Three Skills for Staying Calm, Sane, and Open in a Chaotic World | Krista interviewed by Dan Harris for Ten Percent Happier
Oct 31, 2023
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Krista Tippett shares insights from 20 years of interviews, including the importance of living with open questions, counterprogramming negativity bias, and navigating differences in relationships. She discusses the concept of a wise life and the importance of knowing what you love. The podcast also explores the power of embracing uncertainty, letting questions teach us, and avoiding rushed answers. Lastly, it touches on changes and future plans for 'On Being with Krista Tippett'.
Embrace uncertainty and dwell with open questions to gain deeper insights and understanding.
Vocation should encompass all aspects of life, and we should reflect on our values and intentions to live a purposeful life.
Practice love in personal and public spheres, focusing on the positive aspects of life to heal and transform the world.
Deep dives
Living with Uncertainty and Embracing Open Questions
In this podcast episode, Krista Tippett discusses the importance of living with uncertainty and embracing open questions. She emphasizes that in a time of great challenges and crises, we should not rush to find answers or solutions, but instead learn to love and dwell with the questions themselves. Tippett suggests that focusing on the questions can lead to deeper insights and understanding, and help us navigate complexities in our personal and collective lives. Additionally, she highlights the value of nurturing proximate relationships and finding opportunities for positive impact within our own spheres of influence.
Finding Meaning and Agency in Everyday Life
Another key point in the podcast is the concept of vocation and calling. Tippett explores the idea that vocation should not be limited to one's job or career, but should encompass all aspects of life. She suggests that our calling can manifest in various ways, such as being a loving friend, a caring parent, or a compassionate individual. Tippett encourages listeners to reflect on their values and intentions, and to consider how they can contribute to the world and live a life of purpose and wholeness.
Embracing the Power of Love and Humanity
The podcast also delves into the power of love and our capacity to respond to the challenges of the world with empathy and compassion. Tippett discusses the need to look for the light amidst the darkness, and to focus on the positive and beautiful aspects of life. She emphasizes the importance of embracing relationships and practicing love in both personal and public spheres. Tippett suggests that love, in its various forms, is the key to healing and transforming our world, and encourages listeners to cultivate love in their daily lives.
The Power of Generative Storytelling and the Danger of Catastrophic Narratives
In this podcast episode, the importance of tuning into generative stories is discussed. The speaker explains that generative stories focus on what is life-giving, creative, and worthy of aspiring to, in contrast to destructive narratives. It is highlighted that while catastrophic stories dominate the media, there are countless individuals working towards healing, kindness, and social creativity in the world. The speaker emphasizes the need to shift our attention to the generative possibilities and agency we possess to make a positive impact in the extraordinary yet perilous time we live in. They also highlight the influence of journalism's focus on catastrophe in shaping our perception of reality.
Embracing Wholeness, Pure Intention, and Letting Go of Outcome Expectations
This part of the podcast explores concepts of wholeness and pure intention. The speaker explains that wholeness goes beyond well-being or wellness, and calls for institutions and individuals to integrate the full range of human experiences and values into their functioning. They discuss the importance of setting and remembering pure intentions while simultaneously letting go of the attachment to specific outcomes. They emphasize how life often diverges from our plans, and that learning from unexpected experiences and adapting our intentions is a natural part of the journey. The conversation also touches on the significance of love and compassion as foundational aspects of wisdom and the human experience.
From Krista: I loved being interviewed by Dan Harris as much as I've ever enjoyed being on the other side of the microphone (as the saying goes). He drew things out of me I didn't know I had to say. And I'm so impressed with him as a human being, and what he's created with Ten Percent Happier. I hope you might enjoy this!
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.
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 in to our generative agency
Her definition of a wise life as distinct from a knowledgeable or accomplished one
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
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