Episodes

In this episode let's talk about what it really means to face death and why we can't know exactly what that will be like until we experience it. No matter how much reading, thinking and planning we do for death we will still be taken by surprise when it comes for us. But if we can learn to live one day--or one moment--at a time we will hopefully be able to respond to that experience in a creative and meaningful way. This episode includes: Tips for living one day at a time from the recovery comm...

As a follow-up to last week's episode I'm talking about how we can actually learn to slow down in this fast-paced society of ours that values speed, accomplishment, and acquisition. First understand why it's essential to slow down and enjoy each moment of your life and then gradually get used to taking "slow dates" with yourself. Here are some tips for doing that: Remember that life is fleeting. Cherish each moment of life that is given to you. Be willing to see the inner aspect of yourself (...

Today I'm sharing my thoughts on our society's desire to speed things up and take shortcuts to get to our goal. This is a problem that leads to a lack of enjoyment and meaning in day to day life! This episode includes: Why giving our time to activities makes them more meaningful. We can find joy and love in any moment if we learn to take our time and be fully present. The "little bit farther" method for accomplishing a goal. Get my latest book The Journey from Ego to Soul Support this podcas...

Today I'm sharing with you a piece of the journey I am currently walking with a friend who has received a terminal diagnosis. I'm living the challenge of coping with bad news and want to share with my thoughts on how to get through these days and be a support to her while honoring my own process. Here are some of the things that have occurred to me so far: Feel my own pain. Find my own support. Be present but allow space. Sit with the uncertainty. Manage both the darkness and the laughter. ...

In today's episode I'm considering one of the most challenging of all the questions people Google about life: Why do we die? This questions has been considered by poets, philosophers, scientists, sociologists and seekers throughout the age of humankind. But there is no answer to this question. Instead I talk about how we learn to live with the knowledge that we are mortal and share two poems that offer helpful perspectives. I hope you enjoy it!

In this episode I want to look at compassion from the perspective of YOU: how does it benefit you to be compassionate toward other people. The world needs more compassion right now (desperately) and I want to motivate EVERYONE to show more compassion, even if it's only to get the personal rewards of being a compassionate person. My inspiration for this episode comes from the book Compassionomics by Trzeciak and Mazzarelli and I highly recommend it. This episode includes: The definition of compa...

In this episode I'm addressing another of the most frequently Googled questions about life: Is Karma real? I explore how my lower egoic self views Karma (and really, really wants it to be real) and also an alternative view of Karma from a higher perspective. This episode includes: The meaning of Karma in Hinduism and Buddhism. Why the ego clings to the simplistic cause and effect idea of Karma. How using Karma as an explanation for seemingly bad or good things that happen in life can be harmf...

In this episode I talk about the true meaning of integrity and why it may be harder to achieve than we realize. Yet integrity (or wholeness) is necessary if we really want to bring about change in the world. Why we need to look at our own Shadow if we want to act with greater integrity. How our own hidden issues can sabotage our attempts to behave with integrity. Why exploring the Shadow is necessary if we want to grow in consciousness. To become integrated (at the Integral level of consciou...

Today I'm answering two more questions about life from those are most frequently searched on Google: What is knowledge? and What is wisdom? It's important to know the difference and to learn how to increase your wisdom throughout life, since our society seems to be lacking in genuine wisdom right now. This episode includes: Knowledge expands and changes over time. We have to be careful of false knowledge that can lead us astray. Wisdom is only learned through the experiences of life (usually ...

Today we'll talk about the importance of living in a state of love and how difficult that can be when we are inundated with fearful circumstances in our world. As we hear non-stop frightening reports about the war in Ukraine, climate change, political and social unrest, we naturally respond with anxiety and fear but if we can transcend the fear and live with love we have a chance to help make things better for ourselves and for others. This episode includes: Why love needs to be a daily practic...

Today let's talk about uncertainty since it is surrounding us in the world right now. Not only are we still coping with the pandemic that has stressed us for 2 years but now there is war occurring in Ukraine and a potential threat of nuclear war that could affect all of us. These are challenging times and we need to know how to rise above them, since life is actually always uncertain--we just are not always aware of that fact. Here are some tools for coping that I talk about in this episode: St...

In this episode I'm discussing another frequently searched for question about life: How can I be a better person? This is big and important and also something we can (and should) spend our entire lives working on. Here is a simple (but not easy) way of looking at some tasks to consider as you work toward being a better person. This nomenclature comes from Ken Wilber's Integral Theory but I've put my own spin on these 4 things: Wake Up - recognize that you are more than just your ego. Grow Up -...

In this episode I tackle one of the biggest and most common questions people Google-search about life: What is the meaning of life? This question seems far too huge to address in 30 minutes BUT I want to bring it down from the vastness of the unknowable universe to our experience of everyday life, moment-to-moment and breath-to-breath. This episode includes: Viktor Frankl's writing on Man's Search for Meaning. Why it's so important for us to remember that we can always find meaning in the mids...

In this episode I talk about my own recent musings over whether or not I'm actually doing what I'm supposed to be doing and why that's a universal and unanswerable question! I had to remind myself of my own writings about Purpose and review how to stay focused on the "inner purpose" of life. This episode includes: The difference between inner and outer purpose. Why we need to focus on our inner purpose first in order to ensure that our outer purpose aligns with the highest good. Practices to ...

As we begin our 3rd year of the COVID pandemic, many of us are undoubtedly feeling emotionally exhausted and lacking in empathy for other people who are suffering right now. But empathy is essential if we want to navigate our journeys here and keep growing spiritually. So we'll look at some tips for improving and expanding our ability to empathize with others who are experiencing difficulties. This episode includes: The definition of empathy. How empathy and compassion differ from one another....

In this episode I take a look at one of the most frequently searched questions about life according to Google: How to pray. Apparently searches regarding prayer have skyrocketed during the pandemic as people look for ways to deal with fear and uncertainty. I share how I view prayer as a non-religious person and my own personal practice plus some information on why prayer is a practice worth considering. This episode includes: Studies on the benefits of prayer. Why you don't have to be religiou...

In this episode I consider the 3rd question of those that people most frequently Google about life: How do I forgive? This is an important that signals the timing is right for some healing and growth to occur if you feel motivated to forgive. Here are some things you should know as you start to work on forgiveness: Have a mindset that you are willing to move on from the past and no longer want to carry a load of resentment and pain from the past. Acknowledge that harm has been done to you and ...

In this episode I'll discuss my current project to declutter my house and how it's forcing me to deal with the balance between holding on to things and letting go. This turns out to be an important issue spiritually. This episode includes: The ego is primarily interested in holding onto things (especially power and control). Spiritual growth involves training the ego to let go. But sometimes holding on is what is needed and the timing matters a great deal. How I've found the balance between ...

Today I'm reflecting on another of the most common questions about life that people ask Google: How do I find love? While most people are probably searching for romantic love and wondering what is the best dating app to use, I'm talking about the much bigger picture of Divine, universal, creative love and some of the work I'm doing in my life to increase my ability to give and receive love (which is what we came here to do!) This episode includes: We already carry love within us (in fact we are...

In this episode I'll briefly share some ideas for non-material gifts you can "give" yourself to help make the holiday more meaningful and less hectic and exhausting. This is part of my own journey to get better at self-care so I'm sharing it with you as I try to learn how to do it myself. There won't be an episode next week because I'm taking the week off to enjoy the holidays (self-care!!) so I'll see you next time in 2022! This episode includes 6 gifts you should try to give yourself this year...

In this episode I talk about another pressing question we all deal with about life: how do we find happiness? I'm definitely not an expert on happiness but I have spent much of my life wishing I could be a happier person. So I'll share some poems and Rumi quotes with you and some stories of my own quest for happiness. Here are some of the things I've learned: Don't compare yourself to others. Trust happiness to come when you are ready. Happiness is an inside job so do your inner work. Savor ...

In this episode I talk about the perennial question of life: Why do bad things happen (to ALL people - not just good people.) It's important that we talk about this because we need to develop a mindset that helps us when unwanted things do happen in our lives. This episode includes: The Parable of the Chinese Farmer and how some things that appear to be "bad" can actually turn out to be "good" in the end (and vice versa.) Why we should learn not to label events in our lives as bad or good and ...

In this quick episode I share what I'm learning right now and how I'm planning ahead to have a healthy and low-stress holiday season this year (wish me luck!) But to do that I have to work on setting better boundaries and honoring my own needs, which is what I'm working on. I hope you have a healthy and happy holiday season too! Remember to plan ahead, set clear priorities, communicate your needs and focus on the things that you enjoy most! Watch my 1-hour presentation on Self-Care for the Holi...

In this episode I share some quotes and poems about gratitude in honor of Thanksgiving Day in the US. If you live elsewhere I hope you'll also take a moment to be thankful and to commit to making gratitude a daily practice as part of your Shadow work. This episode includes: Why we need to give thanks even if we can't see anything positive around or within us. How the intentional practice of gratitude helps "clean the window" through which we view life and adds more clarity, peace and order to ...