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Making Positive Psychology Work

What Do You Most Desire & Why? with Luke Burgis

Aug 13, 2021
Luke Burgis, entrepreneur in residence and director of programs at the Ciocca Centre for Principled Entrepreneurship at the Catholic University of America, discusses the power of mimetic desire in shaping our wellbeing. He explains how desire is influenced by social cues and role models, and offers tips for maintaining healthy relationships. Luke also delves into the positive and destructive cycles desire can create, emphasizing the importance of understanding and shaping our desires for the good of ourselves and others.
32:03

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Understanding the influence of memetic desire can help individuals make more conscious decisions about what they truly want to pursue in their personal and professional lives.
  • Recognizing and understanding the internal models that shape our desires can help individuals navigate and avoid the negative effects of rivalry and competition in their pursuit of goals.

Deep dives

Understanding the Genesis of Desire

Desire is the driving force behind our pursuit of goals, but often we don't fully understand why we choose certain goals. Luke Burgess, author of 'Wanting: The Power of Memetic Desire in Everyday Life,' highlights the importance of understanding the nature of desire, especially during times of stress or major life changes. He explains that desire is often imitative, shaped by models or people we look up to. Burgess introduces the concept of memetic desire, the idea that humans imitate the desires of others in their pursuit of what is considered valuable or worthy. Understanding the influence of memetic desire can help individuals make more conscious decisions about what they truly want to pursue in their personal and professional lives.

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