OPTIMAL BLOG

The holidays invite warmth, connection, celebration—and no shortage of temptations. Rich foods, busy schedules, shortened sleep, travel, and emotional triggers all converge into the perfect storm for depleted willpower. But willpower is not simply a matter of “try harder.” As neuroscientist  Dr. Andrew Huberman  and psychologist  Kelly McGonigal both emphasize, willpower is a trainable, biological capacity. When you understand how it works in the brain and body, you can work 

What is your relationship with stopping? For many of us, “stop” feels like an interruption, an obstacle to our momentum, a moment of friction in a world that prizes constant motion. Yet in mindfulness practice, stopping isn’t a breakdown of flow; it’s the rediscovery of it. The simple act of pausing, even for a single breath, allows us to shift from reaction to response, from being swept away by impulses to steering our course with intention. The  STOP technique  -  Stop, Tak

Every year on October 10, the world pauses to recognize  World Mental Health Day , a reminder that our well-being is worth protecting and...

In recent years, the self-help industry and social media feeds have been flooded with motivational slogans:  “Good vibes only.”   “Think...

There is a silent war raging within us. It’s not fought with weapons or armies, but with thoughts, emotions, and habits. It’s the battle...

In the fast-pace of modern life, we often find ourselves checked out - from the moment, from our breath, from our bodies, and even from...

Imagine: a neuroscientist scans your brain while you think about yourself. A very specific area lights up—what researchers call the ...

Every year, on May the 4th, Star Wars fans around the world celebrate the timeless legacy of a galaxy far, far away. But this year, what...

What does it truly mean to take responsibility? Often, we associate responsibility with duty, obligation, or accountability. But what if...

In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of taking intentional breaks—whether a full Sunday pause or shorter intervals throughout the...

As the calendar flips to a new year, millions of people around the globe vow to make transformative changes in their lives. From eating...

Do you remember the last time that you let out a big granddaddy sigh? Felt pretty good, eh? Science says there’s a reason for all that...

What separates those who succeed from the rest of the pack? HARD THINGS! Hard things are the wall that must be overcome to move from...

Have you skipped an exam question because you didn’t know the answer only to return it later and somehow the answer has become clear?...

An object at rest tends to stay at rest, an object in motion tends to stay in motion. Are you suffering from the law of inertia? Picture...

Recently, I went solar. Eleven panels installed on the roof absorb the energy of the sun and funnel it directly into the house to satisfy...

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it's easy to overlook the small, yet powerful, actions that contribute to our overall...

The extraordinary intelligence of Albert Einstein has fascinated scientists and the general public alike. One of the most quoted...

As February 14th snuggles in, it’s time to ask who’s your valentine? Does your own name make the top ten? In her 1943 novel, The...