I think that what happens with awe is the self is so reduced, so minimalized, is basically evaporated, if only for the snap of the finger, that for once you can see that thing clearly.
... the part that I worry about is that most people live on the level of the self and not the level of the soul, which is the costume of personality over the soul. It's what the self is... It's the performance of personhood, not the essence of personhood.
And today most people lead with identities and opinions, which I think are the least interesting, least true parts of people, because they're the most mutable and the least anchored in what you call the soul.
... the part that I worry about is that most people live on the level of the self and not the level of the soul, which is the costume of personality over the soul. It's what the self is... It's the performance of personhood, not the essence of personhood.
And today most people lead with identities and opinions, which I think are the least interesting, least true parts of people, because they're the most mutable and the least anchored in what you call the soul.
~ Maria Popova from "How to Write Something Truly Wise" podcast interview with David Perell