Dear Fellow Traveler,
We all have biases or tendencies. For most of us, one of those tendencies is a sort of relentless hurry. If you take the time to observe yourself (or those around you), you’ll likely find that you are in a rush (even at times when you don’t need to be).
One reason could be our tendency to “add” instead of subtract.
In his book Subtract, Leidy Klotz (a previous podcast guest) asks, “Are you busier today than you were three years ago?” Klotz says if you answered yes, you’re not alone. In our striving to improve our lives, our work, and our society, we overwhelmingly add.
Thought experiment — Imagine a dear friend is experiencing exhaustion and burnout. If you’re like most, you might recommend things like meditation, a vacation, or the latest podcast (which could be helpful). The problem is that we neglect subtraction. Research shows that compared to changes that add, those that subtract are harder to think of.
The ancient Greek philosophers often called philosophy “therapy for the soul.” Which begs the question: “What is our actual sickness?”
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