Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Dr. Matthew Stuart Piper of St. Louis

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Matthew Stuart Piper . Check out our conversation below.

Hi Matthew Stuart, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I have been working on a unified theory of human nature and psychology for the last 30 years – one incorporating neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science, evolutionary theory, and some other key disciplines. No one is privy to the whole theory as of yet – there’s just too much to it – but a series of self-help books I am currently writing will finally allow me to soon share my insights with friends and the general public.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
For the last 25 years, I have been a fine art photographer, specializing in color infrared photography. In this small niche, I have been blessed to be regarded as a world-leading innovator.

Throughout this time, I have also been a university professor teaching classes in philosophy, psychology and ethics – as well as a very active theorist developing a novel, unified theory of human well-being. Three books on this vast topic are currently nearing completion.

Recently, I became a life coach.

All three of these careers enrich each other.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was an omni-curious, artistic, emotionally intimate best friend kind of child.

The world tried to distract me with the thought of pursuing shallow financial and social goals, but the hypocrisies of my upbringing were a beautiful gift that allowed me to see the emptiness of superficial pursuits for what they were.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering can teach emotional and intellectual self-sufficiency.

I learned the non-negotiable importance of intellectual integrity, leading to intellectual self-sufficiency, by suffering through manifold hypocrisies in my youth.

More importantly, and much longer in the coming, I learned the true peace of mind that arises from the kind of emotional maturity that grows out of emotional self-sufficiency.

I think it’s fair to say that the most important lessons of our lives arise as openminded and openhearted responses to suffering. I certainly consider such experiences the greatest gifts of my life.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
100%. My abiding inner peace depends on it. I think the destruction of your “persona” – you as a compartmentalized role-player – is the single most important step for developing authenticity, integrity and integrated character. Unless you are consistent while moving between all your appearances on the stages of your life, you can’t really have a stable sense of self. And without a stable sense of self, deep authenticity, true integrity and consistent character are not achievable.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I was a thoughtful, empathetic, respectful person guided by “enlightened integrity.” Integrity is always doing what you think is right. Enlightened integrity is doing what is actually right, whether others understand it at the time or not.

I hope people say I was a healer – in my relationships, through my writings and teaching, and through my art.

I hope people say, if they say anything at all, that I made their lives better.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
credit all to Matthew Stuart Piper. Thanks.

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than