On Unwinding Toxic Productivity | Israa Nasir

What is it that drives our focus on productivity?

That colors our experience of work, life, and relationships?

 Is the motivation to 'do', to achieve, and to push ourselves driven by a subtle undercurrent of fear?

A craving to stay relevant, 

A whisper in the back of our mind that says: 

If we don’t optimize our lives, fill up our calendars, and stay busy, we will be missing out on something. 

Unsure of exactly what, but sensing that that something is important. 

Perhaps that if we don’t keep up we won’t be happy, or even worse, we won’t matter. 

If left unchecked this fear can lead to a mindset 

that today’s guest, talented therapist, founder of digital mental health brand Wellguide, and author, Israa Nasir

Calls 'Toxic Productivity' 

 This mindset that is marked by a number of distinct characteristics:

1.  Being singularly focused on outcomes
2. Feeling good about yourself only if you get those outcomes
3. Deprioritizing other parts of your life in pursuit of an outcome.

Israa shares from her depth of wisdom and expertise that one of the unintended consequences of this mindset is that we can stop thinking about our lives.

That curiosity is replaced by just adopting what other people are doing so that we are on par. 

And so we feel good about ourselves.

In today's conversation we are going to dive into Israa’s work, and the Toxic Productivity Mindset in more depth. 

Together we will explore the possibility of letting go of fear 

and learning to meet life from a place of love. 

 Israa and I will unpack questions such as:

• How we might approach working, living, and loving in ways that bring us fully alive? 
• That actually make us happy?
• And that are not contingent on outcomes, but rather are driven by curiosity, a love of the process, and of knowing and caring about ourselves more deeply?  

For more on Israa’s beautiful book Toxic Productivity, and the incredible work she is doing please visit Israanasir.com

Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:

• On Imperfectionism and the Art of Living Well | Oliver Burkeman
• A Revolutionary Remedy for Uncertainty - In Our 20's and Beyond | Dr. Meg Jay

Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Thanks for listening!

Support the show