Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Harry Cohen, a psychologist and executive coach, delves into the heliotropic effect—our instinctive inclination toward positivity. He shares insights on how a genuine six-second smile can positively influence brain chemistry and why effective apologies are crucial for rebuilding trust. The conversation also covers practical strategies like replacing small talk with small wins and committing to daily acts of kindness, all aimed at enhancing relationships and fostering authenticity. Join Harry to discover how to become a light source in your interactions!

Explore the unsexy habits that distinguish true geniuses from the rest. Discover the power of humility, continuous learning, and mentorship in paving the way for personal growth. Delve into the importance of self-reflection and learning from mistakes to break through limits. Embrace unconventionality and the dedication required to foster greatness. This insight reveals that hard work and the courage to promote one's passions are key to making a lasting impact.

Overcome the chaos of modern life by embracing minimalism. Discover how doing less can actually make you better at what matters most. Stories of travel and personal journeys illustrate how simplicity enhances experiences. Learn to identify what deserves your energy and why clutter—both physical and mental—hinders happiness. The episode advocates for fewer commitments to boost focus and satisfaction, proving that true joy often lies in saying 'no' to distractions.

Explore love as more than just a feeling—it's a biological pattern with components like lust, attraction, and attachment. Discover how hormones like testosterone, dopamine, and oxytocin influence our experiences and choices in relationships. Learn to observe emotions without becoming them, transforming love into a conscious practice. Embrace self-awareness and empathy to cultivate lasting connections that go beyond fleeting passion. Your biology sets the stage, but your awareness can change the storyline.

Nicholas Verrique, co-host of the Wiser Than Yesterday Book Club podcast, dives deep into Nassim Taleb's concept of anti-fragility. He shares how systems can thrive in chaos and turns setbacks into growth opportunities. The discussion weaves through intriguing myths and modern implications, emphasizing that embracing small failures can prevent larger ones. Verrique also introduces the 'barbell' investment strategy, showcasing how we can leverage uncertainty for better decision-making and foster resilience in both finance and life.

Dive into the quirks of human cognition as the discussion reveals cognitive biases, false memories, and the Dunning-Kruger effect. Unpack the illusion of certainty and how our judgments can mislead us. Gain insights on building resilience and accountability while navigating life’s uncertainties. Discover the transformative power of perspective and how a shift in mindset can turn frustration into growth. Embrace 'confident humility' to foster curiosity and acceptance in the face of the unknown.

Dr. Steven Stein, a leading expert on emotional intelligence and author of The EQ Edge, shares his insights on why EQ matters. He explains how emotional intelligence can enhance relationships and success, using examples from his work with the FBI and reality TV. Steven emphasizes practical techniques to build empathy without losing assertiveness. He discusses navigating emotional intelligence across neurodiversity and the cultural nuances that influence our emotional skills. Get ready to train your EQ like you would a muscle!

Explore how to cut through the clutter of productivity and focus on what truly matters. Discover the difference between being busy and being productive, emphasizing actionable steps over perfectionism. Learn to recognize your readiness and the importance of self-care in achieving your goals. Navigate the chaos of the outside world with effective decision-making strategies and long-term thinking. Embrace the journey, including failure, as a vital part of personal growth.

We don’t see the future. We predict it — and sometimes we predict disaster before it’s even possible. Catastrophizing is a mental reflex. It’s your mind, desperate for control, drawing monsters where none exist yet. In this episode, we explore the quiet space between stimulus and story — the moment you could choose curiosity over certainty. Relationships, careers, self-worth: all suffer when we confuse our imagined outcomes with inevitable truths. But if we learn to watch the story unfold without believing it, something remarkable happens. We reclaim possibility. You’ll leave with: Understanding of how the brain creates fear to protect itself Tools for building awareness instead of reaction A framework for making peace with uncertainty — and using it to grow The psychology that makes false fears feel real Stop letting your brain run disaster drills for things that haven’t happened. Tune in. How to Change the World Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players: Spotify - ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠ Apple - ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠ YouTube - ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠ Can't find it on your player? This is the RSS feed - ⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠ AD-FREE with Premium: 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs + Bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: Overthinking: The psychology of catastrophizing and how to stop assuming the worst Chapters: 00:00 Why this topic is popular 01:45 What is catastrophising 04:18 Build awareness 07:10 Magnifying and minimising 08:32 More details feels more real. 10:16 The human tendency to just invent stories 13:22 ADHD 15:31 Catastrophizing and being diagnosed with ADHD 16:17 Balancing worst and best scenarios 17:23 Social anxiety example 19:09 Write a journal 20:31 Alex Hormozi selling gym subscriptions 21:09 Want and don't want chair 23:26 4 stages of intrusive thoughts 28:50 4 step method for mitigating catastrophization 28:50 Step 1 - Awareness 29:57 Step 2 - Challenging the thought 30:40 Step 3 - Imagine the best 31:11 Step 4 - Accept uncertainty 32:55 Catastrophizing is the opposite of Growth mindset 33:14 Episode summary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Explore how your identity might be an outdated version of yourself. Discover the concept of behavioral debt, revealing how past habits influence present choices. Learn to craft your identity intentionally, using techniques like "identity microshifts" and the Fresh Start Effect. Journey through stories of a monk, a transformative writer, and a cycling team achieving incremental gains. Understand the power of unlearning what no longer serves you and embrace rituals that align with the person you want to become.