Origins of the Nine Pillars - Suffering fuels creativity

Agenda:
- Observing suffering - family, friends, mine
- Suffering fuels creativity
- Birth of the Nine Pillars of Well-Being
- The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron
- All of us are artists
- Are you passively consuming or creating? 
- The phone is poison
- My logo - a strong, centered man
- Suggestions for my closest friends

Origins of the Nine Pillars - Suffering fuels creativity

In this video, I talk about the origins of my Nine Pillars of Well-Being.

Here is the link to my video

Here's my script:

First, I want to share a short family story.
In 2019, my big brother Pat died after 40 years of drugs and alcohol. He was 61.
We came from a family of 4 boys. Patrick, Peter, Perry, Paul.
Pat’s death had a huge impact on me.
He suffered for decades.

At the same time, my dad lived a good, healthy, active life until he was 90 years old.
He was a tough dude.
Still going to the gym 5 days a week until the very end.

I’ve asked myself many times, why did Pat suffer, while Dad thrived?
Why the difference?

As I’ve said before, I know a lot of men who suffer - Alcoholics, addicts, financially broke, sick, obese, diabetic, unhappy, depressed, lonely, disintegrating marriages, etc.
Meanwhile, I see other men flourishing – Happy, enthusiastic, energetic, fit, healthy.
Again, I ask, why the difference?

I went through own shit show of problems – divorce, business, relationships, loneliness.
But I refused to let that define me or take me down.
After several bad experiences with therapists, I came to believe so much therapy is a complete waste of time.
At the end of the day, we have to do the work ourselves.

I remember during the quiet days of Covid in 2020, sitting in my apartment in Boston, pondering the concept of “Well-Being.”
I researched and read a lot of books on the topic.
I needed my own framework for Well-Being.
Maybe that’s the nerdy accountant in me. I love frameworks.

Over the next two years, I concluded there are 9 factors to navigate for Well-Being.
I called them the “Nine Pillars of Well-Being.”
They became my self-help structure. A place to do my inner work.

I believe we can harness suffering to fuel creativity.
After over 25 years in the investment business, helping wealthy people get wealthier, I was ready for something new – something creative.
I now see my Nine Pillars as relevant to any man, anywhere.

Speaking of creativity - I have a special book with me here in Thailand.
It was my mom’s book. After she died in Phoenix, à Miami Beach à Thailand.
It’s called The Artist’s Way. Written by Julia Cameron in 1992.

I treasure this book.
I know most people don’t read books anymore.
In case you forgot, this is a typical book – table of contents, pages, index in the back.

It's less of an art book, more a spiritual path to creativity.
When I open this book, I feel like I’m reconnecting with an old friend.
The list of accomplishments of the author is amazing. The link to the book is below.

Now as a 66-year-old novice content creator, I’ve become an artist.
I think all of us are artists, whether we realize it or not.
We can tap into our creative energy at any age.

Many guys my age have a lot of free time on their hands.
Their children have grown; and their careers have plateaued or ended altogether.
It’s a perfect time for creative expression.

Earlier this year at the gym, a guy I know approached me, clearly angry about what he saw on his phone. He wanted to talk about US politics.
I told him to go away; I don’t want to talk about politics; the gym is a sacred place for me.

He’s typical of many guys I see in the gym these days.
You know who they are; spend most of their time there looking at phones, not working out.

So many guys I know are fixated on the news – wars, politics, immigration, climate change.
They are massive consumers of their phone screens, TV, news and social media.
They are stressed out, worried about things they have absolutely no control over.

I also know a lot of guys who have great ideas – great plans to do something creative.
But they don’t know where to begin… so they pick up their phones and scroll.
Passively consuming rather than creating and executing on their plans.

The phone is such a great hiding place. To hide from ourselves.
It helps us avoid our ideas – to procrastinate on our plans.
All of us are guilty of this.
The phone is full of shit. Don’t forget that.

Conclusion
Everyone suffers in some way.
I think those who suffer the most try the hardest to hide it – or bury it.

I have work to do to make the Nine Pillars more accessible.
For now, you can access my simple self-audit tools at the bottom of my 9 Pillars newsletter.
They might help with taking inventory of your deficient Pillars.

Here’s my logo.

I had it created for a reason. It depicts a strong, centered man.
Within him are Nine stones, each one representing the Nine Pillars of Well-Being.
The large stones represent the hard work he’s done on that pillar.
The small stones reveal his deficient pillars.
This man knows the work he needs to do.

I still ask myself, why did Pat die while Dad thrived?
Why do some guys suffer while others flourish?
I think the answer boils down to the extent they are engaged with something that is meaningful to them.

My goal is to create tools for Well-Being.
I want to share positive and inspiring stories of aging.

Finally, here are some suggestions I want to offer my closest friends:
- Put away your fucking phone.
- It’s not helping you.
- Do what is important.
- Exercise without your phone.
- Eat a meal without your phone.
- Go on a long walk without your phone.
- Sit alone, like a man… at peace, and think, or read, or listen to music.

See the video description for links to:
- The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron

Thank you,
Peter

Here is the link to my video.