What Really Matters: Everyday Spirituality

In 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...

In 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 a...

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...

In 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...

In 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...

Today 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-comp...

In 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...

In 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...

In 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 uncert...

In 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...

In 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...

Today 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...

In 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 Get my latest book The Journey from Ego...

In 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 ho...

In 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...

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 include...

As 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 wi...

In 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 ne...

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: Sud...

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...

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. C...

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" meth...

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...

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...

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 b...