143: Erwin McManus on The Path to Inner Peace, How to Stop Taking Yourself Too Seriously, and Why Personal Struggle is the Journey of Faith

Atop the list of things you and I were designed to never live without is peace. You know this as well I do: disappointment, anger, fear, pain, and discouragement clouds our perception of…everything: our relationships, our job, our emotional well-being, and even our personal sense of purpose. It’s precisely why we need a strong dose of truth to provide perspective and empowerment in the midst of any difficulty we face in life. Maybe right now as you’re listening to me speak, you’re holed-up in a job you hate, a relationship you resent, and a life you wish wasn’t yours. So right now, you’re saying, “Yes, Chris…yes, I need peace.” Well here’s the truth about peace as you’ll learn today: lasting inner peace is not a destination; it’s a journey. And, your own personal struggle is not a lack of faith; it is the journey of faith. And according to today’s guest, Erwin McManus, “The world around us is not disconnected from the world within us.”

Erwin McManus is an iconoclast, artist, and cultural thought leader known for his integration of creativity and spirituality. He is the founder and Lead Pastor of Mosaic, a Los Angeles based church recognized as one of America’s most influential and innovative churches. Engaging such issues as culture, creativity, change, and leadership, Erwin is widely known as a thought-provoking communicator, poet, and wordsmith. His travels have taken him to over 50 countries where he has spoken to over a million people from a wide variety of audiences, from professional sports, Wall Street investors, universities, film studios, and conferences across the world. In today’s conversation, you’re going to learn why inner peace does not happen by accident, but instead, through intention, and why some people take themselves too seriously and that’s why they don’t have the energy to do serious things. This is a loaded conversation, easily one of the most riveting I’ve ever had here on the show, so let’s get right to it: my conversation with Erwin McManus.

Key Statements

• Inner peace is not a destination; it’s a journey.
• Personal struggle is not a lack of faith; it is the journey of faith.
• The world around us is not disconnected from the world within us.
• We will never have world peace until we have inner peace.
• You don’t remember your past; your past is what you remember.
• Never take yourself too seriously to think that the world is resting on your shoulders.
• Some people take themselves too seriously and that’s why they don’t have the energy to do serious things.
• Too many introverts use introversion as an excuse to be non-relational, and too many extroverts use extroversion as an excuse to be non-reflective.
• Inner peace does not happen by accident, but instead, through intention.
• You are a dysfunctional savior. Stop confusing yourself with Jesus.
• Live a life to serve rather than to be seen.
• Everybody wants to speak but no one necessarily wants to have something to say.
• We have a disconnection between the invisible process that actually defines greatness and the visible product that we would describe as fame.
• As long as you pursue fame, you will not have inner peace.

Buy the Book

McManus shows that encountering peace does not occur by accident, but rather by artful intention. Warrior is a call to decisiveness, self-examination, and the pursuit of spiritual wholeness. Through the ancient biblical practices of humility, focus, ownership, clarity, strength, and vulnerability, he guides readers to a deeper understanding of their inner workings and provides the guidance they need to establish peace and tranquility in their homes, neighborhoods, communities, and even the world! In the style of a battle-wizened teacher, McManus delivers wisdom, instills passion, and provides the sacred movements needed to become the warrior you were meant to be. Buy The Way of the Warrior: An Ancient Path to Inner Peace now.

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What Listeners Are Saying…

“So great to find a podcast that is both encouraging and challenging! It is professionally produced, yet still has an informal feel like I’m hanging out with Chris… And frankly, I’d love to hang out with him! I really appreciate his heart and have been able to apply many of his topics in my life to help me grow professionally, physically, and relationally. A+!”