The Sit Spot Practice - When It’s Hard to Meditate

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,

In this episode, we talk about what the world - and our lives - might be like if we stopped hiding our suffering. Would it be a sh*t show? Or would our communities and society start admitting we need to take better care of our people and the more-than-human world? I’ll talk about the two things that can lead to healing and transformation and how we can all start making a change - for ourselves and those around us.You will learn:// Why we hide our suffering, even though it’s an unavoidable part of life// How hiding suffering keeps us from growing - personally and as a community// The two aspects of not hiding our suffering that can lead to healing and transformation// How to start making the change to stop hiding, for ourselves and othersResources:// Episode 63: Being Human Is Hard - The First Noble Truth// Episode 102: Start Close In// 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 start getting to the root cause of unnecessary suffering, and 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 episode we take the question of,  “What if this is as good as it gets?” and explore why we are having the reactions we do to that question, and what if we allow acceptance of the way things are in order to feel more ease and joy in the present? (and explore our resistance to the concept of acceptance of reality as it is).This is not about tolerating violations of our fundamental rights and safety or basic quality of life, but rather addressing the fact that when we are constantly waiting for things to be different and striving for that because we think THAT is what will make us happy, we are ironically setting ourselves up for a lot of discontent. Striving for an external factor - a change in circumstances for happiness.You will learn:// How to look toward a future of possibilities… AND love the beauty of where we are NOW// How accepting life as it is can bring us peace - and still maintain possibility// Some signs we’re stuck in an unhealthy view of our current and potential life// How to use “what if this is as good as it gets?” as a mindfulness toolResources:// Episode 141: The Gift of Paradox// Episode 201: How Is This My Life Right Now?// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here// Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. Plus, we have entire months devoted to wisdom and compassion. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can’t wait to see you there! // 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 “cool boredom,” and why it’s an important part of our meditation practice. It can open us up to the many skills needed on our path, including learning to not need constant ego-affirming stimuli, and the capacity to allow inner peace and self-inquiry. We’ll jam on the difference between cool and hot boredom and how each can serve its own purpose as we find a healthy balance between ecstatic experiences and simply being. The goal isn’t to live a life of cool boredom - it’s a middle way between that and ecstasy.You will learn:// Why boredom is important in our meditation practice// How boredom opens us up to many skills needed on our path// The difference between hot and cool boredom// How to find a balance between wild adventures and cool boredomResources:// Episode 65: The Art of Doing Nothing// Episode 109: The Gift of Silence// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here// Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. Plus, we have entire months devoted to wisdom and compassion. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can’t wait to see you there!// 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 episode, we talk about how understanding the emptiness and interdependent nature of our emotions and felt experience of energy can help us heal from shame, anxiety, rage, and more. I’ll talk about why we all struggle to see our energy as neither good nor bad, and the importance of finding community and support when we’re unable to see the potential for change in our own situation. We also dive into some practices to help us protect ourselves and also cleanse from heavier energy when it’s harder for us to see the emptiness of a situation, and how we can more effectively hold space for one another.In this episode, you will learn:// Why energy is neither inherently good or bad - and why we can still use protection and cleansing practices// How we can learn to view our own felt experience with emptiness and potential// How we can help others see their energy in this way, while protecting ourselves// Why we can’t do this work aloneResources:// Episode 24: How to Be With Any Emotion// Episode 28: Practical Emptiness// Episode 46: Letting Emotions Be Your Guide// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here// Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. Plus, we have entire months devoted to wisdom and compassion. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can’t wait to see you there!// 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.

Content Warning: This week’s episode involves a personal story about intimate partner violence.In this week’s episode, we talk about the times in life we find ourselves far from where we thought our life would be and wonder, “How the hell is this my life right now?” I’ll share my own story of healing and growth through a dark time of abuse, along with the key to bringing change and healing to any circumstance.You will learn:// Why we end up in the difficult life situations we do// How veering off our path doesn’t mean we are weak or naive// How we can end the loop and begin healing// Two tools we need to bring change and growthResources:// Episode 51: Self-Compassion// Episode 100: How to Know You’re Making Progress// Episode 175: The Two Wings of Freedom - Wisdom & Compassion// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here.// Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. Plus, we have entire months devoted to wisdom and compassion. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can’t wait to see you there! // 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.

Welcome to the 200th episode of the Rebel Buddhist Podcast! This week, we’re celebrating the WILD ones. And yes - that means we’re celebrating YOU. We’ll jam on some of my fave concepts and teachings from past episodes and why each one is a rebellious act on its own. Plus, I’ll tell you the most counter-cultural concepts of all!You will learn:// Why the consumerist, materialistic world can never free us from unnecessary suffering// Some of the most rebellious ideas and teachings from the past 200 episodes, including:> Impermanence & non-attachement> Non-dual perspective> Compassion> Mindfulness> Ehipassiko> Unnecessary suffering> Curing vs Healing// Why the world needs each of us - in all of our wild, rebellious, crazy gloryResources:// Episode 9: Impermanence, Death, and Other Sexy Things// Episode 51: Self-Compassion// Episode 60: How to Avoid Unnecessary Suffering// Episode 82: How to Live in Polarity// Episode 122: Come See for Yourself - Ehipassiko// Episode 161: Healing vs Curing// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here.// Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. Plus, we have entire months devoted to wisdom and compassion. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can’t wait to see you there!// 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.