Pursuing the Excellent Life

Videos

May 5, 2025

Elevating Existence: How Reason Shapes an Excellent Life

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.…

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April 28, 2025

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…

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April 21, 2025

Doom Scrolling: A Hidden Threat to Your Well-Being

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…

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April 15, 2025

Hope Amidst the Struggle: Taking Control of Your Mental Well-Being

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…

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April 7, 2025

Crafting Your Path to an Excellent Life: A Framework for Flourishing

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…

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April 2, 2025

The PITA Matrix: Your Guide to Reducing Work-Related Stress

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…

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March 26, 2025

Is Your Pursuit of Success Hindering Your Flourishing?

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…

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March 26, 2025

Reviving Excellence: The Return of Live Well and Flourish

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…

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June 3, 2024

The Value Of Taking A Break

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…

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May 20, 2024

Navigating Mistakes Through Practical Wisdom

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May 6, 2024

Music, Philosophy and You

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…

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April 22, 2024

Preparation, Uncertainty, and Anxiety

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,…

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April 8, 2024

Beyond Reason: Finding strength in Philosophy, Faith, and Self-Grace

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,…

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March 25, 2024

Understanding and Overcoming Allostatic Overload: Navigating Stress for a Healthier Life

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March 11, 2024

Being Smart Doesn't Mean Being Wise

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,…

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Feb. 26, 2024

From Rational Ignorance To Practical Wisdom

Discover seven powerful maxims that can redefine your approach to life and unlock a more fulfilling existence. As I, Craig Van Slyke, reflect on the journey of Live Well and Flourish, I'm proud to share the wisdom that has not only shaped this podcast but also my personal path to…

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Feb. 12, 2024

Are You A Good Person?

Reflecting on the profound legacy left by my late wife, Debbie, I was reminded of the incredible impact one individual's goodness can have. In our latest heart-to-heart podcast episode, I delve into the essence of what it means to be good, exploring the internal characteristics and external behaviors that embody…

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Feb. 11, 2024

Deconstructing Failure: The 3A's Pathway to Growth

Have you ever faced a setback and wondered how it could possibly lead to success? Let me, Craig Van Slyke, reveal to you the transformative power of the 3A's method: Acceptance, Analysis, and Adjustment, in the latest episode of Live Well and Flourish. We'll unravel the intricate relationship between failure…

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Jan. 29, 2024

Deconstructing Failure: The 3A's Pathway To Growth

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Jan. 18, 2024

Exercising Agency

Are you steering your life with conviction, or are you waiting for someone else to hand you the reins? Join me, Craig Van Slyke, as we unpack the concept of personal agency and its transformative impact on life. Life's complexities often leave us second-guessing our abilities, yearning for permission, and…

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Jan. 15, 2024

Exercising Agency

Are you steering your life with conviction, or are you waiting for someone else to hand you the reins? Join me, Craig Van Slyke, as we unpack the concept of personal agency and its transformative impact on life. Life's complexities often leave us second-guessing our abilities, yearning for permission, and…

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Jan. 10, 2024

Small Acts Of Courage

Ever pondered on the potency of tiny pledges of bravery? The promise is simple - small, consistent acts of courage can transform your life, leading to personal growth and ethical evolution. Dare to diverge from the traditional concept of courage being linked only to physical bravery, and unearth a new…

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Jan. 3, 2024

Small Acts Of Courage

Ever pondered on the potency of tiny pledges of bravery? The promise is simple - small, consistent acts of courage can transform your life, leading to personal growth and ethical evolution. Dare to diverge from the traditional concept of courage being linked only to physical bravery, and unearth a new…

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Dec. 27, 2023

Leveraging The Holidays

Embrace a unique lens to view the power of special days. Tune in and find out how celebrating holidays and special days can enhance our lives, not just religiously, but also through fostering community, self-reflection, and personal renewal. While the joy of gathering and sharing brings us closer, these occasions…

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