Good morning. It’s Friday, November 15th.

In today’s email:

• Focus: What are you Carrying?

• Inspire: Flight Simulator

• In the News: See ya Sudafed

• Watch: Georgia vs. Tennessee

• Brain Games: Calcudoku

Stat of the Day

The percentage of our thoughts that are negative. (National Science Foundation)

Focus

What are you Carrying?

I woke up with a bounce in my step - best night of sleep in a while. Quickly popped down for 25 push-ups next to my bed. Then 2 minutes of breathwork, hot water with lemon and salt, and out the door for a run.

Got out to the waterfront to a cool breeze (it’s still over 90° heat index here in FL) and the most amazing sunrise. The dark orange arch was just barely rising over the horizon. The color was so deep you could actually look right at the sun without hurting your eyes.

Came back home and jumped into the pool for a little “cool” plunge - what a start to the day! 😁

But then - after my shower, I was ready to take my little guy to preschool and he wasn’t having it.

Total meltdown. He didn’t want to go to school. He didn’t want me - just my wife. We were beyond rational conversation at this point.

I looked at my watch and felt the minutes slipping away and the chances of me being late for my first call and putting me “behind” for the rest of the day - what a start to the day! 😡

So what was I going to carry around with me - the positivity from the run or the baggage of the tantrum?

What we carry with us in our brains is what defines our life.

It might not seem like a big deal if I had defined my morning by either experience - but it is. It not only affects how we go about the rest of that day, but affects our mindset for how we approach future challenges and how we end up defining our life.

Disappointment 

One of the reasons I was so frustrated that morning was because it started out so good. I was confident (optimistic) it was going to be a carefree day - I checked the box on my daily workout, was full of energy, started the day early, had my plan of what I was going to get done.

But this tantrum wasn’t on my list - it threw me off.

Disappointment is the “unsatisfying gap between lived experiences and expectations that have not come to pass.”

My expectations for the day were high - so this gap was big and the disappointment was real.

According to Arthur Brooks, this happens because we get dopamine from our highs and expectations of future highs. But when the future doesn’t materialize as expected dopamine drops.

We feel regret when we make a decision that doesn’t pan out. I didn’t wake up early for that morning run - my bad. I didn’t prepare for my presentation today - that’s on me.

But disappointment happens when we don’t have control over the situation.

Most of life is actually beyond our immediate control. We can work hard - but we don’t directly control our promotion path. We can vote - but we don’t control who wins an election. We can do our best as parents - but our kids have their own feelings and actions.

We all experience disappointment - sometimes on a daily basis.

But here’s the thing…while we might not be able to control the outcome or what happens to us - we absolutely can control how we respond and how we feel.

Disappointment can lead to bitterness or to wisdom - it’s up to us.

A couple of years ago I would have been carrying around the weight of a tough morning with my son. This is our default setting - we’re wired for negative thinking and the cortisol that keeps us alert, which thousands of years ago kept us alive in the face of danger. But we can control that when not in a life-threatening situation (even if a 4-yr old tantrum feels like it sometimes).

I’m getting better at knowing - he wasn’t being challenging, he was going through his own challenges and needed help.

Instead, I tried to be patient with him and carried around the thoughts of my awesome morning and gratitude for another beautiful day - a true gift no matter what we do or how things go.

So what are you carrying?

What extra weight are you carrying around that’s not serving you?

How can you release that weight and reframe your thoughts around what you can control and how to get into a positive mindset the rest of your day?

Thrive25 Partner Spotlight

With fall here, it’s the season for cozy gatherings and relaxed evenings. If you're looking for a mood-boosting drink without the alcohol, Hiyo is your go-to. Packed with adaptogens and nootropics, it’s the better-than-alcohol alternative to help you unwind and elevate your mood—no hangover required.

Use code “THRIVE” to get 15% off your order from Hiyo.

Inspire

Flight Simulator

I’m really inspired by the dad on the show Bluey. He goes all out playing with his kids - I wish I had half that level of commitment.

This dad seems to have it.

While it might have started as a project for himself, he spent 2 years finding used parts to assemble a real flight simulator of a Boeing 737 - and now his 8-yr old daughter is hooked and might be a pilot herself one day.

Sometimes we’re hesitant to take the next step of going big on hobbies or “playtime” for us or our kids - but what’s a better way to spend our time??

Full story HERE.

H&L in the News

Bye Bye Sudafed: The FDA is moving to pull oral phenylephrine off pharmacy shelves, finally acting on evidence that this popular decongestant simply doesn’t work. (WIRED)

Chef’s Fuel for Endurance: Chef Gregory Gourdet fuels up with nutrient-dense meals and snacks before his relay marathon. See his expert meal choices for energy, hydration, and staying race-ready. (Outside)

Negative Emotions - Friend or Foe?: Is it helpful to "control" emotions? Discover why embracing your full emotional range, even so-called "negative" feelings, can bring depth, insight, and balance to life. (Big Think)

Watch

Georgia vs. Tennessee

Big SEC battle happening Saturday night. #12 Georgia needs a win to keep their hopes up for a berth into the expanded 12-team playoff. While #7 Tennessee is trying to avoid an 8th straight loss to the Dawgs and clear a path to the SEC title game.

But Vols vs. Dawgs? Check out these mascot origin stories courtesy of Josh Mancuso:

Brain Games

Calcudoku

New game. The objective is to fill in the grid with the correct digit in each cell, between 1 and 4:

• Each row contains exactly one of each digit

• Each column contains exactly one of each digit

• Each bold-outlined group (with same color) must equate the result with the numerical operation - addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*) and division (/)

Since it’s the first time, we’ll give you two hints.

1. See that purple cell with 3 + in the top left corner - write a 3 in that cell

2. Oh, and that 12 * block of green? Because we only have digits up to 4, the two cells must be 3 and 4 to multiply (*) together to get 12. You just have to figure out which digit is in which column…but we kinda told you which in the first hint

Credit: Brainzilla

** For answer, scroll to the bottom of the email

Product Recs

• ♨️ Caraway - good looking, clean cooking. Non-toxic cookware made modern - non-toxic cooking surfaces and thoughtful design lead to cleaner cooking. Click HERE to cook with confidence

• 💊 Momentous - unlock your peak performance with Momentous supplements: scientifically proven, clinically backed, and patented formulas. Exclusive offer for Thrive25 subscribers: enjoy a 15% discount off the entire product portfolio. Use Code Thrive at checkout. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your performance journey - shop now!

• 🍴 Primal Kitchen - Primal Kitchen redefines flavor with a healthy twist, offering an array of irresistible options. Enjoy a 10% discount off your entire order at Primal Kitchen. Don’t miss out - click HERE to claim your discount today!

• 🌎 Zero Acre Farms - seed oils can have real negative effects on our health - but they’re in almost everything we eat. Made by fermentation, not deforestation, Zero Acre Farms cultured oil uses 85% less land than canola oil, emits 86% less CO2 than soybean oil, and requires 99% less water than olive oil. Get 15% off your order with code THRIVE25 today!

Thrive25 Referral Program

Thanks for being part of the Thrive25 community! Want to further support our mission of transforming science into digestible insights to support our health & longevity. Earn Thrive25 swag and other rewards from our Sponsors via our referral program:

Thanks for another great week!

• Want to see what we’re up to? Sign up for early access to our platform

• Missed an issue? No problem, check out our newsletter archive

• Got feedback, recommendations or stories to share? Tell us what’s on your mind here

• Someone send you this email? Sign up here

Brain Games Answer

We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.

This newsletter is for you and we truly value your feedback. Never hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].

To health!