No Stupid Questions 68. Why Do We Want What We Can’t Have?
Sep 26, 2021
Delve into the psychology of longing for the unattainable and its ties to envy and self-doubt. The discussion reveals how ambition intertwines with admiration through personal anecdotes and ancient parables. Explore the complexities of tribalism in modern society, addressing feelings of exclusion and social hierarchies faced by minority communities. Insights into human nature reveal how our evolutionary past shapes contemporary interactions, emphasizing self-acceptance to counteract divisive group dynamics.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Wanting What We Can't Have
- People desire what they don't have, which drives goals.
- Wanting what one can't have may express autonomy or a completionist drive.
Lindsey Vonn's Drive
- Angela Duckworth recounts reading Lindsey Vonn's memoir.
- Vonn, even as a child, constantly sought to outperform those around her, later just herself.
Universal Yearning
- Humans are inherently goal-directed, which fuels desire for the unattainable.
- This yearning is present in everyone, not just high-achievers.