Episode 27 - Breaking the Routine, Stoic Disciplines, and Rediscovering Awe

Send us Fan Mail # The Long Burn — Episode 27: Breaking the Routine, Stoic Disciplines, and Rediscovering Awe   Overview Recording early on the Monday morning following the end of Daylight Saving Time, hosts Joel Malin and Dr. Jonathan Wade tackle a listener prompt from Joel’s brother, Steven: *How do you maintain a sense of awe, wonder, and genuine gratitude in the midst of daily routine and life’s demands, rather than taking the positive things for granted?*  Using principles from Stoic philosophy and psychology, Joel and Jonathan break down how modern comforts and rigid routines numb our perception—and explore actionable practices to intentionally regain perspective.  Key Discussion Points - **Hedonic Adaptation & Lifestyle Creep:** - When positive changes or milestones become familiar, they drift into the background and become the new baseline—a phenomenon known as *hedonic adaptation*. - Similar to financial "lifestyle creep" (where higher income immediately leads to higher expenses), humans naturally shift goalposts on satisfaction, turning ordinary blessings into unnoticed white noise. - **Practicing "Micro-Gratitudes" & Recognizing Invisible Complexity:** - Vague gratitude entries (e.g., "I'm grateful to wake up") lack emotional resonance. Instead, the hosts advocate focusing on hyper-specific items and tools—such as being grateful for a toothbrush and toothpaste in the morning. - A powerful path to wonder is appreciating the "invisible complexity" behind everyday items: tracing a single two-by-four at a hardware store back through the forestry, milling, treating, and supply chain logistics required to produce it. - **The Mechanism of Awe & Finding Significance in the Insignificant:** - Awe requires encountering something vast—spatially, conceptually, or temporally (such as studying nature, observing complex architecture, or paddling miles off the coast into open water). - The hosts discuss the Stoic concept of ***sympathia***—the mutual interdependence of all parts of the cosmos. While recognizing how tiny we are in the universe can induce existential dread, Joel reframes it: *“I am small and insignificant, AND this matters deeply to me.”* - **Deliberately Interrupting Routines (*Askesis* & Voluntary Subtraction):** - Routine and hyper-predictability provide comfort and safety, but they can numb awareness and suppress novelty. - ***Askesis* (Voluntary Discomfort):** Intentionally creating friction—such as camping, taking a break from same-day deliveries, or strictly budgeting—reminds us that our well-being is not dependent on instant gratification and consumer conveniences. - Modern convenience culture (e.g., instant streaming, 1-hour package delivery) eliminates the gap between desire and fulfillment, robbing us of anticipation and true satisfaction. - **Impermanence, the "George Bailey Effect," & *Premeditatio Malorum*:** - **The George Bailey Effect:** Imagining the complete absence of a person, convenience, or capability in your life to reignite gratitude for their presence. - ***Premeditatio Malorum* & *Memento Mori*:** Deliberately contemplating loss, aging, and mortality before it occurs, ensuring that we appreciate temporary moments (such as holding a young child before they grow too old to be picked up) rather than dreading the passage of time. - ***Amor Fati*:** Loving one’s fate and embracing things as they unfold, rather than demanding they align perfectly with predetermined expectations. - **"Blissful Dissatisfaction":** - Jonathan shares the concept of being "blissfully dissatisfied"—maintaining deep gratitude for present achievements while continuing to chase ambitious, challenging goals without falling into complacency. Practical Exercises & Takeaways 1. **Specific Gratitude Journaling:** List 2–3 non-repeating, granular items weekly (focus on specific moments, tools, or interactions rather than broad abstractions). 2. **Conduct a Monthly Convenience Reset:** Take a temporary fast from immediate conveniences (e.g., pause non-essential online shopping, live below your baseline budget for a few weeks) to reset your hedonic baseline. 3. **Engage with Nature and Small Scale:** Step outside, observe seasonal shifts (like falling leaves), and take time to inspect intricate details in daily life. 4. **Reminisce to Reset:** When relationship or work strain feels heavy, intentionally recall where you started (e.g., asking couples "How did you first meet?") to bring warmth back into focus.