What is a Good Life? #11 (Podcast)
Being Wisdom with Darragh Power
On the eleventh episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am joined by Darragh Power, who is researching and writing a book on wisdom.
If you are feeling stuck, are being too hard on yourself, and are in need of some inspiration and tools to progress, this episode will be for you.
In this conversation we talk about the importance of quests and curiosity in unlocking our potential and motivation, seeing wisdom in the everyday and ourselves, feeling alive in one’s life, how to presently see ourselves as being enough, as well as holding wider philosophical views to help us feel more ease with the constant chatter and reactions of the mind.
Darragh is a lifelong learner, having completed 3 Masters to date, while he lectures part-time at DCU, and is a Senior Director at SAP, in learning design and coaching roles.
The weekly clip from the podcast (2 mins), my weekly reflection (2 mins), the full podcast (63 mins), and the weekly questions all follow below.
1. Weekly Clip from the Podcast
2. My weekly reflection
If there’s just one thing I could suggest to explore as a roadblock to greater wisdom, and self-awareness, it would be our attachment to being right, and by extension an unwillingness to see our flaws or acknowledge where we have erred.
I am not suggesting we let people walk all over us or that we don’t stand up for our boundaries and values, absolutely not. However, speaking from my own experience, there were few things that hindered my own self-development more than wanting to win every argument or discussion I engaged in.
If we ever enter a discussion with a fixed destination already in mind, we become blind to any evidence that contradicts our pre-existing point of view.
While this attachment has not fully dissipated, the possibility of being wrong or having misread a situation always remains on the table as a line of self-inquiry once we begin to loosen our grip of this attachment. Sometimes, it may just take a little longer to consider that humbling possibility once more.
This desire to be right all the time, in my experience, usually presented itself in moments of lower self-acceptance, confidence, and even curiosity. Where I would have felt a lesser version of myself if I were not right, and so a need to win rather than a desire for wisdom leads the way.
While the insecurity of it all is easy to understand, it’s not hard to see why this can be problematic in terms of developing a better understanding of ourselves and unravelling unhealthy patterns. The irony is of course, we deprive ourselves of a more loving relationship with ourselves, which says, “it doesn’t matter if I make mistakes, I am human and am trying my best” - where our self-worth isn’t constantly fluctuating like a share-price based on the validity of our last opinion or action.
From this position we have the freedom to see the world as it is, rather than what feels most comfortable or convenient for us.
3. Full Episode - Being Wisdom with Darragh Power - What is a Good Life? Ep. #11
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4. This week’s Questions
Is there a quest you are yearning to undertake in your life?
What would it take for you to fully accept yourself as you presently are?
About Me
I am a Coach based in Berlin, via Dublin, Ireland. I left behind a 15-year career in Capital Markets after I became extremely curious around what life, myself, and existence are all about.
I create corporate programs for companies to foster Purpose, Psychological Safety and Trust (click here for reference). While I also work with high-performing, individual clients who have hit their material goals and are trying to understand what comes after performance.
If you would like to work with me, or you simply want to get in touch, here’s my email and LinkedIn.