When was the last time you discovered something interesting that you weren't even looking for?

Recently, I started reading the Sunday New York Times. The actual paper version. And it reminded me of something I'd almost forgotten about the experience of turning pages instead of clicking links.

When we get our information online, algorithms tend to show us more of what we already like. But what about all the things we don't yet know we're interested in?

In this episode of Encore Living, I share a few memories from my days as a newspaper delivery boy, what I've rediscovered about reading a physical newspaper, and why stepping outside our usual routines might open us up to unexpected discoveries.

Here's a little challenge for the week: Find one place in your life where you can turn off the algorithm. Browse a different section of the bookstore. Pick up a magazine you wouldn't normally read. Give yourself the opportunity to discover something new.

You never know what might catch your attention.

You can find me here:

Dr. Thor on Instagram @thorchallgren

Website: https://thorchallgren.com

One word changed my entire experience of a two-hour dental procedure.

I went to the dentist thinking I was having an appointment. But halfway through, I overheard the dental assistant describe what was happening as "surgery."

Suddenly, I felt differently about the whole thing.

Nothing about the procedure had changed. Same dentist. Same chair. Same two hours. But one word gave the experience an entirely different meaning.

In today's episode of Encore Living, I share what this unexpected moment taught me about the power of language and how the words we choose can shape the way we experience our lives.

Because sometimes we're not just describing what's happening. We're making it bigger.

Here's something to consider today: Are the words you're using simply describing your experience, or are they intensifying it?

You can find me here:

Dr. Thor on Instagram @thorchallgren

Website: https://thorchallgren.com

We all have unwritten rules about how the world is supposed to work. But what happens when someone breaks one?

A strange elevator experience on a recent Mediterranean cruise left me surprisingly irritated. But when I stepped back and got curious about my reaction, I realized the problem might not have been the other people. It might have been the rule I assumed everyone should be following.

In this episode, I explore how noticing our assumptions and questioning the rules we've created can change our experience.

The next time something annoys you, try asking: Why is this bothering me? And what am I assuming should be happening instead?

You can find me here:

Dr. Thor on Instagram @thorchallgren

Website: https://thorchallgren.com