The Contemplative Life

Today we are joined by spiritual director Heather Watts exploring the journey of deconstructing faith.  We discuss how spiritual guidance can provide space to be heard, wonder together and sit with uncertainties one faces in these seasons.Additional ResourcesListening and Caring Skills by John SavageSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

Today we welcome Dr. Jan Lundy to the podcast who is talking with us about what it looks like to companion people through their grief. Though grief is something many people find difficult to talk about, it's likely that each of us is experiencing loss continually. Join in as Jan shares with us about what it looks like to stay with someone through their experience of wilderness in ways that help us experience integration and transformation. Because grief isn’t meant to be something we get over or repress. It’s there because we love and care deeply. If you’d like to learn more, be sure to check out the Additional Resources section below.Additional ResourcesWebsite: mettacentertraining.comProgram: Grief Companion TrainingHashtagsGrief, Loss, Spirituality, Spiritual Direction, Wilderness, Counseling, Anticipatory Grief, TraumaSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

On this week’s podcast we hear from Tom Buhler, a certified spiritual guide offering mindfulness to prisoners. Tom shares with us about the powerful transformations possible when using mindfulness, particularly in the midst of high-stress situations. Join us as Tom relays how formal practice can lead to shifts in perspective that help us become more aware of our thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations so that we can be more empathetic overall. And don’t forget to check out the Additional Resources section for more information.Additional ResourcesAuthor: John Kabat ZinnOrganization: The Path of FreedomWorkbook: The Stress Reduction Workbook for Teens by Gina M BiegelWebsite: PrisonMindfulness.orgFacebook: Wisconsin Prison Mindfulness InitiativeDocumentary: Dhamma BrothersFilm: Holding StillRetreat: A Day of Mindfulness for Helpers and Healers: June 20, 2024. Siena Retreat Center. Training: https://www.uwhealth.org/services/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction (UW-Health MBSR courses)HashtagsJon Kabat Zinn, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Empathy, Interconnection, Awareness, Awareness, Ego, Prison MinistrySign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

Many of us have heard that we ought to do unto others as we would have done unto ourselves. But how many of us have heard that we ought to treat ourselves with the same kindness and respect we offer to others? Certainly, loving ourselves sounds good in theory, but the daily practice of it is quite another thing. It can be helpful to ask ourselves: What protective measures have we put in place that now keep us from being in touch with what we really enjoy and need? Join us as we talk about how the contemplative life can help us create more space for tending to what our deepest selves need most. Additional ResourcesMovie: America’s SweetheartsPodcast: Ep 166 Stress vs Stressors from The Contemplative LifePoem: For One Who Is Exhausted, A Blessing by John O’DonohueHashtagsInner Critic, Outlook, Noticing, Spirituality, Self-talk, Retreat, Life RhythmsSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

Stress is a part of life and can happen in both big and small ways. On today’s podcast, we consider how the contemplative life can help us recognize what’s happening so that we can respond in more balanced ways more and more often. Do you find yourself sometimes feeling flush with emotions? Or, on the opposite side of that, do you sometimes try to ignore emotions in favor of just the facts? When we are feeling more at ease and connected, our brains are able to engage with both of these instead of having to choose just one or the other. Join us as we talk about how this can look in our day to day lives. Additional ResourcesBook: Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors by Robyn GobbelBook: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-ExupéryHashtagsJenny Taitz, Emotion Mind, Reason Mind, Wisdom Mind, Naming Emotions, Playfulness, Curiosity, MindsetsSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

On this week’s podcast, we’re talking about what it takes to be present to those things that are taking up mental real estate in our heads, buzzing in the background, ticker taping through our heads, and the like. Do you sometimes find yourself blowing up when you normally would have been able to remain calm? Having trouble sleeping? Feeling the need to put everyone and everything on mute? All of these, and more, can be signs that you are experiencing undue loads of emotional labor. Join us as we talk about how a contemplative life can help us lessen our emotional-labor-load so that we can ride the waves of our emotions without being taken over by them. Additional ResourcesPodcast: Ep 159 Community Care from The Contemplative LifeHashtagsSurface Acting, Deep Acting, Emotional Intelligence, Division of Labor, Spiritual Direction, Group Spiritual Direction, Awareness, Community CareSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

Do you ever find yourself feeling frustrated or confused about which way to go next? In this episode, we talk about the helpfulness of being able to take a pause as a way of getting our bearings again, whether those pauses are related to something in particular, a season of life, or the need for discernment within a larger group. Wondering if you have enough capacity for what’s being asked of you? Asking questions about how to navigate a tricky situation? Feeling like you’re just going in circles? Sensing that what used to work for you isn’t working anymore? Join us as we talk about the many contemplative possibilities for recalibrating so that you can experience the Beauty of life again.Additional ResourcesPoem: Clearing by Martha PostlethwaitePoem: Coleman’s Bed by David WhyteHashtagsCounseling, Therapy, Discernment, Seasons of Life, Benedictine, Family Relationships, Work Relationships, Spiritual Practices, AnxietySign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

Join us as Dr. Jeanette Banashak shares with us about a new certification program being offered in Outdoor Companioning that has come about as a result of her own lifelong desire to connect with the more-than-human world. Are you a spiritual guide or working in some form of service profession? Outdoor Companioning teaches us how to integrate the natural environment, both in our work lives and in our experience of life overall. Join us as Jeanette speaks about how engaging with the great outdoors can lead to building communities that are sustainable, equitable, culturally proficient, socially just, healing, and so much more.Additional ResourcesWebsite: Spiritual Guidance Training Institute - Outdoor Companioning TrainingBook: Belonging by Toko-Pa TurnerBook: Eco-Emancipation by Sharon R. KrauseHashtagsForest Bathing, Mindfulness, Deep Listening, Eco-Justice, Tree Equity Index, Eco-Activism, David Abram, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Thich Nhat HanhSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay and is rapidly changing our world. For some, a tool like this can bring about equity in their lives. But in our individualistic society, where we are applauded for the ways in which we can stand out, will everyone be willing to applaud this equity? At the same time, many have taken to warning us about the dangers of AI. Join us as we talk about how the contemplative can aid us in these kinds of dialogues. What spaces exist for us to learn? To name our emotions? To have conversations? What contemplative ideas might aid our discernment and implementation processes? May all be well as we process these questions, offering one another gentleness, generosity, and graciousness. Additional ResourcesWebsite: Spiritual Guidance Training InstituteHashtagsReid Hoffman, Geoffrey Hinton. Luddite, Ethics, Equity, Curiosity, spiritualitySign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

Do you ever feel lonely, even if you’re in a room with other people? Do you sometimes feel like you’re missing that sense of meaningful connection in your life? If so, you’re not alone. For a variety of reasons, common social interactions have shifted over the years, leaving us with an epidemic of loneliness. Join us as we talk about how the contemplative life can be of use to us in our current environment. Let’s take a long, loving look at what’s real and discover what’s there for us to build on. Additional ResourcesPodcast: Ep 159 Community Care Episode from The Contemplative LifeHashtagsTechnology, Esther Perel, Vivek Murthy, Ghosting, Awareness, Rituals, Rule of Life, BalanceSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

How many times have we heard someone say, “Let me just play devil’s advocate here for a moment.” For many of us, it’s a total mind shift to ask a question in the opposite spirit. What if instead of asking what could go wrong we spent even a little bit of time asking what could go right? Who would be served? What possibilities might open up? What freedoms might be gained? In a world where we’ve learned to live with our possible lack in mind, what would happen if we chose to live into the possible goods and abundances? Join us as we talk about the distinct differences between toxic positivity and living into the best case scenarios. Additional ResourcesPodcast: Ep 158 Self Care for…BussinessesHashtagsAngel’s Advocate, Devil’s Advocate, Toxic Positivity, Pollyanna Principle, Starfish Story, Ignatian Discernment, MeditationSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

After several weeks of hearing from others about how they think about self-care given their particular experiences of life, we turn our attention today to thinking about the community. Who do we turn to when we need help? And fo that matter, do we believe that we can turn to others? Or do we tend to live with the feeling that we have to do it all alone? Join us as we talk about how being both givers and receivers of care has been not only life-giving but absolutely life-changing. Additional ResourcesPodcast: Ep 156 Self-Care for…Medical ProfessionalsPodcast: Ep 157 Self-Care for…Clergy/Spiritual LeadersPodcast: Ep 158 Self-Care for…Businesses Meditation: Interspiritual Meditation by Ed BastienHashtagsMia Mingus, Interdependence, Therapist, Peer Groups, Henri Nouwen, Melissa Harris Perry, Squad CareSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

Join us as Ryan Bauers, Consultant and Organization Development Specialist, shares with us about why self-care is so important in the business environment and how it positively impacts those businesses. Hear about his own journey that led him to finding self-care so important: working to the point of total exhaustion, receiving from mentors who offered him a new trajectory, and now living that out on a daily basis. Do you desire to work in or to lead in environments that feel safe? Does your line of work require innovation that you often find difficult to live up to? Do you often feel stretched thin, overworked, and emotionally exhausted? May the contents of this podcast be a balm to your soul. Additional ResourcesWebsite: RyanBauers.comBook: Consolations by David WhyteBook: Crossing the Unknown Sea by David WhyteBook: The Way of Integrity by Martha BeckWebsite: The Work of Byron KatieHashtagsPresent Moment, Sleep Habits, Transition, Burnout, Psychological Safety, Innovation, OverworkedSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

For those who have a tendency towards helping others, feelings of guilt and shame can often lead to overworking. And what’s more, depending on our family or cultural contexts, we may not even feel permission to do what we need to do in order to keep ourselves feeling whole and healthy. Join us as Rev. Dr. Beth Brown shares with us about what helps her continue to feel centered and grounded. Be inspired and encouraged to advocate for yourself and for others, to be a part of creating a culture that cares enough about one another to offer time to rest. Additional ResourcesBook: See No Stranger by Valerie KaurChurch: Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, Chicago, ILWebsite: Faith Community Initiative.orgHashtagsCommunity care, asylum seekers, clergy, self-care, vacation time, interfaith, healthy habitsSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

As we continue our series on self-care, Sarah Kiser joins us to share her experience of being a healthcare professional at a time when 87% of people in the field are reporting experiences of burnout. For many of us, our career experience changes as we age. Our lives become fuller, our responsibilities grow, and the margins of life for self-care get smaller. We invite you to join us in being a witness to the story of healthcare providers like Sarah and to allow the wisdom of her experience to be an encouragement to your soul. HashtagsHealthcare workers, vicarious trauma, countertransference, burnout, Covid-19, self-care, therapy, connectingSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

Today we are joined by Mary Bouras who is sharing with us about what it has been like to be married to someone in the military. Mary comes to us with over 2 decades of experience, including nearly a dozen moves, motherhood, and a career. Join us as she shares candidly with us about what has created balance and stability in a life that can easily feel unbalanced and unstable. Find out what she had named for herself as her must-do’s and what she does when even the must-do’s need to be compromised. Additional ResourcesCoaching, Consulting, Speaking: Mary Bouras: https://www.marybouras.com/HashtagsMilitary, Military Family, Weekend Getaway, Post-Partum, Counseling, Adapting, MentorsSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

As we begin a new year, we embark on a new series, talking to people from a variety of fields to discover: What do you do for self care? And is there anything you do for self care that might help me? Spiritual Directors spend a lot of time listening to people’s stories, which means we have to have ways to release those stories and find personal fulfillment ourselves. Join us as we talk about what we do to help us feel whole and restored. HashtagsPoetry, Yoga, Retreat, Music, Sports, Ritual, TonglenSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

In our fourth and final week in this series, we talk about one very key but, perhaps, unexpected tool that can bring about restoration and connection in our lives. In a busy world, we’ve become accustomed to turning our attention away from even the simplest things that can help us bring the being side of ourselves into balance with our doing side. Join us as we talk about how awe has helped each of us shift when we felt we needed it most. Additional ResourcesBook: Awe by Dacher KeltnerHashtagsContemplative Prayer, Ordinary, Extraordinary, Gratitude, Metaphor, Eco-spirituality, ContinuumSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

Today we take time to talk about some of the barriers that can come into play when we’re looking to bring our doing side into friendship and balance with our being side. And in particular, we get down into root causes because, oftentimes, we may find ourselves using similar words to the people around us. But our inner motivations and our particular needs may be quite different from those of our neighbors. Join us as we talk about how we can evolve in our journeys towards oneness and wholeness. Additional ResourcesBook: Journey to the Heart, edited by Kim NatarajaHashtagsADD, ADHD, Solitude, Retreat, Culture, Spirituality, BalanceSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.

As we continue our Being With series, we turn our attention to the lens of Body, Heart, and Mind, asking the question: How can we strengthen what is already innate within us while also exploring areas of ourselves we maybe don’t visit as often? Life is often so full that our lives can begin to feel disconnected and unintegrated. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead we can discover what is speaking to us, what emotions are arising, what our bodies are trying to tell us. And in doing so, we can bring our being side back into friendship with our doing side. Additional ResourcesImage: The Contemplative TreeClass: Being With HashtagsMerton, Contemplative, Ritual, Mind, Body, Gut, Desire, Heart, TranscendenceSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletterSupport the Show.