Start with Small Steps

75 – Go For a Walk, Meet a Neighbor, and Be Happy I love discussing cultural concepts and this week the topic is related to appreciating our surroundings and finding happiness through leisurely walks, taming the environment, and connecting with nature. See how these concepts can help make your life better too. https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3083 https://www.gearpatrol.com/archive/a266818/how-to-appreciate-architecture/ https://www.theemotionmachine.com/take-a-moment-to-appreciate-everyday-nature-that-is-right-in-front-of-you/ https://www.naturalnavigator.com/books-and-library/the-lost-art-of-reading-natures-signs/ https://exploringchatt.com/how-to-truly-enjoy-nature/ https://leafyplace.com/flowering-trees/ Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

74 - Be a Scientist of Your Own Life  I discuss the book “Skip the Line” by James Altucher, it challenges us about how to achieve our goals and dreams. Altucher suggests setting up small experiments in life that are easy to do, have little downside, and have a potential upside. I love the idea of becoming a scientist of my own life and being obsessed with what I’m working on. It’s also important to exercise our “possibility muscle” and find virtual mentors to learn from. And even though it can be scary, leaning into fear is key to making progress. I’m excited to start trying out these small experiments and seeing where they take me. https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3072 https://jamesaltucher.com/blog/a-review-of-my-new-book-skip-the-line/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/700-skip-the-line-into-the-impossible-podcast/id794030859?i=1000513737111 Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

73 - This Episode Correlates to Success I talk about something really important: how to avoid being misled by correlations. I've seen so many people fall for statistical mistakes and manipulations, and I want to help you avoid making the same mistakes. One of the most common ways people manipulate statistics is by cherry-picking data. They'll choose only the data that supports their argument and ignore everything else. Another trick is to mislabel the axis, which can make the data look more significant than it is. And then there are the emotional stories, which can be used to manipulate people's emotions and convince them of something untrue. The key thing to remember is that correlation does not equal causation. Just because two things are correlated doesn't mean one caused the other. It's important to be critical of statistics and charts presented to you and to always ask questions. I hope this will be helpful in understanding how to avoid being misled by correlations. Stay curious and always question the data presented to you! https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3069 https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3069https://statanalytica.com/blog/misuse-of-statistics/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misuse_of_statistics https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/availability-heuristic/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfVaOqLUbZA – How Not to Fall for Bad Statistics – with Jennifer Rogers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E91bGT9BjYk    – How to spot a misleading graph – Lea Gaslowitz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVG2OQp6jEQ – This is How Easy It Is to Lie With Statistics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioxWuCd-mn0 This is how easy it is to manipulate public perception https://tylervigen.com/discover – Spurious Correlations Generator  Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

72 - Can We Trust Statistics? I'm sure you've come across them before, maybe even unintentionally used them yourself. But it's crucial to know when statistics are being misused, whether it's through tainted data, bad questions, or a lack of understanding of sample size. As a consumer of information, it's essential to be able to identify when statistics are being used correctly and when they're not. That's why I'm here to help. I'll be sharing some tips on how to better understand statistics and how to be a smarter consumer of information. So tune in and let's dive in together! https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3062 https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3069https://statanalytica.com/blog/misuse-of-statistics/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misuse_of_statistics https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/availability-heuristic/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfVaOqLUbZA – How Not to Fall for Bad Statistics – with Jennifer Rogers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E91bGT9BjYk    – How to spot a misleading graph – Lea Gaslowitz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVG2OQp6jEQ – This is How Easy It Is to Lie With Statistics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioxWuCd-mn0 This is how easy it is to manipulate public perception https://tylervigen.com/discover – Spurious Correlations Generator  Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

71 – Take On Fear I talk about facing our fears and solving problems instead of avoiding them and encourage people to take small steps towards addressing our fears and turning fear into excitement. I discuss the negative effects of the confirmation, coherence, and compliance effects. I encourage dropping the rope in the tug-of-war with anxiety. I challenge everyone to identify one fear and take small steps toward addressing it, and https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3058 https://stevenchayes.com/a-liberated-mind/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o79_gmO5ppg Jill’s Links https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

 70 - Say YES to Yourself I review the book "Getting to Yes with Yourself" by William Ury which really struck a chord with me. It got me thinking about the importance of negotiating with ourselves and how often we hold ourselves back because of fears and anxieties we may not even be aware of. But by taking the time to listen to ourselves, understand our needs, and find acceptable negotiating points, we can break through those obstacles and ultimately get to "yes" with ourselves. Take a moment to identify one thing you've been telling yourself "no" about and try negotiating with yourself using these steps. You might be surprised at the progress you can make! https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3051 https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=2502 – 27 – Negotiate the River of Your Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrtccgWxrU8 https://www.williamury.com/books/getting-to-yes-with-yourself/ Jill’s Links https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

69 - Let the Reticular Activating System Fill Your Thoughts Today, I talk about the Reticular Activating System (RAS). I've been doing some research on this bundle of nerves in the brainstem that filters out important information and boosts things that it thinks we want to pay attention to. It's fascinating how it can cause dysfunctions like attention deficit or PTSD and even validate negative self-messages. But here's the thing: we can break out of what RAS decides to filter. We can define what success means to us and use the word “intend” instead of “hope” or “want.” By focusing on what we’re good at and what we want to achieve, and setting goals to reinforce it even further, we can strengthen our RAS system. And you know what's even better? The RAS system can be programmed to target something visual or active that we intend to do. So, if we infiltrate our brain with imagery, success, and visualization, we can help ourselves notice that thing more often. So, let's take control of our Reticular Activating System and start achieving our goals! https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3046 https://extension.umn.edu/two-you-video-series/ras https://www.lifeonyx.com/understanding-the-reticulating-activity-system-ras-and-how-it-relates-to-success/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF-RZlaPMpU - RAS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsrkOSTyWCU – WYTAYBA Jill’s Links https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

I discuss the movie “About Time.” I love this movie; it really got me thinking about the importance of living in the present moment. The main character, who discovers he can time travel, initially uses his power to try and fix his life and find love. But as he learns, changing the past can have unintended consequences. In the end, he realizes that true happiness comes from enjoying the present and the people around him. It’s a really thought-provoking perspective on the power and limitations of time travel. I highly recommend giving it a watch! https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3040 Jill’s Links https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

67 – Follow the Red Nose to Your Dreams I’m so excited to share with you my thoughts on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and what we can all learn from it. This classic children’s story is all about accepting and embracing differences, discovering our strengths, and working hard to achieve our goals. When Rudolph and Hermie, the aspiring dentist, faced rejection and discrimination for being different, they banded together and found their own paths. It’s a powerful message that encourages us to embrace our uniqueness and use our skills to make the world a better place. So, let’s dive into this heartwarming story and see what we can take away from it! https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=2993 Jill’s Links https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

66 - Observe and Deduce I share some tips on how to improve your observational skills and use deductive thinking to make better decisions. If you're looking to become more detail-oriented or want to focus 100% on things that matter, this episode is for you! We'll be covering some great strategies, including noticing differences from baseline, understanding people's self-perceptions, and seeing the big picture. I'll be highlighting the importance of critical thinking and deductive reasoning to tell a story based on observations. To wrap things up, I'll share a quote from none other than Sherlock Holmes himself, and challenge you to put your new observational skills to the test. So, listen in and let's get started on this exciting journey together! https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/madeleine-albright-on-her-life-in-pins-149191/ https://www.amazon.com/Think-Like-Sherlock-Creatively-Observations-ebook/dp/B07G2Q1N9J https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=2989 Jill’s Links https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com