Ep. 062 - Jodi Wellman - Why You're Living on Autopilot

Redefining Wisdom

Jodi Wellman is a speaker, author, facilitator, and assistant instructor in the Master of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania. She also founded Four Thousand Mondays to help people make the most of the time they are lucky to be above ground.
Most of us go through life on autopilot, stuck in routines that feel safe but leave us feeling unfulfilled. In this eye-opening conversation, Jodi reveals why our brains crave predictability, how fear keeps us stuck, and the surprising power of novelty to wake us up. Are you truly living or just going through the motions?
From the science behind autopilot living to the role of mortality as motivation, this episode is packed with insights on breaking free from ruts, trusting yourself, and taking action. Discover how tiny changes can make a massive impact—and how to stop waiting for "someday" to live fully.
In this episode, expect to learn:

• Why our brains are wired for routine, and how to break free
• The surprising link between fear and staying stuck in life
• How to use deadlines and mortality to fuel motivation
• The danger of positive fantasies (and what to do instead)
• Small but powerful steps to live a more intentional life
• Plus much more

Follow Jodi:

• Website: https://fourthousandmondays.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fourthousandmonday

Let's Connect.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielmcianci/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanielMCianci
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@redefiningwisdom
Email: https://www.redefiningwisdom.com/contact-2/
Website: https://www.redefiningwisdom.com/

Chapters

1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. Stretching your comfort zone (00:07:19)

3. Biggest mental and emotional block (00:09:19)

4. The dangers of positive fantasies (00:10:54)

5. The Power of Deadlines and Temporal Scarcity (00:13:47)

6. Mortality as a Wake-Up Call (Without the Crisis) (00:15:34)

7. Are We More Afraid of Living Than Dying? (00:20:19)

8. Desire vs. Intuition: Finding Your True Path (00:23:39)

9. Reframing Adversity: Life Happens FOR You (00:28:37)

10. Regrets of Inaction: What Haunts Us Most (00:35:24)

11. Using Fear as a Compass to Your Dreams (00:39:59)

12. Tiny Triumphs: Taking Small Steps Toward Big Goals (00:41:54)

13. What Does ‘Astonishingly Alive’ Really Mean? (00:44:34)

14. Trusting Your Intuition: The Key to No Regrets (00:52:11)

15. One Small Step to Keep Your Dreams Alive (00:56:19)

16. Closing question (01:01:24)

17. Where to find Jodi (01:02:39)