← Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

How to Achieve Anything You Want in Life with Marie Forleo #86

Dec 4, 2019 1h 22m 29 insights
CAUTION ADVISED: this podcast contains swearing. What’s holding you back in life at the moment? Is there a problem – be it practical or emotional, to do with your health, relationships, work, finance or anything else – that seems insurmountable? Whatever your struggle, my guest on this week’s Feel Better Live More podcast believes that the solution is already within you – that you have what it takes to transform or transcend any challenge you face.   She’s Marie Forleo, a US entrepreneur, writer, philanthropist and, above all, an unshakeable optimist. I caught up with Marie on the London leg of a promotional tour for her new self-help book, Everything Is Figureoutable. The title is quite a promise but after listening to what she has to say, I think you’ll be inspired to think the same way.   We discuss perfectionism and why comparing ourselves unfavourably to others – so common in this age of social media – can really threaten our creativity. We also discuss the truth about excuses, the liberating difference between ‘can’t’ and ‘won’t’, and why a growth mindset is preferable to a fixed mindset if we want to make changes in our lives. Whatever it is that you want from life, I think Marie’s strategies will shift you into a more positive mindset and help you take action. This is a really energising and inspiring conversation – I hope you enjoy it! Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/86 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Say “Everything is Figureoutable” Aloud

Say “Everything is Figureoutable” out loud as often as possible throughout your day to embed this belief, create new neural pathways, and train your brain to focus on solutions with creativity, innovation, and resilience.

2. Cultivate a Growth Mindset

Understand that your talents and skills are starting blocks, not fixed limits; embrace challenges and failures as opportunities to grow and improve through effort and dedication.

3. Distinguish “Can’t” From “Won’t”

Break free from excuses by understanding the distinction between “can’t” and “won’t”; recognize that “can’t” is often a euphemism for “won’t,” meaning you don’t want to make the effort or sacrifice.

4. Strive for Progress, Not Perfection

Focus on making consistent progress rather than aiming for unattainable perfection, as this mindset increases work quality, allows for learning from failures, and fosters continuous growth.

5. Create Before You Consume

Build the habit of creating before consuming by engaging in activities like meditation, writing, or working out before checking social media, email, or news, to shift your ratio towards more creation and less passive consumption.

6. Share Your Unique Voice

Recognize that your genius is unique and unrepeatable; share your dreams, gifts, products, or messages with the world, as your voice is needed and you are stealing from those who need you most if you don’t.

7. Believe You’re Not Broken

Experiment with the idea that you are not broken, but rather have unhelpful ideas or habits, which opens your mind to new possibilities, curiosity, learning, and experimentation, fostering hope and creativity.

8. Build a Supportive Community

Create a “figureoutable force field” by building a supportive community around you, starting with just one person, to help you navigate challenges and achieve your dreams.

9. Focus on Controllable Actions

When facing challenges, identify and focus on the things you can control and the actions you can take, rather than dwelling on what’s beyond your influence, to feel empowered and make progress.

10. Reframe Mistakes as Learning

View all “mistakes” as learning opportunities where you extract growth, rather than losses, to foster a mindset that continuously moves you forward.

11. Mind Your Language

Be mindful of the language you use to describe your life and situations, as subtle shifts in words can profoundly change meaning and permeate into your brain and being, shaping how you define yourself.

12. Pursue Meaningful Work

To avoid burnout and exhaustion, focus on the quality of your work by ensuring it’s rooted in something you deeply believe in, care about, or contributes to others. This makes intense work enjoyable rather than grueling.

13. Do What Makes You Alive

Combat fatigue by actively engaging in activities that make you feel alive, as fatigue often stems from a lack of engagement in meaningful pursuits, not just overwork.

14. Take Immediate Action

From every inspiring conversation, identify at least one actionable tip and apply it to your life immediately, ensuring that inspiration translates into concrete action and tangible change.

15. Practice Self-Compassion

Release guilt and feelings of not “winning at life” by practicing self-compassion, especially when prioritizing important roles like being a parent, as this can paradoxically open up more energy, time, and freedom.

16. Stop Comparing Yourself

Cease comparing yourself to others, as “the moment you compare, you lose”; instead, enjoy your own life, honor others’ journeys with compassion, and stay rooted in your unique path.

17. Apply Figureoutable Rules

Use the three rules of the “figureoutable” philosophy: 1) all problems/dreams are figureoutable, 2) if not, it’s a fact of life, and 3) if you don’t care enough, find something you do care about, to guide your problem-solving.

18. Embrace Hard Work for Solutions

Understand that finding solutions to challenging problems or dreams requires time, hard work, and perseverance, accepting that you may stumble along the way, but ultimately you will find a way to transform or transcend the challenge.

19. Support Others’ Dreams

Initiate building your supportive community by sharing the “figureoutable” philosophy with a potential “running buddy” and offering support for their dreams, rather than immediately asking for support on your own.

20. Seek New Ideas and Tools

Actively seek out and expose yourself to new ideas, tools, and concepts that can help you live the life you desire, recognizing that a lack of exposure, not inherent brokenness, may be the barrier.

21. Empower Children with Growth Tools

Equip children with tools, mindsets, and healthy perspectives to grow from challenges and adversity, rather than shrinking from them, preparing them for inevitable life struggles.

22. Apply Principles to Health

Apply the “figureoutable” principles to making health changes in your life, as these universal truths are highly applicable to improving how you feel and live.

23. Try Vivo Barefoot Shoes

Get 20% off Vivo Barefoot shoes and a 30-day free trial by visiting vivobarefoot.com/livemore to experience minimalist footwear benefits for mobility and pain.

24. Pre-order “Feel Better in 5”

Pre-order “Feel Better in 5” (available in UK, Australia, New Zealand, India) to access a practical, 5-minute daily program for health and well-being, currently offered at half price for pre-orders on Waterton’s and Amazon.

25. Read “The Four Pillar Plan”

Read “The Four Pillar Plan” (or “How to Make Disease Disappear” in US/Canada) to gain a blueprint for health and well-being in the 21st century, filled with practical take-home tips.

26. Read “The Stress Solution”

Read “The Stress Solution” to identify sources of stress in your life and learn simple, practical tips to manage it, helping you feel happier and calmer in response to the 21st-century health epidemic.

27. Subscribe to Podcast YouTube

Subscribe to the podcast’s YouTube channel (drchastity.com/YouTube) to watch full conversations or highlights, especially for friends and family who prefer video over audio podcasts.

28. Join/Start Podcast Club

Join or start a “Feel Better Live More” podcast club on Facebook (DrChatsG4PillarCommunityTribe) to connect with like-minded people, discuss episodes, and share insights in person.

29. Support Podcast with Review/Share

Support the podcast by leaving a review on your listening platform (e.g., Apple Podcasts) and sharing screenshots on social media to help spread the word to friends and family.