34 Unconventional Life Lessons You Don't Learn In School

Mental models, hard truths & priceless wisdom I wish I knew 10 years ago. From how to really think about IQ or Money to establishing the point of your life in a confused society. This episode covers 34 of my favourite and unintuitive lessons this year for getting along in the world without regrets. Some of the main themes covered: Pursuing the right things Working with your emotions Improving your career and work life Making the most of your potential Building your own independent beliefs Focussing on what truly matters Creating your own luck Overcoming ego and identity Seeing society with a rational viewpoint If you enjoy psychology, philosophy and contemplating how the world and our minds work this episode will have a few insights for you. Upgrade to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Sponsors 🥙 Hello Fresh - America's #1 meal kit provider 10 free meals across 7 boxes HelloFresh.com/FreeGrowthMindset Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link 📧 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 - GrowthMindsetPodcast.com Chapters: 00:00 34 Lessons for life - Exploring Thought-Provoking Ideas 02:14 The Importance of Understanding Books 03:03 Are You Pursuing a Shadow Career? 03:41 The Reality of Side Hustles 04:23 The Necessity of Exercise 04:56 Doing Your Best Work When Not Working 05:48 Ideas are stepping stones 06:23 Money as a Tool 07:03 Life is Too Short for the Wrong Pursuits 07:45 The Importance of Approach 08:32 Practicing Desired Emotions 09:44 Finding Yourself 10:16 Developing Your Personal Voice 11:13 Discipline Over Talent 11:49 IQ and Success 13:10 Apply Yourself Accordingly 14:17 Making Others Feel Clever 15:07 Think Bigger 16:06 Setting Higher Standards for Yourself 16:26 No One Thinks About You as Much as You Do 17:02 Make Your Life Story Interesting 17:55 First Principles Thinking 19:05 Learn from Others' Mistakes 20:04 Too Much of Anything is Bad 21:07 Society is an Accident 21:44 Embrace Unplanned Opportunities 22:30 The World is Duct Taped Together 24:15 Question What You Take for Granted 26:02 Build Your Own Beliefs 28:04 Keep Your Identity Small 28:51 Understanding Biases 30:41 Empathy Makes the World Nicer 30:51 Life is About Contrasts 31:33 Anger is a Useless Emotion 32:30 Camera Angles and Stories 33:56 Big and Small Things Matter 34:34 Final Thoughts and Birthday Wish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Most self-help advice is guesswork dressed up as wisdom. We dig into psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to find what actually changes lives. WHY LISTEN? Over 8 million downloads because we answer the questions that matter: How do I build mental strength? What creates lasting motivation? How can I understand my own mind well enough to work with it, not against it? This podcast is for curious skeptics who want frameworks backed by psychology studies, not Instagram quotes. Whether you're navigating procrastination, building self-discipline, or designing your own philosophy for a life well lived—we explore the hidden psychology behind real change. WHAT YOU'LL GET Mental models and simple techniques from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism. Being a human can be confusing, learning about it doesn’t have to be. We cover everything from emotional intelligence and habit formation to brain health and the nervous system. WHAT YOU DON’T GET No pseudoscience. No oversimplified "hacks." No hustle porn. Just practical insights on mindset improvement, self-development, and human psychology that respect your intelligence and mental health. THE APPROACH Instead of telling you what to think, we explore how thinking works. Armed with psychology studies, social science research, and relentless curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of belief change, attitude change, and personal development. Success is personal. You might want to leverage your neurodiverse strengths, build a business, or simply discover how to be happier. We provide the mental frameworks to pursue your definition of success with mental strength and self-care that fits your life. YOUR HOST I'm Sam Webster Harris—a lifelong learner with ADHD and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching businesses, traveling the world, and nearly dying a few times, I concluded that psychology and science are where real wisdom lives. This show is my excuse to dive deep into health and fitness research, behavioral psychology, and cool science while helping you build genuine self-discipline and motivation. PREMIUM Go ad-free and access exclusive content, AMAs, and our community Discord. Growth Mindset Premium PAST SERIES Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum. Past series: — Psychology vs Stoicism — Time Management for Busy Mortals — Independence and Knowing Yourself — Cognitive Biases and Rational Thinking — Psychology of Connection and Relationships — Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets — Addiction and Behaviour Change — Nervous System Mastery and Polyvagal Theory — Mental Strength and Self-Discipline