What Is A Good Life? #140 - A Life of Unfolding Possibility with Robert Poynton
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Show Notes
On the 140th episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome Robert Poynton. Rob is the author of Do Conversation, Do Pause, and Do Improvise. He divides his time between an off-grid home in rural Spain and Oxford, where he is an Associate Fellow at the Saïd Business School and convenor of the Oxford Praxis Forum at Green Templeton College. Rob is a designer, host, and facilitator of learning experiences; an amateur practical philosopher; a keeper of hens; and the founder of Yellow Learning.
In this conversation, Rob shares his sense of living with more aliveness. We explore following the energy rather than the “shoulds”, noticing visceral signals of “deathly” work, practising curiosity and softness in everyday tasks, infinite games versus fixed goals, and how trusting life’s unfolding leads to a life of joy.
This episode is an invitation to soften, to follow what feels alive, and to let life reveal itself through experience and energy rather than theory.
For more of Rob's work:
Website: https://robertpoynton.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-poynton-169402/
For more from Mark McCartney:
Newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/
Website: https://www.mmcleadership.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markcmccartney
00:00 How can we make life more joyful?
04:20 Paying attention to that sinking feeling
06:40 Making decisions others found unusual
10:50 Following the breadcrumbs and energy
18:11 Noticing when we contract and soften
24:30 Noticing, allowing, and becoming
32:00 Life wants to happen
39:15 Collaboration more present than competition
42:30 The allure of drama and conflict
48:20 Holding two conflicting ideas at once
51:15 The surprises that bring us alive
57:50 Summary and is a good life for Rob?
Keywords: Meaning of Life Interviews | meaning of life conversations | exploring life | big life questions | meaning of life discussions | creating a meaningful life