Gregg Krech, author of The Art of Taking Action, discusses Morita therapy, emphasizing action over feelings to combat depression and anxiety. Topics include staying motivated, purpose-driven living, and distinguishing between busyness and meaningful action.
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insights INSIGHT
Morita Therapy's Focus
Morita therapy prioritizes accepting feelings instead of fixing them.
It emphasizes living well by coexisting with unpleasant feelings, rather than eliminating them.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Overcoming Stage Fright
Gregg Krech describes overcoming stage fright by shifting his attention from anxiety to playing the piano.
Immersing himself in the activity made him no longer aware of his anxiety.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Action as Antidote to Depression
When depressed, view action as a skill to be practiced, even if motivation is low.
Coexist with the feeling and get moving; action is a powerful antidote to depression.
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While we often associate Eastern spiritual and philosophical traditions with meditation and contemplation, there's another side to this wisdom that centers on action and can help us move through depression, anxiety, fear, and just general malaise.
Today on the show, Gregg and I discuss a Japanese psychological technique called Morita therapy, which concentrates on accepting instead of fixing one's thoughts and feelings, and acting in spite of them. We discuss how action can be a powerful antidote to depression, anxiety, and interpersonal conflicts, how to act when you don't feel like it, how to stay motivated when the initial rush of a new project or relationship has worn off, and why it's better to have a purpose-driven rather than a feelings-driven life. We end our conversation unpacking the idea that busyness is not the same thing as purposeful action, and why we need self-reflection to tell the difference between the two.
The Art of Manliness