Emotional Education by Alain de Botton

Location: We will meet at True Food Kitchen (Bethesda) (7100 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20815)

Emotional Education is at the core of what we need to lead a fulfilled life - and is what The School of Life teaches online and in physical branches around the world. In this film, founder of The School, Alain de Botton discusses what emotional education is - and why we so badly need it.

Please watch this 22-min video before joining the discussion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YOLzshVBvs

If more than 10 people join the discussion, we will break out into separate groups.
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1. We often assume that discovering the truth is enough, but truths can remain powerless if they don’t change behavior. How can we balance the pursuit of truth with the responsibility to make it effective in the world?
2. The talk challenges the myth of the “lone genius.” What could collaboration look like if we saw creativity as a collective act rather than an individual one?
3. We often set standards for ourselves and others so high that failure and dishonesty become inevitable. How can we create cultures that accept imperfection while still encouraging growth?
4. Beyond formal lessons, society constantly teaches us what to value through culture, peers, and media. What hidden lessons are we absorbing today, and how might we rewrite them to serve deeper needs?
5. Consolation is often seen as a weakness in intellectual or cultural spaces. What would it mean to take consolation seriously as a central human need rather than a secondary luxury?
6. The pursuit of fulfilling love and meaningful work comes with constant fear of failure. How can we reframe these dreams so they inspire growth rather than anxiety?

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To provide an enjoyable experience for fellow participants, here are three ground rules during discussion events:

1. Step up and step back. (If you feel that you’ve been talking too much, step back to listen more. If you feel that you’ve been relatively quiet, step up to share your perspective or ask a question)
2. Listen to understand, not to respond.
3. Be open-minded and value differences.