Yung Pueblo, a poet who struggled with addiction, shares wisdom about conflict, spirituality, and embracing emotions. He discusses reshaping patterns, taking a breath to foster understanding in relationships, and the seductive allure of numbers. Pueblo also talks about being bold in writing, overcoming challenges, and the intersection of spirituality and venture capital.
Being honest with our emotions can reshape our lives and break free from harmful patterns.
Spirituality should be grounded in true understanding, kindness, and selflessness rather than empty gestures or superficial appearances.
Deep dives
Personal Transformation through Honesty and Meditation
Diego Perez, also known as young Pueblo, shares the transformative power of asking ourselves how we truly feel. By being honest with our emotions, he explains, we can reshape our lives and break free from harmful patterns. Perez discusses his journey from addiction to self-discovery, revealing how meditation and self-reflection played a significant role. He emphasizes the importance of facing personal pain and not running from it, as well as the positive impact of accepting and feeling our emotions fully. Ultimately, he highlights the power of selfless listening and seeking understanding in our relationships for personal growth and harmony.
The Complexity of Spiritual Practices and Authentic Spirituality
Perez explores the pitfalls of cosmetic spirituality, where individuals adopt external symbols and jargon without genuine internal transformation. He stresses the need for spirituality to be grounded in true understanding, kindness, and selflessness rather than empty gestures or superficial appearances. Perez emphasizes that spirituality should focus on actions and behavior changes, allowing individuals to observe reality objectively and make more skillful choices. He also discusses the need to let go and accept the uncertainties of life while striving for personal growth and bringing harmony to the world.
Overcoming Addiction, Taking Risks, and Finding Boldness
Perez shares his personal journey of overcoming addiction, reshaping his life, and finding his path as a writer. He highlights the importance of taking risks and being bold in creative pursuits, even when faced with resistance or expectations to stick to a certain formula. He reflects on the joy of wrestling with challenging ideas and subjects that are larger than oneself, paralleling it with childhood memories of wrestling with his brother. Perez believes in continuously pushing oneself as an author, creating work that sparks self-reflection and inspires individuals to question and evaluate their own perspectives.
The Impact of Writing on Readers and Choosing Meaningful Projects
Perez expresses gratitude for the impact his book, 'Clarity and Connection,' has had on readers, offering personal stories of how it has positively affected lives. He considers this book to be a culmination of his boldness as a writer, as he ventured beyond minimalistic pieces and delved into essays that address complex topics. Perez values the ability of his work to provoke self-reflection and elicit readers' perspectives, encouraging them to critically examine their actions and beliefs. He emphasizes the importance of continually producing meaningful work that challenges oneself and sparks thought and growth in readers.
How are you? It’s a question we get asked everyday, but we hardly ever answer it honestly.
When Diego Perez — also known under his penname, Yung Pueblo — started asking himself that question and answering honestly, his entire life changed.
In this conversation, Diego opens up about his own struggles with addiction and shares hard-earned wisdom about conflict, spirituality, and so much more.