From Exhaustion to Flourishing: The Choices We Make
The salient point of this discussion revolves around the assertion that the choices we make, both trivial and significant, fundamentally shape our existence and ultimately dictate our capacity to flourish. As I delve into the complexities of life’s overwhelming nature, I invite listeners to contemplate how their own decisions influence their well-being. Through a candid exploration of my personal experiences with exhaustion, I elucidate the importance of recognizing the agency we possess in sculpting our lives. By advocating for a mindful reassessment of our daily choices, I underscore that even minor adjustments can yield profound transformations over time. It is imperative that we embrace the notion that our flourishing is intrinsically linked to the conscious decisions we undertake.
The conversation navigates the profound impact of choice on the quality of life, as articulated by Craig Van Slyke. Central to the discussion is the premise that the choices we make—ranging from our daily routines to our long-term commitments—are pivotal in determining our overall well-being and satisfaction. Van Slyke posits that individuals often overlook their inherent capacity to influence their circumstances through conscious decision-making. This episode serves as a catalyst for reflection, inviting listeners to consider how their choices contribute to or detract from their flourishing.
Van Slyke candidly shares his personal narrative of grappling with fatigue and the realization that his extensive workload is a result of his own choices. He emphasizes the importance of reassessing both minor habits, such as dietary preferences, and larger commitments, such as professional obligations. By doing so, individuals can initiate a journey towards a more balanced and fulfilling life. The episode concludes with a challenge to the audience, encouraging them to identify a single choice they can modify to align better with their desired way of living, thereby underscoring the theme that flourishing begins with the choices we make.
Takeaways:
- The choices we make, regardless of their size, significantly shape our life experiences and overall flourishing.
- To achieve a more fulfilling life, individuals must recognize and take control of their decision-making processes.
- Recognizing that many aspects of our lives are influenced by our choices can lead to transformative changes.
- Even small, seemingly inconsequential decisions can accumulate and profoundly affect our life paths over time.
- Individuals should reflect on their daily habits and choices, as altering them can lead to substantial improvements in well-being.
- Flourishing is a result of both major and minor choices; thus, one must strive to align choices with desired life outcomes.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by life?
Speaker AExhausted?
Speaker AFrustrated?
Speaker AThe solution might be simpler than you think.
Speaker AIn this episode of Live well and Flourish, I explore how the choices you make, both big and small, shape your life and determine your path to flourishing.
Speaker AKeep listening to learn about how taking control of your decisions can lead to profound changes in your life and your flourishing.
Speaker AWelcome to Live well and Flourish, where I help you understand what it means to live a flourishing life.
Speaker AI'm your host, Craig Van Slyke.
Speaker AIf you're ready to think beyond material and external success, if you're ready to take control of who you are and the kind of life you live, if you're ready to flourish, this is the podcast for you.
Speaker AI am exhausted.
Speaker ASo exhausted that I've actually been contemplating retirement, which is something I wouldn't have imagined a few months ago.
Speaker AI really don't want to retire just yet, but I need to do something.
Speaker AHave you ever felt this way?
Speaker ALike life is just wearing you down?
Speaker AWhen I complain of being tired to my wife, Tracy, she says something like, of course you're tired.
Speaker AYou work all the time.
Speaker AShe's right.
Speaker AIt's 3:05am As I write this, I'll wrap this up, check some emails, pay a bill or two, exercise.
Speaker AThen it's off to work.
Speaker AAfter a shower, of course, I'll make it home around 4pm so what's with all the whining?
Speaker AWell, I'm venting a little bit, but not really complaining.
Speaker AI'm setting up an important lesson about flourishing.
Speaker AI'm tired because I work a lot, and I work a lot because of the choices I make.
Speaker AThis podcast is an example.
Speaker AProducing Live well and Flourish is a choice.
Speaker ANobody's forcing me to do this.
Speaker AIn addition to Live well and Flourish, I produce two other podcasts, Cyberways and AI Goes to College and write an average of two articles a week for my AI Goes to College newsletter.
Speaker AAll of these are choices.
Speaker AThey are not part of my regular job.
Speaker ACyberways is affiliated with the university, but it's not something that's a required part of my job.
Speaker ASo if I want to work less, I have to make different choices.
Speaker AIt's really that simple.
Speaker AWell, over half of the work I do is by choice.
Speaker ANobody is forcing me to do this work, especially in the twilight of my career.
Speaker AThe calculus is really pretty simple if I want to be less tired.
Speaker AMake different choices.
Speaker AWe often get so caught up in daily life that we forget just how much control we have over our lives.
Speaker AMuch of life is a series of choices, big and small.
Speaker AThese choices determine the path your life takes the good and the bad.
Speaker ASure, there are random events and events that are well beyond your control, but even within these, you have choices.
Speaker AAs Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher, points out, you can always control your opinion of things, even when you can't control those things.
Speaker AFor me, I need to make different choices about how I spend my time.
Speaker AIf you're not satisfied with some aspect of your life, take control by rethinking some of your decisions.
Speaker ADon't focus solely on the big decisions.
Speaker AIn many cases, the little, seemingly inconsequential decisions add up to big effects.
Speaker AMaking better decisions may be easy, or it may be challenging and require considerable effort.
Speaker ALet's start with the simple decisions.
Speaker ATake my daily habit of snacking on chocolate covered pecans.
Speaker AOh, I love those things.
Speaker AThey're amazing.
Speaker AI grab a couple once or twice every day.
Speaker AIf I'm not happy with my weight, I need to make different choices about snacks, for example, by not eating chocolate covered pecans.
Speaker ADecisions are often linked.
Speaker AIf I want to stop eating delicious pecans, I should maybe stop buying them Changing many aspects of your life comes down to making small choices that put your life out of alignment.
Speaker AIf you're not flourishing in some aspect of your life, look for a few small decisions that might be leading you down the wrong path.
Speaker AIt might be pecans, it might be watching television.
Speaker AWhatever.
Speaker AJust pick a couple and make different choices.
Speaker AYou'll be amazed at how much of a difference this will make.
Speaker AOver time, your better choices will inspire you to make further changes, leading to an upward spiral of flourishing.
Speaker ANow let's talk about bigger choices.
Speaker ABy the way, I'm using choices and decisions interchangeably.
Speaker ASince decisions are literally choices, bigger decisions require more time and effort spent on identifying and analyzing the decisions.
Speaker ALet me give you an example.
Speaker AAfter thinking about what I can change, it occurred to me that I spend a lot of time on editorial and review work.
Speaker ARight now I'm co editor of two special issues for academic publications, serve as an editor of some sort on five journals, and I'm co chairing a track at a major conference.
Speaker AThis is in addition to reviewing over a dozen papers every year.
Speaker AI do this because I'm part of an academic community, so I still need to contribute, but not to this extent.
Speaker ASo I've started turning down more review requests and will resign from one or two editorial positions in the coming months.
Speaker AI could also give up one or more of my podcasts or my newsletter, but I'm not going to why?
Speaker ATwo factors come into play.
Speaker AFirst, I find the podcasting and newsletter writing stimulating and enjoyable.
Speaker AThey also help me serve my purpose of helping others lead successful, meaningful lives.
Speaker AThe review and editorial work it's no longer enjoyable, so after some analysis, my choices seem straightforward.
Speaker AIf I'm still tired after making this choice, I'll do further reflection and work on other choices.
Speaker AIt's important to realize that all of this is triggered by an awareness that your choices serve as the foundation for your flourishing.
Speaker AIf you want your life to be different, make different choices.
Speaker ASo simple, but so often forgotten.
Speaker AYou may not control every aspect of your life.
Speaker ANobody does.
Speaker ABut you do control many parts of your life.
Speaker AYou have a degree of control that you might have overlooked.
Speaker AExercise that control by making choices that align with the life you want to lead and the person that you want to be.
Speaker ABig or small, your choices control your flourishing.
Speaker AHere's your challenge for today.
Speaker AIdentify just one choice, big or small, that you can adjust right now.
Speaker ATake control.
Speaker AMake the right choice.
Speaker AAnd remember, your flourishing starts with your choices.
Speaker AUntil next time, make the right choices.
Speaker AMy friends.