Chiah-pa?
In East Asian cultures, notably in Taiwan where I frequently visit extended family, we inquire about another’s well being by asking “chia?h-pá”?—?“did you eat?”?
I like the implication of this question which is that to be well is to have eaten or, I think more precisely, to have been nourished.?
Somewhat perplexingly, to have eaten is not always the same thing as to be nourished.?
Nutrition science calls this hidden hunger, which describes a condition where an individual who by all appearances looks like they should be nourished, having eaten what looks like plenty of food, nevertheless remains undernourished and tired because the food they’ve consumed lack sufficient nutrients.?
This phenomenon is no different than what happens when we pursue goals maligned with our values, wondering why we don’t feel fulfilled after having worked so hard to achieve them?—?such pursuits may nourish others yet fail to nourish us and vice versa.?
When evaluating the merits of a goal it’s vital to be mindful of which vantage point we’re evaluating it from.?
In the eyes of whom is it a worthy goal??
Others or, critically, you??
Knowing the difference is how you’ll know if you will feel nourished when all is said and done.?
The Daily Spark exists to:
Listen here: Spotify, Anchor, Pocket Casts, Breaker, Google Podcasts, and RadioPublic.
About me:
I'm a second-generation Taiwanese American trying to find life’s greatest sources of meaning and make the most out of it.