Michael Easley inContext

← Michael Easley inContext29 Sept · 39 min

The Best Possible Life With Jim Murphy

The Best Possible Life With Jim Murphy29 Sept39 min

What if the life you’re working so hard to build isn’t actually the life you want?

Jim Murphy, author of The Best Possible Life, joins Michael Easley for a wide-ranging conversation about achievement, suffering, joy, purpose, unconditional love, and what it means to live fully.

Jim draws from his experience as a professional baseball player, coach, and mentor to high-performing athletes and leaders. He explains why achievement can become a substitute for identity, why we cannot always trust our feelings, and why suffering and difficulty can play an important role in developing wisdom, courage, and strength.

Michael and Jim also discuss parenting, retirement, the pressure to perform, being present, gratitude, and the challenge of mastering the ego.

Chapters

00:00 — Why difficulty is necessary for growth

00:37 — Jim Murphy’s story and the road to The Best Possible Life

01:24 — From professional baseball to a crisis of identity

02:54 — The three worlds model

05:32 — Achievement, identity, and the need for love

07:17 — Why success can leave us empty

09:47 — Purpose, sacrificial love, and joy