The Art of Happiness With Sharon Lebell (Episode 4)
Jan 6, 2023
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Sharon Lebell, bestselling author of The Art of Living, discusses judgment, role models, and key ideas in stoicism. They emphasize the importance of clarifying values and why optionality is overrated. They also explore the challenges of fame in the self-help industry and the importance of building authentic communities.
Importance of daily self-reflection and aligning actions with values for personal growth.
Building authentic communities through active participation, non-judgmental sharing, and working towards common goals.
Deep dives
The Art of Happiness and Practical Wisdom
Sharon Labelle, author of The Art of Happiness, discusses her daily practice and the importance of depth in stoicism. She emphasizes the need for discernment and judgment in our lives, making value judgments and embracing seriousness. Labelle sees stoicism and Eastern contemplative traditions as having a common focus on stillness and clear perception. She advocates for daily practices that bring us back to order, such as yoga and reading wisdom sources. Labelle also highlights the importance of role models, while cautioning against idolizing and idolizing them. Lastly, she discusses the challenge of building community in the digital world and the need to be real and honest in online interactions.
Shaping Desires and Focusing on Values
Labelle emphasizes the importance of daily self-reflection and checking in with oneself. By consistently asking, 'Who do I want to be?' and aligning actions with values, we can shape our desires and prioritize personal growth. She suggests cultivating seriousness, judgment, and discernment in making value judgments, rather than embracing superficiality, competition, or status-seeking. This process involves turning inward, anchoring oneself in mortality, and identifying what truly matters. Labelle encourages individuals to focus on being real and honest, avoiding poses or posturing, and expressing values openly for genuine connection and community building.
Creating and Fostering Community
Labelle shares her experience of working with colleagues on building the online philosophical community called the Walled Garden. She recognizes the value of community and the need for social interaction, highlighting the role of religious institutions in fostering a sense of belonging and support. Labelle encourages individuals to be actively involved in community-building, emphasizing the importance of active participation and contributing to the group's growth. She suggests that authenticity, non-judgmental sharing, and working towards common goals can foster a strong sense of community in both physical and digital spaces.
The Power of Commitment and Depth
Labelle discusses the significance of commitment and embracing depth in life. She advocates for focusing on fewer things and going deeper rather than spreading oneself too thin. Commitment to personal values and relationships is emphasized, highlighting the need to avoid excessive optionality or the pursuit of perfection. Labelle points out that meaningfulness arises when individuals fully commit and embrace the drilling down into what truly matters to them, rather than being scattered and superficial. She encourages individuals to drill down into their chosen path and fully enter it, exploring the craftsmanship and fulfillment that comes with depth.
In this episode, Caleb speaks with bestselling author Sharon Lebell. They discuss:
- Why judgment is the beginning of connection
- How Sharon thinks about role models
- Key ideas in The Art of Living
- The importance of clarifying and communicating values
- Why optionality is overrated
Sharon is the bestselling author of The Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness and a cofounder of the Walled Garden. Read more about her here: https://www.sharonlebell.com/
Stoa Conversations is Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay’s podcast on Stoic theory and practice.
Caleb and Michael work together on the Stoa app. Stoa is designed to help you build resilience and focus on what matters. It combines the practical philosophy of Stoicism with modern techniques and meditation.
Caleb Ontiveros has a background in academic philosophy (MA) and startups. His favorite Stoic is Marcus Aurelius. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/calebmontiveros
Michael Tremblay also has a background in academic philosophy (PhD) where he focused on Epictetus. He is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite Stoic is Epictetus. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/_MikeTremblay
Thank you to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/
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