Embracing Self-reflection & Awareness.

The episode emphasizes the significance of mindfulness, self-reflection, and meditation in various aspects of daily life.

Embracing Self-reflection & Awareness.

Embracing Self-Reflection and Awareness

Podcast Summary

Life is a continuous journey of discovery and growth. In our latest podcast episode, “Embracing Self-reflection & Awareness,” Louise and I explore the transformative power of mindfulness, self-reflection, and meditation. These practices are essential for navigating the complexities of modern life and finding peace within ourselves. Through personal stories and practical insights, we delve into how these practices can be integrated into daily routines to enhance well-being and personal growth. This blog will provide a detailed summary of our discussion, highlighting the main points under three key themes: Mindfulness in Daily Activities, the Interconnection of Self-reflection and Meditation, and Letting Go and Personal Growth.

Mindfulness in Daily Activities

Mindfulness is about being fully present and engaged in the moment, which can transform how we handle daily tasks and challenges. Louise and I began by sharing personal stories that illustrate the importance of approaching everyday activities with mindfulness. For instance, changing the way I communicate with my children in the morning has reduced stress for everyone involved. Instead of rushing them with a sense of urgency, I gently encourage them to move a bit quicker. This mindful approach not only makes the morning routine smoother but also fosters a calmer and more harmonious environment.

We emphasized that mindfulness is not about slowing down but about being fully aware of each action and its impact. This practice can be integrated into various aspects of life, from driving to interacting with family members and managing time. By being mindful, we can navigate through our obligations with a sense of peace and intention, reducing stress and improving our overall well-being.

Language plays a crucial role in shaping our experiences. The words we use can either create stress or promote calmness. We discussed how mindful communication, such as asking someone to “move a little faster” instead of “hurry up,” can significantly alter the emotional impact of a situation. This mindful approach to communication helps create a more positive and less stressful environment.

Moreover, incorporating mindfulness into daily routines allows us to stay present and fully engaged in each task. This practice helps us find moments of stillness and clarity, enhancing our overall sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. By being fully present in each activity, we can experience greater joy and contentment in our lives. Ultimately, mindfulness in daily activities is about embracing each moment with awareness and presence, transforming our approach to life’s challenges.

Interconnection of Self-reflection and Meditation

Self-reflection and meditation are deeply interconnected practices that enhance one’s ability to live with greater awareness. Louise and I explained that meditation serves as a tool for grounding oneself and cultivating presence, which is essential for effective self-reflection. Through meditation, we connect with our breath, let go of distractions, and bring our focus to the present moment.

We included a guided meditation session in the podcast to demonstrate how to practice mindfulness and connect with the present moment. This practice helps listeners reset and become more centered, facilitating a deeper understanding of their thoughts, feelings, and reactions. We emphasized that self-reflection is crucial for personal growth as it involves turning the light of awareness back onto oneself to examine one’s actions and emotions.

We also discussed how meditation can be integrated into everyday life, not just as a formal practice but as a state of being. Being mindful and present while driving or performing other routine tasks can transform these activities into moments of meditation. This continuous state of mindfulness and self-reflection can lead to profound insights and a greater sense of peace and fulfillment.

Furthermore, we highlighted the importance of asking oneself why they do the things they do. This introspective questioning helps uncover underlying motivations and patterns of behavior, which is the first step toward meaningful change. By combining self-reflection with meditation, individuals can achieve a higher level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

We also explored the idea that meditation and self-reflection are not about achieving a perfect state of mind but about being present and aware in the moment. These practices are accessible to everyone, regardless of their level of experience. By making meditation and self-reflection a regular part of daily life, individuals can cultivate a deeper sense of awareness and connection to themselves and the world around them.

Letting Go and Personal Growth

Letting go of control and accepting the present moment is a powerful pathway to personal growth and transformation. We discussed how embracing the present moment, even in challenging situations, can lead to a more peaceful and fulfilling life. Letting go does not mean giving up but rather releasing the need to control outcomes and being open to whatever arises.

One of the key points we discussed is the idea of self-compassion. Self-reflection can lead to greater self-compassion as it allows individuals to understand and empathize with their own experiences and emotions. By cultivating self-compassion, one can become more loving and caring towards oneself, which is essential for personal well-being and growth.

We also touched on the concept of the “primal wound,” which refers to deep-seated sources of pain and behavior patterns. We suggested that awareness and self-reflection can help uncover these underlying issues, setting the stage for healing and transformation. Understanding the root causes of one’s actions and emotions is crucial for personal development and creating healthier patterns of behavior.

Moreover, we shared personal stories to illustrate how self-reflection and letting go have impacted our lives. We discussed the importance of being accountable for one’s actions and recognizing one’s role in creating stress and conflict. This accountability is a critical aspect of personal growth as it empowers individuals to make positive changes in their lives.

We also included insights into the challenges of letting go and the importance of practice and patience. We acknowledged that it can be difficult to release the need for control and to fully embrace the present moment. However, we argued that with consistent practice, individuals can learn to let go of their attachments and live more freely and peacefully.

Conclusion

“Embracing Self-reflection & Awareness” is a thought-provoking and insightful podcast that explores the transformative power of mindfulness, self-reflection, and meditation. By integrating these practices into daily life, individuals can cultivate a deeper sense of awareness, compassion, and personal growth. We provide practical advice and personal stories to illustrate how these practices can lead to a more peaceful and fulfilling life. Whether you are new to these concepts or looking to deepen your practice, this podcast offers valuable insights and inspiration for anyone on the path to greater self-awareness and personal development.

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Abdi Assadi is unlike any other healer or spiritual teacher ever encountered. He is an expert in martial arts, and a dynamic healer practicing a diverse array of Chinese and Eastern Medicine, indigenous shamanic rituals, and meditation techniques. With a clinical practice in New York City for almost 4 decades, Abdi has accumulated a vast knowledge of real life experience working with several thousands of individuals, guiding them through the most difficult times, and teaching them how to understand themselves. One of the greatest things about him is he merges the human psyche with the spiritual psyche.

Steeped in deep wisdom and insight that is rare to find on this planet in these modern times, Abdi has an extraordinary ability in perceiving and comprehending human souls and their individual psyche. Guided by the divine, Abdi guides you to open up and see beyond your limited Self, into your own soul. His impeccable discernment enables him to unleash personal remarks that pierce through your veil, statements that you will never forget and in an instant alter your perception of yourself and your reality.

– Quotes from Shadows on the Path by Abdi Assadi:


All spiritual masters teach us that love is an activity before it is a condition – and that love is all-encompassing.
Page 18


It felt like I was coming off a race track and driving in a school zone. He knew, years before I did, that my speed was my way of suppressing my early childhood anxiety, and that only slowing down could heal it.

Why do you need to use all these words like God and spirituality? It is right here Abdi, all around you, all the time
Page 40


one does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.
Page 51


Ultimately it keeps grace out of our lives because we are using our will power to manipulate every event and person around us.
Page 74


His lesson, which I had begun to learn for myself, is that outside circumstances do not define our internal experience if we can surrender into them. Painful or undesirable situations will always arise; true suffering comes from our ego’s desire to resist life as it is.
Page 77


Note from Pernilla:
I met Abdi in the fall of 2014 and when I arrived in his office the first thing he said was, “It’s time that you stop carrying other people’s anxiety.” In the year that followed, my entrenched codependency patterns reared their ugly heads and I was confronted with a part of myself that I had never even known was there.

A few years later, Abdi said, “When are you going to start writing your book?”I looked at him in surprise. I was not a writer. My expertise was centered around creating crazy good Excel spreadsheets. However, I started writing and collecting notes about life issues and life experiences … and here we are a few years later.

Sally Kempton is a preeminent meditation teacher of our time.

She is an expert scholar in Hinduism and all Hindu texts especially in Kashmir Shaivisim. Formerly Swami Durgananda, she left monastic life in the 1980’s to teach publicly. She has written several books and is one of the most known and loved spiritual teachers in our time.

Note from Pernilla:

I met Sally at one of her workshops at City Yoga in LA in 2003. She had the most gentle and loving disposition, and I just wanted to always be around her. I was fortunate to have been part of her two year-long “Transformative journey” courses in 2006 and 2007 and many retreats ever since. She is the true representation of unconditional love and transmits intense shakti from her Guru Swami Muktananda.

Sally is the primary building block and foundation in my spiritual journey. Without her, I would have never found and stuck with meditation – the most transformative experience of my life. Without her, I would have been lost without a clue where to go next. Her wealth of knowledge of yogic philosophy and incredible understanding of the human condition is what makes her a force to be reckoned with.  She understands your depth and makes you feel seen, heard, validated, and deeply loved.