“It not about what’s going to make you happier. It’s not about what’s going to feel better. Which would make you more proud? When you look back, which decision is going to make you more proud?”
— CHRIS RUDEN
Chris Ruden is an elite Powerlifter, entrepreneur, model, and motivational speaker– despite his congenital birth defect leaving him with only two fingers on his left hand and a shorter left arm. Nineteen years into battling his physical situation, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. But for Chris, losing is not an option.
Chris uses his struggle to inspire people to overcome any adversity they may face in their lives through molding mindsets into resilient fortresses of self-belief. Through humor, logic, and passion, Chris' comedic relatability, yet hard-hitting message inspires the masses.
His education mirrors his experience, as he has a bachelor's degree in exercise science and health promotion as well as a laundry list of certifications and specializations in fitness, therapy, and life coaching.
Show Notes:
(00:04:41) Growing Up Feeling and Looking Different
(00:06:19) Chris' Childhood
(00:08:38) Feeling like an Outcast
(00:10:33) When did Chris Start Challenging Assumptions?
(00:13:06) Failing and Failure
(00:16:10) Paying to overcome obstacles
(00:18:25) The stories you tell yourself
(00:19:59) How do you know you can do difficult things?
(00:21:30) Motivation is wrongly placed
(00:23:36) Creating Discipline
(00:26:05) Which would make you more proud?
(00:27:11) The journey into powerlifting
(00:29:12) A story that changed his life
(00:31:21) A new definition of achievement
(00:32:50) Controlled Pessimism
(00:35:20) Stoicism and Controlling the thing you can
(00:39:48) The Power of Authenticity
(00:42:53) Choose where your focus is
(00:46:31) A favorite failure
(00:47:46) Comparing yourself to others
(00:49:27) Where did the idea of all “a work in progress” come from?
(00:51:15) How do you stay present
(00:53:17) Recommended Books
(00:55:26) Synthesizing what you read
(00:57:49) How you learn doesn't matter?
(00:59:46) Don't live your life with supposed to
(01:01:35) Fixing Education
(01:03:22) Reflecting and the compound effect
(01:05:23) What are Chris' little things?
(01:07:57) What is authenticity?
(01:10:38) Bettering yourself and being selfish
(01:14:45) Leaving the world better than we found it
(01:17:00) Sharing what you create
(01:20:36) Bad recommendations
(01:22:24) The desire to be in shape
(01:24:04) Absurd habits that you love
(01:25:48) A new belief or behavior that has improved your life?
(01:26:29) Advice to someone who wants to better themselves?
For more information head to https://feedingcuriosity.net/podcast
