Authors Anne Lamott and chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin share insights on taming inner critics, finding grace, and embracing unique strengths. Topics include radical self-care, spirituality, mindfulness, training mental performers, and balancing training and presence in parenting and martial arts.

In this insightful conversation, Anne Lamott, a celebrated novelist known for her humorous takes on life, shares twelve profound truths she distilled before turning 61. She reflects on the emotional complexities of life, emphasizing self-acceptance and the value of finding one’s voice. Lamott discusses the interconnectedness of life and death, urging listeners to embrace these moments with compassion and community. With her signature wit, she inspires a deeper understanding of our human journey, guiding those feeling adrift in today’s world.

Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer | Brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs recruitment platform with 750M users, Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating, and LMNT electrolyte supplement. More on all three below.Anne Lamott (@AnneLamott) uses honesty, empathy, and humor to write about our world. In her beloved and bestselling books, like Operating Instructions (an account of her son’s first year), Bird by Bird (her classic book on writing), and Help, Thanks, Wow (a celebration of prayer), Lamott delves into what makes us human. She explores the wide experience of life that unites us: birth and death, parenthood and family, faith and doubt, love and loss, forgiveness and hope.In each of her 19 books, which have sold millions of copies worldwide, Lamott brings her distinctive mix of bracing candor, clarifying insight, and refreshing humor to convert serious subjects like addiction, motherhood, loss, and faith into human truths we can all share. She is the author of several essay collections on faith, including Traveling Mercies, Grace (Eventually), and Plan B, as well as several novels, including Imperfect Birds, Blue Shoe, and Rosie.Lamott has been honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship and has taught at UC Davis and writing conferences across the country. She is an inductee of the California Hall of Fame and the subject of Academy Award-winning filmmaker Freida Mock’s documentary Bird by Bird with Annie (1999).Her most recent book is Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage.Please enjoy!*This episode is brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs. Whether you are looking to hire now for a critical role or thinking about needs that you may have in the future, LinkedIn Jobs can help. LinkedIn screens candidates for the hard and soft skills you’re looking for and puts your job in front of candidates looking for job opportunities that match what you have to offer.Using LinkedIn’s active community of more than 750 million professionals worldwide, LinkedIn Jobs can help you find and hire the right person faster. When your business is ready to make that next hire, find the right person with LinkedIn Jobs. 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If you are on a low-carb diet or fasting, electrolytes play a key role in relieving hunger, cramps, headaches, tiredness, and dizziness.LMNT came up with a very special offer for you, my dear listeners. For a limited time, you can claim a free LMNT Sample Pack—you only cover the cost of shipping. For US customers, this means you can receive an 8-count sample pack for only $5. Simply go to DrinkLMNT.com/Tim to claim your free 8-count sample pack.*If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anne Lamott, a renowned author celebrated for her wisdom on love and self-acceptance, sits down for a heartfelt conversation. She shares her journey of finding love later in life and emphasizes the role of community in personal healing. The discussion explores the transformative power of self-care and the importance of overcoming judgment. Lamott reflects on the complexities of intimate relationships and the continuous path of self-discovery, revealing how prayer and kindness can shape our interactions and emotional bonds.

Author Anne Lamott discusses embracing imperfection, overcoming perfectionism, self-acceptance, and the transformative power of self-compassion. She shares her personal struggles with the inner critic, shame, and the importance of unlearning harmful teachings from childhood. Anne's insights on spirituality in recovery and finding support in community offer valuable perspectives on personal growth and well-being.

Writer Anne Lamott shares insights into addiction, motherhood, and faith in a candid conversation. She discusses personal struggles, family dynamics, recovery from addiction, and the journey of surrender and faith. Through her storytelling, Lamott navigates love, loss, and the importance of setting boundaries in relationships.

In our time, some associate the word “religion” with rigid dogma and the excesses of institutions. The word “spirituality” on the other hand can seem to have little substance or form. The word “faith” can appear as a compromise of sorts, pointing to the content of religious tradition and spiritual experience. The truth is, all of these words are vague in the abstract. They gain meaning in the context of human experience. In this show, we’ll explore the connotations of the word “faith” in four traditions and lives: Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We’ll speak with Sharon Salzberg, Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, Anne Lamott, and Omid Safi.

Neal Allen and Anne Lamott re-join the DTFH! They discuss the impact of humanity's interconnectedness in the digital age. They explore the potential dangers and benefits of technological advancement. They delve into self-loathing and effective practices, and discuss parenting, discipline, and the inner critic. They also explore the power of therapy, the inner critic as a controlling voice, and Neal's 37 tips for writing.

Julia learns from Anne Lamott about signs from the universe, parenting adult children, recovery, perfectionism, and falling in love at 65. They discuss aging, wisdom, healing, control in relationships, vulnerability in creative pursuits, and setting boundaries. Advertisements for Skin Perfector Essence, ButcherBox, and Pair eyewear are shared.

Anne Lamott, celebrated author known for her candid and relatable style, discusses her writing journey and timeless insights from her book 'Bird by Bird.' She shares her approach to killing her darlings and why first drafts can be messy gems. The conversation delves into the importance of vulnerability and authentic storytelling, contrasting it with today's social media narratives. Lamott emphasizes the value of feedback, collaboration, and creating a supportive writing community, inviting listeners to embrace both the struggle and joy of writing.