Mark Sisson #2: Learning to Pivot Gracefully Through Life

This show was syndicated on the Primal Blueprint podcast. The main man of primal living, the mayo king of Miami joins the podcast again for more reflections about his wild entrepreneurial journey and how to leverage the concept of Mental Flexibility to live long and live awesome. Mental Flexibility is one of the four pillars of longevity covered in our new book, Keto For Life. This book takes the conversation further than the typical boilerplate of eating the right foods, doing the right workouts, and getting enough sleep to be healthy and fit. Mental flexibility entails learning how to go with the flow in life, and have the courage to change course when it’s time to move forward and grow, instead of remaining stuck in a rut. Mark loves the term “pivoting,” particularly in the context of his career ambitions. He was able to leverage seemingly disparate pursuits into continual personal growth and pursuit of new opportunities. If you are interested in thinking outside the box, taking advantage of exciting career opportunities, and especially learning how to not get stuck in personal or professional ruts, this will be a very informative show for you. We also extend the conversation into the other elements of the Mental Flexibility, including: the dangers of rumination and FOMO and how to reject the cultural momentum that pushes you in that direction; how to tap into gratitude when things get stressful and you most deserve a fresh perspective; the incredible importance of live, interpersonal social connection (Biology of Belief author Dr. Bruce Lipton calls it a “fundamental biological imperative”) and the perils of hyperconnectivity and distractibility. Mark’s first show, The Ultimate Mark Sisson Interview, was one of the most popular downloads ever on the Get Over Yourself podcast, so please give that a listen too. We know him as the founding father of the primal/paleo diet and lifestyle movement, but this conversation will give you a fresh new dimension into some other areas where you can transform your life. If you’re into symbolism and spirituality, you are going to trip out when Mark relates his childhood in the rockbound coast of Maine where he would hop from boulder to boulder running along the beach - a parallel to his entrepreneurial journey where he learned to pivot and leverage past experience into new opportunities. Mark then shares his go-to when he’s feeling down, sad or stressed: journaling, particularly gratitude journaling. We then touch on the tech overload and discuss the alarming stats regarding loneliness in America as Mark expresses his sadness at seeing so many people constantly glued to their devices. This leads into a discussion about the health benefits of human connection and social interaction, especially touching and hugging, which is ironic now, considering current events. Mark comments, “It doesn’t make me feel great about the future, if we can’t pull back and start to understand how important human connection is on a one to one basis.” Sure, we’re going to need to hold off on the hugging and touching for some time, but how lucky are we to live in a world that makes it easy to stay connected to our loved ones? Now more than ever, it is clear that human connection plays an integral role in our health and happiness. TIMESTAMPS: Exercise and diet are the easy part.  Mental flexibility is the more difficult part. [05:36] What does Mark mean by “pivoting”?  If something gets in the way of your goal, pivot into a different direction. [07:30] Mark’s entrepreneurial journey went from shoveling snow, to construction, to yogurt and on and on to the guru of ancestral health. [12:05] The common thread is passion and purpose. [17:46] It’s okay to go along with your passion, but how do you pay the rent and support family? [21:59] Business is just a roller coaster. [29:33] The ability to move on after a tragedy is a form of pivoting. [33:49] If you can pursue your goal and not the ego caught up in it, it works better. [37:49] If it didn’t go according to plan, it is not a failure. [39:46] Mark has had a huge effect on people’s health. [41:42] Productivity is measurable, not so much the hours one puts in. [45:04] LINKS: Ultimate Mark Sisson Podcast Keto for Life Mark’s Daily Apple Dr. Ron Sinha Podcast QUOTES: "People today tend to put too much time on the clock and not get enough done." "Our thoughts are at the root of our well-being." "Pivoting means the ability to see a situation that’s not working for you, and to be able to, with ease and grace, move in a different direction." Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-get-over-yourself-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.