What Really Matters: Everyday Spirituality (Karen Wyatt)
Explorez tous les épisodes de What Really Matters: Everyday Spirituality
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| 12 Jan 2022 | Ep. 42 Holding On vs Letting Go | 00:32:41 | |
In this episode I'll discuss my current project to declutter my house and how it's forcing me to deal with the balance between holding on to things and letting go. This turns out to be an important issue spiritually. This episode includes:
Check out my episode on Swedish Death Cleaning on End-of-Life University Podcast. | |||
| 25 Oct 2023 | Ep. 130 How Transformation Can Follow Tragedy | 00:24:45 | |
In this episode I discuss the history of a devastating earthquake in Lisbon in 1755 that I learned about on my recent trip to Portugal. The outcome of this tragedy reminded me that even the horrific wars that are taking place right now contain a tiny seed of hope for transformation. This episode includes:
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| 06 Oct 2021 | Ep. 29 The Four-Fold Way of Angeles Arrien | 00:33:28 | |
Today I'm sharing a tool I've used for many years to help me stay in alignment with my values and my higher wisdom. These 4 pieces of advice come from teacher Angeles Arrien and her Four-Fold Way - I have paraphrased them over the years and this is how I think of them. I'll talk about each one and then give an example of how to use this tool in any situation such as helping a loved one who is grieving.
Check out my website at www.eoluniversity.com and my other podcast End-of-Life University! | |||
| 16 Feb 2022 | Ep. 47 What is the Meaning of Life? | 00:31:56 | |
In this episode I tackle one of the biggest and most common questions people Google-search about life: What is the meaning of life? This question seems far too huge to address in 30 minutes BUT I want to bring it down from the vastness of the unknowable universe to our experience of everyday life, moment-to-moment and breath-to-breath. This episode includes:
"The salvation of man is through love and in love." - Viktor Frankl | |||
| 21 Jun 2023 | Ep. 113 The Butterfly Principle | 00:25:03 | |
I'm back after taking a week off for self-care! Today I'll share some thoughts about the life cycle of a butterfly and why it's a good analogy for our own process of growth and change. This episode includes:
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| 23 Jun 2021 | Ep. 13 How Do I Actually Love Myself? | 00:31:34 | |
In this episode we'll look at why self-love is important and why it's so hard to do. I share poems by Alex Elle, Rupi Kaur and Nikita Gill plus a story of a self-love workshop gone wrong that turned out to be the perfect thing. Here are some suggestions from Buddha's Brain by Rick Hanson for working toward healing of our self-judgment, wounds, and shame:
Leave a message with your comments or your own story! | |||
| 29 Sep 2021 | Ep. 28 Spirituality With or Without God | 00:39:50 | |
In this episode I share why it's important to be aware of your own spirituality whether you believe in God or not. You can work on your spiritual growth and the expansion of your consciousness even if you don't or can't believe in a deity. In fact it's essential that we each do this work now in order to become our best and highest selves. This episode includes:
Be sure to listen to previous episodes on the 7 lessons for more information! You can leave a voice message for me at the link below! Check out my book The Journey from Ego to Soul. | |||
| 24 May 2021 | Ep. 4 Forgiveness: How to Move Beyond Outrage | 01:05:11 | |
Learn the importance of forgiveness for moving forward in society, personal life, and spiritual growth. This episode includes:
Forgiveness is the fragrance a flower gives when it is crushed. | |||
| 07 Jul 2021 | Ep. 15 The Dance of Life and Death Part 2: Balance | 00:46:01 | |
This is part 2 of the series on the intertwining of life and death in a perfect dance that spirals throughout eternity. This episode covers:
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| 26 Apr 2023 | Ep. 107 Loneliness and Community on the Spiritual Path | 00:24:10 | |
In this episode I share some thoughts on why the spiritual journey to expanded consciousness can cause us to feel lonely and to miss the tight-knit religious communities we may have been part of at an earlier time in our journey. This episode includes:
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| 02 Feb 2022 | Ep. 45 How to Improve Your Empathy Skills | 00:31:33 | |
As we begin our 3rd year of the COVID pandemic, many of us are undoubtedly feeling emotionally exhausted and lacking in empathy for other people who are suffering right now. But empathy is essential if we want to navigate our journeys here and keep growing spiritually. So we'll look at some tips for improving and expanding our ability to empathize with others who are experiencing difficulties. This episode includes:
Get my latest book The Journey from Ego to Soul. Support this podcast on Patreon. | |||
| 06 Sep 2023 | Ep. 123 The Importance of Humility | 00:30:02 | |
Today I'm talking about humility and why it largely seems to be missing in our society (especially in the field of medicine.) This episode includes:
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| 22 Feb 2023 | Ep. 99 What Does it Mean to "Find Meaning" in Our Challenges | 00:29:13 | |
In this episode I talk about the resistance in some parts of our society to the idea of finding meaning in the difficulties of life. I share my own journey of discovering meaning in life and how I now perceive the tragedies that have happened in the past. This episode includes:
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| 24 Jan 2024 | Ep. 142 Part 11 Only Love is Eternal | 00:23:21 | |
In this concluding episode of the series on my grief travel through Italy I share some insights I gathered on a subsequent trip that introduced me to a doctor who became a saint. This episode includes:
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| 12 Jul 2023 | Ep. 115 Can People Actually Change? | 00:34:17 | |
In this episode I'll look at how we change and grow and why it's important to have role models of growth and transformation in our society. This episode includes:
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| 10 May 2023 | Ep. 109 Self-Compassion During a Time of Illness | 00:21:04 | |
As I record this I am dealing with a case of shingles so I'm talking about how I'm using self-compassion practices to cope. I recently released an episode on End-of-Life University Podcast about my grief after my father's suicide death, which was very stressful to create and intimidating to publish, so I think this illness is part of the aftermath of that stress. This episode includes:
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| 26 Oct 2022 | Ep. 83 How to Cope with Failure | 00:27:48 | |
In this episode I'm sharing some thoughts on how to deal with our mistakes both in the past and the present. According to research we humans are not very good at accepting or learning from failure and this is something I want to deal with in my own life. This episode includes:
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| 06 Apr 2022 | Ep. 54 Why Be Compassionate to Others? | 00:29:49 | |
In this episode I want to look at compassion from the perspective of YOU: how does it benefit you to be compassionate toward other people. The world needs more compassion right now (desperately) and I want to motivate EVERYONE to show more compassion, even if it's only to get the personal rewards of being a compassionate person. My inspiration for this episode comes from the book Compassionomics by Trzeciak and Mazzarelli and I highly recommend it. This episode includes:
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| 03 Aug 2022 | Ep. 71 How to Not Be Disappointed With Life | 00:23:16 | |
In this episode I share some thoughts on life and how to have a mindset of acceptance, surrender, and flow so that whatever happens we can meet the moment with grace. This week a poem, a video and a Facebook post have come my way to influence my thoughts and help shape this episode, which includes:
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| 15 Feb 2023 | Ep. 98 Finding Love in All the Hopeless Places | 00:30:58 | |
In this episode recorded on Valentine's Day I share some stories about love and how we can continue to find the light of love even in times of despair and hopelessness. This episode includes:
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| 21 Sep 2022 | Ep. 78 Self-Compassion and Healing Old Grief | 00:27:59 | |
In this episode I share the progress I've been making using the tools of self-compassion I learned several weeks ago from Kristin Neff's website: www.self-compassion.org. I also talk about a recent resurgence of old inner messages of guilt and shame about my father's death related to working on an old manuscript. This episode includes:
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| 27 Sep 2023 | Ep. 126 Wisdom of Tao: The Importance of Inner Work | 00:30:47 | |
In this episode exploring the wisdom of the Tao of Death we'll take a look at another recurring theme: why you need to pay attention to your inner life (the inward arc.) This episode includes:
Get my latest books: The Tao of Death, Stories from the Dark Night, The Journey from Ego to Soul | |||
| 13 Jul 2022 | Ep. 68 What to Do When You're Exhausted | 00:23:59 | |
In this episode I admit that I am truly exhausted and weary right now - partly from my own personal life and also because of the troubles of the world and our planet right now. But I've been inspired by a new book of poetry (Love Notes fro the Hollow Tree by Jarod K. Anderson) and by the coming birth of my first grandchild and I'll share with you how I'm regrouping and becoming re-energized through a connection with nature. I hope you find it helpful! | |||
| 27 Apr 2022 | Ep. 57 There Are No Shortcuts | 00:21:48 | |
Today I'm sharing my thoughts on our society's desire to speed things up and take shortcuts to get to our goal. This is a problem that leads to a lack of enjoyment and meaning in day to day life! This episode includes:
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| 01 Sep 2021 | Ep. 24 What the Ego Needs to Learn About Importance | 00:28:31 | |
Today we're looking at the 2nd lesson the ego needs to learn (see the previous episode for lesson #1): You're not that important. This is a challenging truth for the ego to face but essential if we want to truly grow spiritually. This episode includes:
Links: Register for Surviving the Aftermath of Suicide Workshop Get The Journey from Ego to Soul (Use the Coupon Code PODCAST to get a 30% discount when you buy direct from me!) | |||
| 02 Mar 2022 | Ep. 49 How to Cope with Uncertainty in Life | 00:31:10 | |
Today let's talk about uncertainty since it is surrounding us in the world right now. Not only are we still coping with the pandemic that has stressed us for 2 years but now there is war occurring in Ukraine and a potential threat of nuclear war that could affect all of us. These are challenging times and we need to know how to rise above them, since life is actually always uncertain--we just are not always aware of that fact. Here are some tools for coping that I talk about in this episode:
"The future is dark. But is this the darkness of the tomb--or the darkness of the womb? We are a nation waiting to be born and this is our great transition." - Valarie Kaur | |||
| 16 Jul 2021 | Ep. 16 The Dance of Life and Death Part 3: Rhythm | 00:44:55 | |
In this episode I talk about rhythm, which is an essential element of any dance. Learn how the rhythm of nature and the universe includes both stillness and motion, waiting and movement, and how we can find peace and hope by surrendering to this rhythm as it unfolds in the moment. This episode includes:
"Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change – this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress." | |||
| 07 Sep 2022 | Ep. 76 Why is Life So Painful? | 00:29:28 | |
Today I'm talking about another of those existential questions people often ask Google: Why is life so painful? I take you on a journey through my thoughts of the past few days and how I've learned to live with questions that can never be fully answered. This episode includes:
Get my latest book The Journey from Ego to Soul Support this podcast to keep it on the air! | |||
| 24 Aug 2022 | Ep. 74 Why Forgiveness Still Matters | 00:35:54 | |
In this episode I respond to a recent post on social media that featured an angry obituary a son wrote after his father's death. The obituary revealed the harm the father had done throughout his lifetime to everyone around him as an abusive alcoholic who lacked integrity and remorse. I share the story of a patient named Ralph from my hospice days, who had a similar life story to the father in the obituary, but who found a form of redemption at the very end of his life. While it's important that we be able to talk about and be validated for the pain and wounding of abuse experienced in the past, I believe we also need to hold space for forgiveness, as well. We can only move toward greater love by acknowledging our pain and ultimately finding healing. | |||
| 17 Aug 2022 | Ep. 73 Why We Need More Self-Compassion and Less Self-Esteem | 00:25:56 | |
Today I'm sharing with you something I've been working on for the past few weeks, which is "self-compassion." I've been reading and doing exercises from a wonderful website that features the work of Dr. Kristin Neff: www.self-compassion.org. Check it out for yourself if you're interested but I'm sharing a bit of this information here. This episode includes:
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| 26 May 2024 | Ep. 143 Following My Heart | 00:18:38 | |
I'm back briefly after a long hiatus! In this episode I describe some health issues that began shortly after the previous episode and how I set out to manage them. I have been listening to my heart as a messenger for my soul and have been making some big changes in my life. You'll hear an update of what's going on right now and what to expect in the near future. I love sharing my own journey of spiritual growth and healing on this podcast so I will probably continue to provide updates from time to time. | |||
| 20 Apr 2022 | Ep. 56 How to Cope with Bad News | 00:28:20 | |
Today I'm sharing with you a piece of the journey I am currently walking with a friend who has received a terminal diagnosis. I'm living the challenge of coping with bad news and want to share with my thoughts on how to get through these days and be a support to her while honoring my own process. Here are some of the things that have occurred to me so far:
I also read the beautiful poem Finisterre by David Whyte. | |||
| 24 May 2021 | Ep. 1 Introduction to the 7 Lessons | 00:29:41 | |
For the very first episode of this podcast I introduce you to the 7 lessons I learned from my hospice patients and wrote about in my books: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Soul. We'll be diving into each of these lessons in upcoming episodes but this is a brief overview to get you started. These lessons are the foundation of all the spiritual work I've been doing and I hope they will help you visualize your own journey to becoming the best person you can be, even in a world full of challenges:
We have so much more to talk about! Check out the next 7 episodes to go deep with me on these lessons! Leave a message | |||
| 22 Dec 2021 | Ep. 40 Gifts to Give Yourself This Holiday Season | 00:18:01 | |
In this episode I'll briefly share some ideas for non-material gifts you can "give" yourself to help make the holiday more meaningful and less hectic and exhausting. This is part of my own journey to get better at self-care so I'm sharing it with you as I try to learn how to do it myself. There won't be an episode next week because I'm taking the week off to enjoy the holidays (self-care!!) so I'll see you next time in 2022! This episode includes 6 gifts you should try to give yourself this year and that includes starting a journal, if you don't already have that practice. Until next year I wish you and your beloveds a meaningful and joyous celebration. May you find the strength and love and courage to move into the new year and face whatever challenges and blessings await us there! Get my book The Journey from Ego to Soul. | |||
| 18 Oct 2023 | Ep. 129 Wisdom of Tao: Life is a Paradox | 00:32:00 | |
In this episode we explore another theme present in the Tao of Death: life is a paradox. This episode includes:
Get my latest books: The Tao of Death, Stories from the Dark Night and The Journey from Ego to Soul | |||
| 14 Dec 2022 | Ep. 90 How to Rise Above Narcissism | 00:30:41 | |
In this episode I dive deeper into the Inward Journey (or Arc) mentioned in last week's episode. This journey is essential for rising above the control of the ego in our lives and the narcissism it perpetuates. This episode includes:
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| 19 Apr 2023 | Ep. 106 Feeling Good About Getting Older | 00:29:39 | |
I'm recording this episode the day after my birthday and sharing some thoughts about growing older and what I'm doing to shift my attitude about my age from negative to positive. This episode includes:
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| 06 Dec 2023 | Ep. 135 Part 4: Rising from the Ashes | 00:27:41 | |
In part 4 of the ongoing story of my grief travel through Italy we arrive in Florence and learn about the history of the Renaissance which began in this beautiful city. This episode includes:
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| 22 Jun 2022 | Ep. 65 How We Grow: Stages of Consciousness Part 1 | 00:36:31 | |
In this episode I begin discussing a model of the stages of growth we experience as humans, particularly regarding our spirituality and consciousness. Looking at ourselves and the rest of the world through the lens of this model can help us develop greater understanding of others and also appreciate how we have come to be where we are right now. If we hope to keep growing it's important to know how growth occurs and what we can do to foster it. I'll talk more about the 4 most common stages in the next episode. This episode includes:
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| 14 Sep 2022 | Ep. 77 A New View of Anxiety | 00:24:26 | |
In this episode I share some interesting information I've been reading from psychologist and anxiety researcher Tracy Dennis-Tiwary. Her new book is Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good for Your (Even Though it Feels Bad.) This research really opened my mind to view anxiety in a positive light and I think it is life-changing for our society! This episode includes:
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| 16 Nov 2022 | Ep. 86 How to Become More Resilient | 00:36:24 | |
In this episode I'm looking at the quality of resilience and why we need to have more of it right now as we navigate life on planet Earth. With the help of a fun self-assessment from www.resiliencecenter.com we'll look at the factors that determine our resilience and some things we can do to improve it. This episode includes:
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| 23 Aug 2023 | Ep. 121 Revisiting the Four Agreements | 00:27:44 | |
In this episode I'm sharing some insights from my recent re-reading of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. This amazing little book was pivotal for me during the earlier stages of my spiritual growth and the lessons it contains are still valuable. This episode includes:
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| 19 Jul 2023 | Ep. 116 What is Required for Transformation | 00:36:08 | |
This episode is a follow-up to last week's discussion on whether or not people can actually change (listen to that episode first.) I discuss what it takes to keep growing and changing throughout life. This episode includes:
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| 04 Oct 2023 | Ep. 127 Wisdom of Tao: The Middle Path | 00:29:31 | |
In this further exploration of The Tao of Death we look at another theme that runs throughout the text: finding the "middle path." This episode includes:
Get my latest books: The Tao of Death, Stories from the Dark Night and The Journey from Ego to Soul | |||
| 18 May 2022 | Ep. 60 What is it Like to Die? | 00:33:05 | |
In this episode I'm answering another one of the most frequently Googled questions about life: What is it like to die? This is a huge question that I actually have enough experience as a hospice doctor to try to answer. It's important to talk about this because we need enough information about death and dying to help us have less fear so that we can live life more fully. This episode includes:
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| 28 Jun 2023 | Ep. 114 Bringing More Kindness to the World | 00:32:05 | |
In the episode I talk about why we each need to intentionally behave with kindness to counteract some of the negativity in our society. This episode includes:
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| 24 May 2021 | Ep. 2 Suffering: The Thorn and The Rose | 00:46:04 | |
In this episode I discuss how our greatest tragedies can ultimately lead us to growth through the gift of grace. This is the lesson of Suffering, the first of the 7 lessons I learned from my hospice patients. This episode includes:
I do not at all understand the mystery of grace–only that it meets us where we are, but does not leave us where it found us. – Anne Lamott | |||
| 04 May 2022 | Ep. 58 How to Live in the Slow Lane | 00:23:08 | |
As a follow-up to last week's episode I'm talking about how we can actually learn to slow down in this fast-paced society of ours that values speed, accomplishment, and acquisition. First understand why it's essential to slow down and enjoy each moment of your life and then gradually get used to taking "slow dates" with yourself. Here are some tips for doing that:
"It’s about knowing and passionately loving the things we value. And designing our lives to spend the most time possible enjoying them." - Kayte Ferris | |||
| 08 Feb 2023 | Ep. 97 How to Grow in Wisdom | 00:30:34 | |
In this episode I share some thoughts on how we can actually become wiser as we go through life and why we need to utilize our own life experiences to help us grow. This episode includes:
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| 28 Sep 2022 | Ep. 79 How to Prepare for the Worst | 00:27:01 | |
You know how people always say "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst?" Let's talk about HOW to actually be prepared for the challenges that life can bring our way. If we devote some time every day to practicing for an unknown future, we can build our resilience and our ability to be ready for growth when difficulties offer us an opportunity. This episode includes:
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| 08 Dec 2021 | Ep. 38 Why Do Bad Things Happen? | 00:44:05 | |
In this episode I talk about the perennial question of life: Why do bad things happen (to ALL people - not just good people.) It's important that we talk about this because we need to develop a mindset that helps us when unwanted things do happen in our lives. This episode includes:
"We spend our lives fighting against entropy to create order, beauty, growth and meaning, hoping it will last forever. But, like everything material in the Universe, it too will one day fall apart." Get my book The Journey from Ego to Soul! Support this podcast on my Patreon page! www.patreon.com/eolu | |||
| 27 Oct 2021 | Ep. 32 Shining Light on the Shadow | 00:36:55 | |
In this episode I discuss the Shadow aspect of the ego or lower self and why the spiritual journey requires us to delve into all the pain and wounds that are stored there. Our Western society shuns the idea of the Shadow and rejects all failure, weakness and loss. But the "shadowlands" as Richard Rohr writes "are good and necessary teachers." So let's look within on our spiritual journey and begin the task of healing what has been relegated to the shadows. This episode includes:
"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. The latter procedure, however, is disagreeable and therefore not popular." -Carl Jung Support this podcast by joining the team at my page on Patreon.com/eolu! Get my book The Journey from Ego to Soul here. | |||
| 24 May 2021 | Ep. 8 Impermanence: Why It's Good to be Mortal | 00:41:03 | |
Learn the lesson of impermanence and why it is essential for life. This episode includes:
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| 08 Sep 2021 | Ep. 25 What the Ego Needs to Learn About Purpose | 00:23:02 | |
In this episode I talk about the 3rd lesson the ego needs to learn, which is "Your life is not about you." This is a challenging lesson for us to hear but an important one. The ego needs to learn that life has a higher and greater purpose than just this human existence. This episode includes:
"On the path of love we are neither master nor the owners of our lives. We are only a brush in the hand of the master painter." - Rumi "Love is the whole thing. We are only pieces." - Rumi | |||
| 03 Nov 2021 | Ep. 33 How to Recognize Your Shadow | 00:34:17 | |
In this episode I talk about some simple ways you can begin to get in touch with your own shadow issues so that you can heal and reintegrate them. This is an essential first step in doing shadow work because "you don't know what you don't know." These 4 suggestions will help you explore and analyze the ways your shadow reveals itself in your day-to-day life, which will be tremendously helpful as you move forward with healing work that leads to your spiritual growth. These 4 suggestions are:
Be courageous as you begin this work because it is important and necessary! Francis Weller writes that "unexpressed sorrow blocks access to the Soul" which is why we must give expression to all that is hidden deep inside the shadow. Get my book The Journey from Ego to Soul here. Support this podcast on my Patreon page at www.patreon.com/eolu | |||
| 03 Jan 2024 | Ep. 139 Part 8 Lifting the Weight of Guilt | 00:32:50 | |
In this episode of my ongoing series on grief travel through Italy I visit the village of Cortona Italy and learn how to carry the guilt that accompanies my grief. This episode includes:
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| 12 Oct 2022 | Ep. 81 How to Stop Envying Other People | 00:22:55 | |
I've recently gotten in touch with my own inner feelings of envy, which I've repressed for a long time out of shame and self-judgement. But I do have those feelings at times and in this episode I'll talk about how I'm working through them along with old wounds that have led me to believe I'm not good enough. I've turned to the Greater Good Science Center for some of their recommendations to help me out (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu). Here are the steps I'm taking to work through these uncomfortable feelings:
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| 19 Oct 2022 | Ep. 82 Finding Beauty in Everything | 00:16:07 | |
Today I'm sharing with you a brief little story that focuses on this statement by Confucius: "Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it." I hope you'll find hidden beauty somewhere today and every day! | |||
| 01 Dec 2021 | Ep. 37 How to Set Boundaries During the Holidays | 00:18:56 | |
In this quick episode I share what I'm learning right now and how I'm planning ahead to have a healthy and low-stress holiday season this year (wish me luck!) But to do that I have to work on setting better boundaries and honoring my own needs, which is what I'm working on. I hope you have a healthy and happy holiday season too! Remember to plan ahead, set clear priorities, communicate your needs and focus on the things that you enjoy most! Watch my 1-hour presentation on Self-Care for the Holidays! https://youtu.be/qXaI7Lr9w1o | |||
| 24 May 2021 | Ep. 3 Love: The Power of the Broken Heart | 00:59:04 | |
In this episode I share how love can transform and heal our lives even during our last days. This episode includes:
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| 09 Mar 2022 | Ep. 50 How to Cultivate Love in Times of Fear | 00:38:37 | |
Today we'll talk about the importance of living in a state of love and how difficult that can be when we are inundated with fearful circumstances in our world. As we hear non-stop frightening reports about the war in Ukraine, climate change, political and social unrest, we naturally respond with anxiety and fear but if we can transcend the fear and live with love we have a chance to help make things better for ourselves and for others. This episode includes:
"The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better." - Fr. Richard Rohr | |||
| 06 Jul 2022 | Ep. 67 How We Grow: Stages of Consciousness Part 3 | 00:35:33 | |
Today I'll finish up this 3 part series on the stages of consciousness by talking about the Integral stage, which we should all be working toward in our own development. If you haven't heard the previous 2 episodes please listen to them first so that you'll understand what I'm talking about today. For reference you can seek out Integral Vision by Ken Wilber or Google "Spiral Dynamics" by Beck and Cowan. This episode includes:
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| 30 Mar 2022 | Ep. 53 Is Karma Real? | 00:27:31 | |
In this episode I'm addressing another of the most frequently Googled questions about life: Is Karma real? I explore how my lower egoic self views Karma (and really, really wants it to be real) and also an alternative view of Karma from a higher perspective. This episode includes:
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| 04 Jan 2023 | Ep. 92 10 Strategies for Facing Fear | 00:30:17 | |
Welcome to the first episode of 2023! Today I'm sharing a list of 10 strategies used by free climber Alex Honnold to overcome fear as he trained to do a solo free-climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in 2017. Let's apply those strategies to our own lives as we figure out how to navigate the challenges of aging and facing our own mortality. This episode includes Alex's strategies:
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| 21 Jul 2021 | Ep. 17 The Dance of Life and Death Part 4: Grace | 00:43:38 | |
In this episode I talk about grace, which is an essential element of any dance. Learn how the many different of meanings of grace apply to both life and death and discover a daily practice that can help us prepare for the end of life with ease and dignity. This episode includes:
"I do not understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us." | |||
| 15 Jun 2022 | Ep. 64 How to Face Your Fear of Death | 00:29:57 | |
In this episode I talk about the fact that accepting our mortality is one of the keys to spiritual growth because we need to get beyond ego, which fears death above all else. In fact I always remind myself and you at the end of each episode to "face your fear" and today I'll share some practical ideas about how to confront your own fear of death and work toward acceptance. To work on your fear try these 6 practices:
Get my latest book The Journey from Ego to Soul. Support this podcast to keep it on the air. | |||
| 09 Aug 2023 | Ep. 119 What Determines Success in Life? | 00:24:48 | |
In this episode we'll look at an interesting study and questionnaire that help us sort out the factors in our lives that have contributed to our "success" in society. This episode includes:
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| 02 Nov 2022 | Ep. 84 What to do About Procrastination | 00:23:57 | |
In this episode I'm finally getting around to looking at one of my core issues in life: procrastination (I'm a master at it.) This episode includes:
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| 16 Aug 2023 | Ep. 120 What Success Means to the Soul | 00:27:38 | |
As a follow-up to the previous episode we're talking about success again but this time from the perspective of higher consciousness. This episode includes:
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| 30 Nov 2022 | Ep. 88 What is Toxic Positivity? | 00:33:32 | |
In this episode I'm sharing what I've learned about toxic positivity and how to avoid it in our own lives and in our work with other people. This episode includes:
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| 05 Apr 2023 | Ep. 104 Mourning the Wounds and Losses of Childhood | 00:31:54 | |
In this episode we continue to look at childhood wounds and the idea that healing may require us to grieve and mourn the losses that have occurred. For me this seems to be a missing piece of my healing journey and I hope it resonates with you as well. This episode includes:
"The broken heart that has been healed through grieving is stronger and more loving than the one that has never been injured." - Pete Walker | |||
| 26 Jan 2022 | Ep. 44 How to Pray | 00:26:12 | |
In this episode I take a look at one of the most frequently searched questions about life according to Google: How to pray. Apparently searches regarding prayer have skyrocketed during the pandemic as people look for ways to deal with fear and uncertainty. I share how I view prayer as a non-religious person and my own personal practice plus some information on why prayer is a practice worth considering. This episode includes:
“When the world pushes you to your knees, you are in the perfect position to pray.” - Rumi | |||
| 24 May 2021 | Ep. 6 Purpose: How to Figure Out Why You're Here | 01:04:09 | |
Learn how to find more clarity about your life’s purpose and why it’s not just about choosing the right career path. This episode includes:
If you touch one thing with deep awareness, you touch everything. | |||
| 11 Jan 2023 | Ep. 93 What is Most Precious to You? | 00:30:06 | |
In this episode I share some advice that was offered by a teacher of astrology for the coming year. She recommended that we each figure out what is most precious to us and remember to live by that and bring it to the world this year. For me, what is most precious is also "what really matters" and the "ultimate concern" of our lives. This episode includes:
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| 25 Jan 2023 | Ep. 95 How to See Beyond Our Own Perspectives | 00:32:08 | |
In this podcast I share some insights I got while reading Ann Neumann's book The Good Death. She tells a story about meeting with a disability advocate who is adamantly opposed to medical aid in dying and how they became friends over time by listening and understanding each other's perspective. Taking more than one perspective is part of our growth to higher consciousness and I share some steps to take:
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| 10 Aug 2022 | Ep. 72 10 Daily Reminders for Living More Consciously | 00:36:45 | |
In this episode I'll share a list of 10 tips and tools you can use to help you grow in consciousness day by day. Check out these ideas and pick 1 or 2 that you resonate with or that might fit into your schedule. Over time you can learn additional tools so that eventually you will have them all available to you whenever you need them. These daily reminders include:
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| 18 Aug 2021 | Ep. 22 Dealing with the Ego | 00:36:16 | |
In this episode I share some excerpts from my book The Journey from Ego to Soul and talk about why we need to recognize the ego when it controls our behavior instead of our higher consciousness. This episode includes:
Register for the workshop Surviving the Aftermath of Suicide. Get The Journey from Ego to Soul. | |||
| 13 Sep 2023 | Ep. 124 How to Develop Intellectual Humility | 00:34:29 | |
In this follow-up to last week's episode I focus in on intellectual humility, which is sadly lacking in our society today. This episode includes:
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| 26 Jul 2023 | Ep. 117 How to Work Through Deep Resentments | 00:26:50 | |
In this episode I talk about resentment as a form of resistance toward "what is" and why it's important to heal our old wounds if we want to move toward enlightenment. This episode includes:
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| 13 Oct 2021 | Ep. 30 The Galaxy and the Garden: Multiple Ways of Seeing the Pandemic | 00:33:39 | |
In this episode I discuss what I call the "Garden" and "Galaxy" views of life and why we need to be able to take both perspectives right now. Life in our individual "garden" existence here on planet Earth is under threat right now and we are overwhelmed with stress and uncertainty because of the pandemic. The view from the Galaxy is needed to help us cope and contribute to positive change. This episode includes:
Get my latest book The Journey from Ego to Soul here! | |||
| 29 Nov 2023 | Ep. 134 Part 3 Grief is All Around Us | 00:18:04 | |
Part 3 of the grief travel story takes place in Trastevere, the Jewish Ghetto of Rome, and an island in the Tiber River. This episode includes:
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| 18 Jun 2021 | Ep. 12 The Lotus Blossom: Why We Need the Darkness | 00:26:42 | |
This episode tells the story of the mysterious and miraculous lotus blossom and how it grows up from the mud to blossom in the sunshine every day. The lotus is a perfect symbol for our own spiritual journey and why we must embrace the darkness and explore it for opportunities to heal our old wounds and transform our lives. The poems The Well of Grief and Self Portrait by David Whyte are featured in this episode. The Well of Grief by David Whyte Those who will not slip beneath turning down through its black water will never know the source from which we drink, nor find in the darkness glimmering, the small round coins, | |||
| 15 Dec 2021 | Ep. 39 How to Be Happy | 00:26:56 | |
In this episode I talk about another pressing question we all deal with about life: how do we find happiness? I'm definitely not an expert on happiness but I have spent much of my life wishing I could be a happier person. So I'll share some poems and Rumi quotes with you and some stories of my own quest for happiness. Here are some of the things I've learned:
“Ever since happiness heard your name it has been running through the streets trying to find you.” - Rumi Get my book The Journey from Ego to Soul | |||
| 11 May 2022 | Ep. 59 Mortality is Just a Theory (until you know you're dying) | 00:25:25 | |
In this episode let's talk about what it really means to face death and why we can't know exactly what that will be like until we experience it. No matter how much reading, thinking and planning we do for death we will still be taken by surprise when it comes for us. But if we can learn to live one day--or one moment--at a time we will hopefully be able to respond to that experience in a creative and meaningful way. This episode includes:
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| 08 Jun 2022 | Ep. 63 What Do Dreams Mean? | 00:38:34 | |
In this episode I'm discussing another of the most frequently Googled questions about life: what do dreams mean? As an active dreamer who has had many dreams in the past that have changed my life, I love talking about this subject. I'll share one of the most powerful, enlightening, transformative dreams I've ever had at the end of the episode, so listen all the way to the end. This episode includes:
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| 23 Nov 2022 | Ep. 87 What if the World Doesn't Want My Gifts? | 00:21:07 | |
In this episode I'm answering a listener's question who has faced a lot of disappointment and discouragement in trying to bring their gifts to the world. I'll share with you how I answered that question (which I have also asked a few times in my life) and what I think we need to do to cope with this kind of challenge. This episode includes:
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| 11 Jan 2024 | Ep. 140 Part 9 Accepting Disappointment | 00:34:01 | |
In this 9th episode from the series on grief travel in Italy we travel to the beautiful city of Assisi and learn about the beloved St. Francis of Assisi. This episode includes:
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| 25 Aug 2021 | Ep. 23 What the Ego Needs to Learn: Life is Hard | 00:29:17 | |
In this episode I share the first of a series of "lessons" the ego needs to learn in order to become a better ally for our higher consciousness and for our day-to-day lives. "Life is hard" is not something the ego likes to look at but that realization is the very beginning of all of our spiritual growth. This episode includes:
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| 08 Mar 2023 | Ep. 100 The Power of Our Connections Through Time and Space | 00:20:54 | |
In this 100th episode of the podcast I talk about my experience with being still and silent last week as I dealt with a case of laryngitis. This led me to ponder the value of this podcast and to recognize our connectedness and how a podcast might help us recognize the energetic tapestry that we are all weaving together. This episode includes:
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| 13 Dec 2023 | Ep. 136 Part 5 Grace and Growth | 00:29:34 | |
In part 5 of the series on my grief travel through Italy we visit more sites in the great city of Florence and learn about grace, gratitude and growth. This episode includes:
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| 07 Jun 2021 | Ep. 11 Getting Through the Down Times | 00:10:49 | |
It's challenging when we feel despair or depression hovering around us and we don't really know why it's there. But, like Rumi's poem The Guest House, it's important to welcome in even the feelings we don't like and wish would leave us alone. So today I'm recommitting to accepting my own despair and letting it in the door. I'll stop rejecting this down time, allow it to be present, and receive whatever it has to teach me. I'll also stop judging myself for wanting to push away the negative feelings. If you are feeling down right now too just remember that you're not alone, we all go through these days and weeks, and it will go away someday. I'll check back in when things are going better to look at these down days from the other side! | |||
| 18 Jan 2023 | Ep. 94 Are We Going to Die ... Or Not? | 00:30:34 | |
In this episode I talk about contrasting messages observed on social media: "You're going to die" vs "There is no death." It's important to look at the levels of consciousness from which these two seemingly opposite statements arise in order to see how they could both be true at the same time. This episode includes:
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| 27 Dec 2023 | Ep. 138 Part 7 Finding Purpose in Grief | 00:32:07 | |
This episode is Part 7 of my ongoing series on grief travel through Italy. If you haven't done so already I recommend you listen to the previous 6 episodes first! Today we travel to Siena Italy where I came face-to-face with the depths of my grief. This episode includes:
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| 25 May 2022 | Ep. 61 How to Resolve a Conflict | 00:31:29 | |
In this episode I'm sharing two practices from the Greater Good Science Center I've been working with to improve conflict in my relationships and I hope they are helpful to you too: taking a 3rd person perspective and making an effective apology. This episode includes:
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| 29 Mar 2023 | Ep. 103 Healing Childhood Shame | 00:32:20 | |
This week I'm continuing my mini-series on childhood trauma by talking specifically about shame, which many of us carry into adulthood. This episode includes:
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| 02 Aug 2023 | Ep. 118 Finding AWE in Times of Stress | 00:19:42 | |
In this episode I revisit the experience of Awe, which I previously discussed in Episode 96. There is a new study available that talks about how healthcare providers (and everyone) can experience awe even in little everyday moments and receive the same benefits. This episode includes:
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| 13 Apr 2022 | Ep. 55 Why Do We Die? | 00:23:20 | |
In today's episode I'm considering one of the most challenging of all the questions people Google about life: Why do we die? This questions has been considered by poets, philosophers, scientists, sociologists and seekers throughout the age of humankind. But there is no answer to this question. Instead I talk about how we learn to live with the knowledge that we are mortal and share two poems that offer helpful perspectives. I hope you enjoy it! | |||
| 29 Jun 2022 | Ep. 66 How We Grow: Stages of Consciousness Part 2 | 00:46:04 | |
In this episode I continue a discussion of the stages of consciousness we "grow through" as we develop as spiritual beings. Be sure to listen to Episode 65 to hear more about this concept and then return here for a look at 4 of the stages of consciousness and why they are at war with one another in our society today:
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| 22 Mar 2023 | Ep. 102 Tools for Healing Our Trauma | 00:31:07 | |
In this second episode on trauma we explore more tools for healing, whether we've experienced trauma in our own lifetimes or are carrying ancestral trauma. This episode includes:
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| 17 May 2023 | Ep. 110 When Things Get Worse Before They Get Better | 00:21:30 | |
This episode continues my own exploration of getting ill at the same time I released my podcast episode on grief after my father's suicide death. I've been gleaning a lot of wisdom from my own time of illness and recognizing why sometimes things get worse before they get better. This episode includes:
Get my latest book The Journey from Ego to Soul | |||