Think about the lens through which we look at and examine our lives (and make decisions based on what we see.) It seems to come down to the question of: What are you optimizing for?
American society's lens is very much encouraging us to optimize for:
However: Many people eventually (or at least at some point in time) find themselves at odd with this way of living. This is all very tied to game theory, but it's the concept that reality is just one big dream/simulation, and if you know that, you're operating at a different level than most people who don't zoom out to acknowledge the game, just stay down in the weeds.
So, as such: are you playing the game as the main character, or are you an NPC/supporting character in someone else's story?
Today's Q: Is there a version of living where you can live a version of your life that's authentic to you and your gut read on what feels right/wrong, even if it's at odds with the "normal" version we've been programmed to strive for? Is it OK to optimize for the version of life that feels like you're taking care of yourself the best way you can, even if it's at odds with previous decisions? Are we allowed to change, and CAN we?
We all build unique internal worlds that are informed by our experiences, the books we've read, the movies/shows we watch, the social media we consume, etc. These all shape our worldview and are one of the big reasons there have been book-burning campaigns over the years, religious teachings that say things like "don't watch this, don't read that, it's smut," and another reason we now have SO MANY different media sources that validate every possible POV on key issues in life.
Today we're exploring this question: How thoughtful are you about your inputs, and have you established any best practices that you've found helpful?
Today's topic was inspired by this article titled Don Quixote & Narrative Identity in a recent edition of Philosophy Now: https://philosophynow.org/issues/161/Don_Quixote_and_Narrative_Identity.
Our general theme is: We are the stories we tell ourselves and our character in that story is always evolving.
Today we're taking a new approach and trying something new by going deep on ONE question.
The question for this episode: What is TRUE?
For more context: One of the most nuanced things about being a human and having a human brain is that almost all the time, many conflicting things are true at the same time. So, how do you filter and land on what you believe is real/true/reliable?
This is especially important during an election year (one reason of many it's top-of-mind) when news angles put all kinds of spins on information within the media context. But this also applies to how we decide which "narrators" within our lives to trust: Parents, partners, friends, etc. vs. our "gut feelings" (fueled by our internal nervous systems.)
How do you know when to defer to logic (past patterns, existing info, and context) and when to defer to your gut (and those feelings of, THIS FEELS RIGHT/WRONG even though it goes against logic.) So: Heart vs. head decision-making when it comes to answering: What's really true here in this situation I'm evaluating?
In our first episode of season two, we got together in Austin to get into the (very gross) upcoming cicada fest, Caitlin Clark's impact, thinking processes, and the seven types of rest (plus more.)
In this episode of Off The Clock, Kaleigh, Allie, and Krista discuss:
🎧 Listen now for more!
In today's Off The Clock, Allie, Kaleigh, and Krista talk about:
Listen now 🎧
For ep 15, Krista, Kaleigh, and Allie decided to take OTC from Zoom back to the real world. What is this, the 90s?
In this episode:
Cheers!
In the first Off The Clock episode of 2024 (🎉), Kaleigh, Krista, and Allie chat about:
And, of course, so much more 🎧 🤌
So long, 2023 👋 In the last Off The Clock episode of the year, Krista, Allie, and Kaleigh reflect on their years and chat about:
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In this episode of Off The Clock, Kaleigh, Allie, and Krista talk about:
And moreeee. Listen now.
In this episode of Off The Clock, Kaleigh, Allie, and Krista talk about:
And so much more!
In this episode of Off The Clock, Allie, Kaleigh, and Krista talk about:
And more ✨
In this episode, Krista, Kaleigh, and Allie talk about:
Have feedback or just want to say hi? Follow us on Instagram at @otc_pod or drop us an email at heyotcpod@gmail.com
In this episode of Off The Clock, Kaleigh, Allie, and Krista talk about:
1. Psychological safety vs. "Safe spaces"
2. Kaleigh's work sabbatical and the importance of giving yourself space
2. Which Gilmore Girls characters suck the most
3. The concept of good faith vs. bad faith
In this episode, Kaleigh, Allie, and Krista chat about:
And more!
In this episode of Off The Clock, Kaleigh, Allie, and Krista mourn not being IRL anymore and talk about:
On this episode of Off The Clock, Kaleigh, Allie, and Krista get to cheers IRL in Chicago! They also get to talk about:
- Are the thinkbois right about morning routines?
- Barbie and Taylor Swift have taken over the economy
- Working remotely in big cities vs. small towns
- Their biggest pet peeves
- The best piece of advice they've ever been given
This week Kaleigh and Allie ask Krista about going viral on Twitter... no, X — which is not a porn site (or if it is, doesn't hold a candle to old Tumblr). From there they talk about the books and media we need to consume to truly understand them, as well as share their ideal vacations.
This week Kaleigh, Allie, and Krista talk about their most boring hobbies, whether they'd go back to college if they could (and which classes they'd take), why Kaleigh can't say y'all, and more. Also, Allie has to put a bunch of money in "the work jar" for slipping up and mentioning work.
