Former Pro Surfer Cooper Chapman on the 1% Habit That Can Transform Your Mental Health

What if happiness isn’t about achieving more, but learning to find inner peace wherever you are?

In this episode of Better Than Yesterday, former professional surfer and mental health advocate Cooper Chapman shares with Osher Gunsberg the mindset shifts that transformed his life — from chasing success, external validation and results, to focusing on gratitude, mindfulness, resilience and service to others.

Cooper talks openly about the pressure of high performance, the danger of tying your self-worth to achievement, and why falling into a victim mindset can leave us feeling powerless. He explains how we can instead take responsibility, learn from setbacks and focus on what is within our control.

Cooper also explains his simple approach to mental health: small, practical habits that anyone can incorporate into everyday life. From a daily gratitude practice to spending time in nature without your phone, Cooper discusses how seemingly tiny actions can gradually retrain our minds to notice the positives. Along the way, he also shares some memorable lessons, including “get curious, not furious,” “knowledge is knowing, wisdom is doing,” and his father’s reminder that “life’s about appreciation, not expectation.”

LINKS

• More on Cooper's Good Human Factory here
• Follow (@thegoodhumanfactory) on Instagram (and DM “Good Club” to join the free community Cooper mentioned)
• Watch Cooper's 'Good Humans' podcast on YouTube
• Listen to Cooper's Good Humans podcast
• Cooper's book 'The 1% Good Club' is out now
• Sign up to the Better Than Yesterday newsletter
• Watch episodes of Better Than Yesterday on YouTube
• Watch full stories recorded live at Story Club on YouTube
• Get tickets for our next Story Club show
• Get Osher's latest books here
• Send a pic of what you're looking at to sendosheremail@gmail.com

CONTENT NOTE:
Advice contained in this episode is general in nature and does not take into consideration personal circumstances. If you are concerned about a prolonged mental health challenge for yourself or someone you know, be sure to contact your health professional or Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au

LIKE THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT...

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• 'Comfort Is Holding You Back': Secrets to Growth and Confidence with Ant Williams

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