EP322: The silence, the stillness and the void at the center of everything

What if 95% of attention and energy went toward sensing, feeling, and intuition, and 5% went toward the use of thought? That ratio is typically reversed. I’ll explore this with regard to being with trauma, brainstorming and problem solving, and self inquiry.***I will be leading a Silent Retreat in Taos, New Mexico, February 22-27. The retreat will provide a supportive space for you to steep in your essential being. You’ll immerse in what’s always here, unchanging, beyond the pull of thoughts, feelings and identities, in the absence of everyday distractions and conditioning.The retreat is small, so space is limited. You can check out all the details at dramyjohnson.com/newmexico The post EP384: 95/5 appeared first on Dr. Amy Johnson.

In this episode, we’ll explore how to end habitual psychological patterns such as reactivity, shutting down, becoming controlling or hypervigilant, or eating or drinking. The way to end a pattern – very oversimplified – is to become deeply familiar with the elements of the pattern and stay open, rather than react, when the pattern begins. ***I will be leading a Silent Retreat in Taos, New Mexico, February 22-27. The retreat will provide a supportive space for you to steep in your essential being. You’ll immerse in what’s always here, unchanging, beyond the pull of thoughts, feelings and identities, in the absence of everyday distractions and conditioning.The retreat is small, so space is limited. You can check out all the details at dramyjohnson.com/newmexico The post EP383: Staying open appeared first on Dr. Amy Johnson.

Emma believes that she is unacceptable if her weight goes above a particular threshold.  This belief is behind 45 years of restrictive and binge eating. Emma is onto the fact that this is a belief, but that doesn’t feel like enough. If she doesn’t have the ability to simply stop believing this thought, what can she do? I’ll discuss how Emma can investigate her beliefs in a way that can help her gain some perspective on – and freedom from– them.***I will be leading a Silent Retreat in Taos, New Mexico, February 22-27.  The retreat will provide a supportive space for you to steep in your essential being. You’ll immerse in what’s always here, unchanging, beyond the pull of thoughts, feelings and identities, in the absence of everyday distractions and conditioning.The retreat is small, so space is limited. You can check out all the details at dramyjohnson.com/newmexico The post EP382: I’m not acceptable unless I’m thin. Questions from a listener with a 45 year history of disordered eating. appeared first on Dr. Amy Johnson.

Emma believes that she is unacceptable if her weight goes above a particular threshold.  This belief is behind 45 years of restrictive and binge eating. Emma is onto the fact that this is a belief, but that doesn’t feel like enough. If she doesn’t have the ability to simply stop believing this thought, what can she The post EP382: I’m not acceptable unless I’m thin. Questions from a listener with a 45 year history or disordered eating. appeared first on Dr. Amy Johnson.

 There’s an extremely important distinction to be made when it comes to where and how attention falls. It’s the difference between attention being on something versus absorbed in it. Attention on the fact of thought is completely different from attention being absorbed in the content of thought.Attention on sensation or pain or the sense of self is completely different from attention absorbed in them.The difference is perspective and ultimately freedom.***I will be leading a Silent Retreat in Taos, New Mexico, February 22-27, 2026.The retreat will provide a supportive space for you to steep in your essential being. You’ll immerse in what’s always here, unchanging, beyond the pull of thoughts, feelings and identities, in the absence of everyday distractions and conditioning.The retreat will be small, so space is limited. You can check out all the details at dramyjohnson.com/silentretreat/ The post EP381: Attention On versus Attention In  appeared first on Dr. Amy Johnson.

“Chaos should be regarded as extremely good news” – Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche Chaos seems unwanted and perhaps terrifying to a mind that’s always trying to hold things together.But in Greek mythology, Chaos is viewed as a primordial void or emptiness from which all else emerges. It’s the source of everything. Chaos, emptiness, void…source, aliveness, new life. It was not viewed as a lack of existence or total disorder, but the birthplace and source of everything.Maybe it really is extremely good news? *** I will be leading a Silent Retreat in Taos, New Mexico, February 22-27, 2026.The retreat will provide a supportive space for you to steep in your essential being. You’ll immerse in what’s always here, unchanging, beyond the pull of thoughts, feelings and identities, in the absence of everyday distractions and conditioning.The retreat will be small, so space is limited. You can check out all the details at dramyjohnson.com/silentretreat/ The post EP380: Chaos is extremely good news appeared first on Dr. Amy Johnson.

There seems to be an innate intelligence that guides us when we deeply feel what is present. An intelligence emerges from simply being in what is without resistance. This intelligence is often less about firm conclusions and more about doing what feels most right right now. It’s less about security in a vision for the future and more about sensing immediate right action right now.Feeling reveals what there is to see. It contains pure possibility and potential. Thought can only negotiate based on the past, operating in what is already known. That’s the opposite of potential and possibility. ***Join me for a live, free, 2-hour class: The Silence at the Heart of Everything: Rediscovering What Never Changes on Monday, November 10thIn the class I’ll talk about the silence and stillness at the center of all things as well as several common benefits of prolonged time in silence. I’ll also tell you a bit about my upcoming Silent Retreats and answer your questions. Then we’ll have a quick break and an optional 30 minute guided-meditation-turned-silent-sitting together to give you a tiny taste of what’s possible. Register for the live class at dramyjohnson.com/silenceclassThe post EP379: The Intelligence in feeling appeared first on Dr. Amy Johnson.

There is a lot of talk about prevention in the physical health world. It makes sense to prevent physical health problems when possible. Does this extend to emotional health?Can we prevent emotional discomfort? Does it make sense to try? Or is it safe to “wear your heart on your sleeve”, even when the world may be warning you against that?***Join me for a live, free, 2-hour class: The Silence at the Heart of Everything: Rediscovering What Never Changes on Monday, November 10thIn the class I’ll talk about the silence and stillness at the center of all things as well as several common benefits of prolonged time in silence. I’ll also tell you a bit about my upcoming Silent Retreats and answer your questions. Then we’ll have a quick break and an optional 30 minute guided-meditation-turned-silent-sitting together to give you a tiny taste of what’s possible. Register for the live class at dramyjohnson.com/silenceclassThe post EP378: Prevention appeared first on Dr. Amy Johnson.

How – and why – communicate how you’re feeling with someone else? Dropping into the inner landscape and opening to what’s there…the thoughts, sensations, emotions, and beliefs that are present…and then expressing those to another person feels infinitely helpful.And it feels like something we often shy away from for any number of reasons. We’ll explore some of the reasons we shy away and also the enormous benefits of expressing experience  in this episode. ***Join me for a live, free, 2-hour class: The Silence at the Heart of Everything: Rediscovering What Never Changes on Monday, November 10thIn the class I’ll talk about the silence and stillness at the center of all things as well as several common benefits of prolonged time in silence. I’ll also tell you a bit about my upcoming Silent Retreats and answer your questions. Then we’ll have a quick break and an optional 30 minute guided-meditation-turned-silent-sitting together to give you a tiny taste of what’s possible. Register for the live class at dramyjohnson.com/silenceclassThe post EP377: Communicating feelings in a helpful way appeared first on Dr. Amy Johnson.

In this episode I speak to a listener’s question about how she can be less reactive and more patient with her mom. We explore how she can watch the reactive patterns that arise with a sense of objectivity, curious about what’s showing up rather than judgmental of it and trying to change it. We also explore the nature of the resentment she feels and look at why that’s so important to explore.***I will be leading two Silent Retreats in 2026.The primary retreat (hosted and facilitated by me) will be in Taos, New Mexico, February 22-27. The second retreat (facilitated by me) will be in Hendersonville, North Carolina, February 1-6.Both retreats will provide a supportive space for you to steep in your essential being. You’ll immerse in what’s always here, unchanging, beyond the pull of thoughts, feelings and identities, in the absence of everyday distractions and conditioning.The retreats will be small, so space is limited. You can check out all the details at https://dramyjohnson.com/silent-retreats-2026/The post EP376: How can I stop being so reactive toward my mom? A question from a listener. appeared first on Dr. Amy Johnson.