How To Find Calm in a World on Fire | Pico Iyer

Overview

This episode explores the transformative power of silence and solitude, featuring insights from Pico Iyer, a renowned author who has spent over three decades visiting a Benedictine monastery. The conversation delves into the benefits of silence, the fear it can evoke, and how to integrate its lessons into daily life. Practical strategies for cultivating calm, managing distractions, and finding clarity in a chaotic world are shared.

Notable Quotes

- Only by doing nothing can you do anything at all. – Pico Iyer, on the necessity of rest and stillness.

- Luxury is defined not by how much you have, but by how much you don’t need. – Pico Iyer, on simplicity and contentment.

- Take care of the mind, and you take care of the world. – Pico Iyer, quoting a Japanese saying about the ripple effects of inner peace.

🧘‍♂️ The Power of Silence

- Pico Iyer describes his decades-long practice of visiting a Benedictine monastery, where silence is not just an absence of noise but a presence of clarity and connection.

- Silence, he explains, can dissolve the ego, allowing one to feel more connected to the world and loved ones.

- He distinguishes between the restorative silence of a monastery and the unsettling silence of isolation, noting that the former is cultivated through generations of contemplative practice.

- Silence can be a tonic but also a weapon or shield, depending on how it is used.

🌿 Practical Strategies for Calm

- The 3% Rule: Spending 3% of your time (e.g., three days per season or 20 minutes daily) in intentional silence can transform the other 97%.

- The Two-Hour Rule: Avoid screens for two hours before bed to improve sleep and mental clarity.

- The 20-Foot Rule: Step back from the canvas of life to gain perspective, akin to stepping back from a painting to see its full picture.

- Limit news consumption to five minutes a day to avoid overwhelm and focus on actionable, local concerns.

- Replace mindless scrolling with restorative activities like reading poetry, taking walks, or listening to music.

🌍 Travel as Transformation

- Travel, when approached mindfully, can simplify life and strip away distractions.

- It humbles the traveler, removing societal labels and fostering openness to new experiences and people.

- Travel can also teach the value of relinquishing control, as plans often go awry, forcing adaptability and presence.

- Pico Iyer shares how even local exploration during the pandemic revealed beauty and inspiration close to home.

🏡 Decluttering and Simplicity

- Living with fewer possessions and distractions creates mental space for clarity and creativity.

- Pico Iyer shares his minimalist lifestyle: no cell phone, no car, and a two-room apartment, which he finds liberating.

- Decluttering physical spaces can mirror the process of decluttering the mind, helping to focus on what truly matters.

- He emphasizes that luxury lies in needing less, not having more.

👥 Solitude and Community

- Solitude, paradoxically, can deepen one’s sense of community and compassion.

- Pico Iyer observes that monks, despite their solitary lives, are deeply committed to service and connection.

- Solitude allows for self-reflection, which enriches relationships and strengthens one’s ability to contribute to the world.

- He highlights the importance of balancing solitude with meaningful social bonds, especially in an era of widespread loneliness.