Welcome to Episode 22 Reflecting on: Tradition, where Dr Marcus and Charlie explore why humans hold on to rituals and how to keep the ones that serve you while letting go of the rest.

From the comfort of family traditions to the weight of outdated customs, we dive into the psychology of why traditions matter, how they shape our identity, and when they can become harmful if left unchallenged.

We explore:

• Why traditions give us identity & stability 🏡

• How they help us cope with change and uncertainty 🌱

• When they become toxic or exclusionary 🚫

• Ways to adapt, create, and challenge traditions to better serve your life ✨

🛠 Practical Advice for Listeners

• Keep the meaning, not always the method

• Balance old and new

• Use tradition as an anchor, not a cage

• Challenge harmful traditions

• Create micro-traditions for joy

📍 Pillars explored:

Introspection & Inspiration, Presence & Gratitude, Community & Connection and Wellbeing & Joy

🎧 Hit play, and learn how to make daily life feel a little more manageable with less pressure and more clarity.

👇 Full video episode below, and don’t forget to subscribe!

📚 References cited in this episode:

• Atchley, R. C. (1989). A continuity theory of normal aging. The Gerontologist, 29(2), 183–190. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/29.2.183

• Greenberg, J., Solomon, S., & Pyszczynski, T. (1997). Terror Management Theory of Self-Esteem and Cultural Worldviews: Empirical assessments and Conceptual Refinements. In Advances in experimental social psychology (pp. 61–139). https://doi.org/10.1016/s0065-2601(08...

• Helliwell, J. F., & Putnam, R. D. (2004). The social context of well–being. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, 359(1449), 1435–1446. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2004.1522

• Tajfel, H., Turner, J. C., Austin, W. G., & Worchel, S. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. Organizational identity: A reader, 56-65.