0059 Thrive and Connect – Joy and Life’s Bookends – Birth and Death

Continuing from episode 0058 , Death and Holidays, this podcasts discusses Joy and how it can be experienced even when there are difficulties present. At the core, viewing life as existing between book ends, birth and death, and accepting the impermanence allows for participation in life in a direct, open manner. This lays the groundwork for connecting and experiencing joy.

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0058 Thrive and Connect – Death And The Holidays

My wife, Jeny, lost her father 4 days ago and 2 days ago her mother went into hospice. In this episode I reflect on how it’s hit me.

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0057 Live Your Dreams – An Interview With Mr. Jim

To keep your dreams alive you must live them, according to our guest, Jim Friel. Over his long and interesting life he

has learned to maintain an optimism by accepting life as it is, meeting new people, exploring opportunities, and extending discipline and kindness wherever he can, be it a village in Thailand or a cafeteria full of energetic but a bit unruly elementary students who benefit from his belief in them and his encouragement for them to believe in themselves.

Learn how he manages to do all this as life delivers the unexpected.

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0056 Increasing Productivity – Getting Unstuck

Productivity is an ongoing requirement to not only survive but thrive whether in personal life or business. Today’s episode covers requirements for increasing productivity, especially when feeling stuck.

A 3-pronged approach is used based on Gratitude then Hope then, finally, Productivity.

Challenges regarding gratitude are discussed with respect to Jungian Type, i.e., Introvert or Extrovert. This is essential since in order to establish hope there is the need to know what tools are available to not only gain a sense of hope but to put that hope into action and increase productivity.

In other words, expanding one’s gratitude list by pushing personal limits and creating more personal assets is essential to increasing the probability of putting hope into action.

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0055 On the Cusp of Millennial and Gen X – Finding a Path

Today’s interview is with Caleb Belew, voice artist, and we discuss making life decisions when having been born on the cusp between being a Millennial and GenXer…whether or not to conform (live life on the rails) or strike out on one’s own (live life off the rails). While working on that decision life has a way to send one down an unanticipated rabbit hole which can mean having to “forge one’s own rails” and go in your own direction.

In line with all that, Nietzsche’s parable of The Camel, the Lion, and the Baby is compared to working through life’s decisions and finding one’s way.

Gary and Caleb also talk about the importance in some cultures of having a “Walkabout” and not force-feed decisions in a linear manner as to life choices.

Living consistently across all aspect of life is critical as is the need to pay attention to the small things, always practicing empathy and compassion whether in business or personal life.

Finally, different belief systems were compared along with the reality that they are all quite similar when it comes to helping one and other in living a full life.

Caleb can be contacted at:

Facebook @Caleb Belew

Instagram @caleb.c.belew

Twitter @BarryDaWhiteWiz

SoundCloud @BarryTheWhiteWizard

www.deepbelewvoice.com

Deep Belew Voice Overs

614-354-9224

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0054 Choosing Opportunity Over Fear Through Meditation

A method using meditation is discussed for addressing fear and moving energy into taking action with opportunity.

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0053 Suffering and Growth

Suffering, expectations, and the paradox of how suffering is associated with growth and abundance are discussed.

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0052 Faith vs Belief

Today’s episode addresses faith vs belief and the associated challenges. Topics covered include:

  • 3 ways to view beliefs
  • The power of first simply seeing what is
  • How the desire for rules can frustrate being present
  • the power of being present and working with what is
  • the parable of the poison arrow

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0051 Human Trafficking – Road To Triumph Over Sex Slavery

Today we talk with Mary Gaines (pseudonym) about her road to triumph over having been trafficked for sex. She talks about law enforcement, pimps, friends, children, daily life, and, most importantly, those who came out on the street to connect with her and offer a pathway to recovery.

 

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0050 Suffering, The 4 Winds, and Boundaries

This podcast discusses the harm done by getting caught up in the 4 dichotomies that change with the wind. These cause the suffering referenced in the 1st Noble Truth. The dichotomies are:

  • Pleasure/sorrow
  • Gain/loss
  • Fame/lack of recognition
  • Praise/blame

These are expanded to include the drawing of any boundary with “good”/“bad” on one side or the other. Buddha showed that the lack of boundaries such as these is what allows us to be present in the world and decide accordingly what to do.

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0049 Disruption and Ham Sandwiches

This episode discusses the importance of paying attention to and appreciating how when making significant changes disruption can show up in the little things — little things that are to be appreciated as an opportunity to drive the change down to day-to-day activities and cement the change.

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0048 Podcasting – Finding Your Voice

Gary talks about issues associated with “finding one’s voice” when it comes to podcasting. Typical external issues such as equipment, software, hardware are mentioned initially but a deeper dive is done on the internal activities you must do in order to find your voice.

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0047 Human Trafficking – Part 1 – Gracehaven

This episode begins a new series on human trafficking. If you feel you are being trafficked or are observing suspicious behavior then call 911, say your life is in danger or you are seeing suspicious behavior and you will receive help.

You can also call the National Hotline 888-373-7888. (Might be easier to remember as 888-3737-888)

Today we are talking with Brooke Pollard and Jenn Stokes of Gracehaven, as faith-based recovery shelter for trafficked women in the Columbus, OH, area.

A range of related topics is covered in this introductory episode from the psychological frame-of-mind a trafficked child/adolescent/young adult has to community connections established to help with the entire range of issues faced when a victim of traffickers. Topics ranged from the legal system to other people working in recovery beyond Gracehaven.

Gracehaven can be contacted at:

614-302-9515

www.gracehaven.com

info@gracehaven.me

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0046 Grief, Freedom, and Joy

Thrive and Connect is back!

From Grief to Joy!

Gary talks about the 9.5 month hiatus and getting back on track with the podcast.

Grief over changes needed and expectations that were not realized are discussed along with how dealing with the grief leds to freedom, and the simplicity needed to experience joy and to ability to get focused and get back on track.

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0045 Thrive and Connect: Jennifer’s Cancer Journal – Part 2

Today, Jennifer wants to continue talking directly about her experiences with cancer and the chemotherapy and the impact they are having on her life.

62159817 - drugs for hodgkin's disease treatment

She is in remission and has 2 courses of chemotherapy left plus radiation. The nausea can be so great that her focus is, at times, just sitting still to avoid throwing up. What makes this especially challenging is that nausea and vomiting are her kryptonite.

Her perception of every day activities has changed. Just trying to get off the couch can be difficult:

  • The chemo weighs her down making getting up extremely strenuous;
  • She can’t stand up;
  • There is a big struggle dealing with the helplessness;
  • She can’t power through the situation, one of her go-to tactics
  • Ben has to get her water when she is only a few feet from the refrigerator.

Another uncomfortable side effect of the chemotherapy is the constipation. It feels like she’s pooping razor blades.

Perspective-wise, Jennifer sees how normal day-to-day activities can be taken for granted.

Another physical aspect is hair loss, something she has been documenting and about which she’s gained a new perspective. Her hair has always been a challenge because it is so curly. When it grows back in she won’t complain.

Physically, in addition to the weakness caused by the chemotherapy she can taste and smell the chemotherapeutic drugs for the first few days after they’ve been administered.

After listening to the first entry in this cancer journal podcast Jennifer saw how she was initially naive as to the toll it takes. She says this feeling some comfort over the fact she has a cancer with a high remission rate. As in the first podcast, she looks for moments of joy and celebrating being with her partner, Ben. He is an archeologist and they will be traveling next year to Italy and Greece. They spend time looking at the places they can visit.

In line with visiting new places, she will be glad when she can eat more than some rice. Although, Jennifer isn’t complaining when they get out of the house and go out to eat. It feels good to get off the couch.

When asked about the possible humiliation the cancer can cause she responded with:

  • Helplessness, for which Ben supplies support. His behavior is humbling for her, which helps keep a positive frame of mind;
  • She feels like she is losing her womanhood. Ben looks past that.
  • On really bad days, Jennifer also worries that Ben is just sticking around until it is over and then he’ll leave. She has learned to take a step back on those days and think, “It will get better than this.”
  • Vulnerability. Jennifer is used to being her own person and doing for herself. The cancer and chemo challenge that way of being which rolls into a feeling of not being worthwhile if she can’t be attractive.

With regards to the above, Jennifer offers some advice:

  • Avoid “Why me?” Yes, the situation is unfair but dwelling on that question can destroy you;
  • Watch out for self-pity. There can be times where it is felt for a moment but avoid living in it;
  • As an Extrovert, she’s learned to occupy her mind as best she can when she has the energy. She spends more time doing deep thinking – an Introvert activity – and is writing “The Lymphoma Diaries;”
  • Use levity, even if it is dark humor. It helps reduce stress;
  • Work to let your care-givers have time to be themselves.
  • In terms of going out in public, it is important to accept yourself as you are, where you are, and just go about your activities. This is easier to do when she is with Ben. When by herself there is the urge to feel self-conscious.
  • Jennifer lacks the urge to hide. She’s learned it is better to think, “Wow, I have the energy today to get out of the house!”

Well, that’s about it.

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0044 Thrive and Connect: Jennifer’s Cancer Journal – Part 1

Our co-host and the General Managing of both Aurelius Press and Center for Managing Change, Jennifer Rojas, has cancer – Hodgkins lymphoma, to be specific. This is the first in a series of podcast cancer journal entries she has agreed to make.

62159817 - drugs for hodgkin's disease treatment

She remarks that up until this disease she has been relatively healthy and feels fortunate for that having been the case. Also, that asking “Why?” doesn’t really go very far. No causal effect has been found.

A small episode of self-pity surfaced because she hasn’t been able to “go out and play” like others due to her chemotherapy.

Nausea is her biggest fear – hating to vomit.

Fortunately, she and her partner, Ben, are within walking distance of the Mediterranean Sea, about which she is very appreciative. It reminds her of the reality that there is still joy, goodness, and beauty available. It’s a choice to see it. Gratitude is present for 2016 in spite of the Hodgkins. She can see abundance in her life and views herself fortunate to have a highly curable form of cancer. This being said in spite of the fact uncertainty is present.

She continues to “look for the gold” in life in spite of the sh#t that happens. Denial and refusing to see ALL of life just leads to misery.

Jennifer reminds those who are listening and have to deal with cancer that, without being pollyannish, it is important to look for what is good in life.

Medical marijuana is discussed. Gary and Jennifer joke about medical marijuana, referencing Cheech and Chong. On the serious side, Jennifer talks about being in a study of the effects of medical marijuana on the side effects of Hodgkins treatments.

The benefits of having universal health care in Israel and what it has meant to Jennifer and Ben is also discussed both in terms of timeline and quality of treatment. It was a big determinant in them not returning to the United States.

The poison associated with being stuck on the question, “Why me?” is compared to the benefits of saying, “I have cancer AND I have the rest of my life” vs “It’s cancer OR the rest of my life.” Jennifer is not naive in terms of thinking everything is going to turn out well. What she sees is the ability to set an example for those who are suffering, an example that shows one can stay in the present and experience life.

She does discuss the realities of chemotherapy and how it knocks one down for a period of time. Listening to one’s body is critical. It allows her to focus on periods of feeling well and being able to get her work  done.

Carl Jung’s description of his successful patients is brought into the discussion, i.e., using the pain felt as a tool to see parts of life that otherwise were invisible and help others in a constructive way. An opportunity is created from the pain and suffering. This is all stated based on the belief joy can be found in the middle of the difficulties.

Ben, Jennifer’s partner, and all he has done is brought into the podcast and looked at through the lens of being vulnerable.

This includes the need to find a balance between empathy and sympathy and how the boundary with regards to “self” in a relationship moves with the ups-and-downs of the disease.

Jennifer also shares how important it is for care-givers to find a sense of balance and maintain it.

The conversation shifts to maintaining a sense of balance by sticking with the slogan, “Make judgements without being judgmental.” Life is a balance between the good and the bad that is present. It’s all about establishing and maintaining balance when having cancer, experiencing chemotherapy, and having a job to work.

Well, that’s about it.

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0043 Thrive and Connect: Dealing With Fear of Rejection

This podcast is from a presentation to Awesome Women In Business

47344674 - woman is trying to fight her fear of rejection

A GUIDED MEDITATION

  • I want you to close your eyes and go back in time
  • To a time when there was no boundary between your feelings and thoughts and the outside world.
  • A time when you were free and didn’t have to double-check yourself.
  • (let a minute go by)
  • What do you notice about your surroundings?
    • are you wearing a favorite piece of clothing?
    • Are you opening a favorite box that contains everything important to you?
    • Are you at a favorite relative’s house and is something special that smells delicious in the over?
  • There’s a name for this set of physical experiences: Axis Mundi – the place where what is going on inside you connects with the outside world and you feel whole.
  • We’ll come back to this.

SOURCE OF FEAR OF REJECTION

  • Fear of rejection arises from feelings of not being good enough, of feeling unable to deal with the ups-and-downs on life on one’s own.
  • So, where does it come from? Trauma.
  • When we lack the power to protect ourselves in a traumatic situation in order to cope it can be easier to just deny the trauma occurred.
  • The problem with this is we also wall off the associated part of our psyche and the skills/capabilities that go with it.
  • We also get stuck in our head which can kill sales and the ability to perform.

SOLUTION

  • Focus on others.
  • Give to them what you need yourself.
  • By seeing yourself giving to others it eases the path towards giving to yourself, i.e., reclaiming that part of you walled off with the trauma.
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0042 Thrive and Connect: Pain, Reactivity, and Mindfulness

Our co-host, Jennifer, talks today about dealing with chronic back pain and how it affects her outlook and ability to be either proactive or reactive to life’s events.

(Her situation takes an interesting twist which will be revealed in a future podcast.)0042-image-001

The four Immeasurables are reviewed along with the power of humility.

She shares her increased empathy for those from her past who lived with chronic pain.

Chronic pain sucks the energy out of a person.

The corrosive effect of the six realms of reactivity (rage, greed, instinct, desire, jealousy, and pride) inhibits being joyful especially with jealousy, e.g., “Why can’t I have a better life like that other person?”

The use of a meditation technique, tonglin, to help dissolve reactivity is explained. It opens a door to being joyful by letting go of watching others and comparing. Loving-kindness can be restored. Energy is also saved, energy that can be distributed in a positive way.

The question surfaced, “How can we show others what works for us in terms of mindfulness?” We just look for the opportunity without forcing it upon others. Jennifer relates it to her consulting work in conflict resolution.

Working in this way helps one get out of their head and reduce suffering.

The challenges associated with push-back being generated by someone choosing to stay stuck are discussed. There is only so much we can do.

For ourselves, when we practice tonglin are acuity increases. We see more and are more present, even if the other person is resisting. We become free to just be ourselves.

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0041 Thrive and Connect: The Power of Humility – Converting Negative Energy Into Positive

Converting negative energy to positive is the topic of today’s podcast, the next in a series regarding the power of humility. Your host, Gary Monti,9844870 - battery level indicator vector symbol

 

picks up from previous episodes discussing how damaging reactive emotions can be.

The 6 reactive emotions are:

    • Rage or hatred
    • Greed
    • Instinct
    • Desire
    • Jealousy
    • Pride

The healthy counter to this are the four constructive emotions/behaviors. They are called the four immeasurables and comprise:

⁃Equanimity – being free of prejudice and treating others as equal

⁃Loving-Kindness – dropping barriers and being open to others

⁃Compassion – empathizing with those who are in pain or suffering

⁃Joy – spontaneity, being free to move without needing affirmation or approval of others.

So, the question for today’s podcast is, “How is the negative energy taken from the reactive emotions and moved in the four healthy ones?”

The answer to this is an meditation method Gary has used for years which helps him get out of the trap of reactivity and connect with life and those around him.

The Tibetan name for this method is “tonglin,” which translates to “taking and sending.” It is a somewhat counter-intuitive technique but it really works.

The technique works this way:

– take a situation that promotes reactivity within you

– imagine people having a reaction similar to yours

– as you breathe in, imagine breathing in all those negative feelings

– as you exhale imagine sending those individuals some good quality about yourself that will help them let go of their own reactivity.

This can take time but is definitely worth the effort. In addition to helping get rid of reactivity one benefit is the opening of a portal back to connecting with others, back to community. You can be freed from being trapped inside one’s head stuck with all those reactive emotions.

Additionally, the ability surfaces to talk in a compassionate manner with some close who is causing difficulties. The negative energy of reactivity is converted to positive energy and you can empathetically talk with the person creating the difficulty and see if there is a solution.

Being realistic is critical. Also, tonglin provides no magic. It simply helps create energy and the ability to be present with what is going on right now and see if there are opportunities for constructively improving the relationship or situation. It may be that positive energy is used to move on by voting with your feet.

Tonglin also helps with flow by promoting a return to connectivity. This is especially helpful in business where it can be easy to agonize over problems or issues that are present. By practicing tonglin your eyes and ears can open to a situation (instead of obsessing) and the opportunity can be created to find a path — a path based on the four immeasurables, essentially taking care of yourself by taking care of your clients/customers.

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0040 Thrive and Connect: The Power of Humility – Connection Dissolves Reactive Emotions

In this episode your host, Gary Monti, continues the discussion of the power of humility in dissolving reactivity by using four other emotions/approaches to life. The six reactive emotions are discussed in greater depth:

41664767 - ring of many hands team

    • Rage
    • Greed
    • Instinct
    • Desire
    • Jealousy
    • Pride

The emphasis in this podcast, though, is counteracting reactive emotions through connections – connections with others.

The 6 reactive emotions are traps that over time create a negative karma within which we lose ourselves. A destructive, self-fulfilling perspective is created and we swear it IS the reality of the situation.

There are four emotions/behaviors which can take the place of the reactivity and lead to being present on your life. They are:

⁃Equanimity – being free of prejudice and treating others as equal

⁃Loving-Kindness – dropping barriers and being open to others

⁃Compassion – empathizing with those who are in pain or suffering

⁃Joy – spontaneity, being free to move without needing affirmation or approval of others.

By practicing humility an opportunity is created for us to wake up to life. Unfortunately, what one first sees is all the crap, all the bad consequences accrued over the years from living in reactivity as well as having fooled oneself into having been better when engaging in that reactivity. Also, the reactive habits take on a life of their own, as if they are a separate person, and fight back against constructive feelings. Consequently, it can be hard being honest with oneself, turning away from the reactivity and all that was invested in it, and turning towards the four constructive emotions.

On the positive side, there is a moving away from “you/me” to “us.” Again, when that occurs the world opens up and an opportunity to be present and free of reactivity starts developing. We can be joyful!

The power of meditation in learning to be humble and work towards building a humble frame of mind to achieve joy is discussed. Meditation helps draw the energy away from “the voices in the head” and move it into a more constructive frame-of-mind.

To do this work it is important to be in it for the long haul. It takes time and practice, practice on a daily basis. Over time, with more practice a unique ability develops, being able during difficult times to respect that pain or discomfort is being felt but being able to let go of it and not attach to it. By avoiding attachment to the pain the reactive emotions are not stimulated. The ability to see what is good in life remains and to participate as best you can. This is why humility is important. It helps avoid “why me?” or “somebody is going to pay for this!”

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