02 - How to Use Your Amazing Brain in the Quest for Meaning

Interesting Lives of Normal People

In our second episode, we talk to Dr. Jessica Stern, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. She has spent many hours sitting with people, helping them sort through what is true in their life, and guiding them as they name what they want to be true.

We asked Dr. Stern to help us discuss passion and the longing for meaningful work. In this conversation, we cover passion projects, the drive to make a difference in the world, what drives people on a journey to create - like this podcast - and why people often fail in their endeavors.

It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to pursue projects of passion. Dr. Stern helps us unpack the components of modern privilege, both in time and resources. These things put us in a position to create and build - whether it’s a new business, a non-profit, or a podcast.

What is this “itch” many of us get -- the itch to venture out into new projects, often propelled by the question “am I doing enough?”

This is a great conversation. We hope you enjoy it! And make sure to throw us some stars!

Question Of The Day

What is the greater good you focus on that helps you rise above the scarcity mindset? Where are you helping others in a way that fuels you rather than depletes you? Who are the people living lives you'd like to emulate?

Links From The Episode

JessicaSternMD.com : Dr. Jessica Stern's website

VeryWell Mind gives an overview of Erik Erikson: Psychosocial Development

Khan Academy teaches Erik Erikson: Psychosocial Development

The Last Dance Documentary on the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan

How I Built This podcast with host Guy Raz

Armchair Expert podcast with host Dax Shepard

WTF podcast with host Mark Maron

Career Rocket Fuel: Whether You're a Millennial of Eyeing Retirement, Here's What You Really Need to Get Right About Work

Music by Hygge - "Quarantrap". Please follow her on SoundCloud

Books

Atomic Habits by James Clear

The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris and Steven Hayes

The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt

Disconnected by Thomas Kersting

Rare Air by Mark Vancil

Show Highlights

[4:09] Modern privileges in self exploration

[5:33] Definition of the scarcity mindset

[6:58] Numbing out our lives

[9:27] The importance of helping the team understand the bigger picture

[12:04] Is it okay to pursue passion in our work?

[14:22] Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Development theory

[21:28] What should we do to zero in our passions

[24:11] 3 steps to get started identify your passions

[27:19] Make decisions with values first rather than emotions first

[29:54] Book recommendations

[35:29] Perpetual feelings of not doing enough

[37:38] The third dimension in our career: time

[39:11] What Dr. Stern likes about Jake

The Interesting Lives of Normal People is a regular conversation with someone interesting. Our job is to ask good questions with a belief that on the other side of being asked good questions, everyone has a great story we can learn from.