Presence

Let’s redefine mental illness as a different state of consciousness that can move us toward a spiritual life. Depression, suicidal ideation, paranoia, and schizophrenia contain a set of experiences that can teach us and reveal aspects of life and of ourselves that we wouldn’t otherwise see. Ricky is a Life, Spirituality and Wellness Coach. He writes about spirituality, philosophy, mindfulness, meditation, and psychology in his blog Mind That Ego.Quotes to remember: “If we can embrace suffering and not crave happiness and not be overly resistant toward difficult feelings, that’s going to lead us down a fulfilling path.” “Spirituality is not a hobby. It’s a way of being.” “You are not a product of what goals you achieve.” “Ultimately, our truest essence is beyond what we can identify with.” “You are not the center of the universe, but you are the universe.” “Depression is a great teacher.” Takeaways:It’s common to link being scientific with being atheist/cynical toward spiritualityThe journey of spirituality is bitter at first, then like sweet nectarWith suffering, the only way out is throughUnresolved grief and sadness contribute greatly to our sufferingOur spirituality evolves in spirals, and each stage incorporates all previous stagesSelf-transcendence is what lies beyond the ego and beyond Western individualismYou can be spiritual and have goalsThe ego will constantly try to intrude and impose, even when you are engaging in a passion projectThe ego both downplays and aggrandizes the truthWhat we identify with can hold us back and keep us stuck, even if it’s supposedly a good identityWhen our Shadow side (our undesirable side) is not faced, it will come out as projection onto othersWe are afraid of not only our Shadow but also our power, potential, and creativityMental illness can be the beginning of spiritual awakening; nonstandard states of consciousness are not necessarily insanityOur potential is far beyond our sensesCuriosity is the antidote to fearWhat you’ll learn:Ricky’s introduction to spirituality through sufferingHow he talked himself through the suffering of mental illness to a place of wholenessOur understanding of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs isn’t the full picture of what Maslow intendedAbout Ricky’s relationship with goal-settingHow our concept of our identity shifts as we growWhat envy can teach us about ourselvesMentioned on the podcast: https://www.mindthatego.com/Maslow’s hierarchy and self-transcendenceSpiral DynamicsEckhart TolleDr. Leanne WhitneyKen WilberCrazy Wise documentaryStanislav Grof and Holotropic BreathworkLinks:FacebookMediumYoutubeInstagram

Curious about the writer’s life and how writers find inspiration? Ever wonder about how a writer chooses their topics, and how to write about subjects you don’t necessarily have experience in? Then listen on. Candy is a writer, blogger, and wellness speaker. She writes on the topics of health, personal growth, and methods for moving through and beyond challenging life circumstances. Her latest book is Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well.Quotes to remember: “Sometimes waiting is for our protection.” “The people who are successful as writers are those who are teachable.” “When you find your voice, you’ll know it.” Takeaways:Pausing can be a time of preparation and relaxationWhen we write about subjects that aren’t often discussed, it can strike a deeper chord with peopleWe can write about things we don’t have direct experience ofWriting can be intuitive and contemplative rather than schedule-drivenYou may not be aware of your own patterns until in hindsightThe more you write about something, the more ideas you’ll have about itHone your focus and you’ll write betterNew writers tend to want to write everythingWhat you’ll learn:The life challenges that inspired Candy to write a bookLessons she learned during a time of waitingThe circumstances around Candy’s first successful book proposal, a book on losing a loved one to suicideTips on your first book or first major projectOn writing about a topic without personal experience of itWhat inspires Candy in her workMentioned on the podcast: https://candyarrington.com/Life on Pause: Learning to Wait WellAftershock: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide

If you’ve been stuck trying to figure things out but with limited success, here is a technique to get you unstuck. Visualization is a skill that helps you empower yourself. Quotes to remember: “The only way to make great changes in your life is to be able to visualize and to imagine something for yourself that pretty much doesn’t exist for you today.” “Imagining and visualizing don’t need to be limited to the scope of entertainment.” Takeaways:Visualization is the practice of seeing and feeling in great detailVisualization is a skill we can buildThere is a huge difference between thinking about the future and imaginingImagination is not based on anything in the past or anything you know currentlyPeople can remain stuck due to an inability to imagine a radically different lifeImagination plants the seed to a new way of beingGood visualization technique includes imagining things that have nothing to do with your current realityWhat you’ll learn:Why visualization and imagination are importantThe wrong and right way to do itAn exercise to improve your visualization techniqueHow visualization has helped me personallyTHIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: Visualize the first minute of your ideal day. What do you do? How do you feel? Do you stay in bed for a bit, or get up smoothly and easily? Embody the feeling as you visualize. Let’s be friends on Instagram!Send me a message about the show!

If you feel like your life is meaningless and fake, and you’re questioning everything and lost and feeling like you’re going crazy--congrats. You’re in the first stages of spiritual awakening. And here you are to learn more about your experience.Lyndsay is a leadership coach, energy healer, and author of The Beautiful Un-Becoming: The Ultimate Guide to Life after Spiritual Awakening. She is passionate about empowering people on their spiritual journeys to reconnect with their inner light and wisdom to live an authentic, inspired life.Quotes to remember: “I suddenly was face-to-face with my own mortality.” “I was so focused on that goal of financial security because I didn’t have it growing up, that I forgot that we’re actually here to experience life.” “Why do you want to wait that long? Why do you feel like you’re not ready now?”“It’s not just one spiritual awakening and you’re done.” “Spirituality is woven into my fiber.” “Follow what lights you up because that is your biggest indicator of what you’re here to do in this lifetime.” Takeaways:When you realize that things could be over in the blink of an eye, you begin to question if you’re doing the right thingsWe have whispers of the things that call to usMaking the world a better place can appear very smallWe will need to rebuild our community when we have different priorities from those around usWhen you don’t have support you can get stuck in your own headHealing happens in spirals/circlesOur resistance often comes from our social programmingWhen you find yourself wanting to get rid of stuff, that’s a big sign you’re in spiritual awakeningMany spiritual concepts are understood in other terms like burnout or depression or anxiety“It’s harder to fix my inside so I’m going to fix my outside”--consider if this applies to youOur ego loves to catastrophizeStaying safe is often staying smallSociety often tells us we need to know what the next step is and what we want, but that’s not how it worksDo what you do for the highest and greatest good of othersIf you want to do something exciting, you need to be excited about it--and our childhood reveals clues of itWhat you’ll learn:What created the circumstances for Lyndsay’s “crumbling,” or “dark night of the soul”How she navigated her spiritual awakening on her ownThe 11 symptoms of spiritual awakeningHow to know when you are acting from the ego rather than from the heart/inner wisdom/higher SelfWhere to begin when you feel bombarded by stray thoughtsThe 6 stages of spiritual awakeningSigns that you are progressing in your journeyAbout Lyndsay’s relationship with the futureMentioned on the podcast: https://lyndsaytoensing.com/The Beautiful Un-Becoming: The Ultimate Guide to Life after Spiritual AwakeningThe Myth of Getting Over It - GP podcastLink:Instagram

Comparing ourselves to others is so easy, and so futile. Quotes to remember: “We’ll never win the game of comparison.” “When somebody’s doing well in their path, it really doesn’t have anything to do with your path.” Takeaways:Comparing is a distortion of what is really going onOnline and offline, many people will showcase their highlight reel versus the full pictureThe voice of the ego is not youChoose your comparisons wiselyWhen you focus on who you are and what you enjoy doing, the FOMO and the comparing fall awayWhat you’ll learn:What to do when you find yourself comparing to others and feeling badHow to work with the ego rather than against itWhat comparing reveals about yourselfTHIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: Notice one time in which you are comparing yourself to someone else. Allow it to be there rather than avoid it. Notice when it happens, how you feel, and what the voice is saying in your head. Let’s be friends on Instagram!Send me a message about the show!

Have you been stressed, anxious, lost, and confused lately? Let’s take a step back and gain some perspective. Listen to someone who specializes in helping people feel whole and complete--and has gone through the journey too. Dmitria is an author and healer who helps people reconnect with their spirit and reignite the light within.  She works with people who are feeling like something is missing in their world to reconnect to the forgotten, neglected, and undiscovered parts of themselves, in order to finally experience the ease that comes from being whole.Quotes to remember: “I realized that it wasn’t something out there; there was something in me that I had to figure out to unlock this life that I was dreaming of.” “You connect with people at the level and depth that you’re able to connect to yourself.” “We get caught up in trying to prove to ourselves that we’re successful.”“The only thing that keeps you from being ready is your own willingness.” Takeaways:Are you clear on what you personally enjoy doing?The beginning of your spiritual journey is a struggle and a search for helpYou don’t need to be somebody for somebody elseMeditation gives you perspectiveOur purpose is to experience love and joy in this lifetime, and to simply beLet’s challenge the idea that success will bring us happinessSuccess, happiness, and self-care can all occur at the same timeAllow yourself to rest and relaxWhy did we come here only to restrict ourselves and live by somewhat arbitrary rules? Things will be okay when you take two or five minutes to take time for yourselfAll of us are a little lostWe all have the same universal purpose, and unique passions and ways of expressing itWhat you’ll learn:Why everything looked good on paper for Dmitria yet she still wasn’t happyHow Dmitria started finding herselfHow her days and focus have shifted over this process of getting to know herselfThe two foundations to leaving the rat race and feeling wholeThe technique Dmitria uses to quickly replenish her energyThe kind of shifts that are possible when you are connected within yourselfWhy we abandon parts of ourselves that are really core to usA useful reinterpretation of fearHow Dmitria continues her learning When she decided to quit her corporate careerMentioned on the podcast: https://www.luminancehealing.com/https://www.dmitriaburby.com/Links:InstagramYoutube

Life is more than checking things off your to-do list. If you feel like you’ve been missing the point, or missing something, here is a way to connect to what truly matters.Quotes to remember: “Life is more than a to-do list.” “Presence always pays off in the end.” Takeaways:What life is aboutTo think that life is about productivity is to reduce and minimize the vastness of your experienceProductivity is a chase whereas presence feels whole and complete, and nothing is missingShifting to presence is reminding yourself of what is important by remembering unforgettable momentsPresence is a process and it is ongoingWhat you’ll learn:Alternate ways to judge the quality of a day, aside from productivity What it means to love wellWhat presence feels like and how to know when you are presentHow to shift from productivity to presenceQuestions to ask yourself to evaluate your dayTHIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: Find three moments in your day that you appreciate. Notice that your day would be different without those small things. Let’s be friends on Instagram!Send me a message about the show!

Own your life. You have this one beautiful life and if you feel stuck or unhappy or dissatisfied, things can change. Learn how to be the conscious creator of your life. Joey is a personal & professional development coach, author, and professional speaker. His mission is to help others find their purpose and live it with passion by living as their most authentic self.Quotes to remember: “There was so much fear to it… but then there was that other side of what’s possible.” “If there’s no good or bad, there’s no right or wrong, there’s no fair or unfair, and life is truly happening for me, why would this be happening?”“Any time life is happening to us, at the deepest level we go we’re a victim.” “The wealthiest people don’t decide what’s possible for them based on their past results.” Takeaways:Things will change for you when your prayer is stronger than your fearLook for where your spirit is fedIt is so difficult to serve two masters so to speak, with regards to a job and a passionFailure is never taking a stepOur reality is made-up based on our perceptionsDifferentiate truths versus factsSo often people will use what happened in their lives to hold themselves back and limit themFear kills dreamsLiving your purpose will take effort but won’t feel like workSometimes we learn and absorb wisdom but don’t apply itLiving our purpose is like a train going uphill; if you pause, you’ll be slippingWe must continue to grow and expand, and this feels exciting, enjoyable, and enlighteningThe vast majority of people spend their lives in fear, doubt, and worryIf we don’t take an abnormal action, we’ll get more of what we already haveLife is not a to-do listWhat you’ll learn:About Joey’s come-to moment in which nothing was going right in his lifeStep Number One of changing your life (no, not quitting your job)The biggest obstacle that everyone faces to living a life by their designHow Joey waded through various addictions, a divorce, and living states away from his sonHow to shift your perceptions of your self-image Being the conscious creator of your lifeThe two key indicators of if someone will be successful and get results from coachingMentioned on the podcast: http://coachwithjoseph.com/https://www.josephadrolshagen.com/Life’s Lessons bookLinks:FacebookYoutube

Stop trying to get over it. Here’s what to do instead. In this episode we break down the myth of getting over it and explore what healing really looks like. Quotes to remember: “Feelings are temporary.” “Letting go and getting over something is a process of becoming okay with all the feelings that come up.” “Sadness isn’t wrong. Grief isn’t wrong. These feelings don’t need to be fixed.” Takeaways:Healing doesn’t mean that you’ll never think about something and feel pain about it ever againTwo supposedly opposite feelings can co-exist togetherGrief and sadness and loss are cyclical rather than linearIt is difficult to sustain a single emotion when you aren’t trying to run away from itOur feelings are like colors in a color palette; to avoid some feelings is to toss out half of the colorsStrength is being able to bear the painWhat you’ll learn:What it really means to get over somethingA different paradigm on healing and getting over heartbreak or loss or rejectionTHIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: Take a look at something you are getting over or trying to get over, big or small. Consider the possibility that how you feel about it is exactly where you should be right now. That you don’t need to feel only positively or neutrally about it, and that the “negative” feelings mean that the person or thing that you miss is important to you. Ask yourself: “Why do I feel the need to get over it? What does getting over this look like for me?” Let’s be friends on Instagram!Send me a message about the show!

Learn about motivation from the man who broke the world record in May 2021 for most pushups in an hour--over three thousand pushups. TShane fought for his life after a horrific accident, flatlining three times as medics worked to save him. Later, as he struggled with PTSD, his business collapsed and he found himself homeless for two years. Today he is an author of three books, a motivational speaker, single father and a successful business owner, and he attempted to break two world records, for most pushups in an hour and most pushups over 12 hours, on a livestreamed event May 1 2021, raising money for the Purple Heart Honor Mission.UPDATE: TShane DID indeed smash the 1-hour pushup world record (it was 2,919, he finished 3,050 pushups). Though he fell short of the 12-hour record, he managed to do over 16,000 pushups and hopes to tackle the 12-hour record again, which has stood for more than 30 years, set by Paddy Doyle at 19,325 pushups.Quotes to remember: “There’s something calming about being homeless.” “Once we learn how to embrace pain, it doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.” “I don’t pity anybody that wants to talk about something and never do anything.”  Takeaways:We are where we are because of so much that others have doneHardship and coming close to death can be your inspiration for doing challenging thingsRemembrance every day is key to building yourself long-termTake responsibility for your mistakes in order to keep moving forwardBeing homeless can be freeing and allow you to connect with yourself; nobody bothers youWorkout time is you timeOpportunity is any- and everywhereFind positively rewarding activities to be addicted toFood is to power the body, not pleasure the palateIt’s okay that your energy varies throughout the dayYou can be happier and more productive when you finish your work early and have time for yourself and your family in the daylightWhat you’ll learn:How TShane recovered so quickly after flatlining multiple times in the ICUWhat motivates TShane to break world recordsHis thoughts on why the veteran suicide rate is so highWhy pain isn’t necessarily a bad thingWhat TShane listens to while working out and training (it’s not music)How he feels about someone breaking his world recordWhat’s next for TShane after pushupsWhat his food routine and self-care look likeMentioned on the podcast: https://tshaneinspires.com/Earl NightingaleZig ZiglarLes BrownLinks:FacebookInstagram