Shows
Being Awareness19. Dancing with ImpermanenceEverything changes; everything is impermanent. When we contemplate impermanence, what emotions surface? Fear, sadness, grief—or perhaps relief and excitement? In this episode, we'll explore how impermanence manifests in our lives, from the seemingly mundane shifts in our careers to the grand cosmic dance of the universe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beingawareness.substack.com2024-11-1223 min
The Brightroom PodcastE6 - Changing How We See Change (with Lin Cassie Zhen)In this conversation, Irina and Lin Cassie explore the themes of change and uncertainty, discussing personal experiences and insights on how to navigate these challenges. They delve into the importance of mindfulness, radical responsibility, and the transformative power of embracing change as an opportunity for growth. The discussion highlights the emotional journey individuals face when confronted with change and the role of self-reflection in fostering resilience and adaptability.Links:Lin CasssieLin Cassie's workshop "Calm in the Storm - Leadership in Times of Change"IrinaBrightroom2024-09-1353 min
Being Awareness18. Creating Inner SpaceA short practice on creating inner space, widening the gap between external circumstances and our responses to them. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beingawareness.substack.com2024-06-2612 min
Being Awareness17. [Practical Mindfulness] Noticing SensationsAnnouncement: I'll be teaching a day-long retreat on the theme of "Befriending Changes & Uncertainties" on Saturday May 18, from 10:00-16:30. This retreat is held in-person at Bodhicharya Buddhist Centre in Friedrichshain, Berlin. Please feel free to check out the details here.-------In today's practice, we bridge the gap between noticing bodily sensations and our everyday activities. Feel free to practice this one while washing the dishes, tidying the house, taking a walk, commuting, etc.Noticing bodily sensations can help ground us into every moment through embodied experiences. As we become aware of the rising...2024-04-3018 min
Being Awareness16. [Practical Mindfulness] Noticing Everyday ActivitiesFormal sitting meditation can be a great way to cultivate the skillset of mindfulness. However bridging the gap between sitting on a cushion and applying mindfulness to real everyday activities can be challenging. In today's exploration, we'll play with bringing mindfulness into the everyday in a practical way. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beingawareness.substack.com2024-02-1419 min
Being Awareness15. New Year's Resolution, ReimaginedHappy (belated) New Year! When it comes to New Year's resolutions, sometimes it may be difficult to stick with these resolutions, no matter how much we want them to become reality. In this episode, we will explore a different way of intention setting that utilises the power of visualization and imagination. Hope this serves you in some way. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beingawareness.substack.com2024-01-1119 min
Being Awareness14. Cultivating Compassion During the Holiday SeasonThe holiday season brings joy, generosity, kindness, and love. Yet spending time with family could also bring up conflicts. In today’s exploration, we’ll look at the roots of conflicts and compassion, as well as how the practice of compassion could help us navigate and transform challenging relationships.Programming NoteIn January, I’ll be releasing episodes every month instead of every two weeks. Reason being I’m working on a number of exciting projects in the upcoming year. I’ll keep you all posted :) This is a public episode. If you wou...2023-12-2227 min
Being Awareness13. Awakening to HappinessHappiness seems to be a concept that's central to many people's life quests. In today's exploration, we'll look at the meanings behind joy and happiness, the power of gratitude, as well as practices of cultivating joy and happiness from within. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beingawareness.substack.com2023-12-0524 min
Being Awareness12. Peacefully Navigating Family DynamicsFamily dynamics can be complex and challenging. Yet familial relationships can also reveal the most unfiltered parts of ourselves. While these relationship hold mirrors up to us, they can help us recognise these often unruly parts of ourselves, and in turn help us decide how we would like to be. Join me this week to explore these complex yet fertile relationships, gaining insights into ourselves, and how we relate with others. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beingawareness.substack.com2023-11-2124 min
Being AwarenessProgramming UpdateDear listeners, I'm currently traveling for family reasons. Due to my very hectic travel schedule in the past week and half, there will be no new episode this week. Hopefully I'll see you next week for a new exploration! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beingawareness.substack.com2023-11-1400 min
Being Awareness11. Bridging Mind and BodyEmbodiment plays a vital role in mindfulness practice, as the body holds records of past traumas, as well as emotional and physical patterns. If left unaddressed and unbroken, these patterns will continue to self-perpetuate. In our fast-paced world, finding a quiet moment to connect with the body can be challenging. Personally, I've discovered that movement can serve as a bridge between building that connection between body and mind. This week, I’d like to invite you to join me as we explore the connection between body and mind through the practice of mindful movement. ...2023-10-3120 min
Being Awareness10. Cultivating Inner Peace“The human mind can create conflicts, and it can also create peace. To find peace in the world, we have to find peace in ourselves.” – Jack KornfieldPerhaps it may feel difficult to feel peace in a world that seems to be full of suffering and darkness. Or perhaps it may seem an indulgent to find our own inner peace when the outer world’s sufferings seem so present and intense. However in times like this, each one of our own inner peace is especially important to cultivate and share. Just like how fire cannot be put out b...2023-10-1730 min
Being Awareness9. Freedom through ForgivenessThis week's exploration is on finding freedom through forgiveness. We've all felt the stings of betrayal, and the resulting anger, hurt, blame. Forgiveness is a powerful practice that is capable of releasing us from that hurt, pain, anger, blame, and from the story of suffering we carry surrounding these emotions and experiences.Though powerful, it can also be a delicate topic to approach. If forgiveness feels just impossible, it could be a signal showing us we have wounds to attend to surrounding the circumstances of hurt and blame.With time, practice, and kindness, forgiveness can...2023-10-0327 min
Being Awareness8. Mindfulness of EmotionsEmotions are always present, whether we notice them or not. If we habitually avoid or hold onto them, they can easily spiral into suffering. In this episode, we will explore how to be present with difficult, positive, and subtle emotions. In addition to the foundational understanding of emotions, we will also examine the five foundational hindrances to clarity of being and how to approach them as gateways to insight and learning. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beingawareness.substack.com2023-09-1229 min
Being Awareness7. Mindful WalkingThis week, we'll explore bringing mindfulness to the activity of walking. Just like standing practice, walking is often neglected in formal meditation practices. However, it can be a wonderful tool for connecting mindfulness to our everyday activities. Please feel free to join me in this quick yet powerful practice of anchoring the mind and body while walking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beingawareness.substack.com2023-08-2915 min
Being Awareness6. Mindfulness of ThoughtsThis week’s exploration is about the mindfulness of thoughts. This topic is near and dear to my heart, as a significant part of my personal growth has been learning to comprehend, accept, and eventually make friends with my thoughts. We will explore potential misconceptions surrounding thoughts, the nature of thoughts, and practice observing and being with our thoughts. If incessant thoughts and thought patterns is something that sounds familiar to you, please feel free to join me in this week’s practice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with othe...2023-08-1525 min
What is a Good Life?What is a Good Life? #30 - Stepping Into The Unknown with Lin Cassie ZhenOn the 30th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I'm excited to be joined by Lin Cassie Zhen. Cassie is a friend of mine who took a leap of faith and quit her job as a Design Lead in Tech, without establishing what was coming next, to create space for what would unfold organically.She’s currently writing a book as well as producing a podcast (Being Awareness - https://lnkd.in/e2t-3FxG) on the topic of mindfulness and inner transmutation.In this episode, Cassie shares her evolution from a re...2023-08-0852 min
Being Awareness5. Mindful StandingIn this week's episode, we’ll explore a simple yet powerful practice by bringing mindfulness into standing. Standing may seem mundane, yet it can hold a great deal of lessons. The practice of mindful standing is a great way to introduce mindfulness into busy everyday lives without spending a lot of time in sitting meditation.In this meditation, we will practice bringing mindful attention to different parts of the body, starting from the feet and working our way up. We also explore the senses, including peripheral vision and sound.I encourage you to explore wh...2023-08-0114 min
Being Awareness4. Self CompassionIn this week's episode, we explore the concept of self-compassion and why it's important to be kind and nurturing to ourselves during difficult times. We learn about the differences between loving-kindness, which is associated with joy and wellness, and compassion, which recognizes and holds suffering. We will also practice a self-compassion meditation using RAIN, which involves recognizing, allowing, investigating, and nurturing difficult emotions with kindness and care.-------------Resources:Dr. Kristin Neff's work on self-compassion: https://self-compassion.org/the-three-elements-of-self-compassion-2/Dr. Tara Brach's work on RAIN: https://www.tarabrach.com/rain/ This i...2023-07-1824 min
Being Awareness3. Loving KindnessIn this episode, we'll explore the topic of loving kindness and its power to transform our lives. We explore the fear surrounding the word "love" in our society and how we can open ourselves up to experiencing it more fully. Drawing from personal experience and the wisdom of wise teachers, we learn about the foundational role that love plays in our reality. The episode concludes with a guided meditation on loving kindness, inviting listeners to open their hearts and extend compassion to themselves and others. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss...2023-07-0426 min
Being Awareness2. Mindfulness of BodyThis week's exploration is on the mindfulness of the body. In a society that prizes the intellect and thinking, it may be easy to lose connection with the body and its wisdom. We will be exploring the deep connection of the mind and body, how emotions and beliefs could manifest into bodily expressions, and anchor the exploration with a meditation bringing awareness into bodily sensations. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beingawareness.substack.com2023-06-2019 min
Being Awareness1. Mindfulness, Meditation, and Anchoring BreathIn this episode, we will explore the meanings of the terms "mindfulness" and "meditation". We will examine the differences and complementary relationships between formal meditation (sitting practice) and informal meditation (bringing the practice of meditation into everyday life).To ground our exploration, we will end with a practice of mindful breathing, using it to anchor our awareness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beingawareness.substack.com2023-06-0614 min
Being Awareness0. Why am I doing this?Welcome to Being Awareness, where we explore mindfulness, meditation, and self-awareness. In this introduction, I will share a bit about my background and why I am doing this podcast. After years of delving into the shadows in my psyche, I feel called to share my experiences and the practice of mindfulness with anyone who might benefit from it. If this resonates with you, please feel free to follow along. I look forward to embarking on this mindful journey with you as we explore the depths of our minds and hearts, while embracing inner peace and joy. ...2023-06-0506 min