You can also download this episode as an MP3. Or, stream it in the media player below.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
In this episode, I speak with filmmaker, marketer, and sense-maker, Rob Hardy about navigating the complexity of human values.
Values are the driving force in literally everything we do, yet many of our deeply held values are in competition with one another. Rob and I talk about the consequences and implications of this on both the individual and collective level.
Topics covered
Being pulled vs being pushed
Feeling boxed in by the expectation of others
Striking the right balance between freedom and constraint
Employing different strategies at different seasons in our life
The intersection of values and politics
How we all use the same values, just in different contexts
The rise of secular “religions”
Why it’s useful to understand our nature
How facts about our nature can help us live better lives.
Notable quotes from Rob
“Maturity is about being able to grapple with ambiguity, moral complexity, and the world that lives between simplistic binary choices.”
“Our need for simplistic stories about good and evil is baked into us at a primal level. We need more avenues, like sports, where we can channel that energy safely. Because when it goes into politics, religious sectarian conflict, and culture, it becomes fundamentally destructive.”
“So much of what we hate about ‘the other side’ is just a manifestation of the shadow side in all of us.”
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” —Margaret Mead
Selected links & resources
Rob’s websites:
Braver Angels - Depolarizing American politics
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt
Margaret Mead (Wikipedia)
If you liked this episode, check out…
Please support our sponsor
Skillshare is an online learning community with over 25,000 courses on a wide range of subjects from cooking to writing to watercolor painting. I love it and use it to keep my mind sharp. Try the Premium Membership for free here: skillshare.com/THINKGROW.
What did you think?
Leave me a review on iTunes with your biggest takeaway (I read them all). Or, drop me a comment below. I appreciate your feedback!
Ruben Chavez is a writer and host of The Think Grow Podcast.