2.21. Navigating Triggers During Deconstruction: Finding Freedom from Empty Phrases

In this episode, I’m joined by Matthew Boswell for a slow, open conversation across difference.Matt and I come from very different backgrounds.I approach mindfulness from a secular, psychology based perspective.Matt moved through atheism and later returned to Christianity, and now serves as a pastor.Rather than debating beliefs or trying to persuade each other, we talk about how belief forms, how doubt lives in the body, and what belonging can mean when people hold very different worldviews.We explore upbringing, identity, faith, secularism, certainty, uncertainty, and what it takes to stay present and curious in conversations where agreement is not the goal.This episode is about listening without needing to win.About understanding without collapsing difference.And about what becomes possible when people remain in relationship across belief.Matthew is the pastor of Redemption Church in Duvall, Washington, which you can find at iamrc.org.He also hosts a podcast called Everyday Missionary, available at everyday-missionary.com, where he reflects on faith and everyday life.Alongside this podcast, I host Calm Hours, a free, secular sanctuary where people can rest together without fixing, sharing, or performing.This work is community supported.You can learn more at jeremywest.net

Join comedian (and philosopher?) Myq Kaplan and I for a long, reflective conversation about his experiences with ayahuasca.Rather than offering advice or instruction, Myq speaks openly about what these experiences were like for him, how they shifted his relationship with fear, death, love, and belief, and how he now holds uncertainty with more ease.We talk about psychedelic experiences not as answers, but as moments that can reframe questions.About surrender, humility, and the difference between insight and integration.About spirituality without dogma, and meaning without certainty.Myq also shares how these experiences influenced his comedy, including his album AKA, which is largely shaped by his ayahuasca journeys and is available via his website at myqkaplan.com. His handle on all the socials is @myqkaplan.His newer special Rini is available on YouTube.This is not a guide to ayahuasca.It’s a thoughtful, human conversation about experience, interpretation, and living honestly with not knowing.Alongside this podcast, I host Calm Hours, a free, secular sanctuary where people can rest together without fixing, sharing, or performance.This work is community supported.You can learn more at jeremywest.net

Deconstructing your faith is a deeply personal and often painful journey, especially when it’s intertwined with trauma. In today’s episode, we explore the struggles of processing a fundamentalist upbringing, dealing with PTSD rooted in religion, and addressing well-meaning but challenging questions from family. Discover how mindfulness can help you rest comfortably in the unknown and empower you to navigate conversations with compassion and boundaries.

Moving from shame and self-hatred to self-love is a vital step in your deconstruction journey, especially when leaving evangelical culture and its toxic teachings. In this episode of Mindful Deconstruction, Jeremy West shares practical tools, book recommendations, and alternative practices for cultivating self-compassion and silencing the internal voices of shame.

Leaving a faith tradition can feel like losing a connection to the spiritual practices that once grounded us. In this episode, Jeremy shares his personal journey of deconstructing evangelical Christianity and finding new ways to engage with spirituality. Whether it’s through mindfulness, connecting with nature, or observing the beauty in life’s patterns, Jeremy explores how to create a non-religious, non-dogmatic spiritual practice that nurtures your soul.

What do you do when the idea of God feels overwhelming or anxiety-inducing? In this episode, Jeremy West explores how mindfulness can help you navigate feelings of dread and powerlessness when grappling with existential questions about life, death, and the nature of God. Discover tools to find peace in uncertainty, reclaim a sense of agency, and cultivate a life grounded in the present moment.

Religious teachings that frame suffering as deserved can deeply harm our mental health, especially for those already dealing with depression. In this episode, Jeremy West explores how mindfulness can help us deconstruct these beliefs, reclaim a sense of safety in the world, and cultivate self-compassion. Learn practical steps to heal from the damage caused by harmful theological ideas and reconnect with your inherent worth as a human being.

During deconstruction, standard Christian phrases can feel like roadblocks to genuine connection. In this episode, Jeremy West shares insights into navigating the frustration of reductive religious language. Learn how mindfulness can help you process these moments, reclaim meaningful conversations, and engage with others authentically, even when faced with triggering phrases.

Even after leaving a faith tradition, the fear of hell can linger, deeply ingrained in our minds and emotions. In this episode, Jeremy West explores why this fear persists and how mindfulness can help untangle its grip. Learn practical techniques for acknowledging fear, challenging beliefs, and embracing peace through curiosity and self-compassion.

Life is full of unexpected challenges, like flat tires on a Saturday night. In this episode, Jeremy West shares how a mindfulness parable helped him navigate a difficult setback with curiosity and acceptance. Learn how to shift your perspective, respond to challenges with grace, and embrace life’s uncertainties as opportunities for growth.