10% Happier with Dan Harris

The Antidote To Not-Enoughness | Robin Wall Kimmerer

Nov 20, 2024

In a captivating discussion, Robin Wall Kimmerer, a mother, scientist, and renowned author, dives into the idea of abundance in nature and its implications for economics. She shares insights on the Saskatoon service berry as a model for mutual support and interconnectedness. Robin encourages a shift from competition to cooperation, highlighting gratitude practices as a way to combat feelings of not-enoughness. The conversation also delves into plant cognition and the importance of blending Indigenous wisdom with scientific knowledge, urging us to rethink our relationship with the natural world.

01:07:15

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Episode guests

Robin Wall Kimmerer

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The scarcity mindset, prevalent in modern culture, hinders happiness by promoting the belief that external acquisitions lead to fulfillment.

The service berry exemplifies a model for economic systems based on generosity, encouraging a balanced approach to sharing resources.

Reclaiming attention from distractions and connecting with nature enhances well-being, reducing loneliness and fostering a sense of abundance.

Deep dives

The Scarcity Mindset and Its Impact

The pervasive sense of insufficiency many people feel is deeply rooted in a scarcity mindset, which is prevalent in modern culture and the economy. This mindset creates a belief that happiness can only be achieved through external acquisitions, such as possessions, wealth, or physical appearance. Such thoughts contribute to personal unhappiness and poor decision-making. Acknowledging and addressing this mindset is crucial for finding contentment and improving overall well-being.

Intro

5min

The Generosity of Nature: Lessons from the Service Berry

3min

Nature's Economics: Lessons from the Service Berry

20min

Redefining Security Through Sharing

5min

Rethinking Our Place in Nature

6min

Exploring Gift Economies

21min

Reframing Our Relationship with Nature: An Indigenous Perspective on Plants

6min

Exploring Plant Consciousness and Indigenous Knowledge

9min

Engagement and Growth: Reflections and Promotions

2min

Radical strategies for the scarcity mindset.

Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. She is the author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, which has earned Kimmerer wide acclaim. Her first book, Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses, was awarded the John Burroughs Medal for outstanding nature writing, and her other work has appeared in Orion, Whole Terrain, and numerous scientific journals.

Her new book, The Serviceberry, is about a plant whose behavior is a model not only for our individual lives, but potentially for rethinking the global economy.

In this episode we talk about:

Nature as a model for the economy
How to reclaim our stolen attention
Practices of gratitude
Counterintuitive advice on wealth and security
How to change your relationship to the living world
The science of biomimicry
Plants as persons, and the study of plant cognition
And the importance of recognizing both Western science and the indigenous worldview

Related Episodes:

#546. This Scientist Says One Emotion Might Be the Key to Happiness. Can You Guess What It Is? | Dacher Keltner

We Know Nature Is Good for Us. Here’s How To Make Time for It, Scandinavian Style | Linda Åkeson McGurk

#505. The 5 Things That Are Ruining Your Meditation (and Your Life) – And How to Handle Them | Bonnie Duran

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