The OptimalWork Podcast
OptimalWork
Hosted by Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif Younes, co-founders of OptimalWork, The OptimalWork Podcast will help you learn to challenge yourself in each hour of work according to your highest ideals. We discuss all aspects of Dr. Majeres's approach to work, which he developed in his private practice and teaches at Harvard Medical School, and show how it applies to everyday situations like professional work, study, sleep, and relationships.
For personalized plans to help you put the ideas into practice, visit www.OptimalWork.com.
Please send questions for discussion to team@optimalwork.com.
For personalized plans to help you put the ideas into practice, visit www.OptimalWork.com.
Please send questions for discussion to team@optimalwork.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 8, 2023 • 25min
142. Making the Most of Challenge
#142: Is it possible to sustain a high level of challenge throughout the day? At first, it may seem daunting. But embracing challenge brings growth and with it an increase in energy. The key is to embrace challenges in order to serve, so that challenges are not about improving yourself in isolation, but deepening the bonds with those around you.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
May 1, 2023 • 27min
141. The Inward Living of Ideals
#141: When focusing on self-improvement, it is natural to look first at your behaviors and strive for behavior change. In this episode, Dr. Majeres and Sharif explore what change on the inside looks like: how you relate to the inner friction produced by “parts” of you, like an inner critic or a harsh taskmaster. They show that behavior change is best built on a foundation of interior transformation.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Apr 24, 2023 • 31min
[Rebroadcast] How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed
#140: One of the consequences of living in threat mode is that you often feel overwhelmed. Your view of yourself and your situation becomes fixed, and you can lose your optimism. In this rebroadcast, Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres discussed how to regain a sense of possibility and freedom whenever you’re overwhelmed.
5 snips
Apr 17, 2023 • 23min
139. Reframing Without Limits
The podcast explores the concept of reframing challenges and the need for a robust worldview. It discusses expanding perspectives, respecting worldviews, and the power of reframing. Mentors play a vital role in helping others reframe their challenges and find deeper meaning in life. Reframing can transform anxiety into excitement and lead to personal growth and finding more meaning in life.
Apr 10, 2023 • 23min
138. Is Dopamine Worth the Hype?
#138: There is increasing interest in dopamine, a molecule that is closely related to our experience of pleasure, reward, expectation, and motivation. It’s involved in negative processes, like overindulgence and addiction, but it can also be harnessed to set virtuous cycles in motion. Surprisingly, as Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss, the dopamine molecule is involved in the very spiritual processes of living ideals and deepening bonds.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
7 snips
Apr 3, 2023 • 29min
137. Striving for Self-Mastery in Conversations and Meetings
Explore self-mastery and personal growth through the concept of the Golden Hour. Learn methods to enhance meaningful interactions and foster attentional bonds in meetings and conversations. Discover the power of aiming for the ideal and viewing challenges as opportunities for growth.
Mar 27, 2023 • 25min
136. The War of Art
#136: In this episode Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss Steven Pressfield’s book “The War of Art.” Pressfield has developed a kind of mythology to describe the psychology of following one’s true calling. You know you’re on the right path if you encounter Resistance. But if you persevere and work through the Resistance your Muse will inspire you to do great things. In this episode, we compare Pressfield’s practical conclusions to the advice we give at OptimalWork.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
6 snips
Mar 20, 2023 • 25min
135. How to Flourish in Work and Life
#135: Cognitive behavioral therapy, positive psychology, and other developments in the field of psychology have put flourishing on the map as a primary goal of psychological growth. In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss the nature of flourishing, and the surest path to obtaining it.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Mar 13, 2023 • 31min
[Rebroadcast] Turn Problems into Projects
#134: If there’s an area in your life where you want to grow, it can be difficult to know how to make progress. In this episode, we discuss how to get started by formulating strategies and steps, that is, by applying prudence to the question of how to grow.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
9 snips
Mar 6, 2023 • 26min
[Rebroadcast] How to Stop Being So Hard on Yourself
#133: We’ve often spoken about the importance of maintaining a cheerful tone around us. But sometimes people find that inwardly they are very harsh and demanding with themselves. In this episode, we’ll discuss how to aim for the ideal of cheerfulness, but interiorly: with ourselves, our thoughts, and our emotions.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
