EP 294 - Rest. In. Peace. (An Uncomfortable Conversation We Need to Have)
- Govindh Jayaraman
- 56 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Some episodes of Paper Napkin Wisdom are easy to listen to, packed with energizing insights and clear strategies for growth. Others are heavier — not because they lack value, but because the wisdom forces us to pause, reflect, and wrestle with the uncomfortable. Episode 294 is one of those conversations.
This week, Govindh sits down with three little letters we all know: RIP. We’ve all said them. We’ve read them on tombstones, typed them in comments, whispered them at funerals. But how often do we really consider what they mean? And what happens when they appear in the midst of public controversy, where the conversation around death is anything but peaceful?
On his napkin for this episode, Govindh wrote three concentric circles:
Rest at the center.
In in the middle.
Peace as the outer ring.
It looks simple, but like so many Paper Napkin Wisdom sketches, it carries weight. It challenges us to expand our understanding of what it means when we say, “Rest in Peace.”
Why This Episode is Uncomfortable
Govindh opens with honesty: he wasn’t sure if he even wanted to record this one. Death is uncomfortable. Public figures dying is uncomfortable. The polarized conversations that follow — filled with judgment, blame, or sometimes misplaced celebration — are uncomfortable. But that’s why Edge of the Napkin exists: to lean into what most people avoid.
As Govindh puts it:
“We said we would have uncomfortable conversations, and Edge of the Napkin was where we were going to have them.”
And he’s right. If wisdom is only drawn from what feels good, it misses the messy truths that shape leadership and life.
Redefining R.I.P.
Traditionally, RIP is shorthand for Rest in Peace. But Govindh reframes it:
Rest → The release from struggle, the stillness after life’s battles.
In → Inclusion, belonging, the recognition that death — and life — connect us, not divide us.
Peace → Not a conditional peace, not “peace for some,” but a universal peace that transcends politics, belief systems, and personal conflicts.
It’s not about excusing harm or ignoring legacies. It’s about recognizing that at the end, everyone — friend or foe — deserves rest. And that perhaps in death, we can find a way to create peace in the living conversations that follow.
Optimism and Hope in a Hard Place
One of the most powerful reframes in this episode is Govindh’s insistence on hope. It would be easy to turn this into despair — another example of how divided our world is. But instead, he points us toward optimism.
The challenge isn’t to sanitize or silence the hard truths. It’s to ask: how do we turn loss into learning? How do we transform anger into growth? How do we find a way to hold both grief and gratitude?
5 Key Takeaways + Take Action
Here are five lessons leaders, entrepreneurs, and difference makers can carry forward from this conversation:
1. Sit in the Uncomfortable
Avoiding hard conversations weakens leadership.
Take Action: Choose one uncomfortable topic this week you’ve been dodging — with your team, your family, or yourself — and name it aloud.
2. Reframe Symbols We Take for Granted
“RIP” is more than a platitude. It can be a lens for reflection.
Take Action: Pick a phrase or concept you use often without thinking. Ask: what does this really mean? What could it mean if I expanded it?
3. Practice Universal Inclusion
“In” means recognizing shared humanity, even when you disagree.
Take Action: Reach out to someone across an ideological or personal divide. Not to debate — but to listen.
4. Lead with Peace, Not Blame
Peace doesn’t mean avoiding truth; it means choosing resolution over escalation.
Take Action: In your next conflict, swap “but” for “and.” Watch how it shifts the conversation.
5. Choose Optimism, Even in Loss
Hope is a discipline.
Take Action: In moments of grief, ask: what lesson can I carry forward to honor this life?
Final Thought
This episode is not light. It’s not meant to be. It’s meant to remind us that leadership isn’t just about building businesses, hitting KPIs, or scaling strategies. It’s about how we show up in the hardest conversations — the ones about loss, conflict, and meaning.
Govindh leaves us with the truth that when we say Rest in Peace, it isn’t just about the one who’s gone. It’s about us, too. Will we allow rest? Will we choose inclusion? Will we seek peace?
This conversation is uncomfortable — and that’s the point.