When we look at babies, no one's thinking about how competent or productive they are. We find them lovable, valuable, and deserving of curious, nourishing attention, just as they are.

Then we get older and a switch flips. We move away from being, and we start manufacturing our value through work, being highly competent, and producing something worthwhile. We learn that if we're not doing something, we're not worthy of attention and love, and we let that play out to our detriment. Why do you think so many people are working hard to stop working so hard?

It's as if being and letting our essence speak for itself will make the whole world spin off its axis, but that's far from the case.

How do we treat ourselves with kindness instead of corrective control? What steps do we take to untangle our value from our actions? In this episode, we talk about the root of our overworking culture, and how play and attention can cure it.

Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode

-Hard work is not as effective as play In a world where accomplishments are tied to work, can play produce richer fruit?

-The dangers of diminishing ourselves Many of us have been trained not to let appreciation in. How do we overcome wanting to deflect nourishing attention away from ourselves?

-Create safety by noticing with kindness What happens to us when we get neglectful or erratic attention?