What shall i do with my newfound pen of light?

12 Rules for Life In English

The episode explores excerpts from the coda of Jordan Peterson's '12 Rules for Life,' centered around the metaphor of a 'pen of light.' The

Key takeaways

• Peterson uses the 'pen of light' metaphor to challenge individuals to illuminate the world's darkness through their actions.
• He suggests identifying core values by writing down words one wants inscribed on their soul.

Main topics

• Metaphor of the pen of light
• Personal values and identity

Notable quotes

write down the words you want inscribed on your soul

Conclusion

The episode serves as a reflective guide for using personal agency and

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) All right. So we're diving deep today. Deep, Speaker 2 (0:02) deep. Into Speaker 1 (0:03) some seriously thought-provoking stuff. Speaker 2 (0:05) Yeah. We're Speaker 1 (0:06) going to be exploring excerpts from the coda of Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life. Speaker 2 (0:11) Okay. Speaker 1 (0:12) But it's not just another list of rules. Right. Speaker 2 (0:15) It's Speaker 1 (0:15) more like a personal journey. Uh Speaker 2 (0:17) -huh. And Speaker 1 (0:17) he takes us on this journey using this really fascinating metaphor of a pin of light. Speaker 2 (0:23) Yeah, what I find so captivating about this section is how it moves past those structured rules from the previous chapters and dives right into this deep thought experiment. Speaker 1 (0:33) It's Speaker 2 (0:34) like he's handing you this metaphorical pen and challenging you, like, go ahead, illuminate the world's darkness. Speaker 1 (0:40) Yes. And Speaker 2 (0:41) this all stems from this simple. gift, this light up pen that sparked all these profound questions. Speaker 1 (0:48) Light up pen? Speaker 2 (0:49) Yeah. Wow. A light up pen leads to all these profound questions about how we should act. Yeah. Speaker 1 (0:54) And Speaker 2 (0:54) what truly matters. And Speaker 1 (0:55) it's like he's saying, okay, here's this tool, this power to bring light into the world. Right. What are you going to do with it? So he poses these two key questions that I think really drive this whole exploration. Yeah. What shall I do? with my newfound pen of light? Speaker 2 (1:12) And Speaker 1 (1:12) even more importantly, what will you write with yours? Speaker 2 (1:17) That second question really brings it home. It Speaker 1 (1:20) does. You Speaker 2 (1:20) know, it's not just about observing Peterson's process. Right. Speaker 1 (1:24) It's Speaker 2 (1:24) like he's prompting us to embark on our own journey of self-discovery. Speaker 1 (1:28) Exactly. So Speaker 2 (1:29) how does he start? Speaker 1 (1:30) Well, he starts by like asking himself some seriously deep questions. Speaker 2 (1:34) Okay. Speaker 1 (1:35) And then he just kind of waits. For the answers to kind of emerge from his subconscious. Speaker 2 (1:40) Almost Speaker 1 (1:40) like he's tapping into some wellspring of inner wisdom. You know? Speaker 2 (1:45) Interesting. And Speaker 1 (1:46) the first answer he gets is really powerful. Speaker 2 (1:48) What is it? He Speaker 1 (1:49) says, write down the words you want inscribed on your soul. Speaker 2 (1:53) Wow. And Speaker 1 (1:54) it's not about literally like, you know, jotting things down in a notebook. Speaker 2 (1:57) Right. This Speaker 1 (1:58) is about like identifying your core values. The principles you want to guide your life. Speaker 2 (2:03) Makes you think. Speaker 1 (2:04) Yeah. It really does. What Speaker 2 (2:05) words would you choose? Speaker 1 (2:06) Right. To define your life. Yeah. It's Speaker 2 (2:08) like Speaker 1 (2:08) he's encouraging us to create like a personal mission statement. Uh Speaker 2 (2:12) -huh. Speaker 1 (2:12) That's like etched in our very being. Speaker 2 (2:15) Absolutely. It's Speaker 1 (2:16) about defining yourself. Speaker 2 (2:17) Aligning your actions with your deepest beliefs. Speaker 1 (2:20) Exactly. And Speaker 2 (2:21) this leads into this recurring theme, I think, in this whole section of seeking truth, even when it's uncomfortable. Yes. So he talks about resolving disagreements with his wife. Speaker 1 (2:31) Right. And Speaker 2 (2:32) for him, it's not about. It's Speaker 1 (2:34) not about being right. Speaker 2 (2:35) Winning or being right. It's about uncovering the truth, like what actually happened. So Speaker 1 (2:41) they have this agreement. Oh, Speaker 2 (2:42) wow. Speaker 1 (2:42) That when they hit a roadblock in an argument, Speaker 2 (2:45) they Speaker 1 (2:46) actually like go to separate rooms. Speaker 2 (2:48) Oh, interesting. And Speaker 1 (2:49) reflect on their own contributions to the situation. So Speaker 2 (2:52) they each ask themselves. Speaker 1 (2:54) What did I do to create this problem? That Speaker 2 (2:57) sounds really difficult. Speaker 1 (2:58) It sounds incredibly difficult, especially when you're in the heat of the moment. In Speaker 2 (3:02) the heat of the moment. Yeah. Speaker 1 (3:03) But he really emphasizes choosing peace over being right. Speaker 2 (3:08) Right. Speaker 1 (3:09) And that requires a willingness to be wrong, to practice humility, Speaker 2 (3:13) to Speaker 1 (3:14) take responsibility for your actions. Speaker 2 (3:15) And, you know, thinking about that. Yeah. Speaker 1 (3:17) It Speaker 2 (3:18) makes you realize how often we just prioritize defending ourselves. Yes. Speaker 1 (3:22) Rather Speaker 2 (3:23) than seeking understanding. It's Speaker 1 (3:24) so true. So Speaker 2 (3:25) it's not just about him and his wife. Speaker 1 (3:27) It applies to every relationship, really. Speaker 2 (3:29) Yeah. Speaker 1 (3:29) It's a call to be more self-reflective in how we interact with others. Speaker 2 (3:33) It's a call for growth, really. Personal growth often stems from. Speaker 1 (3:37) Confronting our own shortcomings. Speaker 2 (3:39) Confronting our own shortcomings. Not always Speaker 1 (3:41) easy. Speaker 2 (3:41) No. But Speaker 1 (3:42) essential, I think. I Speaker 2 (3:43) agree. For Speaker 1 (3:44) building those stronger relationships and living a more fulfilling life. Speaker 2 (3:47) Couldn't have said it better myself. Speaker 1 (3:48) So then he dives into some, I think, really interesting reflections about his wife and daughter. Speaker 2 (3:54) He Speaker 1 (3:55) says he aims to treat his wife Speaker 2 (3:57) as Speaker 1 (3:58) if she is the holy mother of God so that she may give birth to the world-redeeming hero. Speaker 2 (4:03) Okay. That might seem a bit jarring at first. Speaker 1 (4:05) I know. Yeah. But it's important to understand the deeper meaning. What Speaker 2 (4:09) is it? Speaker 1 (4:09) He's not literally saying she's divine. Speaker 2 (4:12) Right. Speaker 1 (4:13) He's highlighting the importance of the feminine principle. Yes. Especially in nurturing potential and shaping the future. Speaker 2 (4:19) Nurturing, shaping the future. That's interesting. Right. Speaker 1 (4:22) Makes you think about the incredible role women play. Speaker 2 (4:25) Yeah. In Speaker 1 (4:26) raising children and the immense ripple effect they have on the world. Speaker 2 (4:29) Exactly. And it ties into the advice he gives to his daughter. Right. Where he kind of encourages her to embrace her potential while also valuing family and motherhood. Speaker 1 (4:38) Both. Speaker 2 (4:39) Recognizing that these roles are essential and deeply fulfilling. And Speaker 1 (4:43) this is particularly relevant, I think, today. Speaker 2 (4:45) Why? Because Speaker 1 (4:46) there's this constant narrative. Speaker 2 (4:47) What is it? Speaker 1 (4:48) That pits. Career aspirations against family life. Uh Speaker 2 (4:52) -huh. As Speaker 1 (4:53) if women have to choose. Choose Speaker 2 (4:55) one or the other. Yeah. Speaker 1 (4:56) It's Speaker 2 (4:57) refreshing to hear someone advocating for both. Speaker 1 (5:00) Yeah. It Speaker 2 (5:00) raises questions, though, about how we as a society value and support. Speaker 1 (5:05) Exactly. Both Speaker 2 (5:06) paths, you know. Speaker 1 (5:07) Yeah. Right. How do we create a world where women can freely pursue their ambitions while also embracing motherhood? Speaker 2 (5:14) If they choose. Speaker 1 (5:15) If they choose, right? Right. That's something