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
Sep 9, 2024 • 30min
212. Mastering Your Attention to Work Optimally
#212: In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss the importance of attention for working at your best. Understanding how your attention works — especially the dynamic between task attention and default attention — can help you improve how you both rest and work. Some may think that focus is a matter of brute force and self-discipline, or of simply arranging your environment. But the understanding of attention explored here points to deeper strategies that we can use to master our attention and shape ourselves in the process.
Find more at https://OptimalWork.com
Sep 2, 2024 • 25min
[Rebroadcast] Making the Most of Challenge
#211: 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.
Aug 26, 2024 • 27min
[Rebroadcast] The Inward Living of Ideals
#210: 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.
Aug 19, 2024 • 23min
[Rebroadcast] Reframing Without Limits
Explore how reframing challenges can transform your perspective and uncover growth opportunities. Discover the deep connection between worldviews and mental wellbeing, emphasizing the role of diverse beliefs. Learn the importance of engaging with personal fears to aid in personal growth, and how empathy can guide others through their struggles. Additionally, delve into how altering perceptions of anxiety can foster excitement and strengthen relationships, promoting a profound sense of self-transcendence.
Aug 12, 2024 • 23min
[Rebroadcast] Is Dopamine Worth the Hype?
#208: 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.
Aug 5, 2024 • 25min
[Rebroadcast] The War of Art
#207: 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.
Jul 29, 2024 • 25min
[Rebroadcast] How to Flourish in Work and Life
Dr. Kevin Majeres, a specialist in cognitive behavioral therapy and positive psychology, joins to discuss the transformative idea of flourishing. He explains how personal development is intricately linked to communal well-being. The conversation covers flourishing as a continuous journey, emphasizing resilience and growth over mere achievement. Majeres highlights that true self-mastery stems from aligning with high ideals and nurturing emotional acceptance. He also underscores the importance of shared aspirations in enhancing both work relationships and personal fulfillment.
Jul 22, 2024 • 28min
205. How to Approach Anxiety
Exploring the positive approach to anxiety, embracing it for personal growth. Discussing the impact of diet on mental health and the development of an anxiety course. Emphasizing the importance of facing anxious feelings for resilience and growth. Introducing a transformative course to support individuals in overcoming anxiety and thriving in life.
Jul 15, 2024 • 25min
[Rebroadcast] Living the Ideal of Temperance
Dive into the ideal of temperance, where cravings meet mindful awareness. Learn how to master your responses to desires rather than relying on sheer willpower. Discover techniques for rating cravings and navigating them with thoughtful distance. Understand how embracing temperance can enhance your relationships by promoting mindfulness and acceptance. Explore the heights of temperance and practical strategies for prioritizing meaningful goals over momentary impulses.
Jul 8, 2024 • 28min
[Rebroadcast] The Four Degrees of Humility
#203: Ideals lie at the core of our approach. Indeed, our mission is to help you challenge yourself according to your highest ideals in each hour of work and life. For this, it is necessary to have an image in your mind of what the various ideals look like when lived fully. In this episode, we paint a picture of humility.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
