43. How to Navigate Failure: Brad Stulberg, author of The Practice of Groundedness [reads] ‘The Sane Society’
2 Pages with MBS - A podcast by Michael Bungay Stanier - Tuesdays
How do you head for the heights and not lose yourself? Is it possible to be ambitious and strive for a worthy goal, and still stay grounded? Well, wait. What exactly is groundedness? According to Brad Stulberg, there’s more to it than meets the eye. Brad has just published the third of a trilogy of books, including Peak Performance, The Passion Paradox, and most recently, The Practice of Groundedness. He’s not just an author, though; he’s also a researcher and coach on human performance, sustainable success, and well-being. Get book links and resources at https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Brad reads two pages from ‘The Sane Society’ by Eric Fromm. [reading begins at 10:20] Hear us discuss: Does the arrival fallacy affect all generations? [15:29] | Navigating struggle and ‘failure.’ [19:01] | Pondering and nurturing a ‘deep community.’ [22:19] | Balancing short-term demands and long-term commitment: “The intellect is what can motivate, but the practice has to be really concrete, otherwise it breaks down very easily.” [24:56] | Becoming more involved in your community. [28:09] | “You don’t just become grounded. It’s not just a switch that you flick. It’s an ongoing practice.” [30:48]