Hard to express how this piece hit me. Well, maybe not hard - I had to walk out of the coffee shop I was reading it in and take a lap. So many of us, especially the Type 2 fun seekers, grew up believing that pain + time = payoff. It's just not true. The cosmic unfairness of what you share here is intensely relatable and amidst the anger, sadness, and frustration I felt while reading this I also felt very "not alone" in it. The questions you ask yourself these days, especially. Looking forward to more.
Excellent piece. Greatly appreciate the transparency and imagery in all this.. as an itinerant and addict to pain in many forms I could deeply relate. The story about the electric shock test made me chuckle, having done a vipasanna mediation at one point in my journey, I remember the only thing that kept me from losing it was my pride, and the idea that the pain of it all was worth it.. anyways. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to more.
So funny — I did a 10-Day Silent Vipassana retreat and there were moments when I actually thought to myself, "This might be the most painful thing I've ever done." It ended up being extremely profound, so there was a payoff, but Day 4-5 were *so* brutal.
Thanks for sharing so honestly. I've never heard of the pain button experiment but feel like I'll be doing some of my own reflection after this. I'm really looking forward to more of your writing!
So very confronting to read your very personal and revealing writing. With each paragraph I am increasingly engulfed by the depth of pain you have experienced, particularly when I recognised myself as one of the perpetrators of your pain through questions about your past and future businesses. The vicarious pain overwhelms me and I leave off reading, carrying a stone of your pain in my chest for hours.
I thought the burden of your pain would be too hard for me to carry, so I did not read on until today. Silly me! Now that I’ve finally got to the end, I feel invigorated, inspired and energised. And full of questions and reflections. Wow! I can’t believe pain avoiders willingly subject themselves to pain, rather than sit quietly for 15 minutes. What a revelation! And men much more often than women! So interesting.
Matt, you are an amazing man! It is unbelievable how you have challenged yourself, what you have achieved, how deeply you have felt, and how bravely you have faced your pain and shared it so powerfully, and so positively. I wish for you much, much less pain in the future!
Hard to express how this piece hit me. Well, maybe not hard - I had to walk out of the coffee shop I was reading it in and take a lap. So many of us, especially the Type 2 fun seekers, grew up believing that pain + time = payoff. It's just not true. The cosmic unfairness of what you share here is intensely relatable and amidst the anger, sadness, and frustration I felt while reading this I also felt very "not alone" in it. The questions you ask yourself these days, especially. Looking forward to more.
Whoa-we’d talked a bit about this- but this was deeper and clearer … thank you for sharing…and for hitting the pause button.
Hadn't thought of the alternative as the pause button until now—love that. Thanks for reading Andy!
This was a great read.
Thanks Kathryn ✨
Excellent piece. Greatly appreciate the transparency and imagery in all this.. as an itinerant and addict to pain in many forms I could deeply relate. The story about the electric shock test made me chuckle, having done a vipasanna mediation at one point in my journey, I remember the only thing that kept me from losing it was my pride, and the idea that the pain of it all was worth it.. anyways. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to more.
So funny — I did a 10-Day Silent Vipassana retreat and there were moments when I actually thought to myself, "This might be the most painful thing I've ever done." It ended up being extremely profound, so there was a payoff, but Day 4-5 were *so* brutal.
this is crazy lol
i just launched a new company. looking forward to reading the rest tomorrow
"Gnarly as it was, it was a good career fit" love this line
Thanks for sharing so honestly. I've never heard of the pain button experiment but feel like I'll be doing some of my own reflection after this. I'm really looking forward to more of your writing!
🙏 Thank you, Cassidy!
So very confronting to read your very personal and revealing writing. With each paragraph I am increasingly engulfed by the depth of pain you have experienced, particularly when I recognised myself as one of the perpetrators of your pain through questions about your past and future businesses. The vicarious pain overwhelms me and I leave off reading, carrying a stone of your pain in my chest for hours.
I thought the burden of your pain would be too hard for me to carry, so I did not read on until today. Silly me! Now that I’ve finally got to the end, I feel invigorated, inspired and energised. And full of questions and reflections. Wow! I can’t believe pain avoiders willingly subject themselves to pain, rather than sit quietly for 15 minutes. What a revelation! And men much more often than women! So interesting.
Matt, you are an amazing man! It is unbelievable how you have challenged yourself, what you have achieved, how deeply you have felt, and how bravely you have faced your pain and shared it so powerfully, and so positively. I wish for you much, much less pain in the future!