Unleash Your Life!

In a world built upon consumption, what happens if we question the paradigm and instead cultivate happiness with what we have? This is a big topic that goes WAY beyond "things", and incorporates our basic state of mind and motivation. Come along as we explore the power of loving what you have! Here are this episodes' Action Points:Foster Your Mindfulness Practice-- We talk about this all the time, but it's that vital. A mindfulness practice will change your life! =)Make a "What I Want" List-- Make a list of what you want in life. Not the usual list (a million bucks, a hot new mate), but the things you think those million bucks will get you. What is it you REALLY want in life, at the base?Examine a Current Action-- Take a current action you're engaged in (maybe you're looking for a new job) and ask how that action is tied to a goal. Then ask what you really want to get from reaching that goal. Awareness of this kind can sometimes reveal new creative ways to get what you are really after, or help you realize you may already have what you want (it might just have been hiding in disguise).Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

We all want to eat healthy, don't we? But what diet is best? Raw vegan? Paleo? Whole 30? Mediterranean? Join us as we leave behind specific diets and instead talk about how loving our food, eating consciously, and losing food fears can transform our health and life enjoyment! Here are this episodes' Action Points:Do Some Positive Food Research-- When you're cooking, take a moment to research some of the health benefits of one of the ingredients. Then, share with your family how good that food is for them. It will add some positive placebo effect to your eating and help undo food fears.Have Fun With Your Next Meal-- Instead of cooking being a chore, make it fun! Try new ingredients (foraged food anyone?), cuisines, recipes, or cooking techniques.Add a Focus Affinity Before You Eat-- Take a moment before you eat to get into a mindful state. Share some gratitude, pray, or do something else to bring you present moment.Make a Meal To Share-- Cook for friends or loved ones! Cooking for others ties all of this together, invoking the power of positive social connections and conscious cooking.Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

We all have a "baseline" of happiness in our lives, and research shows that the ups and downs of life (which we spend so much time trying to acquire and avoid, respectively) don't really impact that baseline very much. So the secret to happiness isn't arranging our externals appropriately so much as cultivating an inner joy. But how do we do that? Come along as we explore how to shift that baseline! Here are this episodes' Action Points: Smile-- Smiling is almost magical in its ability to change our own attitude (and it's contagious!). Take a short-duration task and try smiling the whole time. How do you feel? How do those around you respond? Invite Someone-- Foster more human connection in your life by inviting a friend or three to tea, a campfire, a hike, etc. Human connection is a proven life enhancer! The Gratitude Bowl-- Fill a bowl with pieces of paper on which you've written all sorts of things in your life. People, objects, abilities -- things both tangible and intangible. Then, once a day (or as often as you like!) pull one out and imagine that you no longer have that thing. What does it feel like to have lost it? And then reverse things and feel gratitude for having it. Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

Hi Friends! Need a good vacation? What if we could take a vacation right now? As in, NOW? This moment? Well, we can if we learn to cultivate a "vacation mindset". You've heard us talk about this before in the guise of an "adventurer's mindset", but in this episode we give some mindful advice about how to soak into each moment as if you were on the beach. Here are this episodes' Action Points: Explore!-- We often walk the same paths in life, literally and figuratively. What happens if we veer a little off that path? Often, adventure is waiting for us down the "road less travelled". Try the "Artist's Eye" Exercise-- Artists often see the world in colors, textures, shapes, and shades of light. What happens if we harness that eye? We start to appreciate the world around us more and see its true beauty. Talk With Strangers-- It can be intimidating, but every human being is a treasure-trove of experiences, ideas, and perspectives. When we start to strike up conversations, we can learn a lot. Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

Last season we started a tradition of talking about five books from our shelves and how they've influenced us. This season, we keep the tradition alive! Come with us for an adventure into nature poetry, magic, science, and a bit of intergalactic fun! Here are this episodes' Action Points: Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver-- Spend some time sitting quietly in nature, just observing. It can be 10 minutes or a whole afternoon. Then, try writing a poem, just to honor one of your observations. The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben-- Go try to find some fungi! Specifically, the tiny filaments in soil or rotten trees that are the fungi's real "body" (the mushrooms are just the "fruit" of the fungus). Sit with or touch these filaments, and recognize that you're coming in contact with a being that few of us ever see in our lives. The Tarantula Scientist by Sy Montgomery-- Explore an element of nature that you're unfamiliar with, especially with children or especially if you are fearful of the thing. Spiders are a great example. What can you learn about this element? Explore online or at your library, and you'll learn a ton! Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham-- Delve deep with one plant in your yard. Research it online. Can it be used medicinally? Is it edible? Does it have utilitarian uses? And what traditions saw the plant as sacred? There are many stories waiting with every plant. The More Than Complete Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams-- Play a fun mind game by pretending you're an alien who just landed on Earth. What do the inhabitants look like? What are they up to? Observe the world through the eyes of humor, and you might just find that much of our human endeavor looks rather ridiculous! Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

We all know that our environment has a profound effect upon our beings. But we're not often intentional about shaping our environments, or not aware of how we are an integral part of other people's environments. Join us as we discuss how we can be more conscious about the people, colors, sounds, and other experiences that make up each day. Here are this episodes' Action Points: Notice Your Physical Responses-- When you next are experiencing a soothing or stressful situation, tune in to how your body feels. A tense throat? Long, soft breaths? Clenched jaw? As we learn to notice what our body is doing, we gain insight into our emotional state. Change a Situation With Your Tone of Voice-- Next time someone is angry, fearful, stressed, or anxious around you, see if you can shift their state of being simply by speaking in a relaxed way. Try an "Intentional Environment" Day-- Take one day and see if you can be as conscious as possible about all of your sensory input. Extra Credit: Transform Your Perspective-- Sometimes we can shift our environments, but sometimes we can't. Instead, we can shift our perspective. Next time you're dealing with something you can't change, see if you can reframe it and look at it through a different lens. Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

Life can be uncertain. It's not just things like aliens and covid, but the everyday shifts in our lives that can be unsettling. In this episode, we consider ways that we can transform our relationship with uncertainty, and even embrace it! Here are this episodes' Action Points: Practice Giving-- Giving is a way to start transforming our mind from a hoarding mentality to a sharing mentality. You can volunteer, tithe, or bake a loaf of bread for your neighbor. There are many ways to give!! Take Up Gratitude-- Start a morning or evening gratitude practice. Take a set amount of time (even just two minutes), and write out what you're grateful for that day (or from the previous day if you've chosen a morning practice). Cultivate Mindfulness-- You can build mindfulness through a simple mindfulness meditation, starting at just 5 minutes a day! Surrender (to Lila) and Play With Life-- Developing a playful mindset is life-changing!!! To do this, we have to learn to respond to life rather than react. And when we respond, to respond with curiosity and a sense of adventure. Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

For this episode, we try something a little different -- a totally off-the-cuff talk about what we're currently experiencing in life and what we're learning from those things. It turned into a fun exploration of community, overcoming fears, and imagining a debt-free world. Come along to on this exploration with us! Thank you for being a part of our journey! Please take a moment to share with us some of the life lessons you've been exploring lately! Much love to each of you =) Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

Want some delicious, nutritious food that just happens to be totally free? We've chosen four easy-to-identify wild edibles that have broad global distribution to encourage you to add some wild greens to your diet! Here are this episodes' Action Points: Nettle-- More info on stinging nettles here! https://pfaf.org/plants/edible-weeds-urtica-dioica-stinging-nettle/ Heal-all-- Learn more about heal-all! https://www.ediblewildfood.com/self-heal.aspx Dandelion-- Enrich your knowledge of dandelion here =) http://www.eattheweeds.com/dandelions-hear-them-roar/ Garlic Mustard-- Learn more about garlic mustard here! https://thegoodliferevival.com/blog/garlic-mustard Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

We've all heard the term "toxic people". But how do we avoid them or deal with them? Well, as usual, the story might not be completely one-sided. Come along to explore how we can unwittingly encourage toxic relationships and how we can transform that toxicity into something positive! This episodes' Action Points: Cultivate Gratitude-- You can overdose on almost anything, but probably not on gratitude. Cultivating gratitude transforms the world we experience. Find One Support Person (or More)-- Community rocks! In fact, having someone you can connect with positively is one of the biggest things you can do to create positivity in your life. Find a person, or find a group, and see what a difference it makes! Practice Listening-- Listening is a powerful and mostly-forgotten practice. If we train ourselves to listen, we open pathways into deeper understanding and compassion with the people around us. Make a Person a "Project"-- Not for the faint of heart! In this practice, we actively try to change someone's positivity level. But here's the key -- if our goal is to change another person, we're doomed to failure. Instead, we have to hold this as a "light" goal, with the real goal being to change our own attitudes and compassion level. Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

After running the Forest Monk program (and its predecessor, the 11-month Metamorphosis program) for over 12 years, we've come to greatly respect those who ventured out into the woods under our tutelage. And we've learned A LOT from them! Here are the top ten takeaways for us. For this episode, we're doing a special ten-day Forest Monk challenge! Day One: Discomfort is Good -- Today, choose one thing that feels uncomfortable for you, but that also gets you a little excited to try. Cold shower, anyone? A bit of hot sauce on your eggs? Calling your Mom? Do that uncomfortable thing, and see how it makes you feel. Day Two: Finding Hidden Family Patterns -- Today, sit down and ponder one of your close relationships. Are there places where it is stagnating, or where you're afraid to look? Is there something unsaid, or a negative pattern that keeps repeating itself? Today is the day to connect with that person and communicate about this, and see if you can approach it in a loving, non-blaming manner. Together, can you change this dynamic into a positive one? Day Three: Diet Makes a Difference --  Today, make a meal plan to eat ultra-healthy. If you're unsure where to start, try a vegetable-based diet with fish. Skip any excess sugar or alcohol today. Note how you feel as opposed to a day on your "regular" diet. Day Four: The Things That Will Make the Most Difference We Often Avoid -- You know what it is. That thing that you really don't want to try to tackle. Maybe it's quitting a bad habit, making a commitment to exercise, or cutting back on screen time. Today is your day. Tackle it! Day Five: You Can Do More Than You Think You Can -- This is the day for a challenge! Don't go out and try that backflip just because you watched a YT tutorial, but do choose something that you don't think you're quite capable of. If you did a 20 second cold shower on Day One, can you do a 2 minute one today? Choose your challenge and go for it! If you fail, take notes on tomorrow's challenge. Day Six: Failure Makes You Stronger -- Choose something you KNOW you will fail at? Seems counter-productive. But this takes your skills to the max. Maybe it's a way-difficult math problem. Maybe it's starting a fire in the rain. Maybe it's going a whole day without looking at a single screen. Go for it, and when you fail, stop and see what lessons you learned from the effort. If you succeed, then yesterday's challenge really sunk in! Day Seven: Nature Accepts Everyone -- Find some nature time today. Sit under a tree at the park, rest by a stream, or go for a day-long wander. Notice what being in nature does to you. Do you feel more peaceful, more clear? A little bit happier? Be conscious of how nature impacts you, and consider how arranging your life for more nature time might benefit you on multiple levels. Day Eight: An Adventure-based Attitude Makes a Huge Difference -- Today is the day for adventure! If you are more Bilbo than Gandalf, then think of something that will challenge your boundaries a little. An overnight camping trip? Cooking a new cuisine? Asking that guy out that you've been afraid to ask? Whatever you do, embark on it with a sense of adventure, not concerned with the goal so much as the journey. Then reflect upon how your adventurous day felt. Day Nine: Walls Tumble Down Around a Campfire -- Not all of us have access to a campfire. If you do, invite a few friends over. If all you've got is an online community, ask a few people if they would go "deeper" with you, at least imagining that you are all around a fire. Whatever you choose, take this time to open up with those you're with, to share some stuff even if it's kind of difficult. Let the power of the fire (or the pre-commitment) do its magic and invoke some stories from the past, some fears or hopes for the future, or some dreams. Enjoy the camaraderie. Day Ten: The Best Survival Tool Is Your Attitude -- Your final day of the Forest Monk challenge is a special one.

What adventures are waiting right off our usual routes? Numerous and awesome ones! And our "usual routes" aren't just paths through the woods, but the grooves of life that we move in -- the same small talk, the same routines . . . what happens if we venture off those paths a little bit? Join us as we explore some ways to discover the hidden world just beyond our usual perceptions! This episodes' Action Points: One Square Foot-- Choose a place in the woods that's about 1 foot by 1 foot, and start exploring! If there is that much wonder in such a tiny piece of ground, what does that mean for the whole woods? (Or the whole world?!) Climb a Tree-- Getting up in a tree offers a new perspective, and often birds and squirrels don't see you as "human". It's a great place for some new adventures! The Trails Are Lava--  Literally getting off the path can often be enough to lead to new discoveries. Don't allow yourself to step on a path, and see what you find! Fly a Spaceship-- Imagine you're flying a miniature spaceship (like a kids' toy) through the woods. Find an interesting place to land, and explore as if you're on an alien planet. What does the world look like through this lens? Go Barefoot-- Going barefoot automatically gets us to slow down, and can also act as a "hack" toward more mindfulness. Take off those shoes on your next hike and see what happens! Try Crawling--Go animal! When we do, we start seeing nature differently. What does a fox or a bear experience during a ramble through the woods? Plus, getting on all fours lets us see the world from a different angle, opening up new opportunities for exploration. Don a Blindfold-- Try wearing a blindfold (we use Mindfolds) and feel your other senses open up. We often miss much of the world just because we rely on a single sense. But there is SO much more waiting for us! Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

Originally, Rebecca and I thought that we had invented the concept of human rewilding. How wrong we were! Yet over the years, we've sought to define it a bit differently than some other voices in the rewilding community. In this episode we share what we think rewilding is all about, and how to bring its benefits into your own life. This episodes' Action Points: Rewild Your Mind-- We'd love to gift you our online course, "ReWilding Your Mind". Just write to us at rewilduniversity@gmail.com and let us know you'd like to receive it! Uncover/Explore Your "True Nature"-- Rewilding offers us the opportunity to embark on a different sort of life quest. By trusting in our inner goodness and wisdom, we can start a quest of "listening" to ourselves rather than seeking something outside of ourselves. Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

Rebecca and I have always dreamed of being writers. For thirty years, we've seen that dream squashed again and again. Then, we decided to take things into our own hands. This is the story of our quest to see a book of ours in print, and we hope it might inspire you to chase your own dreams. This episodes' Action Points:Identify Your Dreams-- We all have dreams-- but many of us have buried them. The first step in chasing your dreams is to delve deep and have the courage to bring those dreams into the light.Find a Friend (or More)-- Finding someone who can support you, believe in you, encourage you, and hold you accountable can be such a help. And you, in turn, can help them!Get Creative-- Not too long ago, the routes to finding your dreams come true were narrower. Today, with social media, the internet, crowdfunding, and self-publishing (among other things), it's easier than ever to create your own business, start a venture, or otherwise get creative to make your dreams manifest.Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

Patience is a virtue, right? But what if it's deeper than that? In this episode, we dissect patience and wonder if patience is less of a virtue than a pointer toward mindful presence. This episodes' Action Points:Pause-- Whenever you transition from one activity to another, stop for a set amount of time (a minute is a good starting-spot). Stop, breathe, and be still until you begin your next task.Gratitude-- Gratitude practice is not only good for you on all levels, but it has the power to turn an unpleasant situation into a pleasant one.Shift Your Focus-- Use your gratitude practice to transform your desire to be "somewhere else" to a desire to be soaking into the here and now. Do this, and patience is no longer necessary!Don't Wait video:  https://youtu.be/Vy-iuNM5Vig Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you!

What? Turn this off? Well, almost =) In this episode we talk about getting into nature -- how important it is, all the benefits, and how we can "unplug" a little more. We hope that this episode inspires you to turn off your device for a while! This episodes' Action Points:Make Nature Accessible-- Any good habit is easier to develop if we make it accessible. From getting the proper gear to setting up dates with friends for a nature walk, find ways to make getting into nature easier.Pick an Interest and Cultivate It-- Choose a new skill, from bird watching to cross country skiing, and use this as a great excuse to get out into the woods.Plan a Nature-based Vacation-- Next time you plan a vacation, consider something outdoorsy. From snorkeling reefs to backpacking in the mountains, the options are endless!Turn Off This Podcast-- Use this episode as inspiration to spend a little less time on your device and a little more time in nature!Bird App-- BirdNETPlant I.D. App-- Pl@ntNetSend us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you!

The research of neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor has revealed many interesting things -- one of which is that stressors aren't as long-lived as we might expect, at least in our heads =) In this episode we discuss how knowledge of Taylor's "90 Second Rule" can change the way we experience everyday life. This episodes' Action Points: Try 90 Seconds-- Go for it! Use the 90 second rule to take the reins of your mind. Learn to Identify Rumination and Triggers-- We all have unique triggers, and most of us share a tendency to be unaware of rumination. When we gain awareness about both of these, we take the first step toward no longer being ruled by stress. Support Yourself With a Mindfulness Practice-- You've heard it from us before. A mindfulness practice may be the single most powerful thing you can do to positively transform your life. Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you!

What is wisdom? It's not something a lot of modern people have successfully answered. In this episode, we make an attempt, and consider how embracing this idea of wisdom can lead us toward more compassion, love, and caring. This episodes' Action Points:Examine a Strongly Held Belief-- This is notoriously difficult, as our minds have built-in tendencies to ignore evidence that doesn't support a pre-existing belief. But the ability to be critical of our own ideas and beliefs is a cornerstone of mindfulness.Cultivate Compassion-- Compassion is one of the building-blocks of wisdom. The old saying to "put yourself in another person's shoes" is applicable here, and the more we do it, the more we develop this component of the human mind.Develop Curiosity-- Our minds can tend to leap to judgment, and when they do, curiosity is extinguished. Yet curiosity is the beginning of exploration and adventure, and leads us ever-deeper into wisdom. To do it, simply say "I wonder . . ." when confronting a situation, rather than "I know" or "I think".Pursue Non-Attachment-- Non-attachment is simply the ability to see our thoughts as clouds moving through our consciousness, without equating ourselves with those clouds. We are the consciousness, not the clouds. This ability arises naturally out of a meditation practice. If you want to get started with meditating, here are two videos that can launch you on your way! The One Breath MeditationThe Dancing Monkey MeditationSend us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you!!

In this episode, we wonder why the Amish never seem to fail to wave to us as we drive by, and if it might serve as an inspiration to respect each other as fellow humans, regardless of our differences. This episodes' Action Points: Write a Letter-- What a great way to connect! Letters hold things that email or texts simply can't -- the smell and heft of the paper, the knowledge that someone took the time to sit and write by hand. Letters can even become keepsakes! Send a Surprise Package-- Packages are like letters, but you can have fun filling them will all sorts of surprises. What a great way to tell someone you care. Random Acts of Kindness-- More challenging in the time of COVID, RAKs might require more creativity, but they deliver an impact that can include life-long lessons and memories. If You've Already Had COVID-19 . . .-- You might be in the position to help someone out, as the science is now suggesting that you have at least 6 months of relative immunity. Is there a neighbor or friend who has it, who could use some help cooking, grocery shopping, etc.? Could you be that hero? Do Something Fun, New, Different!-- A new skill or interest often means open doors for connecting with others who share that interest. Could you develop a new skill that leads to new connections? Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you!!

Most of us have absorbed the dominant cultural idea that the world is made of lots of little pieces (like you, me, and chocolate chip muffins) that all fit together. But what if instead of a story of separation, we told a story of unity and connectedness? Could it change our world? This episodes' Action Points:"A Car Called Rocket" Game-- You can perform this mind experiment by imagining anything in your life, and slowly "replace" it part by part. At what point does it cease to be itself? By performing this, we learn more about our personal definitions of "individuality".Origins Exercise-- A fun game for kids or adults, take any object and start to trace its origin. Where do the materials it is made from come from, and what machinery, etc. is necessary to get those raw materials? Did someone design it? What aspects of human history are wrapped up in the origin of this thing? Keep following. It is said that any one thing can lead us to the Ultimate if pursued far enough.Unity Meditation-- For this meditation, sit or lie down somewhere, preferably in nature. Feel your body dissolve into the ground, and feel yourself becoming soil, roots, insects, stones. Expand outward, becoming trees, streams, pathways, roads, towns . . . keep expanding as far as you want, even into the rest of the universe if you like. FEEL your unity with all, and soak into the meditation as deeply as you like.Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you!!