A moment here on the dark side of stoke - a hungry ghost in pursuit of the next peak experience. I touched on this in a recent interview with Tucker Walsh1, exploring the balance between chasing the next high, and using these experiences as fuel to enliven our deeper work in the world.
In short, it’s about integration and devotion. To what are we devoted to? Which gods are we feeding?
Can we integrate the energy we get from the moments that stoke us into that devotion?
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The connection between stoke and devotion feels deep. Currently paging through David Brooks' The Second Mountain, which talks about living a committed life. Perhaps devoted stoke is the particular flavor we are after?
Thanks Dan! Yes, it's a question I've been spending a lot of time sitting with.
A phrase that came to me on a retreat last year was "Physicality and Devotion" - there are many layers to this, but I think it's important that we build a physical relationship with the wild, AND anchor our exploits in a deeper sense of devotion. Perhaps devotion is like a compass.
From my experience, "meh" starts as a vacuum of meaning.
As in we are doing things we don't love or care about. There's no reason or cause for what we do.
There may be ways to artificially "pump ourselves up" but that's only temporary.
Being stoked (sustainably) may require meaning.
I like this part:
A moment here on the dark side of stoke - a hungry ghost in pursuit of the next peak experience. I touched on this in a recent interview with Tucker Walsh1, exploring the balance between chasing the next high, and using these experiences as fuel to enliven our deeper work in the world.
In short, it’s about integration and devotion. To what are we devoted to? Which gods are we feeding?
Can we integrate the energy we get from the moments that stoke us into that devotion?
---
The connection between stoke and devotion feels deep. Currently paging through David Brooks' The Second Mountain, which talks about living a committed life. Perhaps devoted stoke is the particular flavor we are after?
Thanks Dan! Yes, it's a question I've been spending a lot of time sitting with.
A phrase that came to me on a retreat last year was "Physicality and Devotion" - there are many layers to this, but I think it's important that we build a physical relationship with the wild, AND anchor our exploits in a deeper sense of devotion. Perhaps devotion is like a compass.
Well said, Dom! 🤜🏻💥🤛🏻
Great post Dom! I think you nailed it when you say stoke is connected to adventure. It is for me at least.
Thankfully adventure can take on many different forms and sizes, the common thread being the necessity to ‘put yourself out there’.
I very much connect to this!
I feel my life is better when I mix in stoke (autocorrect doesn’t even know it..).
And it’s usually outdoors and exercise!
Awesome, Georg! Different for everyone, perhaps similar for us :)
It seems like it ;)