Jacques Massie is the host of the 'Couple A Lattes' Podcast, photographer and aspiring author. I first met Jacques when he reached out to Juan and I to be guests on his podcast to talk about meditation (and finance). I really enjoyed the convo I had with him and resolved to question him on the Mere Mortals channel after I heard him speak about his self-organised 7 day silent retreat.
This conversation is split into roughly 3 parts: the practical, the subjective & the learnings. We begin with his preparation before the retreat, discussing why someone would want to do this and how to structure it. This leads into Jacques's experiences as well as why it can be so intense for some people that it leads to mental breakdowns. The final section was on his insights into his own mind and how taking the time in silence has helped him. We also briefly discuss consciousness and end off with some final questions that give a bit of perspective on other parts of Jacques's personality.
As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!
Timeline:0:00 - Overview1:15 - Jacques's Mere Mortal Moment4:34 - Why would someone want to be silent for a week?10:10 - Expectation breeds anxiety11:21 - Jacques's childhood in nature14:40 - Practical considerations for making your own silent retreat21:53 - Getting clear on your why27:24 - A rundown of the whole week33:50 - Why do people have mental breakdowns when on their own?40:11 - Peak experiences45:49 - Happiness vs contentment50:41 - Abstract constructs & objective reality54:17 - Takeaway that implemented a change1:01:37 - Eliminating distractions1:05:57 - A book that instigated practical change1:07:17 - No mention of coronavirus for a full month1:11:31 - Jacques's method of goal setting1:19:51 - Connect with Jacques
Connect With Jacques:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/couplealattes/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClpgU64ePinVwaH35CCt-9Q

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