People Soup

Quick Spoon: What if seeking relief gets in the way of reflection?

October 4, 2026·1 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Sometimes the things we reach for to make ourselves feel better can also stop us from finding out what's really going on.In this Quick Spoon, I reflect on an observation from Dr Ryan Kemp about our culture's focus on the immediate — "now, do it, enjoy it, live for the moment."That got me thinking about what we do when we've had a difficult experience.We feel stressed, so we distract ourselves.We feel frustrated, so we vent.We feel uncomfortable, so we do something that takes the edge off.And sometimes that's exactly what we need.But what if the relief gets in the way of the reflection?What if we never quite get to ask:What is this experience trying to tell me?So here's something to try.The next time you find yourself looking for some immediate relief, give yourself a little space before you reach for it.What might I learn if I stayed with this for a little while?This Quick Spoon comes from my conversation with Dr Ryan Kemp about addiction.🎧 Listen to the full conversation: When the Future Gets Smaller: Dr Ryan Kemp on AddictionPeople Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use.If this episode resonated with you, please consider following People Soup, leaving a rating or review, or sharing it with someone who might find it useful.Every recommendation helps more people discover practical, evidence-based conversations about work, leadership and being human.Transcending Addiction by Ryan KempConnect with Ryan on LinkedInHere's the People Soup Website.And you can subscribe to the People Soup YouTube Channel here.Visit Ross' Website.Connect with Ross on LinkedInPeople Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life.

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