For the last four episodes I’ve talked about language as a technology. How language is not just something you use, it's very essence of being human — it’s what sets us apart from other life forms and what we use to construct our reality.

And I’ve stressed that you need to see it directly, not just understand it intellectually. Seeing it is like riding the bicycle; understanding is just knowing about the bicycle. We want to ride. Naturally, this medium lends itself to the understanding part more than it does to the seeing and getting part. And the questions I’ve received confirm that.

In this episode, I turn over the subject again so you can see it from different angles. I do that through six questions — some from listeners, two from a master's class I lectured, and two are check questions from my own personal journey, ones I’ve asked before and keep asking.

We turn over word versus feeling, story versus reality, and the objection I get every single time: isn't this "listening" thing just a perceptual lens in cleverer clothes? No, it’s not, and I show you why.

Show notes:

The six questions:

1. "Language as a technology is interesting — but what's the point? Isn't the explaining and making of things the whole thing?" (from Episode 8)
2. "Aren't feelings important as guides? How does this sit with Martha Beck, who says to follow your intuition the way you'd track a rhino?" (from Episode 9)
3. "I keep my word to other people. But the promises I make to myself, I break constantly — and nobody knows. Why is my word to myself worth so little?" (from Episode 9)
4. "In my case the story is the reality — my boss genuinely is undermining me, and I've got the emails. How does this apply when I'm actually right?" (from Episode 10)
5. "How is your 'listening' any different from perception being a lens you see the world through? Isn't it the same thing, sounding clever?" (from Episode 11)
6. "Isn't shifting my listening just letting people off the hook — excusing bad behaviour by choosing to hear it more generously?" (from Episode 11)

Once again, this isn't another thing to believe. It's a technology you can use and test, and by using it you get better at dealing with what's real and what matters.

📩 Written companion on Substack, under my name.

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