Michael Usher: Living Your Own Truth
At some point in your life, you have to decide whether you're going to live according to what others expect, or what you feel is right. During this conversation, Michael Usher shares how important it is to be yourself and to not be afraid of showing your emotions.
He shares the importance of being vulnerable and asking for support when life gets tough. He has practical insights into the importance of family, children and mates — and how many of the people he has interviewed remind him of what really matters in life.
Michael Usher is a leading Australian reporter for 60 Minutes. He has covered many of the major stories of our time including September 11, the ebola crises, three olympic games, the war in Iraq and the MH-17 crash. Michael has pioneered many new formats including being the first host of the leader’s debate between Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott in 2010. He has three children and calls Sydney home.
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Many of us have been raised to think that men have to act in a certain way. You know the story — be tough, invulnerable, in control, unemotional etc.
He believes a great team is made up of different types of characters — lovers, fighters, jokers, hard men, quiet types and bookworms.
A ‘good life’ as being determined by generosity, caring for one another and acknowledging our shared frailty as humans.
We hear about his experience doing rites of passages with his sons, taking family sabbaticals and how he naturally gravitates to people who are open, emotionally available and vulnerable.
The nature of masculinity is in great transition — and many men aren’t coping well. Men are scoring higher on the markers of ‘emotional distress’ including suicide, substance abuse, online addiction, violence — and even eating disorders.
Graham Long wears two watches. The second belonged to his son, James. It stopped at one minute to midnight during the first year of James’ death — a reminder to live in the present moment.
Believes being born in Australia is like winning the “embryo lottery” — and how important it is to use our time, talents and money to give back to society.
At some point in your life, you have to decide whether you're going to live according to what others expect, or what you feel is right.
He has a passion for removing stigmas and reminds us that by coming back to stillness we can calm our minds and reconnect us to our basic human goodness.
He makes a very clear distinction difference between being “successful” and being “admirable”.
He values people beyond their job titles and always sought to create work environments where people felt cared for, respected and treated with dignity.