Mar. 17, 2021
Passion, Success, and the Benefits of Living an Unbalanced Life
What exactly is passion? In this episode of the XTERRA Podcast the “Scottish Rocket” Lesley Paterson and sports psychologist Dr. Simon Marshall talk to best-selling author Brad Stulberg about the different types of passion and how harmonious passion is better for us than obsessive passion.
“There's all kinds of research that shows that people who exhibit harmonious passion have greater life satisfaction, greater overall well-being, and also longer-term sustained performance,” said Stulberg.
He also explained that being able to identify your own mind and body conditions go a long way towards finding the right balance.
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“This idea of self-distancing is practicing ways to remind yourself that “hey, like, this isn't the whole universe, step outside of your situation and gain some perspective,” said Stulberg. “One way to do this is to put yourself in the way of beauty and experience that “Ah” moment. For some people this might mean going to a museum and spending a day without distractions, looking at art. For others, it might be listening to really profound music without distraction. And for others, myself included, it often means just spending a day unplugged in nature. There is nothing like spending a day in nature for me to help me realize what's really important and what really matters and what I want to spend my time doing.
Listen to this episode above or read the full episode transcription here.
ABOUT THE GUEST
Brad Stulberg explores the principles of health, wellbeing, and mastery that transcend capabilities and domains. Whether you’re trying to qualify for the Olympics, break ground in mathematical theory, launch a business, craft an artistic masterpiece, or raise a family, many of the practices underlying sustainable success and wellbeing are the same and supported by scientific evidence. Brad writes about these topics in his regular column in Outside Magazine, as well as for the New York Times, Wired, New York Magazine, NPR, Forbes, and Sports Illustrated. After completing a stint in the White House with the National Economic Forum, he’s now the author of two best-selling books, with co-author Steve Magness, The Passion Paradox: A Guide to Going All In, Finding Success, and Discovering the Benefits of an Unbalanced Life, and Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, And Thrive with the New Science of Success. Brad coaches executives, entrepreneurs, and athletes to develop and harness productive passion using evidence-based principles of mastery and success. You can keep up with Brad here (www.bradstulberg.com) or on twitter @BStulberg.
ABOUT THE PODCAST
Hosted by five-time off-road triathlon world champion Lesley Paterson and her husband Dr. Simon Marshall, the new XTERRA Podcast explores the stories and science behind the quest to Live More. The XTERRA Podcast will feature guests who live, work, and play off the beaten path, share first-person accounts of epic outdoor adventures, and provide valuable tips from industry leaders in the physical and mental health industries.
Find The XTERRA Podcast on major platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio. You can always look here as well to use our embedded player to listen to every episode.
Learn more about the podcast here: xterraplanet.com/podcast
YOUR HOSTS
Lesley Paterson & Simon Marshall
Lesley Paterson is a five-time world champion triathlete, professional mountain biker, coach, motivational speaker, reluctant fitness model, and foul-mouthed Scotts lassie. Growing up in Scotland, Lesley was the only girl who played rugby on an all-boys team. When boobs appeared she was banned from playing with the boys so she started competing in running and triathlon. Lesley went on to become a national champion in cross country and an international triathlete.
Dr. Simon Marshall grew up in Africa and the UK. He spent his childhood playing rugby, soccer and tennis before finding competitive cycling. He started training and racing at age 12 and hasn't stopped. Simon has a bachelor’s degree in Sports Science, a master’s degree in Kinesiology, and a PhD in Sport and Exercise psychology. He is a former Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology at San Diego State University and Professor of Behavioral Medicine at the University of California, San Diego.
Simon and Lesley own Braveheart Coaching – a San Diego based company that trains endurance athletes to be faster and happier. Together they wrote the best-selling book, The Brave Athlete - Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion (VeloPress, 2017).
