Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement
Growth Mindset Psychology
There are a lot of opinions on how to master your mind, but then there’s PSYCHOLOGY.
We’re all stuck with the brain we’re born with, but we aren’t stuck with ho...
The Science Behind Changing Your Mind (and how to build better taste)
The problem with being human is that we believe our version of truth is the truth.
Not because we’re bad—but because we’re wired that way.
This episode is a story of blindness. Not the kind you see—but the kind you don’t even know you have. You’re not as open-minded as you think.
That’s not an insult—it’s just how the brain works. We shortcut. We judge. We protect our ego like it’s a vintage vinyl.
In this episode, I dive into the strange ways our own minds trick us into thinking we're rational, original, and morally superior. I walk through how prejudice isn't just about race—it's about music, anger, taste, careers, and even your opinion of running. You’ll hear about blind spots in your day-to-day that quietly shape your reality, and how to start noticing them before they run the show.
Takeaways:
Why your opinions probably aren’t your own
Why improving your taste is more important than finding your passion
A simple trick to challenge your ego without bruising it
You can’t change the world if you can’t first question the lens you’re using to see it.
This episode won’t change your mind—you will.
Feedback
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: The Science Behind Changing Your Mind (and how to build better taste)
Chapters:
00:00 You are wrong about a few things
02:19 Why is Prejudice So Hard to Notice
03:48 How Prejudice Happens
05:25 Lacking Awareness of What Change Would be Like
07:23 Communication
09:05 Where People Live
12:36 Lesson from Rick Rubin
13:22 Talent vs. Skill
16:05 The Issue of Feeling Special
17:34 3 Stories to Ground Yourself
17:48 1st - Being 1st isn't the best
20:33 2nd - other people's problems are also our problems.
22:27 3rd - Don't be A Racist
25:24 Send Off
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31:56
How to stop worrying about small problems that don't matter (and kill your perfectionist)
Ever notice how you'll curse for days when stuck in traffic but never celebrate hitting all green lights? Your brain's flaw-detection software is working overtime.
In our quest for the ideal—the perfect relationship, the flawless investment, the dream career—we often miss the opportunity to appreciate what's already working. This isn't about lowering standards; it's about recognizing diminishing returns and the opportunity costs of perfectionism.
Gratitude research shows that people who accept small imperfections actually experience more satisfaction and happiness. It's not about settling—it's about optimizing for what truly matters and recognizing the diminishing returns of chasing perfection.
Identify what's truly non-negotiable versus what's just a small cost of admission
See where you get stuck in diminishing returns of perfectionism and break out of the cycle
Reframe "tolerating flaws" as "accepting the whole, complex reality" of what you value
Ready to stop obsessing over small flaws and start enjoying the ride? Your ticket to a more satisfying life is waiting.
Feedback
Sam is launching a workshop for building certainty in an uncertain world
Opinions here
https://form.jotform.com/250963827592368
Related Episodes
How to stop catastrophising
Psychology of Control - Why your brain overcomplicated everything
How to build emotional intelligence
Upgrade to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
🗣️ Feedback Form - Creating certainty in an uncertain world - https://form.jotform.com/250963827592368
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: How to stop worrying about small problems that don't matter (and kill your perfectionist)
Chapters:
00:00 Hardwired for problem seeking
00:55 Concept of paying the price of admission
01:23 Relationships
04:43 Stock markets
06:02 More examples
08:42 Gratitude and Game Theory
10:41 Perfectionism and diminishing returns
12:55 Martha Nussbaum and the Descent of Love
13:58 Positive and negative flywheels of gratitude and perfectionism
15:48 Chang Chang and the Broken Vase Garden
17:17 Send Off
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23:43
What creates lasting willpower and resilience: the 4 types of motivation
The psychology of mental strength and how to achieve your goals.
The path to extraordinary achievement isn't paved with enjoyment. It's built on something far more powerful: alignment with our deepest values.
Sustainable motivation comes not from the pleasure of the journey but from how we connect our actions to what matters most to us. This isn't about willpower or discipline—it's about meaning-making.
When we frame our challenges within the context of our personal values, we transform mundane or difficult tasks into meaningful steps toward who we wish to become. The student studying for exams, the entrepreneur facing rejection, the artist pushing through creative blocks—all can tap into this deeper well of motivation by connecting present struggles to future purpose.
Topics:
The real source of mental strength
4 exercises to build the right type of motivation
How to live closer to your values
What if your next challenge became not a test of endurance but an expression of who you are becoming?
Feedback
Sam is launching a workshop for building certainty in an uncertain world
Opinions here
https://form.jotform.com/250963827592368
Related Episodes
3 habits of mental strength
Psychology of Fear
How to build emotional intelligence
Upgrade to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: What creates lasting willpower and resilience: the 4 types of motivation
Chapters:
00:00 Hiking through the coastal path of UK
01:58 Building a stronger mindset and unstoppable motivation
02:37 Nuances of human motivation
04:43 Extrinsic motivation examples
07:20 What drives people to continue
08:20 4 types of motivation
13:36 Identifying personal values
14:04 Eulogy method
15:30 Odyssey plan
16:49 Radical Path
17:53 Wheel of life
19:59 Aligning your actions with your values
24:33 Celebrate small wins
25:48 Seek feedback and reflect on it
27:03 Send off
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34:28
The Psychology of Hypnosis: It's not what you think
What if the key to unlocking your potential was already within you, nestled within the folds of your own mind?
Today we're diving into the science and psychology of hypnosis. It isn't about stage tricks or loss of control. It's about accessing a state of focused attention where the critical mind steps aside, allowing for profound change.
Not only do we learn about how the subconscious mind can be accessed but the techniques and ways that work, backed by science.
It's the difference between forcing yourself to diet and naturally craving healthier foods. Between lying awake, anxious, and drifting effortlessly into restorative sleep. It's not about what you do, but how you perceive. In this state, pain can become bearable, fears can dissolve, and long-held patterns can shift.
Understanding hypnosis is a reminder that our experience of reality is malleable, shaped by the lens through which we view it.
What is going on in the brain during hypnosis
Explore self-hypnosis as a tool for personal growth
Reframe challenges using hypnotic visualization
Ads - Hypnozio
A revolutionary self-hypnosis app.
Hypnozio.com - Code GROWTH15
Related Episodes
Loud Thoughts: Anxierty, Depression, ADHD & the Default Mode Network
Psychology of Fear
How to stop catastophising
Fun videos:
Kenny Craig's hypnosis dinner date
Ellen Degeneres being hypnotised to stop smoking
Tim Ferris interviewing Dr David Spiegel about hypnosis -
Sources:
To see sources, please scroll to the bottom because there are many...
Feedback
Sam is launching a workshop for building certainty in an uncertain world
Opinions here
https://form.jotform.com/250963827592368
Upgrade to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Chapters:
00:00 The Power of Hypnosis in Surgery
00:43 Common Misconceptions About Hypnosis
03:28 Hypnosis in European Hospitals
04:46 What Hypnosis Can't Do
05:42 How Hypnosis Works in the Brain
08:57 Hypnosis for Sleep Improvement
12:07 Hypnosis and Eating Habits
14:11 Hypnosis for Exercise Motivation
15:30 Hypnosis for Addiction
19:28 Hypnosis for Anxiety and Phobias
20:29 The Science Behind Hypnosis
21:30 Practical Tips for Anxiety Relief
22:33 Hypnozio: A Self-Hypnosis App
23:53 Pros and Cons of Self-Hypnosis Apps
26:45 Who Benefits Most from Hypnosis?
31:05 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
33:11 Definitely not Sam pretending to hypnotize listeners to leave good reviews because he is a responsible host who would never try such ridiculous things
33:42 Outro
Sources:
Under the knife with hypnosis - https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18725111-800-under-the-knife-under-hypnosis/
Heroin addiction - https://theriversource.org/blog/how-hypnosis-is-used-to-treat-addiction/
Hypnosurgery - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnosurgery
Switzerland trials - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17728216/
Copenhagen Hypnosis murders - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_hypnosis_murders
Hypnosis and sleep - https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/full/10.5664/jcsm.6952
Hypnosis and insomnia - https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hypnosis-for-insomnia
Weight loss meta-analysis - https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-006X.64.3.517
Hypnosis and addiction - https://theriversource.org/blog/how-hypnosis-is-used-to-treat-addiction/
Befreinding your vagus nerve - https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1089&context=mindfulness_theses
Celebs and hypnosis - https://www.hipnose.com.br/en/blog/hypnosis/matt-damon-and-hypnosis/
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34:31
Mental, moral and physical laziness - how to beat our modern addictions
What if the path to a meaningful life isn't paved with comfort, but with deliberate discomfort?
In this episode, we explore the insidious nature of "flabbiness" - not just of body, but of mind and spirit. We'll uncover how our modern world lulls us into a state of complacent existence, and why the easy path often leads to the hardest life.
Through stories of transformation and philosophical insights, we'll challenge the notion that happiness comes from avoiding difficulty. Instead, we'll discover how embracing challenge and responsibility can lead to a life of purpose and fulfillment.
This isn't just about self-improvement; it's about redefining what it means to truly live in a world that often encourages us to merely exist:
Choose your hard: Decide which difficulties are worth embracing
Create your own resistance: Design challenges that grow you
Reframe comfort: See ease as a tool, not a destination
Are you ready to trade comfort for meaning? The choice is yours.
Feedback
Sam is launching a workshop for building certainty in an uncertain world
Opinions here
https://form.jotform.com/250963827592368
Upgrade to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: Mental, moral and physical laziness - how to beat our modern addictions
Chapters:
00:00 Discover Your Habits - The Good and The Bad
00:54 Crack the Code - 3 Stages of Flabbiness
01:44 Rise Above Flabbiness
02:03 1st Stage: Conquer Physical Flabbiness
02:59 2nd Stage: Escape the Grip of Mental Flabbiness
03:43 3rd Stage: Battling Moral Flabbiness
04:56 Adventure Awaits
05:37 Explore Alastair Humphreys: "There Are Other Rivers"
05:57 Embrace Imperfections In Your Life
06:32 Victim mentality
07:36 Take Control of Your Life
08:56 Rewire for Success: Transform Your Mindset
09:59 Mental Reshaping: Beyond Your Comfort Zone
11:56 Small Good Habits As Fuel For Growth
12:12 Stanley Milgram and social influence
13:00 Stoicism and dichotomy of control
14:03 Buddhism the escaping suffering
15:26 Taoism and desire
17:37 Build The life You Want To Have
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Acerca de Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement
There are a lot of opinions on how to master your mind, but then there’s PSYCHOLOGY.
We’re all stuck with the brain we’re born with, but we aren’t stuck with how we use it.
Learn science-backed answers to make the most of your mind and your life.
CURIOUS?
Growth Mindset Psychology is the "self-help sceptic" podcast for the curious.
Whether you want to improve performance, navigate setbacks, or know who you are.
We find answers to the true science of self-improvement.
So put down the astrology chart and start working with your mind, instead of against it.
With over 8 million downloads and 60,000 monthly listeners, you’re invited to join.
PROCESS
Instead of telling you what to think, we discuss how thinking works.
Armed with a stack of science journals, textbooks and a boatload of curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of the mind.
Why? >>> Success is personal!
You might want to make the most of your neurodiverse strengths, start a business, or simply find more reasons to smile.
Hone your ability for independent thinking and growth with mental models to pursue your definition of success.
HOST
I’m Sam Webster Harris, a lifelong learner with ADHD, a raging curiosity, and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions.
After launching several businesses, travelling the world and nearly dying a few times I concluded that science and Psychology are where it’s at.
What actually makes people happy? What’s the best way to treat a brain? How can I get more done?
Studying the answers we find that changing behaviours requires building mindsets, mental models, and a healthy relationship with failure.
I run the show to help listeners enjoy nutritious content that feeds their minds (and I needed a legitimate excuse to cover for my reading addiction).
PREMIUM
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ARCHIVE
Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum.
Past series:
— Psychology vs Stoicism
— Time Management for busy mortals
— Independence and knowing yourself
— Cognitive biases and rational thinking
— Psychology of connection
— Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets
Escucha Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement, Dr. Mario Alonso Puig y muchos más podcasts de todo el mundo con la aplicación de radio.net