Erwin Raphael McManus discusses changing your mind and pursuing your dreams. Topics include the difficulty of changing our minds, rekindling motivation, enjoying downtime without being productive, and why The Minimalists don't run podcast ads.
Being willing to change your mind is a sign of adaptability and mental agility, which becomes crucial as you age.
To pursue a dream without burning out, experiment by taking on a small project outside your regular job and prioritize building deep, meaningful relationships.
Deep dives
Changing your mind is a practice of mental agility
In the podcast episode, Erwin Raphael McManus discusses the importance of being willing to change your mind and having mental agility. He mentions that changing your mind doesn't make you inconsistent but rather adaptive. He emphasizes that mental agility is crucial as you get older and that it's important to be open to new information and experiences. McManus also shares a personal anecdote about changing his mind and highlights the benefits of embracing curiosity, imagination, and exploration.
Building your own business while avoiding burnout
One of the listeners, Alexa, asks how she can pursue her dream of running her own business while avoiding burnout. The hosts suggest experimenting by taking on one client outside of her day job to determine if she truly enjoys the work. They also discuss the importance of finding deep, meaningful relationships, as burnout can often result from a lack of connection. They suggest that when you love something and have people you genuinely enjoy doing life with, the tasks don't feel like work but rather energize you.
Enjoying downtime without the need for productivity
Nikki raises a question about being able to relax without feeling the need for productivity. The hosts acknowledge that many people view relaxation as unproductive or a waste of time. They emphasize that regret can stem from both failing at things and succeeding at things that don't truly matter to you. They suggest focusing on being aligned with who you are and making peace with yourself, rather than seeking approval from others. It's about finding a balance between doing what feels right for you in the moment and not constantly worrying about productivity.
Critique on the use of advertisements in podcasts
The hosts discuss the impact of advertisements on podcast episodes and express their concern about the interruption and disruption caused by ads. They highlight the negative impact such ads can have on the listening experience and argue that listeners are ultimately being played and their time and attention devalued. They share their commitment to keeping their own podcast 100% advertisement-free to provide a more enjoyable and uninterrupted experience for their audience.
The Minimalists speak with Erwin Raphael McManus about the upsides and downsides of changing your mind, finding the motivation to pursue your dreams, and more. Watch all 2 hours of episode 418 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.
Discussed in this episode:
Why is it difficult for us to change our minds? (02:01)
How can I rekindle the motivation to pursue my dreams? (12:30)
How can I enjoy downtime without needing to be productive? (21:51)
How does this experiment demonstrate why The Minimalists don’t run ads on our podcast? (26:30)