THE ED MYLETT SHOW

Episode: How to Find Happiness When You’re Pulled in Every Direction!
Release Date: September 27, 2025
Host: Ed Mylett

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ed Mylett dives deep into the perennial question: “How do you find happiness and fulfillment when life pulls you in every direction?” Speaking directly to high achievers balancing business, family, health, spirituality, and side hustles, Ed debunks the myth of life balance, reframes the pursuit of happiness, and shares practical habits that lead to lasting fulfillment. Drawing from personal experience and client stories, he offers strategies for being present, managing guilt, finding your calling, and designing a meaningful life—even amid chaos.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The “Balance” Fallacy and the Reality of Life’s Ebbs & Flows

• Timestamp: 00:42 – 03:43

• Ed challenges the common idea that perfect balance is possible, especially for achievers.

  • “Balance is a complete and total fallacy…every single person I know that’s successful understands it’s impossible.” (Ed Mylett, 00:47)

• Life is about surges: when you excel in one area, others may temporarily plateau or suffer.

• The guilt around imbalance often comes from unrealistic societal expectations.

  • “Balance really equals boredom in our life.” (Ed Mylett, 01:27)

2. The Power of Presence

• Timestamp: 03:44 – 09:00

• The key to impact and performance isn’t juggling everything—it's being fully present in each area at its assigned time.

• Ed describes his struggle with juggling multiple businesses, family, and personal interests.

• Strategy: Leave the phone in the car for the first hour at home to be fully engaged with family.

  • “Present people make the biggest impact…They are their max-out level of performance when they’re in the moment.” (Ed Mylett, 04:42)
  • “The one thing you do when a child walks in the room and you look at the phone, you’re telling them what’s in this phone is more important than them.” (Ed Mylett, 06:26)

• You’ll feel in control and productive when you’re truly present, not divided.

3. How to Prioritize: Schedule What Matters

• Timestamp: 09:00 – 11:30

• Treat family and personal commitments with the same seriousness as business meetings—put them in your calendar.

  • “I schedule appointments with my family just like I do in my business…Why is it that your business gets scheduled appointments and your family gets the after time?” (Ed Mylett, 09:36)

• Design life around family priorities, not the other way around. Build your calendar around your most important relationships.

4. Take Control: Design Your Day Instead of Reacting

• Timestamp: 11:30 – 14:52

• Most people begin their day in a reactive state by immediately responding to others’ demands (via phones, emails).

• Start and end your day “on your terms”: reflection, meditation, gratitude, goal-setting—before letting outside influences in.

  • “You begin your day as a reactor and a responder…and the rest of the world dictates the terms of your life.” (Ed Mylett, 12:32)

• Practicing this brings a sense of control, not just balance, to life.

5. The Observer Mindset for Deeper Gratitude and Joy

• Timestamp: 15:06 – 31:00

• Ed introduces the idea of being an “Observer” of your own life—developing sensory acuity by noticing life’s details, slowing down, and deepening experiences.

  • “The depth of experience is the quality of our life.” (Ed Mylett, 16:23)

• Tactics:

  • Pause to notice small beauties in the world (“God’s stuff”), such as leaves or architecture.
  • Hold eye contact longer when engaging others—genuine connection.
  • Practice mindful breathing.
  • Hold hugs for at least 6 seconds to trigger oxytocin and deepen human connection.
    • “If you hold a hug for six seconds, your brain now floods…serotonin and oxytocin into both of you.” (Ed Mylett, 29:01)

• These practices elevate gratitude, make relationships richer, and help process emotions fully.

6. Redefining Fulfillment: Money Isn’t the Main Metric

• Timestamp: 37:20 – 52:30

• Ed addresses misconceptions about money and happiness, sharing that fulfillment is distinct from transient happiness.

  • “I’ve been happy when I was poor and I’ve been happy rich…and it is clearly my contention that happy rich is better. But…I’m not confused into thinking that money and wealth living oceanfront necessarily make you happy.” (Ed Mylett, 39:28)

• Differentiates between satisfaction and bliss (“Blissful Dissatisfaction”): you can be happy and still desire growth.

• Fulfillment comes from aligning your daily life with your calling or purpose, not simply financial or material gain.

7. Finding and Funding Your Calling

• Timestamp: 43:39 – 52:30

• Myth busting: Your calling may not be your career; your job may simply fund your true mission.

  • “What if your calling is to be a mother and to raise your children? You’re not going to make a lot of money doing that—but for you, it would fulfill you beyond any other thing…” (Ed Mylett, 44:26)

• Encourage side missions or causes—ways to contribute or serve, even if unconnected to your main work.

• True fulfillment always involves using your gifts to serve others.

8. Role Models and Self-Discovery

• Timestamp: 51:06 – 52:32

• Look to your heroes and what you admire in them—their qualities likely reflect latent strengths in you.

  • “The things you admire and see in them—you have a deep intuition that some of those same qualities exist in you.” (Ed Mylett, 51:20)

• Try new things, explore, and follow your curiosity to find your “home”—the place where you feel most aligned.

9. Reinvention and Progress: The Joy of Growth

• Timestamp: 62:37 – 86:25

• Reinvention means intentionally designing new chapters in your life; you are the “co-author” with God.

  • “At any given time, you can grab a new pen and just decide you’re going to design a new chapter of your life.” (Ed Mylett, 63:17)

• Ask yourself: What do I want to feel? What do I want to experience, achieve, or change?

• The brain gets more dopamine from progress than from achievement itself—keep growing, learning, adding new interests (Ed shares his own example of learning Spanish and horseback riding at age 52).

  • “Anything you want to get great at that you become fully passionate about…you will get great at.” (Ed Mylett, 70:31)

• Children are happy because they're always growing—adults can reclaim joy by continually trying new things and pushing for growth.

10. Anchors, Triggers & The Practice of Stillness

• Timestamp: 82:01 – 86:25

• To rewire your life, create in stillness—reflect, meditate, or pray to get clarity.

• Anchor vision with movement: Ed combines physical activity with mental visualization, using finger snaps as a trigger.

  • “Create in stillness. Trigger and anchor in motion. This is something you’re probably not ever going to hear anywhere else.” (Ed Mylett, 84:08)

• Living this way raises your “vibrational frequency,” drawing more good into your life.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Balance really equals boredom in our life. It means everything is sort of vanilla, everything is sort of average.”
— Ed Mylett (01:27)

“Present people make the biggest impact. Present people also are their max out level of performance when they're in that moment.”
— Ed Mylett (04:42)

“You begin your day as a reactor and a responder…and the rest of the world dictates the terms of your life.”
— Ed Mylett (12:32)

“The depth of experience is the quality of our life. Observation causes awareness.”
— Ed Mylett (16:23)

“If you hold a hug for six seconds, your brain now floods…serotonin and oxytocin into both of you.”
— Ed Mylett (29:01)

“What you're looking for is not balance, you're looking for control—the sense of control.”
— Ed Mylett (12:49)

“If you can't learn to be happy when you don't have all these things you think you want, I can promise you won't be happy when you do have all of them.”
— Ed Mylett (39:53)

“You were born to do something great with your life…you’re most qualified in life to help the person that you used to be.”
— Ed Mylett (87:33)

Actionable Takeaways

• Stop chasing perfect balance; instead, embrace that different areas of your life will surge at different times.
• Prioritize presence: Fully engage with the task or person in front of you, leaving distractions behind.
• Schedule your priorities: Put family and personal milestones in your calendar with the same seriousness as business commitments.
• Begin and end your day on your terms: Reflect, meditate, or express gratitude before reacting to outside requests.
• Cultivate observation: Slow down to notice the details—in people, nature, yourself—and deepen your gratitude.
• Pursue your calling: Whether through your main work or a side mission, use your gifts to serve others.
• Embrace reinvention: Regularly ask yourself what you want to change, and try new things, cultivating a growth mindset.
• Create in stillness, anchor in motion: Pair reflection and intention with physical movement to reinforce your vision.
• Celebrate progress, not just achievement: The journey and growth provide the richest joy.

Segment Timestamps Index

• 00:42 – 03:43: The Myth of Balance and Embracing Surges
• 03:44 – 09:00: Presence in Practice
• 09:00 – 11:30: Scheduling Family and Priorities
• 11:30 – 14:52: Designing Your Day, Not Reacting
• 15:06 – 31:00: The Observer Mindset and Deepening Joy
• 37:20 – 52:30: Redefining Fulfillment and the Role of Money
• 62:37 – 86:25: Tools for Reinvention, Progress, and Anchoring Change
• 86:26 – End: Final Encouragement on Growth and Service

Final Thoughts

Ed Mylett’s message is energizing and compassionate: Don’t waste life striving for unattainable balance—double down on being present, serving with your unique gifts, and intentionally designing your path forward. Happiness and fulfillment aren’t found in external markers but in self-awareness, observation, connection, and continuous reinvention. If you’re feeling stretched thin or stagnant, his practical tips and heartfelt reminders can help you reclaim clarity, joy, and purpose.