One of the many side effects of shame is a propensity to get caught in another deeply unpleasant feeling: envy. In this episode, I recount a recent experience watching some talented friends perform in the amazing Queer Songbook Orchestra where my envy started to ruin an otherwise incredible night. So I came up with an ideological hack (for lack of a better word) that actually stopped my envy right in its tracks! Not only did this allow me to completely enjoy the rest of the show, but it was one of the most powerful mental shifts I’ve experienced since my shame breakthrough itself.
Part of my thinking in this episode was inspired by cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman’s theory about the way our brains construct reality based on survival, not accuracy. This short video is a great primer on his ideas, or for a more in-depth look, I highly recommend this interview with Don in The Atlantic.
This episode is brought to you by Team Human. Go Humans Go! Down with rocks!
