<a href="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/JohnAssaraf.png"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-2250" src="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/JohnAssaraf.png" alt="John Assaraf" width="287" height="190" srcset="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/JohnAssaraf.png 287w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/JohnAssaraf-250x166.png 250w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/JohnAssaraf-82x54.png 82w" sizes="(max-width: 287px) 100vw, 287px" /></a>Good intentions pave a road to nowhere good… right?  But why is it that even our best of intentions, our best plans, do not get us the results we want?  Why is it that we stall out (assuming we even get a good start)?
It turns out that success (and thriving) takes far more than just the desire to get there.  It takes far more than simply starting.
And yet, we humans seem to just get our own selves into trouble.  We trip ourselves up!
Fortunately, there are ways we can get out of our own way… and neuroscience can help us.
Which is why I am bringing you an interview with John Assaraf.  You may be familiar with him from his various media appearances, or from his books, or even from a few documentary movies he’s been in.  And if you haven’t seen him yet, you will love hearing from him.
&nbsp;
RELATED RESOURCES 
<a href="https://links.myneurogym.com/Thriveology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John’s Website (with free ebook for you)</a> 
<a href="https://innercise.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Innercise (check out the app)</a>

<description>Good intentions pave a road to nowhere good… right?  But why is it that even our best of intentions, our best plans, do not get us the results we want?  Why is it that we stall out (assuming we even get a good start)?

It turns out that success (and thriving) takes far more than just the desire to get there.  It takes far more than simply starting.

And yet, we humans seem to just get our own selves into trouble.  We trip ourselves up!

Fortunately, there are ways we can get out of our own way… and neuroscience can help us.

Which is why I am bringing you an interview with John Assaraf.  You may be familiar with him from his various media appearances, or from his books, or even from a few documentary movies he’s been in.  And if you haven’t seen him yet, you will love hearing from him.

 

RELATED RESOURCES
John’s Website (with free ebook for you)
Innercise (check out the app)</description>

Good intentions pave a road to nowhere good… right?  But why is it that even our best of intentions, our best plans, do not get us the results we want?  Why is it that we stall out (assuming we even get a good start)? - 

Good intentions pave a road to nowhere good… right?  But why is it that even our best of intentions, our best plans, do not get us the results we want?  Why is it that we stall out (assuming we even get a good start)? 
 
It turns out that success (and thriving) takes far more than just the desire to get there.  It takes far more than simply starting. 
 
And yet, we humans seem to just get our own selves into trouble.  We trip ourselves up! 
 
Fortunately, there are ways we can get out of our own way… and neuroscience can help us. 
 
Which is why I am bringing you an interview with John Assaraf.  You may be familiar with him from his various media appearances, or from his books, or even from a few documentary movies he’s been in.  And if you haven’t seen him yet, you will love hearing from him. 
 
  
 
RELATED RESOURCES 
John’s Website (with free ebook for you) 
Innercise (check out the app)

Train Your Brain to Thrive

<a href="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ColinZhu.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2246" src="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ColinZhu-200x300.jpg" alt="Dr. Colin Zhu" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ColinZhu-200x300.jpg 200w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ColinZhu-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ColinZhu-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ColinZhu-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ColinZhu-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ColinZhu-760x1140.jpg 760w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ColinZhu-267x400.jpg 267w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ColinZhu-82x123.jpg 82w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ColinZhu-600x900.jpg 600w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ColinZhu.jpg 1624w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" /></a>One of my favorite things about doing this podcast is meeting some very cool guests.  And on this episode, I had the chance to talk with Dr. Colin Zhu, a holistic doctor and chef extraordinaire.  Why the chef part?  Because Colin sees so many areas of health and wholeness that is touched by a good diet… along with the consequences of poor dietary choices.
A life-long advocate for healing and holistic care, Colin developed his Thr5 (Thrive) Protocol (with 5 pillars to follow).  But as he continued his clinical work and his studies, Colin saw a missing element for self-care.  At the roots of many lifestyle illnesses (diabetes, strokes, and cardiac illness, for example) was the eating patterns of patients/clients. The idea of “Food as Medicine” is one pillar of his protocol, and the focus of his upcoming book:  <a href="https://publishizer.com/empowered-kitchen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Empowered Kitchen</a>.
In our chat, Colin discusses the earlier influences that led him to his holistic outlook.  We also cover his Thr5 Protocol pillars, and talk about his latest project.
Listen below to discover how you can thrive on the 5 pillars… and how your eating may make all the difference.
&nbsp;
RELATED RESOURCES: 
<a href="https://www.thechefdoc.app" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Colin Zhu’s Website</a> 
<a href="https://publishizer.com/empowered-kitchen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">His Book:  The Empowered Kitchen</a>

<description>One of my favorite things about doing this podcast is meeting some very cool guests.  And on this episode, I had the chance to talk with Dr. Colin Zhu, a holistic doctor and chef extraordinaire.  Why the chef part?  Because Colin sees so many areas of health and wholeness that is touched by a good diet… along with the consequences of poor dietary choices.

A life-long advocate for healing and holistic care, Colin developed his Thr5 (Thrive) Protocol (with 5 pillars to follow).  But as he continued his clinical work and his studies, Colin saw a missing element for self-care.  At the roots of many lifestyle illnesses (diabetes, strokes, and cardiac illness, for example) was the eating patterns of patients/clients. The idea of “Food as Medicine” is one pillar of his protocol, and the focus of his upcoming book:  The Empowered Kitchen.

In our chat, Colin discusses the earlier influences that led him to his holistic outlook.  We also cover his Thr5 Protocol pillars, and talk about his latest project.

Listen below to discover how you can thrive on the 5 pillars… and how your eating may make all the difference.

 

RELATED RESOURCES:
Dr. Colin Zhu’s Website
His Book:  The Empowered Kitchen</description>

One of my favorite things about doing this podcast is meeting some very cool guests.  And on this episode, I had the chance to talk with Dr. Colin Zhu, a holistic doctor and chef extraordinaire.  Why the chef part?

One of my favorite things about doing this podcast is meeting some very cool guests.  And on this episode, I had the chance to talk with Dr. Colin Zhu, a holistic doctor and chef extraordinaire.  Why the chef part?  Because Colin sees so many areas of health and wholeness that is touched by a good diet… along with the consequences of poor dietary choices. 
 
A life-long advocate for healing and holistic care, Colin developed his Thr5 (Thrive) Protocol (with 5 pillars to follow).  But as he continued his clinical work and his studies, Colin saw a missing element for self-care.  At the roots of many lifestyle illnesses (diabetes, strokes, and cardiac illness, for example) was the eating patterns of patients/clients. The idea of “Food as Medicine” is one pillar of his protocol, and the focus of his upcoming book:  The Empowered Kitchen. 
 
In our chat, Colin discusses the earlier influences that led him to his holistic outlook.  We also cover his Thr5 Protocol pillars, and talk about his latest project. 
 
Listen below to discover how you can thrive on the 5 pillars… and how your eating may make all the difference. 
 
  
 
RELATED RESOURCES: 
Dr. Colin Zhu’s Website 
His Book:  The Empowered Kitchen

Food to Thrive

<a href="http://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/FearOfFailureSm.jpeg"><img decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-363" src="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/FearOfFailureSm.jpeg" alt="Don't let fear of failure stop you!" width="400" height="302" srcset="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/FearOfFailureSm.jpeg 400w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/FearOfFailureSm-300x227.jpeg 300w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/FearOfFailureSm-82x62.jpeg 82w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/FearOfFailureSm-131x98.jpeg 131w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a>Have you failed?
Did that failure stop you from moving forward?  Did it get you stuck?
Failure is a part of life.  Ever watched a child learn to walk?  Success only comes after repeated failures.  Yet that same child keeps on trying, until the child gets it right.
What happens in adulthood?  Why does a fear of failing keep us from acting?
When we don&#8217;t take action for fear of failing, we have pre-emptively failed.
We have already decided we would fail, so we never even start, guaranteeing we don&#8217;t get to where you want to go.
A few decades ago, I started a business.  It failed miserably.  And it kept me stuck for awhile.  But one day, I realized there was something else to consider about that failure.  There were some lessons I learned.
Those are lessons I apply every single day.
Let me suggest 3 questions that will help you turn a failure around, and make the failure simply another opportunity.
<h6>Want to show us some &#8220;Twitter Love?&#8221;  <a href="http://thriveology.com/love" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here.</a> 
Want to support Thriveology podcasts?  <a href="http://patreon.com/thriveology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here.</a></h6>

<description>Have you failed?

Did that failure stop you from moving forward?  Did it get you stuck?

Failure is a part of life.  Ever watched a child learn to walk?  Success only comes after repeated failures.  Yet that same child keeps on trying, until the child gets it right.

What happens in adulthood?  Why does a fear of failing keep us from acting?

When we don't take action for fear of failing, we have pre-emptively failed.

We have already decided we would fail, so we never even start, guaranteeing we don't get to where you want to go.

A few decades ago, I started a business.  It failed miserably.  And it kept me stuck for awhile.  But one day, I realized there was something else to consider about that failure.  There were some lessons I learned.

Those are lessons I apply every single day.

Let me suggest 3 questions that will help you turn a failure around, and make the failure simply another opportunity.
Want to show us some "Twitter Love?"  Click here.
Want to support Thriveology podcasts?  Click here.</description>

Have you failed? - Did that failure stop you from moving forward?  Did it get you stuck? - Failure is a part of life.  Ever watched a child learn to walk?  Success only comes after repeated failures.  Yet that same child keeps on trying,

Have you failed? 
 
Did that failure stop you from moving forward?  Did it get you stuck? 
 
Failure is a part of life.  Ever watched a child learn to walk?  Success only comes after repeated failures.  Yet that same child keeps on trying, until the child gets it right. 
 
What happens in adulthood?  Why does a fear of failing keep us from acting? 
 
When we don't take action for fear of failing, we have pre-emptively failed. 
 
We have already decided we would fail, so we never even start, guaranteeing we don't get to where you want to go. 
 
A few decades ago, I started a business.  It failed miserably.  And it kept me stuck for awhile.  But one day, I realized there was something else to consider about that failure.  There were some lessons I learned. 
 
Those are lessons I apply every single day. 
 
Let me suggest 3 questions that will help you turn a failure around, and make the failure simply another opportunity. 
Want to show us some "Twitter Love?"  Click here. 
Want to support Thriveology podcasts?  Click here.

3 Steps to Ending Your Fear of Failure

<a href="http://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/EndDayHighNoteSm.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-374" src="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/EndDayHighNoteSm.jpeg" alt="End your day on a high note." width="400" height="263" srcset="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/EndDayHighNoteSm.jpeg 400w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/EndDayHighNoteSm-300x197.jpeg 300w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/EndDayHighNoteSm-82x54.jpeg 82w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a>Days have a rhythm.  All day long, it is a huge inhale, trying to get that energy in you and into your efforts.
But at the end of the day, it is a big exhale, a moment of relaxing and calming.
Or more accurately, it should be.
In our natural rhythm, evenings are a time to wind-down, calm down, and move toward rest.
In fact, our ancestors had no choice but to do that.  No lights to keep on.  No screens to watch or video games to play.  No social media to post to.  Just a quiet time to move toward sleep.
Experts tell us that our society is sleep deprived.  And researchers are clear that this impacts work performance, relationships, happiness, health, moods, and a myriad of other factors.
To put it simply, if you are not getting adequate rest, you will struggle to thrive!  Your body, psyche, and relationships will pay the price.
In this podcast, I cover 4 areas of your life that you can shift, so that you have the best chance for getting the best rest.
Join me to end your day on a high note, and start your night ready for rest.
RESOURCE MENTIONED IN PODCAST: 
<a title="No More Manic Mornings: 3 Steps To A Thriving Start" href="http://thriveology.com/no-more-manic-mornings-3-steps-to-a-thriving-start/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Podcast on Starting Your Day Right</a>

<description>Days have a rhythm.  All day long, it is a huge inhale, trying to get that energy in you and into your efforts.

But at the end of the day, it is a big exhale, a moment of relaxing and calming.

Or more accurately, it should be.

In our natural rhythm, evenings are a time to wind-down, calm down, and move toward rest.

In fact, our ancestors had no choice but to do that.  No lights to keep on.  No screens to watch or video games to play.  No social media to post to.  Just a quiet time to move toward sleep.

Experts tell us that our society is sleep deprived.  And researchers are clear that this impacts work performance, relationships, happiness, health, moods, and a myriad of other factors.

To put it simply, if you are not getting adequate rest, you will struggle to thrive!  Your body, psyche, and relationships will pay the price.

In this podcast, I cover 4 areas of your life that you can shift, so that you have the best chance for getting the best rest.

Join me to end your day on a high note, and start your night ready for rest.

RESOURCE MENTIONED IN PODCAST:
Podcast on Starting Your Day Right</description>

Days have a rhythm.  All day long, it is a huge inhale, trying to get that energy in you and into your efforts. - But at the end of the day, it is a big exhale, a moment of relaxing and calming. - Or more accurately, it should be. - 

Days have a rhythm.  All day long, it is a huge inhale, trying to get that energy in you and into your efforts. 
 
But at the end of the day, it is a big exhale, a moment of relaxing and calming. 
 
Or more accurately, it should be. 
 
In our natural rhythm, evenings are a time to wind-down, calm down, and move toward rest. 
 
In fact, our ancestors had no choice but to do that.  No lights to keep on.  No screens to watch or video games to play.  No social media to post to.  Just a quiet time to move toward sleep. 
 
Experts tell us that our society is sleep deprived.  And researchers are clear that this impacts work performance, relationships, happiness, health, moods, and a myriad of other factors. 
 
To put it simply, if you are not getting adequate rest, you will struggle to thrive!  Your body, psyche, and relationships will pay the price. 
 
In this podcast, I cover 4 areas of your life that you can shift, so that you have the best chance for getting the best rest. 
 
Join me to end your day on a high note, and start your night ready for rest. 
 
RESOURCE MENTIONED IN PODCAST: 
Podcast on Starting Your Day Right

Ending Your Day Well

<a href="http://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NotMyCircusNotMyMonkey.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-353" src="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NotMyCircusNotMyMonkey.jpg" alt="Not my circus, not my monkey." width="400" height="237" srcset="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NotMyCircusNotMyMonkey.jpg 590w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NotMyCircusNotMyMonkey-300x177.jpg 300w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NotMyCircusNotMyMonkey-518x306.jpg 518w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NotMyCircusNotMyMonkey-82x49.jpg 82w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a>One of my favorite sayings is &#8220;Not my circus, not my monkey.&#8221;
Evidently, this is a Polish proverb: Not my circus, not my monkey.
Maybe it is because I have an affinity for monkeys, but I love the meaning of that.
Am I caught up trying to deal with someone else&#8217;s circus or monkey?  Am I trying to deal with an issue over which I have no control, and maybe not even a stake?
We do that.
Friends are fighting, and we get in the middle.  Family members are angry with each other, and we intervene.  Office squabbles (in which we have no stake) pull us in.  We make the circus our own, and try to take over that monkey.
<a href="http://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NoDogInThatFight.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-354" src="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NoDogInThatFight.jpg" alt="I don't have a dog in that fight." width="400" height="237" srcset="https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NoDogInThatFight.jpg 590w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NoDogInThatFight-300x177.jpg 300w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NoDogInThatFight-518x306.jpg 518w, https://thriveology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NoDogInThatFight-82x49.jpg 82w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a>When I was growing up, we had another saying:  &#8220;I don&#8217;t have a dog in that fight.&#8221;
Something is happening around us, and we involve ourselves.
But if we involve ourselves when it is not our issue, not our fight, and has little bearing on our own lives, we usually end up on the losing side.
Communication theorists talk about this as creating a triangle.  The reason for the triangle is an attempt to lower the level of conflict.  It is an attempt to stabilize the situation.  But instead of stabilizing, it only serves to destabilize, pull energy, and entrap bystanders.
We can thank our ancient ancestors for this tendency.  But it is up to us to not pretend we have a dog in the fight.  It is up to us to remember it is someone else&#8217;s circus, someone else&#8217;s monkey.
Learn how to distinguish your involvement in this podcast.  Listen below.

<description>One of my favorite sayings is "Not my circus, not my monkey."

Evidently, this is a Polish proverb: Not my circus, not my monkey.

Maybe it is because I have an affinity for monkeys, but I love the meaning of that.

Am I caught up trying to deal with someone else's circus or monkey?  Am I trying to deal with an issue over which I have no control, and maybe not even a stake?

We do that.

Friends are fighting, and we get in the middle.  Family members are angry with each other, and we intervene.  Office squabbles (in which we have no stake) pull us in.  We make the circus our own, and try to take over that monkey.

When I was growing up, we had another saying:  "I don't have a dog in that fight."

Something is happening around us, and we involve ourselves.

But if we involve ourselves when it is not our issue, not our fight, and has little bearing on our own lives, we usually end up on the losing side.

Communication theorists talk about this as creating a triangle.  The reason for the triangle is an attempt to lower the level of conflict.  It is an attempt to stabilize the situation.  But instead of stabilizing, it only serves to destabilize, pull energy, and entrap bystanders.

We can thank our ancient ancestors for this tendency.  But it is up to us to not pretend we have a dog in the fight.  It is up to us to remember it is someone else's circus, someone else's monkey.

Learn how to distinguish your involvement in this podcast.  Listen below.</description>

One of my favorite sayings is "Not my circus, not my monkey." - Evidently, this is a Polish proverb: Not my circus, not my monkey. - Maybe it is because I have an affinity for monkeys, but I love the meaning of that. - 

One of my favorite sayings is "Not my circus, not my monkey." 
 
Evidently, this is a Polish proverb: Not my circus, not my monkey. 
 
Maybe it is because I have an affinity for monkeys, but I love the meaning of that. 
 
Am I caught up trying to deal with someone else's circus or monkey?  Am I trying to deal with an issue over which I have no control, and maybe not even a stake? 
 
We do that. 
 
Friends are fighting, and we get in the middle.  Family members are angry with each other, and we intervene.  Office squabbles (in which we have no stake) pull us in.  We make the circus our own, and try to take over that monkey. 
 
When I was growing up, we had another saying:  "I don't have a dog in that fight." 
 
Something is happening around us, and we involve ourselves. 
 
But if we involve ourselves when it is not our issue, not our fight, and has little bearing on our own lives, we usually end up on the losing side. 
 
Communication theorists talk about this as creating a triangle.  The reason for the triangle is an attempt to lower the level of conflict.  It is an attempt to stabilize the situation.  But instead of stabilizing, it only serves to destabilize, pull energy, and entrap bystanders. 
 
We can thank our ancient ancestors for this tendency.  But it is up to us to not pretend we have a dog in the fight.  It is up to us to remember it is someone else's circus, someone else's monkey. 
 
Learn how to distinguish your involvement in this podcast.  Listen below.

Monkeys, a Circus, and You

Thrive, grow and prosper.  A life of thriving and abundance awaits you, Thrive Nation!  Join Dr. Lee Baucom as we explore better ways of thriving, growing, succeeding, and prospering in life, career, family, and purpose.

The Thriveology Podcast For Thrive Nation

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