#7 - Daniel Thorson | Throwing Yourself In Completely, Without Reservation

The tendency to hedge is a modern disease. This rich discussion re-inspired me to go all-in with my life.

Daniel Thorson is dedicated to monastic practices and lives at The Monastic Academy in Vermont — a wisdom institution that trains trustworthy people. At the start of the 2020 pandemic, he became an overnight focus of media attention after he emerged from a silent retreat and tweeted, “I’m back from 75 days in silence. Did I miss anything?” His unique experience was featured by The New York Times. He’s also the host of The Emerge Podcast.

This is a conversation about sacrifice, wisdom, dedication, and practice.

Topics include:

* Why the most important thing everyone can do right now is come to terms with death.

* What it takes to create a trustworthy person.

* The MAPLE practice model of Wisdom, Love and Power.

* Why pure mindfulness practice might lead to “equanimity induced apathy.”

* How to change your friendships for life in 30 seconds (a practical exercise).

* The critical need for a vibrant network of wisdom institutions.

* Why you should be getting emotionally triggered regularly (and what to when it happens).

* Where “masculinity” might fit in with wisdom institutions.

* The uncomfortable importance of Hierarchy.

* Why we need new archetypes to inspire transformation. Philosopher kings and warriors instead of quiet monks.

* The significance of going all-in. Stop hedging. Fuck optionality.

Resources:

* Daniel Thorson’s Twitter. Reach out to him if you’re interested in The Monastic Academy.

* The Monastic Academy (aka MAPLE) in Vermont.

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