Nature of Things
Nature of Things
This week's interview is with Jeremy Lent.
Nature of Things
What are the relationships that make you, you—the connections to the world that define your context?
Because we’re nothing without them. It’s a paradox. Our individual self seems so … self-y. I’m me. You’re you. I’m doing “my work”. You're in “your space”. I have “my rights.”
But what if the work to do was not so much “on me” but on my relationships—with people, of course, but also with the world, our space, our things, and our work? It’s messier, harder, less predictable, and less controllable … and definitely more confusing.
But it’s also truer to the nature of things.
We co-create ourselves. We are co-created.
The best of who we are emerges from the quality of the relationships we have with the world around us.
📕 My Guest: Jeremy Lent
Jeremy Lent is an author and speaker exploring the roots of our civilization’s existential crisis and pathways to a life-affirming future. He founded the Deep Transformation Network, a global community focused on ecological civilization and deep transformation toward a regenerated Earth.
His award-winning books, The Patterning Instinct and The Web of Meaning trace the flaws of the dominant worldview and propose an integrative approach for a flourishing future.
🎧 The Relationship Between Things
Jeremy reads two pages from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu.
In our conversation we discuss:
The Power of Relationships
The quality of our lives is shaped by the relationships we nurture—with people, nature, and our work. These connections co-create our identities and help us find our place in the world.
Integrating Rational and Spiritual
Balancing rational thought with spiritual insight can lead to a more meaningful existence. Exploring scientific understanding alongside traditional wisdom allows us to redefine our place in the universe.
Embracing Complexity and Emergence
Rather than trying to control outcomes, we can influence them through our actions and intentions. Embracing the nonlinear and unpredictable nature of complex systems allows us to engage more authentically with the world.
The Role of Loss in Seeking Meaning
Personal loss often serves as a catalyst for deeper exploration of meaning. It pushes us to confront life's deeper questions and to find ways to integrate our experiences into a more purposeful path.
The Tension of Purpose and Flow
Navigating the conflict between the activist’s drive to create change and the Taoist principle of non-purposive action, which values flowing naturally with life. This tension highlights the struggle of balancing purposeful engagement with the wisdom of letting go.
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