Jordan Sterling

Welcome back to the PTT Music Podcast, and a warm welcome to all our new listeners joining us for the first time! I'm Jordan Sterling, alongside Ava Brooks. This is the space where music is so much more than sound. It's a purposeful force designed to inspire confidence, awaken emotion, strengthen the mind, and move people forward in life. Today, we're exploring an empowering topic: Why We Give Better Advice Than We Take, and how we can use positive behavioral techniques to direct that same wisdom toward ourselves.

Ava Brooks

That's right, Jordan. Psychological researchers call this phenomenon Shalamah's Paradox, also known as Solomon's Paradox, named after King Shalamah, also known as King Solomon, who was celebrated across the ancient world for his extraordinary wisdom in guiding others, yet struggled to apply those same insights when making decisions in his own personal life.

Jordan Sterling

When we advise a colleague, a team member, or a friend, our brains naturally operate from a clean, objective perspective. We see the big picture, analyze the variables with complete clarity, and offer empowering solutions without getting bogged down by immediate emotional noise. But when it's our own challenge, our perspective narrows dramatically. That's because our brain perceives personal uncertainty through the lens of ego threat and self defense, which pulls blood flow toward the emotional centers and away from the prefrontal cortex.

Ava Brooks

Exactly. In psychology, this is known as the difference between immersed processing and distanced processing. When you're immersed, you're looking out from inside the storm, where every gust of wind feels overwhelming. But when you advise someone else, you're viewing the landscape from an aerial view. Dr. Ethan Kross at the University of Michigan and Dr. Igor Grossmann at the University of Waterloo, in a 2014 study published in the peer reviewed journal Psychological Science, discovered that wise reasoning, like recognizing the limits of our knowledge, considering multiple perspectives, and seeking constructive compromise, peaks when we create psychological distance.

Jordan Sterling

And the breakthrough finding is that we don't have to wait for someone else to ask for our advice to access that aerial view. By intentionally using third person self talk and referring to ourselves by name, we can ask, "What's the most constructive action for Jordan to take right now?" Research led by Dr. Ethan Kross, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 2014, showed this helps people stay calmer and perform better under stress. And a 2017 study in the journal Scientific Reports found that it reduces emotional reactivity in the brain within the first second, without requiring extra mental effort. That's how personal pressure becomes high level strategic coaching.

Ava Brooks

It completely changes your cognitive vantage point! Instead of feeling like an actor overwhelmed on stage, you step into the director's chair where you can view every challenge as an opportunity to innovate, adapt, and lead with purpose. You begin treating your own potential with the exact same respect, generosity, and bold conviction that you offer to the people you champion every single day.

Jordan Sterling

To anchor this transition and make it a sustainable habit, positive behavioral science points directly to sensory cues. Auditory triggers have an immediate pathway to the nervous system, bypassing overthinking and establishing an instant mental rhythm. That's why we created the PTT Music track "What's Workin'".

Ava Brooks

"What's Workin'" was crafted specifically to serve as a sonic anchor for inspiration, mental clarity, and focus. The arrangement directs your attention away from circular doubts and channels it toward tangible progress. When you pair positive behavioral strategies with a track like "What's Workin'", you provide your mind with an immediate environment that fosters breakthrough thinking and deliberate problem solving. It reminds you to ask what is already functioning, what's gaining traction, and how we can multiply that success.

Jordan Sterling

And once that clarity is established, the next essential step in positive behavior is execution. When you want to shift that mental clarity into immediate physical momentum, joy, and confidence, pairing it with our track "Bold" creates an unbeatable energy boost. "Bold" serves as an extraordinary auditory trigger for joy, celebration, and pure creative expression. It helps you step out of analysis and move directly into purposeful action.

Ava Brooks

"Bold" is all about owning your confidence, celebrating your strength, and bringing enthusiastic energy into every room you enter. Combining both "What's Workin'" and "Bold" gives you a complete sonic toolkit for both high focus clarity and high energy celebration! One gives you the grounded wisdom to assess the path, while the other gives you the unwavering courage to walk it without hesitation.

Jordan Sterling

We've designed a simple, powerful practice you can use anytime you want to optimize your focus and momentum. We call it the High Focus Name Swap Drill. Step one: play an inspiring track like "What's Workin'" or "Bold" from PTT Music as your grounding anchor. That sound primes your brain for insight and resilience before you even begin processing the challenge.

Ava Brooks

Step two: pause, take a deep breath, and ask yourself a guiding question using your own name, such as "Ava, what's the boldest, most productive step to take next?" Step three: deliver the exact empowering advice you would give to an esteemed colleague or best friend. When you hear your own voice articulating the strategy from that elevated vantage point, hesitation dissolves.

Jordan Sterling

This rapid self coaching routine immediately unlocks clarity, grounds your nervous system, and aligns your thoughts with intentional action. By harnessing both positive behavioral science and the transformative power of PTT Music, you maintain full mastery over your focus and drive every day. You become your own most trusted mentor, backed by an unstoppable soundtrack.

Ava Brooks

So as you step forward into your goals today, take a seat in that director's chair. Use "What's Workin'" and "Bold" to energize your atmosphere, guide yourself with wisdom, and lead with unwavering confidence. You already have the answers inside you; you simply need the right tools and perspective to bring them to light.

Jordan Sterling

Again, thanks for spending this time with us on the PTT Music Podcast. We hope today's conversation left you inspired, encouraged, and ready to carry that energy with you wherever life takes you. I'm Jordan Sterling...

Ava Brooks

and I'm Ava Brooks. We'll see you next time for another conversation that celebrates creativity, purpose, and the power of music.

Jordan Sterling

If you enjoyed today's episode, we'd love for you to continue the journey with us. Visit PTTMusic.com to explore our latest music, official videos, exclusive merchandise, artist updates, and much more.

Ava Brooks

You can also stream PTT Music on your favorite music platforms, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use a little inspiration today. Until next time, keep moving forward, and let the PTT Music continue to move you.