by Kyle Brennan
I’ve read more than 50 books on self-help, growth, and personal development. Over the years of reading, I started to notice a common thread amongst all of them, and as a result, I’ve been working for the last few weeks to write a summary of the main ideas, sort of like Sparknotes or a Self-Help …
Continue reading "Ignore All the Self-Help Books. Just Follow These Two Principles"
In this digital age, we're constantly bombarded with inputs - most of them negative and/or anxiety-inducing: Movie trailers, iPhone alerts, Instagram notifications, billboards, emails, new music, podcasts, and news of the world collapsing around us. Cal Newport, author of Digital Minimalism has called this style of living Solitude Deprivation - a state in which you …
80% of happiness is body chemistry Some days I wake up drowsy, others I feel energetic and jump out of bed. Some days I crash at 3 o'clock, other days I get a random burst of energy at 5. Mentally, it's exhausting. I'm constantly living between "Maybe I'm burnt out" and "Maybe I feel this …
Mindfulness, by many, is thought of as a stress-reducing activity. “If I just sit calmly and breathe slowly for five to ten minutes a day I will be less anxious.” While it’s certainly a start, that’s not the inherent point of mindfulness practice. Instead, the “goal” (although having a goal kind of defeats the purpose) …
I never imagined myself being someone who would seek therapy. I held the same mindset as older generations tend to have about it. "What do you need therapy for? I went to Vietnam. I didn't need therapy." We're so quick to prioritize regular check-ups for our physical health, scheduling dental appointments, and picking up prescriptions …
I like trying different hobbies and activities to see what I enjoy. I do a bit of everything: drawing, music, golf, lacrosse, basketball, reading, writing, running triathlons and marathons, fitness, podcasting, and firefighting. I've tried them all to learn more about myself, and I want to get good as quickly as possible. But sometimes our …
Continue reading "From Pressure to Pleasure: How to Make Your Hobbies Fun Again"
Life can be overwhelming and directionless at times. We often feel lost and unsure of where we're headed or what we want to accomplish. In times like these, it can be helpful to have a clear vision and a set of guiding principles to steer us in the right direction. One way to do this …
Continue reading "Direct Your Life Like a Pro: How to Build an Imaginary Board of Directors"
I was recently watching Tiger Woods give a master class on his approach to golf, and one thing that struck me was when he said, “Golf is a game of misses. It's all about minimizing your bad shots, not maximizing your good ones. We all know that out here, everyone's good is good. But how …
Continue reading "From Setbacks to Comebacks: The Secret to Being Good on Your Worst Days"
"I don't like olives." Correction: you don't like olives... TODAY. We're often quick to align ourselves with particular labels or -isms. I'm guilty of it myself. I used to say things like, "I don't like arena concerts" or "I hate going to the dentist." When someone cut me off on the highway without using their …
Continue reading "Why You Should Ditch Your Labels and Eat the Damned Pickle"
Last year, I learned three of my closest friends went through terrible depressive episodes. I had no idea. I felt horrible. As one of their closest friends, I assumed they would call me if they ever needed anything. They knew I would drop everything to help them, right? I quickly realized I was being selfish. …