The Upsides And Downsides Of Living A More Examined Life | Matt Harris
Mar 20, 2024
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Explore practical meditation tips, starting a meditation practice, not trying too hard, ego awareness at work, and the upsides and downsides of living an examined life in a candid conversation with Dan's brother, Matt Harris.
Understanding personal history and engaging in psychological work alongside mindfulness aids in gaining insights into behavior patterns.
Acknowledging both relative and ultimate realities cultivates authenticity and mindfulness in interactions and decision-making.
Deep dives
Starting the Podcast Event in New York City
A live recording of the podcast will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the book '10% Happier'. The event features meditation teacher Joseph Goldstein and therapist Dr. Mark Epstein.
Encouraging Meditation in Loved Ones
The speaker shares advice on introducing meditation to friends and family without being pushy. Emphasizing the benefits of meditation, the speaker highlights the personal growth and mental health improvements it can offer.
Challenges and Growth in Meditation Practice
The speaker's brother shares his meditation journey and the challenges faced, including fitting meditation into a busy life. Practical tips from renowned teacher Joseph Goldstein on deepening meditation practice are discussed.
Expanding Mindfulness Off the Cushion
The importance of mindfulness beyond formal practice is highlighted. The speaker emphasizes extending mindfulness to daily activities like washing dishes, focusing on present sensations, and reducing unnecessary mental chatter.
Exploring Personal History and Psychological Work
The podcast delves into the importance of understanding personal history and engaging in psychological work alongside mindfulness practices. By uncovering early experiences that have impacted behavior patterns, individuals can gain insights into their psychological makeup. The discussion highlights the correlation between shadow work and meditation, emphasizing how shadow work aids in recognizing thought patterns and enhances self-awareness, leading to improved relationships and decision-making.
Balancing Relative and Ultimate Realities
The episode touches on the concept of relative and ultimate realities, drawing insights from Buddhist teachings. It explores the dual nature of existence, where individuals navigate between their personal conditioned patterns and a deeper, impersonal awareness. By acknowledging and engaging with both levels of reality, individuals can cultivate a greater understanding of their ego and thought processes, fostering authenticity and mindfulness in their interactions and decision-making.
Do you struggle to fit meditation into a busy life? Check out this candid conversation with Dan’s younger brother, Matt.
Matt Harris is partner at Bain Capital Ventures, where he’s developed an expertise in Fintech, or financial technology. He’s also a father of six incredible children. He is 17 months younger than Dan, to the day. And as you will hear, he likes to make fun of his neurotic brother. In fact, he shows up a lot in Dan's first book, 10% Happier, mocking Dan for his budding interest in meditation.
In this episode we talk about:
Practical tips from Joseph Goldstein
The books that have been integral to Matt's process
Tips on starting a practice.
The biggest issues for meditators
How not to try too hard
How awareness of the ego impacts work,
The upsides and downsides of living a more examined life.