This book introduces the concept of 'The Gap and The Gain', developed by Dan Sullivan, which helps high achievers understand why they are often unhappy despite their accomplishments. It explains that measuring oneself against an ideal (the Gap) leads to dissatisfaction, while measuring against past achievements (the Gain) fosters happiness, gratitude, and motivation. The book is a masterclass on positive psychology, healthy relationships, mental well-being, and high-performance, offering practical advice on how to shift focus to appreciate progress and achieve greater fulfillment and success.
This book is a transcript of the only public speech David Foster Wallace gave on his views on life, delivered as a commencement address at Kenyon College in 2005. The speech delves into the difficulties of empathy, the unimportance of being well-adjusted, and the apparent loneliness of adult life. Wallace argues that true freedom comes from the ability to be fully conscious and sympathetic, and he emphasizes the importance of learning how to think and exercise control over one's thoughts. The speech is known for its blend of casual humor, exacting intellect, and practical philosophy, offering advice that renews readers with every reading. After his death, the speech became a treasured piece of writing, reprinted in various publications and widely discussed online[1][2][4].
In 'Think Again', Adam Grant argues that the ability to rethink at personal, interpersonal, and collective levels is crucial in today's polarized world. He uses scientific research, personal anecdotes, and engaging stories to illustrate how people can find joy in being wrong, leverage the benefits of impostor syndrome, and cultivate environments of lifelong learning. Grant emphasizes the need to challenge our convictions, adopt a scientific mindset, and foster curiosity and humility. He provides examples of individuals who have successfully rethought their approaches, from firefighters to business leaders, and offers practical exercises for improving rethinking skills[2][4][5].
In 'Stumbling on Happiness,' Daniel Gilbert delves into the human capacity to imagine the future and why we are often poor at predicting what will make us happy. Gilbert argues that our imagination is flawed in several ways: it adds or removes details, extrapolates from the present, and fails to account for the psychological immune system that helps us cope with undesired outcomes. The book uses scientific research from psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and behavioral economics to explain why we consistently misjudge our future satisfaction and how this affects our decisions. Gilbert also suggests that understanding these biases can help us make better choices and gain more control over our pursuit of happiness.
In 'Blood and Thunder', Hampton Sides provides a detailed and engaging history of the American West, focusing on the life of Kit Carson, a trapper, scout, and soldier. The book spans over three decades, from the early days of the trappers to the final pacification of the Navajo by General Sherman. It explores the complexities of Carson's personality, his respect for and interactions with Native American tribes, and his role in the devastating conflicts that shaped the region. The narrative also delves into the broader historical context, including the Mexican-American War and the ideology of 'Manifest Destiny', highlighting the brutal and often overlooked aspects of the American West's conquest[1][3][4].
Often we think that living in the present moment means blocking out thoughts of the past and future.
But according to today’s guest, Dr. Benjamin Hardy, maintaining a clear vision of your future self is actually one of the most effective ways to live more fully in the present.
By defining yourself in terms of the person you want to be, rather than in terms of your past behavior, you can immediately create change in the attitudes and actions of your present self.
So whether you’re feeling stuck in your current situation, can’t let go of past mistakes, or have simply lost momentum toward your goals, this episode will give you plenty of practical tips to get back on track and become the best version of yourself.
Check out our sponsors:
Coinbase: coinbase.com/impact
Ombre: Visit tryombre.com/TomBilyeu to get $30 off an at-home gut health test.
BLUblox: Go to blublox.com/impacttheory for 15% off your order or use discount code ImpactTheory at checkout.
Athletic Greens: Go to athleticgreens.com/impact and receive a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase!
“Live as if you were living already for the second time and as if you had acted the first time as wrongly as you are about to act now!” - Victor Frankl
SHOW NOTES:
00:00 | Introduction
01:13 | How to Pull Your Future Self Into the Present
11:02 | Why Success Is Hard to Repeat
16:43 | Getting Clarity on Big Goals
23:14 | Why Frame of Reference Is Critical
34:27 | Staying Optimistic Despite Challenges
47:20 | The 80/20 Rule in Goal Setting
54:24 | How to Avoid Deluding Yourself
1:01:28 | Practical Steps to Becoming Your Future Self
Follow Dr. Benjamin Hardy:
Website: https://benjaminhardy.com/
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3I93R76
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3MOpWLF
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Ie5gsS
Medium: https://bit.ly/3tSIQZi
Preorder Be Your Future Self Now: https://amzn.to/3q4EzRk
Are You Ready for EXTRA Impact?
If you’re ready to find true fulfillment, strengthen your focus, and ignite your true potential, the Impact Theory subscription was created just for you.
Want to transform your health, sharpen your mindset, improve your relationship, or conquer the business world? This is your epicenter of greatness.
This is not for the faint of heart. This is for those who dare to learn obsessively, every day, day after day.
Subscription Benefits:
- Unlock the gates to a treasure trove of wisdom from inspiring guests like Andrew Huberman, Mel Robbins, Hal Elrod, Matthew McConaughey, and many, many, more
- New episodes delivered ad-free
- Exclusive access to Tom’s AMAs, keynote speeches, and suggestions from his personal reading list
- You’ll also get access to an 5 additional podcasts with hundreds of archived Impact Theory episodes, meticulously curated into themed playlists covering health, mindset, business, relationships, and more:
-
Legendary Mindset: Mindset & Self-Improvement
-
Money Mindset: Business & Finance
-
Relationship Theory: Relationships
-
Health Theory: Mental & Physical Health
-
Power Ups: Weekly Doses of Short Motivational Quotes
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PCvJaz
Subscribe on all other platforms (Google Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Downcast, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, Podcast Republic, Podkicker, and more) : https://impacttheorynetwork.supercast.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory 
