Melinda Gates: Why Your Perfectionism Has Been Draining You & 7 Reasons You Should Spend Time Alone in Silence Today

Are you a perfectionist? Do you ever spend time alone in silence? Today, Jay sits down with Melinda French Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and founder of Pivotal Ventures to talk about her journey from studying computer science at Duke University to working at Microsoft, and eventually transitioning into philanthropy. Melinda highlights the importance of goal setting and quiet reflection, practices instilled in her from a young age; the challenges women and people of color face in achieving equality, emphasizing the need for more inclusive policies and support systems; and the importance of diverse representation in leadership and decision-making roles. Melinda shared insights into her parenting approach, emphasizing the importance of instilling values of kindness, responsibility, and giving back to society. She also shared her journey of grappling with the decision to publicly support contraceptive access, which conflicted with her Catholic faith. This decision involved deep reflection, discussions with family and friends, and a significant amount of time spent questioning and reconciling her beliefs. Later in the conversation, Melinda highlighted several key lessons she learned later in life, such as the realization that the world is not equally accessible to everyone, particularly women and people of color. This understanding fueled her advocacy for creating more inclusive environments and breaking down barriers that prevent these groups from reaching their full potential​. In this interview, you'll learn: How to embrace change positively How to spend time alone How to set and achieve goals How to overcome imposter syndrome How to teach children the value of service How to build a culture of giving How to foster kindness and gratitude Take a moment to reflect, give yourself grace, and celebrate your authentic self. Let’s grow together, one imperfect step at a time. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 02:58 Takeaways From Dealing with Change 04:26 Positive Mindset on Change 06:54 Where Did Your Dream Start? 10:18 Spending Time in Silence 12:11 Cultivate Relationships with Trusted People 14:12 Lessons Learned as a Parent 16:05 Not Everyone is Given the Same Opportunity 18:20 Equality for All in the Community 20:24 The Demand of Contraceptives Worldwide 24:41 The Imposter Syndrome 27:20 The Beauty in the Imperfections 30:01 Spiritual Group of Different Religions 33:36 Wisdom from Different Age Group 34:59 Addiction to Perfection 37:05 Stop Judging Yourself and Others 40:56 Equating Grace to Guilt 42:53 Finding Grace After Divorce 46:48 Be Kind to Yourself While Processing Pain 48:36 You Will Find Happiness Again 51:13 Empowering Women and People of Color 54:12 Breaking Down Biased Excuses 59:29 Kindness, Talent, and Luck 01:00:54 Children of Famous Parents 01:04:24 Creating a Culture of Giving 01:12:45 Melinda on Final Five Episode Resources: Melinda French Gates | Instagram Melinda French Gates | Facebook Melinda French Gates | TikTok Melinda French Gates | LinkedIn Melinda French Gates | X Melinda French Gates | YouTube The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.