Podcast: The Happiness Lab
Episode #2: Stop Endlessly Chasing the “Next Big Thing” in 2023
Date: 1/2/2023
This year, I plan to listen to 52 podcast episodes, read 12 books and maintain 1 blog. I plan to share all this amazing wisdom for our tender moments here. Enjoy!!
This 35-minute episode features an interview Dr. Laurie Santos does with actor Tony Hale that includes his personal story of chasing ‘the next big thing’ and how this culminated in his writing a beautiful children’s story, Archibald’s Next Big Thing. It’s a beautiful conversation that opens with Dr. Santos reminding us that if we quiet the noise around us, we can connect more with the beauty within. Her reminders resonate with my belief that the answers and wisdom we seek are within. There is so much noise competing for our time and attention that we often can’t hear that quiet voice of knowing. This time of year, the noise is especially loud. Our news feeds are filled with people making resolutions and sharing their next big thing, that we often wrongly assume should be our next big thing.
The conversation shifts then to a focus on Tony Hale’s story, his experience with anxiety, not feeling good enough and always looking at what’s next, while missing what is. I deeply appreciated the strategies they discuss at the end around navigating anxiety and how anxiety can be a thief of the present moment, the most precious moment there is.
If you are someone who achieves a goal and before you can experience the pride and joy of your accomplishment, you are chasing down the next big thing, this conversation may be for you. If you are someone who struggles with feeling good enough and perceives this can only be achieved by external accomplishments, you may also resonate with this episode. If you experience anxiety and are looking for new strategies for coping when this emotion overwhelms your system, you may enjoy the end of the discussion when they identify a few practical coping strategies.
The moments of not feeling good enough, of seeking our worth and value outside ourselves and experiencing crippling anxiety, are tender moments. If you are seeking wisdom in any of these areas, I encourage you to listen to this conversation.