Excellent presentation! I have been reading your posts for several years, even before Sapient (I forgot the other company's name), and they are always enlightening.
I believe that curiosity is probably one of the biggest reasons (most likely the number one reason) for most of the inventions/discoveries in the world. One of my friends and I frequently discuss the best attributes to look for when hiring someone. Our conclusion so far is curiosity and attitude. We have even discussed if it is possible to develop an index like IQ for curiosity and attitude so we can hire people with these attributes. The conversation is continuing.
I think Claudia’s comment below actually provides an answer of sorts. That trauma and disconnection inhibits the relationship between you and whatever the force is. And I think unlike IQ, which I believe is static, wisdom is essentially a process.
I largely agree, but I think there is always more to what we see or know, primarily when we deal with humans. I believe generalization is good in most cases, but there is no one correct answer to most questions.
Yes, IQ is mainly static, but I have seen kids who were not selected for a gifted and talented program based on some form of an IQ test in the first attempt. Still, when they applied again in the future, they were (which could be possibly due to exposure to the test or general growth over time), and it is not a perfect measure for intelligence as intelligence is not just a few categories that IQ tests.
Yeah, I’m not an expert. But I’ve seen intelligence, and my own exaltation of it in my own life, be a major blocker to growth. “I’m so smart what else do I have to learn?” I also think The Emerald’s work has woken me up to the idea of neurodiversity in a shamanic sense. Which is super interesting. Also I meant to say- thanks for reading for so long. I hope you’ve noticed me getting better at writing over time ;)
Yes, you have, and as the saying goes, practice makes perfect. You and Morgan Housel are the two writers I check every few weeks to see if either of you has published something new. Keep up the excellent work.
There are quite a few good writers on Substack, but several of them have started publishing more frequently, from every few days to every week, and the quality of content is going down. I believe in quality over quantity.
Ah that means a lot; because when I started writing full time 3 years ago I really wanted to be like a weirder version of Morgan. He lives rent free in my head with "good writing makes the reader feel smart, not the writer."
And on frequency- the algo apparently, and obviously like it. But I can't do it. Some pieces take me months. This took me nearly 3. I just feel like it's not possible to be valuable that often. Or at least your pieces should be REALLY short.
Curiosity is a superpower that everyone has access to - but not everyone is able to unleash it. And as you point out, the world we grow up in appears to bias towards the left hemisphere/disconnection & abstraction. Thanks for packing your wisdom in such a compact deck, Tom.
Love the concision! I do have a question which has recently completely turned my world upside down and it has directly to do with curiosity: have you ever looked into the shady world of UFOs? As strange as it may seem to ask this, I’ve hardly heard of any of the “meaning-making” personalities (including yourself) discuss the topic; simply wondering why.
Thanks; great question. I already skate close to the edges of a few woo ideas, and I have to pick and choose which I choose to explore very carefully in public. So when I choose a topic it's usually because I have direct experience or because the topic has some kind of larger point to illustrate. For example: I have limited direct experience with psi, but I trust people that have and the statistical evidence appears to be there. And either way it works as an ILLUSTRATION of the concept that our understanding of consciousness is likely incomplete.
I doubt I would tip you in either direction (to look into it or not) but as I’ve come to understand it, I think the UFO topic definitely has a larger point to illustrate, and it ties in beautifully with the fact that our current understanding of consciousness is pretty non-existent.
Oh I am totally interested in it; and have read a little around the area. But it’s a step too far for me to write about it before I have any real idea what to do with the idea. If you’ve got any good reading send it over!
Ah gotcha! Well, I’m also in the same stage as yourself as this is all quite new to me, but I’ve been enjoying the works of Steven Greer, Bruce Fenton, Michael Salla, and David Wilcock. As for their veracity, I was hoping to speak to others to see what they think, but unfortunately most people still laugh at the subject; hopefully this starts being a serious discussion at some point. These authors seem to speak of a reality that is consonant with the reality espoused by McGilchrist, albeit extremely far-fetched. Who have you been reading?
Joel Kady at Future Folklore seems to have a solid head on his shoulders and has pointed me in some interesting directions. Garry Nolan comes up a lot but I don't have a strong view.
Hey there, apologies for the random question again! But had you ever publicly published that 60-page document with all the quotes that you had previously compiled? If not, is it something that you’re willing to share with people?
Tom, great summary of your work to date. One thing I feel missing from your list of personal practices at the end is Internal Family Systems. And so I've gotta be annoying and plug it here. IFS aligns with so much in this video summary: opening up greater curiosity (an essential aspect of the Self in IFS), it's systems-oriented, it activates the right hemisphere in the way it helps people relate to all aspects of their inner world in a relational, person-oriented way, and it's ultimately a practice of inner integration.
Thanks so much mate! Tbh I try not to write too much about areas where I don’t have too much direct experience. What little experience I’ve had with IFS makes me think it’s legit. In fact I referenced it in a piece earlier last year. https://whatsimportant.substack.com/p/pull-yourself-together?open=false
As you allude, curiosity is synonymous with love, or the process of knowing and being known. I encourage my psychotherapy clients to explore what impedes their curiosity, especially when they encounter relationship problems. Thank you, Tom, for applying this concept to the wider public domain. Keep up the good work!
Exactly! (By the way, I love the race car metaphor. If we think of ourselves as being in the driver seat of our own life, then we have the opportunity to feel much more empowered.)
Excellent presentation! I have been reading your posts for several years, even before Sapient (I forgot the other company's name), and they are always enlightening.
I believe that curiosity is probably one of the biggest reasons (most likely the number one reason) for most of the inventions/discoveries in the world. One of my friends and I frequently discuss the best attributes to look for when hiring someone. Our conclusion so far is curiosity and attitude. We have even discussed if it is possible to develop an index like IQ for curiosity and attitude so we can hire people with these attributes. The conversation is continuing.
I think Claudia’s comment below actually provides an answer of sorts. That trauma and disconnection inhibits the relationship between you and whatever the force is. And I think unlike IQ, which I believe is static, wisdom is essentially a process.
I largely agree, but I think there is always more to what we see or know, primarily when we deal with humans. I believe generalization is good in most cases, but there is no one correct answer to most questions.
Yes, IQ is mainly static, but I have seen kids who were not selected for a gifted and talented program based on some form of an IQ test in the first attempt. Still, when they applied again in the future, they were (which could be possibly due to exposure to the test or general growth over time), and it is not a perfect measure for intelligence as intelligence is not just a few categories that IQ tests.
Yeah, I’m not an expert. But I’ve seen intelligence, and my own exaltation of it in my own life, be a major blocker to growth. “I’m so smart what else do I have to learn?” I also think The Emerald’s work has woken me up to the idea of neurodiversity in a shamanic sense. Which is super interesting. Also I meant to say- thanks for reading for so long. I hope you’ve noticed me getting better at writing over time ;)
Yes, you have, and as the saying goes, practice makes perfect. You and Morgan Housel are the two writers I check every few weeks to see if either of you has published something new. Keep up the excellent work.
There are quite a few good writers on Substack, but several of them have started publishing more frequently, from every few days to every week, and the quality of content is going down. I believe in quality over quantity.
Ah that means a lot; because when I started writing full time 3 years ago I really wanted to be like a weirder version of Morgan. He lives rent free in my head with "good writing makes the reader feel smart, not the writer."
And on frequency- the algo apparently, and obviously like it. But I can't do it. Some pieces take me months. This took me nearly 3. I just feel like it's not possible to be valuable that often. Or at least your pieces should be REALLY short.
Curiosity is a superpower that everyone has access to - but not everyone is able to unleash it. And as you point out, the world we grow up in appears to bias towards the left hemisphere/disconnection & abstraction. Thanks for packing your wisdom in such a compact deck, Tom.
Thanks for watching Rajesh!
Love the concision! I do have a question which has recently completely turned my world upside down and it has directly to do with curiosity: have you ever looked into the shady world of UFOs? As strange as it may seem to ask this, I’ve hardly heard of any of the “meaning-making” personalities (including yourself) discuss the topic; simply wondering why.
Thanks; great question. I already skate close to the edges of a few woo ideas, and I have to pick and choose which I choose to explore very carefully in public. So when I choose a topic it's usually because I have direct experience or because the topic has some kind of larger point to illustrate. For example: I have limited direct experience with psi, but I trust people that have and the statistical evidence appears to be there. And either way it works as an ILLUSTRATION of the concept that our understanding of consciousness is likely incomplete.
I doubt I would tip you in either direction (to look into it or not) but as I’ve come to understand it, I think the UFO topic definitely has a larger point to illustrate, and it ties in beautifully with the fact that our current understanding of consciousness is pretty non-existent.
Oh I am totally interested in it; and have read a little around the area. But it’s a step too far for me to write about it before I have any real idea what to do with the idea. If you’ve got any good reading send it over!
Ah gotcha! Well, I’m also in the same stage as yourself as this is all quite new to me, but I’ve been enjoying the works of Steven Greer, Bruce Fenton, Michael Salla, and David Wilcock. As for their veracity, I was hoping to speak to others to see what they think, but unfortunately most people still laugh at the subject; hopefully this starts being a serious discussion at some point. These authors seem to speak of a reality that is consonant with the reality espoused by McGilchrist, albeit extremely far-fetched. Who have you been reading?
Joel Kady at Future Folklore seems to have a solid head on his shoulders and has pointed me in some interesting directions. Garry Nolan comes up a lot but I don't have a strong view.
Hey there, apologies for the random question again! But had you ever publicly published that 60-page document with all the quotes that you had previously compiled? If not, is it something that you’re willing to share with people?
Tom, great summary of your work to date. One thing I feel missing from your list of personal practices at the end is Internal Family Systems. And so I've gotta be annoying and plug it here. IFS aligns with so much in this video summary: opening up greater curiosity (an essential aspect of the Self in IFS), it's systems-oriented, it activates the right hemisphere in the way it helps people relate to all aspects of their inner world in a relational, person-oriented way, and it's ultimately a practice of inner integration.
Anyway, keep up the great work!
Thanks so much mate! Tbh I try not to write too much about areas where I don’t have too much direct experience. What little experience I’ve had with IFS makes me think it’s legit. In fact I referenced it in a piece earlier last year. https://whatsimportant.substack.com/p/pull-yourself-together?open=false
As you allude, curiosity is synonymous with love, or the process of knowing and being known. I encourage my psychotherapy clients to explore what impedes their curiosity, especially when they encounter relationship problems. Thank you, Tom, for applying this concept to the wider public domain. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Claudia! The relationship of trauma to this idea is super interesting to me. Like a dirty windscreen trying to navigate a winding road.
Exactly! (By the way, I love the race car metaphor. If we think of ourselves as being in the driver seat of our own life, then we have the opportunity to feel much more empowered.)
Here via David and Paul