71. A Guide to Empathy: Peter Bregman, author of ‘You Can Lead Other People’ [reads] ‘The Invitation’ x ‘The Guest House’

Michael’s new book How to Begin: Start Doing Something that Matters is now available at www.HowToBegin.com.

When I was in Lisbon recently, I had one of those lovely moments of meeting a kindred spirit. It’s not the same as meeting someone who’s interesting or lovely, instead, there’s a recognition of ‘you and I, we are similarly weird and interesting.’ I gave Steven D’Souza my book, and he gave me his new book, Not Being. It’s a great book that tries to navigate similar big questions that I mull over. In one section, he wrote: “Now I find more truth in poetry than in prose; in nature than in classrooms. I’ve come to the point where I’m tired of the narrative of development, and exhausted by the imperative for self-improvement. I’m ending the search. I want to enjoy life on the other side of these personal development projects.” 

You don’t typically hear the first question I ask my guests; Who are you, what’s your story? Sometimes people plunge into that with gusto, sometimes there’s a bit of a nervous laugh - but Peter Bregman sat with this question longer than most of us, and revealed that he’s more than his résumé of being a coach, teacher, and author. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Peter reads two poems; ‘The Invitation’ by Oriah Mountain Dreamer [reading begins at 11:40], and ‘The Guest House’ by Rumi. [reading begins at 14:40]

Hear us discuss: 

“I live my life in relation to emotion.” [16:51] | Continuing to be ambitious after achievements. [18:22] | You Can Change Other People: “We all are learning how to be honest without learning how to be helpful.” [20:46] | Acknowledging and responding to struggle: “If you can’t empathise, you will never be an ally.” [23:55]