Where Shall We Meet On Yearning with Maria Popova
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Sep 4, 2024 
In this engaging discussion, Maria Popova, creator of The Marginalian, explores the depths of human yearning and existential questioning. She reveals how dissatisfaction can drive creativity and shape identity. Maria critiques the performative identity fostered by social media, advocating for genuine self-expression. The conversation highlights the transformative power of poetry and writing in understanding ourselves and our place in the world. She also imagines a dinner party with historical icons, celebrating the impact of their interconnectedness on intellectual thought.
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Not Enough Fuels Creativity
- A timeless human drive is the feeling of "not enough" which fuels creativity and the desire to create what doesn't exist yet.
- This 'divine discontentment' is both a source of suffering and the artist's animating impulse.
Coping with Existential Boredom
- Existential boredom is a terrifying dimension of life that humans avoid through productivity and art.
- These are coping mechanisms to deal with life’s transience and potential emptiness.
Marginality Enables Innovation
- Marginalized individuals often bypass societal norms, giving them freedom to break the "normative exoskeleton".
- This outsider status enables them to pioneer new paths and challenge established systems.