One of my spiritual teachers, best-selling author Mark Nepo, joins me on the podcast to explore the deep implications of impact, and what it means for ourselves, our relationships, and the world.
Mark Nepo, the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Awakening, has been called “one of the finest spiritual guides of our time,” “a consummate storyteller,” and “an eloquent spiritual teacher.” In The Book of Soul: 52 Paths to Living What Matters (St. Martin’s Essentials, May 2020), his 22nd book , Mark explores our struggle to inhabit the soul on Earth through a messy human life, and how underneath our differences, we can be who we are everywhere and create a path to what matters. He suggests that after being born physically, we unfold within a second womb, meant to incubate our better angel. Our journey from innocence to experience is how we emerge from the second womb. This book delves into that process of transformation in its mystery, difficulty, and inevitability. Divided into four sections, The Book of Soul explores the passages we all face in moving through this experiential unfolding. It is designed to be entered a chapter each week over the course of a year, so readers can weave their inner reflection into their days.
3 Key Points
- Train to meet life, not just for what you can see now.
- Striving for what you want can preclude you from working with what you’re given.
- It’s fine to want and to work toward things. “But when [I’ve worked] for what I want, it’s turned out to be an apprenticeship for working with what we’re given.”
Quote
“When we can be who we are, the deepest impact behind our intent is that when we are ourselves, we grow to each other.”
What We Talked About
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- 01:10 – On expression and creativity
- 04:15 – On thoroughness and the heart
- 05:40 – How does one’s drive—or lack thereof—relate to impact?
- 07:35 – Intent and Impact
- 10:00 – How we grow to each other
- 11:19 – What is success?
- 12:55 – When to drive towards goals vs. when to hold space
- 16:30 – How do we show up for each other?
- 19:28 – A parable on caring, wanting success, and understanding opportunity
- 24:00 – How can individual and community work together?
- 27:35 – On managing risk
- 32:00 – How does living well challenge community?
- 39:45 – How can we accept our limitations?
Actionable Tips
- Be authentic: To have impact beyond what we originally intended; we must act with our whole hearts.
- Show up and be vulnerable.
- Listen and ask what is needed before declaring what you can give.
Resources Mentioned
Mark’s website: marknepo.com
- Mark will be offering a free reading and conversation on Aug 29 centered on the theme Growing in Place: Strengthening Our Roots (Aug 29, 2020, 1-3PM ET). Registration for this will open July 1 at live.marknepo.com.
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He will also be offering another 3-session webinar in October called More Together Than Alone: The Power and Spirit of Community (Oct 4, 11, 18, 2020, 1-2:30PM ET). Registration for the second webinar will open Sept 1 at live.marknepo.com.
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Books by Mark Nepo:
Learn from Mark at threeintentions.com
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Ursula Jorch, Host of The Impact Interviews
Ursula Jorch is a business coach, speaker, and podcaster who shows women leaders how to turn their businesses into profitable agents for lasting change, global impact, and a force for good in the world.
