Do you experience Disconnected Happiness?

Alchemy For Life

#Society #Philosophy #Business #Mental Health #Fitness #Im On #Author Mark Bradford #Entrepreneur

21:04

Step into the mysterious and visually stunning world of The Electric State as host Francesca Amiker takes you behind the scenes with the creative masterminds who brought Simon Stålenhag’s dystopian vision to life. In this premiere episode, directors Joe and Anthony Russo, stars Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and producers Angela Russo-Otstot and Chris Castaldi reveal how they transformed a haunting graphic novel into an epic cinematic experience. Watch The Electric State coming to Netflix on March 14th. Check out more from Netflix Podcasts . State Secrets: Inside the Making of The Electric State is produced by Netflix and Treefort Media.…

год назад 11:49

MP3•Главная эпизода

A tale of disconnected happiness or Benign Violation Theory.

Allow me to tell you a tale of disconnected happiness. Perhaps you can relate?

Helpful related (or referenced) episodes:

Have something to say? Come talk about it on Patreon.

The post Do you experience Disconnected Happiness? first appeared on Alchemy For Life.

250 эпизодов

Alchemy For Life

Do you experience Disconnected Happiness?

Alchemy For Life

published год назад

MP3•Главная эпизода

A tale of disconnected happiness or Benign Violation Theory.

Allow me to tell you a tale of disconnected happiness. Perhaps you can relate?

Helpful related (or referenced) episodes:

Have something to say? Come talk about it on Patreon.

The post Do you experience Disconnected Happiness? first appeared on Alchemy For Life.

250 эпизодов

#Society #Philosophy #Business #Mental Health #Fitness #Im On #Author Mark Bradford #Entrepreneur

All episodes

Alchemy For Life

1
Intellectual Injury—what the heck is that? 11:06

3 дня назад11:06

11:06

I like to apply analogical reasoning, You can call it conceptual metaphors. And if both of those are confusing, how about applying the concept of one domain to another. Still confused? For example, we talked about liminal spaces which don’t look or sound right. But you can then take that into the emotional domain and talk about things like a bride on the night before her wedding, or how it feels to be in a doctor’s office waiting room. Physical Injury When you receive a physical injury, you: Assess what caused it Give TLC to that area. Build it back up and then some to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Emotional Injury We do the same for emotional injuries. We figure out what caused it, why it hurt so badly, and then we build it up by toughening up our metaphorical skin, or addressing the thing that causes it to hurt. Intellectual Injury But what about intellectual injury? Is that even a thing. Well it is now, and let’s talk about it, and why it might be the most important one. The post Intellectual Injury—what the heck is that? first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
Old Photos and Robots 15:55

10 дней назад15:55

15:55

You are living in an era that is coming to an end. There was a time when all pictures were in black-and-white because that was the technology we had. Most people were fit, and men typically wore suits even at baseball games. Then pictures, had color, but it was of a not true to life color with a look that was overly warm with lots of reds and browns. Then we had more color accurate images and what was in the picture changed a bit. Then we moved into the realm of digital high resolution images, and we started to see things like mass produced electric cars, drones, e-bikes, and two wheeled hoverboards We are leaving that era. We are moving into an era in which—like the pictures of old—we will be able to tell when the picture was taken just by what is not in the images. Let’s talk about that and do a bit of time traveling… to the year 2025. The post Old Photos and Robots first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
The pleasure principle and a new book 7:47

17 дней назад7:47

7:47

I have a new book coming out. it’s my 10th, and it’s based on my take on the pleasure principle and what I believe is a layer just above it. It’s what allows us to accomplish things that others do not. It’s what prevents us from doing things that we think we should be able to. It’s that nagging, (usually invisible thing) that we keep running into. It’s what allows top performers to be top performers. It’s what will get you out of your slump. You’ll be shocked at what I’ve discovered and developed. If you want to apply to be a Beta Reader and read the book before everyone else in exchange for your feedback and honest review, go to my patreon . The post The pleasure principle and a new book first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
What I learned writing a screenplay 11:36

4 weeks назад11:36

11:36

(and how it might help you tell your own story) Telling a story in an unfamiliar medium with constraints you’re not accustomed to is a common theme in business. You may be the best story teller in your circle/medium/genre but if you need to tell your story outside of that it can be a challenge, a learning experience, overwhelming or all three. Here’s my experience in writing the screenplay for The Sword and the Sunflower and how it might help you tell your story in an unfamiliar medium. Book vs. screenplay A book is a self-contained personal connection between you and the reader. It allows you to intimately tell a story, brain-to-brain. There’s nothing in the way other than rules of style, fonts, the reader’s imagination, your ability to tell a story, etc. Little things like that. But overall it’s a straightforward medium for those that enjoy exploring it. You as the author have the ability to focus on whatever you deem important, with no constraints. If a brief moment in time that lasts only a few seconds is vital to understanding a character then you can spend pages upon pages dissecting, explaining, and experiencing. The length of your novel is not predetermined. Yes, there is an accepted minimum for word/page count and a realistic maximum due to physical limitations for a book, but if it’s too short it becomes a novella or a short story. If it’s too long it becomes a duet, a trilogy, or a series. Your style is yours—that is, while adhering to the elements of style, grammar, etc. My approach to dialogue is fairly unique and is a direct product of my reverence for it. But the reader can switch from your unique style to another author’s style. They may enjoy a story but really like the writing style. The opposite can also be true. The Sword and the Sunflower – a quick recap After writing for nonfictions I took a walk in a cemetery and had an unusually clear mind. There was not going to be a ‘next book’ but just a break from the writing. Then I heard the voices. not the voices of the dead, but the voices of a conversation between two people. I played it out and was really inspired. I hoped to see “that movie” one day but realized there was no such movie. The I realized I had to write it myself. I ran home, and wrote a poem, and this poem because the outline of the book. The Sword and the Sunflowe r is actually a duet (two books) with a third as a prequel explaining what happened in 1,000 years. The screenplay One of the most common comments I’ve received for The Sword and the Sunflower is that “this should be a movie.” I’d like to think it’s because of the vivid descriptions, the attention to realistic dialog, and the emotionally impactful settings. Maybe people just want that medium instead. A medium I’m unfamiliar with. So I decided to see what it would take to write the screenplay for at least the first book. This is where I experienced the confusion, the learning curve, the overwhelming sense of not getting it right, and slammed hard up against the very real constraints that a screenplay has over a manuscript. Unlike a book Unlike a book, there is a very real limit on how many pages a screenplay can be. Unlike a book, you are not free to just describe anything and everything you want to describe to insure that your audience gets it. Unlike a book, you don’t get to narrate to your audience (yes there are movies with narration but most are not done well and can take away from the story). In a book, the description of the character is controlled by you, but more so by the imagination of the audience. I’ve been told many times by readers who should play Stojan or Anastazja and the actors they choose look or behave nothing like them. But that was their imagination and experience. Unlike a book, you are not talking to your audience at all, but instead to someone else. They in turn will speak to your audience on your behalf and introduce their own style, perceptions, strengths and weaknesses. In a fiction book I can point your attention to a certain thing, place, scene or person’s face. If I try to do that in a screenplay it becomes something else—a spec script. And directors aren’t keen on you telling them what to do (unless you’re a screenwriter hired by them, and in many cases they do their own screenplays). So you write a screenplay, in the only acceptable font, with the only acceptable line spacing, with the only acceptable tags and formatting and stay within the page limit, and leave a lot up to the imagination of the director, you trust that they will see your vision. The lesson I learned If that last line sounds a little familiar it’s because that’s what we have to do sometimes with our plans and our vision—we hand it off to someone and trust that it will be handled the way we would handle it. This is one of the biggest pitfalls of both creatives and solopreneurs—being able to let go of something enough to allow others to handle it. it applies to marketing, sales, distribution and more. Let’s talk about this in the podcast, and afterwards we can chat more on Patreon . If you’d like to get your own copy of The Sword and the Sunflower it’s available as an kindle, ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook. You can read reviews on Amazon as well as on the reviews page of MarkBradford.org As far as the movie, you’ll have to wait and see… The post What I learned writing a screenplay first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
Teacher, Teach Thyself 11:04

5 weeks назад11:04

11:04

Q&A and the answer (That’s so meta) Have you ever helped a friend who has a question or a conundrum, and the answer was so obvious to you that you easily spelled it out for them? You felt pretty smart. You noticed at some point that when you’ve had issues you turn to others for answers and you realize thatr you also could have come up with the solution? You have a “Well duh, I know that” moment. You think “Why can’t I do that for me?” That’s what this episode is about. Highlights: Question vs. Answer Mode – People think more clearly when answering for others because they’re emotionally detached. But why are they emotionally detached? Limbic System – When the problem is personal (even if it’s a decision) it triggers emotions—fear, uncertainty, doubt , etc. which makes the process more difficult Frontal Cortex Role – Your frontal Cortex is what handles logic and reason—without the aforementioned. Mindfulness – I don’t know what you think of when you hear ‘mindfulness’ but for me it’s nothing absolutely definable. However, being mindful of your current conundrum can shift the processing from the limbic to your frontal cortex. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can also help with this. Being ‘professional’ – Professions like surgeons, pilots, and investors train people to use logic under stress. Let’s talk about this concept so you get to know your hardware, and perhaps better understand its use. And we’ll talk about how being coached allows you to automatically benifit from the best of this concept—if done correctly. Join us on Patreon to talk about this! Citations: Bechara A, Tranel D, Damasio H. Characterization of the decision-making deficit of patients with ventromedial prefrontal cortex lesions. Brain. 2000 Nov;123 ( Pt 11):2189-202. doi: 10.1093/brain/123.11.2189. Erratum in: Brain. 2009 Jul;132(Pt 7):1993. PMID: 11050020. Rosenbloom, M. H., Schmahmann, J. D., & Price, B. H. (2012). The Functional Neuroanatomy of Decision-Making. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 24(3), 266–277. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.neuropsych.11060139 The post Teacher, Teach Thyself first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
Do you experience Disconnected Happiness? 11:49

6 weeks назад11:49

11:49

A tale of disconnected happiness or Benign Violation Theory. Allow me to tell you a tale of disconnected happiness. Perhaps you can relate? Helpful related (or referenced) episodes: The holy Grail of positivity bias Throwing away the container Benign Violation Theory Have something to say? Come talk about it on Patreon . The post Do you experience Disconnected Happiness? first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
Dramaturgy, Role Theory and Modes 10:25

7 weeks назад10:25

10:25

Modes What mode are you in right now? You may intuitively know exactly what I’m talking about. Ever interrupt a conversation and the person changes their conversation style/demeanor? That’s an example of someone switching modes. Are modes just putting a mask on, or being disingenuous? No, like so many things in experimental psychology, I look at it like a program, or a template being overlaid because it is appropriate and useful. Like multitasking , switching modes can cause the expenditure of energy. It is more useful and more efficiant to stay in a mode for a longer period of time. What does a mode look like? Think parent, manager, salesperson, CEO, husband, supportive friend, success-minded accomplice, etc. And engaging one of the modes in the wrong setting can be confusing, detrimental or even worse (drinking buddy mode at the CEO round table is not a good idea). Overlap But there is overlap, and the overlap is what we are even when a mode is applied. This may sound similar to finding your core directives, which is discussed in the my upcoming book. When you figure out your core you figure out quite a book. Let’s raise your awareness of this concept, and give us something to think about. The post Dramaturgy, Role Theory and Modes first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
Manuel Rendon of Timeplast and 4d programmable matter 54:49

8 weeks назад54:49

54:49

Meet Manuel Rendon , certified polymer science inventor and CEO of Timeplast, Inc . My first interview episode of 2025. Manuel joins the ranks of Scott Adams , the late John McAfee and others. 4d matter In the world of plastics, everything pretty much repels water. But what if you could create a plastic that truly dissolves in water quickly, leaves no forever chemicals, and is programmable? Oh, and it’s already readily available to the public. This is what Manuel and Timplast have created, and he has the patents and the materials to prove it. Here are the seven patents for Manuel Rendón with links to their respective pages: US Patent 9181412 : Composition for the degradation of plastic US Patent 10954354 : Upcycling process for unsorted waste stream US Patent 11639424 : Extrusion process of a manufacturing system for plastic US Patent 10967470 : Degradable plastic composition US Patent 11390532 : Method for manufacturing a plastic product with a reduced environmental impact US Patent 11634782 : Process for recycling mixed plastic waste US Patent 11620641 : Additive for reducing the environmental impact of plastic products You can click on each link to view the full patent details. They’ve created a substance that’s available for those, like me, who are 3d printing technology evangelists. By adjusting the thickness in various ways, you can ‘program’ the object to dissolve on a schedule that you determine. Imagine water bottles that you toss into a lake, and they completely dissolve. What about a plant waterer that waters on a schedule? Biomedical products? Labels on food containers that degrade and warm of spoilage? Sometimes when you print a 3d printed object (like my psych charms ) it has features that the printer cannot create without the help of a support. Think of a scaffolding holding up an overhang, or the outstretched arms of a statue. You can print the supports in the same plastic, or with special support material (if you are lucky enough to have multiple printing heads. But you then still have to break it away carefully, and then sand out the edges. But with Timeplast, you just submerse your model in water and only the supports dissolve. There is support material like this already, but it does not dissolve in the same way. Note that Timeplast’s goal is mass production in traditional ways, but makes the time-mass available to small hobbyists in the form of Timeplast also produces a device that essentially breaks down anything you put into it (except for mundane commercial plastics—with nothing but water. It is called the Pabyss ™ (as in Plastic Abyss). I’m hoping Timeplast will take my suggestion and rename it the Molecular Disintegrator because I cannot imagine anyone (especially tech-savy nerd dudes) who wouldn’t want to say they own a Molecular Disintegrator™. Join us Join my fascinating discussion in which we cover everything from 3d printing to the Cardeshev scale, the saving humanity to contacting Elon Musk about joining forces to create a better world for us all. If you are into 3d printing and didn’t know this was available, or are concerned about the environment and want to learn that there is a realistic, provable solution, or just want to hear my chat with a dual-brained inventor (who happens to be the CEO of a company creating IP that makes Netsle pay attention), give this a listen. A note about the video The select clips from the video interview are available on Patreon (it’s free). You can go there to discuss. The audio (as usual) episode is available here, and wherever you listen to podcasts (iTunes, Spotify, etc.) References : How much real estate do you have in the 4th dimension? Three voices Episode | Three Voices Book Manuel’s video on contacting Elon Musk Social media for Timeplast https://www.facebook.com/TimePlastOfficial https://www.instagram.com/timeplastusa https://youtube.com/@timeplastinc The post Manuel Rendon of Timeplast and 4d programmable matter first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
Most useful and helpful episodes of 2024! 12:12

9 weeks назад12:12

12:12

Welcome to 2025. As with last year, we are selecting the most helpful and useful episodes of the previous year. Of course I feel that all of the episodes are useful and helpful. Each one has a use, a point, and a tangible takeaway. Each one is a unique perspective on something you’re familiar with or a bringing to your attention of something you may not even be aware of. As they say, “It’s all good.” But here are the top episodes from the thirty three to choose from 2024—and the selection was very difficult. To choose the “top” you have to leave some out. Listen to this episode to hear a breakdown of each and why they were chosen. Live Your Life Iteratively A Strength Stretched too far Becomes a Weakness How Much Real Estate do You Own…in the 4th Dimension? Too much power to something via label Forced to be an Emergency Responder and Love Bombing Engagement Fiction for Your Type A Brain Feeling Safe & Relaxed – Parasympathetic Nervous System All of the Charms episodes – Anxiety, ADHD, OCD, Depression & Suicide, Systems Thinking * Do you have a favorite episode from 2024 that didn’t appear here? Let us know. *Did you know that Psych Charms/States of being episodes automatically appear on the charms page in addition top being listed on the episodes and ALL episodes page? The post Most useful and helpful episodes of 2024! first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
Resolutions—what works and what doesn’t 12:34

10 weeks назад12:34

12:34

Resolutions—what works and what doesn’t and why. It’s really important that you don’t repeat the same things that didn’t work last time. You want to make this time to be different. Levels As we mentioned in the Labels episode, we like to label things because it’s a shortcut. And that can make you dumber or smarter. It can also give too much power to the thing . And it’s that last point we’re discussing today—the power you give new years resolutions and the “beginning” of a new year. The new ‘start.’ [INSERT YEAR] is going to be different and I will [INSERT ACCOMPLISHMENT]. OK. The difference. Resolutions are good for one-off actions. They are good for things you want to do or not do and declare. Things like these: I’ll stop eating everything on my plate just because it’s there I will always switch the laundry to the dryer the same day I wash them I will always load the dishwasher I will always tell my kids/spouse I love them every day I will stop eating so fast I will always try to find at least one nice thing to say about everyone I’ll never let the gas tank go below 50% I will speak up when someone upsets me No more phone in bed I will read 30 pages a day Etc. These are “one off” kind of things you just remember to do. But even these are probably indicative of a higher issue, a system that is in place . The eating everything may be due to guilt you have about food which stems from something else and is causing other actions that are unfavorable. The not switching could be due to not focusing, or prioritization, or the dreading of the folding. The phone in bed may be a missing comfort due to lack thereof in your life (which could be a huge issue of self-care ), or a lack of fun (again self-care), or a replacement activity (replacing what you should be doing) or a deflection of sleep which means a delay in bringing forth tomorrow. Let’s talk about the difference, what works, what doesn’t, which are part of a system. And let’s help you make the ones that work. And if you want more thorough, hands-on work to see what systems are in place that these resolutions reveal, reach out for a free no-obligation chat to see if the Alchemy for Life™ coaching system is a fit for you. Supporting episodes: If you use them you’ll get smarter (or dumber Too much power to something via label Dread Selfishness Demystified Self Love and Self Care Revisited The post Resolutions—what works and what doesn’t first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
Depression and throwing away the container 15:22

12 weeks назад15:22

15:22

This is a separate article that goes with this podcast episode. it is not a transcript but rather an alternate summary of what the episode is about. NOTE : Depression, and worse (the meaning of “throwing away the container”) is a delicate subject. The truth is that all mental health is a delicate subject, as is the psyche that we all possess and protect—voluntarily or otherwise. This is the fourth recording of this episode. Though I am no stranger to re-recording (I tend to re-record vs. edit to maintain the right flow) I’ve never had to re-record this many times. My challenge was balancing staying near my self-imposed 10-minute limit, sharing too much, treating the subject with the respect it deserves, and coming up with a meaningful, tangible take-away. And that’s why I recorded it four times. What is depression Depression comes in many forms, and as with many states of being, there is a spectrum. We are talking about sadness all the way to the ultimate sacrifice. It is a sadness, a despair, and worse. The reality of depression The reality is that there is a lot of confusion and frustration. There’s clinical depression—some of it caused by external forces. There is sadness, despair, and thoughts of throwing away the container (more on that later). These feelings, impulses, and desires can form a vicious circle of a downward spiral. See below. My experience with depression This is one of the reasons I recorded this four times. How much is TMI, and how much is enough to help someone? I have experienced depression—due to situational circumstances. I have some times said, “I am too happy of a person to feel this sad.” I’m sure I’m not the only one that has a baseline happiness that is pretty high. But sometimes things get tough. Sometimes there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. When you have a pain that is so great you make the leap of logic and understand that these bad feelings—along with the good ones—are all kept in the same vessel, or container. So, logically speaking, if you get rid of the container, you get rid of the bad feelings and the unbearable pains. The problem is that you get rid of the good stuff too, and the entire container. Expressing your state of depression to others is beyond taboo for some people and is usually met with a quick solution as if they are helping you with a math problem. Most people aren’t willing to experience that level of empathy because sometimes there isn’t a solution. They are too content in their own bubble. So you suck it up and attempt to persevere. And sometimes you just try to help others. The reality is that just googling the S word throws a phone number into your face. But what if you just want to see what level of these thoughts is “normal?” The system is so concerned with preventing this that there is no middle ground. I’ve said that it’s easier to get someone to talk you out of buying a boat than it is to talk to someone about the general concept of throwing away the container. And that’s all someone needs sometimes. So perhaps we should make this option just as available as the nuclear option. Coping with Depression Willing to throw out the container means you are willing to end it all to stop the pain. It’s logical—and you my not like that. But my counter-logic to that is equally absurd. If you’re willing to throw out the container for that reason, then why not do literally everything else to that end. Meaning, why not do a risk assessment, and do all the amazing things that risk throwing out the container? Think about it—jumping out of planes, performing dangerous jobs, going on adventures, literally saving the lives of others—all could result in the same end. But you get to experience all of those things. A sense of humor is one of the most powerful things you can have in your life. That, along with gratitude can really make a difference and not only break you from your downward spiral but can great the opposite. The upward spiral. It’s so easy to go on a downward spiral—wow, they really hate me let’s think of the 27 other people who probably don’t like me, or wow, that was horrible, what other horrible, unfair things have happened. But what about the opposite? If you’ve heard the episode on the holy grail of positivity bias then you know what I am talking about. It’s possible to create an upward spiral. Trust me. You’re that good. The Depression Charm As I said, this is coming full circle, because it was the symbol for suic*de that started me on the path. Since I disagree grammatically with what the symbol means, let alone the fact that I wanted to come up with original designs, let alone the fact that the people who created the original designs were rather litigious, I came up with my own design. This charm represents a sunset. But with all sunsets, it’s followed by a sunrise. In fact, if you take a picture of a sun and show it to someone, they will not be able to tell the difference between a sunrise and a sunset. Thus the meaning of the charm. The symbol can tell you what you think is a downward spiral may actually be an upward spiral, that the dark time will be proceeded by a time of light. Regardless of whether you grab a charm for yourself or others, just know that you are seen—especially in this middle-ground area. The holidays are a really tough time for more people than we realize. The tiniest act of validation can make all the difference in the world, and people in this state of being are not going to be broadcasting it to you. Or they did, a few times, and just gave up. Don’t give up on them. Resources : The NIMH page on depression The holy grail of positivity bias episode The post Depression and throwing away the container first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
Am I a systems thinker? 12:34

13 weeks назад12:34

12:34

Guess who has this one? 🙂 NOTE: As I’ve said before, these thirteen ‘states of being’ are not being looked at as an ‘ailment’ or a ‘disease’ or a disadvantage. Just as there are upsides to what some would consider a disability, there are downsides to what some would consider a superpower. What is Systems Thinking? Systems thinking is taking a step back and discovering, recognizing, and working within a system. It allows you to see above what others might see, to see the complex patterns in place, and even see the machinery making it all happen. The reality of being a Systems Thinker The reality of being a systems thinker is seeing the system in everything. Much like someone who has been intimately involved in a process, a sector, a business, an affiliation, you find difficulty in not seeing ‘behind the curtain.’ That can be a down side for some that find difficulty in turning the big picture off and enjoying the moment. The massive positive is in being able to accomplish things because you understand the system. You know that you can’t just jam something into a system and not understand that the thing as a whole is going to react. My experience with Systems Thinking Systems thinking is was enabled me to write my first book— The Status Game, once I entered the world of dating and dating sites. It helped me to discover what was in place and that allowed me to write the much-expanded sequel— The Status Game II (and the upcoming finale— The Status Game III: Beyond Status ). This also allowed me to create both a dating site from scratch as well as a card game. Thinking in systems allowed me to go on to create a coaching system. This involved two systems—one conceptually that showed that life is made of three things, and a programmatic system that handled working with clients to help them discover their own systems and make actual changes within that framework. When I started writing fiction it allowed me to see the three aspects of writing fiction that—when focused on properly—meant you’d never have writer’s block (and subsequently helped me to create both a seminar and a book-coaching process for aspiring writers). Coping with Systems Thinking As I said, when you have a behind-the-curtain 30,0000 foot view of things, you could potentially get lost in that view and be detached. Personally, I just find it fun and am more than happy to get lost in the moment. Being mindful in general and having gratitude can help you with that. Even being grateful that you can return to systems thinking if you want to jump out of the moment can paradoxically keep you in the moment. The Systems Thinker Charm I designed this one to look like a gear because a gear can remind us of all the gears involved in a system. People have said we are but a cog in the machine, with the cog being a gear and the machine being the system. Having this charm can remind you to focus on the system, in your business, your way of doing business, your way of connecting and helping. It can (as with the others) be a reminder that there is more than the system and that you may want to be in the moment a bit more. Alternate uses of the symbol: Being a gearhead. You like cars, you work on cars You’re a machinist and you live the physicality of actual machines You enjoy getting your hands dirty fixing things Building systems—mechanical, programatic or otherwise—is your thing As always, just know that you are seen. Take care. The post Am I a systems thinker? first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
The Silence of Success 11:14

14 weeks назад11:14

11:14

Social Media and You If you’re on social media, whether it’s the Boomers Gone Wild of Facebook, the Graphic (in many ways) Instagram , the Millennial-Controlled Tiktok or the ‘business-oriented’ Linkedin, you will see the kind of posts I’m about to talk about. Drawing a line in the sand… in your face Some people post things full of words—typically a graphic telling you in no uncertain terms a bit of advice. You will see these over and over again, and the more you read the more you’ll get the impression that they are not talking to you. They are talking to themselves. It’s like they are looking in the mirror talking to themselves and you are forced to sit on the toilet seat next to them and watch—over and over again. Two sides of the same coin If you are someone who posts things like this, I am not trying to diminish your enthusiasm. If you have read The Status Game II (or will read my upcoming The Status Game III – Beyond Status ) then you know that they most powerful emotion we can feel is validation. If you’ve listened to Stolen validation then you know what I am about to say. Stolen validation (I encourage you to listen to that episode). If you tell everyone you’re going to lose weight, then you’ll get kudos and pats on the back and bask in the warm and fuzzy validation. And then… nothing. Why? Because you’ve already received your kudos, so why even do it. You just stole the reward from your future self. Your Journey vs. The End Results It is far more satisfying to share the results of your journey—which can include the entire chronicled journey—rather than to attempt to chronicle the journey in real time. And I’d submit it’s far less risky. Because failing in private (and perhaps regrouping and trying a different attack) is less painful than failing in public—in real time. Those that are doing it just do it. Those that aren’t constantly post about it. So if you have a lot to say and want to impart wisdom, that’s one thing. But if you are shouting into the void when it’s actually your bathroom mirror please don’t make us sit on the toilet and watch you. Listen to the episode for the full conversation. This article is a summation for you. The post The Silence of Success first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
Deferred Gratitude and Exotic Cars 8:27

15 weeks назад8:27

8:27

Exotic Cars When people purchase exotic cars, they are sometimes hit with something called deferred maintenance . As with many car buyers, they see the value of purchasing a car used . The positive of that is that they get a car they want at a dramatically reduced price. The downside is sometimes that they hadn’t considered there might be deferred maintenance. Oops! There’s Deferred Maintenance With really expensive cars comes really expensive maintenance even down to just something as simple as oil changes and tire rotations can be shockingly expensive for those who have never owned an exotic car. And sometimes people own exotic cars, and realize they’ve spent the majority of their money on the car itself and don’t have a lot left over for the really expensive maintenance. So they skip it. And when they do that, the maintenance is deferred to the next person, which of course is the person purchasing it. All that time and they didn’t do it… 👀 Gratitude As I’ve mentioned in other episodes, gratitude is one of those rare things in life that really access an antidote to a lot of negativity. It’s the last thing you would think would work and yet it does. When you have times of sadness or hopelessness or things aren’t going your way or you feel that life is unfair, the last thing you think you should do is just become grateful for what you do have. It seems like a copout, but it’s not. It’s exactly what acts as a remedy in those cases. I rarely use this word because so many people do, but I find it to be quite powerful. A tree falling… If a tree falls in the woods and there’s no one there to hear it does it still make a sound? Well yeah that’s not how sound works. If you feel gratitude for someone does it still count? Of course it does. However, it has even more meaning if you share that gratitude with the person you have it for. A license to be grateful As I said in a number of episodes, you need to give yourself a license to write and be creative, instead of preventing yourself from doing so. The same applies to gratitude. We feel we have to wait for birthdays, Christmas Thanksgiving, or… worse. We don’t. We shouldn’t. I’m grateful for you—the person reading this or listening to my podcast. You spend your valuable time doing so. I’m grateful for those that give me feedback—whether its a review, or a comment, or a shoutout here or there. I’m grateful for a lot of things that I could share with you here but instead, you probably want to think of what you’re grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving to those that celebrate, wherever you are! Cheers! The post Deferred Gratitude and Exotic Cars first appeared on Alchemy For Life .…

Alchemy For Life

1
Time and energy = space 11:07

16 weeks назад11:07