LH120 — Be Kind, Age Well Part 1
Karel and Paige welcome back the esteemed MJ Shaar, a returning guest, to delve into the fascinating realm of healthy aging. With extensive research under her belt, MJ unveils the intricate web of factors contributing to this concept. From genetics to lifestyle choices, she navigates through the realms of nutrition, exercise, sleep, love, relationships, self-perception, and finding purpose in life.
While the World Health Organization defines healthy aging in terms of functional ability and well-being in older age, MJ posits that it transcends mere absence of disease, encompassing physical, mental, and social well-being. She underscores the pivotal role of lifestyle choices in fostering longevity, resilience, and overall health.
Crucial elements for aging gracefully include maintaining proper nutrition, engaging in regular exercise to build muscle, ensuring adequate sleep, and nurturing strong relationships and social connections. MJ delves into the profound link between thoughts and biology, highlighting how kindness can elevate mood and give life a sense of purpose.
Throughout the discussion, MJ champions the significance of human connection, emphasizing the power of micro connections in fostering kindness. She explains the health benefits of these micro connections and advocates for embracing random acts of kindness. Furthermore, MJ underscores the importance of eye-to-eye contact in fostering genuine connection.
The episode concludes with a poignant reflection on how kindness serves as a cornerstone for aging well. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this enlightening discussion on Wednesday, March 13th, as Karel, Paige, and MJ delve deeper into the theme of "Be Kind, Age Well"
Quotes from this episode:
“No matter how much it gets abused, the body can restore balance. The first rule is to stop interfering with nature.” — Deepak Chopra
“Our thoughts are transferred into our biology, which means generosity, service, and altruism make us healthier from the inside out, all the while giving us more joy in life.” — Dr. Mark Hyman
Key Takeaways:
The Blue Zones study provides insight into the lifestyle factors that contribute to healthy aging, emphasizing the significance of diet, physical activity, social engagement, and a sense of purpose in promoting longevity and well-being.
Harvard's Grant Study on healthy aging underscores the pivotal role of maintaining strong and fulfilling relationships throughout life, highlighting that individuals with close social connections tend to lead happier, healthier, and longer lives.
Nourishing social connections and positive relationships are crucial for aging well, as they contribute to overall happiness and well-being.
Finding meaning and purpose in life is essential for aging well, as it provides a sense of fulfillment and direction.
Self-perception plays a significant role in how well we age, indicating that maintaining a positive outlook and mindset can have profound effects on our overall health and longevity.
Kindness is a powerful tool to boost mood, enhance meaning, and improve overall well-being, highlighting the importance of practicing kindness towards oneself and others.
Positive emotions and a sense of meaning are interconnected, suggesting that cultivating positivity and purpose in life can lead to improved health outcomes as we age.
Micro connections can have significant health benefits, emphasizing the importance of small, meaningful interactions in fostering well-being and social support.
Random acts of kindness can make a positive impact on others' lives as well as your own, demonstrating the ripple effect of kindness on overall happiness and community well-being.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
03:57 Defining Healthy Aging
08:22 The Importance of Lifestyle
12:10 Introduction to the Research of Healthy Aging
14:08 Factors for Aging Well: Food and Exercise
20:45 Factors for Aging Well: Sleep
27:00 Factors for Aging Well: Love and Relationships
30:04 The Impact of Relationships on Aging
32:45 The Role of Self-Perception in Aging
38:30 The Blue Zones and Aging Well
43:56 Finding Meaning and Purpose in Aging
49:25 The Power of Kindness in Aging
56:11 Conclusion
Please note: This podcast does not provide medical advice, only personal experiences, so please consult your doctor.
LH119 — Lifelong Learning
Karel and Paige devote this episode to discussing the importance of lifelong learning. Lifelong learning is defined as on-going, voluntary, self-motivated learning in the pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. In last week’s episode LH118 — Landing the Job, one of the recommendations was to further improve your skills. This episode expands on that recommendation and explores lifelong learning that is outside of career advancement and opportunities. Karel and Paige provide 11 recommendations for pursuing lifelong learning and highlight its benefits such as personal growth, staying relevant in a changing world, and making a positive impact.
Recommendations:
Identify Your Learning Style and How You Learn Best
Take Stock of Your Knowledge
Determine Where to Gain Knowledge
Use Google Search, YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, and ChatGPT
Utilize Local Libraries and Librarians
Read Books and Listen to Audiobooks
Watch Documentaries
Explore Educational Platforms
Consider Bootcamps
Pursue Formal Education and Continuing Education
Non-Obvious Ways of Learning
Quotes from the episode:
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." — Albert Einstein
“My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn’t prevent you doing well, and don’t regret the things it interferes with. Don’t be disabled in spirit as well as physically.” — Stephen Hawking
“You can’t let your failures define you. You have to let your failures teach you.” — Barack Obama
Key Takeaways:
Lifelong learning is essential for personal and professional growth, staying relevant in a changing world, and making a positive impact.
Identify your learning style and how you learn best to guide your learning journey.
Take stock of your knowledge and determine what you want or need to learn.
Explore various sources of knowledge, including libraries, books, documentaries, educational platforms, bootcamps, and formal education.
Apply and practice what you learn to deepen your understanding and make a positive impact.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:01 Quotes on Lifelong Learning
02:40 Defining Lifelong Learning
03:46 Recommendation 1: Identify How You Learn Best
05:22 Recommendation 2: Take Stock of Your Knowledge
06:26 Recommendation 3: Determine Where to Gain Knowledge
06:57 Recommendation 4: Use Google Search and YouTube
10:40 Recommendation 5: Utilize Local Libraries
12:17 Recommendation 6: Read Books and Listen to Audiobooks
15:10 Recommendation 7: Watch Documentaries
16:29 Recommendation 8: Explore Educational Platforms
18:31 Recommendation 9: Consider Boot Camps
21:27 Recommendation 10: Pursue Formal Education
23:33 Recommendation 11: Non-Obvious Ways of Learning
31:00 Benefits of Lifelong Learning
34:54 Conclusion
LH118 — Landing the Job
Many people are out of work right now, especially in the tech sector. Paige and Karel devote this episode to providing strategies on the entire journey of finding and then Landing the Job. This episode is an expansion of LH55 — Getting the Job where Karel mostly talked about the job interview. You can listen to that episode here.
Recommendations:
Read the job post and job requirements carefully.
Make sure you satisfy the basic requirements of the job.
Make sure your application clearly demonstrates your suitability.
Create multiple resumes, one for each particular job you’re applying for.
Ask a friend of ChatGPT to review your resume and ways to improve it.
Take the perspective of the hiring manager and organization executive.
Don’t unquestioningly follow advice being given (including this advice).
Continue to improve your skills and experience.
Consider creating your own job.
Quotes from the episode:
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." — Albert Einstein
“My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn’t prevent you doing well, and don’t regret the things it interferes with. Don’t be disabled in spirit as well as physically.” — Stephen Hawking
“You can’t let your failures define you. You have to let your failures teach you.” — Barack Obama
Key Takeaways:
Read and understand job postings to ensure you meet the requirements.
Tailor your resume to highlight relevant skills and experience.
Use generative AI to improve your resume and make it more compelling.
Take the perspective of the hiring manager, be respectful of their time by making your communications succinct.
Prepare for video interviews and show up well on camera.
Continuously improve your skills and experience to increase your chances of landing a job.
Consider creating your own job or exploring alternative work options.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:43 Insightful Quotes
02:00 Learning from Failures
03:46 Taking a Different Perspective
05:48 Recommendation 1: Read the Job Posting and Requirements
08:40 Recommendation 2: Satisfy the Job Requirements
10:08 Recommendation 3: Clearly Demonstrate Suitability
10:50 Recommendation 4: Tailor Your Resume
12:49 Recommendation 5: Use Generative AI or Ask a Friend
15:12 Recommendation 6: Take the Perspective of the Hiring Manager
23:50 Recommendation 7: Don’t Unquestioningly Follow Advice
27:04 Recommendation 8: Improve Your Skills and Experience
30:12 Recommendation 9: Create Your Own Job
36:26 Conclusion
LH117 — Passion Struck: John R. Miles
In this episode Karel and Paige chat with John R. Miles about his brand new book ‘Passion Struck’. The book outlines his 12 step framework to live a life that truly matters in three sections: Mindset Shifts, Behavior Shifts, and The Psychology of Progress. The steps involved in Mindset Shifts are summarized with some of these wonderfully memorable names: the Mission Angler, Mosquito Auditor, Fear Confronter, and Action Creator. The second section of the book goes through Behavior Shifts including: the Anxiety Optimizer, Originality Embracer, Boundary Magnifier, and Conscious Engager. The third and final section of the book details The Psychology of Progress also known as taking action. In this final section John focuses on taking action, not only talking the talk but also walking the walk and leading with intentional actions to make progress towards becoming ‘Passion Struck’.
John R. Miles is a leading authority on intentional behavior change, personal growth, and mattering. He’s a celebrated leader, keynote speaker, and the host of the award-winning podcast “Passion Struck with John R. Miles”. With over two decades of corporate and military leadership experience, he’s the trusted advisor who is sought after by some of the world’s most prominent companies and visionary entrepreneurs. He has been instrumental in generating billions in sales and advising multiple unicorn startups.
John’s true passion lies in guiding individuals to live a passion-struck life in every facet. He developed ‘Passion Struck’ out of the desire to create an impact by educating people on how to live a life that truly matters. One where they live better, be better, and positively impact the world.
Quotes from this episode:
“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” — Henry David Thoreau
"Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you." — Oprah Winfrey
"What is defeat in life? It is not merely making a mistake; defeat means giving up on yourself in the midst of difficulty. What is true success in life? True success means winning in your battle with yourself. Those who persist in the pursuit of their dreams, no matter what the hurdles, are winners in life, for they have won over their weaknesses." — Buddhist Philosopher Daisaku Ikeda
Key Takeaways:
Living a life of quiet desperation is a common experience for many people, but it is possible to break free from this and live a passion struck life.
Passion Struck is a state of existence where your actions, intentions, and aspirations are deeply infused with an unwavering dedication to personal excellence and self-actualization.
The Passion Struck framework consists of 12 steps that guide individuals in becoming passion struck, including mindset shifts, behavior shifts, and deliberate action.
Identifying and dealing with human mosquitoes, negative influences in your life, is crucial for personal growth and success.
Core values play a significant role in living a passion struck life and making a positive impact on the world.
The Passion Struck framework is applicable to anyone, regardless of gender or race, who wants to live a more fulfilling and purposeful life.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:01 Favorite Quotes
03:00 Living Lives of Quiet Desperation
05:54 What is Passion Struck?
07:53 John R. Miles's Career Journey
09:52 The 12 Steps of the Passion Struck Framework
17:37 Human Mosquitoes
21:58 Core Values
26:18 Gender Differences and Risk-Taking
29:43 Startups and Taking Action
36:58 Why Adopt the Passion Struck Framework?
40:53 Conclusion
LH116 — Resilience with Mandy Kloppers
In this episode Karel and Paige welcome back, by popular demand, Mandy Kloppers. Mandy has been on the podcast 7 times sharing her insight as a psychologist and cognitive behavioral therapist. In previous episodes Mandy talked with Karel about self-confidence, relationships and mindfulness to name a few of the topics (Please see the bottom of the show notes to listen to past episodes with Mandy). In those episodes Mandy spoke with Karel through the lens of a psychologist and therapist. But in this week's episode Mandy shares with us how she applies the same techniques she teaches her clients in her own life. What you may not know about Mandy is that she has, and continues to live with chronic illnesses in addition to facing many serious health challenges all throughout her life. Mandy talks to us about how she is able to live a fulfilling life and maintain a positive attitude despite her significant health challenges. We often hear from psychologists and therapists discussing these techniques, however, the impact of hearing how Mandy implements these techniques in her own life with great success in addition to her experience as a psychologist and cognitive behavioral therapist is second to none. This is an inspiring episode with amazing insight on how to harness the power of your mindset in order to stay positive and hopeful in the face of life's many adversities.
Quotes from this episode:
“You either get bitter or you get better. It’s that simple. You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you.” – Josh Shipp
“The truth is we’re all a little bit broken. We must learn to love the broken pieces of ourselves—be gentle and empathetic with ourselves and others.” — Karen Salmansohn
“If opening your eyes, or getting out of bed, or holding a spoon, or combing your hair is the daunting Mount Everest you climb today, that is okay.” — Carmen Ambrosio
Please note: This podcast does not provide medical advice, only personal experiences, so please consult your doctor.
LH115 — Life Habits 2.0
Karel is thrilled to welcome Paige Heron to the Life Habits podcast as the executive producer and co-host. We discuss the need for the change, how the idea for Version 2.0 came about, and the rationale for the changes we’re making.
We also detail what those changes are. Changes include our brand new website www.lifehabitspodcast.com where you can find all of the Life Habits Podcast episodes and show notes, our updated purpose and tagline, a place to sign up for our newsletter, a brief introduction to the two of us, how to get in touch with us, and everything else you need to know about the podcast.
We hope that you’re as excited as we are for the new and improved Version 2.0 of the Life Habits podcast.
LH114 — Coping with Adversity
My guest for this episode is Paige Heron. I’ve tried to get her on this podcast for a long time to discuss a number of different topics but we landed on a topic that has been and continues to be central to her life, chronic illness, and it’s something that many people don’t understand, especially what is essentially an invisible illness. I too knew very little about the experience of dealing with a chronic illness initially but accompanying Paige to various medical appointments, reading about her conditions, and most importantly listening to her provided me a deeper insight into her experiences and how best to support her. That’s what we discussed during this episode.
We delve into Paige’s early life, the physical changes she experienced, her experiences with the medical profession, and we discuss what to do if you have similar experiences or if someone you love does, making sure to seek out appropriate medical expertise and guidance.
Quotes from this episode:
“No other disease in the history of modern medicine, has been neglected in such a was as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome” — Professor Rodney Grahame
“Every EDS patient knows that one of the hardest parts of our day is the moment we open our eyes and waken into the reality of our bodies, stirred from dreams of ourselves as we used to be, and the futures we imagined we’d have.” ― Michael Bihovsky
“When you are frustrated with me because of the things I can not do…
…Just imagine how frustrated I must be because I’m not able.” — Count My Spoons
Links from this episode:
LH113 — Career Transitions: Part 3
Karel continues on with his leveling up series focussing on career transitions. He is again joined by Renee Albert and Herman Colquhoun. In Part 1 of the interview in the LH111, Renee and Herman describe their early lives and their educational journeys together with the pivots each took and the insights they gleaned from the experience. This Part 2 gets into their actual career trajectories and also their involvement in the IBM Racial Equity in Design movement. In this Part 3 we get into what sorts of things talented and successful professionals like Renee and Herman do in addition to their days jobs.
LH112 — Career Transitions: Part 2
Karel continues on with his leveling up series focussing on career transitions. He is again joined by Renee Albert and Herman Colquhoun. In Part 1 of the interview in the LH111, Renee and Herman describe their early lives and their educational journeys together with the pivots each took and the insights they gleaned from the experience. This Part 2 gets into their actual career trajectories and also their involvement in the IBM Racial Equity in Design movement. We’re planning a Part 3 which will get into what sorts of things talented and successful professionals like Renee and Herman do in addition to their days jobs.
LH111 — Career Transitions: Part 1
Karel continues on with his leveling up series and this time focusses on career transitions. He is joined by Renee Albert and Herman Colquhoun discussing their fascinating and successful careers. We had so much to talk about so this episode, Part 1, focusses on the education journey. Part 2 will dig into the working journey and additional topics too.
LH110 — Leveling Up: The Connections Cure
Karel is again joined by popular guest Marie-Josėe Shaar (MJ) for this the second instalment in the Leveling Up series with this episode focusing on The Connections Cure.
LH109 — Leveling Up
Karel’s back with more episodes! In fact, he has a whole new series called Leveling Up. The series takes the topics you’ve learned to date to a whole new level and a set of new topics too.
LH108 — Checking-in to Stay the Course
This is the third episode in the “Checking-in” series focused on coping during the pandemic. Karel devotes this episode on providing ideas to help you stay the course during this long-running pandemic.
LH107 — Checking-in on Mental Health
Karel is joined by UK Psychologist Mandy Kloppers to discuss mental health during this difficult period of a pandemic and social unrest and to discuss a variety of approaches to coping given different situations and circumstances.
LH106 — Check-in - Working from Home
With the overall series tagline for all these years being “staying sane in a crazy world”, Karel was inspired to start record episodes again with a collection of Check-in episodes to help listeners deal with and cope during the Coronavirus pandemic. This, the first in the collection, provides advice on working from home.
LH105 — Exploring the World
Karel continues his occasional series of episodes on major life changes, this time focusing on exploring the world. His guest is Kate Paddison who is currently in Melbourne, Australia. She describes her decision to buy a one-way ticket and explore the world.
LH104 — Innovation by Design
Karel devotes this episode to the design methods and tools now available to everyone in order to innovate on products, services, and really anything anyone wants to improve. He summarizes his seven habits of highly effective design thinkers.
LH103 — Career Pivots
Here’s another in the occasional series of episodes on major life changes. This episode focusses on career pivots, that is major career changes, and discusses insights, lessons learned, and advice from someone who has recently gone through this. Karel is joined by Lendy Krantz who is currently Director of Operations and Strategy at WeWork in New York City.
LH102 — All You Need is Love
Karel is again joined by Marie-Josée Shaar as they both explore an extension to Marie-Josée's Sleep, Food, Mood, and Exercise theme by focusing on mood and the quality of relationships yielding love, caring, and connectedness.
LH101 — Creating Your Own Job
This is the first of an occasional series of episodes on major life changes. This episode Karel deals with the topic of creating your own job and he's joined by Chui Chui Tan from Bristol, England who details her story of quitting her job of many years to start her own company.