Organizational psychologist and bestselling author, Benjamin Hardy, discusses regaining control and 10X-ing success, reflecting on growth and success, using a future goal as a filter, and challenges in adopting and having twins through IVF.
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Quick takeaways
Regularly reflecting on personal growth and progress can increase psychological flexibility and foster transformative growth.
Understanding and emotionally connecting with the future self allows for increased psychological flexibility and openness to new possibilities.
Setting highly ambitious goals challenges current assumptions, filters out unaligned actions, and promotes psychological flexibility.
Redefining success based on evolving priorities and values, and actively filtering out actions that don't meet the new standard, contribute to psychological flexibility and personal growth.
Deep dives
Developing Psychological Flexibility for Personal Growth
Psychological flexibility is crucial for personal growth and development. It involves reframing your past and future selves to create a more powerful present. To develop this flexibility, one can regularly reflect on the changes they have made in their life and appreciate the evidence of growth and progress. Journaling can be a helpful tool for this practice. Additionally, setting lofty and seemingly impossible goals can challenge current assumptions and push for new possibilities. By aiming for exponential growth rather than incremental improvements, individuals are forced to identify the few key actions that will lead to significant progress. This process of filtering and focusing on the future self can increase psychological flexibility and allow for transformative personal growth.
Recognizing the Differences Between Past and Future Selves
Understanding that the future self is fundamentally different from the present self is important for personal development. By appreciating how the future self has a different normal and priorities, individuals can begin to align their actions and decisions with that vision. It is crucial to emotionally connect with the future self and define clear goals and values. Moreover, adopting a growth mindset and considering the future self as a continually evolving draft allows for increased psychological flexibility and openness to new possibilities.
Using High Goals and Constraints to Foster Psychological Flexibility
Setting highly ambitious goals can challenge current assumptions and push individuals to consider new and unconventional approaches. By aiming for a goal that seems impossible or highly improbable, individuals are forced to reevaluate their current efforts and strategies. This process of filtering out actions and behaviors that do not align with the future self's vision can lead to increased psychological flexibility. Additionally, utilizing constraint theory involves identifying the core constraints that will shape progress toward the goal, simplifying decision-making and focusing on the critical actions that will lead to exponential growth.
Redefining Success by Raising Personal Standards
Redefining success and raising personal standards is crucial for personal growth. By framing success based on evolving priorities and values, individuals can adapt their current behaviors and decisions to align with their future self's vision. Reflecting on how one's definition of success has changed over time can provide powerful insights into personal growth. By continuously filtering out actions and habits that do not meet the new standard, individuals can increase their psychological flexibility and actively work towards becoming the person they aspire to be.
The Power of Going Beyond 2X
The podcast episode discusses the concept of going beyond 2X and aiming for a 10X level of success. The speaker explains that to achieve a 2X growth, you can continue doing what you're currently doing with just a few tweaks. However, to achieve a 10X growth, you need to fundamentally improve and get 10X better at your core. This requires letting go of 80% of what got you to your current level and embracing a new standard of excellence. The example of Michelangelo, who constantly pushed himself to create at higher levels, is used to illustrate the idea that striving for impossible goals shapes new processes and opens up unique opportunities.
Stripping Away What's Not Essential
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of stripping away what is not essential to achieve a 10X level of success. Drawing from the example of Michelangelo, who removed everything that was not the David from the block of marble, the speaker explains that to reach your future self and live a genius life, you must let go of the 80% that no longer serves you. This means letting go of past successes, habits, or tasks that do not align with your desired future self. By removing what is not essential and focusing on quality over quantity, you create the space and opportunity to achieve transformative growth.
Creating Deep Flow and Quality
The podcast episode highlights the importance of deep flow and quality in achieving 10X success. The speaker suggests that cheap flow, which involves doing more without significant impact, can hinder progress. Instead, focusing on deep flow, which involves deliberate practice, mastery, and high standards, leads to transformation and opens up new opportunities. By embodying an intentional mindset and operating from a high filter of quality, rather than simply adding volume or doing what others are doing, you can cultivate deep flow in all aspects of your life, creating a genius life characterized by excellence, growth, and innovation.
Dr. Benjamin Hardy is an organizational psychologist and best-selling author. His blogs have been read by over 100 million people and featured in the Harvard Business Review, the New York Times, on CNBC, among many others. His latest book, 10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less, is out now.
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