79. Living Life by Your Own Values with Dr. John Demartini

Dr. John Demartini is the founder of the Demartini Institute and the creator of the Demartini Method. He focuses deeply on our individual values, and emphasizes the importance of living in alignment with them. He goes into depth about our innate values and how important it is to live by them, and how understanding others’ values can help our personal relationships. Find Out More About John Here: Dr. John Demartini@DrJohnDemartini on Twitter@drjohndemartini on Facebook   In This Episode: [01:37] - John starts things off by talking about values, specifically the values determination process. He walks us through the thirteen questions involved in determining our values. [07:27] - We hear more about how this value determination system can help in professional situations or as a tool in deciding who to hire. [08:31] - John talks about how knowing your values can help you live in alignment with them. [09:50] - What if somebody isn’t in a position to be able to afford to hire someone to delegate their lower-value tasks? [11:36] - John shares what he does with people who aren’t fulfilled in their careers and don’t look forward to Mondays. Stephan then gives an example of having hired someone else to do a low-priority task for him. [14:58] - Stephan explains that this process isn’t about ego, and that you shouldn’t look at tasks as being “below” you. John responds, talking about a time he did the exercise he’s outlined himself. [17:17] - We learn about Paul MacLean’s theory of the triune brain. [19:51] - What does John tell somebody who may be living by someone else’s values, possibly without even realizing it? [22:31] - John shares his thoughts on the current ADD/ADHD epidemic. He’s leery of labels, he explains. [25:40] - It wasn’t until he was 18 that John read his first book. He talks about his physical and learning challenges as a child, and how he got through school despite this inability to read. [28:46] - John nearly died weeks before his 18th birthday. Here, he explains what changed, and how his life shifted into a different course. [32:10] - We hear the story of how John started teaching. [34:01] - John talks about his Breakthrough Experience, and explains how teaching helps him retain information. [35:30] - Since learning to read at 18, John has read 30,019 books so far. [36:01] - John talks about his speed-reading system, which he developed by documenting what worked (and didn’t) for him. [37:50] - Stephan mentions several apps to help you read faster, specifically Spritz and Spreeder. John then talks about his thoughts on physical books versus e-books or online information. [39:48] - In reference to light while reading, Stephan talks about Irlen Syndrome. [41:36] - What’s John’s favorite book out of the 30,000 or so he’s read? His most common answer, he explains, is The Syntopicon (volumes 1 and 2). [43:23] - John talks about The Book of Wealth, a 10-volume series by Hubert Howe Bancroft. [46:17] - We hear about John’s travel schedule; if he isn’t traveling for work, he’s living on a boat, he explains, which means he’s always traveling. He then talks about his daily ritual and his current high priorities. [49:44] - John talks more about his gratitude journaling. [50:22] - John elaborates on why he maintains a posthumous biography in his journaling. [51:50] - We hear John’s thoughts on multitasking. [52:56] - On the subject of grief, John explains that “we only grieve the loss of those things we infatuate with.” He gives advice on how to transcend grief.   Get Optimized!   Figure out what your true values are with Dr. John Demartini’s values determination process, which is free on his site. Now that you know what your values are, focus on applying these to your own life. Prioritize your life based on what’s truly valuable to you. If you’re a parent, figure out what your child’s innate values are. Communicate with your child based on those values to help him or her be more receptive.   Links and Resources: Dr. John Demartini@DrJohnDemartini on Twitter@drjohndemartini on FacebookDemartini InstituteDemartini MethodValues determination processTaskRabbitPaul MacLeanTriune brainPaul BraggBreakthrough ExperienceSpritz SpreederIrlen SyndromeDr. Helen Irlen on Optimized Geek The Syntopicon (and Volume 2)Great Books of the Western World The Book of WealthHubert Howe BancroftWealth Wisdom of the Ages