The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast 1KHO 639: Escaping the Attention Economy | Sharon Hodde Miller, Gazing at God
Dec 3, 2025
In a thought-provoking conversation, Sharon Hodde Miller, an author focused on spiritual growth, reveals why many young people feel anxious and insecure. Drawing from her works, she highlights how our attention-driven culture fosters self-preoccupation rather than genuine self-worth. Sharon discusses the liberating practice of hiddenness and redirects focus towards loving God and others, offering practical advice for parents on nurturing deeper purpose in their children's lives. This insightful dialogue encourages stepping away from performance-driven validation and finding joy in genuine connection.
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Recognized By A Camp Director
- Sharon describes being recognized by a camp director because of podcast appearances.
- The encounter illustrated how numbers hide real, personal connections across audiences.
Self-Preoccupation Drives Insecurity
- Modern insecurity often stems from self-preoccupation, not just low self-esteem.
- Making things about ourselves turns gifts into burdens, draining joy and resilience.
Small Purpose, Bigger Problems
- The self-esteem movement raised self-focus but lowered life's purpose ceiling.
- Teaching kids to primarily 'find themselves' narrows meaning and increases narcissism.
