A New Way of Being

How can you have as many good days as possible? It’s so easy to continually be looking to the future – and pay too high a price in the present as a result. Frances Houghton is a five time Olympian, who won three silver medals, 4 world championship golds and held two world records in rowing.Early on – she set two goals, to compete in as many Olympic games as possible, and to win Olympic Gold. Eventually, that drive and need to win gold led to burnout, and so she realised she needed to redefine success. It led to a profound epiphany – it was about collaborating with other people and appreciating them along the way – not simply continually looking to success in the future and pinning her happiness on that. Frances retired on the Olympic podium in 2016 as part of the first British women’s eight ever to win an Olympic medal – and the picture of her and her teammates beaming with joy while holding hands on the podium speaks volumes about the value of her change in outlook.**MyTwitter: https://twitter.com/simonmundieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/And for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from four years and 200 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com (where you can also drop me an email)Please do share this episode - it makes a big difference in helping people find this podcast. Thank you.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is about how much our parental influences shape our outlook on life. While we all come into this world with some innate traits, we are also largely a blank slate to start with, but are hugely conditioned by our upbringing. But I think the really interesting thing is that we invariably pick up a framework of what is right, and how to behave in those early years – and that can then shape our beliefs and behaviour for the rest of our life – unless we start to question the 'guiding narratives' of our life. We all have conditioned beliefs and ways of seeing the world that we didn’t actively choose. The challenge is to uncover what our guiding narratives are – and then consider whether they are serving us in the way we want them to. A belief is just a thought we feel to be definitively true – and while beliefs are more 'sticky' than thoughts about the weather – we still have the capacity to notice them, and not take them seriously – if we choose to. That's for each of us to decide.**MyTwitter: https://twitter.com/simonmundieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/And for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from four years and 200 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com (where you can also drop me an email)Please do share this episode - it makes a big difference in helping people find this podcast. Thank you.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are you like at sitting with emotions? It can be so easy to distract ourselves, or numb ourselves – by reaching for a drink or a device, or even by going up into our heads and getting lost in rumination.One of my guests who told me he had to embrace sitting with emotions was the former UK Special Forces soldier and Royal Marine Commando turned explorer, adventurer, investigative journalist and TV presenter Jason Fox. Foxy has made a remarkable recovery after being discharged from the army with PTSD. After coming close to suicide, Foxy started 'looking inwards' to process his trauma.In this episode:the importance of acknowledging your emotionsWhat NOT to do when you wake up feeling out of sortsApproaching your feelings with compassionFoxy's definition of REAL resilience - stemming from being compassionate with yourselfJason Fox twitter: @jason_carl_foxOther links: https://linktr.ee/jasonfoxWebsite: https://www.jasonfox-official.com/"A fox can be smarter than a wolf" - Jason FoxMyTwitter: https://twitter.com/simonmundieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/And for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from four years and 200 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com (where you can also drop me an email)Please do share this episode with anyone who struggles to embrace their emotions, or on social media - it makes a big difference. Thank you.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I like things to happen… and if they don’t… I like to make them happen.” - Winston ChurchillThis episode is all about creating opportunities… rather than waiting for things to fall in your lap.I spoke to the award winning author and journalist Maurice Hamilton, who explained how he got to do the job he loves – in part by taking motivation from the most successful formula one driver of the early 20th century, who overcame immense odds and tragedy to get into motorsport, as Maurice explains.Full Length Episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08wxcjlMaurice's twitter: https://twitter.com/MauriceHamiltonHis bio says it all - "Lucky enough to be able to write - and occasionally talk - about motor sport for a living. One day I'll get a proper job."Follow me:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/Twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from four years and 200 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com (where you can also drop me an email)Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Burnout and stress is on the rise. Finding work-life balance is increasingly elusive. What's the answer?The issue isn't necessarily too few hours in the day, it's how we use the hours we have - which comes down to our choices and priorities.Ed Jackson, the former pro rugby player turned walking quadriplegic who is now a charity fundraiser and TV presenter, came up with a superb formula for how to work out how to spend your time that helped save him from burnout. That formula was the adopted by another of my guests Lucy Gossage, the former Ironman Champion turned Oncology Doctor and Charity fundraiser, and it had a huge impact on her life which allowed her to have a hugely positive impact on so many other people's lives.In this episode:How Lucy realised she wasn't fulfilling her potential and was risking burnoutWhen she listened to Ed and the impact his formula hadHer advice for anyone in a similar positionUnderstanding the value of timeEd's formula that helps establish the value of time with extrinsic (money) and intrinsic (joy and purpose) activitiesWhy doing things for other people is so rewardingLucy's charity 5K Your Way: https://5kyourway.org/Lucy's full length episode on 'Self Talk': https://www.simonmundie.com/blog/lucy-gossage-self-talkLucy's Iron Mind coaching website with Helen Davis: https://www.thinkbelieveperform.co.uk/iron-mind/Helen Davis full-length episode on 'Beliefs': https://www.simonmundie.com/blog/helen-davis-beliefsEd's charity Millimeters 2 Mountains: https://www.millimetres2mountains.org/Ed's first full length episode on 'perspective': https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08b258sEd's second full length episode on 'Hard Conversations': https://www.simonmundie.com/blog/ed-jackson-the-healing-power-of-hard-conversationsEd's book 'Lucky': https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lucky-Ed-Jackson/dp/0008423369Follow me:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/Twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from four years and 200 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com (where you can also drop me an email)Please do share this episode with anyone who struggles to manage their time, or is feeling disillusioned with their career, or is suffering - or has suffered - with any of the symptoms of burnout. Thank you.b4f345c8731d0089ca073d34cbaa3a097fbe9602Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It can be easy to judge other people for negative actions and decisions, but the truth is we can’t know the circumstances that led to them. We are not nearly as in control of our lives as we like to think. People don’t necessarily like to hear that, but we don’t choose the family we are born into, our genes, our personality traits, the influences we are surrounded by while growing up and so on. Where we are is basically a result of a vast web of interconnected occurrences and events over which we have not control. To think we wouldn’t behave as others do if we were in their shoes, with their traits and upbringing, is a massive stretch – and so, I would suggest – the less tightly we can hold on to judgements of other people – the better.John McAvoy is currently a Nike athlete, however he was previously a high profile armed robber who found redemption through the power of sport. Having broken both British and World records whilst in prison he is now forging a new life as an endurance athlete and speaker who is committed to using his story of rehabilitation to help and inspire others to change their lives for the betterFull Length episode: https://www.simonmundie.com/blog/john-mcavoy-the-power-of-environmentJohn's website: https://therealmcavoy.com/**To message me:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/Twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from four years and 200 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com (where you can also drop me an email)Please do share this episode, as it does make a big differenceHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Joe Wicks came up with the idea that changed his life, and started posting online content in 2014, there was no master plan. He just loved doing it and ploughed on - even as people told him he was barking up the wrong tree - before eventually breaking through. It's a story that is often repeated in seeming 'overnight successes' - that ability to keep on going even when the rewards are not immediately obvious.And that’s the lesson Joe wants to share – the importance of relentless consistency.**To message me:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/Twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from four years and 200 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com (where you can also drop me an email)Please do share this episodeHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Commit to something - then figure it out." Jimmy ChinJimmy is a pro climber, skier, photographer and Oscar winning Film director. The theme of this episode is about following your heart and taking risks. Committing to a path and working it out along the way.Jimmy picked up the Academy Award for the incredible Free Solo.You can find the episode with Alex Honnold, star of Free Solo, here: https://play.acast.com/s/dont-tell-me-the-score-with-simon-mundie/fear-alexhonnold**To message me:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/Twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from four years and 200 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com (where you can also drop me an email)Please do share this episode with anyone who may benefit, and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts. It makes a big difference and is hugely appreciated.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many high achievers are driven by a burning desire to compensate for the wounds of childhood trauma.But you can’t fill an inner void with accomplishments and approval. This isn’t to cast judgement on so called "successful" people – it is just to suggest that putting them on a pedestal is overly simplistic, and in many cases they may benefit from empathy rather than envy.This week's bitesize guest is Caitlyn Jenner - who won Olympic Decathlon Gold in 1976 as Bruce Jenner - and whose house in LA I visited to record the full length episode.To message me:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/Twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from four years and 200 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com (where you can also drop me an email)Please do share this episode with anyone who may benefit, and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts. It makes a big difference and is hugely appreciated.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don't overlook what you have NOW by focusing on what you are working towards in the future.We live in a world of perpetual doing. Thinking about the future, and the past, making plans, and completing tasks. There's nothing inherently wrong with that – BUT - we do risk missing out on the joy of being, appreciating our experiences in this momentThis was clearly illustrated to me by one of my previous guests – who left a profound impression on me.Recently I attended an incredibly moving memorial service to celebrate the life of Liz Clarke-Saul. Liz was a para-cyclist for Britain, who was told that she had incurable bone cancer in 2018. We spoke on my podcast back in 2019, the year before she died.This bitesize clip from our conversation is about being grateful for what you have - now.In focusing on what we don’t have, we miss out the miraculous things we do have – family, friends, health and – most importantly – life. In memory of Liz Clarke-Saul. 19 May 1989 - 20 July 2020.To donate to the Liz Clarke-Saul fundraising page - please head here: https://specialfunds.bcrt.org.uk/liz-clarke-saul-fund/ To message me:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/Twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from four years and 200 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com (where you can also drop me an email)Please do share this episode with anyone who may benefit, and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts. It makes a big difference and is hugely appreciated.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.