What is a Good Life? #160 - The Art Of Living With Coherence with João Sevilhano
Tue Feb 03 2026
What does it really mean to live a coherent life?
In this episode of What Is a Good Life, Mark McCartney is joined by João Sevilhano for a deep, reflective conversation on coherence, something that goes beyond rigid moral ideals and is more a lived, imperfect practice. João is a psychologist and learning experience designer. Co-CEO of Way Beyond, where he works on human development and organisational transformation. His background is in clinical psychology and psychoanalysis. He collaborates with Porto Business School and NOVA Doctoral School, and he tends to think meaningful conversation is underrated as a tool for change.
Together, they explore:
What coherence feels like in everyday lifeThe tension between values, actions, and changing our mindsWhy coherence is different from authenticity or consistencyParenting, work, and small decisions as tests of alignment“Slow activism” and the impact of how we show up with othersRather than offering quick answers or formulas, this conversation sits with uncertainty, contradiction, and the discipline of paying attention - particularly when no one is watching.
This episode is for anyone feeling the pull between who they are, how they live, and what the world is asking of them right now.
For more of João's work:Newsletter: https://useful-uselessness.com/Way Beyond Website: https://www.waybeyond.pt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joaosevilhano/
For more from Mark McCartney:Newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/markcmccartney/
00:00 Questions as Companions
07:00 Spirituality in Everyday Life
13:00 Coherence as Purpose
16:30 Flexibility and Awareness
22:30 Discipline and Practice30:00 Helping Without Imposing
36:00 Slow Activism and Stubbornness
42:00 Living With Contradiction
49:00 Reflection on Sacrifice
54:00 Not Knowing as a Practice
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What does it really mean to live a coherent life? In this episode of What Is a Good Life, Mark McCartney is joined by João Sevilhano for a deep, reflective conversation on coherence, something that goes beyond rigid moral ideals and is more a lived, imperfect practice. João is a psychologist and learning experience designer. Co-CEO of Way Beyond, where he works on human development and organisational transformation. His background is in clinical psychology and psychoanalysis. He collaborates with Porto Business School and NOVA Doctoral School, and he tends to think meaningful conversation is underrated as a tool for change. Together, they explore: What coherence feels like in everyday lifeThe tension between values, actions, and changing our mindsWhy coherence is different from authenticity or consistencyParenting, work, and small decisions as tests of alignment“Slow activism” and the impact of how we show up with othersRather than offering quick answers or formulas, this conversation sits with uncertainty, contradiction, and the discipline of paying attention - particularly when no one is watching. This episode is for anyone feeling the pull between who they are, how they live, and what the world is asking of them right now. For more of João's work:Newsletter: https://useful-uselessness.com/Way Beyond Website: https://www.waybeyond.pt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joaosevilhano/ For more from Mark McCartney:Newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/markcmccartney/ 00:00 Questions as Companions 07:00 Spirituality in Everyday Life 13:00 Coherence as Purpose 16:30 Flexibility and Awareness 22:30 Discipline and Practice30:00 Helping Without Imposing 36:00 Slow Activism and Stubbornness 42:00 Living With Contradiction 49:00 Reflection on Sacrifice 54:00 Not Knowing as a Practice