Episode 381: Mike Sturm talks about the Wabi-sabi Way

Buddhism and Taoism expert Mike Sturm joins the show to uncover how to develop a deep personal relationship with yourself – the Wabi-Sabi way.

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Mike Sturm has taught philosophy at college level for several years and researched Buddhism and Taoism extensively. He writes about self-improvement and productivity from the perspective of spirituality and first principles. In this reflective conversation, we focus in particular on ‘Wabi-Sabi’, an ancient Japanese philosophy that centres on appreciating​​ the beauty in imperfection and accepting the more natural cycle of life.

Join us as we explore some of the key insights from his book The Wabi-sabi Way: Simple Principles to Bring Calm, Meaning & Authenticity to Your Daily Life. We discuss personal authenticity, reviewing habits, the power of validation and embracing imperfection – and Captain America.

Talking PointsWhat is Wabi-sabi? (02:06)The Western challenges with meditation and stillness (11:07)The notion of time (17:41)Ease vs. easy (24:27)Where to get started with the Wabi-sabi mindset (27:45)The practice of impermanence (34:00)Simple steps to live the Wabi-sabi way (41:42)

“Accepting where you’ve been is the only way of getting to where you want to go.“

– Mike Sturm

Helpful Links‘The Wabi-sabi Way’ by Mike SturmMuse Headband“The Dexterous Butcher” by Chuang Tzu‘The Seven Day Circle’ by Eviatar ZerubavelEpisode 354: How To Decide with Annie Duke‘How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices’ by Annie DukeEpisode 243: The Art of Noticing with Rob WalkerEpisode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen Episode 360: A World Without Email with Cal NewportEpisode 286: Doing Project 333 with Courtney CarverCaptain America video essay‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X’ by by Alex Haley and Malcolm XMike’s MediumMike’s TwitterMikeSturm.net

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