Three Skills for Staying Calm, Sane, and Open in a Chaotic World | Krista Tippett
Oct 16, 2023
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Krista Tippett, a Peabody Award-winning broadcaster and bestselling author, shares insights from her 20 years of interviewing on navigating the complexities of faith and love. She discusses embracing open questions and the importance of self-awareness in relationships. Tippett emphasizes the value of generative agency, especially in turbulent times, and the need to balance harsh realities with compassion and hope. Her reflections encourage listeners to engage with uncertainty while staying connected with their core values.
Living with open questions teaches us in times of uncertainty.
Redefining calling as something for everyone encourages individuals to find their unique purpose.
Shifting perspectives to focus on sources of light and growth allows for meaningful impact in our immediate surroundings.
Deep dives
The Power of Open Questions
In this podcast episode, Krista Tippett discusses the importance of living with open questions rather than rushing to find answers. She emphasizes that in a time of uncertainty, it is crucial to dwell with the questions themselves and to let them teach us. Tippett suggests that instead of focusing solely on the big macro problems, individuals should look for opportunities to make a difference in their own little worlds, finding the light and doing good where they can. By understanding the value of questions and embracing a sense of agency within their own spheres of influence, individuals can contribute to the collective repair of the world.
Finding Your Calling and Embracing Wholeness
Tippett explores the concept of calling as a companion to facing challenges and crises. She highlights that calling goes beyond job titles and should not be limited to professional spiritual individuals. By redefining calling as something that applies to everyone, Tippett encourages individuals to think about their unique purpose and how they can bring their authentic selves to their work and personal lives. She also discusses the importance of wholeness, urging individuals to prioritize their well-being and seek a sense of balance that encompasses all aspects of their lives. Tippett suggests that embracing calling and wholeness can help individuals navigate the complexities of the world and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Shifting Perspectives and Focusing on What Matters
Tippett emphasizes the need to shift perspectives and focus on what truly matters in life. She encourages individuals to resist getting caught up in the distractions and negativity of the world by refocusing on the sources of light, beauty, and positive change that exist in their immediate surroundings. Tippett suggests that by paying attention to the connections, relationships, and opportunities for growth that are within reach, individuals can make a meaningful difference. She also emphasizes the importance of intentionality and self-reflection, urging individuals to align their actions with their values and cultivate a deep sense of purpose and love in their lives.
The Power of Generative Storytelling
In the podcast episode, the speaker discusses the concept of generative storytelling, which is focused on highlighting what is life-giving, creative, and worthy of aspiring to. The speaker emphasizes that while there is often a narrative of catastrophe and negativity, there are also countless individuals around us who are striving to make a positive impact and promote healing, kindness, and social creativity. The speaker challenges the prevailing focus on the worst-case scenarios and encourages listeners to embrace the generative possibilities and agency to shape a better world.
Navigating the Tensions of Aspiration and Reality
Another key theme discussed in the podcast is the tension between aspiration and reality. The speaker explores the challenges of living up to high aspirations while acknowledging the imperfect nature of humanity and the unpredictability of outcomes. The conversation touches on the importance of intentionality, pure intention, and ardor, where individuals strive to align their intentions with their actions, even if they do not always hit the mark. The speaker highlights the value of remembering one's aspirations and remaining grounded in the present moment, while also accepting the inherent mystery and lack of control over results.
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The host of On Being shares lessons learned from 20 years of interviews, including: how to live with open questions, counterprogramming against your negativity bias, and getting over the God question.
Krista Tippett is a Peabody Award-winning broadcaster, a National Humanities Medalist, and a New York Times bestselling author. She grew up in a small town in Oklahoma, attended Brown University, and became a journalist and diplomat in Cold War Berlin. After studying theology at Yale Divinity School in the early 1990s, Tippett launched Speaking of Faith — later On Being — as a weekly national public radio show in 2003. She has published three books: Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living; Einstein’s God, drawn from her interviews at the intersection of science, medicine, and spiritual inquiry; and Speaking of Faith, a memoir of religion in our time.
In this episode we talk about:
Getting over the God question when it comes to contemplating religion
Why Western culture has such a dearth of ways to talk about love
Why she thinks the core of relationships is not about agreeing but about navigating differences
Tuning into our generative agency
Her definition of a wise life as distinct from a knowledgeable or accomplished on
Why she believes it is as important to know what you love as it is to know what you hate
Learning to love big open questions instead of rushing to answers
Why the things we get paid to do may not define whether we're living a worthy life
And getting our intentions straight and then trying not to tie them too tightly to our goals
