Fascinating visit with the expert on "Scarcity Mindset": Michael Easter
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- Why do so many of us struggle with moderation and pursue the unpredictable? Why do we constantly crave more, when we have enough?
In today’s episode, Dawn is joined by Michael Easter, a New York Times Bestselling author, journalist, and professor who wrote the books The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain. Together, they discuss how our society's pursuit of ease has drastically changed the way in which we think and live - and tactics of how to not fall into the scarcity mindset trap!
ABOUT MICHAEL EASTER:
Michael's work explores how we can leverage modern science and evolutionary wisdom to perform better and live healthier and more meaningful lives. His ideas have been adopted by NASA, MLB teams, NCAA D1 athletic programs, US Special Forces units, Fortune-500 companies, top tier universities, and millions of people worldwide.
IN THIS EPISODE:
-How pursuing ease has changed our society
-Scarcity brain
-Why are we bad at moderation
-Our focus on unpredictability
-The relationship between scarcity and creativity
-When to introduce social media to our kids
-Gratitude journals are probably not the answer!
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Scarcity Brain amzn.to/42xvJO2
Comfort Crisis amzn.to/49qZqT6
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Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast channel. If you'd like to hear previous episodes, you can find them on all podcasting apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iTunes.
Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind subscribing? It helps TH-cam recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn
ABOUT THE MINIMAL MOM:
Hi, I'm Dawn, if we haven't met before, I'm married to Tom and we have four kids ages 8-13. We live outside of the Twin Cities in MN and have called ourselves minimalists for 8 years now. We got rid of 85% of our stuff and don't miss ANY OF IT!
If you'd like to see more instructional videos about minimalism and decluttering, be sure to check out my other channel @theminimalmom
Dawn, you pick the best people to interview 😊!
Interesting thought about creativity. My uncle taught art for many years. He found if you give a kid the whole box of 64 crayons they had difficulty drawing stuff but if he gave them three colors they were much more free and creative.
My favorite memory as a kid was doing scavenger hunts in the yard. We’d be given a list of nature items to find, it was so much fun to go around to find the items. We also made tiny villages in the areas around the base of trees using sticks, pine ones, pine needles to make tiny beds. It was so much fun, but I’m old.😂
Warm food tastes so amazing when I’m camping. It’s seems like the best food ever made when it’s made outside.
My favorite food, even now,is pudgy pies! Love cooking over a fire!
What is pudgy pies
@sherryragsdale9571 it is a Doble sided cast iron sandwich maker that seals the sandwich and gives it a toasted outside. Almost like a panini press, but way better.
I remember my sister-in-law saying to her boys once when they were complaining of boredom, she said "great, well just be bored for a while, that's okay." They went off and we heard laughter from the other room within minutes. They'd made up some game and they were all obviously enjoying it.
Yes!! We’ve become a culture of thinking that there’s something wrong with being bored or even having moments of time with nothing to do.
When my kids have no plastic food for their play kitchen, they pretend all kinds of meals from imagination. But when I buy a whole bin of plastic food toys, it gets dumped and they are not as interested. It’s total proof for Dawn’s point about kids toys!
We made a LOT of mud pies when we were young, lol.
It’s the same with screentime for my kids. When our tablet broke, I didn’t replace it and they whined for a couple days then just started reading and drawing for hours on end instead. Too much can be just as harmful as not enough, and it raises young adults that feel an endless desire for more, more, more and can never be content or fulfilled with what they have.
True
Sometimes when I sit with my gratitude journal, I can't think of something to write. It's not that I'm not grateful, but when I'm all caught up with what's going on in my life, I don't want my gratitude journal to say the same thing every day, like my job, my husband, my friend. I guess I wasn't thinking about really getting down to basics like hot, running water, or electricity, etc. This was eye opening. Thank you
Thank you both
I have been carrying my kids a lot, especially as babies, so I am happy to hear it was good for them even if it was so hard. My smallest is turning 2 in few months and I still need to carry him quite a lot and it's breaking my back. 😅
I am in a study group at my church. We are studying the book: Seculosity. The book examines all the things replacing traditional religion today. It resonates in the same way as your conversation.
This interview has been so interesting, as usual. Really has given me a little boost to become more intentional about getting my family outside more, especially since we live on acreage and have no excuses. Thankyou! I grew up on a farm in very hot and humid northern Australia, with no running water let alone hot water, nor even 4 walls on the shed that we lived in and definitely no A/C etc. and even I forget to appreciate what I have now.
I just finished reading “The Open Air Life” (I think) that talks about the value of being outside on a daily basis. Lots of great ideas ❤
This video wasn't at all what I was anticipating about 'scarcity mindset'. I thought it would be about how we 'over'buy' groceries and such because items are regularly not available anymore- since 2020.
More to topic presented, I gave up tv/cable/internet for 3.5 years while going scorched earth to get out of debt. I'm single, older and have an autoimmune disease. While I do work full-time, a side hustle wasn't an option. No extra income other than my lower middle class single income- so I had to take drastic measures to make the Baby Step plan work. Got rid of cable and internet. Turned my heat way down when away- and up to 62 when home. Began cooking everything at home. Those were the things I could have control over. I paid off all debt.
I did buy a new new tv with cash and got home internet service again. Now I really have no real desire to watch tv after learning to go without for so long 😊 I haven't even turned my tv on in close to a year. Being able to be alone with one's thoughts, or spending time outside, or with others is so missing in current society.
We got rid of cable a long time ago but have a lot of free channels but we never turn the tv on either. It's just not a necessity these days.
"Thats not my problem to solve." What a great line to use!!!!
I know personally I do better with less then more. But I struggle from a scarcity mind set so it's hard at times to balance.
That line stood out to me, too, but I think she meant that as an internal thought. Imagine the resentment you’d feel if someone said that to you (when you’re stuck, maybe whiny, but then also reminded that you can’t get support). I think saying, “A thing I know about you is that you’re a creative problem-solver. I’m confident you’ll figure out what to do.” Doesn’t that feel less dismissive while still not taking it on as your problem to solve? No judgment intended; that’s just the way I’m going to spin it.
I went to a wonderful, amazing summer camp in Arkansas as a kid that was all about having old-fashioned fun. One of the things the counselors and staff said all the time was, Only boring people are bored!!
That summer camp was one of the best parts of my childhood. My sons went there 25 years later and would say the same.
Wow Dawn! You have had so many great guests on your podcast already! So cool to watch all youve accomplished over the years. Thanks for all you do!
When this video started, I almost came out of it. Didn’t think it would be interesting. So glad I stayed, that was amazing. Growing up a country girl and realizing that it’s basically common sense he was talking about. You know you’re going to feel better if you get outside some but we don’t because it may take a bit of effort that we don’t think we can expend. Present days have made us lazy at living a better quality of life which for the most past, is free. Love you Dawn.
This was an exceptional podcast. I am going to relisten as there is so much good information to take in. Thank you both.
Oh my goodness!! My daughter is 4 years old and I carry her a lot. People judge me about that.
We carried our kids a lot, rather than using strollers. When they got to be toddlers/very young children, I used a sling that they could easily pop in and out of if we were on a long walk or visiting somewhere. We also co-slept until they were 3-4 years old. Never regretted any of that - we formed very close bonds that exist to this day and yet they were very independent and capable children. It was a comfortable way for us to parent - not everyone would feel the same way.
Omgosh!!! I just finished comfort crisis and picked up scarcity brain at the library!!! So excited to watch this!!
Me too😊
Thank you so much. Can't wait to listen to his books and read his articles.
I truly wish I could go without my phone, but with the torture of tinnitus, I don't have that luxury. It's so stressful to constantly have to have some kind of sound going in your ear pretty much 24/7. Just being able to hear a bird sing makes me cry bc I go for months not being able to
Yes, to Hot water! I thank God everyday that I shower for the hot water. Even more since I came back from Papua New Guinea and my friends would wake up on a cold morning and walk through a cold river waist high to go to work every day. So thankful for bridges, cars and Doctors.
LOVE that you had Michael Easter on! A bit star struck 🤩 😂
I am just loving these podcasts! You have such great questions for the interviews.
I live in northern MN, only a few miles from the BWCA. Talking about nature resets, I couldn't imagine not being able to take my dogs for a hike, or jump in a canoe or boat and go fishing (sometimes on my lunch hour). You also mentioned going for a walk and the corn fields. There is just something about hearing the wind rustling through the corn. ❤❤
@Ann-vr1qr Reading your comment felt like taking a mini vacation. Thank you! ; - D
🌳🛶😃🌽🌤
The Nature Pyramid:
20min 3x/week in a city park - decrease stress, increase creativity
5 hours/month in a state park, still service, on a trail - decrease in depression, increase in happiness
3 days/year in backcountry, no cell service - calm collectiveness, alphawaves in the brain, similar effects as in experienced meditating
Thank you Dawn and Michael! This was great!
I can honestly say I've not watched any of the reality shows y'all talked about except the 1st season of Amazing Race. We do watch a few shows like Baking & such, but reality shows are a huge waste of our time. We deal with our own reality. I certainly don't want to watch someone's else. 😅 I've recently started unsubscribing to emails & YT channels to get some of my time back to do the things I enjoy. I'm glad you dont allow your kids to get on social media. Great podcast. 😊
So much wisdom in this video!!!! Its simple and makes total sense! Thanks Dawn and Michael!!! I so enjoyed this interview!!!
I totally agree about modern humans not having the ability to do hard things and having to manufacture it. we made our own fun in the woods with whatever we could scrounge and imagined the rest! Kids hardly play outside anymore. that has led to people not knowing how to do literally anything (problem solving for one)
Incredible insights! Thank you very much!
Intermittent Reinforcement - BF Skinner. Where I first learned of this type of behavior. Behavior can be pretty interesting.
My favourite podcast of yours to date! So much resinated with me, will def check out his book and newletters. Thank you Dawn 👏👏
I have been waiting for this!!! Thank you Dawn and Michael! You mentioned his book awhile ago, and it is awesome! So pumped to watch this!
This was excellent!!
The nature pyramid or outdoor pyramid is new for me but makes sense. Most of my life, I've been outdoors a lot, but the last few years taking care of my mom with dementia, as well as my son and other responsibilities and i neglected my health. But being outside does lift my spirits and knowing the importance of the pyramid will inspire me to be outside more.
You don't have to move to the Arctic, our water heater went out and I was so grateful for a hot shower.
I just finished listening to both of these books & they were excellent & thought provoking! Really enjoyed the interview!
Really good conversation
I have this gentleman's book from the library - it was recommended by someone who was commentating on someone else I am subscribing to. I am now looking forward to reading it.
I love this video so much. This was amazing and thank you for sharing these ideas. I also love to do what I call digital diets where I avoid all of it for a few weeks to kind of reset myself mentally and emotionally. It's similar to the fasting you mentioned, but I still as an adult have to work and communicate with others.
If my kids said “bored” I immediately gave them work. They each probably only said it once 😂
I have used clear space for about a month- it is awesome!!! I have decreased my mindless scrolling and love if I exceed my bff gets notified!
Another great podcast Dawn!!!!! ❤
Dawn, this was fascinating! ❤
I agree i feel alive 😊😊😊
I can't wait to listen to this again! Some great info.!
Awesome video. I am kinda bummed he is talking evolution so much. It makes my heart want to witness to him so badly. Creation is the way 🌈
What a great episode!
Thank you for this. I know I've been on Facebook too much, and have just deleted it from my phone halfway through watching your video.
Growing up in a narcissistic fam system. It was totally like living the slot machine life. Love was scarce or non existent and they want to keep you “hooked” forever.
I guess I’m doing pretty good now tho lol. Pretty much loathe FB and reality TV. Don’t even bother with the other social media (except for YT lol) and I esp loathe narcissists. Lol. Once you’re tapped out and utterly fed up with so much drama, uncertainty and unreliability, you begin to relish solitude, calm and peace. They call it “boring” but I just call it relief. Lol.
And also here’s the big joke, although it’s not very funny at all. There IS no payout. Keep dreaming if you want to, but it’s super slim odds you’ll ever see anything beyond being jacked around like a yo yo and getting the occasional breadcrumbs. You also are gonna get hurt and robbed. It’s that junkie life ya know and it never ends well. I’d so much rather have small and reliable and solid than continue to be led around by shyster, lying false promises. Always being promised steaks but only really getting gruel slop to eat every day. I just don’t find it at all funny or amusing anymore. And I don’t have a hard time not witnessing the train wreck anymore.
@@goodenoughgirl8102I agree with everything you said. I grew up with four extroverted narcissists around me. Now I enjoy my space, my solitude and highly value my peace of mind and the home I've created.
Dawn, you are awesome! I am so grateful for your work and what you share!
I would love to know where you got your earrings!
LOVE THIS!!
Just read a quote in the the Simple Matters by Erin Boyle, from Kim John Payne today. After listening to this podcast! So good.
Awesome!
? Dawn your painting and lamp behind you are so darn cute, refreshing! No comparison to the shelves full of books behind your guest that are so busy.
Loved this ❤
good interview Dawn
Wow - what a great video. I will say, I gave my son his first smartphone when he went to middle school...more for me...I was worried because he would be farther from home and I wanted to be able to communicate if needed. At that time I told him there would be no social media. He understood and agreed. He was 16 before he was allowed to begin an Instagram account. I fully believe he has had an easier time because we waited.
Not mom's job to say yes to everything they want. Mom's job is to navigate tough decisions and plenty of times that means saying no. ❤
I like the fact that I can download books at the speed I read at......and they don't collect dust taking up space! Hey.....go get your elderly mom or dad and take them for a walk.....
Creation 👍 ✅ Evolution 👎 ❌ // ★May we Trust in JESUS-&-in God’s unfailing WORD (James 4:6-10, 2 Cor 6:2, Titus 2:11-15)-& then Keep Looking UP ^ - now more than ever (Col 3:1-4, Luke 21:28) .. Lord Bless You Dawn & all ❤️
He sounds so much like Shawn Boltz
The Dawn of New Age, Millions and Millions of years!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
So my take away is that scarcity mindset and addictions go hand in hand.😳 Yeah and I did some research on a vacuum and ordered some solutions for hair loss😂😂😂😂😉. I felt just a tiny bit called out😳😂
If his books stop selling, he could have a new career in kids tv…. He has a great voice for a Muppet or a Sesame Street character! 😃
Are we adding machines and computer programs to our brains and chemistry?..And then adding more programs to reduce the power and control of the original programs?...And does it do that by waking up your original, natural brain??
How could i apply this to going to sleep at night--letting go of the soothing effects of entertainment and/or social media, etc and simply falling asleep unaided. One daughter trained her babies to go to sleep simply without aids. How would this look for the elderly widow? I only watched this once so far so i may have missed something crucial. Thank you.
Creating an enjoyable wind-down routine with reminders in the environment is one way to do this. For example an alarm or a lamp that shuts off at a certain time every night and some good books to read before bed so getting off the computer is more fun. : - ) Good luck! 😌😴
Hi! I would say reading, too, using a clip lamp on your book so your room is dark. Fiction is recommended because it doesn't make you think. I read romance because if I read horror or crime I can't sleep.
Turning off the phone at night is awesome. I have fallen asleep very late with it in my hand and I did not rest well. I agree with reading a book with booklight. But absolutely no phone.
As s Christian, how to you rectify the evolution theories he proports?
Evolution does not go against Christianity. God created all, therefore he created evolution.
Even if one doesn't hold to macroevolution, it is still true that humanity has spent most of its history with way way fewer comforts than we have today.
Not in a million years will Dawn answer this.
I’m addicted to TH-cam. I’m working on it but it’s a struggle. I’m sure Trump knows how to be click bait but nobody knows anything that he plans to do or what Biden has done.
I loved the show but IMO the announcer for intro and outro sounds like AI or some 1980s MC or even a spoof?? Your own voice is much nicer. This opinion post is meant to be helpful and maybe even save you money if you decide you don't need the announcer?? No offense if you prefer to delete this & don't want this type of post.
Actually I really don't like that voice over either. I always fast forward through the first minute to avoid him! I happily listen to Dawn, for ages whilst doing laundry and tidying etc!
Definitely don't pay him, Dawn!
I think it’s her hubby isn’t it? Reminds me of Kasey kasum ? Top song radio announcer back in the day 😂 (Not sure on spelling of name lol)
What is the container your drinking from?
Dawn, please get rid of the male narrator voice it's fake, annoying, unnecessary.
I don’t want to be negative but that start up sequence always makes me feel like I’m with a yucky salesperson. Blecch.
I wonder if this mindset is sometimes just a pursuit of things to fill the void of an empty soul, and run from a consciousnesses of God. Not all of it... But likely part of the equation .... 🤔
😊
P
Why is he picking his nose on camera
Goodness me, he speaks ridiculously fast, it’s just a garble of words. I had to slow him down and then Dawn was slurring. When someone is making a presentation surely they should think about how they sound to others.
This guy is an evolutionist but Dawn is not.
Glad someone pointed that out. In any case, not enjoying this anyway. So 👋
Thanks, Dawn!
So interesting! Important to become aware of WHY we do what we do. Thanks Dawn & Michael!
Until this generation, kids never had phones or social media. No idea why kids are not just allowed flip phones for emergency calls, schools could avoid so much drama if that were a rule. The consequences of all the cameras and unfettered activity on smart phones is often dire for children. Parents can control much of that by the devices available, because the companies sure aren't.
Agreed when my teen needs a phone I’m getting them the BASIC
Look up virtual autism. Excessive screen time is not good for kids.
Thank you for this discussion!! I love it😊 inspired 😊
Wait... when did they talk about the "just in case" issue? I heard about scarcity, discomfort, unpredictable rewards....
What are your thoughts on about happiness or lack of happiness being a function of unrealistic or unnecessary expectations? That we don’t need a lot of what we think we want to be happy. Ergo …scarcity may be the key to more happiness.
I'm almost halfway through this video. I cannot relate to being interested in reality shows, especially the Housewives. 😂 I have tried to watch for a few minutes, and it is an excruciating waste of my time, and actually makes my anxiety go up. Maybe it's because I am older now. My son and I used to play guitar hero, and watch Fear Factor together, and we loved it! But, I lost him suddenly, when he was barely 23. I aged quickly after that, and I am 64 now, so I really am "older". Y'all might think my shows are boring. Lol My s/o and I love watching Nature (and other nature shows) on PBS. We also like So Help me Todd, so we are not SO boring. LOL Ok, back to your video.... ❤
Wow… I cannot tell you just how much I LOVE this content & super informative information! I am sending the link to this video to my kids & close friends.
Dawn I invite you to watch a new video by she's in her apron- she's putting away all her kitchen stuff in her new house- you won't believe how much stuff she has in her kitchen !!
I finished reading "Scarcity Brain" last week (just saw this podcast today!), and was fascinated by it. I highly recommend it! "Comfort Crisis" is going to be on my reading list in the future. The overwhelming choices we have today have definitely been a detriment, as are all of the "helicopter" parents and the education system that thinks no one should fail, and yet without failure (which is not fun) we fail to grow, and society will accelerate it's already rapid decline. Yay for authors such a Michael Easter who are willing to go against the prevailing trends and hopefully enough of us will take to heart--and action (or inaction as the case may be)--and we will be happier and more creative. Thanks for this podcast! I am gradually learning to become more minimalist, and I even look forward now to clearing things out, even at a slow pace!
I’m on FB these days to watch your daily video-and check in with distant family. Minimally these days. Recommendation: documentary with tech moguls and inventors of things like the “like” who really regret what they created and are now working toward creating responsible tech. The Social Dilemma (Netflix)
Yeah we don't have a ton of limits around electronics. Like in the summer they can do whatever. We have noticed issues with kids when they are on it or even kids have noticed their own reactions or seeing peers and how they act who have more access to apps that they don't ah e or phones when they didn't have one etc. in the middle school years there is a lot of mental health issues.
So very interesting. Thank you.
2 weeks is a LONG time to hear a kid beg for an electronic device every day. And this doesn't necessarily work for kids with special needs.
That's why she said most kids. Not all kids.
You do have to tailor to fit your circumstances and don't feel guilty if your reality looks different. I work with someone who requires direct prompting and interaction to be able to engage in an activity. A compromise is I schedule a daily outdoor workout for us without fail, as that is very important. Then, because of the limited ability to engage independently except to watch videoes, there is much more screentime allowed than for those who are capable of engaging in alternate activities like reading, sports, or nonsupervised socialization or hobbies. Throughout the day there are other activities interspersed like assisting with chores or playing a game with support or reading out loud. The ideas are great, and I think the idea is to work towards that as you can and it might look different even for different kids in the same family under unusual circumstances.
I recommend reading simplicity parenting. He is a therapist for kids who have special needs. He would say that the devices are making the kids with special needs worse, along with many other factors.