Which comes first: the motivation or the action? The confidence or the success? So often, we feel stuck in patterns we can't see, waiting for the right feeling before we make a change.

This Intentional Masterclass uses the age-old "chicken or the egg" riddle to decode the powerful, invisible feedback loops that run our lives. Paul Kempff and Francois de Wet explore how these cycles can become downward spirals of stress and inaction or, with deliberate intervention, upward spirals of growth and fulfillment.

Listen to this episode to learn how to identify the true starting point for change in any area of your life, empowering you to move from being a passive participant to the active designer of your future.

Show Notes:

In this thought-provoking masterclass, Paul Kempff and his co-host, Francois de Wet, explore the concept of "circular causality" using the "chicken or the egg" riddle as a powerful metaphor for personal growth. They move beyond a simple answer to investigate the interconnected feedback loops in our lives that determine our happiness, success, and well-being. By understanding how these loops work, you can identify where to intervene to intentionally break negative cycles and create positive, upward spirals.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

• The Riddle's Scientific Answer: While the conversation is largely philosophical, you'll learn the definitive scientific answer: the egg came first. A genetic mutation occurred inside an egg laid by a "chicken-like" animal, which resulted in the first true chicken hatching from it.
• The Power of Seeing Loops: The main goal is to shift your perspective beyond simple cause-and-effect and instead embrace the interconnectedness of feedback loops that are all around us.
• How to Create Upward Spirals: Learn how identifying the "egg" (the starting point) in any loop gives you the leverage to deliberately change a downward spiral into a positive one.

Key Feedback Loops Explored.

1. Happiness & Relationships.
2. Mindset & Happiness.
3. Motivation & Action.
4. Positive Thinking & Positive Outcomes.
5. Stress & Sleep.
6. Success & Confidence.
7. Financial Health & Spending Habits.

Mentioned in this Episode:

• The Harvard Study on Adult Development found that good relationships are the key determinant of happiness.
• The book Why We Sleep.
• Robin Sharma's The 5 AM Club.
• The Huberman Lab podcast.