Another of my favourite podcasts is the imaginatively named Conversations with Tyler.

(I wonder how long the brainstorming session took to come up with that title)

On a recent episode, Tyler was conversing with Brian Koppelman.

Koppelman is the brains behind the TV smash-hit Billions and writer of movies like Ocean’s 13 & Rounders (a cult classic I watched on loop while dodging maths lectures at uni).

Here’s one of the most interesting parts:

Tyler:  I’m sure you know many smart people who don’t understand movies very well.  If you had to explain in as few dimensions as possible what differentiates the really smart people who get movies from the really smart people who do not get movies, what’s going on there?

Brian:  Perhaps openness.  Perhaps the ability to not have to analyse in real time and to just experience.

I daresay this comment goes well beyond movies.  It spreads into all corners of life.

It’s not that being rational doesn’t have its advantages.

But reason and logic can only take us so far.  And being a smarty-pants comes with one heck of a disadvantage if we think that a certain IQ or a few letters after our name is what will lead to a greater appreciation and understanding of life.

Because it won’t.

As Brian says, it’s our ability not to analyse which is the key to "getting it".

This doesn’t mean staging a rebellion against our analytical minds or sticking two fingers up to logic. 

But what I’m seeing more and more is that some parts of life are only available when we stop analysing.  When we don't run everything through our mental filters.  And when we move past what our brain is telling us and stay open to something more.

So it’s not going against our brain which can help us savour life.

It’s going beyond it.

Something to chew on perhaps.

That’s my two pennies’ worth for today.

 - Tom

p.s. While I’m tapping away about podcasts:

I’m looking for a few podcasts to get booked on (small ones suit me just fine).

Preferably based on mindset, happiness or personal development. 

If you enjoy my emails and you enjoy a certain podcast or two, I'm assuming that other people who listen to that same podcast are also likely to enjoy what I have to say.

So instead of asking you to click a link today, I’d love you to reply to this email if any podcasts spring to mind.

Bonus points are available too if the podcast is yours or you can introduce me to the host.

Thank you.