Episode
#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
2:02:52
Published: Wed Jul 14 2021
Description
Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer | Brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs recruitment platform with 750M users, Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating, and LMNT electrolyte supplement. More on all three below.Anne Lamott (@AnneLamott) uses honesty, empathy, and humor to write about our world. In her beloved and bestselling books, like Operating Instructions (an account of her son’s first year), Bird by Bird (her classic book on writing), and Help, Thanks, Wow (a celebration of prayer), Lamott delves into what makes us human. She explores the wide experience of life that unites us: birth and death, parenthood and family, faith and doubt, love and loss, forgiveness and hope.In each of her 19 books, which have sold millions of copies worldwide, Lamott brings her distinctive mix of bracing candor, clarifying insight, and refreshing humor to convert serious subjects like addiction, motherhood, loss, and faith into human truths we can all share. She is the author of several essay collections on faith, including Traveling Mercies, Grace (Eventually), and Plan B, as well as several novels, including Imperfect Birds, Blue Shoe, and Rosie.Lamott has been honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship and has taught at UC Davis and writing conferences across the country. She is an inductee of the California Hall of Fame and the subject of Academy Award-winning filmmaker Freida Mock’s documentary Bird by Bird with Annie (1999).Her most recent book is Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage.Please enjoy!*This episode is brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs. Whether you are looking to hire now for a critical role or thinking about needs that you may have in the future, LinkedIn Jobs can help. LinkedIn screens candidates for the hard and soft skills you’re looking for and puts your job in front of candidates looking for job opportunities that match what you have to offer.Using LinkedIn’s active community of more than 750 million professionals worldwide, LinkedIn Jobs can help you find and hire the right person faster. When your business is ready to make that next hire, find the right person with LinkedIn Jobs. And now, you can post a job for free. Just visit LinkedIn.com/Tim.*This episode is also brought to you by Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Pro Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature.And now, my dear listeners—that’s you—can get $250 off the Pod Pro Cover. Simply go to EightSleep.com/Tim or use code TIM. *This episode is also brought to you by LMNT! What is LMNT? It’s a delicious, sugar-free electrolyte drink mix. I’ve stocked up on boxes and boxes of this and usually use it 1–2 times per day. LMNT is formulated to help anyone with their electrolyte needs and perfectly suited to folks following a keto, low-carb, or Paleo diet. If you are on a low-carb diet or fasting, electrolytes play a key role in relieving hunger, cramps, headaches, tiredness, and dizziness.LMNT came up with a very special offer for you, my dear listeners. For a limited time, you can claim a free LMNT Sample Pack—you only cover the cost of shipping. For US customers, this means you can receive an 8-count sample pack for only $5. Simply go to DrinkLMNT.com/Tim to claim your free 8-count sample pack.*If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapters
The 8 Sleep Pod Pro Cover can help users fall asleep 32% faster, reduce sleep interruptions by up to 40%, and sleep more restfully overall.
00:00 - 01:52 (01:52)
Summary
The 8 Sleep Pod Pro Cover can help users fall asleep 32% faster, reduce sleep interruptions by up to 40%, and sleep more restfully overall. It allows sleepers to adjust the temperature of their mattress from 55-110 degrees Fahrenheit.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Best-selling author Anne Lamotte speaks candidly about writing, family and empathy while promoting her books.
01:52 - 07:57 (06:04)
Summary
Best-selling author Anne Lamotte speaks candidly about writing, family and empathy while promoting her books. An advertisement for Element electrolytes interrupts the interview towards the end.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this episode, the importance of embracing imperfection and abandoning the notion of perfect writing is discussed.
07:57 - 14:58 (07:01)
Summary
In this episode, the importance of embracing imperfection and abandoning the notion of perfect writing is discussed. The chapter on perfectionism in the book Bird by Bird is also analyzed, highlighting why it is considered the voice of the oppressor.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this excerpt from a podcast, the speaker talks about the importance of dealing with the abyss in life and how it can lead to transformation, growth and teachability.
14:58 - 22:37 (07:38)
Summary
In this excerpt from a podcast, the speaker talks about the importance of dealing with the abyss in life and how it can lead to transformation, growth and teachability. They mention how they got their self-esteem from external sources and how facing the unknown can lead to magic in life.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Host talks to guest about fear and acronyms associated with fear.
22:37 - 28:56 (06:19)
Summary
Host talks to guest about fear and acronyms associated with fear. They also discuss the concept of radical self-care and its importance in overcoming difficult situations.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker reflects on the dark times in her life and how she found hope in the support of other sober individuals and through focusing on helping others rather than solely herself.
28:56 - 39:00 (10:03)
Summary
The speaker reflects on the dark times in her life and how she found hope in the support of other sober individuals and through focusing on helping others rather than solely herself.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Learning to breathe and practicing left foot, right foot can create a more spacious world.
39:00 - 47:04 (08:03)
Summary
Learning to breathe and practicing left foot, right foot can create a more spacious world. Paul Williams shares his experience of feeling elevated and worth more after winning the Academy Award for a Barbara Streisand movie.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares how she discovered the importance of showing up as oneself, with all their quirks and sensitivities, and letting go of the pressure to conform to societal expectations.
47:04 - 52:55 (05:50)
Summary
The speaker shares how she discovered the importance of showing up as oneself, with all their quirks and sensitivities, and letting go of the pressure to conform to societal expectations.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Women are taught to live unconsciously and suppress their emotions, but it's important to take a step back and allow yourself to cry and release those pent-up feelings in order to fully recover and be present in your own life.
52:55 - 57:12 (04:17)
Summary
Women are taught to live unconsciously and suppress their emotions, but it's important to take a step back and allow yourself to cry and release those pent-up feelings in order to fully recover and be present in your own life.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker emphasizes the value of honesty with oneself and others, even if one's truthfulness is uncomfortable.
57:13 - 1:02:50 (05:37)
Summary
The speaker emphasizes the value of honesty with oneself and others, even if one's truthfulness is uncomfortable. She believes in telling the truth even if people are unlikely to believe her and sees it as a key aspect of recovery and becoming a better person.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The author recounts a childhood memory of swimming in a cold lake with his family and highlights the importance of writing down scenes and memories as inspiration for writing.
1:02:50 - 1:06:32 (03:41)
Summary
The author recounts a childhood memory of swimming in a cold lake with his family and highlights the importance of writing down scenes and memories as inspiration for writing.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The host shares his trick for getting himself to write every day, using bribes and threats and breaking it down into 45-minute increments based on the concept of the one inch picture frame.
1:06:32 - 1:10:58 (04:25)
Summary
The host shares his trick for getting himself to write every day, using bribes and threats and breaking it down into 45-minute increments based on the concept of the one inch picture frame.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The voice of self-doubt is the biggest obstacle in writing, but it is important to keep writing despite all the reasons that come up to stop you.
1:10:58 - 1:15:47 (04:48)
Summary
The voice of self-doubt is the biggest obstacle in writing, but it is important to keep writing despite all the reasons that come up to stop you. Growing up around alcoholics or mentally ill people can make it difficult to be honest in your writing.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The key to a good story is conflict, which can be brought out by putting characters in difficult situations and seeing how they react.
1:15:47 - 1:19:18 (03:30)
Summary
The key to a good story is conflict, which can be brought out by putting characters in difficult situations and seeing how they react.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Anne Lamott discusses how she is perceived in her personal documentary, and delves into the concept of a higher power.
1:19:18 - 1:26:39 (07:21)
Summary
Anne Lamott discusses how she is perceived in her personal documentary, and delves into the concept of a higher power.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker is emphasizing the importance of paying attention to all the little things around us in life, be it the beauty of nature or the warmth and love one receives from doing kind things.
1:26:40 - 1:34:02 (07:21)
Summary
The speaker is emphasizing the importance of paying attention to all the little things around us in life, be it the beauty of nature or the warmth and love one receives from doing kind things. As a writer, it is important to take in everything in one's surroundings.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker's spiritual mentor taught her to see blessings throughout all of life's hardships including breakups, custody battles, poverty and even the Trump years.
1:34:02 - 1:40:08 (06:05)
Summary
The speaker's spiritual mentor taught her to see blessings throughout all of life's hardships including breakups, custody battles, poverty and even the Trump years.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The author shares an inspiring message about the importance of being fearless in writing and finding hope in difficult times, and also offers a writing prayer.
1:40:08 - 1:47:36 (07:27)
Summary
The author shares an inspiring message about the importance of being fearless in writing and finding hope in difficult times, and also offers a writing prayer. They also discuss the theme of "soul" in their new book.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast episode, the speaker suggests several movies to watch including a movie about a girl taking her grandfather to a festival, Baba Z's which is a Persian movie, and The Prophet which is beautifully shot and packed full of lessons.
1:47:37 - 1:54:52 (07:15)
Summary
In this podcast episode, the speaker suggests several movies to watch including a movie about a girl taking her grandfather to a festival, Baba Z's which is a Persian movie, and The Prophet which is beautifully shot and packed full of lessons.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Andy Stumpf talks with Annie Duke, author of Thinking in Bets, about the art of decision making and the role of cognitive bias in our choices.
1:54:53 - 2:01:47 (06:54)
Summary
Andy Stumpf talks with Annie Duke, author of Thinking in Bets, about the art of decision making and the role of cognitive bias in our choices. They discuss the importance of reflecting on past decisions and learning from them to improve future outcomes.
Episode#522: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The 8Sleep Pod Pro Cover offers bespoke temperature control on either side of the bed for a more restful sleep; users fall asleep faster, have fewer interruptions and wake up feeling refreshed.
2:01:47 - 2:02:40 (00:52)
Summary
The 8Sleep Pod Pro Cover offers bespoke temperature control on either side of the bed for a more restful sleep; users fall asleep faster, have fewer interruptions and wake up feeling refreshed. Listeners can get $250 off Pod Pro Cover by visiting 8sleep.com/Tim or using coupon code TIM.