On the 32nd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I'm delighted to be joined by Bassey Ikpi. Bassey is a Nigerian born, American bred writer, ex-poet, mental health and wellness advocate, and memoir procrastinator. Her Book, “I’m Telling The Truth But I’m Lying,” an instant New York Times Bestseller, reflects her experience living with bipolar II disorder and anxiety. She is currently soft at work on her next book. In this episode, Bassey shares her experiences of navigating life with bipolar II disorder and the impact mindfulness has had on her life. We discuss the role a heightened self-awareness has played in terms of being able to afford both herself and others grace, allowing her to connect more with people’s humanity and to see beyond the pain, hurt, and fear that many people are interacting from.  She also shares with us how her creativity and writing affords her the space to observe life from multiple perspectives and the impact that can have on relationships. If you’re growing tired of the dichotomous way in which we are judging each other, if you’re seeking more nuanced ways of interpreting human behaviour, and you’re looking to cultivate more grace and humanity in your life, this episode will open up wider spaces for new perspectives in how we relate to ourselves and each other. Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for shorter clips and reflections. Contact me at [email protected] to book a free 30 minute consultation for one-on-one coaching programs or to hear about corporate workshops I am offering around this question. Running Order: 02:35 Am I going to be ok? 08:25 Am I contributing to my community in meaningful ways? 10:20 Affording grace to ourselves and others 16:41 The power of acknowledging and owning our behaviour 18:15 The impact of Mindfulness 20:35 What aren’t we able to disagree respectfully? 23:15 The vacuum of religion and Divinity 27:20 The beauty, love, and pain of life 28:40 Seeing the fear behind the hurt and the hate 36:14 The interaction of our fears 38:53 Developing awareness while remaining human 42:50 Writing to make sense of the world  46:35 Observing life from multiple perspectives 50:13 Being able to hear the other side of the story 55:22 The possibility of new perspectives 57:05 Summary of the conversation 1:01:18 What is a good life for Bassey? For further content and information check out the following:  - For the podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos - My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/ - My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/ - Bassey's website: https://basseyikpi.com/ - Bassey's book: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Bassey-Ikpi/dp/0062698346 - Bassey's twitter: https://twitter.com/Basseyworld