Our individual pursuit of growth and excellence does not always equate to joy, due to regular responses, beliefs and self-doubt.  Today we learned that Hedonic adaptation, on the surface - can be beneficial. Yet taken to extremes, can lead to emotional dysregulation and destructive coping mechanisms.  Judging our emotions can influence our psychological well-being, inhibiting our ability to effectively move away from dissatisfaction. Therefore, the trap of the hedonic treadmill creates anxiety, obstacles and bitterness. We can, however, move away from old mindsets and embrace new, more hopeful perspectives.  Personal Growth. On our journey to becoming our best selves, we often consider it to be a vital part of our happiness. However, with the amount of time spent striving for individual progression and excellence,  Why doesn't growth equate to greater joy? Examining what brings us hardships and pain, so many of the various problems people struggle with are actually the result of the same trap - falling into habitual patterns in their response to circumstances, understanding occurrences, believing in constraints, and succumbing to self-doubt. This creates anxiety and outrage; it holds us back, builds up bitterness, and stops us from expressing ourselves honestly and genuinely.  But we have the capability to move away from old beliefs, suppositions, and mindsets, and embrace new natural, hopeful perspectives on ourselves and the opportunities that surround us. Hedonic adaptation is the process by which humans become accustomed to emotional, mental, and physical stimuli. On the surface, this appears to be beneficial, leading to a more comfortable, even joyful, existence. However, when hedonic adaptation is taken to its extreme, it can become our worst enemy. Our guest, Psychotherapist, Certified Mindset Coach, Certified NLP Coach Practitioner, Byron Athene teaches how to move From Hamsters to Happiness While Ditch The Hedonic Treadmill of Dissatisfaction Key Points: Why does hedonic adaptation play a role in emotional dysregulation? How much of human beings’ time is spent in a state of emotional activation, and are we designed to live in a state of emotional activation? Chronic emotional activation or stress can have negative effects on physical and mental health. JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Featured Guest: Byron Athene Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Senior Program Director: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

When Allen Klein, spurred on by the power of intention and the awe of childhood, sets out to march in the Macy's Day Parade, he discovers that life's greatest wonders can be found in unexpected places. "If you can't find the humor, that may be the second best thing you can do. Try to be positive about what's happening. Right, so the dictionary, if you look it up, one of the definitions, it's reverence mixed with fear and wonder." Allen Klein is a former set designer and author of multiple books, including The Healing Power of Joyful Humor, Awe, and Wonder. He is an expert in the power of awe and wonder and has given a popular Ted Talk exploring how our thoughts and intentions create our reality. Allen Klein had a moment of awe and wonder when he saw his newborn daughter for the first time, and his daughter revealed a funny story from her childhood. He went on to explore the power of positive thinking, awe, and wonder, learning that you don't need to go somewhere special to find it - it is all around us if we look closely. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. Discovering the power of intention to manifest one's desires 2. Experiencing awe and wonder in everyday moments 3. Exploring the possibility of learning from children's curiosity. —————— Other episodes you'll enjoy: Clear as The Nose On My Face: Engaging Body Linguistics for Effective Emotional Competency https://www.thelightinside.us/clear-as-the-nose-on-my-face-engaging-body-linguistics-for-effective-emotional-competency/ JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Featured Guest: Allen Klein Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Senior Program Director: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thelightinside/support --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

In this episode, we’re exploring the Complex Relationship between Food, Emotions, and Society with Dr. Marcella Raimondo. Marcella is a psychologist who specializes in eating disorders while creating body and food liberation through social justice. Armed with her B.A. from UC Berkeley, and Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan. Marcella’s desire to address eating disorders drove her to pursue her doctorate in clinical psychology. Until 2005 she worked with About-Face, a nonprofit organization that addresses media impact on body image serving as the Director of Media Literacy. Today she is on the Board of Founders and a consultant - serving on the Advisory Board for the Association of Size Health and Diversity (ASDAH). Marcella noticed that society's diet culture was not invested in people's well-being, but instead in keeping them chasing after a goal. On a trip to Italy, she saw people of all shapes and sizes enjoying ice cream and being together, without judgment. She realized the importance of a holistic relationship with food and the need to remove self-imposed judgment. Armed with her B.A. from UC Berkeley, and Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan. Marcella’s desire to address eating disorders drove her to pursue her doctorate in clinical psychology. Until 2005 she worked with About-Face, a nonprofit organization that addresses media impact on body image serving as the Director of Media Literacy. Today she is on the Board of Founders and a consultant - serving on the Advisory Board for the Association of Size Health and Diversity (ASDAH). Today, we examine the impact of diet culture on food insecurity and our mental health, and the inherent power social influence has over our overall well-being. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. Exploring the Complex Relationship between Food, Emotions, and Society 2. Examining the Impact of Diet Culture on Food Insecurity and Mental Health 3. Investigating the Role of Food in Coping with Trauma, Emotional Deprivation, and Self-Harm. JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Featured Guest: Dr. Marcella Riamondo Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Senior Program Director: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thelightinside/support --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Having experienced both direct and indirect verbal and non-verbal abuse in a narcissistic relationship, Angela Myer became determined to learn how to make rational choices and avoid regrets. She discovers the End Game technique, a powerful tool for protecting herself from emotional abuse, gaslighting, and identity erosion. In our last episode, author, wellness coach, and motivational speaker, Angela Myer, Shared how to uncover the Secret to Stopping Verbal abuse that Arises from Narcissistic Abuse. We learned loving someone doesn’t mean putting up with arguments that attack your self-worth and basic rights. In the heat of the moment, sometimes the things you say in an argument can be hurtful. Yet, when we are pushed to the brink of this narcissistic abuse - we frequently snap. Filling the script, The Abused - find themselves becoming The Abuser. Angela knows that healthy people can agree to disagree and can communicate their needs, but reactive verbal abuse is designed to trigger people into snapping, which can lead to life-altering consequences. She wants to teach people a technique to protect them from snapping and make rational choices. This includes verbal abuse, bullying, trauma, gaslighting, and more which can chip away at a person's identity, self-confidence, and sense of reality. Angela encourages people to use the sandwich approach when disagreeing with someone, Resources: “Empowering people & shifting one's perspective. Focused on educating people to improve communication and compassion. Change starts here!” https://undetectednarcissist.com/ Other episodes you'll enjoy: Lovingly or Manipulating? Navigating Narcissistic Abuse with Shannon Petrovich https://www.thelightinside.us/lovingly-or-manipulating-navigating-narcissistic-abuse-with-shannon-petrovich/ JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Featured Guest: Angela Myer Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Senior Program Director: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Having experienced both direct and indirect verbal and non-verbal abuse in a narcissistic relationship, Angela Myer became determined to learn how to make rational choices and avoid regrets. She discovers the End Game technique, a powerful tool for protecting herself from emotional abuse, gaslighting, and identity erosion. "When you really love someone, you think before you speak and you pick your words wisely. When you're being destructive and you're using words that are damaging, you can't take those words back. So, like, a good example I gave is I really think some of the law should change about physical abuse versus emotional abuse." -Angela Myer Angela Myer learned about different types of verbal abuse from her experience working with a young woman in her 20s who was diagnosed as being narcissistic. This young woman had been traumatized twice due to her mother's death and her father's grief, leading her to shut down and lash out at others. Angela knows that healthy people can agree to disagree and can communicate their needs, but reactive verbal abuse is designed to trigger people into snapping, which can lead to life-altering consequences. She wants to teach people a technique to protect them from snapping and make rational choices. This includes verbal abuse, bullying, trauma, gaslighting, and more which can chip away at a person's identity, self-confidence, and sense of reality. Angela encourages people to use the sandwich approach when disagreeing with someone, In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. How can we prevent ourselves from being manipulated by gaslighting and other forms of emotional abuse? 2. What techniques can be used to manage a disagreement in a respectful, non-confrontational way? 3. How can we protect ourselves from the damaging effects of identity erosion caused by negative verbal attacks? Resources: “Empowering people & shifting one's perspective. Focused on educating people to improve communication and compassion. Change starts here!” https://undetectednarcissist.com/ Other episodes you'll enjoy: Lovingly or Manipulating? Navigating Narcissistic Abuse with Shannon Petrovich https://www.thelightinside.us/lovingly-or-manipulating-navigating-narcissistic-abuse-with-shannon-petrovich/ JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Featured Guest: Angela Myer Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Senior Program Director: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Narcissism. Maybe it's one of the most misunderstood psychological disorders of modern society. It is with an increased frequency, we hear such refrains - “He was a total narcissist”—but was he? What does that really mean? And are these assumptions often correct? We’ve all experienced difficult relationships - from our significant others to our boss at work. In the relationship FOG of narcissistic, abusive, or other toxic behaviors - feelings of paralysis, anxiety, depression, confusion, disorientation - may at times surface. Leaving one not knowing who you are anymore, or how you got to this dark place in your life. Often feeling as terrifying and mystifying as ocean fog. Dealing with a difficult boss or coworker can test your patience and be a drag on your productivity. But working with a clinical narcissist, on the other hand, can be downright unhealthy. And Furthermore; sharing your day-to-day life with a narcissist - is particularly traumatizing and horrific. A survivor of narcissistic relationships, Shannon Petrovich, guides listeners on a journey of rediscovering their self-worth, learning to recognize and set boundaries, and ultimately separating from the toxic bonds of love-bombing. "Love is a verb in our gooey-gooey culture. We tend to think if we felt something, then we are being loved. But in reality, a person with narcissism or narcissistic traits is not loving you. They're controlling you, manipulating you." Shannon Petrovich is a relationship expert and author, specializing in helping survivors of narcissistic abuse. She is passionate about helping people untangle unhealthy attachments and find their bearings after experiencing trauma. Shannon Petrovich learned the hard way that Narcissistic relationships are not based on love. She experienced the cycle of love bombing, devaluing, and gaslighting that left her emotionally and spiritually bankrupt. Her insight into the three P's - people pleasing, placating, and peacekeeping - trapped her in the trauma bond of a toxic relationship. Finally, she overcame the cycle by understanding her own character qualities and values, setting boundaries, and asserting her own needs. This allowed her to break the trauma bond and reclaim herself as a survivor. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. What is the difference between love and love bombing? 2. How can survivors break the trauma bond of a toxic relationship? 3. What are the three P's of people pleasing, placating, and peacekeeping, and how can they be used to identify a toxic relationship? Other episodes you'll enjoy: By The Power Invested in Me: Vice, Virtue and The Ways We Attempt to Signal Superiority https://www.thelightinside.us/by-the-power-invested-in-me-vice-virtue-and-the-ways-we-attempt-to-signaling-superiority/ Credits: JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Featured Guest: Shannon Petrovich https://www.nofoggydays.com/ Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Senior Program Director: Anna Getz Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://www.thelightinside.us/reviews/new/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Pain. Our emotional reactivity frequently causes it to surface as the emotional turmoil we feel. You’ve perhaps heard this clique, and often worn phrase - “We can’t grow without pain; or maybe - it’s discomfort”? But, what if we can and DO…frequently grow; in states that exist free of this existentially created and self-inflicted state of pain and suffering? "If you're feeling helpless, frustrated, and overwhelmed as you try to navigate the complexities of your autonomic nervous system." Despite trying various therapies, medications, and lifestyle changes, then this episode is for you! It's not uncommon for us to feel that life, the world, other people, and even ourselves - are getting on our nerves. A very specific nerve located in our autonomic central nervous system - to be exact. We may, or may, not be able to eliminate all existential pain and suffering from our lives - yet some of it can certainly serve a valid and healthy purpose. In spite of this, when we navigate through our fleeting emotions and conditioned beliefs, we frequently find ourselves emotionally triggered and activated - with a drive to only react. And it all starts to feel like we are playing a childish game of emotional chutes and ladders…. When John Eli Garay, a second-generation American, discovers Neuroception, our naturally- inherent ability to scan for cues of safety and danger, he must confront the cognitive dissonance between his past trauma and present reality in order to self-regulate and feel secure. John Eli Garay is a mental health professional and self-awareness coach, specializing in neuroception and autonomic nervous system regulation. He is passionate about helping others understand how to self-regulate, while feeling safe and secure. "Discover your natural power to self-regulate and feel safe with Neuroception: the foundation of all feeling." Here's what I cover with John Eli Garay in this episode: 1. What is neuroception, and how does it govern our ability to self-regulate and feel safe and secure? 2. How does the autonomic ladder function in regard to our ability to engage neuroception? 3. What typical actions do we exhibit when we are in an avoidant behavior mode? JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Featured Guest: John Eli Garay Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound High on a Ladder by oomie Bright Smile by Mica Emory Perpex Dilemmas by Miles Avida Strangled by Piano Strings by Ludwig Moulin Tulum by Vendla Puppy Love by Mica Emory Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Senior Program Director: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

When J. Stamatelos confronted his anxious insecurity; he discovered the underlying power of self-acceptance and the vicious cycle of validating oneself through the love and acceptance of others - creating a central conflict between self-validation and external validation. Courage. Perhaps it is the virtue that enables the existence of all others. True virtue is knowing the self - not by intellectual knowledge - but by pure silence. Seeing things with new eyes requires courage and uncertainty. Yet, we live in a world that forces us to constantly compete with others in order to achieve what we want. As we journey throughout our lives, may we arrive at better, yet still - no better than… There's no doubt that each of us is fighting to be, and to do, our best. We seek that space where we thrive. But what happens when this battle is within ourselves - one that rages on between your self-concept and true identity? The result - a mask we wear each day in front of the world that hides that light inside. A mask that hides our true brilliance behind that veil of insecurity, and maybe even a touch of envy. A mask that makes us feel “less than…” We bring you this exploration of the superiority complex, one of the results of such a mental battle, detailing how A conflict between self-validation and external verification is created when anxious insecurity plays a role in a person's life. Our guest J. Stamatelos shares his insights on the effects of Anxious Insecurity & The Search for Love & Belonging. Here's what J. Stamatelos and I cover: 1. What is the impact of anxious insecurity on our lives? 2 How do we create a sense of belonging in a fragmented society? 3. How can we create a healthy self-concept while still achieving self-actualization? J. Stamatelos is a trauma modality expert and mental health practitioner who specializes in helping people break free from anxious insecurity and the cycle of feeling not enough. JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside FEATURED GUEST: J. Stamatelo Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Production Manager: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

2022. -- What a year, what an amazing journey, and what a fascinatingly thought-provoking ride. We couldn't have been more thrilled to share that ride with you; yet now, we turn our eyes toward, a new year and new chapters. But first, we hope to share a little insight with this mindful reminder... Every new year we do it - relentlessly piling more and more on our plates. It’s really exhausting, is it not? More to-do-lists. More goals. Bigger and better aspirations. Why? Because we are more-less emotionally driven toward insecure validation. We are afraid others will feel we somehow don’t stack up… Or worse — we see it as letting ourselves down. Science calls this the action bias. The action bias describes our tendency to favor action over inaction, at times - to our benefit. However, there are times when we feel compelled to act, even if there’s no evidence that it will lead to a better outcome than doing nothing would. In the coming year; we want you to spend even less time getting better - than you did the last. Yes, you heard correctly. Sleep in tomorrow, it’s a Sunday. Allow your morning routine to be non-routine. With an ever-present need for more and better, we are caring less about expanding, by further condensing and refining what we do for everyday people - so that less personal change is needed. Research can also reveal how the drive for overachievement frequently arises from allostatic overload - an anxious state where we simply feel the need to do too much! Change frequently seems hard; perhaps because we feel the emotionally insecure need to create more of it. In the immortal words of Deepak Chopra - release the struggle! — Let 2023 be the year you float a little lighter. A little kinder. Have a happily less emotionally activated new year. Here’s to fewer goals, less beating yourself up, and underachieving. Your future self may or may not thank you… But that’s all right. So on the dawn of this new eve, we wish you a fond farewell. Until we see you again, this has been The Light Inside. I’m Jeffrey Besecker JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Production Manager: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Screen time. It’s the new currency utilized when measuring how our children spend much of their time interacting with the world. With the holiday season upon us, many of us will be giving the gift of technical access to the young ones throughout our lives. Spreading accessibility to gadgets, games, and even communication or learning devices. Yet, with this gift comes empowering access to a connected world of data, influence, and interaction. A world that inevitably might also contain what is sometimes more adverse and insidious in nature - Childhood Screen addiction. The present world is now largely digital. From checking social media on our phones to gaming or binging a new show -it’s hard to escape this cultural norm. Even our educational systems have grown to hinge on leveraging digital technology as a productive asset. So how do you encourage your kids to build healthy tech habits while also giving their brains a break? Author, Daniel Sih is here to tell us how we can raise tech-healthy humans when we return to the light inside. ———— Resources Raising Tech-Healthy Humans https://raisinghumans.au/buy-now/ Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction Is Hijacking Our Kids - and How to Break the Trance How Screens Affect Children - Children & Technology Facts Social Media Effects on Teens - Social Media & Mental Health ———— Credits: Featured Guest: Daniel Sih JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Senior Production Manager: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Marina Yaney Triner, a self-proclaimed empath and trauma expert, dives into the world of repressed trauma and how it affects our everyday lives. This episode of the Light Inside Podcast is about Trauma and how it can show up in our lives in seemingly innocuous ways. Marina Yaney Triner learned about Trauma and its effects while working through her own experiences with it in counseling. She discusses how we often react out of trauma without even realizing it, and how this can create drama in our lives. Trauma can be caused by a variety of things, including childhood experiences, generational patterns, and even seemingly small things like not being able to control a situation. Trauma can manifest in a variety of ways, including numbing behaviors, anger, and a need for control. It's important to be aware of how trauma might be affecting us so that we can work through it in a more productive manner. "We react out of that trauma space so often and we don't even know it." In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. The importance of uncovering and resolving childhood trauma in order to live a more empowered and fulfilling life. 2. How emotional reactivity often stems from unresolved trauma, and how this can impact our relationships and limit our potential. 3. The ways in which trauma can manifest in our lives, include numbing behaviors, reactivity, and a need for control. Resources: Emotional regulation: Skills, exercises, and strategies https://www.betterup.com/blog/emotional-regulation-skills Other episodes you'll enjoy: Emotional Detox: Cleansing Yourself of Stagnated Emotions with Sherianna Boyle https://www.thelightinside.us/emotional-detox-cleansing-yourself-of-stagnated-emotions-with-sherianna-boyle/ Circumstantial Evidence: Overcoming a Victim Mentality with Nelson Tressler https://www.thelightinside.us/circumstantial-evidence-overcoming-a-victim-mentality-with-nelson-tressler/ Connect with me: Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://www.thelightinside.us/reviews/new/ Credits: JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Featured Guest: Marina Yanay-Triner Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Senior Production Manager: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Well-being. Recent research has revealed that this often-overlooked, yet essential element is a core value of personal growth and sustainable success. Somatic coherence is an evidence-based framework that dramatically changes how we manage our day-to-day stress - it’s also a necessary piece of our well-being puzzle. We receive regular emotional signals from the soma - meaning of the body. Emotion is the word we give to a synergy of experiences, both somatic and cognitive that form how we feel in response to the world. Everyone can benefit from learning how to become better in touch with the rhythm of their nervous system, especially those who have experienced chronic stress or trauma. This integral element of our overall well-being is frequently seen as essential in nature to all humans. So, just how and why might somatic coherence matter concerning your continued well-being and success? As we revisit our most valuable episodes in our year-end review, this one was a home run for our listeners. Renowned author and motivational coach turned speaker Ann Hince shares her transformative Emotional Release Technics in this ever-popular episode, giving us direct insight into how she achieved significant life-altering effects utilizing this knowledge. Tune in to find out why somatic coherence matters! On The Light Inside. Featured Guest: Ann Hince JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside VOICEMAIL:  https://galas.fm/p/the_light_inside Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Production Manager: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Blind spots. We each have them. In the context of personal change, why is it we often settle for "good enough?” Our past emotional traumas amplify deflection and uncomfortable avoidance in most of us. with psychological blind spots that everyone else can see but us. So just how do we find these answers? - with a little daring, some honest reflection, and self-examination. One of the toughest self-awareness missions you can undertake is a direct seek-and-destroy attack on your own pockets of denial. Identifying your own blind spots is an interesting exercise in paradox. It’s easy to question a problem if you deny that it truly exists. Many of us frequently avoid this difficult confrontation altogether, bypassing this crucial emotional intelligence process. As a result of childhood abuse, Joe Ryan has endured a lifetime of trauma, shame, and emotional demons. In sharing his invaluable insight, Joe is paving the way for others to heal from the turmoil and distress of his past traumatic events. While revisiting some of your top-rated episodes, we found this conversation to be extremely helpful and beneficial. In terms of downloads, this episode is our second most popular. Joe and I explore how each of us can become more emotionally vulnerable to uncover and understand our emotional blind spots. By learning how to identify past trauma triggers, we can move beyond emotional reactivity and become more comfortable with our authentic selves. Highlights: When we are triggered, we often have to set a boundary. How, from your perspective, do we begin to uncover these things which trigger our trauma response? In order to heal past traumas and release emotional reactivity, it’s essential we recognize those feelings at their core source. Fully absorb the relationship we have formed with them, and process how it affects us. When we’ve taken the time to see the trigger as the emotional mirror and pattern we tend to feel as a result, we are able to release our need to react in the same protective manner. Featured Guests: Joe Ryan https://joeryan.com/ JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Featured music:  A Hard Truth by Wanderer's Trove Little Light by Wanderer's Trove Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Production Manager: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Yes…At the behest of alienation, testing the current trends, harsh judgments, losing listeners, and the endless guffaw of our peers… It’s true that we gleefully offer a rather playful and hardy - Bah, humbug! Despite the popular beliefs about what it means to navigate a successful podcasting venture, the Light inside is rather boldly and haughtily disregarding those beliefs. Bucking the prevailing notion of redundant constancy, only to return to both renewed and refreshed - as our third season of thoughtful broadcasts is completed. Without any anxieties, apprehensions, doubts, fears, or stress; we are confidently and assuredly exercising the ludicrously absurd. Diving headlong into a two-month holiday sabbatical, only to resurface in January -returning renewed, and fully empowered! Why? Because it will inevitably make us what we all endlessly dream of…BETTER! Sometimes change is that bold, daring move that we seldom make the opportunity to realize. Ultimately understanding that change necessitates doing things differently. Change is the fuel we thrive on at The Light Inside. In fact, it’s one of our core values; giving us the ability to see differentiation as essential as air. Our goal is to bring a slightly different approach to our program for our upcoming season in 2023. We gratefully celebrate four years of amazing guest conversations, community interactions, faithful friends…and even a few gawking nay-sayers persistently challenging us to evolve and expand…all driving us to be the most outstanding we can potentially become. Enjoy a prosperous and fruitful start to the new year. It’s been an amazing ride thus far and we are grateful for you - our valued listening community. Happy holidays; all of them - to you and yours, from all of us here at The Light Inside. We’ll see you again in 2023. JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Production Manager: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Space. In the rise of both our race for human evolution and within the context of that ever-popular television series “Star Trek” - It once was viewed as the final frontier of our advancement as a species. Then began the dawning of a new age - the digital revolution. A time and place that seemingly and somewhat insidiously began to occupy nearly every nook and cranny of our shared sense of spaciousness as a human collective. Much like the spiritual awakening of the 60s - We heralded it as the dawning of a new age of Aquarius. A new Impetus in our ever-expanding sense of being as humans. Seeing it as more pertinent and portentous in significance than the invention of either writing or printing. And then it happened… We awakened to frequently find ourselves lost in these dark vestiges of a vast digital wasteland….Searching for the relative light of day - Our digital usage had become a behavior that had seemingly grown, at times, to be toxic in nature. Discovering how we are living in a digital world - yet ever remain fairly resolute as analog creatures. And what we often find ourselves desperately in need of…is a simple method to digitally detox. -If you find yourself in need of space to think deeply, rest more fully, and spend time with loved ones away from a screen, then this conversation is one you won’t want to miss. Today we join Award Winning Productivity Author and Speaker, Daniel Sih as he shares his most intimate secrets on how to unplug, unwind, and think more clearly -empowering an essential new sense of “Spacemaking” in our lives. In this episode you will learn: 1. The impact of digital technology on our ability to focus and think deeply. 2. The role of social media in shaping our understanding of gender roles. 3. The importance of making space for introspection and self-awareness. Featured Guests: Daniel Sih JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Production Manager: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Motion. It implies movement. With all motion inferring a dynamic “mover”. Matter is dormant, yet humans are an active power - a free will; so it stands to reason, there must be within them an immaterial principle. A guiding force - something BIGGER. Both immortal and eternal…Right? As our questioning turns to the soul, science leads us to challenge the consensus. Are we souls, bodies - or some divine combination of the two? One famous critic of the soul, Nancey Murphy captures this “leftover” attitude quite well: “The concept of the self has long served as a replacement for the soul in several disciplines, such as psychology, and ordinary language as well. No significant neuroscientist has been a dualist since the death of Sir John Eccles.” The science community considering it. Our religious axioms canonize it. And Modern Psychology extols how embracing our soul is essential for our overall well-being. Just how do we connect with this seemingly mystical entity - if at all? Join us today as we step into these soul-baring questions with our guest, Celestial Guide, and Shaman, Roxanne Chaput - As we seek to demystify the SOUL on The Light Inside. Do you ever wonder what happens to the soul after we die? Maybe you even question what this thing called soul REALLY is (or even if some of us have one at all? ). When it comes to the soul, here's what you need to know... What is the soul, and how does it affect our physical being? What is our purpose as souls, both in general and individually? How can we flow with our soul's purpose, rather than resist it? How understanding the role of chakras and somatic energies guides our healing journey? Join us on Episode #128 as we go into a lot more detail with the amazing Roxanne Chaput. The call of the soul: what is it and how do we measure its existence? Roxanne Chaput guides us through understanding our soul's purpose and how to follow our path without resistance. Featured Guests: Roxanne Chaput JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Production Manager: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Knowledge. It’s one of the only resources that grows as we share it. Yet sometimes, that’s not so easy. Why do we sometimes find it so difficult to share our knowledge? And furthermore - why does at times it seem so challenging to accept the valid input and constructive criticism of others? Since ancient times, when the words “know thyself” were inscribed at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, sages and philosophers have hailed the importance of self-knowledge. Modern research, however, has called its value into question. For instance, research on self-delusion has found that holding unrealistically positive views of oneself and one's future prospects can promote emotional, and even physical well-being. In today's discussion, we explore how different levels of consciousness, such as seeing the world through rose-colored glasses, can also sow seeds of self-doubt. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. How our social interactions often subversively influence our day-to-day relationships in a way that frequently becomes self-deprecating and how this holds an adverse influence on both our self-concepts and those of others. 2. How comparing yourself to others can cause a downward spiral of negative thinking. 3. How our sense of self-worth and confidence are so deeply influential or influenced by our social interactions and leading us to move into fluctuating states of self-doubt at times. Featured Guests: Shabnam Curtis Jaemin Frazer JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Vivid Space by Locus Clouds Within The Bubble by Jon Bjork The Orchard by Jakob Ahlbom Universal Solution by Robert Ruth Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Production Manager: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Intuition. That still small voice inside that sometimes whispers…while at others - it roars. Einstein once shared with us: “I believe in intuitions and inspirations; sometimes feeling that I am right - yet often, I know that I am. “ How is it that we have come to so faithfully trust this inner sense of knowing, and how do we more effectively utilize it? Whether it's crucial business mergers or lunch decisions, we often assume that rationality should prevail whenever we make decisions. But what about the ”inner voice" or gut feeling, that little something instinctual from within that tells us how we feel beneath those layers of logic? In larger moments of instinctual interaction, we rely on that still small voice inside…one of the many ways we show up differently in unique situations. Join us as we discuss the nature of hair-raising intuition with conscientious Life Designer, Shana Francesca. Featured Guests: Shana Francesca JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Hymn Utopia by J.F. Gloss Light as feathers by The Tap Room Fire Light by The Golden Peas The From Within by Howard Harper Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Production Manager: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Your inner voice. That light inside - the being that we are being. Society and our daily interactions seem to increasingly focus on exploring the concept of "authenticity." Even going so far as to question - Does a self exist at all? As a result, we are left scrambling to find a meaningful way to define when someone is acting genuinely and authentically. What does this seemingly mystical and confounding thing look like and how do we recognize it? Finding our “voice” is often attributed to being present with this astonishing thing we label - our true selves. Yet under varying circumstances, a different aspect of this self often shows up - The Many Voices of “Me”. Join us in this conversation with Cognitive Scientist, Kate Dudzik - as we discuss how social environments affect our inner selves. Together, Kate and Jeffrey explore the many sides of the self through how we show up in the world, the influences environment and social circles play on behavior, thought selection, and norms, as well as personality. In this podcast episode, Kate Dudzik explores the idea of being able to speak from a societal standpoint and how authenticity is one of the most important things that we can look for in ourselves. In this episode, you will learn: 1. How our environment influences our thoughts and actions 2. The importance of curiosity in developing expertise 3. How our personality is not permanent and can change over time "It is human to grow and change." Kate Dudzik is a writer and thinker who is passionate about psychology, personal growth, and relationships. She has a Masters in Psychology and has written extensively on the topics of mental health, self-improvement, and human behavior. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. How our environment influences our thoughts and actions 2. The importance of curiosity in developing expertise 3. How our personality is not permanent and can change over time Featured Guests: Kate Dudzik https://cognitivekate.com/ JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Comfort Zone by Nebula Dark to Light by Pawan Krishna Only Us by Across The Great Valley Subliminal Space by Lama House Your Mind Is a Cathedral by Ave Air The Brightest Light by Matt Large Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Production Manager: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support

Our bodies; for eons - we’ve been reminded to treat them like temples. Yet our view of that temple - can often be distorted, misconceived, and even downright inaccurate. Our Character is often said to define both who and what we are as human beings. And still, how we characterize ourselves, is generalized by unhealthy ideals guided by our generational opinions on body stereotyping. -Normalized social stigmas frequently surface as dogmatic in their nature. Today we discuss how to leverage these tools to live your healthiest and happiest lifestyle. As the lead scientific researcher at Fellow One Research, Marc Nelson has pioneered Body Type Science since 2003 - As a result of his research, creating the only scientifically qualitative body type assessment standards. Marc has spent most of his scientific career dismantling many of these socially and culturally accepted stereotypes of bodies; instead developing a more integrated approach to assess healthy structural body integrity. Why do so many people struggle with body image?  In this episode you will learn: 1. The importance of a positive body image. 2. Modern scientific advances in the field of body image. 3. How to see yourself in a new light. Resources: Fellow One Research: Body Type Science Research https://www.fellowone.com/fellow-one-research/body-type-science-research/ Featured Guests: Marc Nelson JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Production Manager: Anna Getz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelightinside/support