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Brad Stulberg On Mastering Change With Science And Stoicism

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Sep 6, 2023

Guest

Brad Stulberg

In this discussion, Brad Stulberg, a writer and success coach, dives into his latest work on mastering change. He highlights the scientific underpinnings of our inherent need for change and emphasizes the importance of skillful action based on ancient wisdom. Stulberg introduces the concept of tragic optimism, advocating for resilience by acknowledging life's suffering while maintaining hope. He also explores the fluidity of identity, suggesting that embracing change can foster personal growth and adaptability, ultimately promoting a deeper understanding of ourselves.

01:17:20

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INSIGHT

Change and Resistance

The Stoics, particularly Marcus Aurelius, frequently discuss change, emphasizing its constant nature.
Despite this, people often resist change, clinging to the status quo, even though change is often the source of good things.

insights

INSIGHT

Homeostasis vs. Allostasis

Homeostasis, the traditional model of change, suggests systems crave stability and revert to it after disruption.
Allostasis, a newer model, posits that systems achieve stability through change, finding new equilibrium after disruption.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

History Repeating

Brad Stulberg recalls reading about the Spanish Flu during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He found the similarities, down to the masking debates, both comforting and mind-boggling, highlighting history's cyclical nature.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Embracing Change Through Philosophy and Personal Insight

04:27 • 2min

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Embracing Change: The Nature of Transformation

06:20 • 19min

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Embracing Change: A Journey of Identity

25:23 • 5min

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The Strength of Tragic Optimism

30:20 • 5min

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Embracing Change: Tragic Optimism and Resilience

35:14 • 21min

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Navigating Life's Changes: The River of Identity and Self

56:08 • 6min

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Embracing Change and Transformation

01:01:42 • 20min

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Exploring Identity and Environment in the Context of Change

01:21:39 • 2min

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Ryan speaks with Brad Stulberg about his new book Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You, the scientific basis for humanity’s need for change, why all ancient wisdom traditions agree that the most effective way to deal with change is through skillful action, the Case For Tragic Optimism, why it is healthy to think of death, and more.

Brad Stulberg is a writer, success coach, speaker, and entrepreneur whose work focuses on exploring the principles of mental health and mastery. His books Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success and The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds--Not Crushes--Your Soul have sold more than 350,000 copies and have been translated into more than 20 languages, and he has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and TIME. He also co-created The Growth Equation, an online platform dedicated to exploring, defining, and realizing peak performance. Brad’s work can be found at bradstulberg.com and on Instagram @bradstulberg and Twitter @BStulberg.

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