True Elderhood No Matter Your Age

First, know that this episode is for people of all ages, because we are all elders to someone (there are always people younger than us!) and we are constantly having opportunities for growth in our spiritual maturity throughout our entire life. The concepts I introduce in this episode help shape how we age and the choices we make at all stages of life. Too often we believe that as we age, we should try to look, feel, and act as young as possible. But the truth is, that’s not the freaking point. We discuss a world where elders are seen as wisdom keepers, guides, and mentors for the community. Where they possess a deep knowledge and understanding that is invaluable to younger generations.This won’t just happen. We need to see this as our role to our people, and make our life decisions from that place. Instead of just sitting around and saving money to retire and travel, we can make our spiritual growth and maturity more intentional.We’ll jam on how we can continue to challenge the idea that aging is a period of decline, and talk about a few of the elders that I personally look up to and respect.You will learn:// Why thinking of true elderhood and spiritual maturity matters at ALL ages// How we often view elderhood vs what’s possible// Why taking responsibility for our spiritual maturity is crucial for playing an essential role in our communities// Why modern industrialized society doesn’t hold reverence or wisdom the possibilities in aging// Some examples of elders I deeply respect and look up to and the lessons they taught me// How we can continue to challenge the idea that aging is a period of decline// How spiritual maturity allows us to make our spiritual growth intentional AND still leaves plenty of room for fun and relaxationResources:// Joanna Macy & her work// Dipa Ma & her work// Nature and the Human Soul, by Bill Plotkin// Episode 154: Off the Cushion - Activism + Spirituality// Episode 191: Soulcentric Adulthood// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here// If you want to dive deeper into this Soul-level work and create a life of more freedom, adventure and purpose, head over to JoinFreedomSchool.com. It’s got everything you need in one place to build a foundation for a lifetime of self-exploration and freedom.// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.

This week is a very special episode to help us continue to reduce the unnecessary suffering in our own lives - and in the lives of those we love. We’re going to talk about something we all find difficult in our relationships: the radical acceptance of other people’s shit. I’m going to share my own personal struggles with this and give you some ways that you can learn to accept how others act in a way that will bring you more compassion, love, and alignment.You will learn:// Why our loved ones often end up doing something that hurts us over and over (hint: it’s not because they’re being cruel)// Why we often get so upset and activated when dealing with the unreliability of others// How to deal with the disappointment of others that doesn’t create more suffering - for us or themResources:// Episode 16: How to Improve Any Relationship// Episode 74: How to Set Healthy Boundaries// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here// If you’re not already there, Come join us at Freedom School. Together, we can learn to self-coach about how we can make this mean less about “who I am” and more about how this person might be hurting, that they're continuing to hurt. So come join us. Go to joinfreedomschool.com// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.

This week we learn from Native Hawaiian wisdom in the concept of “pau kahana,” which means “the work is done” (most people simply say, “pau hana”).The concept of pau kahana is more than just stating a fact, like “I’m off work now.” I’ve noticed that mykanaka - Indigenous Hawaiian - friends create a very distinct separation between work and personal life. So it’s not just about stopping work, but also engaging in practices that help us release the day’s burdens and shift gears.It’s a holistic mental, physical, and spiritual detachment from work after the workday ends that also allows us to shed the day’s burdens and shift gears.We’ll explore how this Indigenous wisdom is so important in today’s modern society, where it’s so hard to unplug from the demands of a world where work is only a smartphone away. I’ll share lots of helpful ideas to start your own pau kahana practice, including clear boundaries, connection to nature, people, and play. You will learn:// How to counteract the pressures of modern industrialized society as work is increasingly enmeshed in our personal lives// What pau kahana means in Native Hawaiian culture… and how this Indigenous wisdom helps us release the day’s burdens// The physical and mental benefits of detaching from work at the end of each day// The key elements for creating our own ritual to help disengage from workResources:// Episode 96: Unplugging in an Uncertain World// Episode 194: Work - Survival Dance or Sacred Offering// Episode 212: Privilege on the Spiritual Path// Donate to the Hawai’i People’s Fund - an excellent organization supporting Hawai’i based grassroots organizations and fighting systems of oppression // I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here   // If you’re not already there, Come join us at Freedom School. You can start the mindset class, get coached by me multiple times a month… It's amazing! This month, we're going into writing our life story. You know, the old story that you're so fucking tired of playing to yourself and hearing yourself. Exactly. Done with that. Let's write a new story. That's what this month is all about and Freedom School. So come join us. Go to joinfreedomschool.com// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.

This week we talk about how privilege allows us to take risks when pursuing our spiritual path and enlightenment, and how to mitigate that when we don’t have a lot of it. We also explore why privilege is not a guarantee of enlightenment - nor the lack of privilege an insurmountable barrier.  I open up about my own privilege and hardships, and give some tips on how those who lack privilege can still proceed on their path with mindful, calculated risks.You will learn:// How privilege influences our journey toward enlightenment// The types of risk we can take when we have less privilege// Why privilege is not a guarantee of enlightenment - nor the lack of privilege an insurmountable barrier// The privilege to take risks - and how we can mitigate that when we have less available to us// Ways that a lack of privilege can be a catalyst for growth// How to maximize the privilege we do haveResources:// Episode 43: Jealousy and Sympathetic Joy// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here// If you want to dive deeper into this Soul-level work and create a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose, head over to JoinFreedomSchool.com. It’s got everything you need in one place to build a foundation for a lifetime of self-exploration and freedom. // If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.

This week is all about exploring our edges - how to know when we’re “at an edge,” and the importance of leaning into the discomfort that comes with them. We’ll also share some tips to help navigate our edges when we come across them… and why it’s 100% worth it to get close to them in the first place.You will learn:// What an “edge” is and the places in our lives it could show up// Why it’s important to lean into the discomfort of edges instead of buffering or numbing// How to change our perspective of edges to allow for more freedom and growth// Tools to navigate our edges when we come across them - and the discomfort that’s usually thereResources:// Episode 12: How to Expand Your Comfort Zone// Episode 199: What is Liminality? The Space Between Transitions// When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here  // If you want to dive deeper into this Soul-level work and create a life of more freedom, adventure and purpose, head over to JoinFreedomSchool.com. It’s got everything you need in one place to build a foundation for a lifetime of self-exploration and freedom. // If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.

In this week’s Episode I share how I managed to build deep and meaningful relationships with spiritual friends after years of feeling alone, and what you can do to find your own sangha - your spiritual community. Plus we’ll jam on the importance of letting go of those who no longer nourish you and your practice… and how to do it.You will learn:// Why it can be so hard to find true spiritual friends as an adult… especially in moments of major transition// How I began to find my people again, and the difference it made in my personal and spiritual path// The 4 types of friends and why we should prioritize those who fit these categories// The importance of taking action when you’re searching for your own spiritual communityResources:// Episode 115: Making Quality New Friends// Blog Post: Your Squad Matters// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here  // If you want to start gathering proof that there are spiritual friends in the world, come join us in Freedom School, where we gather once a week and you can get coached and witness other authentic souls exploring their path at JoinFreedomSchool.com// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.

In this week’s episode, we talk about why we’re often left feeling impatient, judging that we aren’t doing “enough” on our spiritual path; needing to do things better; more quickly; more intensely. It can be hard to let go of a striving mentality so that we can actually move at the pace we’re meant to. But the reality is that with our practice, we will naturally ripen. Our awakening is INEVITABLE. You will learn:// Why your awakening is inevitable (isn’t that great news?!)// The downside of impatience and striving for a quick-fix approach// How to stop grasping for growth on our spiritual path and allow it to naturally “ripen”// The importance of being led by trust vs control// Signs we’re trying to force our awakening instead of letting it take the time it needs// The Four Dharma Seals Resources:// Episode 126: How to Know if You’re Making Spiritual Progress// Episode 204: What if This Is as Good as it Gets.// Episode 208: The Sit Spot Practice - When It’s Hard to Meditate// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here  // If you want to dive deeper into this Soul-level work and create a life of more freedom, adventure and purpose, head over to JoinFreedomSchool.com. It’s got everything you need in one place to build a foundation for a lifetime of self-exploration and freedom. // If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.

In this week’s episode, we talk about a simple way we can become fully present in the moment we’re in: the Sit Spot practice. I’ll talk about how simply sitting and noticing what’s going on around me has helped me reconnect with nature on an intimate level and renewed how I view my meditation practice, finding freedom and joy in it after months of struggle.You will learn:// Why we all have moments of difficulty in our meditation practices and what we can do to help// What the sit spot practice is and how you can create your own// The importance of connecting with the more-than-human world in our ongoing practiceResources:// Episode 139: Nature and Reconnecting// Episode 196: What it Means to Be in Reciprocal Relationship// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here  // If you want to dive deeper into this Soul-level work and create a life of more freedom, adventure and purpose, head over to JoinFreedomSchool.com. It’s got everything you need in one place to build a foundation for a lifetime of self-exploration and freedom.// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.

This week we’re revisiting a classic Rebel Buddhist episode on how to set healthy boundaries. I’ll talk about the difference between a boundary and an ultimatum… and why a lot of us don’t know what each one is. Plus I’ll give you 5 questions you can ask yourself to ensure the boundaries you’re setting are aligned and healthy.In this Episode you will learn:// What The Manual is and how to identify it in your life and relationships // 5 questions to ask yourself when setting a healthy boundary // The difference between a boundary and an ultimatum // What is “worthy” of a boundary vs something you could make a request for (and how to deal with it if they say, “No thanks.” // If and when to tell others about your boundary // How to enforce a boundary from a place of love and compassion and not anger and resentmentResources:// Episode 16: How to Improve Any Relationship // Want to know more about how to create boundaries like a Buddha? Grab my free training on how to set boundaries that actually work – and how to do this from a place of kindness and compassion. www.BoundariesTraining.com// If you’re new to the squad, grab the starter kit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll get access to the private Facebook group where you can ask me questions! Once you join, there’s also a weekly FB live called Wake the F*ck Up Wednesday, where you can ask questions that come up as you do this work – in all parts of your life.// If you’re interested in finding out more about how to free your mind and free your life, join Freedom School. Enrollment is open, and we are diving DEEP into ways to cultivate clarity and courage so you can create your best life. There are also some sweet bonus courses for you there. It will set you up to live the best version of you in the year to come. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com

This week we talk about what we’re really seeking: not just a conceptual idea of the meaning of life (like we’ve all been taught to try to “understand”), but rather a visceral experience of being alive. I’ll dive into how we can find the embodied sense of being alive in a way that aligns with our truth. Plus, we’ll discuss some ways you can incorporate embodiment practices into your daily life.You will learn:// Why humans crave more than understanding the meaning of life, but also an embodied visceral experience of life// Why alignment with our values is essential to feeling truly alive // Practices to cultivate an embodied sense of being alive (without becoming adrenaline junkies ;)// How to balance insight and embodimentResources:// Episode 13: How to Quit Buffering// Episode 67: Why Adventure Is Essential to Your Evolution// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here// If you want to dive deeper into this Soul-level work and create a life of more freedom, adventure and purpose, head over to JoinFreedomSchool.com. It’s got everything you need in one place to build a foundation for a lifetime of self-exploration and freedom.// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics,