We explore the second agreement from The Four Agreements and show how not taking things personally creates real freedom. Personal stories, practical tools, and a clear path to separate identity from other people’s words and your own inner critic

• Why “not taking it personally” breaks hidden agreements
• Words as spells that bind or free
• The cost of praise and criticism when you cling to either
• Childhood labels shaping adult identity
• Reframing feedback as data not destiny
• Choice over suffering through clear, kind requests
• Building an inner citadel and observing thoughts
• Identity as cyclical and transitional
• A coaching tool: the inner board of directors
• A daily post-it practice to anchor the agreement

Zach will have in the show notes ways for you to get access to the book, as well as for you to communicate directly with us because it always helps us to hear as well. How are you living out loud these things that we’re sharing with you that we are?

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We unpack the first of The Four Agreements—be impeccable with your word—and show how language can free you from despair, gossip, and self-betrayal. Through stories, studies, and practical steps, we map a path from reactive speech to clear, kind, and effective communication.

• defining agreements as accepted beliefs that shape behavior
• why words are “magic” and how tone carries intent
• garden metaphor for thoughts as seeds and mind as soil
• stories on encouragement, silence, and lasting impact
• experiments on plants and water to illustrate inputs and outcomes
• giving precise feedback and choosing the right medium
• gossip as a virus and curiosity as the antidote
• aligning self-talk with truth and compassion
• adding a pause between emotion and speech
• starting with yourself, then shaping your culture

We are gifting free Agile Brain assessments till the end of the year—message us with no strings attached

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Connect with us on our LinkedIn page School of Thoughts . We also value your reviews, subscribing, and sharing our podcast "What's On Your Bookshelf?" on Apple and Spotify.

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We question the dream of society, how attention is trained by repetition, and why most of our beliefs were never chosen by us. We map the Judge and the Victim, explore fear versus love, and share practical ways to rewrite old agreements and reclaim energy.

• dreaming while awake and the dream of the planet
• attention as a spotlight that shapes belief
• domestication through punishment and reward
• cultural programming, normalizing and perspective shifts
• the book of law, the Judge and the Victim
• the cost of staying versus the risk of change
• moving from fear to love to conserve energy
• using neuroscience, gratitude and focus to rewire
• authenticity, masks and DISC awareness
• setting up new agreements for a personal heaven

Free agile brain assessments and discounted DISC assessments through the end of the year. Just reach out to us has ways for you to reach us in the show notes

Support the show

Connect with us on our LinkedIn page School of Thoughts . We also value your reviews, subscribing, and sharing our podcast "What's On Your Bookshelf?" on Apple and Spotify.

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We open a new arc with The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, shifting from a year of habits and happiness into a practice of inner freedom rooted in Toltec wisdom. The smoky mirror story sets our theme: clear the fog, see the light, and rebuild beliefs that actually serve.

• framing freedom as the progression after happiness and habits
• why Toltec roots and the smoky mirror metaphor matter
• decisions that pinch and how projection clouds advice
• images of light versus labels and roles
• polarization as fog and the role of attention
• how emotions shape thoughts, thoughts shape beliefs
• next steps into domestication and belief work
• plan to explore each agreement in depth

If you are interested in getting the book, Zach will have some links in our show notes for you
We hope that you will share these episodes with those that you think will get value from it as well

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Connect with us on our LinkedIn page School of Thoughts . We also value your reviews, subscribing, and sharing our podcast "What's On Your Bookshelf?" on Apple and Spotify.

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We pause between books to invite you to read with us and announce The Four Agreements as our next deep dive into practical personal freedom for work and life. We share why slow, deliberate reading changes behavior, and offer a complimentary Agile Brain assessment to support the journey.

• reason for a pause and invitation to catch up
• announcement of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
• link promise to buy from Amazon or Barnes & Noble
• personal freedom as a leadership cornerstone
• why ancient Toltec wisdom applies to modern work
• four agreements as a simple, durable framework
• reading slowly vs consuming summaries
• savoring lessons and implementing week by week
• year theme moving between modern and ancient ideas
• impact on community, family, and teams
• shoutouts to producers and contributors
• invite to binge past seasons and join the journey

To receive your complimentary Agile Brain assessment, send either of us a message saying you want the free Agile Brain assessment

Support the show

Connect with us on our LinkedIn page School of Thoughts . We also value your reviews, subscribing, and sharing our podcast "What's On Your Bookshelf?" on Apple and Spotify.

Subscribe to our new YouTube channel.

We map a four-sided pyramid of human needs—self, social, material, spiritual—and explore how foundations enable higher aims like purpose and transcendence. Research, culture, and real stories show why ethics, community, and conscious reflection turn values into action and bias into empathy.

• defining the four opposing life domains
• why foundations like safety and justice come first
• evidence from goal research and world cultures
• how self leads to social, then to spiritual
• in‑group bias, polarization and the contact effect
• ethics as the hinge between ideals and action
• integrating needs into a coherent life purpose
• practical steps to reflect, rebuild and align

Please get a copy of The Emotionally Agile Brain by Dr. JD Pincus. From now till the end of this calendar year, we’re gifting complimentary Agile Brain assessments, with optional deep dives with certified coaches.

Support the show

Connect with us on our LinkedIn page School of Thoughts . We also value your reviews, subscribing, and sharing our podcast "What's On Your Bookshelf?" on Apple and Spotify.

Subscribe to our new YouTube channel.

We trace how justice, ethics, and transcendence shape a meaningful life and why chasing happiness fails while purpose endures. JD Pincus shares research, history, and a practical tool to surface unmet needs and align action with values.

• defining the spiritual domain and why it matters
• rules to ethics to transcendence as a growth ladder
• evidence for principle-driven sacrifice across species and cultures
• history’s awakenings fueling social change and justice
• trauma’s link to purpose and giving
• the hedonic treadmill versus durable well-being
• moral gray areas, disgust, and context effects
• risks of ends-justify-means thinking
• AI, misinformation, and ethical decision-making
• how Agile Brain reveals unmet emotional needs
• applying insights at work and in life

For anyone listening today, we would love to give you a complimentary assessment from Agile Brain. For those that want to go even deeper, we can talk with people about having a discovery call on the assessment results with a certified coach
Make sure they can go to any online bookstore and Amazon to get The Emotionally Agile Brain

Connect with us on our LinkedIn page School of Thoughts . We also value your reviews, subscribing, and sharing our podcast "What's On Your Bookshelf?" on Apple and Spotify.

Subscribe to our new YouTube channel.

We explore why inclusion, connection, and recognition are the social motives that make work and life feel meaningful, and how loneliness quietly harms health, teams, and trust. Stories from reality TV to school lunchrooms reveal why sincere care and specific praise beat trophies every time.

• inclusion as the base of belonging
• connection deepening care and trust
• sincere recognition versus programs
• grief as real social pain in the brain
• loneliness risks and health impacts
• layoffs, survivor guilt, and community
• social media comparison and FOMO
• caring leadership, burnout, and loyalty
• moving from self to service and purpose

Friends, get this book, The Emotionally Agile Brain by Dr. JD Pincus. You can get it wherever you like to purchase your books online.

Connect with us on our LinkedIn page School of Thoughts . We also value your reviews, subscribing, and sharing our podcast "What's On Your Bookshelf?" on Apple and Spotify.

Subscribe to our new YouTube channel.