Shows
What Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 99 What Does it Mean to "Find Meaning" in Our ChallengesIn this episode I talk about the resistance in some parts of our society to the idea of finding meaning in the difficulties of life. I share my own journey of discovering meaning in life and how I now perceive the tragedies that have happened in the past. This episode includes:
What people from 17 different countries find meaningful in life (according to a survey)
How we humans are wired to find meaning in our existence before we die
Why Viktor Frankl said that people who found meaning were more likely to survive in concentration camps
Why some people...2023-02-2229 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 98 Finding Love in All the Hopeless PlacesIn this episode recorded on Valentine's Day I share some stories about love and how we can continue to find the light of love even in times of despair and hopelessness. This episode includes:
How an anonymous gift can change everything.
How we found love in a nursing home.
The "many-splintered" nature of love.
Self-compassion practice for opening to the light of love.
The Lovingkindness Blessing.
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify...2023-02-1530 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 97 How to Grow in WisdomIn this episode I share some thoughts on how we can actually become wiser as we go through life and why we need to utilize our own life experiences to help us grow. This episode includes:
The difference between knowledge and wisdom
The "3 pillars" of wisdom
Why external sources (like sacred scriptures) are not enough to help us grow in true wisdom
The inward journey requires us to examine the pain of life
The 7 lessons that have formed my "wisdom path"
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Support this podcast to...2023-02-0830 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 96 Why We Need More AWE in Our LivesIn this episode I discuss my own longing for awe-inspiring experiences in my day-to-day life and what I've learned about AWE through my studies. This episode includes:
The definition of awe
What creates an experience of awe for us
The 8 benefits of awe experiences
The most common source of awe as shown in studies
The daily A.W.E. practice that can remind you to be open to living in awe of the universe
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...2023-02-0730 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 95 How to See Beyond Our Own PerspectivesIn this podcast I share some insights I got while reading Ann Neumann's book The Good Death. She tells a story about meeting with a disability advocate who is adamantly opposed to medical aid in dying and how they became friends over time by listening and understanding each other's perspective. Taking more than one perspective is part of our growth to higher consciousness and I share some steps to take:
Understand how your own "lens" has formed throughout your life
Be willing to broaden your perspective beyond the one way you are accustomed to looking at the world
L...2023-01-2532 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 94 Are We Going to Die ... Or Not?In this episode I talk about contrasting messages observed on social media: "You're going to die" vs "There is no death." It's important to look at the levels of consciousness from which these two seemingly opposite statements arise in order to see how they could both be true at the same time. This episode includes:
How people on both sides of this discussion dislike my use of "end of life"
What end of life means to me as an umbrella term
What it means to "die before we die"
Why we need to embrace physical death even if...2023-01-1830 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 93 What is Most Precious to You?In this episode I share some advice that was offered by a teacher of astrology for the coming year. She recommended that we each figure out what is most precious to us and remember to live by that and bring it to the world this year. For me, what is most precious is also "what really matters" and the "ultimate concern" of our lives. This episode includes:
How I first discovered "what really matters" in my life at age 16
Why we need to have a core principle or value that informs and illuminates our path
How to figure...2023-01-1130 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 92 10 Strategies for Facing FearWelcome to the first episode of 2023! Today I'm sharing a list of 10 strategies used by free climber Alex Honnold to overcome fear as he trained to do a solo free-climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in 2017. Let's apply those strategies to our own lives as we figure out how to navigate the challenges of aging and facing our own mortality. This episode includes Alex's strategies:
Desire to overcome fear
Reflect in a journal
Have confidence in your strengths
Reframe your emotions
Work with your doubts
Control the things you can control
Expand your comfort zone gradually
P...2023-01-0430 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 91 My Top 10 Transformative Practices in 2022In this episode I take a look back at 2022 and share with you the practices I've utilized this year - some old and some new - that have made a big difference for me. Stop for a moment and reflect on this year for you - what have you done that has made a difference for you? This episode includes my top 10:
Yoga stretches
Mindfulness
Journaling
Breathing exercises
Walking outdoors
Strength training
Macro balanced diet
3 self-compassion practices from https://self-compassion.org
Happy holidays to you and your beloveds! I'll see you in the new year (I'm taking...2022-12-2132 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 90 How to Rise Above NarcissismIn this episode I dive deeper into the Inward Journey (or Arc) mentioned in last week's episode. This journey is essential for rising above the control of the ego in our lives and the narcissism it perpetuates. This episode includes:
The Inward Journey is often catalyzed by crisis or things falling apart.
Why you need to understand how ego operates and recognize its control over your behavior
Why healing the pain and wounds of the Shadow is an important part of the Inward Journey.
The behaviors and values of ego vs. higher consciousness.
How to become aware of...2022-12-1430 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 89 What's the Difference Between Belief and Faith?This episode begins with a quote from philosopher Alan Watts who says that belief is almost the opposite of faith. We'll take a deep dive into that comment and what it might mean, particularly for the 4 stages of consciousness that are predominant in our society right now. This episode includes:
How Alan Watts differentiates belief and faith.
A review of the 4 predominant stages of consciousness.
How belief, doubt, and faith unfold with advancing consciousness.
Why doubt is a necessary step to get from belief to faith.
Why increased creativity and vision are possible at the Integral level of...2022-12-0739 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 88 What is Toxic Positivity?In this episode I'm sharing what I've learned about toxic positivity and how to avoid it in our own lives and in our work with other people. This episode includes:
The definition of toxic positivity.
Why it's harmful, especially to people going through a time of darkness.
The vicious cycle of feeling guilty for experiencing painful emotions.
What to say to someone who is hurting avoid toxically positive comments.
Why all of our coping tools like meditation and gratitude may not be helpful in the midst of deep despair.
How to allow all your feelings to arise and...2022-11-3033 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 87 What if the World Doesn't Want My Gifts?In this episode I'm answering a listener's question who has faced a lot of disappointment and discouragement in trying to bring their gifts to the world. I'll share with you how I answered that question (which I have also asked a few times in my life) and what I think we need to do to cope with this kind of challenge. This episode includes:
Why the timing may not be quite right yet for your gifts to be received.
Why there may be small things you need to tweak or adjust in your "creation" before it is truly...2022-11-2321 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 86 How to Become More ResilientIn this episode I'm looking at the quality of resilience and why we need to have more of it right now as we navigate life on planet Earth. With the help of a fun self-assessment from www.resiliencecenter.com we'll look at the factors that determine our resilience and some things we can do to improve it. This episode includes:
What it means to be resilient.
How to assess your own level of resilience.
Why it's possible to increase your ability to be resilient.
How life itself can help us become resilient through the challenges it brings us.
...2022-11-1636 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 85 How to Hold On to Love in the Midst of FearI'm recording this as we face another crucial election day here in the US and fear seems to be at an all-time all around me. We need to learn how to stay in a state of love and not be consumed by this fear so I'm sharing my thoughts on how to do that. This episode includes:
How our brains are wired to perceive negative events and emotions 10X more strongly than positive.
Why we have to have practices to move ourselves toward a state of love when fear threatens to take over.
How Nelson Mandela cultivated love...2022-11-0929 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 84 What to do About ProcrastinationIn this episode I'm finally getting around to looking at one of my core issues in life: procrastination (I'm a master at it.) This episode includes:
Why we procrastinate.
What I'm procrastinating on right now.
The positive and negative aspects of procrastination.
The downward spiral of procrastination and self-judgment.
Studies show that procrastination and low self-compassion go hand-in-hand.
How to use a "self-compassion break" to stop procrastinating
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters...2022-11-0223 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 83 How to Cope with FailureIn this episode I'm sharing some thoughts on how to deal with our mistakes both in the past and the present. According to research we humans are not very good at accepting or learning from failure and this is something I want to deal with in my own life. This episode includes:
People avoid learning from failure because it is too threatening to the ego.
Reframe past failure into positive stories of growth and learning.
It's important to feel all the feelings associated with failure: sadness, regret, guilt, shame, disappointment.
Have a long-term goal that transcends all your...2022-10-2627 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 82 Finding Beauty in EverythingToday I'm sharing with you a brief little story that focuses on this statement by Confucius: "Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it." I hope you'll find hidden beauty somewhere today and every day!
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karen-wyatt/message2022-10-1916 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 81 How to Stop Envying Other PeopleI've recently gotten in touch with my own inner feelings of envy, which I've repressed for a long time out of shame and self-judgement. But I do have those feelings at times and in this episode I'll talk about how I'm working through them along with old wounds that have led me to believe I'm not good enough. I've turned to the Greater Good Science Center for some of their recommendations to help me out (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu). Here are the steps I'm taking to work through these uncomfortable feelings:
Admit that they are present.
Recognize that...2022-10-1222 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 80 Finding Antidotes to DespairToday I'm sharing my own inner work on feelings of despair that have been present a lot during recent times because of all the struggle and pain in the world right now. But I've found some ways to rise above despair that I hope you'll find helpful too. This episode includes:
Why it's important to find our own meaning during times of despair.
My 6 favorite action steps that help me rise above despair.
How despair has within it the seeds of hope.
The mindset we need to cultivate to get through times of suffering.
Get my latest...2022-10-0531 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 79 How to Prepare for the WorstYou know how people always say "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst?" Let's talk about HOW to actually be prepared for the challenges that life can bring our way. If we devote some time every day to practicing for an unknown future, we can build our resilience and our ability to be ready for growth when difficulties offer us an opportunity. This episode includes:
Rumi's The Guest House poem.
Why our spiritual practice needs to take us outside our comfort zone.
How to "set the table" to be prepared for the future.
Why forgiveness is...2022-09-2827 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 78 Self-Compassion and Healing Old GriefIn this episode I share the progress I've been making using the tools of self-compassion I learned several weeks ago from Kristin Neff's website: www.self-compassion.org. I also talk about a recent resurgence of old inner messages of guilt and shame about my father's death related to working on an old manuscript. This episode includes:
How self-compassion has changed how I view myself and also how I perceive criticism from others.
Why my old stored feelings of grief and guilt have been coming into view recently.
How self-blame and shame actually discourage us from utilizing self-compassion.
How...2022-09-2127 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 77 A New View of AnxietyIn this episode I share some interesting information I've been reading from psychologist and anxiety researcher Tracy Dennis-Tiwary. Her new book is Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good for Your (Even Though it Feels Bad.) This research really opened my mind to view anxiety in a positive light and I think it is life-changing for our society! This episode includes:
How anxiety has been pathologized and medicalized in the past.
Why rejecting anxious feelings just leads to more anxiety.
How anxiety is like a smoke detector, encouraging you to investigate something to learn more about what's happening.
Moderate...2022-09-1424 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 76 Why is Life So Painful?Today I'm talking about another of those existential questions people often ask Google: Why is life so painful? I take you on a journey through my thoughts of the past few days and how I've learned to live with questions that can never be fully answered. This episode includes:
How childbirth and grief are painful experiences at opposite ends of the life journey.
The story of Parsifal on his quest for the Holy Grail.
The two questions that can help us transcend the ego and find the soul.
Why asking the right questions is more important than finding...2022-09-0729 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 75 How to Deal With the Inner CriticIn this episode I share how my work on self-compassion has led me directly to confront my inner critic - that awful voice that constantly critiques everything I do. Since all of us have that voice in our head we can all benefit from learning how to recognize and soften the inner critic. This episode includes:
How to recognize the messages being sent by your inner critic.
Understanding that fear is the basis for this inner negative dialogue.
How to have compassion for the critical voice rather than anger or judgment.
How to use a compassionate gesture to...2022-08-3124 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 74 Why Forgiveness Still MattersIn this episode I respond to a recent post on social media that featured an angry obituary a son wrote after his father's death. The obituary revealed the harm the father had done throughout his lifetime to everyone around him as an abusive alcoholic who lacked integrity and remorse. I share the story of a patient named Ralph from my hospice days, who had a similar life story to the father in the obituary, but who found a form of redemption at the very end of his life. While it's important that we be able to talk about and...2022-08-2435 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 73 Why We Need More Self-Compassion and Less Self-EsteemToday I'm sharing with you something I've been working on for the past few weeks, which is "self-compassion." I've been reading and doing exercises from a wonderful website that features the work of Dr. Kristin Neff: www.self-compassion.org. Check it out for yourself if you're interested but I'm sharing a bit of this information here. This episode includes:
What is self-compassion.
How self-compassion differs from self-esteem, self-pity, and self-indulgence.
Self-esteem comes from the ego while self-compassion is a function of the higher self.
The benefits of a self-compassion practice include increased resilience and decreased narcissism.
Self-compassion is...2022-08-1725 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 72 10 Daily Reminders for Living More ConsciouslyIn this episode I'll share a list of 10 tips and tools you can use to help you grow in consciousness day by day. Check out these ideas and pick 1 or 2 that you resonate with or that might fit into your schedule. Over time you can learn additional tools so that eventually you will have them all available to you whenever you need them. These daily reminders include:
Set an intention for the day each morning.
Have a "learning" mindset.
Practice healthy eating and exercise.
Focus on small changes - one step at a time.
Practice deep breathing.
Spend 5...2022-08-1036 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 71 How to Not Be Disappointed With LifeIn this episode I share some thoughts on life and how to have a mindset of acceptance, surrender, and flow so that whatever happens we can meet the moment with grace. This week a poem, a video and a Facebook post have come my way to influence my thoughts and help shape this episode, which includes:
Live each day to the fullest; poem All the More by Kayleen Asbo.
Don't wish your life away; video by an 88 (or so) year old woman.
Everything belongs. Post by someone living with terminal cancer and making the most of each moment.
2022-08-0323 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 70 How to Survive These Precarious TimesIn this short episode I share my thoughts on what it is going to take for us to get through our currently challenging times and why it is important that we be wise, calm, loving mentors for all the young ones being born on this planet. Here are my commitments to survive these precarious times:
Remember that life has always been uncertain and part of spiritual growth is learning to live with uncertainty.
Remember that new life and growth spring from pain - the world is set up that way.
Trust that there will be new emergence and...2022-07-2720 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 69 How to Forgive Your Former SelfIn the process of spiritual growth it is normal to look back at our former selves and feel shame, guilt or regret over how we used to behave. We may not be able to understand how we could have thought and believed in things that no longer hold true for us. But part of our growth to integral consciousness is being able to forgive our own former selves and accept who we have been in the past so that we can move on now. Here are some steps to take toward self-acceptance and forgiveness:
Be able to look...2022-07-2026 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 68 What to Do When You're ExhaustedIn this episode I admit that I am truly exhausted and weary right now - partly from my own personal life and also because of the troubles of the world and our planet right now. But I've been inspired by a new book of poetry (Love Notes fro the Hollow Tree by Jarod K. Anderson) and by the coming birth of my first grandchild and I'll share with you how I'm regrouping and becoming re-energized through a connection with nature. I hope you find it helpful!
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2022-07-1323 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 67 How We Grow: Stages of Consciousness Part 3Today I'll finish up this 3 part series on the stages of consciousness by talking about the Integral stage, which we should all be working toward in our own development. If you haven't heard the previous 2 episodes please listen to them first so that you'll understand what I'm talking about today. For reference you can seek out Integral Vision by Ken Wilber or Google "Spiral Dynamics" by Beck and Cowan. This episode includes:
The characteristics of the Integral stage.
Integral is the first stage of the "2nd tier" of development.
The values of a person at the Integral stage.
...2022-07-0635 min
What Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 66 How We Grow: Stages of Consciousness Part 2In this episode I continue a discussion of the stages of consciousness we "grow through" as we develop as spiritual beings. Be sure to listen to Episode 65 to hear more about this concept and then return here for a look at 4 of the stages of consciousness and why they are at war with one another in our society today:
Traditional
Rational
Pluralistic
Integral
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show...2022-06-2946 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 65 How We Grow: Stages of Consciousness Part 1In this episode I begin discussing a model of the stages of growth we experience as humans, particularly regarding our spirituality and consciousness. Looking at ourselves and the rest of the world through the lens of this model can help us develop greater understanding of others and also appreciate how we have come to be where we are right now. If we hope to keep growing it's important to know how growth occurs and what we can do to foster it. I'll talk more about the 4 most common stages in the next episode. This episode includes:
How our...2022-06-2236 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 64 How to Face Your Fear of DeathIn this episode I talk about the fact that accepting our mortality is one of the keys to spiritual growth because we need to get beyond ego, which fears death above all else. In fact I always remind myself and you at the end of each episode to "face your fear" and today I'll share some practical ideas about how to confront your own fear of death and work toward acceptance. To work on your fear try these 6 practices:
Think about death daily. Read my book The Tao of Death. https://amzn.to/3zEBLzU
Journal about death, your...2022-06-1529 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 63 What Do Dreams Mean?In this episode I'm discussing another of the most frequently Googled questions about life: what do dreams mean? As an active dreamer who has had many dreams in the past that have changed my life, I love talking about this subject. I'll share one of the most powerful, enlightening, transformative dreams I've ever had at the end of the episode, so listen all the way to the end. This episode includes:
Why is dreaming necessary.
When do dreams occur.
The benefits of dreaming as "overnight therapy."
How dreams help with creativity, problem-solving, healing, and memory storage.
How to...2022-06-0838 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 62 What to Do With a Broken HeartAs this episode airs here in the US we are all feeling broken-hearted after two recent mass shootings on top of 1 million COVID deaths, the horrific war in Ukraine, and the accelerating climate crisis on this planet. We are shattered and feel helpless and powerless to do anything about the pain that is overwhelming us collectively. Here are a few things to focus on as we process this grief:
Sit with the pain.
Write about the pain and anger through poetry, stories, or free-form jibberish.
Vocalize the grief by crying, weeping, singing, chanting, screaming, or wailing.
Move the...2022-06-0128 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 61 How to Resolve a ConflictIn this episode I'm sharing two practices from the Greater Good Science Center I've been working with to improve conflict in my relationships and I hope they are helpful to you too: taking a 3rd person perspective and making an effective apology. This episode includes:
Why it helps to take a bigger perspective during a conflict.
How to use deep breathing to stay calm during an argument.
Why you need to become vulnerable to improve your conflicts.
How making an apology is helpful during a conflict.
4 elements of an effective apology.
Get my latest book The Journey...2022-05-2531 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 60 What is it Like to Die?In this episode I'm answering another one of the most frequently Googled questions about life: What is it like to die? This is a huge question that I actually have enough experience as a hospice doctor to try to answer. It's important to talk about this because we need enough information about death and dying to help us have less fear so that we can live life more fully. This episode includes:
Sudden death vs. gradual death from chronic illness.
The stages of the natural dying process.
How to help a loved one who is experiencing the natural...2022-05-1833 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 59 Mortality is Just a Theory (until you know you're dying)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 community.
Why we...2022-05-1225 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 58 How to Live in the Slow LaneAs 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 (thoughts, emotions, Shadow) and of your entire life.
Start with one 15...2022-05-0423 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 57 There Are No ShortcutsToday 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 podcast on...2022-04-2721 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 56 How to Cope with Bad NewsToday 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.
Hold hope and reality...2022-04-2028 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 55 Why Do We Die?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!
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karen-wyatt/message2022-04-1323 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 54 Why Be Compassionate to Others?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 compassion.
How our compassion can heal others.
Why there's always enough time for compassion.
Compassionate behaviors.
...2022-04-0629 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 53 Is Karma Real?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 harmful.
Why we need to do inner Shadow work to clean...2022-03-3027 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 52 What is Integrity?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 consciousness) we need to be as whole as...2022-03-2334 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 51 The Difference Between Knowledge and WisdomToday 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 the painful and difficult experiences.)
Wisdom shines a light on everything and helps us recognize f...2022-03-1636 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 50 How to Cultivate Love in Times of FearToday 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 practice right now.
How to create a circle of love...2022-03-0938 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 49 How to Cope with Uncertainty in LifeToday 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:
Stillness.
Connectedness.
"Chop wood and carry...2022-03-0231 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 48 How to be a Better PersonIn 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 - learn how to manage your emotions a...2022-02-2331 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 47 What is the Meaning of Life?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 midst of deepest suffering.
How I came to see LOVE as the deep meaning of...2022-02-1631 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 46 What Am I Doing Here?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 stay tapped into our higher selves, even when we...2022-02-0930 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 45 How to Improve Your Empathy SkillsAs 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.
The benefits of empathy for us and others.
The difference between empathic distress and empathic concern.
Tips...2022-02-0231 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 44 How to PrayIn 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 religious to utilize prayer.
Why non-directed prayer is more helpful that directed prayer.
How...2022-01-2626 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 43 How Do I Forgive?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 you didn't deserve...2022-01-1945 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 42 Holding On vs Letting GoIn 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 holding on and letting go in my long-term marriage.
Why we need to...2022-01-1232 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 41 How Do I Find Love?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 made of it!)
The lower self...2022-01-0532 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 40 Gifts to Give Yourself This Holiday SeasonIn 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 and that includes starting a journal, if...2021-12-2218 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 39 How to Be HappyIn 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 each moment of joy that...2021-12-1526 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 38 Why Do Bad Things Happen?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 think of...2021-12-0844 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 37 How to Set Boundaries During the HolidaysIn 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 Holidays! https://youtu.be/qXaI7Lr9w1...2021-12-0118 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 36 The Importance of Practicing GratitudeIn 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 our lives.
Gratitude is the ability to...2021-11-2425 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 35 How Healing Yourself Heals the WorldIn part 4 of the series on the Shadow I talk about the collective Shadow and why we need to work on our own internal pain before we can begin to heal the problems of the world that are external to us. Be sure to listen to the previous 3 episodes on Shadow if you haven't already done so! This episode includes:
The collective Shadow is becoming more apparent now as evidenced by the increasing awareness in society of racism, homophobia, misogyny, genocide, mistreating the planet, and all the other ills of mankind.
The ego hates change and will resist...2021-11-1726 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 34 The 3-2-1 Process for Healing the ShadowIn this episode we continue to look at Shadow and how we can begin to heal our own individual wounds and traumas that are hidden away from view. Remember that this is the most important work you can do if you want to grow spiritually and to increase your capacity for love. This episode includes Ken Wilber's 3-2-1 Process for working on the Shadow and I'll walk you through each step with an example from my own life. Be sure to start by listening to Episodes 32 and 33 to get the background you'll need before trying this process.
K...2021-11-1034 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 33 How to Recognize Your ShadowIn this episode I talk about some simple ways you can begin to get in touch with your own shadow issues so that you can heal and reintegrate them. This is an essential first step in doing shadow work because "you don't know what you don't know." These 4 suggestions will help you explore and analyze the ways your shadow reveals itself in your day-to-day life, which will be tremendously helpful as you move forward with healing work that leads to your spiritual growth. These 4 suggestions are:
Examine conflicts in your work or daily life and analyze the other...2021-11-0334 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 32 Shining Light on the ShadowIn this episode I discuss the Shadow aspect of the ego or lower self and why the spiritual journey requires us to delve into all the pain and wounds that are stored there. Our Western society shuns the idea of the Shadow and rejects all failure, weakness and loss. But the "shadowlands" as Richard Rohr writes "are good and necessary teachers." So let's look within on our spiritual journey and begin the task of healing what has been relegated to the shadows. This episode includes:
Metaphors for the rich, nurturing aspect of the shadow (lotus, tulip, butterfly).
Shadow...2021-10-2736 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 31 Why Death Awareness is Necessary for Spiritual GrowthIn this episode I talk about the merging of my end-of-life studies with my spiritual practice and why the two are inextricably linked together. Through the writings of Carl Jung and Ken Wilber it is clear that there is a time in life for many of us when our focus turns inward, toward our spiritual growth rather than toward success in the external world. That shift often occurs suddenly when we become aware of our own mortality or can happen after a consciousness-expanding experience such as taking a psychedelic substance. This episode includes:
In Tibetan Buddhist culture people...2021-10-2024 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 30 The Galaxy and the Garden: Multiple Ways of Seeing the PandemicIn this episode I discuss what I call the "Garden" and "Galaxy" views of life and why we need to be able to take both perspectives right now. Life in our individual "garden" existence here on planet Earth is under threat right now and we are overwhelmed with stress and uncertainty because of the pandemic. The view from the Galaxy is needed to help us cope and contribute to positive change. This episode includes:
Pandemics are historical and part of the cycle of life and death.
Human behavior has been similar in each of the pandemics and plagues...2021-10-1333 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 29 The Four-Fold Way of Angeles ArrienToday I'm sharing a tool I've used for many years to help me stay in alignment with my values and my higher wisdom. These 4 pieces of advice come from teacher Angeles Arrien and her Four-Fold Way - I have paraphrased them over the years and this is how I think of them. I'll talk about each one and then give an example of how to use this tool in any situation such as helping a loved one who is grieving.
Show up.
Pay attention.
Tell the truth.
Don't attach to the outcome.
Check out my website at...2021-10-0633 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 28 Spirituality With or Without GodIn this episode I share why it's important to be aware of your own spirituality whether you believe in God or not. You can work on your spiritual growth and the expansion of your consciousness even if you don't or can't believe in a deity. In fact it's essential that we each do this work now in order to become our best and highest selves. This episode includes:
Why we each need to be aware of our own spiritual nature.
A new definition of spirituality that doesn't require a deity.
Three levels of consciousness that are predominant in...2021-09-2939 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 27 What the Ego Needs to Learn About DeathIn this episode I discuss the 5th lesson the ego needs to learn: You are going to die. This is the most difficult concept for the ego to master because death is ego's greatest fear. I'll share why learning this lesson is essential before true spiritual growth can occur and how to continually work on this concept. Confronting the mortality of the physical body is an ongoing, life-long practice! This episode includes:
Why this is the last of the 5 lessons.
Why we can't rush ahead into teachings about the afterlife before the ego has grasped its own mortality.
...2021-09-2236 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 26 What the Ego Needs to Learn About ControlIn this episode we discuss the 4th lesson the ego needs to learn, which is "You are not in control." This is one of the greatest challenges for the ego since its primary desire is to achieve control over as much of life as possible. But that's why this is one of the most important steps toward spiritual growth - helping your ego surrender to higher wisdom and consciousness. This episode includes:
Why the ego is determined to control our lives.
The mixed messages in our society (and our own minds) about surrendering.
The spiritual teachings about surrender.
...2021-09-1534 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 25 What the Ego Needs to Learn About PurposeIn this episode I talk about the 3rd lesson the ego needs to learn, which is "Your life is not about you." This is a challenging lesson for us to hear but an important one. The ego needs to learn that life has a higher and greater purpose than just this human existence. This episode includes:
We are part of the greater purpose but we don't create or control that purpose.
We may not even understand or comprehend the role we play in the greater purpose.
We are actually here to be channels of love.
The greater purpose of...2021-09-0823 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 24 What the Ego Needs to Learn About ImportanceToday we're looking at the 2nd lesson the ego needs to learn (see the previous episode for lesson #1): You're not that important. This is a challenging truth for the ego to face but essential if we want to truly grow spiritually. This episode includes:
Western civilization is functioning at an individualistic ego-driven level of consciousness right now.
How most of our current problems on the planet stem from ego-driven behavior that is not modulated by higher consciousness.
Why we have to humble the ego with this message before we can begin to learn higher spiritual truths.
How the...2021-09-0128 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 23 What the Ego Needs to Learn: Life is HardIn this episode I share the first of a series of "lessons" the ego needs to learn in order to become a better ally for our higher consciousness and for our day-to-day lives. "Life is hard" is not something the ego likes to look at but that realization is the very beginning of all of our spiritual growth. This episode includes:
The ego divides everything into "good" and "bad" and places blame on others for the "bad" parts of life.
Why ego-controlled thinking leads to perpetual victimhood.
How to sit with the difficult situations of life and embrace...2021-08-2529 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 22 Dealing with the EgoIn this episode I share some excerpts from my book The Journey from Ego to Soul and talk about why we need to recognize the ego when it controls our behavior instead of our higher consciousness. This episode includes:
A description of the ego's common behaviors.
How to recognize times when your ego is in control.
Understanding that the wounds your ego hides will always have an effect on how you see the world.
Why looking at our ego behaviors honestly can help us identify our shadow issues, and healing our shadows can help us "train" our ego.
...2021-08-1836 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 21 Relationships: Something New in Every MomentToday I'll discuss how to experience something new in our relationships rather than replaying old history again and again in our interactions. This discussion includes:
How the brain's negativity bias has caused us to store old memories of pain and woundedness regarding our relationships (the "box of resentments").
How our confirmation bias also prevents us from recognizing growth and change in our partners but rather leads us to see what we already believe to be true.
How we can override our brain's wiring toward negativity and confirmation bias to truly experience something new.
The fact that we are...2021-08-1129 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 20 It's Time to Shift Our ConsciousnessI'm recording this episode on 8/8/21 which is the "Lionsgate Portal" - a time of creativity, healing, and a shift toward new "agreements" for our lives. I'll share why this particular moment in time has been very powerful for me and how my own consciousness is shifting right now. Here are some of the topics inspired by an email I received from spiritual teacher Matt Kahn:
Why right now it's important to shift into our higher consciousness selves rather than our "ego-selves".
When we make this shift we will be living our "life purpose" even if we don't know...2021-08-0828 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 19 How to be a Leader During a CrisisIn this episode let's talk about what it takes to be a leader for those around you when you are going through a challenging time (like the COVID pandemic we are experiencing right now.) We are all leaders in some way whether or not we hold administrative or managerial positions. Here are some skills to help us ride the waves of crisis like a surfer rather than be tossed about in the tumult:
Be adaptable and learn to be grateful for change.
Stop trying to control what cannot be controlled.
See the bigger picture of life.
Focus on...2021-08-0429 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 18 How to Practice Self-ForgivenessIn this episode we dive into the challenging subject of self-forgiveness, why it's important and how to do it! This is a project I'm currently working on that I plan to continue for the rest of my life. This episode includes:
The definition of self-forgiveness.
Studies on forgiveness that show it takes a process over time to complete.
Why self-love and self-forgiveness go hand-in-hand.
The "Pillars" of self-forgiveness.
A 9-step process toward actually forgiving yourself.
Download the notes for this episode here.
"You don't want to beat yourself up for beating yourself up in the...2021-07-2858 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 17 The Dance of Life and Death Part 4: GraceIn this episode I talk about grace, which is an essential element of any dance. Learn how the many different of meanings of grace apply to both life and death and discover a daily practice that can help us prepare for the end of life with ease and dignity.
This episode includes:
The many definitions of “grace”.
That grace is always given freely, not earned or deserved.
How grace “finds us” during our darkest times of brokenness.
Forgiveness as an act of grace.
How I want to live and die with grace and gentleness.
A daily practice...2021-07-2143 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 16 The Dance of Life and Death Part 3: RhythmIn this episode I talk about rhythm, which is an essential element of any dance. Learn how the rhythm of nature and the universe includes both stillness and motion, waiting and movement, and how we can find peace and hope by surrendering to this rhythm as it unfolds in the moment.
This episode includes:
Why it’s important that rhythm contains both stillness and movement, whether in dance, music, or the written word.
The power of the liminal space of waiting for an uncertain outcome.
Why spiritual growth requires learning how to return to...2021-07-1644 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 15 The Dance of Life and Death Part 2: BalanceThis is part 2 of the series on the intertwining of life and death in a perfect dance that spirals throughout eternity. This episode covers:
Why we cannot live fully (and in balance) if we ignore death.
How the medical system perpetuates the separation of death from life.
How being mindful of death helps us let go of attachments and live with equanimity.
Practices for bringing death awareness into daily life:
Morning gratitude practice.
Mantra: This day is a gift.
Notice death around you – including tragedies in the world.
Observe the “little deaths” each day.
Pr...2021-07-0746 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 14 The Dance of Life and Death Part 1: TimingThis begins a 4-part series I call "The Dance of Life and Death." You'll learn where the title comes from when you listen! This episode includes:
Rainer Maria Rilke’s letters to the bereaved.
Why death and life are locked in an inseparable dance.
How we learn slowly about death through life’s experiences.
How to cope with the unique timing of life’s events when it doesn’t fit our hopes and expectations.
Why even our mistakes and failures turn out to be perfect.
We must live in both, be intimately at home in both [life and death.]2021-06-3050 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 13 How Do I Actually Love Myself?In this episode we'll look at why self-love is important and why it's so hard to do. I share poems by Alex Elle, Rupi Kaur and Nikita Gill plus a story of a self-love workshop gone wrong that turned out to be the perfect thing. Here are some suggestions from Buddha's Brain by Rick Hanson for working toward healing of our self-judgment, wounds, and shame:
Recognize the pain and shame when it arises; where is it coming from? what is the underlying wound?
Cool down the judgment and soothe the pain of your wounds by "bringing in the...2021-06-2331 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 12 The Lotus Blossom: Why We Need the DarknessThis episode tells the story of the mysterious and miraculous lotus blossom and how it grows up from the mud to blossom in the sunshine every day. The lotus is a perfect symbol for our own spiritual journey and why we must embrace the darkness and explore it for opportunities to heal our old wounds and transform our lives. The poems The Well of Grief and Self Portrait by David Whyte are featured in this episode.
The Well of Grief by David Whyte
Those who will not slip beneath
the still surface on the well...2021-06-1826 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 11 Getting Through the Down TimesIt's challenging when we feel despair or depression hovering around us and we don't really know why it's there. But, like Rumi's poem The Guest House, it's important to welcome in even the feelings we don't like and wish would leave us alone. So today I'm recommitting to accepting my own despair and letting it in the door. I'll stop rejecting this down time, allow it to be present, and receive whatever it has to teach me. I'll also stop judging myself for wanting to push away the negative feelings. If you are feeling down right now too just...2021-06-0710 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 10 Order and DisorderIn this episode I share a simple model for how spiritual growth occurs based on the work of Fr. Richard Rohr: Order, Disorder, Reorder. We'll talk about each of these 3 stages and how to navigate them with a focus on finding a "thread" that carries you through each time of life, loving the life you have, and learning to cherish change and impermanence.
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karen-wyatt/message2021-06-0131 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 1 Introduction to the 7 LessonsFor the very first episode of this podcast I introduce you to the 7 lessons I learned from my hospice patients and wrote about in my books: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Soul. We'll be diving into each of these lessons in upcoming episodes but this is a brief overview to get you started. These lessons are the foundation of all the spiritual work I've been doing and I hope they will help you visualize your own journey to becoming the best person you can be, even in a world full of challenges:2021-05-2429 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 2 Suffering: The Thorn and The RoseIn this episode I discuss how our greatest tragedies can ultimately lead us to growth through the gift of grace. This is the lesson of Suffering, the first of the 7 lessons I learned from my hospice patients.
This episode includes:
How my father’s suicide changed the trajectory of my life.
Why the remedy for pain is found “inside the pain” as Rumi wrote.
There is no “other side” of the tunnel of grief.
How our grief journey can only be viewed clearly in retrospect.
How to “burn our pain as fuel”.
The meaning of grace and how it arri...2021-05-2446 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 3 Love: The Power of the Broken HeartIn this episode I share how love can transform and heal our lives even during our last days.
This episode includes:
The story of my “Love Project”.
The importance of love for those at the end of life.
How forgiveness makes room for even greater love.
The many ways love can break our hearts.
Why we need to remain open to love even after we have been hurt.
The “violin metaphor” and why we should allow love to hollow us out.
Practices for opening to love.
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show...2021-05-2459 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 4 Forgiveness: How to Move Beyond OutrageLearn the importance of forgiveness for moving forward in society, personal life, and spiritual growth.
This episode includes:
Why there is so much outrage in our society today.
Why we need to remember our interconnectedness and interdependence in order to solve the problems we are facing,
How hospice patients focus on forgiveness as they face the end of life,
How forgiveness benefits health, relationships and spiritual growth.
Why forgiveness should be an intentional, daily practice.
Tools for practicing forgiveness:
Journaling,
the “4-View” Process for forgiveness,
Ho’oponopono.
Forgiveness is the fragrance a flower...2021-05-241h 05What Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 5 The Present Moment: How to Be Right Here, Right NowLearn how to make the most of the present moment and give the gift of presence to those you love.
This episode includes:
Presence is an essential skill for working with dying patients.
Many dying patients seem to have a new-found ability to focus on the present and appreciate each moment.
According to Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hahn presence is the ability to align body, mind, spirit, emotions in a single focus on the here and now.
Being fully present with a patient or a loved one allows us to create a sacred space within which...2021-05-2459 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 6 Purpose: How to Figure Out Why You're HereLearn how to find more clarity about your life’s purpose and why it’s not just about choosing the right career path.
This episode includes:
The difference between “inner” and “outer” purpose.
Why it’s important to recognize that there is a larger reason for our existence.
Why we must change ourselves before we try to change the world.
Steps to discovering your inner purpose:
Awaken to the fact that you are here to learn,
Look for recurring themes in your life so far,
Journal about the pain and suffering you have experienced si...2021-05-241h 04What Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 7 Surrender: How to Let Go of What You Thought Should HappenLearn how to let go of expectations and your bitterness over life’s disappointments.
This episode includes:
How suffering increases when we believe that things should have been different.
How clinging to the need to control the events of life can lead to bitterness and regret.
Life flows like a river and we cannot control or stop the flow by resisting it.
Why staying attached to our expectations keeps us from experiencing what life is offering us in each and every moment.
How to reframe disappointments by being curious about what life is bringing.
Journaling practice to...2021-05-2456 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 8 Impermanence: Why It's Good to be MortalLearn the lesson of impermanence and why it is essential for life.
This episode includes:
The Buddhist concept of impermanence.
How everything that is fleeting becomes more precious to us.
Entropy – the 2nd law of thermodynamics – from the Greek word entropia, which means a turning toward or transformation.
How life moves from order to disorder, structure to non-structure, physical form to energetic form or Soul.
The benefits of mortality:
Creativity, growth and transformation are made possible,
Even our suffering and pain will not last (“this too shall pass”),
This is the unifying characteristic of all h...2021-05-2441 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityEp. 9 Post-Traumatic Growth in Real LifeToday let's talk about how our greatest devastation can lead to transformation and growth. I've experienced it in my own life and have been excited to read the research on Post-Traumatic Growth. This coincided with reading about Dr. Edith Eger who is a survivor of Auschwitz and wrote about her own healing and growth after the horror of her experiences in early life. She writes about having been victimized but not being a victim and how she chooses to be responsible for her own growth and happiness.
Research on Post-Traumatic Growth by Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun UNC: A...2021-05-2418 minWhat Really Matters: Everyday SpiritualityTrailerWhat Really Matters is hosted by Dr. Karen Wyatt who shares the lessons she learned from her patients facing the end of life. She'll share this life wisdom along with what it actually takes to put these lessons into practice in our own lives. She'll be sharing how we navigate the ups and downs of this life and these challenging times while we work to become our best selves.
This podcast makes sure we focus on the important stuff of life and don’t lose sight of What Really Matters when things get tough. Tune in to hea...2021-05-1902 min