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Sep 19, 2025 37 min

I Fell Off (It's So Over)

from Other Life Hosted by Justin Murphy

I can't deny it, so let's explore what it means, how it happens, what it feels like, and why it might be... great? In this episode, I share my struggle over the past few years, after having kids and experiencing significant creative and professional challenges. I reflect on the challenges of consistent creative work, the mental and emotional toll having it derailed, and the blessed but weird fabric of life as a father and husband. Despite feeling despondent and losing momentum in my projects, I discuss how this period has given me a valuable reset, akin to a kind of 'ego death.' I explore the liberating and ultimately beneficial aspects of falling off, the importance of accepting defeat to start anew, and how this crisis clarified my true goals and motivations. (00:00) - Opening Up: I Fell Off (00:53) - The Pain of Falling Off (02:39) - Ego Death (05:59) - Parenthood (11:35) - Liberation Through Accepting Defeat (17:55) - Mental and Financial Issues (18:53) - What Writing the Book Has Taught me (20:06) - The Challenges of Restarting (22:59) - Confirmation of the True Calling (24:42) - The Indie Scholar Vocation (33:58) - The Importance of Quality Work (36:02) - Final Reflections Other Life ✦ The coolest free newsletter in the world: https://otherlife.co ✦ The monthly PRINT edition: https://otherlife.co/upgrade ✦ Pre-order my new book, The Independent Scholar: https://otherlife.co/scholar

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I Fell Off (It's So Over)

0:00 37:09

Chapters

  1. 0:00 Opening Up: I Fell Off
  2. 0:53 The Pain of Falling Off
  3. 2:39 Ego Death
  4. 5:59 Parenthood
  5. 11:35 Liberation Through Accepting Defeat
  6. 17:55 Mental and Financial Issues
  7. 18:53 What Writing the Book Has Taught me
  8. 20:06 The Challenges of Restarting
  9. 22:59 Confirmation of the True Calling
  10. 24:42 The Indie Scholar Vocation
  11. 33:58 The Importance of Quality Work
  12. 36:02 Final Reflections

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This episode was published on September 19, 2025.

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