The Contemplative Life

Today we’re talking about things we can do in order to boost that sense of joy in our lives, for which, the contemplative can really help us on this front because, it just so happens, that the contemplative is a great teacher of things like “the gifts of savoring the moment” and “living with intention.”  And the best news in all of this is, even if finding the gratitude points in our lives doesn’t...

Today we’re talking about burnout and how contemplative spirituality can help us. First, the good news: Burnout isn’t necessarily a bad place. And in fact, it could even be a great place. Find out why in this episode.  #RuleOfLife #Retreat #Wilderness #Awareness Additional Resources: Book: A Hidden Wholeness by Parker Palmer Book: Wisdom Distilled from the Daily by Joan Chittisster Book: Joy Unspe...

Today we’re talking about some of the many ways in which Nature seems to have the power to bring us in touch with The Divine, allow goodness to flow in our lives, and even help us navigate our more difficult seasons. How we interact with nature may change depending on the season of life we’re in. But somehow, it would seem that Nature can often speak to us like nothing else can. Join us for this e...

Today’s podcast is a continuation of a conversation that began after we had officially ended last week’s podcast. The questions that kept us talking: Is a conversation about Vocational Discernment for the privileged? Or is this a universal conversation that spans many walks of life?   And from there the questions kept coming:  What if our current jobs can be stepping stones towards our dreams?  Wh...

Sometimes it’s hard to admit we’re having questions about our work. But on the other hand, maybe these moments are invitations from The Divine that can help us along in our journeys.  In today’s episode we’ll talk about how the contemplative can help us even in the midst of our vocational questions: What can today teach us? What about today is serving the greater good? We’ll talk about journey and...

Today we are talking about the idea of “thin places” – the places where the veil between heaven and Earth lifts.  Join us as we consider where those places are that feel set apart and separate. Wonder with us as we consider ways to experience Divine Presence in community. And in the end, may we all feel inspired to discover even more ways to experience these special places in our lives.  #Nature #...

Today we are talking with Ken, Spiritual Companion and member of numerous contemplative communities.  Ken talks to us in this episode about practices that have been meaningful to him, why being powerless turns out to be a good thing, and what some of his favorite connections are between 12-step programs and the contemplative.  Join us as we listen together. #SpiritualCompanioning #SpirtitualDirect...

Today we’re talking about Spiritual Independence. If we know this term, we may well identify by any number of names: Spiritual but not Religious, Spiritually Eclectic, Spiritually Fluid, Disaffiliated, Nones…But whatever we call ourselves and however we found ourselves here, many of us are finding our way into the Contemplative.  In this episode, we explore a number of questions: Can we establish...

Today we’re talking about using the Contemplative lens to create new mindsets.  And in particular, we start with some questions: What does it look like to renew our minds and take thoughts captive? How do we manage to allow our minds to think on things that are noble, excellent and praiseworthy?  And given that we’re all so unique, what we quickly discover is that there’s no one-size-fits-all appr...

Today we want to talk about life in the ordinary and about finding God in the more average parts of our days and lives. What can we find to sustain us? Where can something very usual become more extraordinary to us?   Join us as we talk about returning to wonder, about slowing down to notice what we could not see before, and about the power of release and embrace.  #SpiritualCompanioning #Spirtitu...

Toxic Positivity is the belief that no matter how difficult the situation, that one should always maintain a positive mindset.  It’s culturally normal for us to share our positive emotions, but what about the negative ones? Many of us have believed that if we just ignore the emotion, it will pass. But is that really true?  Join us as we talk through these questions and ideas together.  #SpiritualC...

Fear, whether it comes from imagined circumstances or real ones, is something we all find ourselves having to deal with. If our goal is to be able to choose action over re action, what can help us achieve that goal?  In this episode, each of us shares ways in which we’ve identified fears in our own lives and what sorts of things we’ve tried that have begun to help us peel back the layers often ass...

Today we’re talking about how the Contemplative can helps us respond to the signals coming from our bodies without all the shame. Most of us know the feeling all too well – that comment that so embarrassed us, expectations that we hold of ourselves, pressures we feel in society... The Contemplative helps us engage motivation that comes from a far more positive space, one where both God and our bod...

Today we are talking with Mary Reynolds, certified Spiritual Companion and Yoga Instructor in the Boston area. What are some of the similarities and differences between Mindfulness and Contemplative Spirituality?   Why do we sometimes shy away from Spirituality that includes our bodies?  Does body shame have an effect on our spiritual experience? And if so, can we do anything about that? Join us a...

Many of us can sense at various times in our lives that we need help – relationship – even more than that – companionship. But we also feel stuck. We don’t have anything set up and developing anything meaningful feels hard, maybe even too hard.  In this episode, we find that the struggle to keep companionship alive in our days is met with creativity and diversity. Join us and add your own ideas in...

In this episode, we talk about how the contemplative life informs our parenting. But! Even if we don’t have children, relationships are relationships! Each person in the world has agency – freedom of choice, freedom to think. And how our agency interacts with others can sometimes be wonderful and can sometimes be anything but. What’s more, each of us is living the context of our own set of struggl...

Today we are talking with Steve Spilde, Associate Director and Spiritual Director at the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse, WI.  What is it about vulnerability that is just so amazingly hard and what makes vulnerability so special anyway? No doubt, we’ve probably all been a room where we were the minority. And probably each of us would be able to articulate the differences we felt in tha...

What can help us when words and experiences make us feel isolated, shut down, and less than?  In this episode, we contemplate the struggle that comes along with triggering words and situations. We explore the cause and effect nature of these things, visiting a number of great thinkers along the way. If you struggle with various triggers in your life, you are definitely not alone. Join us as we exp...

If church doesn’t work for us, what does it look like to grow in our spiritual awareness? Join us as we reflect on the spiritual self. Each of our lives holds meaning and purpose. But many of us struggle to unpack what that is exactly. In this episode, we consider the pathways available to us all, regardless of titles, schedules, or belief structures.  Additional Resources: The Jesuits Guide to Al...

How do we go beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to faith? In this episode, we talk about the joys of discovering why we love the things we love and how we uncover the rhythms that can help us feel spiritually nourished. We also explore the benefits of stepping out of our everyday rhythms to find even more things that help us connect in real and meaningful ways with God, with ourselves, and with t...

Is it possible that the Shadow Side of our personalities are hijacking our spiritual life? In this episode we talk about how our personalities may be affecting our spiritual experience and how reflection about that can help us discover an evermore fulfilling spiritual experience.  Join us as we explore the many ways that lead us to connect with the Divine! Additional Resources: Invitation to a Jou...

Can the contemplative help us with social justice? In this episode, we spend time asking where the work of justice begins and we talk about how the contemplative might help us find our way into long-lasting impact. We'd love to hear from you. Please join the conversation in the comments.  Additional Resources The Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, with Dougla...