People did that
04:59 Share

This is an iHeart Podcast. Hey listeners, you know I can't be bothered with lengthy beauty routines. Who has time for that? That's why I am so glad I discovered Merit. Merit is all about simplicity, high-performing products, and enhancing your natural beauty. If you're like me and prefer a less is more approach, you'll love that Merit can help you look put together in five minutes or less.

My favorite product has to be the minimalist. It's a two in one foundation and concealer that gives me smooth, even coverage with zero fuss. I also like the flush balm for cheeks. My shade is archival and it gives me that healthy, natural flush of color that blends in beautifully and makes me look like I spent more time on my makeup than I actually did. Ready to simplify your routine and make mornings a breeze.

Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's tip is to marvel at the amazing things that people have accomplished.

you can take encouragement from these wonders that you can do great things too. Today's tip, like some others I've talked about recently, comes from Oliver Berkman's book, Meditations for Mortals. If you've read anything by Berkman, you know that he urges people to acknowledge their finitude and limitations. He's quick to point out all the things that we just can't do. You can't be in two places at once. You don't have unlimited time.

You can't render yourself so efficient that no incoming volume of work could ever overwhelm you, he writes. But when we recognize our true limitations, we can make smart choices about how to use the time and capacity we do have. As he explains, the relationship between the two kinds of impossible is actually an inverse one. The more you are willing wholeheartedly to acknowledge the hard limitations of human finitude, the easier it gets to do what others might dismiss as impossible.

He continues,

People have done some amazing things. Building and then rebuilding Notre Dame. Composing the B minor mass. Or think about Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which he composed after losing much of his hearing. I think the near-complete eradication of smallpox is pretty exciting. Or that infant and maternal mortality has plummeted over the last 150 years. I mean, hey, we get pictures sent back from the far reaches of outer space. How cool is that?

People, working both individually and together, accomplish these things. And while plenty of people are more talented or skilled than the rest of us, we all have 24 hours in a day. When we use that time well, we can accomplish some pretty amazing things too. C'est fait par du monde. According to Berkman, that's an old-fashioned French-Canadian saying that essentially means, people did that, and we are people too. If you decided to carve out time every day for the next year to write your family's story,

you would end the year with something pretty solid. It might need work, but it would exist. If you took pictures every day for the next year and studied how to use light and frame things well, by the end of the year, you would no doubt have a few images you would be quite proud of. I bet you could team up with other people in your community to make sure that every kid at your local elementary school had books to read over the summer, or that your local food bank had lots of kin-friendly food for the summer season as well.

As Berkman argues, when we accept our limitations and finitude, paradoxically, we are able to accomplish much more than we would if we were overly focused on perfection. Recognizing what is literally impossible paves the way to do something great that only seems impossible. So what moonshot could you tackle if you let go of the pressure to answer every email? I'd love to hear about it. You can reach me

Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia.

For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Hey, listeners. You know I can't be bothered with lengthy beauty routines. Who has time for that? That's why I am so glad I discovered Merit. Merit is all about simplicity, high-performing products, and enhancing your natural beauty.

If you're like me and prefer a less is more approach, you'll love that Merit can help you look put together in five minutes or less. My favorite product has to be the Minimalist. It's a two-in-one foundation and concealer that gives me smooth, even coverage with zero fuss.

I also like the flush balm for cheeks. My shade is archival, and it gives me that healthy, natural flush of color that blends in beautifully and makes me look like I spent more time on my makeup than I actually did. Ready to simplify your routine and make mornings a breeze?

head to MeritBeauty.com and get their signature makeup bag free with your first order. For clean, effortless, high-performing makeup, head to MeritBeauty.com. Hey, listeners. We know you're all about making the most of your time. So why not turn your lunch break into a growth break with Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman. Every Tuesday, Ken sits down with top experts to explore the real questions that help you thrive at work and in life.

Questions like, what are the 10 best foods for your memory? Or how can you ask for the raise you want and actually get it? If you love thoughtful advice and smart strategies, check out Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman, wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart Podcast. ♪