Uptick

If you're a human, you've probably wondered (at least once) why you're here on this planet and what you should be doing with your time. Well, to make that thought experiment a little less daunting, we take a step back from the big question (What's my purpose?) and explore some easier ones. Oh, and the inventor whose name we couldn't remember was Dean Kamen (that will make sense once you listen). For more on finding your purpose, check out https://thinklikeamonkbook.com/.

This week, Clinton Kehr interviews Ryan for his show, The Liminal One Project. Clinton has been hosting the podcast since June 2018 with the mission of helping us manage the inevitable changes in our lives. For one of his final episodes, Clinton asks Ryan to share the lessons he's learned as a longtime listener. Be sure to subscribe to The Liminal One Project wherever you get your podcasts.

A positive mindset is fundamental to improving your life. And that's not magical fluff. Your reticular activating system (RAS) filters out irrelevant information before it ever reaches your conscious mind. That means a bad attitude makes opportunities for joy and growth de facto invisible. So how's your mindset? Let's find out with three simple questions you should answer today.

We've grown accustomed to routine injections and daily pills. But when we understand what's happening at the cellular level, these medications are nothing more than stimulus that our body responds to. Today, we explore non-synthetic stimuli that research is discovering are as powerful and effective as any pharmaceutical intervention (perhaps more so). Plus, self-empowerment by paying attention to biotech trends.

Face it. You're a marketer. As Seth Godin points out in his book, This Is Marketing, marketing is the act of making change happen. Simple as that. So unless you're completely content with how things are today, at this moment, you've got some marketing to do. So let's hop to it.

We tend to think of intelligence as static. Geniuses are born and the rest of us are doomed to watch them shine from high atop the bell curve. However, as our understanding of neuroplasticity advances, evidence suggests that certain cognitive functions, like memory, can be improved. Today, we introduce the Peg Method to help you remember your shopping list, presentation, or the U.S. presidents (in order!).

The vast majority of our actions are nothing more than a series of repeated behaviors (aka, habits). And where do habits come from? You guessed it: Mindset. The unrelenting critic between your ears, the one tasked with keeping you alive, is actually your worst enemy. That is, if you want to become the best version of yourself. Well, do you?

We all have our gloomy Eeyore friend, the one with a critical view of everything. Or how about that eternal optimist who always sees the bright side? What if these perspectives were as easy to change as a hat? Edward de Bono developed the Six Thinking Hats framework as a way to make better decisions. Harness your inner logician, empath, optimist, critic, and more to supercharge your thinking.

Life's most important lessons can't be learned once and for all. Today, we pick three out of the proverbial hat and discuss why they are as relevant today as in yesteryear. And perhaps most importantly, how we can refine our understanding of them by explaining them to the next generation (or at least try).

Throughout history, ordinary humans have shown how being around the right role model made all the difference in their trajectory. But it can be easy to lose sight of our vast potential. We need to actually see others model the behaviors we wish to adopt. Listen in as we discuss the importance of (and differences between) role models, coaches, and accountability partners.

If you're into personal development, chances are you have a goal you're planning to achieve. It may be to eat more healthfully, compete in a race, buy a new home, or strengthen your relationships. In this episode, we challenge you to look beyond your personal and professional goals to the ultimate responsibility we all have to act in love.

For many of us, failure is something to avoid at all costs. But did you know that Einstein accrued seven failed attempts at his theory of general relativity before succeeding in 1915? Edison is famous for this quip, "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work." The road to success is paved through failure. So let's change how we think about.

A term coined in 1956 by psychologist J.P. Guilford, divergent thinking has been found to improve mood and task performance. And it's even more important than IQ in determining your ability to be creative. But what is it? And how do I do it? We'll cover strategies and exercises you can use anywhere to start building your divergent thinking muscle.

"It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic...that form ever follows function." Louis Sullivan, famed architect, wrote these words in 1896. And while it is true that we can become what we do, it's important to maintain focus on your true worth and identity apart from your function in society. Inspired by Sabrina Orah Mark's essay in the Paris Review, we discuss embracing change and discovering yourself.

You may have heard life is like a garden. Well, it's true. And, like your life, well-planned gardens succeed more often than not. We talk about what to cultivate and what to uproot, and why you should want a thriving "garden" anyway.

Mastering your routines around certainty and uncertainty can make a massive impact when it comes to your creative projects. In this episode, we talk through why it's important to get a handle on the balance and discuss strategies we can all use to stretch ourselves creatively according to our tendencies around control and release. Join us!

Today we explore the stories we tell ourselves to keep ourselves locked into our old patterns around control and release. We also suggest ways to break out and embrace change.

Is discipline the key to happiness? Or is flexibility freedom? Whether you're a Tiger Mom or a Lucy Goosey, this episode can help you find your tendency and get started on a more balanced attitude.

We discuss the importance of finding a values-driven purpose behind your creation and talk through some concrete steps to find yours.

Why do we do the things we choose do to? Let's get behind the work and investigate your reasons for creating.

Some suggestions on how to analyze your media diet and recognize the impact it has on your output.

Why do we choose the content we choose to read, watch, or listen to?

Why is it important to notice our consumption? How does what we take in impact our creative expression? And why is UK chocolate so much better than US chocolate, anyway?