Growth Mindset: Psychology of self-improvement Growth Mindset Psychology

Practical Psychology for navigating life's challenges and cultivating joy.
Sam Webster Harris explores the concept of life as a series of games, blending psychological insights with practical wisdom. He discusses how every aspect of life involves some form of gameplay, from professional networks like LinkedIn to personal decisions and social interactions.
We dig into the intersection of Philosophy and Psychology to understand the experiencing self and how we navigate our moments.
Sam emphasizes the importance of understanding the different 'modes' of approaching life's games—machine, intelligent, and zen. He advocates for living authentically, focusing on self-amusement, and challenging societal norms.
Learn to apply some of the more surreal and abstract concepts of the mind into real life:

How to understand what game you are playing?

Establish what is really at stake

Define the rules for yourself to play your own game

Have more fun


The episode encourages listeners to reassess their motivations and redefine what winning means in their personal game of life.

Further reading:


Godel, Escher, Bach - Douglas R. Hofstedter


Finite and Infinite Games - James P. Carse


The Infinite Game - Simon Sinek


The Way of Zen - The Taboo of Knowing Who You Are - Alan Watts


Sponsors:
Cozy Earth: Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them.
35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day.
20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas.
FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology

Meet Sam

Free Call - Schedule Link


Influence the Show

Feedback - Request and Ideas Form


Growth Mindset pod:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.


Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)



Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com


Insta - SamJam.zen



Newsletter - Expansive Thinking



Chapters:
00:00 The Concept of Life as a Game
01:28 The Rules of Life's Games
03:17 The Games of LinkedIn and Appearance
06:30 Life Lessons - Philosophy for fun and success
11:36 Your Point of View is First Player
14:03 The Three Modes for Playing Games
15:00 Applying the Modes to Social Media, News and Health
17:00 Final Thoughts
18:00 Housekeeping and Recommendations

Topics:

understanding life games and personal growth

how to play life games on your own terms

mastering life games for more fun and success

psychological models for better life decisions

navigating life's games with mental models

building mental strength through understanding games

enhancing life strategies with cognitive psychology

applying psychology to everyday life games

tips for playing life's psychological games

dealing with societal expectations psychologically

philisophical insights into life's hidden games

developing self-awareness in life's games

practical psychology for navigating life's challenges


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is the source of anger and how do we learn from everything in life?
This episode explores how to investigate our assumptions and find a deeper understanding of the world around us.
We use psychology to investigate our curiosities and find unexpected and useful lessons for life whilst having fun.
Cool moments coming up:

The difference between Intrinsic load, Extrinsic Load and Germane Load

How Expectation violation is the worst thing ever

Where does anger come from?

Which is Sam's favourite nation on the planet


Further reading:


What's Our Problem - Tim Urban - UK Book - US Book



Tiny Habits - BJ Fogg - UK Book - US Book



Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely- UK Book - US Book



Sponsors:
Cozy Earth: Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them.
35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day.
20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas.
FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology

Meet Sam

Free Call - Schedule Link


Influence the Show

Feedback - Request and Ideas Form


Growth Mindset pod
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.


Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)



Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com


Insta - SamJam.zen



Newsletter - Explosive Thinking



Chapters:
00:00 Curious Investigation and Sam's Newsletter Mishap
03:37 Understanding Cognitive Load Theory
03:48 Intrinsic and Extrinsic Load Explained
05:00 Germane Load and Tangents
07:41 Applying Cognitive Load Theory to Newsletters
09:27 Expectation Violation and Perceived Control
11:56 Reactance Theory and Personal Freedom
14:23 Overwhelm and Habits
15:08 Embracing Curiosity over Anger
19:10 Innovative Ideas for Blog Consumption
21:25 Book Recommendations and Book Club
22:48 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Topics:

applying psychology to solve everyday problems

understanding cognitive load theory in daily life

strategies to manage intrinsic and germane load

how expectation violation affects decision-making and anger

exploring reactance theory in personal relationships

practical tips for managing anger effectively

building sustainable habits using psychological principles

cultivating curiosity for personal growth

implementing a growth mindset in daily activities

using psychology to enhance problem-solving skills

cognitive strategies to reduce daily stress

learning to handle emotional reactions with psychology

techniques for fostering curiosity and innovation

the role of cognitive load in learning new skills

overcoming barriers to personal development with psychology

psychological approaches to habit formation

mastering emotional self-regulation through psychology

insights into reactance theory and personal freedom

practical psychology to improve mental resilience

transforming mindset for better life outcomes


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The secret to unparalleled success is not enduring endless misery.
In fact, it's the opposite. We learn how to amplify our abilities in any domain by making the process more enjoyable and actionable.
The brain is like a muscle analogy is a harmful myth. It is based on some half-truths that on the surface make sense.
Learn:

Why we fail at doing hard things

The differences between brain and muscle training

How to train the brain for success

The biggest misunderstanding of Stoicism.


Further reading:


Feel Good Productivity - Ali Abdaal - UK Book - US Book



Slow Productivity - Cal Newport - UK Book - US Book



The Art of Learning - Josh Waitzkin- UK Book - US Book



Sponsors:
Cozy Earth: Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them.
35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day.
20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas.
FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology

Journal Prompts

Free prompts - Make Hard Things Fun


Influence the Show


Meet Sam - Free call



Feedback - Request and Ideas Form



Growth Mindset pod
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.


Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)



Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com


Insta - SamJam.zen



Newsletter - Explosive Thinking



Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: The Value of Time
01:00 Challenging Conventional Wisdom
01:55 The Mind vs. Muscle Debate
02:54 Memory and Creativity
04:22 Analogies and Insights
07:21 Differences Between Brain and Muscle
11:06 The Role of Stress and Play
14:53 Finding Enjoyment in Learning
15:30How to enjoy learning an instrument
19:24 Why Alexander the Great Achieved so Much
23:42 The Big Conclusion
28:33 Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

Topics:
training the brain vs muscle growth
how to effectively train your brain
differences between brain and muscle training
stress effects on brain vs muscle
career change for personal enjoyment and growth
entertaining the mind for enhanced learning
cognitive training vs physical exercise
best practices for cognitive enhancement
learning an instrument brain training
The secret to Alexander the Great's success
how stress impacts brain functionality
improving brain function without stress
using entertainment to boost brain power
practical tips for brain training
understanding brain health and physical fitness
innovative methods to train the brain
cognitive development through entertainment
effective brain workouts for professionals
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cognitive biases distort reality with good and bad results (like really bad).
Today is a fun experiment where we combine Psychology and History. We learn about the 7 perception-based illusions of Cognitive Biases whilst applying them to the life of Napoleon.
We understand how biases can be useful for us and lead us to greatness and how they can also be our downfall.
Cognitive biases covered:

Selective Perception - Why we see things how we want to see them

Exposure Effect - How repetition makes us likes stuff

Baader-Meinhof Effect - Why we notice our car everywhere after we buy it

Placebo Effect - How to make your leg being cut off less awful

Illusion of Control - Why you can't roll dice

Clustering Illusion - How we spot patterns that don't exist

Contrast Effect - Why comparison makes things awful but also wonderful


Further reading:


Napoleon The Great - Andrew Roberts - UK Book - US Book



Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman - UK Book - US Book



Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely - UK Book - US Book



Sponsors:
Cozy Earth: Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them.
35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day.
20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas.
FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology

Influence the Show


Meet me - Free call



Feedback - Request and Ideas Form



Growth Mindset pod
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.


Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)



Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com


Insta - SamJam.zen



Newsletter - Explosive Thinking



Chapters:
00:00 Princeton Vs. Dartmouth
01:34 Selective Perception in Politics
02:26 Reality Distortion Fields
04:13 Napoleon's Rise and Fall
05:57 The Exposure Effect
09:06 The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon
11:24 The Placebo Effect
15:53 The Illusion of Control
18:59 Napoleon's Russian Campaign
21:25 The Clustering Illusion
25:29 The Contrast Effect
30:00 Reflections on Cognitive Biases
33:11 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action



Topics:
overcoming selective perception for personal growth
using the mere exposure effect to build positive habits
Baader-Meinhof phenomenon and mindfulness practices
applying the placebo effect to boost self-confidence
illusion of control and decision making strategies
clustering illusion impact on personal finance
contrast effect in daily life and productivity
psychology of mindset and cognitive biases
cognitive biases and personal development
improving decision making through understanding cognitive biases
Napoleon cognitive biases analysis
how Napoleon's decisions were influenced by biases
cognitive biases in historical figures
psychological analysis of Napoleon Bonaparte
cognitive biases experiments and examples
Napoleon Bonaparte decision making
impact of cognitive biases on leadership
psychological insights into Napoleon's strategies
contrast effect in Napoleon's campaigns
illusion of control in historical decisions
mere exposure effect examples in history
Baader-Meinhof phenomenon historical examples
selective perception in Napoleon's battles
clustering illusion and military strategy
placebo effect in leadership confidence
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How to break down complexity and build true understanding.
Richard Feynman is a Nobel Prize-winning Physicist and is widely considered one of the greatest teachers ever.
He invented the razor "If someone uses a lot of complexity and Jargon to explain something, they probably don’t understand it."
His 4-step technique uncovers the gaps lurking in our knowledge so we can truly master something.

Further Reading


Biography: Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman - UK Book - US Book



6 Easy Pieces: Feynman's Physics Essentials - UK Book - US Book



Feynman's Lectures: Box set - UK Series - US Series



Sponsors:
Cozy Earth: Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them.
35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day.
20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas.
FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology

Influence the Show


Meet me - Free call



Feedback - Request and Ideas Form



Growth Mindset pod
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.


Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)



Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com


Insta - SamJam.zen



Newsletter - Explosive Thinking




Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: The Power of Emotions in Learning
00:55 The Learning Pyramid: Retention Rates
01:21 Effective Learning Methods
02:05 The Role of Emotions in Teaching
03:51 Introduction to Richard Feynman
04:06 Feynman's Contributions to Physics
05:18 Feynman's Teaching Technique
06:35 Step 1: Go Wide and Then Deep
07:26 Step 2: Explain Like You're Teaching a 5-Year-Old
09:02 Step 3: Feedback, Assessment, and Restudying
10:54 Step 4: Organize, Convey, and Review
14:15 Conclusion: The Importance of Simplicity


Topics
Richard Feynman's teaching techniques explained
Understanding the learning pyramid and memory retention
How to master anything with the Feynman technique
Richard Feynman's coolest experiments and insights
Learning pyramid and retention rates comparison
Feynman's method for effective learning and teaching
Richard Feynman’s approach to mastering subjects
Discussion and teaching methods in the learning pyramid
Audio-visual learning vs reading retention rates
Richard Feynman’s impact on education and teaching
Effective study techniques inspired by Richard Feynman
Mastering complex subjects with the Feynman method
Richard Feynman’s contributions to science education
Learning retention: discussion vs teaching methods
Feynman’s experiments and their educational value
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Uncover the reasons behind your behaviour patterns and what to do about it.
Attachment is a core part of human instinct that is formed incredibly early yet impacts our whole life.
Jessica Baum is a Licensed Mental Health Counsellor, Relationship Expert and author.
Expect to learn:

Why anxious attachment styles develop

How to alter an attachment style

How to communicate effectively with each attachment style

What happens in couple therapy


Sponsor - Cozy Earth
Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them.
35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com

Sponsor - SleepyClub
Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day.
20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

Sponsor - ShortForm
Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas.
FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology

Jessica Baum


Insta - @JessicaBaumLMHC



Website and coaching - BeSelfFull.com



Anxiously Attached - UK Book - US Book



Other Reading


Attached - Amir Levine - UK Book - US Book



Body Keeps the Score - UK Book - US Book



Influence the Show


Meet me - Free call



Feedback - Request and Ideas Form



Growth Mindset pod
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.


Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)



Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com


Insta - SamJam.zen



Newsletter - Explosive Thinking



Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Attachment styles
01:41 Attachment Styles and Growth Mindset
01:53 The Origins of Attachment Theory
05:37 Metacognition in Development
08:12 Couples Therapy for Attachment Issues
12:09 Self-Regulation and Co-Regulation
15:19 Dependency vs Interdependency
19:07 Catastrophizing and Attachment Styles
21:40 Mirror Neurons and Attunement
25:32 Cultural Impacts on Attachment
27:24 Attachment as an Evolutionary Feature
31:22 Signs You Need to Explore Attachment
32:51 Steelmanning Attachment Theory
35:13 Gender Differences in Attachment
37:22 Narcissism and Attachment Wounds
39:09 ADHD vs Disorganized Attachment
42:46 The Imago Dialogue
45:16 Expectations in Attachment Therapy
46:25 Areas for Future Attachment Research
47:49 Boundaries and Implicit Memory
49:28 Neuroception and Building Awareness
51:42 Closing Thoughts and Resources
52:31 Earliest Memories
53:02 Kindest Thing
55:05 Wrap up
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices