Ben Austin is a writer and a philosopher who advocates on behalf of the lost arts of handwriting, calligraphy, and fountain pens who travels full-time and usually resides in Tuscany, Italy.
He believes that writing is a powerful vessel to help you find polarity, choice, alignment, and healthy defiance.
In this interview, you’ll uncover the origins of Ben’s love of writing — which curiously arises from his roots in the Mormon faith, when he was expected to live in the Phillipines when he was 19 years old.
What lights you up? How does desire free you from being a slave to the conditions that are not serving you?
The interview free to stream, so tune in to listen below!
Listen: How to Make Successful Mistakes
As You Listen…
- What has been “lighting you up” lately?
- How does Ben define “contrast”? Why does he say it fuels your personal choice, desire and responsibility?
- Have you been feeling like a “slave” to conditions that do not fully honor and serve you? If so, what are they?
- What does recognizing them help you to realize about decisions you could, or should, make?
Listening Guide
03:00 – Ben’s earliest memories with writing
04:52 – Ben shares how he used journaling to consciously remember his memories while in the Philippines
08:52 – Ben talks about being raised as a Mormon and his missionary work in the Philippines at age 19
10:23 – Having to learn a new language deepened Ben’s appreciation of words and writing
11:48 – Writing became Ben’s tool to speak his truth without being judged
14:40 – Writing, especially by hand, is the ultimate act of being in choice. But it also is an act of defiance.
20:35 – Ben shares how his writing evolved from a simple 5-minute evening practice into a complete lifestyle.
22:22 – “Writing is the quickest way to find alignment”
23:07 – Reading (like meditation and time in nature) is one way to prepare yourself to choice
26:55 – Difference between “working hard” and “doing something that’s easy and that lights you up”
31:20 – Emotions are the indicators of our alignment
36:00 – “If it lights you up, go after it.”
37:00 – When we forget that we are in choice, we become a slave to everything outside of us, we start to live in lack.
