37. Are You Living at Cause or at Effect?

In Episode 37 of The Reset, Shaun explores a powerful idea that can completely shift how you experience your life:

Are you living at cause… or at effect?

Many people today feel overwhelmed by what’s happening in the world around them.

News cycles.
Economic pressure.
Global conflict.
Rapid technological change.

When we absorb all of this without awareness, it’s easy to feel like life is happening to us rather than something we are actively shaping.

This is what Shaun calls living at effect.

When you live at effect, your emotional state becomes tied to external events. Your mood, your energy, and even your sense of identity fluctuate based on things you can’t control.

You might notice it showing up as:

Low energy
Frustration or anger
Fear about the future
Feeling stuck or uncertain about your direction

And in today’s world, those feelings are becoming more common.

But Shaun offers another perspective.

Living at cause.

Living at cause means recognizing that while you can’t control the world around you, you always have control over how you respond to it.

Your perspective.
Your emotional state.
Your ability to choose your next step.

Those things remain within your control.

This doesn’t mean ignoring reality or pretending problems don’t exist. Instead, it means developing the ability to face uncertainty without letting it completely define your state.

Shaun reflects on his own journey in business, where some of the greatest lessons came from moments of failure.

At the time, those experiences felt overwhelming. It was easy to interpret them as proof that he wasn’t good enough.

But looking back, those same failures became the moments that built resilience and clarity.

The difference was learning to shift from being defined by the experience to learning from it.

Another powerful idea Shaun shares in this episode is the illusion of certainty.

Most people live as though they have unlimited time—putting off difficult conversations, delaying dreams, or holding back from expressing who they really are.

Yet the truth is simple:

Nothing is guaranteed.

Life could change in an instant.

And when we truly accept that reality, something surprising happens.

Instead of creating fear, it can create freedom.

Freedom to stop pretending.
Freedom to stop forcing yourself into an identity that doesn’t fit.
Freedom to finally live in alignment with who you truly want to be.

Shaun also highlights the importance of supporting one another during uncertain times.

When people feel like life is happening to them, they often struggle in silence.

Sometimes the most powerful action you can take is simple:

Ask someone how they’re really doing.

Reach out to a friend.
Check in on a neighbor.
Offer support when people need it most.

Because when we learn to live at cause in our own lives, we also create space to help others do the same.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might need the reminder that even in uncertain times, you still have the power to choose how you show up.