The Autonomic Healing Podcast - Conversations with Tom Pals

Send us a Text Message.In this episode of the Autonomic Healing Podcast, hosts Ruth Lorensson and Tom Pals delve into the concept of being "poised for possibilities" during stressful situations. They discuss holistic approaches to managing stress and trauma that foster empowerment and growth. Ruth opens up about a personal experience of feeling overwhelmed, yet discovering new opportunities through self-reflection and maintaining poise. Tom offers a neuroscientific perspective on stress respo...

Send us a Text Message.What if embracing change could transform your life from mere survival to thriving? Join us in this episode as we uncover the transformative power of being open to change.We begin by exploring the profound implications of the word "open" and how it contrasts with the rigidity of being "closed." Openness invites curiosity, receptivity, and a willingness to question the status quo. Using real-life examples like seasonal shifts and parenting during long summer vacations, we...

Send us a Text Message.Welcome to the Autonomic Healing Podcast with Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson! In this captivating episode from our series "The ABCs of Thriving," we dive into the concept of "nominal functioning." What does it mean to keep things nominal, and how can this lead to thriving rather than just surviving?Tom shares his childhood fascination with space exploration and how the term "nominal" from NASA's space missions inspired him. We explore how maintaining a nominal trajectory, ...

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Tom and Ruth delve into the concept of "Many Little Lives" and its profound implications for individual and collective thriving. They explore the origins of this idea, dating back to Theodore de Bordeaux in the mid-1700s, who used the metaphor of many little lives to describe homeostasis in organisms.Drawing parallels from nature, Tom and Ruth discuss how every organism, whether it's insect colonies or the cells in the human body, is composed of many li...

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Tom and Ruth delve into the profound topic of love, exploring its role in both surviving and thriving. They dissect the concept of love as a strong attraction and attachment, examining how it can either contribute to thriving or become co-opted into survival mode.Throughout the discussion, Tom and Ruth emphasize the importance of aligning love with giving life. They challenge listeners to reflect on what they truly love and how they prioritize the...

Send us a Text Message.Join hosts Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson on the Autonomic Healing Podcast as they explore the profound impact of kindness in managing stress and trauma. In this episode, Tom and Ruth delve into how acts of kindness alleviate burdens, foster connections, and trigger shifts from stress to well-being. Through personal anecdotes and psychological insights, they highlight kindness as a simple yet potent tool for self-care and healing. Tune in to discover how embracing kindness...

Send us a Text Message.In this episode of the Autonomic Healing Podcast, hosts Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson explore the concept of joy beyond mere happiness, delving into its connection to well-being, gifting, and grace. Drawing from personal and professional experiences, they discuss how joy can be found amidst suffering and challenge listeners to seek joy in the gifts they give and receive. Emphasizing the importance of understanding joy within the journey of life, Tom and Ruth offer practic...

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Tom and Ruth delve into the importance of inviting intimacy as they explore the ABCs of thriving. They discuss how trust, autonomy, initiative, industry, identity, and empowerment form the foundational layers leading to healthy intimacy. Drawing insights from developmental psychologist Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, they highlight the significance of each stage in shaping one's ability to form intimate connections.Tom and Ruth emphas...

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Tom and Ruth delve deep into the concept of hope and its transformative power in managing stress and trauma. They explore the difference between wishful thinking and genuine hope, emphasizing how hope is not just a passive desire for things to be different but an active, rational anticipation of positive outcomes.Drawing on scientific research and personal insights, Tom and Ruth discuss the physiological and psychological effects of hope, highlighting i...

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Tom and Ruth navigate through the nuances of generosity, emphasizing its connection to kindness, compassion, and thriving mentality. Drawing from philosophical insights and personal anecdotes, they unravel the hidden beauty inherent in acts of generosity, highlighting its cryptic nature that transcends mere selflessness. They delve into the significance of integrity and virtue, underscoring how generosity fosters a sense of well-being, purpose, and deep...

Send us a Text Message.In this episode of the Autonomic Healing Podcast, hosts Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson dive into the topic of forgiveness, specifically exploring the concept of "forgive fearlessly." The hosts emphasize the importance of understanding forgiveness as giving, rooted in the ancient Greek term "charismi," which means to give something. They shed light on the physiological aspects of forgiveness, highlighting the role of the sympathetic nervous system and the stress respon...

Send us a Text Message.Welcome to the Autonomic Healing Podcast with Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson. In this episode, Tom and Ruth dive into the ABCs of thriving, focusing on the letter E—Energize Empathy. They explore the crucial difference between sympathy and empathy, emphasizing the importance of understanding emotions and maintaining healthy boundaries.Tom introduces the concept of "with" and "in," highlighting the significance of distinguishing between feeling with someone and feeling into...

Send us a Text Message.Welcome to the Autonomic Healing Podcast Christmas Edition !In this episode Ruth and Tom take you on a trip back in time, with a flight of Christmas Carols, exploring their history and meaning.Listen in, to hear Ruth and Tom's share stories from their heritage, some singing, and merry conversation. We hope you enjoy this festive episode! Thanks for listening!You can follow us onFacebook Instagram Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts Check out the Autonomic Heal...

Send us a Text Message.In this episode of the Autonomic Healing Podcast, hosts Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson delve into the powerful concept of "deferring to loving." They reflect on their previous discussions about accepting adversity, believing in beneficence, and creating contentment, setting the stage for the current topic of deferring to loving. They highlight the distinction between "love" and "loving," emphasizing that the latter involves a proactive, intentional choice rather than a mer...

Send us a Text Message.Welcome to the Autonomic Healing Podcast with your hosts, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson. Tom and Ruth talk about creating contentment in their ABCs of thriving. They delve into the deeper layers of contentment, challenging conventional definitions and emphasizing the importance of understanding it within the context of community and connection.Tom challenges the traditional definition of contentment as a state of satisfaction and happiness, asserting that it doesn't neces...

Send us a Text Message.In this episode of the "Autonomic Healing Podcast," hosts Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson delve into the concept of believing in beneficence in the face of adversity. They discuss how adversity can challenge the innate benevolence within us and how choosing to act in ways that are beneficial can fundamentally alter our experience of adversity.Tom and Ruth emphasize that it's not just about wishful thinking or optimism; it's about living out the good within us even when face...

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Tom and Ruth dive deep into the concept of thriving in the face of adversity. They explore the idea that accepting adversity is the first step towards achieving personal growth and empowerment. By accepting what is in front of us, we can shift from a fight-or-flight response to a state of homeostasis, where we can find the capacity to thrive.Tom and Ruth discuss the importance of challenging the perception of inadequacy and insecurity, and how accepting...

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Tom and Ruth explore the transition from surviving to thriving and how activating the autonomic healing response can help manage stress and trauma, promoting healing in the mind, body, and spirit. The discussion centers around the symbolism of the hummingbird, which is known as a messenger and guardian of time. The hummingbird's ability to fly backward serves as a metaphor for remembering the past without dwelling on it, emphasizing the importance of be...

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we delve into the final stage of rational intimacy, Stage Eight: Motivation. Join us as we explore the profound connection between motivation and our innate human needs, as outlined by Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Discover how motivation isn't just a driving force but also an informed choice that can lead us towards authentic healing in mind, body, and spirit.We explore how the Mobius-like nature of rational intimacy creates an eternal loop, pro...

Send us a Text Message.Welcome to the Autonomic Healing Podcast with your hosts, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson. In this episode, Tom and Ruth delve into the intricacies of stage seven in the journey of Rational Intimacy: Commendation and Praise. They explore the challenges people often face when it comes to receiving compliments and delve into the underlying factors that may cause discomfort or resistance to praise.Ruth shares her personal journey of learning to accept compliments and different...