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Peak End Engineering: Rewire Hard Work with a Better Finish · PTT Music Podcast

• 0:21
  Hello everyone, and welcome to the PTT Music Podcast!
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  I'm your host, Jordan Sterling, joined as always by my wonderful co host,
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  positive behavior expert and Creative Correspondent, Ava Brooks.
• 0:34
  Hello everyone!
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  We are so glad you are here with us today.
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  Today, Ava and I are diving into one of our absolute favorite topics in positive
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  psychology: how we can actively design our mindsets and everyday routines for
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  maximum momentum and joy.
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  Our episode title is Peak End Engineering: Rewire Hard Work with a Better Finish,
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  and that is exactly what we are focusing on today.
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  Yes!
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  We love exploring behavioral tools that help people thrive,
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  build strong habits, and truly savor their achievements.
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  Peak end engineering explains how our memory stores positive experiences and how we
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  can rewire how we look at hard work.
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  It is so powerful.
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  Basically, our brain does not sum up every single minute of an activity equally.
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  Instead, what psychologists call duration neglect shows that our memory focuses on
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  two main moments: the emotional peak and how the experience wraps up at the very
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  end.
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  Exactly!
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  The remembering self...
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  the part of our brain that crafts our memories...
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  logs the high point and the landing pad.
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  When you end any focus block, workout, or creative session on an upbeat,
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  high energy note, your brain anchors the whole event as a total triumph.
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  Think about how incredible that is for habit building and personal productivity.
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  When we engage in deep, focused effort, whether it is crafting a song,
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  outlining a major project, or hitting a personal fitness record,
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  our brain is registering every micro decision along the way.
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  But when we look back on that effort tomorrow morning, we do not replay every single
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  second in real time.
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  That is right, Jordan.
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  Our brains are efficient storytellers.
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  They distill complex experiences into concise mental snapshots.
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  The cognitive psychologist and Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman,
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  along with psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, discovered that human memory relies
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  heavily on this peak end heuristic.
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  Instead of taking an average of the entire duration, we automatically average the
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  emotional high point and the final moments.
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  To show just how strongly the brain values a positive finish,
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  there is a famous classic experiment by Daniel Kahneman and Barbara Fredrickson.
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  They placed participants in a study involving cold water immersion.
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  In one trial, people held their hand in water at fourteen degrees Celsius for sixty
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  seconds.
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  In a second trial, they did those same sixty seconds, plus an extra thirty seconds
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  where the water warmed up just one degree to fifteen degrees Celsius.
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  And when participants were asked which experience they preferred to repeat,
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  sixty nine percent chose the longer trial!
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  Even though it lasted longer, ending on that slightly warmer,
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  improving trend made the overall memory feel much better.
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  It really demonstrates how much power we have to shape our experience when we finish
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  with intention and positivity.
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  It shows that human perception is wonderfully responsive to upward trajectory.
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  When things finish on a positive, uplifting trend, our memory logs the whole
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  endeavor as rewarding and worth repeating.
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  As positive behavior specialists, we can take this insight and turn it into a high
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  impact daily tool.
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  Absolutely!
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  Think about how we approach challenging creative or professional sessions.
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  When you are deep in the zone pushing through complex ideas,
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  you are putting in dedicated grit and resilience.
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  And that is where intentional music selection becomes a total game changer for
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  emotional regulation.
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  And music plays an incredible role in peak end engineering.
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  For instance, when you are pushing through a challenging task,
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  playing a song like "I Got Heart" reminds you of your inner resilience and
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  dedication.
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  It helps you tap into that emotional peak while working through the effort.
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  "I Got Heart" is such a perfect anthem for that middle phase of deep focus!
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  It builds that sense of inner strength and purpose.
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  You feel confident, grounded, and motivated because the music aligns with your
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  determination to grow and achieve.
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  And then as you approach the end of your session, instead of letting your work taper
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  off quietly or stepping away abruptly, you intentionally curate your finish line.
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  You orchestrate an exhilarating ending that signals victory to your brain.
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  That is so true!
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  And then to elevate your finish line, turning on an empowering track like "No Limit"
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  gives your brain that exhilarating climax.
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  That strong finish directly ties back to our title, Peak End Engineering: Rewire
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  Hard Work with a Better Finish, because when you end on a high note like "No Limit",
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  you rewire your memory of the entire effort.
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  That connection between our episode title, Peak End Engineering: Rewire Hard Work
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  with a Better Finish, and those two songs, "I Got Heart" and "No Limit",
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  is so seamless.
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  "I Got Heart" gives you the stamina for the peak effort, and "No Limit" gives you
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  that triumphant ending that rewires how your mind stores the experience.
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  When you put "No Limit" on during those final few minutes, your neurochemistry
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  responds to the energetic rhythm, the inspiring lyrics, and the triumphant melody.
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  It triggers a surge of positive reinforcement.
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  Your brain literally tags the entire work session with a feeling of boundless
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  potential.
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  How do you usually put this into practice in your own routine,
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  Ava?
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  Whenever I complete a productive writing block, I like to cue up an inspiring track
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  like "No Limit" for the final three minutes.
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  It gives my brain a vibrant, celebratory finish line and leaves me feeling
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  incredible.
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  Love that!
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  You are linking your hard work directly with dopamine and music,
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  so your brain logs the entire focus session as a massive win.
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  And because your brain logged it as a massive win, you do not experience resistance
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  or hesitation the next time you sit down to work.
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  You actually look forward to it!
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  You are primed with positive expectation, ready to channel "I Got Heart" during your
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  deep focus and celebrate again at the end with "No Limit".
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  That is the true beauty of behavioral engineering.
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  You are taking charge of your environmental cues and emotional landing pads.
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  You are actively designing an environment that nurtures momentum,
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  self confidence, and continuous growth.
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  Yes!
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  It elevates your energy and ensures you transition into the rest of your day feeling
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  accomplished, capable, and excited.
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  Think about how this applies across all areas of life, too.
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  It is not just work or study sessions.
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  If you are finishing a workout, complete the last set with your favorite high energy
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  playlist.
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  If you are having a team meeting or a creative brainstorming session,
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  conclude by highlighting your favorite success story or celebrating everyone's
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  contributions.
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  I love that point, Jordan.
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  Celebrating progress at the finish line creates an environment of encouragement and
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  shared achievement.
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  When we design great finishes in our personal lives, our work,
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  and our creative projects, we build a continuous lifestyle of enthusiasm and
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  success.
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  So for everyone listening today, what is your takeaway challenge?
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  Here is our challenge for you today.
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  Pick your next focus block, channel your resilience with "I Got Heart",
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  and finish strong by playing "No Limit" during the last three minutes of your
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  session.
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  Celebrate the win!
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  Again, thanks for spending this time with us on the PTT Music Podcast.
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  We hope today's conversation left you inspired, encouraged,
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  and ready to carry that energy with you wherever life takes you.
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  I'm Jordan Sterling...
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  I'm Ava Brooks.
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  We'll see you next time for another conversation that celebrates creativity,
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  purpose, and the power of music.
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  If you enjoyed today's episode, we'd love for you to continue the journey with us.
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  Visit PTTMusic.com to explore our latest music, official videos,
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  exclusive merchandise, artist updates, and much more.
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  You can also stream PTT Music on your favorite music platforms.
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  And be sure to subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with
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  someone who could use a little inspiration today...
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  Until next time, keep moving forward.
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  And let the PTT Music continue to move you closer to who you truly are.