires in your life? (Echo: Of course you do. You're human!) How are you reacting? Negatively? Positively? Neutrally? Back to Trevor: "That's neutral. Staying in the moment, giving each moment its own history, and reacting to events as they unfold. It takes away emotion and replaces it with behaviors. Instead of asking, 'How do I feel?' you should be asking yourself, 'What do I do?'" You can develop these skills if you're willing to let go of a few things. Negative, cynical thinking doesn't make you more realistic. It just makes you negative and cynical. Biased thinking doesn't help you either. You need to steer clear of your feelings and make an honest assessment of each situation you face. Don't worry about what you feel. Rely on what you know." Back to you. NEUTRAL thinking. It works. Try it. TODAY.

#1: Pause button, foolish consistency and WIN!! (#44) Sep 16, 2020

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Today we hit the pause button on the ol' #1s as it's taking a little more Energy + Focus than I'm willing to give it vis-a-vis my truly What's Important Now targets. I think I'll be back with these near the end of the year to make sure we're wrapping up 2020 with antifragile ferocity and getting ready to make 2021 THE Greatest Year of our Lives.

In the meantime, PNTVs every day thru end of year. And Top 3 kicking off October 1st. LET'S! DO!! THIS!!!

As always: Get instant (free) access to all 600+ PhilosophersNotes AND all 50 Optimal Living 101 classes AND 1,000+ Optimize +1s as part of our free 2-week trial: http://optimize.me/

+1: Your Stinkin' Thinkin' | Chickens, Poop, and Neutral Thinking (#1260) Sep 16, 2020

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In our last +1, we spent some more time with Trevor Moawad and explored some more wisdom from his great book, It Takes What It Takes. As you may recall, we chatted about neutral thinking. As Trevor says: "No matter where I work, the same truth keeps emerging. Neutral thinking is the key to unlocking a set of behaviors that can turn also-rans into champions and champions into legends." Today I want to bring that wisdom to life with a little personal example from the Johnson Ranch here outside Austin. So… As I was reading the book, I took a break and explained this idea to Emerson. Here's the example I used: Our chickens. And their poop. Quick context: As we've discussed, we just moved to the country. We got some chickens because we thought they'd be awesome. They are. The kids love them, etc. And... Those gals (and guy) sure know how to poop! And, they seem to especially love to do their work under our beautiful back patio where I often meditate in the morning as the sun's rising. Let's just say that the meditation scene is slightly less idyllic with the chicken poop wafting up. (Hah.) So… Back to the book. I told Emerson that the guy who wrote the book had a dad who was really into all this stuff and taught him a bunch when he was a kid. I smiled and rubbed his awesome little head as I imagined what HE might have to say in a few decades. Then we talked about the difference between negative thinking, positive thinking and neutral thinking. I gave him an example of my own negative thinking as it related to those chickens and their poop. (Note: That's always one of the best ways to deliver a message. Start with our own shortcomings—don't start with someone else's!) My negative thinking went something like this: "Those chickens!!! Their poop STINKS!! Why do they need to hang out under the porch and then poop where they hang out? I think we might want to find them a new home." (He might have heard me say something along those lines more than once in my less-enlightened moments, so the example was quickly understood. lol) Then I told him that the "positive" thinking would go something like this: "It's not so bad and the chickens are so great." He immediately knew that that simply wasn't honest and true and wouldn't be the optimal approach. Then I told him that neither of those approaches was as effective as NEUTRAL thinking. Neutral thinking would go something like this: "The chickens are pooping under the patio. It stinks. The kids love them and we need a better solution. So, let's limit their access to that location and figure out a poop control protocol. Next step: Order some chicken wire for the bottom of the patio and install it." <- Boom. Done. Emerson got it immediately. And, he still has his chickens. Today's +1. Got any chicken poop in your life? If you feel so inspired, let's run it through a quick analysis. What's the negative thinking you might be running on it? How about the positive thinking? And what about the neutral thinking? All of which leads us back to Trevor's dad. You know what he taught him as a kid? To get rid of the "stinkin' thinkin'." Let's do that. TODAY. (And, please wish me luck with the chickens. lol)

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