Are you familiar with the
Hidden Brain podcast with Shankar Vedantam? Such a good one! The show
“explores the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior and questions that lie at the heart of our complex and changing world."
Right now, Shankar is on the
Hidden Brain's Perception Tour, sharing seven key insights from a decade of hosting the show. I had the pleasure of attending his Portland stop - the evening was educational and inspiring, and I wanted to share a few of the insights that stuck with me plus one personal story. I'll keep it (relatively) brief and bulleted:
- Control Taking a quote from Hidden Brain's IG: “We can't control the world around us, but we can control our reaction to the world and how we function within the constraints that we face." There is immense freedom and power in understanding and implementing this idea…if only it came more naturally to us! In terms of larger scale issues, Shankar emphasized the importance of knowing where our attention and action can be most effective - usually, that's within our immediate communities.
- Self-compassion is a strength. Being kind to ourselves isn't silly or selfish - it's a foundational part of living a happier life.
- “Today you, tomorrow me." Shankar told the story of an immigrant family who helped a young stranger with car trouble. When the man tried to offer money in thanks, the father refused simply saying, “Today you, tomorrow me.” The takeaway being that there are countless unsung heroes, that we all need each other and that acts of kindness (and gratitude) ripple far and wide.
At the end of the show audience members were invited to either ask a question or share the best piece of advice they'd ever received. This was maybe my favorite part of the night…so many thoughtful inquiries and good guidance.
Naturally I ended up thinking about advice I've received over the years - a few good quotes came to mind but it's a memory that I'd like to share with you here:
At the end of my grandfather's life - my sweetest Papa - even as he faced physical pain and the knowledge that he was dying, I never once heard him complain or lament (not that this wouldn't have been an okay or understandable thing for him to do!). He spent his last days on this earth delighting in the presence of his loved ones. He showed kindness and appreciation toward his caregivers. He deeply savored the music he loved and the foods he could still enjoy. He sang! Just hours before he passed, I watched him - rapt with joy - listening to a musician visiting the nursing home…I can still see his beaming face, clear as day.
I grew up watching him engage with life in this way - with gratitude and generosity and love. To witness him walk all the way to the end with this level of grace and presence only served to solidify my awe and admiration. The older I get, the more I recognize the brilliance in his approach to life and death.
There is so much to love and cherish and enjoy in this life, even through pain and hardship. Where we practice placing our attention matters. How we choose to engage with life matters. This memory of my Papa feels, to me, like a lived embodiment of all the above insights.
