The Bliss of the Infinite Game

The Bliss of the Infinite Game

August 13, 2026 · 34 min · Season 1 · Episode 260

About this episode

Martha Beck explores the concept of shifting from chasing status to embracing growth and surprise in the context of creativity and anxiety.

Recently I asked for a sign that a painting I’d been working on was the right course for me. The next day, a stranger’s near-death story described my painting almost perfectly. That coincidence reminded me of James Carse’s book Finite and Infinite Games. One is built on winning; the other on continuing to play. In this Gathering Room, I explore how shifting from chasing status to embracing growth and surprise can dissolve anxiety, deepen creativity, and open us to a much bigger, ongoing game. Join me!

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