[Note: This is an updated version that corrects the audio file.] Patience serves as a formidable act of rebellion against the pervasive demands of our hyperconnected world, which incessantly encourages immediate gratification. In this discourse, we delve into the notion that cultivating patience is not merely beneficial for individual well-being, but a crucial strategy for resisting the algorithms that seek to dominate our attention and dictate our emotional responses. The incessant interruption...
May 26, 2025•7 min•Season 2Ep. 130
What if I told you that true resilience isn't about climbing mountains or weathering storms, but about handling the countless paper cuts that life deals us every day? In this episode, we're diving into an unexpected source of wisdom about resilience: the Grateful Dead's "Touch of Grey." Together, we'll explore why those daily annoyances—from traffic jams to critical colleagues to that scratch on your favorite watch—might actually be your best teachers in living well. Think about it: while we're ...
May 12, 2025•7 min•Season 2Ep. 129
At the heart of today's conversation is a simple but powerful idea: logic alone isn't enough to live a truly excellent life. The most important decisions we face require more than just logical thinking—they need to be guided by our virtues, our sense of purpose, and our connections with others. When we combine these elements, we make choices that align with what matters most to us, leading to a life of real meaning and fulfillment. Craig draws on Aristotle's wisdom here—he understood that living...
May 05, 2025•7 min•Season 2Ep. 128
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 scul...
Apr 28, 2025•8 min•Season 2Ep. 127
Doom scrolling represents a pervasive phenomenon that imperils our quest for flourishing and well-being. In this discourse, I elucidate the insidious nature of doom scrolling, detailing how it infiltrates our lives and undermines our mental health. I share personal experiences that illustrate the detrimental effects of mindlessly consuming negative content online. More critically, I propose actionable strategies designed to mitigate the adverse impacts of this modern affliction, emphasizing the ...
Apr 21, 2025•9 min•Season 2Ep. 126
The episode addresses the pressing issue of a mental health epidemic, a phenomenon that appears to be pervasive across various demographics within our society. Craig Van Slyke articulates the alarming statistics that indicate a significant rise in mental health challenges, with adult mental illness rates escalating from 19.1% in 2018 to 23.1% by 2022. Through a candid examination of daily conversations and observed trends, we delve into the underlying factors contributing to this crisis, includi...
Apr 15, 2025•8 min•Season 2Ep. 125
To live an excellent life, one must understand the foundational pillars that support true virtue, reason, purpose, and connection. In this discourse, we delve into these four fundamental elements that collectively foster a life of extraordinary significance. By exploring how these pillars interrelate, we illuminate the path toward not merely existing, but flourishing with intention and meaning. Our discussion aims to equip you with the necessary tools to embark on your personal journey toward ex...
Apr 07, 2025•10 min•Season 2Ep. 124
Feeling overwhelmed by your daily tasks? In this episode, Craig Van Slyke introduces the PITA Matrix, a practical tool designed to help you identify and manage stress-inducing activities. Many of us continue with tasks that drain our energy simply because we think they're essential. Learn how to use this simple but powerful method to understand your stress sources and develop effective strategies to manage them. If you're ready to reclaim your time and energy, this episode offers valuable insigh...
Apr 02, 2025•11 min•Season 2Ep. 123
What does it mean to live an excellent life? While many equate excellence with achievements and productivity, this episode challenges these conventional notions of success. Through personal reflection and insight, we explore a transformative perspective on excellence that goes beyond the superficial metrics celebrated in today's society. Many individuals, despite adhering to societal prescriptions for success, find themselves in a state of dissatisfaction, which prompts a critical examination of...
Mar 26, 2025•6 min•Season 2Ep. 122
The revival of *Live Well and Flourish* is predicated upon the profound realization that the pursuit of an excellent life is not merely a matter of planning, but rather an emergent process that unfolds organically. I have returned to this podcast after a hiatus, motivated by a rekindled desire to engage deeply with the concept of living a life imbued with meaning and purpose. This revival seeks not only to reflect on my own journey but also to assist listeners in navigating their paths toward fl...
Mar 18, 2025•8 min•Season 2Ep. 121
After over three years and more than 100 episodes, I've decided it's time to step back from Live Well and Flourish. Producing this podcast has become more of a job than a passion, contributing to stress rather than alleviating it. Although new episodes will no longer be released regularly, past episodes will remain available at livewellandflourish.com for you to revisit whenever you wish. Plus, stay subscribed, as I may occasionally drop new episodes when inspiration strikes. For those intereste...
Sep 30, 2024•4 min•Season 2Ep. 120
Stress can literally kill you ... if it's not managed well. In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig shares his insights on the three main causes of stress: uncertainty, isolation, and overload. He discusses how each of these factors can bring about stress and offers suggestions on how to prepare for better managing your stress through reflection and performing an uncertainty inventory. Can a Hermit Flourish? https://www.livewellandflourish.com/can-a-hermit-flourish/ ------ Live Well and...
Aug 26, 2024•15 min•Season 2Ep. 119
(This is a re-release of episode 43 of Live Well and Flourish.) Conflict is a part of human relationships, and relationships are critical to flourishing. So, knowing how to effectively manage these inevitable conflicts is an important aspect of living a good life. In this episode, Craig discusses four important conflict management approaches based on the importance you place on relationships and task outcomes. He also gives some general tips for managing conflict well. --- Emotional contagion: h...
Aug 19, 2024•15 min•Season 2Ep. 118
(This is a re-release of episode 31 of Live Well and Flourish.) Being able to control your emotions to minimize unnecessary suffering, and to maximize positive feelings is important to your flourishing. In this episode, Craig discusses emotional regulation and provides some strategies for taking control of your emotions and emotional responses. There's also a goat story! Notes Five Families of Emotional Regulation Strategies S trategy family Example strategies Situation selection Avoidance Situa...
Aug 12, 2024•16 min•Season 2Ep. 117
(This episode originally aired before our name change from Rational Ignorance to Live Well and Flourish.) Grief comes from loss. But gratitude should accompany grief. Listen as Craig reflects on the puzzling relationship between grief and gratitude, and how a deeper understanding of how they interact can help you deal with grief, and prepare for future grief. ------ Live Well and Flourish website: https://www.livewellandflourish.com/ The theme music for Live Well and Flourish was written by Haze...
Aug 05, 2024•19 min•Season 2Ep. 116
Reflection is a learning, growth, and flourishing superpower. The world is often a chaotic, puzzling place. Reflection is how we can make sense of the world and our place in it. As the Jesuits at Boston College put it, “Reflection is the way we discover and compose the meaning of our experience.” In this episode, Craig discusses critical self-reflection and its many benefits. He also describes a systematic method for reflection and offers three things you can put into practice that will help you...
Jul 29, 2024•13 min•Season 2Ep. 115
Do you ever feel like you’re going through life on autopilot? Most of us have, but life doesn’t have to be that way. Join Craig as he discusses mindfulness and its benefits. Mindfulness is an active, conscious process where you’re more open to the present as well as more attentive and aware of the moment. According to Dr. Ellen Langer there are three specific behaviors related to mindfulness: engagement, seeking novelty and producing novelty. Listen to the episode to learn what to do to practice...
Jul 22, 2024•12 min•Season 2Ep. 114
Do you have a purpose in life? And do you know the difference between purpose and goals? In this episode you’ll learn how purpose is an elemental foundation to guiding your life and flourishing, as well as a means for having more focus and resilience when faced with the challenges of life. It’s also important to understand that you already have purpose, it’s already in you, and it is not something that you can find, but rather discover. By following the steps covered in this episode, you’ll be a...
Jul 15, 2024•14 min•Season 2Ep. 113
When you have a low sense of personal control, you suffer increased stress, anxiety, depression and negative mood. Your physical health also suffers. In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig discusses the effects of personal control and provides some insights into how to increase your sense of personal control to improve your mental and physical health, and to help you flourish. The Small Wins Strategy of Change - https://www.livewellandflourish.com/the-power-of-small-things-the-small-wi...
Jul 08, 2024•15 min•Season 2Ep. 112
Like assumptions, our generalizations can limit your flourishing by putting blinders on how you see the world. Generalizations help us make sense of a complex world; generalizing is a fundamental human function. Most of the time, our generalizations serve us well. But, when we make generalization errors, bad things happen, such as stereotypes that lead to prejudice. In this episode, Craig discusses how we make generalizations, why they're necessary, and how generalization errors and overgenerali...
Jul 01, 2024•18 min•Season 2Ep. 111
Are your assumptions limiting you? (Spoiler: Yes, they probably are.) Assumptions are necessary for getting through the complexity of life. However, some of our assumptions, when untested, can hinder flourishing by limiting the way you view and think about the world. In this episode, Craig discusses assumptions, how they're formed, why they're so persistent, and what you can do to free yourself from the cage of your assumptions. Living Well Through Mindfulness: https://www.livewellandflourish.co...
Jun 24, 2024•17 min•Season 2Ep. 110
(This is a re-release of episode 29 of Live Well and Flourish.) In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig discusses the small wins strategy of change, which involves breaking big changes into a series of smaller changes such that each of the small changes has its own value. This is the last of a three part mini-series of episodes on the power of small things. Weick, K. (1984). Small wins: Redefining the scale of social problems, American Psychologist, 39 (1), 40-49. https://homepages.se.e...
Jun 17, 2024•14 min•Season 2Ep. 109
(This is a re-release of episode 27.) Do you want to make the world a better place? Try a little kindness. In this episode, Craig discusses the power of micro-kindness, small acts of kindness, which are small sincere and voluntary acts and attitudes, intentional or unintentional, that communicate compassion, generosity and service towards others, and that signal that we recognize the value and dignity of other people. Practicing micro-kindness not only has benefits for others, you benefit as wel...
Jun 10, 2024•13 min•Season 2Ep. 108
Welcome to Live Well and Flourish, the podcast that helps you use practical wisdom to live an excellent life. In this episode, Craig challenges today's hustle culture, which seems to value the constant busyness over true excellence. He discusses the negative impacts of nonstop work and draws on timeless wisdom to dig into the benefits of rest. Craig also announces a temporary hiatus from the podcast to recharge. During the break he will re-release classic episodes during. He seeks feedback for t...
Jun 03, 2024•13 min•Season 2Ep. 107
In this episode, host Craig Van Slyke opens up about a significant mistake he made relating to the podcast. He shares his initial reactions, the immediate consequences of the error, and the insights and wisdom he gained from the experience. The episode discusses the emotional and practical aftermath of the mistake and provides valuable advice on how to navigate mistakes and setbacks in life. Key Points: Craig candidly admits to making a substantial mistake that impacted the podcast, and he discu...
May 20, 2024•16 min•Season 2Ep. 106
In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig explores the profound connection between music and philosophy. He digs into the idea that music has the power to trigger deep thoughts and contemplation, effectively leading to the practice of philosophy in our daily lives. He also give his take on what it means to "do philosophy." Craig shares personal experiences with country songs that sparked philosophical reflection and emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's own philosophy of life. Li...
May 06, 2024•17 min•Season 2Ep. 105
Whether it's paying thousands of dollars for a generator or a few dollars on an escape hatchet, preparation can pay considerable physical and psychological dividends. Yes, being prepared is a wonderful thing; it can help reduce anxiety and uncertainty. But focusing too much on preparation can have the opposite effect, over preparation can actually INCREASE anxiety and uncertainty. Join Craig as he unpacks the complex relationship among preparation, uncertainty, and anxiety. The episode begins wi...
Apr 22, 2024•15 min•Season 2Ep. 104
When life threw its harshest curveballs at me, from health crises to the heart-wrenching loss of those closest to my heart, I found myself grappling with the very philosophies I've long championed. In this intimate sharing, I peel back the layers of my journey, revealing how the wisdom of Stoicism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Aristotelian virtue unexpectedly became my lifeline in the storm. We all encounter rough patches, but it's the principles we've woven into the fabric of our lives that hold...
Apr 08, 2024•12 min•Season 2Ep. 103
Ever find yourself inexplicably tense, fatigued, or on edge, as if your body is sounding an alarm? Your instincts aren't wrong; it's the distress signal of allostatic overload—the crux of our latest Live Well and Flourish discussion. Join me, Craig Van Slyke, as we unearth the buried mechanisms of stress and its staggering toll on our health. The journey from understanding stress to mastering its effects requires patience, insight, and the right tools. We navigate through the nuances of episodic...
Mar 25, 2024•17 min•Season 2Ep. 102
Navigating the delicate interplay of intelligence and wisdom can be as complex as it is profound. Today's journey begins with a glimpse into a personal loss—a story of my beloved dog, Maggie—which opens the door to a much larger conversation. We tackle the misconceptions surrounding intelligence, often mistaken for wisdom, and explore how various types of smarts, whether it’s bookish intellect or street savvy, don't inherently lead to wise decisions. This episode peels back the layers of what it...
Mar 11, 2024•17 min•Season 2Ep. 101
