The Scarcity Brain: How To Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough | Michael Easter X Rich Roll

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One thing I love about the Rich Roll Podcast is the fact that you can listen to an episode with a guest you seen on several different other podcasts and even read their books or follow their work and you still know that Rich is gonna go somewhere with it at some point or at several points where its worth a listen because he always makes it relatable to everyone who fights personal demons and want to act with integrity but still be somewhat practical. Thanks!

I purposefully practice boredom. When standing in lines such as the grocery store, rather than go for my phone to entertain or grab a magazine to Peruse, I simply stand there with nothing to distract me. I might watch what's going on but I am breaking the habit of seeking distraction and entertainment.

My addiction is podcasts. 😮

Dr Gabor Maté described addiction as a means to escape pain as you discuss. I agree. It has strengthened my compassion muscle and helped me to let go of some of my judgments. Still a work in progress.

Surfing works for the scarcity loop theory. Good waves seem so limited so they’re really, really precious when you get one.

Rich just doesn’t disappoint! There is ALWAYS something in every single podcast I get inspired by, resonate with and can add to my personal development and healing toolbox! You rock Man!!

46 years sober, for me biggest tool, contribution being there for others Bill said get sober, stay sober, help others. Your contribution is amazing thank you.

3 minutes in. Great guest. Love how he reframed his outlook on his Father ❤

So rich Rich! Corny, I know. I shared this with my 3 sons The one that I thought could use this info said " Thanks!" I look forward to rewatching for a 3rd time to take notes. You both are filling this shaky time with hope & solution. Thank you!

We probably don't need more apps, but more conversations about our inner worlds.

Food taste amazing after fasting for 3 days. Great way to reset uour appetite.. same idea

Rich again you know exactly the right topic & guest to bring into our lives 🥰 excellent!!!

Simply sounds like a life-changing podcast to me! Wow.

Really like how they're going deep with alcohol. Recommend the book Quit Like A Woman.

If we seek to help solve problems for those who are struggling rather than seeking and/or creating chaos and drama for drama sake, life becomes so much more rewarding and fulfilling. These addictive apps, devices, and foods, are designed to exploit by predatory individuals. Thank you for these conversations, Rich.

If you want truly discomfort, nothing better than being a caregiver 24/7 of a loved one with Alzheimer's. No need to read any book on comfort crisis. Take my word for it.

I’m loving all the information. It makes me so sad and I’m referring to myself. I’m very outgoing. I love to perform at a high-level. I’m 58. I love fitness health traveling, but I am still dealing with scarcity brain in so many areas. Thank you so much for this awakening!

I read The Comfort Crisis a while ago and it was amazing. I highly recommend it.

00:02 🧠 Our brains are wired to seek the easiest, most comfortable path due to our evolutionary history. 01:30 🍸 Michael Easter shares a personal story about his family's struggle with alcoholism, highlighting the impact on his own life. 03:21 🍺 Michael Easter describes his own battle with alcoholism and his journey to sobriety at the age of 27. 08:25 💪 Embracing discomfort is key to personal growth and improvement, as outlined in Michael Easter's book "The Comfort Crisis." 10:17 🥤 Modern lifestyles have removed many natural sources of discomfort, leading to health and happiness challenges. 14:37 🤝 Addiction should be viewed with empathy and understanding, recognizing that everyone struggles with some form of compulsivity. 16:56 🏃‍♂ Engaging in challenging activities like ultramarathons can provide deep rewards, reflecting humanity's innate value of hard-earned achievements. 19:31 🧠 Scarcity mentality stems from our evolutionary past where scarcity was the norm, leading to behaviors like overconsumption and craving. 20:50 🌍 Our modern world presents an evolutionary mismatch where our instincts don't align with what's best for us, leading to challenges with abundance. 21:30 💡 As the world improves, our perception of problems changes, leading to a constant search for new issues. 22:28 🤯 Experiencing discomfort can enhance our appreciation for comforts we take for granted, like the luxury of flying in an airplane. 23:39 🚀 Humans have a tendency to adapt quickly to improvements in their environment, diminishing the perceived value of comforts over time. 25:01 🔄 Prevalence-induced concept change suggests that as our world improves, we redefine what we consider problems, leading to a constant cycle of dissatisfaction. 26:10 💭 We're wired to seek out problems even when our lives are relatively problem-free, which can lead to trivial issues becoming significant concerns. 29:38 🔗 The concepts of the scarcity loop and the comfort crisis are closely intertwined, influencing behaviors like addiction and dissatisfaction with moderation. 34:29 🎰 The scarcity loop, seen in activities like gambling, exploits human instincts for opportunity, unpredictable rewards, and quick repeatability, influencing behavior in various domains. 36:48 🍽 Our tendency to engage in behaviors like gambling may stem from evolutionary adaptations related to seeking food in environments where it was scarce. 38:09 💡 Social media and gambling companies exploit the human brain's craving for unpredictability, offering quick and repeatable rewards to keep users engaged. 39:18 🎰 Sports betting companies increase engagement by allowing bets on in-game occurrences, exploiting the allure of quick bets and frequent opportunities to win. 41:06 🎰 Digitized slot machines introduced the concept of "losses disguised as wins," where players win less than their bet but still feel excitement, leading to more engaging and less boring gameplay. 42:55 🎰 Problematic gamblers are more driven by the anticipation of losing than by the prospect of winning, seeking to remain in the "zone of gambling" rather than focusing on monetary gains. 43:52 💊 Addiction can arise from a combination of population trauma, limited coping mechanisms, and the availability of substances to alleviate psychic pain, as seen in the rise of drug addiction in Iraq. 49:37 💊 Drugs and alcohol consumption fit into the scarcity loop, offering opportunities for short-term improvement, unpredictable rewards, and quick repeatability, leading to addictive behaviors. 52:26 💊 Addiction often involves a cycle where the substance initially solves problems and provides benefits, leading individuals to repeatedly seek its use despite long-term negative consequences. 55:08 💡 For some, abstinence is the most effective solution to prevent addictive behaviors, especially when dealing with substances like alcohol, where moderation may not be feasible. 57:18 🍽 Slowing down the rate of eating can reduce eating behavior, especially with unprocessed foods. 57:47 📱 Changing phone display to grayscale can reduce screen time by about 40 minutes daily, leveraging boredom as people don't use boring things as much as hyper-stimulating ones. 59:22 🧠 Approach eating habits with awareness, presence, and mindfulness instead of temporary diets for a healthier relationship with food, applicable to other aspects of life. 01:00:06 🔄 Developing an understanding of why we engage in certain behaviors can lead to more compassion towards oneself and a conscious effort to change habits. 01:01:30 🛠 Utilizing tools like apps that regulate screen time by imposing pauses and time limits can help in moderating addictive behaviors. 01:05:25 🎭 Inserting positive stimulation in life, like ultra-running or other rewarding activities, can counteract the need for stimulation from addictive behaviors. 01:06:34 🛑 Regulation of certain applications for teens might be necessary due to their changing brains, while regulation for adults becomes trickier and may need to be case-by-case. 01:08:26 🤔 Opt-in choices for engaging with technology rather than opt-out, with defaults set to minimal algorithmic acceleration, could offer a better balance in technology use. 01:11:50 🎭 Reintroducing boredom into life can lead to rumination, less stress, and the generation of good ideas, offering upsides that excessive digital engagement may suppress. 01:15:45 🧠 Creativity requires moments of solitude and boredom to foster original ideas, not just for artists but also for business innovation. 01:17:09 🔄 Humans tend to default to addition as a problem-solving method, often overlooking the option of subtraction, which can lead to more efficient solutions. 01:21:29 🛍 Society encourages a mindset of accumulation and consumption, but solutions to sustainability and happiness may lie in consuming less and innovating within constraints. 01:25:42 🏞 Embracing scarcity loops, like those experienced in outdoor activities, can lead to more rewarding and adventurous experiences, fostering creativity and problem-solving. 01:28:03 💡 Adopting a "gear, not stuff" mentality can help prioritize utility and purpose in possessions, reducing unnecessary consumption driven by status or boredom. 01:31:43 🔄 Constraints, such as limited resources, often drive greater creativity and problem-solving than having abundant resources, leading to unexpected and improved outcomes. 01:34:20 💡 As technology sharpens its ability to capture attention for profit, it may deepen humanity's reliance and constraints on it. 01:35:14 🌐 Adoption of technology often leads to the creation of rules and constraints, making it difficult to function in society without it. 01:36:49 🚨 Personal liberty in the digital age can paradoxically contribute to societal enslavement as it fosters the growth of systems that exert greater control over individuals' lives. 01:37:03 🌱 Reconnecting with nature and community, as seen in certain cultures and lifestyles, offers lessons for combating the negative impacts of technological progress. 01:39:36 😔 Excessive time spent online correlates with increased loneliness and unhappiness, contributing to a modern loneliness epidemic. 01:40:18 🌍 Balancing progress with maintaining connection to natural rhythms and community may offer a solution to modern societal challenges. 01:41:28 🔍 Reflecting on personal habits and their underlying benefits can foster empathy and understanding, aiding in overcoming addictive behaviors. 01:45:11 💪 Introducing challenge and adventure into life can serve as a curative measure against the negative impacts of technological abundance. 01:46:47 📚 Embracing change and transformation is possible through personal growth a