Episode Details

Six months in a Burmese monastery stripped away everything Corey Mascara thought he knew about happiness—and accidentally made him financially independent. Corey, now a mindfulness teacher at the University of Pennsylvania, didn't enter that monastic retreat seeking enlightenment about money. He started meditating to impress someone. But the insights he gained about contentment, attachment, and what actually matters turned out to be the most powerful wealth-building tool he never expected.

Brad and Jonathan sit down with Corey to explore how his extreme experiment in simplicity rewired his relationship with possessions, work, and the pursuit of financial independence. The conversation covers practical meditation techniques that take less time than brewing coffee, the cognitive trap of hedonic adaptation, and why your ability to be content with less might be the ultimate form of leverage.

Key Topics

Introduction to Mindfulness [00:00:40]

• Importance of mindfulness in personal finance and well-being
• Integration of mindfulness practices in corporate and military settings

Corey Mascara's Background [00:03:44]

• How Corey began his mindfulness journey to impress someone, leading to profound insights

The Journey to Mindfulness [00:06:11]

• Transition from Type A personality to mindfulness advocate
• Experience with meditation and its unexpected benefits

The Experience in Burma [00:10:56]

• Six-month monastic retreat and challenges faced
• Lessons about attachment, pain, and suffering

Returning to a 'Normal' Life [00:22:27]

• Adjustments made after returning from the retreat
• Shift in perspective toward financial independence and simplicity

How Mindfulness Ties to Financial Independence [00:30:41]

• How mindfulness helps in making fulfilling financial decisions
• Achieving contentment and happiness independent of material possessions

Practical Meditation Tips [00:46:01]

• Starting with small daily practices
• Importance of establishing a habit

Key Takeaways

• Mindfulness enhances your relationship with money and material possessions
• Start small: commit to just one minute of meditation daily to build the habit
• Reflect on what truly brings happiness in life beyond material wealth
• Use mindfulness to evaluate life choices and cultivate gratitude

Practical Tips

For Beginners: Start with one minute of mindful breathing or focused meditation [00:50:06]

Daily Practice: Gradually increase meditation time to at least eight minutes for cognitive benefits

Evaluate Life: Assess your relationship with money and what brings fulfillment

Notable Quotes

"True contentment comes from within; everything else is just gravy." [00:28:35]

"Between stimulus and response, there's a space; in that space is our power to choose our response." [00:40:28]

"Establish a meditation habit before attempting longer sessions." [00:46:22]

"You can always find one minute for meditation." [00:50:23]

"Gratitude transforms your perspective and empowers your mindset." [00:57:17]

Resources

Follow Corey Mascara on Instagram and Facebook for daily mindfulness tips

Mr. Money Mustache blog [00:24:47]

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