Valiant Growth: Earn Self-esteem, Build Amazing Relationships And Achieve Freedom Through Radical Personal Development

A great chat with Nick Hazelton, where we talk about how he started a podcast and a business at 15, getting into libertarianism/anarcho-capitalism, dropping out of high-school and college for better education, habits and productivity and a personal growth pitch for the value of studying philosophy. Find all books and podcasts mentioned at http://valiantgrowth.com/e21 Join the discussion!: http://facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: http://valiantgrowth.com

While improving yourself is the best way to earn better relationships, being able to filter when choosing people to befriend can be a very valuable skill. In this episode I talk about recognizing such red flags as: financial irresponsibility, troubled relationship history, anti-growth friends, partners and familial relationships, single parenthood, mysticism and irrationality, immoral or dissociated occupations and collectivist political ideologies. I also encourage those in above categories to strive for growth, and that improvement is possible: the key is a commitment to self-knowledge and the virtue of courage. This episode is part of The Core Principles of Relationships series: Part 1: http://www.valiantgrowth.com/e16 Part 2: http://www.valiantgrowth.com/e17 Part 3: http://www.valiantgrowth.com/e18 Part 4: http://www.valiantgrowth.com/e19 Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

The most actionable and empowering principle of relationships is that relationships are a trade. In this episode I talk about why this is the case, how to earn better relationships, building virtues and skills and the powerful role of coaches/mentors/therapists in this process. Find all books and videos mentioned in this show at http://www.valiantgrowth.com/e19 This episode is part of The Core Principles of Relationships series: Part 1: http://www.valiantgrowth.com/e16 Part 2: http://www.valiantgrowth.com/e17 Part 3: http://www.valiantgrowth.com/e18 Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

In this podcast I try to untangle the artificial sense of duty and obligation from giving relationships that are truly beneficial. I also discuss propaganda and indoctrination in childhood.   This episode is part of The Core Principles of Relationships series:   Part 1: www.valiantgrowth.com/e16 Part 2: www.valiantgrowth.com/e17   Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

The previous podcast addressed why adult relationships ought to be voluntary, and the moral and logical consequences that follow. In this one I address the emotional side, and further develop the principle’s applications when it comes to parents and their adult children. This episode is part of The Core Principles of Relationships series: Part 1: www.valiantgrowth.com/e16 The Challenge of Giving Quality Support: www.valiantgrowth.com/e9 Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

Have you ever been told that you owe your X to do Y and Z? In this episode I look into the first, most fundamental, and most avoided principle of healthy relationships: that adult relationships are voluntary. Discovering and understanding this principle has radically changed my relationships to the better, and I have no doubt that it will uplift yours as well. Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

Losing weight is a difficult challenge - and some who achieve it often leave hard-to-follow paths behind them. Add to that a lot of poor and shallow advice out in the mainstream, and no wonder that obesity is still on the rise, despite unprecedented amounts information and awareness. In this episode I aim to extract the lessons that I’ve learned in my own weight loss journey, and provide tools and encouragement to those who seek to start out on this path. In typical Valiant Growth fashion, I aim to explore both the practical steps and the self-knowledge underpinnings of this tricky subject. See my weight loss chart and resources at www.valiantgrowth.com/e15 Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

Food spending can be a substantial part of our budget - and thus is a prime candidate for optimizing! In this podcast I present the simple approach that helped me create a balanced and flexible diet while spending $2/day. I also talk about why saving on food is something worth considering, and also taking the pain out of cooking! Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

An interview with lifecoach and Youtube content producer Antony Sammeroff. We talk about the impact of lifecoaching, how it is different (and not) from therapy, how to evaluate whether you are getting proper support, the value of therapy and who it is appropriate for, why and how to build communication skills, and Antony’s new course! Check out the course at https://inverlife.refersion.com/c/466ee1 Further resources at www.valiantgrowth.com/e13 Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

In this podcast I review The Wolf of Wall Street movie, with a special emphasis on the self-knowledge lessons inherent in the movie. Ideas discussed: Roles of parents in adult children’s lives Living a life of extreme dissociation can only be lived through extreme dissociation Non-apologies that people make Everyday forms of dissociation and addiction Correction: Throughout the review, I used the word "disassociation" instead of the correct term "dissociation". Resources at www.valiantgrowth.com/e12 Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

In today’s podcast I review Job Free by Jake Desyllas, present the four ways of quitting the rat race, while providing ample resources for further exploration along the way. The four ways are: Extreme Saving Unjobbing Lifestyle Businesses Startups Which ones could be yours? Book and resources at www.valiantgrowth.com/e11 Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

In this podcast I discuss the false promises of self-development and growth inherent in traditional careers, touted by HR departments and society at large. Ideas discussed: Technical skills don’t necessarily equate to growth, and rarely translate to personal life skills Most time in most jobs is not spent in “stretching”, growth-inducing situations, rather already built skills are mined The lifelong impact of an early building of self-knowledge and psychological health You might not want to build “people skills” - learning to adapt to difficult people vs. learning to find/earn better people The traps of a high income, when preceding frugality and self-healing skills The often overlooked risks of being an employee, especially a highly specialized one A traditional career might still be the right choice Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

Typical, mainstream approaches to being supportive don’t work, and are often counterproductive. So what can you do? In this podcast I talk about what is mistakenly identified as being supportive, why it’s not so, what are the principles behind proper support, and what are some practical approaches one can take. Principles discussed: Should be reciprocal - adult relationships are trade-based. Should be given and asked for only in close relationship. Valid support and advice can only be given with a strong understanding of the other person’s aims and history. One can only offer advice on things that they’ve already achieved, or at least seriously worked towards. Unsolicited advice is to be avoided at all cost. The ultimate choice is theirs - you shouldn’t be on a quest to change or save someone. Practical tips: Choose very carefully whom to support. Be curious. “Tell me more!” is often the best default position. Respect boundaries. Consciously aim to have empathy - it is only semi-automatic. Ask advice only

Do you ever tell yourself: “I should already know this!”, or “How can I be so stupid?”, or “What is wrong with me?” ? In this podcast I talk about understanding and respecting the feeling of shame that learning can trigger, without becoming overwhelmed by it. Ideas discussed in this episode: The concept of healthy shame Can you be vulnerable around your social circle? Everything is a skill “Therapy magic” - The incredible power of self-acceptance Is it grandiosity to think that we should know “basic” things? Resources at www.valiantgrowth.com/e8 Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

There are many situations when you have to decide between competing occupations or sources of income. If you find yourself being lured to many different ways of getting an income, if you are thinking of a career switch, or looking into becoming an entrepreneur and are not sure about your decision, or if you find that your decision has little staying power, this podcast if for you! Ideas discussed in this episode: The role of parents, peer and society in misleading us when making career choices The need for courage and self-knowledge in finding the right path A (mathematical) framework for evaluating different jobs/income sources   Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

What is your purpose? What is your vision for yourself? What goals have you set for yourself? Why these goals and not others? In this podcast I discuss about why purpose is important and how it affects procrastination, present a step-by-step approach to developing it (while encouraging you to craft your own approach) and provide resources for further exploration. Steps and book link at www.valiantgrowth.com/e6 Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

It’s not often that you find quality resources for free! In this podcast I review and present key ideas from The Way to Will Power by Henry Hazlitt, a free book from 1922 on productivity. I talk about: carefulness in picking goals, shallow goals, how to resist breaking resolutions,avoiding temptation, the value of habits, how to build habits, and why to plan. Books at www.valiantgrowth.com/e5 Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

Dealing with procrastination can be a major challenge in certain phases of lives, and is often a tough nut to crack. In this podcast I summarize what I’ve learnt through my own experience on this subject: the value of habits, the power of self-acceptance, being a friend vs. a dictator towards yourself, embracing cyclical productivity, defining purpose.   Books: www.valiantgrowth.com/e4 Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com  

A review of the book The Millionaire Next Door by Dr. Thomas Stanley. Some of the ideas discussed: Who is the average millionaire? How does he live? What does he work? How does he spend? The steady and conservative approach to wealth-building Being discrete about our net worth The most likely road to becoming a millionaire The importance of choosing the right partner The value of frugality an dcarefulness Book: www.valiantgrowth.com/e3  Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com

We’re often subjected to unwanted media. We also like to consume content with only an eye towards entertainment. The good news, with the practice of mindfulness, we can extract a great deal of learning from almost any source! Here are some things that you can learn from: Pop music Movies Fiction books News People overheard on the street Architecture Like on Facebook!: www.facebook.com/valiantgrowth Website: www.valiantgrowth.com