FAR OUT: Adventures in Returning Home

The "self-indulgence" myth

Episode Summary

In this episode, Alasdair and Julie-Roxane discuss the label "self-indulgent." which has been applied to Alasdair many times. They explore the pain of being an introvert in an extroverted world, the myth of objectivity and unpack some of America's cultural baggage. Along the way they share personal insights from their own spiritual journeys.

Episode Notes

In this episode, Alasdair and Julie-Roxane discuss the label "self-indulgent" which has been applied to Alasdair many times. They explore the pain of being an introvert in an extroverted world, the myth of objectivity and unpack some of America's cultural baggage (and how it differs from France). Along the way they share personal insights from their own spiritual journeys.

Listen to this week's episode and explore:

• Update: we’ve got a moldy mattress (2:45)
• What does it mean to be triggered? (6:40)
• Defining self-indulgence (10:20)
• Being introverted in an extraverted society (14:35)
• The basic difference between extraversion and introversion (15:20)
• The West’s tendency toward "if it can’t be measured it’s not important” (17:55)
• How Carl Jung’s ideas and MBTI typology can help us better understand others (20:20)
• Aren’t we all self-indulgent? (25:30)
• The most self-indulgent thing we can do (27:13)
• The conversation takes a metaphysical turn: can we really know anything? (29:35)
• There’s no word for self-indulgent in France (32:25)
• Puritanical values and the scientific revolution: America’s cultural baggage (34:25)
• Becoming superman---or superwoman (37:53)
• Healing the world through healing ourselves (39:15)
• The idea of a self is still a relatively new one (43:44)
• How the label self-indulgent is toxic to creatives (47:32)

Mentioned in this episode:

• How We Get Hooked and Unhooked (article by Pema Chodron on being triggered)
• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
• Carl Jung
• The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI personality test)
• Gary Snyder
• The Practice of the Wild by Gary Snyder (book Alasdair quotes from)
• Friedrich Nietzche
• Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzche
• Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzche

Connect with us:

• Email us at host@thefaroutpodcast.com
• Follow us on Instagram: @alasdair_jr

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• Leave a review on itunes
• Donate to the FAR OUT podcast
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Credits:

Intro music: "Complicate ya" by Otis McDonald

Outro music: "Running with wise fools" written & performed by Krackatoa (www.krackatoa.com)