Ben Greenfield says chasing personal achievement alone won't fulfill you. Real purpose comes from serving others in community, what he calls the "second mountain." His recent illness taught him that interdependence, not independence, is where lasting joy lives.
Hey, welcome to today's video. I'm shooting this for you because I've recently become aware of a burden that I'm blessed to have been given to carry through life. And it's through recent pain and suffering and sickness and being laid up on my back, unable to even move that through that pain and suffering, I've realized a little bit more deeply my calling. And I've also realized that I need to carry the momentum generated from that inevitable pain and suffering everybody experiences at some point in their life that's being thrown at me right now to carry the momentum and bring more meaningful messages to you. I've realized I'm not individual. I'm not self reliant, I'm not a lone wolf. No, we're all one giant interdependent community. Like the mycorzel network of fungi and bacteria that travel throughout our bodies and throughout nature. We humans are very similar to that. And when we reach the realization that the greatest joy in life is derived for caring for others in that network in a deep and meaningful and empathetic and altruistic and unselfish way, that's when we truly discover joy and happiness. And that's when we truly begin to live life. Now, up until this point in my life, since I made the transition from being a little boy to, to a hard charging, high achieving man, everything has been a rushed, distracted, must stay busy effort to silence that voice of wisdom inside and to instead achieve what it is that my ego, what our egos have called of us. But when you set the ego aside and authentic love is allowed to emerge.
Suddenly all this driving for recognition and power and acceptance from others loses the intensity of meaning that we thought that it had. And we realize that the pursuit of E was only a very small piece of our life. Just the first part, just one mountain that we felt the urge to climb so we could see what was at the top. And those people that have arrived at the top can tell you without a doubt that the top of that mountain is not the finish. Nor is the top of that mountain the ultimate source of fulfillment and joy. And when you tumble off that first mountain into pain and suffering and isolation, it's then lying on your back at the bottom of that valley that you look up and you see the true mountain. And that true mountain, covered with a dense layer of forest made up of many, many trees. And each of those trees represents your fellow human beings who on their journey up that true mountain are all those people who we stop and help along the way to take to a greater level with us as we travel up that true mountain. We use our unique skills to do that. And in my case, that unique skill is to be a caretaker and a guide for you. Because that is what truly makes me feel happy and fulfilled, is when I'm using what God has given me in the best way I can to care for others. Now I want to do more videos like this as a way to care for you, as a way to inspire you, as a way to teach you. So if you like that idea, then be sure to leave a comment wherever you see this video. In addition to that, if you want more of what inspired me to make this particular video for me or for you, read the book the Second Mountain, the Second Mountain, which you should be able to find on Amazon. And then also check out the latest podcast on my friend Rich Roll's show between Rich Roll and Dr. Zach Bush. Now remember to ask yourself, are you climbing that first mountain right now, or are you through the valley of pain and suffering and on your way up the second, more deep, meaningful mountain that brings true happiness, joy and fulfillment? Thanks for watching.
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