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 ...
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...
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 underm...
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...
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 li...
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 d...
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 ...
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 ret...
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 alleviatin...
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 ...
(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 ...
(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...
(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 betw...
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, “Refle...
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 y...
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 ...
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 p...
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 t...
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 t...
(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 change...
(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 volu...
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 exc...
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 ...
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...
