Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2913:

Marc Chernoff reminds us that our snap-judgments are often stories we invent, and that a smile can hide pain we'll never see. By dropping seven common assumptions about others and practicing empathy when people offend us, you'll communicate with more compassion, take less personally, and make choices that help you grow.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.marcandangel.com/2019/12/03/7-assumptions-we-need-to-stop-making-about-other-people/

Quotes to ponder:

"Just because someone isn't on your road, doesn't mean they are lost."

"Rarely do people do things because of us. They do things because of them."

"The way we treat people we strongly disagree with is a report card on what we've learned about love, compassion, kindness and humility."

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2912:

Nir Eyal explains why we break commitments even when we genuinely mean them: we're usually trying to escape discomfort, and distraction is the quickest exit. He shows how to manage internal triggers, protect time for traction with timeboxing, and reduce external triggers, then lock it all in with a meaningful "pinky promise" pact that makes follow-through non-negotiable.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.nirandfar.com/pinky-promise/

Quotes to ponder:

"The root cause of all human behavior is the desire to escape discomfort."

"The most effective technique for staying on track is timeboxing, planning out periods of time to do what you say you will each day."

"When I wanted to finish the first draft of my book Indistractable, I swore a pinky promise to my accountability partner that I would pay him $10,000 if I didn't finish the draft by my deadline."

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2911:

Dr. Diana Kirschner challenges the myth that love fades with age, offering empowering tools and inspiring real-life stories to prove that finding a soulmate in your 50s, 60s, or 70s is not only possible, it can be deeply fulfilling. Through affirmations, self-love practices, and mindset shifts, women are shown how to become visible, vibrant, and romantically unstoppable at any stage of life.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://lovein90days.com/can-you-find-your-soulmate-later-in-life/

Quotes to ponder:

"The biggest lie about age that women still believe is that men are not attracted to older women."

"Maybe, it's not so much about being a male or a female of a certain biological age. Maybe, it's more about finding the person who makes life a little easier, a little more fun, a little more meaningful."

Episode references:

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran: https://www.amazon.com/Prophet-Kahlil-Gibran/dp/0394404289

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2910:

Cara Harvey offers a refreshingly simple and grace-filled approach to surviving mornings as a sleep-deprived mom. By prepping breakfast options, using independent play through a morning basket, and assigning light chores, even to toddlers, moms can reclaim calm, reduce chaos, and build habits that benefit the whole household.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://apurposedrivenmom.com/morning-routine-sleep-deprived-moms/

Quotes to ponder:

"Morning basket is a tool you can use to help your mornings, not something else to keep up with!"

"This isn't complicated Pinterest craft time or super messy play. This is a great time for them to have an activity they can use their imaginations with so that you can get tasks done."

"Don't forget how powerful the small tasks can be and applaud yourself for taking a step!"

Episode references:

Baby Einstein (product site): https://www.kids2.com/collections/baby-einstein

Picasso Tiles: https://www.picassotiles.com

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2909:

Cara Harvey shares compassionate and practical advice for exhausted moms navigating chaotic mornings with little sleep. Drawing from her own struggles with postpartum anxiety and toddler sleep disruptions, she offers small, adaptable morning habits that help moms reclaim peace, productivity, and moments of self-care, without guilt or overwhelm.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://apurposedrivenmom.com/morning-routine-sleep-deprived-moms/

Quotes to ponder:

"Small tasks and habits you can add into your morning will make the rest of the day feel less overwhelming."

"I thought it made me look weak, I thought people would judge me or think I wasn't a good mom. If you're struggling, please go seek help and ask for what you need!"

"Don't feel like because you can't sit and binge an audiobook for 3 hours, those 5 minutes while you brush your teeth and wake up don't matter, because they do!"

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2908:

Sara Stanizai explores how extreme family dependency and codependent friendships often masquerade as closeness while masking deep dysfunction. She outlines clear signs to look for, like blurred boundaries, emotional fatigue, and unhealthy control, and offers tools like journaling, boundary-setting, and therapy to help you reclaim your autonomy and build healthier, more sustainable relationships.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.prospecttherapy.com/blog/2023/1/27/how-to-deal-with-extreme-family-dependency & https://www.prospecttherapy.com/blog/2023/1/20/part-1-spotting-codependency-in-friendships

Quotes to ponder:

"You can't choose your family. It's fair even to say that you can't choose what qualities and characteristics you inherit from your family."

"Dependency can take on a form of loving and passive behavior, but also anger and manipulation."

"Neither the victim nor the fixer are sustainable roles in a friendship."

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2907:

Shana Olmstead explores how setting compassionate, firm boundaries can radically improve emotional well-being and transform relationships, even the most complicated ones with children or parents. Learn how honoring your own needs not only liberates you from guilt and resentment, but also supports the growth of others by encouraging self-responsibility and mutual respect.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://shanaolmstead.com/2019/05/07/beautiful-beneficial-boundaries/

Quotes to ponder:

"Boundaries help relationships stay healthy."

"If you continue to sacrifice yourself too much in service of other people you aren't allowing yourself to grow and shine that beautiful light you have inside of you in order to help others."

"You can do this with love and compassion, but if you don't you will continue feeling resentful and that is not healthy for the relationship."

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 2906:

Rose Lounsbury reflects on the deeply ingrained habit of self-criticism and how it's often hidden beneath a polished exterior of achievement and productivity. By asking herself the deceptively simple question "Was I kind to myself?" each day, she reveals how cultivating self-compassion can radically transform how we define success and emotional well-being.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://roselounsbury.com/how-to-stop-being-mean-to-yourself/

Quotes to ponder:

"Being kind to myself is Good Day Metric #1 because it's the big daddy of them all, the one that I must do if I want any of the other ones to matter."

"Much of what people perceive as self-confidence in me is simply the clever way I've learned to deal with feelings of inadequacy."

"I've gotten so good at playing 'well functioning and successful adult' that I can even fool myself most of the time."