Continual Progression and Personal Evolution – Episode 22

Continual Progression and Personal Evolution - Episode 22

Host Robert Strock discusses the value of learning to identify our own challenging feelings, questioning them, and continuing to grow and develop as a person. Each of us must learn that outside standards don’t have to define us. It takes time to develop the autonomous self that can name, question, and grow. Self-rejection keeps us from realizing the autonomous self because we get caught in a reactive mode where we identify with what we’ve been taught.  Listen to this episode . . .

Developing Self-Compassion with Patience – Episode 21

Developing-Self Compassion with Patience - Episode-21

Host Robert Strock discusses the continuing process of developing self-compassion. Difficult emotions elicit many predictable “normal” forms of self-rejection, such as withdrawing, anger, or fixing. However, normal doesn’t mean healthy. We can learn to accept challenging feelings as part of our human experience while learning to stop patterns of self-rejection. Listen to this episode . . .

Develop Self-Compassion and Activate Healing Intention – Episode 20

Develop Self-Compassion and Activate Healing Intention - Episode 20

Host Robert Strock discusses how to continually develop self-compassion by identifying the healing intentions that lie at the heart of who we are. All too frequently when we have challenging feelings, we react in negative emotional l ways, which is an expression of (usually unconscious) self-rejection. That’s when it’s time to remind ourselves that our feelings aren’t the most important part of who we are. Feelings are feelings, and in many cases, they’re perpetually involuntary. Listen to this episode . . .

Focusing on the Present and Near Future – Episode 16

Focusing on the Present and Near Future – Episode 16

The sixth and last principle of Friendly Mind is to focus on what is possible in the present or near future. When we pay attention to our true capabilities, we see more clearly the importance of staying in the present, and at most, the next few moments. Focusing on the present usually comes with great relief. It gives us the ability to see what we are truly able to do or how we can respond in the present or as soon as possible. Once we have that guidance, we can more easily be our best selves. Listen to this episode . . .

Never Try to Solve the Impossible – Episode 15

Never Try to Solve the Impossible - Episode-15

Never try to solve the impossible—that’s the fifth principle of Friendly Mind. Most of us wish to let our mind get the best of us where we feel secure in a future that we cannot realistically control or desire to be more than we are capable of. When Friendly Mind sees this, it reminds us with the neutral question, “Are you trying to create something that isn’t within your capacity?” When we understand and learn to successfully implement this principle, it usually creates a smile because we recognize how many times we have given ourselves a hard time. For many, it’s often a humorous relief and release of what was always outside of our control. Listen to this episode . . .

The Power of Realistic Best Efforts – Episode 14

The Power of Realistic Best Efforts - Episode-14

The fourth principle of Friendly Mind is making realistic best efforts toward ourselves and others. The word realistic is vital because of the danger of becoming perfectionistic and thinking our best efforts are not good enough. When we listen carefully and ask our Friendly Mind to guide us, we deserve genuine honoring. On the other hand, we need to take action and do what we are fully capable of as Friendly Mind is not blind ego validation. It needs to be earned and practiced to reach its potency. Listen to this episode . . .

Empathic Thoughts Can Guide Us when We’re in Hell – Episode 13

Empathic Thoughts Can Guide Us when Were in Hell - Episode 13

The third principle of Friendly Mind is a subtle understanding that Friendly Mind doesn’t require us to feel friendly, even toward ourselves. This principle supports us when we are in any kind of severe distress, including but not limited to exhaustion, or anxiety, which limits the availability of friendly feelings. Friendly Mind contains the wisdom to steer ourselves in a beneficial way without the pressure to feel friendly or caring. At these times, we often feel neutral, which, once we get the knack of this principle, is a great relief. Listen to this episode . . .