#172 - Esther Perel: The effects of trauma, the role of narratives in shaping our worldview, and why we need to accept uncomfortable emotions

We discuss:

• Esther's background, adventures in hitchhiking, and how she ended up in the US [2:30];
• The lasting effects of the Holocaust on Esther's parents [8:45];
• Grappling with a dark past and feeling alive again after trauma [16:45];
• How Esther came to understand her parents in a new light [23:15];
• Why Esther chose therapy as her career [30:00];
• Using the concept of sexuality to understand society, culture, and people [40:00];
• The significance of sexual revolutions, and the similarities of medical advancements and advancements in psychotherapy [50:15];
• The impact of the rise of individualism and the focus on happiness and self-esteem [56:00];
• Generational differences in parenting and changing role of fathers [1:09:15];
• How our narratives affect our sense of wellbeing and relationships with others, and the challenge of changing them [1:17:15];
• Generational effects of past trauma, and how relationship to others can be a mirror into your maladaptive behavior [1:30:30];
• The role of willpower in one's ability change their behavior and improve their relationships [1:40:00];
• How your relationships impact longevity and the importance of being capable of sitting in uncomfortable emotions [1:43:45];
• Esther's definition of resilience and the dangers of believing everything you think or feel [1:50:00];
• Questions about the human condition that Esther wants to explore [1:57:30]; and
• More.