Modern Wisdom

#402 - Paul Bloom - Why Pain & Suffering Are Necessary For A Good Life

Nov 25, 2021

Paul Bloom, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and author of "The Sweet Spot," discusses the surprising benefits of pain and suffering in life. He explores how embracing chosen discomfort leads to deeper meaning and satisfaction. Bloom argues that our experiences, from enjoying spicy food to watching sad movies, highlight the pleasures of suffering. He also delves into how financial wealth impacts happiness and the role of resilience in facing hardship, revealing why a life devoid of discomfort might become unbearable.

01:19:20

Creator website

Episode guests

Paul Bloom

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

The imprint time of you brain when you wake up

01:03

Using Suffering to Get Pleasure

01:46

You're One of the Thingst I've Got in My Head.

02:25

Experienceing cotrolled difficulty makes the feel good

01:19

Intro

2min

The Paradox of Pain and Meaning

4min

The Dance of Pain and Pleasure

4min

The Cost of Procrastination: Embracing the Challenge Early

2min

The Paradox of Pain and Pleasure

18min

Finding Flow: The Dance of Pain and Meaning

26min

Money, Happiness, and the Pursuit of Status

17min

Finding Meaning in Suffering

6min

Paul Bloom is Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Yale University and an author.

People do strange things to feel pleasure. Eating spicy food, having rough sex, watching scary movies. On top of that, they make huge sacrifices to find meaning, like having children or starting a business or training for a marathon. This suggests that perhaps there is more to living a good life than simple hedonistic pleasure.

Expect to learn the four ways that we enjoy suffering, how the sexual fantasies of men & women differ, the true red pill around whether more money will make you happier, what you can learn about mindfulness from a dominatrix, why people love to watch sad movies, how a life without discomfort will become hell and much more...

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