What is a Good Life? #92
Looking Beyond The Veil with Rachel Donald
On the 92nd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Rachel Donald. Rachel is the creator of Planet: Critical, the podcast and newsletter for a world in crisis with 15,000+ subscribers from 160 countries. Planet: Critical connects the dots of science, art, language, politics, media, philosophy and power to reveal the big picture. Rachel speaks internationally on this ecosystem as an independent researcher and writer. Alongside Planet: Critical, her world exclusive investigations into climate corruption have been published in The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Mongabay, The Intercept, Byline Times and the New Republic.
In this wonderful conversation, Rachel takes us on her journey of looking beyond the veil, as for her, the world never seemed the way people said it was. She shares her experiences of questioning what is real and true, letting go of certainty, becoming more aware of and focused on the relationships between everything, and the joy that comes from doing work you love that serves others. She also explores finding ways to engage with the world while staying true to your own nature.
This entire conversation is filled with insights and realisations that deeply connect to experiencing a fulfilling life, while Rachel’s path may inspire you to think more critically and to reflect on what you are actively questioning and choosing in your own life.
The weekly clip from the podcast (5 mins), my weekly reflection (3 mins), the full podcast (64 mins), and the weekly questions all follow below.
1. Weekly Clip from the Podcast
2. My weekly reflection
In the clip above, Rachel shares a part of her journey that deeply resonates with my own—the shift away from seeking all the answers right now, and treating some of the bigger questions in life more playfully or with less tension.
If I were to scan my notebooks and journals over the last decade, it wouldn’t take long to find pages simply and repeatedly asking, "What is my purpose?" And even when I had a greater sense of that, "Where is this going?"
Reflecting on my own experience, I feel my path was overly preoccupied with answering these questions at the beginning of my internal inquiries. Maybe it’s inevitable; maybe it’s specific to my nature—I’m not sure.
However, I imagine I am not alone in this, particularly with the way modern inquiry or self-development is framed or sold to us. These questions are often presented as something that can be answered in an orderly, sequential manner once you buy the right book, attend the right course or retreat, or listen to the right guru.
I suspect most of our experiences make a mockery of the simplicity and order we are promised, and the resultant expectations we have for this process.
I recall interviewing author Thomas Moore, who said something to the effect of trying his hardest to be a priest, musician, and then a professor, but ending up as a New York Times #1 bestselling author.
I’m not suggesting that all of our paths are promising us fame, fortune, or even external success. However, I have noticed in so many of the people I have interviewed that, at some point, there is an acknowledgement of and a surrendering to the inherent unknown and uncertainty that is simply a part of life.
When we can let go somewhat of doggedly trying to answer specific questions, our awareness can broaden and soften, allowing us to pay more attention to the present moment, and therefore to life in general.
When this level of awareness or presence develops and expands, you will start to see that you don’t need many answers beyond the present moment. Life starts to reveal its depth and riches to us, and the interconnectedness of it all becomes so apparent that it is simply more than enough for now.
This sense of interconnectedness becomes a source of support and comfort in what previously felt like very personal and isolated questions or quests. The more our attention softens, broadens, and maintains, the more you notice about yourself. The more clues life gives you about what you want, what you value, and who you are.
As this intimacy with ourselves grows, so does the sense of trust in ourselves and the world around us. The uncertainty and unknown of it all no longer pose the same strains or struggles; instead, they start to excite, fire up our curiosities, and become integral to a feeling of aliveness.
For me, when all of this has occurred, my life path has become very simple. If I am paying attention and being myself, or aligning with my nature, what more do I have to consider? I feel a strong connection between trusting myself and my life path, and being true to who I am, like they are in a constant feedback loop that feeds me.
What decision could I possibly regret if I am being present and true to myself?
How could I ever imagine, in my older years—regardless of the outcomes of those decisions—reflecting on my life and regretting a decision that I was fully present for, that also felt true to me?
From this place, the unknown and uncertainty of life cease to be causes for fear, and instead become the generators, collaborators and co-creators of infinite possibilities. It allows us to really meet life in the moment, not reduce it narrow lanes of expression and experience. That is not to say it is easy, but at the very least, it is exciting, meaningful, and constantly engaging.
3. Full Episode - Looking Beyond The Veil with Rachel Donald - What is a Good Life? #92
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4. This week’s Questions
When making a big decision in life, how often do you view it as a permanent choice with no room for adjustment or change?
How would you describe your relationship with uncertainty?
About Me
I am a coach, podcast host, and writer, based in Berlin, via Dublin, Ireland. I started this project in 2021, for which I’ve now interviewed over 200 people. I’m not looking to prescribe universal answers, more that the guests’ lines of inquiry, musings, experiences, and curiosities spark your own inquiry into what the question means to you. I am also trying to share more genuine expressions of the human experience and more meaningful conversations.
If you would like to work with me to explore your own lines of self-inquiry, take part in my weekly free silent conversations, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your teams, or you simply want to get in touch, here’s my email and LinkedIn.
Phew, that was a good interview. Very refreshing and I particularly loved her thoughts about having empathy and listening to people who are convinced they can't make a difference and change, "There's a sacrifice and struggle to doing things differently."