The Life Coach School Podcast - Episode #529: Satisfaction

Release Date: November 7, 2024
Host: Brooke Castillo

Introduction

In episode #529 of The Life Coach School Podcast, Master Coach Brooke Castillo delves into the multifaceted concept of satisfaction. She interweaves three pivotal ideas—Deciding Again, Wanting What You Have, and Goal Cultivation—to provide listeners with a comprehensive framework for achieving a fulfilling and satisfying life. Castillo emphasizes the importance of conscious decision-making, self-awareness, and purposeful goal setting in cultivating lasting satisfaction.

1. Deciding Again

Understanding Deciding Again

Castillo introduces the concept of Deciding Again, encouraging individuals to reassess and redefine their life decisions periodically. This practice involves consciously choosing who you want to be, setting new goals, and making deliberate choices about various aspects of your life, such as where you live, your personal style, and daily habits.

“Deciding again is a concept that I encourage all of you to participate in, which is every single year you decide everything in your life again...” (02:30)

Importance of Regular Decision-Making

Regularly revisiting your decisions prevents stagnation and ensures continual growth. Castillo highlights that without this practice, individuals may remain tethered to past identities and habits, hindering personal evolution and success.

“It’s a really powerful exercise to own your life by deciding regularly and not by living in default.” (05:10)

Overcoming Past Identities

One of the significant barriers to growth, according to Castillo, is allowing past decisions and identities to dictate current actions. By Deciding Again, individuals can break free from these constraints, fostering a dynamic and evolving sense of self.

“It’s very challenging not to be run by your past decisions, by your past self, and by your past identity.” (04:15)

2. Wanting What You Have

Exploring Wanting What You Have

Castillo shifts focus to the practice of Wanting What You Have, an exercise designed to enhance self-awareness and appreciation. She encourages listeners to list both the things they desire and the things they already possess that they genuinely want.

“Want from a place of abundance created desire and dopamine within me. And gratitude is being thankful for what you have, which is different than wanting what you have.” (13:45)

The Exercise Explained

1. List Desired Items: Start by writing down at least 25 things you want, ranging from the mundane to the significant.
2. List Already Owned Items You Want: Continue by listing items or aspects of your life you already possess but consciously want and appreciate.

Benefits of the Exercise

This dual-listing process shifts the mindset from scarcity to abundance. By recognizing and wanting what you already have, individuals cultivate a sense of desire rooted in abundance rather than gratitude. This approach fosters deeper satisfaction and reduces the constant yearning for more.

“I decided to continue the list and to list everything on there that I really wanted that I already have. And it blew my mind because the feeling that I had from that was desire and not gratitude.” (12:30)

Personal Anecdote

Castillo shares a personal story about not knowing her favorite flowers, highlighting the common struggle of seeking external validation rather than internal satisfaction. This realization propelled her journey toward self-discovery and authentic desire.

“What I wanted was always based on pleasing other people and not on myself.” (09:20)

3. Goal Cultivation

Defining Goal Cultivation

The third concept, Goal Cultivation, involves setting extraordinary and ambitious goals that challenge and expand one’s capabilities. Castillo emphasizes that goals should inspire growth and be approached from a place of satisfaction rather than scarcity.

“Goal cultivation is about cultivating extraordinary, impossible, amazing goals that invite you to grow and evolve.” (18:10)

Balancing Satisfaction and Aspiration

Castillo navigates the delicate balance between being content with what you have and striving for more. She posits that true satisfaction arises when individuals can set and pursue goals without compromising their sense of fulfillment.

“True satisfaction comes from consciously living your life on purpose. Not based on other people and not based on your past, but based on who you are right now...” (26:45)

Letting Go of Old Strategies

Achieving new goals often requires abandoning old strategies and identities that may no longer serve one's evolving self. Castillo advises embracing change and being open to redefining oneself to reach new heights.

“You need to give up a winning strategy that has gotten you this far in order to adopt a new strategy to get you to the next place.” (20:25)

Integrating the Concepts for Satisfaction

Interrelation of Deciding Again, Wanting What You Have, and Goal Cultivation

Castillo masterfully connects the three concepts, illustrating how they collectively contribute to a life of satisfaction:

1. Deciding Again ensures continual self-alignment and growth.
2. Wanting What You Have fosters appreciation and satisfaction from within.
3. Goal Cultivation propels individuals toward new achievements without diminishing current fulfillment.

“When you want what you have and decide again what you want and what you have, then you can go into the process of goal cultivation.” (21:30)

Avoiding the Scarcity Trap

Castillo warns against the common pitfall of seeking constant achievements from a place of scarcity, which leads to perpetual dissatisfaction. Instead, she advocates for a mindset shift towards abundance and anticipation.

“Instead of redeciding, do I still want this thing, or do I want more of this thing... True satisfaction comes from consciously living your life on purpose.” (24:50)

Conclusions and Final Thoughts

Living with Purpose and Satisfaction

Brooke Castillo concludes by reinforcing the importance of living intentionally. She urges listeners to embrace the practices of Deciding Again, Wanting What You Have, and Goal Cultivation to achieve a balanced and satisfying life.

“Living within satisfaction by redeciding, wanting and setting goals is the best way I know how to do that.” (31:10)

Encouragement for Listeners

Castillo offers encouragement to those feeling overwhelmed by change, reminding them that transformation is possible and that satisfaction is attainable through conscious effort.

“You don’t have to change anything. But at least tell yourself the truth. I want this, but I’m not pursuing this and this is why.” (28:40)

Call to Action

Listeners are invited to actively engage in the satisfaction-building exercises over the next six weeks, aligning their lives with purpose and fulfillment.

“Over the next six weeks as we’re preparing for the new year, really setting yourself up to be fully satisfied with this life in this moment.” (29:55)

Key Takeaways

• Deciding Again: Regularly reassess and redefine your life choices to align with your evolving self.
• Wanting What You Have: Cultivate appreciation and desire for existing aspects of your life to foster inner satisfaction.
• Goal Cultivation: Set ambitious goals from a place of abundance, ensuring they contribute to personal growth without sacrificing current fulfillment.
• Integrated Approach: Combining these concepts leads to a balanced, purposeful, and satisfying life.
• Mindset Shift: Transition from scarcity to abundance and anticipation to enhance overall well-being and satisfaction.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “Deciding again is a concept that I encourage all of you to participate in...” (02:30)
• “It’s a really powerful exercise to own your life by deciding regularly and not by living in default.” (05:10)
• “Want from a place of abundance created desire and dopamine within me...” (13:45)
• “What I wanted was always based on pleasing other people and not on myself.” (09:20)
• “Goal cultivation is about cultivating extraordinary, impossible, amazing goals...” (18:10)
• “You need to give up a winning strategy that has gotten you this far...” (20:25)
• “When you want what you have and decide again what you want...” (21:30)
• “Instead of redeciding, do I still want this thing...” (24:50)
• “Living within satisfaction by redeciding, wanting and setting goals...” (31:10)
• “You don’t have to change anything. But at least tell yourself the truth...” (28:40)
• “Over the next six weeks as we’re preparing for the new year...” (29:55)

Conclusion

Episode #529 of The Life Coach School Podcast offers a profound exploration of satisfaction through the lenses of decision-making, self-appreciation, and goal setting. Brooke Castillo provides actionable insights and exercises, empowering listeners to cultivate a life of purpose, fulfillment, and continuous growth. By integrating Deciding Again, Wanting What You Have, and Goal Cultivation, individuals can achieve a harmonious balance between appreciating the present and striving for future aspirations.