Why does life feel so exhausting—even when nothing is technically “wrong”?
In this solo episode, Paul explores a simple but uncomfortable truth: most of our suffering comes from wanting reality to be different than it is.
Drawing from Buddhism, Stoicism, Hindu philosophy, Christianity, and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Paul explains why acceptance is not resignation—and why it’s actually the foundation for real change.
At the center of the episode is the Hourglass of Life metaphor:
The past contains infinite stories
The future holds infinite possibilities
But the present is a narrow choke point where reality can only be one way
And fighting that reality is a losing game.
Why happiness becomes impossible when tied to outcomes
Desire vs attachment (and why people confuse them)
The illusion of emotional control
How acceptance restores agency and energy
Why detaching from outcomes doesn’t kill motivation
How to pursue change without suffering
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