By every standard metric I was doing great, and I was also miserable, which is where this episode starts.
The cult of seriousness has convinced us that every walk needs a step count, every hobby needs a purpose, and every hour needs an output. My argument is that this obsession with self-optimisation is inefficient, inhumane, and the fastest way to drain the joy out of a life you're supposedly building.
The head is a scarcity factory that runs on prediction and protection, and it will keep you safe by keeping you small. The heart plays a completely different game, and most of us have lost access to it because feelings are inconvenient in a culture that only rewards output.
Andrew Wilkinson's line about successful people being "a walking anxiety disorder harnessed for productivity" sits at the centre of this one for a reason.
There's a specific question I heard years ago that broke my brain and pushed me off the ladder I was climbing. If you've been performing your way through a life that doesn't feel like yours, this is the reframe I wish someone had handed me sooner.
You’ll learn:
[0:00] Introduction
[2:02] The head as a scarcity factory built for survival
[3:34] When everything in life needs a purpose
[5:45] A ladder leaning against the wrong wall
[7:30] Caring less does not mean caring about nothing
[9:16] Asking what your heart wants over your head
[11:29] Why a good question beats any answer given
[13:19] You are the cause of and solution to your problems
[15:01] Dropping the cult of seriousness as a frequency shift
Resources Mentioned:
Ste’s Post - Care Less | Instagram
Find more from Ste:
Ste Lane | Instagram
Radical Health Radio | Instagram | YouTube
Heart and Soil Supplements | Website | Instagram | X | YouTube
