Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg Raising our happiness baseline (with Sasha Chapin)
62 snips
Jun 19, 2024 
Sasha Chapin, a writer based in California known for his thought-provoking Substack posts and the memoir "All the Wrong Moves," discusses the fascinating idea of shifting our happiness baseline. He explores self-love versus self-tolerance and how viewing shame through a kink lens can lead to personal growth. The conversation touches on Brazilian jujitsu's psychological benefits and the complexities of visualization for those with aphantasia. Chapin encourages embracing emotions and refining writing skills through honest expression.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Initial Happiness Journey
- Sasha Chapin experienced significant happiness increases through incremental changes like weightlifting and jiu-jitsu.
- However, a major shift occurred after reading "Existential Kink" and performing a self-love meditation exercise.
Shame Cycle
- Sasha Chapin felt shame around his creative process, feeling like an idiot after publishing work.
- He would retreat, then return as his need for affirmation grew, repeating this cycle for years.
Existential Kink Exercise
- Visualize the shameful behavior or emotion with curiosity, like a child examining an interesting object.
- Embrace the associated sensations aesthetically, removing the "bad" label, and finding them thrilling.
