+1: #315 Expecto Patronum!

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Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another Optimize plus one. Continuing our Harry Potter theme, let's explore how to deal with dementors in your life. Recall that dementors are big, ugly, wraith like creatures that feed on and suck all the happiness out of you. And if they're feeling really feisty, they'll give you a kiss that sucks your soul right out of you. Yikes. Also, recall that there's a special way to deal with these foul creatures. It's called the Patronus Charm. Here's how Professor Lupin describes it to Harry in. In the Prisoner of Azkaban. The Patronus is a kind of positive force, a projection of the very things that the dementor feeds. Hope, happiness, the desire to survive. But it cannot feel despair as real humans can, so the dementors can't hurt it. But I must warn you, Harry, that the charm might be too advanced for you. Many qualified wizards have difficulty with it. Harry wonders what the Patronus looks like, and Lupin tells him that each one is unique to to the wizard who conjures it. How do you conjure it? Well, Lupin tells us, with an incantation, which will work only if you are concentrating with all your might on a single very happy memory. So dementors feed on your happiness, and if we allow them to, they will suck our very souls out of us. Sounds a lot like depression, huh? Indeed it does. Fighting dementors requires magic that even many qualified wizards have difficulty with. Alas. So it is with depression, the charm we must concentrate with all our might on a single very happy memory. Yep, that does the trick with depression as well. We know that the mind can't simultaneously hold both the depressed and happy thoughts. But we must be fierce in our resolve and concentrate with all our might if we want to win the battle with. When the dementors glide into our daily lives, eating, moving and sleeping will help too. So does training your ability to focus with all your might via a meditation practice. Oh, and deep breathing helps as well. Flips the old switch from the fight or flight response, which Dementors love, to a relaxation response, which they don't like so much. So, back to Harry, the specific incantation we powerfully speak as we focus on that happy memory, Expecto Patronum, which reveals another key facet to fighting the dementors. We must expect that our efforts will work all that leads to a wonderful creature flowing out of your wand and standing between you and the Dementor. As Lupin says, it's different for each of us. For Harry it was a stag. For Hermione it was an otter. What's yours? Mine is a lion. Now today's plus one. You got any Dementors gliding around in your life? Focus with all your might on what's awesome in your life. Know that you can protect yourself from them. Expecto patronum. And a P.S. if you have had an encounter with a Dementor. Rowling tells us that the best way to recover is to eat some chocolate. Which science agrees that chocolate does boost your mood. But let's just make sure we limit it to one ounce per day and make sure it's 80% plus dark chocolate. Too much sugar does not help the cause. And a PPS here. Remember the epic stag Harry created to fight off the hundred plus dementors near the end of the Prisoner of Azkaban? Hermione couldn't believe he could do that. Even Harry couldn't believe it. But because of Hermione's handy dandy time Turner, Harry had actually already seen himself do it. As he said in disbelief, I know I could do it. I knew I could do it this time because I'd already done it. Does that make sense? Which reveals yet another scientifically proven piece of wisdom. Recalling prior success is one of the fastest ways to boost your self efficacy in the moment. So let's add that to the mix. Focus with all your might on what's awesome in your life. Know that you can protect yourself from them. And recall a time in the past when you successfully face down your biggest challenges. And give me a big ol Expecto Patronum.

Isn't it a bit odd that we went from math to science to history but somehow missed the class on how to live. For some wacky reason, optimal living 101 never made the schedule.

Of course it's too late to go.

Back and change that and you're too busy to read full time to catch up. But if you're like us, you're all about optimizing your life and actualizing your potential. So imagine this. Imagine having someone read the best books on how to optimize your life and pull out the big ideas that can really change your life. You know those sections you underline and asterisks and mark all up? Then imagine that guy me connecting those awesome ideas to other great books and helping you actually apply the wisdom to your life today. Well, that's what I do with something we call Philosopher's Notes, where I've distilled hundreds of great books into 20 minute super practical summaries. Then imagine me taking the absolute best big ideas from those great books and sharing them with you in hour long Optimal Living 101 classes on everything from productivity, purpose and confidence to nutrition, goal setting and conquering procrastination. Helping you optimize every facet of your life so you can actualize your potential. You've got a personal trainer. I'm kind of like your personal philosopher. Ancient wisdom plus modern science plus practical tools. That's what our optimized membership program is all about. If you're feeling it, we'd love to have you join us.